Democratic Members Release New GAO Report on Navajo Nation Uranium Contamination

Press Release

Today leading House and Senate Democrats released a new Government Accountability Office (GAO) report on the status of efforts to clean up uranium contamination in the Navajo Nation. The report had been requested by Reps. Henry A. Waxman, Peter DeFazio, Frank Pallone, Jr., Colleen Hanabusa, Raul M. Grijalva, Ben Ray Lujan, and Sens. Martin Heinrich and Edward J. Markey.

"The pervasive uranium contamination on the Navajo Nation is an American tragedy," said Rep. Waxman, Ranking Member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee. "GAO's report confirms that federal agencies have made progress in addressing this shameful legacy but that a huge amount of work remains to be done. The federal government has a moral obligation to sustain its commitment to right this wrong."

"While the government has finally taken a first step toward addressing uranium contamination on Navajo lands, the GAO's report shows that there is a lot more we must do. Federal agencies need to move as quickly as possible to clean up abandoned mines and ensure safe drinking water for the Navajo people. And they must engage and work cooperatively with Navajo communities. I look forward to working with my colleagues in Congress to support these efforts," said Rep. DeFazio, Ranking Member of the House Natural Resources Committee.

"It is unacceptable that the Navajo people have been living with the enduring environmental and health impacts of uranium contamination for decades," said Rep. Pallone, senior Democrat on the Energy and Commerce Health Subcommittee. "While GAO's report shows that federal agencies have made progress in recent years, there is a still a great deal that must be done. We have a responsibility to correct this deplorable chapter in our history, and I will continue to work with my colleagues in Congress to ensure that cleanup of the Navajo Nation remains a priority."

"The Navajo and Hopi people have borne much of the burden of our nation's need for uranium and are still dealing with the negative effects of abandoned mines," said Rep. Hanabusa. "These communities suffer from elevated cancer risks and contaminated drinking water as a direct result of uranium production. Now that we have this report, we must take seriously its recommendations and continue to take the appropriate steps."

"Uranium has poisoned the lives of too many communities for too long, and the only way to stop it is to start taking removal and cleanup seriously," said Rep. Grijalva. "Congress has to stop sweeping this under the rug. We know we need better funding, better outreach and more local-federal coordination. I'm glad the Government Accountability Office has shown us a way forward, and I'm glad to hear the EPA is willing to follow its important recommendations. Now we need congressional Republicans to put public health and environmental quality on their list of things worth working on."

"I have had the opportunity to visit with many individuals who are still reeling from the legacy of uranium mining, a legacy whose scars remain visible in communities across the Navajo Nation," said Rep. Luján. "Too many lives have been lost and too many families and resources have impacted--we cannot afford another year of uncompleted work. This report should add to the urgency for the federal government and Congress to take a proactive stance regarding clean up. We must also not forget about those whose health and homeland was impacted by uranium mining and the need to compensate workers and their families who became sick from radiation exposure."

"Throughout history, New Mexico has made major contributions to our country's national security and energy needs, including communities across the state that were central to the mining and processing of uranium. But too often we've neglected our duty to these communities to clean up the mess that was left behind," said Sen. Heinrich, a member of the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. "Navajo families are still living with the dire consequences of our last era of uranium mining. Though the GAO report confirms the cleanup effort is progressing, these mining sites continue to be environmental and public health risks. As we move forward, I will keep working to ensure our tribal communities receive the resources they need to complete the job and keep their families safe."

In October 2007, the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee held a hearing to examine the adverse health and environmental impacts affecting the Navajo people of decades of uranium mining and milling around the reservation. Following that hearing, at the Committee's request, several federal agencies developed and implemented a five-year plan to begin addressing the uranium contamination. The agencies, in cooperation with the Navajo Nation, are currently developing a new five-year plan to continue the environmental remediation and public health efforts.

GAO examined the results of the first five-year plan and found that the agencies met or exceeded most of the targets, making progress on assessing contaminated mines, rebuilding contaminated structures, providing safe water supplies, and cleaning up some high-priority sites. GAO also found that federal agencies have not identified the full scope of the remaining cleanup work, which is extensive and will require significant resources over many years.