Northeast Churchrock Mine cleanup plan under fire

Copyright © 2009
Gallup Independent
By Kathy Helms
Diné Bureau

CHURCHROCK — The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency presented its cleanup plan for Northeast Churchrock Mine to a lively group of concerned individuals and Navajo Environmental Protection Agency officials Tuesday evening at Churchrock Chapter House.

Andrew Bain, remedial project manager with EPA’s Superfund Division, fielded questions regarding its preferred cleanup alternative which calls for excavation of all mine waste soil and sediments exceeding 2.24 picocuries per gram of radium and consolidating them in a disposal cell on the United Nuclear Corp. mill site, or constructing a new cell at the mill.

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