In the early years of atomic science, the discovery of cancer-curing radium drove prospective miners to the far reaches of the Four Corners region of the United States. As they hunted for the rare mineral, workers uncovered a yellow ore called uranium – a glowing rock worth little to nothing at the time.

After World War II, uranium became one of the most sought-after elements in the world — and in the sparse canyons of the four-corners region, uranium company towns began to mine the ore for the U.S. Government. The 1950s were the golden years, when rich “uraniumaires” bought private jets and anybody could go from country rags to riches. But before long, the uranium rush would come crashing down.

By the 1980s, uranium towns like Uravan had weathered a few booms and busts. The promises of the atomic future – like flying cars and limitless electricity – weren’t coming to fruition. Along the way, health professionals began to notice that miners were dying from cancer at alarming rates. As radiological science improved and regulations were put in place, it was clear that uranium posed a health risk to those who mined and lived in uranium towns – but just how much is still a point of contention.

Far away from the mines of the Colorado Plateau, the first nuclear reactor in the world was built in Washington State. Here, uranium was used to create plutonium at Hanford, transmuting from a helpful ore to a nagging waste. As more atomic veterans died from radiation exposure, their families sought to hold someone accountable — and though it would come back to uranium country eventually, those outside of Colorado would be the first to blaze the trail.

After Uravan closed and was set for demolition, its residents were forced to scatter elsewhere. Today, its nearby baseball park hosts an annual picnic for former townies who refuse to let the last memories of Uravan die out. In an interview with EPA superfund officials, we learn the philosophy of cleanup that led to the remediation of Uravan and its current status. Close by, a new uranium boom refuses to let the dust settle for long.

With the promise of nuclear energy on the horizon, the demand for uranium is reviving a once-dormant industry. After a trip to a nearby uranium mine, it’s clear the region sees this development as a kind of deja vu. Residents are optimistic their prized industry can return. But can uranium mining be safer than it once was? Dedicated opponents upriver, and a decade of legal battles, may say otherwise.