Pasadena, Calif.-based Tetra Tech has received an $85 million contract from the Environmental Protection Agency to evaluate uranium contamination at 30 former uranium mines located on and near Navajo Nation land.
The contract also covers training Navajos to carry out work associated with the evaluation and remediation, according to an Oct. 11 EPA press release. The training would be provided in partnership with Navajo Technical University and area businesses.
U.S. nuclear operations during the Cold War led to the opening of more than 500 uranium mines that produced 30 million tons of ore in the Navajo Nation region, which covers parts of Arizona, New Mexico, and Utah. The EPA has secured $1.7 billion in funding to start evaluation and cleanup at 211 of the sites.
A $1 billion 2015 settlement for remediation of more than 50 once operated by Kerr McGee Corp. is paying for part of the Tetra Tech contract.