The U.S. Department of Energy Office of Environmental Management announced today the successful removal of a cumulative 16 million tons of uranium mill tailings and other contaminated material from its Moab Uranium Mill Tailings Remedial Action Project site.
Office of Environmental Management
September 30, 2025
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Before and after: A view of the site of the Moab Uranium Mill Tailings Remedial Action Project tailings pile in 2001 — when the U.S. Department of Energy Office of Environmental Management (EM) acquired the site — versus present day, after crews removed a cumulative 16 million tons of the tailings, meeting an EM priority for 2025. EM crews began shipping the tailings by rail in 2009 to an engineered disposal cell 30 miles north of the mill tailings site. A byproduct of processing uranium ore, the tailings pile had grown over decades prior to EM removing the cumulative 16 million tons. Although the tailings are mostly gone, final cleanup work will continue at the site. Site closure is expected in 2029.
MOAB, Utah — The U.S. Department of Energy Office of Environmental Management (EM) announced today the successful removal of a cumulative 16 million tons of uranium mill tailings and other contaminated material from its Moab Uranium Mill Tailings Remedial Action (UMTRA) Project site.
“Safely relocating 16 million tons and completing excavation of the tailings pile is a major milestone in risk reduction and protection of public health and the environment,” Moab UMTRA Project Federal Cleanup Director Matt Udovitsch said. “This marks the successful completion of a 2025 EM priority. We look forward to completing the cleanup and facilitating the future beneficial reuse of this site.”
Disposal of radioactive mill tailings and other contaminated materials started in 2009. Crews moved the material by rail to an engineered disposal cell at the Crecent Junction site, 30 miles to the north.
Over the next several years, EM will complete its Moab Project mission through developing and implementing the final groundwater compliance action plan, removal of contaminated soils in the sub-pile and off-pile areas, radiological verification of cleanup, disposition of equipment and infrastructure, and regrading and revegetation. Sub-pile refers to the contaminated soil beneath the surface tailings pile, and off-pile refers to the additional contaminated soil and debris adjacent to the surface pile.
Site closure is planned for 2029.
A public celebration is planned to mark the latest accomplishment on Dec. 3 at the Moab Arts & Recreation Center in Moab, Utah.
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