Churchrock Mine cleanup plan available

Copyright © 2009
Gallup Independent
By Kathy Helms
Diné Bureau

WINDOW ROCK — The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has released its proposed cleanup plan for the Northeast Churchrock Mine, kicking off a 30-day public comment period.

Two public meetings to discuss the cleanup alternatives will be held at Pinedale Chapter House on June 23 and July 7. Both are scheduled 6-8 p.m.

EPA’s preference for addressing potential exposure risks from radium- and uranium-contaminated soils is to move all the contaminated waste material from the mine to an existing disposal cell at the United Nuclear Corp. mill site or to a newly constructed cell at the UNC mill facility. Any cell would be lined and capped and would receive long-term monitoring.

The waste would include ore, waste rock, buildings, foundations, adjacent soil and contaminated sediment.

Waste with a high concentration of radium and uranium would be transported to an off-site licensed disposal facility such as the one at Grandview, Idaho, where previously excavated soils from residences at Red Water Pond Road were taken after removal in 2007.

Once the waste has been removed, the mine site would be restored for livestock grazing, according to EPA.

The federal agency has identified five potential ways to address contamination at the site and may select a combination of alternatives in its final decision.

The alternatives include: No action; excavation and disposal of all site wastes at an off-site facility; consolidation and covering of mine wastes on-site; construction of an on-site above-ground capped and lined repository; and consolidating the mine wastes in a capped and lined repository at the UNC mill facility.

Regardless of EPA’s preference, a final decision will not be determined until after the close of the public comment period.

Comments will be reviewed, considered and addressed in a written response summary.

The Northeast Churchrock Mine site is located primarily on tribal trust land, while a small portion is within the Navajo Nation’s boundaries. The site was mined between 1968 and 1982 by UNC.

Radium and uranium are the primary contaminants of concern. Radiation and heavy metals from years of mining at the site may pose a significant health and environmental risk.

Individuals may be exposed through air, soil, surface water, sediment, and by eating plants or animals impacted by the site.

The mine is the highest priority site among the 520 abandoned uranium mines on the reservation identified by Navajo Nation EPA and U.S EPA. Northeast Churchrock Mine was the largest underground uranium mine in the country and radioactive waste piles continue to spread into the wash and onto land surrounding several homes located adjacent to the mine.

The total cost for EPA’s preferred cleanup alternative is $44.3 million.

The Engineering Evaluation and Cost Analysis documents are available locally at the Octavia Fellin Public Library, 115 W. Hill Ave., Gallup; and Navajo Nation Library, 204 Post Office Loop Road, Window Rock.

Information: www.epa.gov/region09/NECR.