DOE says Moab tailings pile fully excavated; sub-pile cleanup expected through mid-2027

DOE Federal Cleanup Director Matt Udovitsch told the Moab Tailings Project Steering Committee that the Project reached a 16-million-ton milestone on Sept. 29, 2025 and that "the full tailings pile had been excavated and moved to the Crescent Junction disposal cell by early December 2025." He said current work is focused on sub-pile and off-pile contaminated material and that contaminated-material removal is expected to continue to approximately mid-2027.

Udovitsch said DOE will re-estimate remaining tonnage through field work and expects to have additional information in June. He reported that 133 workers were employed as of early April and that 567,248 tons had been shipped during the fiscal year as of the meeting date. He said workforce levels and the schedule for closure tasks, including Crescent Junction cover construction, will be better defined after the remaining tonnage is re-estimated.

DOE staff answered committee questions by describing how areas are excavated and sampled until cleanup criteria are met. Udovitsch also said DOE is discussing infrastructure reuse opportunities with the County and City to preserve community value and potentially reduce disposition costs. The next procedural steps include the May 14 infrastructure tour and the June re-estimate of remaining tonnage.