Yellow Dirt

Judy Pasternak, an investigative reporter for the L.A. TIMES, details the dreadful story of the effect of uranium mining on Navajo lands. It's a litany of disasters: Navajo miners dug out the uranium without any protection or safety standards, the federal government and company in charge eventually gave the land back without cleaning up the mess, the Navajo built their houses using dirt with uranium tailings in it, and the residents drank contaminated water. Laural Merlington develops an authentic sound for the many Navajo individuals interviewed and delivers Navajo words credibly. Although she varies her pacing and tone, a little more outrage in her voice would not be amiss. Pasternak is clearly appalled, and that should be more palpable in Merlington's performance. A.B. (c) AudioFile 2010, Portland, Maine