Slick Rock Uranium Mill No. 2 (West): Approved for EEOICPA benefits

How the Slick Rock Uranium Mill No. 2 (West) served the nuclear weapons program

The Slick Rock Uranium Mill No. 2 (West), also known as Slick Rock West, played an important role in America’s Cold War nuclear supply chain. The production at the Slick Rock East Site (No. 1) was initially connected to early medical treatments and luminous consumer products, whereas the production from Slick Rock West was tied almost exclusively to industrial and defense uses. The layout and equipment found at Slick Rock West were more modern than its Eastern counterpart and were better suited for higher-volume Cold War production. 

A brief timeline of Slick Rock West

• 1939: Located near the Dolores River in southwestern Colorado, the mill was built in 1939 by North Continent Mines, Inc. Unlike the nearby Slick Rock East facility, which began as a radium plant, Slick Rock West was constructed specifically to process vanadium ore, with uranium recovery added as national demand surged during World War II and the early Cold War years.
• 1940s-1950s: Throughout this period, uranium produced at Slick Rock West was sold to the U.S. Atomic Energy Commission (AEC), the federal agency responsible for securing uranium for nuclear weapons development and research. The mill processed ore from mines across the Colorado Plateau, contributing to the nation’s strategic uranium stockpile.
• 1960s: Operations continued into the early 1960s, until the mill was shut down in the latter half of the decade. The site left behind large volumes of radioactive tailings and contaminated materials.
• 1995-1996: During these years, the tailings-removal and remediation occurred and was completed by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) under the Uranium Mill Tailings Radiation Control Act (UMTRCA).

Adverse health effects among workers

Workers at Slick Rock West were exposed to radioactive dust, radon gas, and heavy metals such as uranium and vanadium, often without the protections that exist today.

These exposures have since been linked to increased risks of lung disease, lung cancer, kidney damage, and other chronic health conditions among uranium mill workers throughout the region.

Environmental and community impact

The environmental impact of Slick Rock West was substantial. Tailings and contaminated soils were left on-site near the river, leading to concerns about groundwater contamination, windblown radioactive dust, and long-term ecological effects. Although the area was sparsely populated, the proximity to natural waterways made cleanup critical. Because the groundwater contamination concerns were more pronounced at the West site than at the East site, it influenced how the DOE approached long-term monitoring and became an important case study in groundwater compliance strategies under the UMTRCA.

Government response and cleanup efforts

Approved for EEOICPA White Card benefits

Slick Rock West is covered under The Radiation Exposure Compensation Act (RECA).

RECA by itself provides lump sum compensation and does not cover healthcare costs. But uranium workers who are approved for RECA compensation may also qualify for lifetime healthcare benefits for covered conditions under the Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program Act or the EEOICPA White Card Program.

DOE contractors conducted environmental remediation under the Uranium Mill Tailings Radiation Control Act, addressing hazardous materials from 1995 to 1996. Workers involved may also qualify for lifetime healthcare benefits for covered conditions under the EEOICPA White Card Program.

As of January 2026, Slick Rock West workers have received over $530,000 in EEOICPA settlements and medical bills paid.

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