MOAB, Utah – DOE recently recognized EM’s Moab Uranium Mill Tailings Remedial Action (UMTRA) Project for excellence in “green purchasing,” procuring products with leading, verifiable sustainability attributes.

“Our project sits along the Colorado River and is adjacent to Arches National Park. Therefore, it’s especially important to us to be as mindful as possible when it comes to the project’s environmental impact, and we work hard to reduce it wherever we can,” Moab UMTRA Project Federal Cleanup Director Russell McCallister said. “We are very proud to receive this award as it reflects our focus on environmental stewardship and effectiveness managing our resources economically.”

The DOE GreenBuy Award Program honored EM’s Moab Uranium Mill Tailings Remedial Action Project for sustainable purchases such as Parry's Penstemon, a native, drought tolerant flower that reduces water consumption.
The DOE GreenBuy Award Program honored EM’s Moab Uranium Mill Tailings Remedial Action Project for sustainable purchases such as Parry's Penstemon, a native, drought tolerant flower that reduces water consumption.
A close-up view of the water-efficient Parry's Penstemon flowers planted by EM’s Moab Uranium Mill Tailings Remedial Action Project.
A close-up view of the water-efficient Parry's Penstemon flowers planted by EM’s Moab Uranium Mill Tailings Remedial Action Project.

The Department’s GreenBuy Award Program’s priority products list helps DOE sites pinpoint products that, for example, lower health and environmental impacts and reduce waste management costs.

Federal agencies are required to buy goods that are energy and water efficient and made from biobased or recycled content material. The award program recognizes DOE sites that go beyond those requirements.

Sites can qualify for GreenBuy awards at gold, silver, and bronze levels based on their purchase volume in the priority products list categories. The Moab Project achieved the Silver Award for meeting the goals of a minimum of six products in at least three categories. Among the sustainable products purchased by the Moab Project are water-efficient plants for revegetation efforts and sustainable cell phones for employees.

The last time the Moab Project won a GreenBuy award was in 2013. For more information on the awards, and a list of DOE winners, click here.