The Navajo Abandoned Mine Lands Reclamation Program (AML) and the Uranium Mill Tailings Remedial Action Program (UMTRA) are the lead agencies charged with the responsibility of reclaiming Navajo lands through restoring regions impacted by abandoned surface and underground mine areas left by the coal, copper and uranium industries.

Navajo AML implements, administers and conducts reclamation of abandoned coal and non-coal mines on Navajo Trust lands if they were abandoned before 3 August 1977, in accordance to the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 (otherwise known as SMCRA). To date, Navajo AML has reclaimed 264 coal mine sites, 913 uranium mine sites and 33 copper mine sites. Most unreclaimed sites will remain unreclaimed because of their unsafe and inaccessible nature.

UMTRA was enacted to control and mitigate radiation risks to human health and the environment from exposure to residual radioactive materials that resulted from the mill-processing of uranium ore. UMTRA provides oversight and monitoring of the work at four Navajo sites in Shiprock, Tuba City, Monument Valley, and Mexican Hat. Surface remediation has included encapsulation of radioactive materials and tailings waste into disposal cells.

Video

• Madeline Roanhorse, department manager, introduces the role of AML/UMTRA.

• Carl Holiday explains health and safetly protocol for AML

• Carl Holiday’s personal story:

• Albert Wallace introduces the reclamation project in the Diné (Navajo) language.

Sound

Melvin Yazzie_AML Senior Reclamation Specialist, and Leon Spencer, Navajo AML Program and Projects Specialist, speak about the AML's role in reclamation on Navajo Nation.