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JANUARY 24, 2001

The Midnite Mine on the Spokane Reservation in Washington brings back fond memories for the two tribal members who discovered uranium there but the tribe doesn't want it reopened.

Twin brothers Jim and John LeBret discovered the richest uranium mine in the Pacific Northwest in 1954. It produced wealth for the brothers and others to whom they sold stock but was eventually closed in 1981.

The brothers and some tribal members hope the mine could be revived. But others don't want it reopened, citing health concerns as well as plans to cleanup the mine. The tribe had received royalties on the ore produced but an attorney says it didn't make them wealthy.

The mine is a Superfund site and it could cost up to $160 million to clean it up.

Get the Story:
Mine founders hope for rediscovery (The Spokesman Review 1/24)