The United Nuclear Corporation Site near Church Rock in McKinley County, New Mexico
The United Nuclear Corporation Site near Church Rock in McKinley County, New Mexico
1980 A Site for Relocation Purchased
The U.S. government purchases a uranium-contaminated site near Chambers, AZ as the "New Lands" for the evicted Dineh. This site qualified as a candidate for the Superfund cleanup after the worst RADIOACTIVE SPILL the world has ever known!
Instead of spending money for a cleanup, they thought it could be purchased for a very few dollars, and used for the "New Lands" for the evicted People!
The spill figures;
When = 1979, Jul. 16
Place = Church Rock, New Mexico
Parent company = United Nuclear
Cause = dam wall breach, due to differential foundation settlement
Released = 370,000 cubic METERS of radioactive water,
(that's 94 million gallons!)
PLUS 1,100 TONS of solids from a uranium mine tailing pond Contaminated = Contamination of land area as well as Rio Puerco river sediments up to
110 km downstream
And - a prior spill from the same source - and contaminating the same land - but
to a lesser extent than the one later. Note: the term "Lesser extent" is used only
in comparing these two spills to each other - both spilled deadly radiation onto
the lands that the BIA has choosen for the relocation site!!!!
1976, Apr. 1
Place = Church Rock, New Mexico
Company = Kerr-McGee
Cause = dam failure, due to differntial settlement of foundation soils
Released = "minor quantity"
Contaminated = ???????
http://www.ratical.org/radiation/KillingOurOwn/KOO9.html Excellent, but long
description of the spill
http://www.applicom.com/vbm/BefPea.htm - An interview with Lisa Tso in her home
