Inside the Navajo Church Rock Nuclear Disaster, the largest radioactive disaster in US history that's somehow often forgotten

James PasleyJun 7, 2023, 01:15 IST

Signs warn residents in three languages to avoid the water in Church Rock, in 1979.SMH/AP

The 1979 Church Rock Nuclear Disaster is the largest radioactive accident in US history.
94 million gallons of radioactive water and 1,100 tons of uranium waste flooded out of a breached dam into the Rio Puerco.

In 1979, a dam holding millions of gallons of nuclear waste in Church Rock, New Mexico, collapsed.

In a matter of hours, 94 million gallons of radioactive water and 1,100 tons of uranium waste flooded into a nearby river.

The spill killed crops and cattle, and contaminated the surrounding land and the people who lived off it for decades to come.

It happened just four months after the Three Mile Island nuclear accident. It was the largest accidental release of radioactivity in US history and third worst accident in history, after the Chernobyl catastrophe in 1986 and Fukushima in 2011.

Despite this, perhaps because it happened in a rural, low-income area, or perhaps because it was primarily people from the Navajo Nation who were impacted, it was largely ignored.

Here's what happened.

The Navajo Nation, which is the largest Native American territory, covers about 27,000 square miles across the boundaries of Colorado, Utah, Arizona and New Mexico. Its people have lived in the region—known for its dusty, arid landscapes— for seven centuries.

Two women stand in plains in Navajo Nation in New Mexico, circa 1940.R. Gates/Archive Photos/Getty

The Navajo Nation, which is the largest Native American territory, covers about 27,000 square miles across the boundaries of Colorado, Utah, Arizona and New Mexico. Its people have lived in the region—known for its dusty, arid landscapes— for seven centuries.

Since the land was fairly inhospitable, the Navajo were mostly left alone in the 20th century. But that peace ended with the beginning of the Cold War and the nuclear arms race. Underneath the dry earth was one of the largest uranium deposits in the world.

A Navajo man and a supervisor inspect some ore in a uranium plant in 1952.Edward O. Eisenhand/AP

Since the land was fairly inhospitable, the Navajo were mostly left alone in the 20th century. But that peace ended with the beginning of the Cold War and the nuclear arms race. Underneath the dry earth was one of the largest uranium deposits in the world.

Early on in this period, the government was happy to hire Navajo people to work in the mines, but it failed to warn them about the effects of radiation.

Navajo miners work in a uranium mine on a Navajo reservation in Arizona in 1953.AP

Cattle drank from contaminated runoff, people built their homes out of lumber taken from uranium mines and children played in contaminated streams.

Tents and cabins of Native American uranium miners dot the hillside in the Navajo reservation in Arizona, in 1952.Edward O. Eisenhand/AP

That was bad enough, but in 1968 the United Nuclear Corporation (UNC) began extracting from the country's largest uranium mine, which was located in a small farming community called Church Rock.

Navajo Church near Fort WingateSepia Times/Universal Images Group via Getty Images

That was bad enough, but in 1968 the United Nuclear Corporation (UNC) began extracting from the country's largest uranium mine, which was located in a small farming community called Church Rock.

It's not like nuclear accidents hadn't happened before. On March 28, 1979, a nuclear reactor on Three Mile Island in Pennsylvania had a partial meltdown that exposed 2 million people to nuclear radiation.

Three Mile Island nuclear power plant while it was out of operation in 1979.Bettmann/Getty

It's not like nuclear accidents hadn't happened before. On March 28, 1979, a nuclear reactor on Three Mile Island in Pennsylvania had a partial meltdown that exposed 2 million people to nuclear radiation.

Four months later, on July 16, 1979, UNC's dam failed. Out of a 20-foot wide breach, 94 million gallons of radioactive water and 1,100 tons of uranium waste flooded into the Rio Puerco.

An environmentalist plants trees on the banks of the Rio Puerco in 2003.Phillippe Diederich/Getty

Four months later, on July 16, 1979, UNC's dam failed. Out of a 20-foot wide breach, 94 million gallons of radioactive water and 1,100 tons of uranium waste flooded into the Rio Puerco.

The spill caused crops to wither, contaminated sheep had to be killed and wells had to be closed off permanently. The water's radioactivity level near the dam reached 7,000 times the safe radiation limit for drinking water.

The channel of the Puerco River in 2005.Gail Fisher/Los Angeles Times/Getty

The spill caused crops to wither, contaminated sheep had to be killed and wells had to be closed off permanently. The water's radioactivity level near the dam reached 7,000 times the safe radiation limit for drinking water.

The Church Rock spill was worse than Three Mile Island in terms of radiation. It released more than three times as much radiation. Yet while President Jimmy Carter visited Three Mile Island within days of the failure, Church Rock was basically ignored.

President Jimmy Carter with plant officials in Three Mile Island in 1979.Dirck Halstead/Getty

The Church Rock spill was worse than Three Mile Island in terms of radiation. It released more than three times as much radiation. Yet while President Jimmy Carter visited Three Mile Island within days of the failure, Church Rock was basically ignored.

Despite the local response, it was the third worst accidental release of nuclear radioactivity in the world, after the Chernobyl catastrophe in 1986 and the Fukushima in 2011.

Inside the Chernobyl nuclear power plant a few months prior to the disaster in 1986.Laski Diffusion/Getty

Despite the local response, it was the third worst accidental release of nuclear radioactivity in the world, after the Chernobyl catastrophe in 1986 and the Fukushima in 2011.

While UNC sent Navajo employees out after the spill to let people know the danger, it wasn't until a few days later that signs were erected and radio announcements made that warned locals not to drink from the river.

Signs warn residents in three languages to avoid the water in Church Rock, in 1979.SMH/AP

While UNC sent Navajo employees out after the spill to let people know the danger, it wasn't until a few days later that signs were erected and radio announcements made that warned locals not to drink from the river.

To make matters worse, after the spill no one was compensated, and the UNC only removed about 3,500 tons of sediment from the river—about 1% of the solid waste released in the spill.

A man stands in front of a 50-foot uranium waste pile from mining operations.Felicia Fonseca/AP

To make matters worse, after the spill no one was compensated, and the UNC only removed about 3,500 tons of sediment from the river—about 1% of the solid waste released in the spill.

Seven months later, a local newspaper reported that six Navajo locals who had been tested for radiation exposure had shown no acute effects.

Children play at Church Rock, where dangerously high levels of gamma rays had been found.Gail Fisher/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images

By November 1979, the UNC had resumed operation at Church Rock. But instead of improving its practices, it discharged new waste into unlined ponds which led to intensive groundwater contamination.

Signs warning of health risks are posted outside the gates of abandoned uranium mine in 2020.The Washington Post/Getty

By November 1979, the UNC had resumed operation at Church Rock. But instead of improving its practices, it discharged new waste into unlined ponds which led to intensive groundwater contamination.

In 1990, the government officially apologized to the Navajo people. Two years later, UNC was ordered to invest $16 million to do a better clean up job, but instead the money was paid to its parent company.

Indigenous community leaders gathered to protest the Uranium Recovery Conference in 2010.Cyrus McCrimmon/The Denver Post via Getty Images

In 1990, the government officially apologized to the Navajo people. Two years later, UNC was ordered to invest $16 million to do a better clean up job, but instead the money was paid to its parent company.

In 2007, 28 years after the accident, a local research group called Church Rock Uranium Mining Project found water sources were still contaminated from the spill.

Dogs wander outside a community center located next to an abandoned uranium mine.The Washington Post/Contributor via Getty Images

Although a comprehensive study wasn't completed, a number of different studies noted people living in the Navajo nation nearby have had higher rates of birth defects, diseases and cancers.

Near the Church Rock Mine, Environmental Health Specialist Chris Shuey changes filters on a machine that tests uranium dust particles in 2006.Gail Fisher/Los Angeles Times via Getty

Although a comprehensive study wasn't completed, a number of different studies noted people living in the Navajo nation nearby have had higher rates of birth defects, diseases and cancers.

From the 2000s on, the EPA slowly started cleaning up the area, including other mines and waste sites. By 2015, about $100 million was spent on the clean up—and about 200,000 tons of contamination were removed— but the pollution was far worse than the agencies first thought.

Local Edith Hood stands outside the gates of an abandoned uranium mind in 2020.The Washington Post/Getty

From the 2000s on, the EPA slowly started cleaning up the area, including other mines and waste sites. By 2015, about $100 million was spent on the clean up—and about 200,000 tons of contamination were removed— but the pollution was far worse than the agencies first thought.

The repercussions of the spill and the mining are still felt today. As local resident Faith Baldwin told Vice in 2019, "Our generation is afraid of having children."

A message about uranium mine cancer deaths is seen painted on an abandoned tank on the Navajo Nation near Cameron, Arizona.David McNew/Getty Images

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Inside the Navajo Church Rock Nuclear Disaster, the largest radioactive disaster in US history that's somehow often forgotten

The Navajo Nation, which is the largest Native American territory, covers about 27,000 square miles across the boundaries of Colorado, Utah, Arizona and New Mexico. Its people have lived in the region—known for its dusty, arid landscapes— for seven centuries.

Since the land was fairly inhospitable, the Navajo were mostly left alone in the 20th century. But that peace ended with the beginning of the Cold War and the nuclear arms race. Underneath the dry earth was one of the largest uranium deposits in the world.

Early on in this period, the government was happy to hire Navajo people to work in the mines, but it failed to warn them about the effects of radiation.

Cattle drank from contaminated runoff, people built their homes out of lumber taken from uranium mines and children played in contaminated streams.

That was bad enough, but in 1968 the United Nuclear Corporation (UNC) began extracting from the country's largest uranium mine, which was located in a small farming community called Church Rock.

It's not like nuclear accidents hadn't happened before. On March 28, 1979, a nuclear reactor on Three Mile Island in Pennsylvania had a partial meltdown that exposed 2 million people to nuclear radiation.

Four months later, on July 16, 1979, UNC's dam failed. Out of a 20-foot wide breach, 94 million gallons of radioactive water and 1,100 tons of uranium waste flooded into the Rio Puerco.

The spill caused crops to wither, contaminated sheep had to be killed and wells had to be closed off permanently. The water's radioactivity level near the dam reached 7,000 times the safe radiation limit for drinking water.

The Church Rock spill was worse than Three Mile Island in terms of radiation. It released more than three times as much radiation. Yet while President Jimmy Carter visited Three Mile Island within days of the failure, Church Rock was basically ignored.

Despite the local response, it was the third worst accidental release of nuclear radioactivity in the world, after the Chernobyl catastrophe in 1986 and the Fukushima in 2011.

While UNC sent Navajo employees out after the spill to let people know the danger, it wasn't until a few days later that signs were erected and radio announcements made that warned locals not to drink from the river.

To make matters worse, after the spill no one was compensated, and the UNC only removed about 3,500 tons of sediment from the river—about 1% of the solid waste released in the spill.

Seven months later, a local newspaper reported that six Navajo locals who had been tested for radiation exposure had shown no acute effects.

By November 1979, the UNC had resumed operation at Church Rock. But instead of improving its practices, it discharged new waste into unlined ponds which led to intensive groundwater contamination.

In 1990, the government officially apologized to the Navajo people. Two years later, UNC was ordered to invest $16 million to do a better clean up job, but instead the money was paid to its parent company.

In 2007, 28 years after the accident, a local research group called Church Rock Uranium Mining Project found water sources were still contaminated from the spill.

Although a comprehensive study wasn't completed, a number of different studies noted people living in the Navajo nation nearby have had higher rates of birth defects, diseases and cancers.

From the 2000s on, the EPA slowly started cleaning up the area, including other mines and waste sites. By 2015, about $100 million was spent on the clean up—and about 200,000 tons of contamination were removed— but the pollution was far worse than the agencies first thought.

The repercussions of the spill and the mining are still felt today. As local resident Faith Baldwin told Vice in 2019, "Our generation is afraid of having children."