The 10,000-Year Threat Beneath Our Feet – “To Use A Mountain” Unmasks America’s Nuclear Sacrifice Zones

A Cinematic Unmasking: Casey Carter’s Award-Winning “People’s History”

Presented by Facet, Narrow Vision Endeavors, and Correspondent Productions

Before diving into the bureaucratic archives, it is essential to recognize the artistic power behind this message. Winner of a Special Jury Award at the prestigious Visions du Réel and named ‘Best of Fest‘ at IDFA in Amsterdam, To Use A Mountain is a visceral journey across the landscapes and ecologies of America’s nuclear frontiers.

It assembles a ‘people’s history’ of resistance that stands in stark contrast to the clinical assessments and administrative detachment found in official government archives; records that treat entire communities as ‘sacrificial territory’ with little regard for the lives and histories of those on the land.

The 1982 Notification and the Human Cost

In 1982, the federal government sent a notification to six rural communities across the United States that would change their landscapes forever: they were being considered as permanent burial sites for the nation’s entire stockpile of nuclear waste. Today, as we face a new era of energy expansion, Casey Carter’s documentary arrives to expose the human cost of their disregard. This essential film opens theatrically at DCTV in New York on Friday, August 21.

The AI Data Center Boom: A New Nuclear Frontier

The arrival of this film is critical, as the nation faces a massive surge in energy demands driven by the AI data center boom. This demand has initiated a new wave of next-generation nuclear projects, yet a fundamental crisis remains: there is still no permanent solution for the 90,000 tons of high-level nuclear waste already in existence. The film is currently screening with frontline communities that are once again finding themselves at the center of nuclear waste and weapons production issues.

10,000 Years of Isolation vs. Human Dignity

The Department of Energy was handed a staggering mandate: to isolate lethal nuclear waste for 10,000 years. In their clinical pursuit of this goal, government agencies mapped and analyzed rural landscapes as data points. The residents of these areas—farmers, miners, citizen scientists, and Native American leaders—became “unsuspecting stewards” forced into a fight for their homes, health, history, and dignity. Their struggle stands in “stark contrast” to the cold, silent machinery of bureaucracy.

Bridging Science and Storytelling

In a time when scientific credibility is essential, director Casey Carter brings a unique and vital perspective to the subject. Holding a B.S. in Physics, a B.S. in Photography, and a Master of Architecture, Carter is an interdisciplinary designer who uses data visualization and cartography to decode the “impassive logic” of government archives. His background allows the film to stand as a credible, evidence-based meditation on the timeless struggle between power and place.

Sovereignty and the Western Shoshone

While six sites were originally candidates, the government ultimately targeted Yucca Mountain in Nevada, which sits on the unceded lands of the Western Shoshone. Decades of intense controversy eventually led to the halting of construction at Yucca Mountain, yet the enduring threat of the waste remains unresolved today.

Take Action: Support Frontline Communities

We believe in empowering our readers to advocate for change. Here is how you can support the frontline communities featured in the film:

Attend a Screening: Join the movement at the New York premiere at DCTV on August 21, or look for the film as it moves through its regional theatrical expansion.

Amplify the People’s History: Help shift the narrative away from bureaucratic archives by sharing this “people’s history of resistance and stewardship”. You can start by sharing the official trailer.

Stand with Local Activists: Support the farmers, miners, and Native American leaders who continue to stand against the “enduring threat” of nuclear waste.

Stay Informed: The film is actively screening with communities currently confronting nuclear weapons production and new energy projects. Follow the project to see how the AI data center boom continues to impact these “sacrificial territories”.

THE CREATIVE TEAM

Produced by: Colleen Cassingham, Jonna McKone Executive Producers: Brett Story, Maida Lynn, Ryan Krivoshey Director, Cinematographer, and Editor: Casey Carter

The fight for our land and our history is buried deeper than we think.

Support independent truth-telling at DCTV starting August 21.

See the films website for screening information and local actions: ToUseAMountain.com

IG: @touseamountain