An activist group from the Ute Mountain reservation town of White Mesa, Utah, will hold a rally and protest march May 13 at 11 a.m. to raise awareness of environmental issues at the White Mesa uranium mill, located on nontribal land south of Blanding.
The 3-mile march to the mill will begin at the White Mesa Ute Community Center on Willow Street, behind the Mobile gas station. The town of White Mesa is located between Bluff and Blanding.
The rally is being organized by White Mesa Concerned Community, is a grassroots group working to inform citizens about environmental issues impacting health, air, land, culture and sacred sites.
Many residents of town of White Mesa are concerned that uranium milling and pollution stored at the White Mesa mill could contaminate groundwater and impact air quality, said Yolanda Badback, march organizer.
“We are worried about our health and water, and want to protect our families,” she said. “If our water gets contaminated, what will we do?”
The event is co-sponsored by Canyon Country Rising Tide, the Grand Canyon Trust, Greenaction for Health and Environmental Justice, Haul No, Living Rivers, and Uranium Watch. Participants should bring comfortable shoes and water.
For more information, call White Mesa Concerned Community 435-485-0265.