The abandoned Jackpile-Paguate uranium mine in New Mexico continues to pollute local lands and water, leaving a lasting impact on the health and environment of the Laguna Pueblo community.
Jonathan Thompson reports for High Country News.
In short:
- The Jackpile-Paguate Mine, once the world's largest uranium mine, left behind radioactive contamination, affecting local health and environment.
- Despite cleanup efforts, toxic plumes continue to contaminate groundwater and the Rio Paguate, causing long-term health issues.
- Thousands of abandoned mines across the Western U.S. pose persistent environmental hazards, with acid mine drainage being the most pervasive.
Key quote:
"Mining is hard — but healing the earth and the health of the communities affected by it is immeasurably harder."
— Jonathan Thompson, High Country News
Why this matters:
Toxic runoff from abandoned mines contaminates rivers and streams, turning once-clean waters into hazardous flows laden with heavy metals. This pollution not only devastates aquatic ecosystems but also threatens the health of communities reliant on these water sources. Read more: Kevin Patterson on Indigenous communities’ heavy metal exposure.
