Mary McGann serves as the chair of the Moab Tailings Project Steering Committee and holds a position as a Grand County Commissioner. Her leadership is central to local efforts regarding the Moab Uranium Mill Tailings Remedial Action Project, a significant environmental endeavor focused on the removal of residual radioactive material from the banks of the Colorado River.
Residents encounter the influence of McGann's work through the long-term management and milestones of the Moab tailings pile. This pile consists of sand-like waste material that remains from conventional uranium ore processing. According to a Department of Energy report, the project has focused on the complete disposal of the uranium mill tailings pile away from the Colorado River to enable future beneficial reuse of the cleanup site.
McGann has been a visible figure in the ceremonies marking the progress of this cleanup. On December 14, 2023, the project celebrated a milestone of 14 million tons of removed material. During this event, McGann was seen moving a ceremonial tile that represented the 14 millionth ton of material being transferred from the Moab site to the repository located in Crescent Junction, Utah. This ceremony included participation from senior members of the Department of Energy and the local community.
On April 9, 2026, a second major milestone was celebrated by local officials and stakeholders. This event marked the removal of a cumulative 16 million tons of residual radioactive material. During this ceremony, McGann participated as the chair of the Moab Tailings Project Steering Committee. The achievement was symbolized by the transfer of the final tile from a commemorative plaque depicting the Moab tailings pile to another plaque representing the disposal cell in Crescent Junction. This final tile placement signified both the complete disposal of the pile and the achievement of the 16-million-ton cumulative milestone.
The logistics of the project involve transporting tailings by rail to an approved disposal facility. This facility is located 30 miles north of the Moab site. Once the tailings are placed in the disposal cell, the area is capped with multi-layers of locally sourced soils and rock. The project is located three miles northwest of downtown Moab and one mile from the entrance to Arches National Park.
Through her roles, McGann coordinates with various federal, state, and local partners to ensure the successful management of the site. Her involvement spans years of oversight, as the commemorative plaques used to track these milestones were originally commissioned at the start of the Moab Project in 2009. As the project reaches its completion regarding the removal of the pile, McGann's leadership remains a key component of the community's relationship with the Department of Energy and the environmental remediation efforts in the region.
What this means for Moab
For the people of Moab, McGann's leadership ensures that local interests are represented during the massive environmental cleanup of the uranium mill tailings. Her oversight of the tailings project contributes to the safe removal of radioactive material from the Colorado River banks, ultimately allowing for the future beneficial reuse of the cleanup site for the community.
