On July 16, 1976, the worst nuclear accident in American history- the second worst in the world- took place at a uranium mill in Navajo Nation. 94,000,000 gallons of nuclear sludge, and over 1000 tons of uranium tailings rushed into the Puerco River when an dam failed at the United Nuclear Corporation’s Church Rock Mine. Though the disaster poisoned thousands of Navajo people in the surrounding areas, contaminating hundreds of square miles with cancer causing radioactive waste, the victims were given $2000 each and left to die. UNC would go on to clean up just 1% of the spill, and to this day 85% of the radiation remains. What was the Church Rock Mill disaster, and why have you probably never heard of it?

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Sources and Further Reading

Navajos Battle for Environmental Justice, Church Rock Spill: Link

Forgotten nuclear accident in Church Rock: Link

Remembering the largest radioactive spill in U.S. history: Link

Church Rock, America’s Forgotten Nuclear Disaster, Is Still Poisoning Navajo Lands 40 Years Later: Link

On Poisoned Ground: Link

Navajo Nation: Cleaning Up Abandoned Uranium Mines: Link

Uranium Processing: Link

A Brief History of: The Church Rock Uranium Mill Disaster (Short Documentary): Link

How the US poisoned Navajo Nation: Link

UNC Resources At Odds With New Mexico Over Uranium: Link

Northeast Church Rock Mine: Link