Friday March 18, 2022

A new report from the Grand Canyon Trust calls the White Mesa Mill outside of Blanding “America’s cheapest radioactive waste dump.” The environmental group and representatives of the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe want the mill to be regulated like one. Plus, seven young Utahns filed a lawsuit this week against the state because of its policies related to fossil fuel development. And, researchers in our region have developed a remote-control robot that can alert safety inspectors of potential rockslides.

// And later, the Weekly News Reel, where we check in with reporters on their latest stories of the Moab area. Sophia Fisher of The Times-Independent discusses SITLA pursuing a large land swap with the BLM, portable toilets installed in the Willow Springs area, and rising gas prices. Alison Harford of the Moab Sun News discusses proposed apartments that may displace another trailer court in downtown Moab, the cancellation of the latest Book Cliffs Highway project, and the Backyard Theater reopening for the season.

// Show Notes

// Photo: The White Mesa Uranium Mill. The Grand Canyon Trust and members of the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe want the mill to be regulated like a waste dump. Credit Tim Peterson flown by EcoFlight

// Grand Canyon Trust: Waste Dump Next Door
https://www.grandcanyontrust.org/blog/bears-ears-and-radioactive-waste-dump-next-door

// Energy Fuels
https://www.energyfuels.com

// KUER: Youth sue Utah over fossil fuel development-friendly laws
https://www.kuer.org/health-science-environment/2022-03-17/youth-sue-utah-over-fossil-fuel-development-friendly-laws

// Weekly News Reel Mentions:

// The Times-Independent: SITLA pursues Bears Ears land swap BLM
https://www.moabtimes.com/articles/sitla-pursues-bears-ears-land-swap-with-blm/

// The Times-Independent: ‘igotpoop’ is back for another season on public lands
https://www.moabtimes.com/articles/igotpoop-is-back-for-another-season-on-public-lands/

// The Times-Independent: ‘My wife was taking pictures of the pumps’
https://www.moabtimes.com/articles/my-wife-was-taking-pictures-of-the-pumps-2/

// Moab Sun News: Proposed apartments would increase available homes, but may displace current tenants
https://www.moabsunnews.com/news/article_ff207d70-a6da-11ec-a315-d38fa0a455b2.html

// Moab Sun News: Book Cliffs Highway project canceled
https://www.moabsunnews.com/news/article_f7157756-a6db-11ec-9b10-63630d5cd4c3.html

// Moab Sun News: Backyard Theater opens for the season
https://www.moabsunnews.com/get_out_and_go/article_01c70d76-a6d8-11ec-8194-6f7d533d21c1.html