BVDA

Key Issue 1

Homestake / Barrick Gold Uranium Mill Tailings Facility

The Homestake/Barrick Gold uranium mill tailings facility operated from 1958 until 1990. The site includes two tailings disposal areas, groundwater remediation systems, and affected aquifers.

Groundwater contamination was first discovered in 1961. Since then, BVDA members have documented the spread and long-term impacts of radioactive waste in the region.

• 22 million tons of radioactive mill waste stored across two piles
• One waste pile 90 feet high covering 200 acres
• Unlined waste pile leaking contaminants into groundwater
• Radon emissions at 2–3× acceptable cancer-risk standards
• 15 years of aquifer flushing with minimal results

Residents report elevated rates of cancers, asthma, severe migraines, thyroid disorders, and other chronic illnesses. Many have lost access to wells, paid for replacement water, experienced declining property values, and endured prolonged stress.

Barrick Gold, a multi-billion-dollar corporation, owns the site and has the financial capacity to remove and relocate the mill tailings. However, cleanup commitments remain unmet, and regulatory enforcement has been insufficient.