Moab Project, Local Agencies Collaborate on Successful Emergency Exercise

Emergency responders join Moab Uranium Mill Tailings Remedial Action Project staff at a multi-agency emergency response exercise in Moab, Utah.

MOAB, Utah ― The Moab Uranium Mill Tailings Remedial Action Project joined forces with public safety agencies to conduct a successful multi-agency emergency response exercise designed to evaluate coordination, communication and readiness in the face of a simulated disaster.

“This exercise demonstrated the value of a coordinated, multi-agency response and the effectiveness of an offsite unified command center,” said Tim Mason, Environmental, Safety, Health & Quality manager for the Moab Project’s remedial action contractor. “It was gratifying to see each organization perform so well, and the strong participation from local, county and state agencies made the exercise a success.”

The emergency scenario centered on a simulated gas leak at the Moab Project’s Moab site, with a third-party delivery truck running over a natural gas pipeline valve, creating a significant leak without ignition. The incident required an immediate order to stop work, and a simulated site evacuation.

The U.S. Department of Energy Office of Environmental Management (EM) oversees cleanup at the Moab site, located along the Colorado River. Since 2009, EM crews have been transporting uranium mill tailings by rail from the Moab site to the Crescent Junction site, where an engineered disposal cell is being constructed.

Moab Uranium Mill Tailings Remedial Action Project staff discuss evacuation logistics with local emergency responders.

While the leak during the emergency scenario was contained within the exercise parameters, officials emphasized that a real event of this nature could expand rapidly and affect the surrounding community, which includes the city of Moab three miles south, and the main entrance to Arches National Park two miles north. In addition, the Moab area sits in a valley with canyon walls of sandstone cliffs, so gases from a gas line leak would potentially sit in the valley, raising the possibility of an ignition in the air.

Multiple public safety agencies participated, and the gas company whose pipeline was fictionally damaged in the exercise provided expertise and support. They worked under tight timeframes to coordinate evacuation, secure the site, manage public safety, and ensure effective communication across jurisdictions.

The exercise tested emergency communication systems and incident command protocols under pressure. Responders demonstrated strong capabilities in rapid deployment, medical triage and resource sharing. The drill also highlighted areas for improvement, including traffic management and long term shelter operations, informing future training efforts.

-Contributor: Barbara Michel