A project to clean up uranium mill tailings at a site near Moab, Utah, has passed another milestone in transporting more than 12 million tons of tailings to a disposal facility.

More than 1 million tons were shipped during the 2021 fiscal year alone, the largest annual amount for the U.S. Department of Energy Uranium Mill Tailings Remedial Action project.

“We’re excited to celebrate another milestone for the Moab UMTRA project. The cleanup continues to move ahead at an accelerated rate, and we’re getting closer to completion every day,” said Russell McCallister, federal cleanup director.

Mill tailings are transported by rail in special containers to a disposal site near Crescent Junction about 30 miles away. 

The project has exceeded 1,800 work days without a lost-time injury or illness, McCallister said. “I’m proud that we’ve not only reached the 12 million tons milestone, but that we’ve done it while adhering to the highest standards of safety for our workers and the community.”