LANCASTER, N.Y., April 19, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Ecology and Environment, Inc. (E & E) (NASDAQ:EEI) has been awarded a three-year, $5 million plus contract with the Phase 2 Removal Site Evaluation Trust to conduct site investigations of abandoned uranium mine (AUM) sites throughout the Navajo Nation. Under the contract, E & E will work with the Trust to determine whether soils, sediments, groundwater, or surface water have been affected by an AUM, and whether affected sites pose a potential risk to human health and the environment. E & E will also conduct outreach to Navajo residents and communities.
Widespread uranium mining on Navajo Nation lands began in the early 1900s and peaked between the 1940s and 1960s in support of U.S. defense programs, resulting in substantial impacts from surface and underground mining. From the beginning of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) Navajo Nation AUM program in the 1980s, E & E has worked with the USEPA to investigate the impacts of both large and small uranium mining operations on local residents, livestock, and the natural environment. Based on the data from several investigations and assessments E & E conducted for the USEPA, the Navajo Nation petitioned for a more comprehensive assessment of mine legacy issues.
“Since the inception of the USEPA Navajo Nation AUM program, E & E has supported the development and implementation of assessment and removal approaches to address legacy abandoned uranium mine impacts,” said E & E president and CEO Gerard A. Gallagher III. “We look forward to continuing this important work with the Trust.”
About Ecology and Environment, Inc.
E & E is a global network of innovators and problem solvers, dedicated professionals and industry leaders in scientific, engineering, and planning disciplines working collaboratively with clients to develop technically sound, science-based solutions to the leading environmental challenges of our time. The company is listed on the NASDAQ Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol EEI and the information in this release can be found online at www.ene.com.
Contact:
Sara Herrmann
Corporate Communications Manager
(716) 684-8060
sherrmann@ene.com