Ford Radioactive Waste Site, Washington

The Dawn Mining Company operated the last active uranium mill in the state near the town of Ford in eastern Washington, until its closure in 1982. The mill once produced around 50,000 pounds per year of material which was further refined into fuel for commercial nuclear power plants. The source was the Midnite Uranium Mine, 15 miles away, which opened in 1955 as a source of uranium for nuclear weapons. Decomissioning and internment of the mill building was completed in 2003. The remaining buildings are scheduled to be demolished by 2014.