The White Mesa Mill in southeastern Utah is the last conventional uranium mill in the country. Growing global interest in carbon-free energy, including nuclear power, and recent international instability have increased demand for the “yellowcake” that it creates — and led to proposals for new mills in the region.
Utah lawmakers celebrate the industry for providing rural, high-paying jobs. But its surge is condemned by people who are concerned about the mill’s environmental impacts, including the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe’s White Mesa community, located five miles to the south, and the nearby Navajo Nation.
Here’s what the mill does, and why it’s controversial.
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