U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission holds first field hearing on Navajo Nation

At left, Christopher Hanson, David Wright and Jeff Baran, all members of the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, listen to comments on April 22 about the impacts of uranium contamination on residents of Red Water Pond Road near Church Rock.

Jonathan Perry, center, listens to comments by Red Water Pond Road community members during the field hearing by the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission on April 22.

U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Chairman Christopher Hanson addresses the audience after the commission's field hearing on April 22 at the Red Water Pond Road community.

A dog stands on Red Water Pond Road, located north of Church Rock, on April 22.

At center, Helen Nez speaks about uranium contamination in Blue Gap-Tachee Chapter, where she lives in Arizona, during the April 22 field hearing by the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commissioner Jeff Baran reviews a map provided by a resident of the Red Water Pond Road community during the commission's field hearing to the location on April 22.

Navajo Nation Environmental Protection Agency Executive Director Valinda Shirley listens to comments from a Red Water Pond Road community member during the field hearing on April 22 by the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

Community members listen to comments about the impacts of uranium contamination on the Navajo Nation during the field hearing by the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission on April 22 at the Red Water Pond Road community north of Church Rock.

Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez, left, addresses Red Water Pond Road residents and the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission at the conclusion of public comments at the commission's field hearing on April 22.

Jonathan Perry talks about the impacts of uranium contamination on the Navajo people and the environment during the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission's field hearing on April 22 at the Red Water Pond Road community, an area north of Church Rock.

A sign seen on April 22 warns the public about an abandoned uranium mine near Red Water Pond Road, located north of Church Rock.

Navajo Nation officials and the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission listen to comments on April 22 about the impacts of uranium contamination during the commission's field hearing at the Red Water Pond Road community, an area north of Church Rock.

Chris Shuey gives information about the Navajo Birth Cohort Study to the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission on April 22 during the commission's field hearing at the Red Water Pond Road community, an area north of Church Rock.

Community members listen to comments about the impacts of uranium contamination at Red Water Pond Road, an area north of Church Rock, during the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission's field hearing on April 22.

Michael Montgomery, director of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region 9 Superfund and Emergency Management Division, left, talks about proposed activities at the Northeast Church Rock Mine and United Nuclear Corporation mill site during a public meeting by the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission on April 22 in Gallup.

Edith Hood, member of the Red Water Pond Road Community Association, talks about her opposition to place uranium mine waste at a mill site next to the community during a public meeting by the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission on April 22 in Gallup.