Brownfields Program
In 2003, the Environmental Programs Department (EPD) initiated the Brownfields Tribal Response Program. Brownfields sites are areas affected by the presence of a hazardous substance, pollutant, or contaminant. Cleaning up these sites protects the environment and health of Tribal members and reintroduces them for potential future uses.
Research Initiatives
Ute Mountain Ute Tribe’s Brownfields Program has focused on redeveloping the Tribal property contaminated by past activities where no responsible party to mitigate the contamination issue could be identified.
The Program provides technical assistance, including environmental inventories and assessments, clean-up project assessments, dump closure planning, site clean-up and closure, as well as undesirable event identification and responses. An integral part of the Program technical assistance is training opportunities for the Tribe’s land managers. In the past, the EPD staff and Emergency Responders gained experience in dealing with hazardous material spills that have occured on highways, water ways or oil fields through the Program. The Program also led seminars for the Tribal members; upon completion, some Tribal members were awarded with employment in the Tribal Enterprises. The Program looks forward to offering more training to Tribal members who may be interested in environmental career opportunities. – Brownfields Public Records
Brownfields Site Assessment
These documents are the assessments for proposed Brownfields sites on the Ute Mountain Ute Tribal lands.
White Mesa Reuse and Revitalization
The purpose of this document is to recommend if further testing should be conducted for nineteen houses in the White Mesa Reuse and Revitalization Housing Project and one building that will be utilized as the Youth Opportunity facility prior to removal of asbestos building materials. – View PDF
Phase I Mancos Creek
The purpose of this document is to recommend if further testing should be conducted for the Mancos Creek Tribal cattle and farming operation to determine if the health of residents and the environment are negatively being impacted. – View PDF
Phase I Old Dining Hall
The purpose of this document is to review previous assessment and sampling activities that occurred at the Old Towaoc Dining Hall and recommend if further sampling activities should be conducted prior to cleanup, demolition, and proper disposal of the building. It is also to recommend if sampling should be conducted in the Utility Tunnels associated with the Dining Hall. – View PDF
General Site Information
2012 Towaoc abandoned structures.
Brownfields Sites Public Records
The Brownfields Law requires easy access to Brownfield site information, and this page is full of information about the past and current Brownfields activities that has taken place on Ute Mountain Ute Tribal Lands.
For additional information, please contact the Environmental Program Department.
Ongoing Programs:
- Tribal Abandoned Housing Assessment and Clean Up Program
Oil Field Assessment and Clean Up Program
Past Projects:
- Mancos Creek Site Assessment and Remediation Project
- Towaoc Boiler and Stack Assessment and Removal Project
- Towaoc Dining Hall Asbestos Assessment and Removal Project
- Ute Mountain Tribal Motor Pool Targeted Brownfield Assessment Project
- White Mesa Asbestos Assessment and Removal Project
- White Mesa Reuse and Revitalization Housing Assessment Project
- White Mesa Smart Site Builiding Assessment Project
- Cottonwood Construction Debris Pit Assessment Project