Churchrock uranium spill remembered
Marchers travel along New Mexico Highway 566 north of Churchrock Saturday morning in remembrance of a toxic spill in 1979. © 2011 Gallup Independent / Brian Leddy

By Vida Volkert
Staff writer

CHURCHROCK — In the early hours of July 16, 1979, the sudden roar of water flowing madly through the Rio Puerco echoed in the warm skies above the Churchrock community. Then, the river rose, overflowing with toxic water.

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