Wednesday, May 10, 2023

The Moab UMTRA site is testing a new method for preventing contaminated groundwater from reaching the Colorado River. In April, scientists injected a mineral called apatite into the aquifer beneath the site to soak up uranium. We also hear from our partners at KSJD about recent changes to Arizona’s Medicaid program, which closed a loophole for sober homes that were taking advantage of Indigenous communities. Plus, we hear from KUNC about disappearing snow in the Rocky Mountains. Show Notes: Photo: Contaminated groundwater at the Moab UMTRA site is pumped out of the aquifer to prevent leaching into the Colorado River. That water is then sprayed on the tailings to prevent radioactive dust from becoming airborne. Now, scientists are experimenting with a more permanent solution for cleaning up the contaminated water. Photo by Emily Arntsen. //Department of Energy: Moab UMTRA’s 5-Year Site Plan https://www.energy.gov/sites/default/files/2023-03/FiveYearSitePlanFY23.pdf //KSJD: Arizona’s Medicaid program closed a loophole that enabled sober homes to exploit Indigenous people https://www.ksjd.org/podcast/ksjd-local-newscasts/2023-05-08/ksjd-local-newscast-may-8-2023 //KUNC: Snow detectives are in the mountains wondering where all the snow is going https://www.kunc.org/news/2023-05-04/snow-detectives-are-in-the-mountains-to-solve-a-mystery-wheres-all-the-snow-going