Technical Note
ORP/LV-75-2
RADIATION SURVEY OF DWELLINGS IN CANE VALLEY, ARIZONA
AND UTAH, FOR USE OF TTRANIUM MILL TAILINGS
Joseph M. Hans, Jr.
Richard L. Douglas
August 1975
U. S. Environmental Protection Agency
Office of Radiation Programs
Las Vegas Facility
Las Vegas, Nevada 89114
-------
This report has been reviewed by the Office of
Radiation Programs-Las Vegas Facility, Environmental
Protection Agency, and approved for publication.
Mention of trade names or commercial products does
not constitute endorsement or recommendation for
use.
-------
Technical Note
ORP/LV-75-2
RADIATION SURVEY OF DWELLINGS IN CANE VALLEY, ARIZONA
AND UTAH, FOR USE OF URANIUM MILL TAILINGS
Joseph M. Hans, Jr.
Richard L. Douglas
August 1975
U. S. Environmental Protection Agency
Office of Radiation Programs
Las Vegas Facility
Las Vegas, Nevada 89114
-------
PREFACE
The Office of Radiation Programs of the Environmental
Protection Agency carries out a national program designed
to evaluate population exposure to ionizing and non-ionizing
radiation, and to promote development of controls necessary
to protect the public health and safety. This radiation
survey was undertaken to assess the extent of the use of
uranium mill tailings and ore in Cane Valley residences on
the Navajo Reservation and to evaluate the ensuing human
exposure as a result of their use. Readers of this report
are encouraged to inform the Office of Radiation Programs
of any omissions or errors. Comments or requests for fur-
ther information are also invited.
Donald W. Hendricks
Director, Office of
Radiation Programs, LVF
111
-------
LIST OF FIGURES
Page
Figure 1. LOCATIONS OF RESIDENTIAL RADIOLOGICAL
SURVEYS CONDUCTED IN MONUMENT VALLEY, ARIZONA
AND UTAH
Figure 2.
Figure 3
Figure 4
Figure 5
Figure 6
Figure 7
Figure 8
Figure 9
Figure 10
Figure 11
Figure 12
Figure 13
Figure 14
Figure 15
Figure 16
Figure 17
Figure 18
RESIDENTIAL LOCATION 1
ti ti 2
it it 3
•• H 4
II It C
M It 5
ii ii 7
n H 8
it tt g
it it 1Q
tt n
tt ti 12
•t n 13
tt 14
" " 15
LOCATION 16
RESIDENTIAL " 17
NED YAZZIE
TONY YAZZIE
BEN STANLEY
LUKE YAZZIE, SR.
ANNA ADEKAI (CLY)
DON WILSON
BELVA JOHNSON
THOMAS ADEKAI
JEAN YELLOWMAN
CECIL BLACK MOUNTAIN
WOODY BANAL I HOGANS
JESSIE BLACK
JUANITA BLACK
OSCAR SLOAN
BESSIE YELLOWMAN
ARTESIAN WELL
YELLOWMAN BE GAY
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
VI
-------
INTRODUCTION
A "screening" survey, conducted in early February 1975
by the Navajo Environmental Protection Commission (NEPC),
indicated the use of uranium mill tailings and uranium ore
in the construction of several dwellings in the Monument
Valley area. The dwellings are located on the Navajo Reser-
vation, approximately 17 miles southwest of Mexican Hat,
Utah, near the Vanadiunr-Gatporation of America's former
uranium mill site.
^
As a result of informal discussions with members of
NEPC and the Indian Health Service of the U.S. Public Health
Service (PHS, IHS), it was jointly decided to conduct a
follow-up survey of all the dwellings and structures in the
area for tailings and ore use and to measure the resulting
radiation exposures.
-------
SUMMARY
A radiation survey was conducted in the Cane Valley area
of Monument Valley, on the Navajo Reservation, to identify
dwellings in which uranium mill tailings had been used and
to assess the resulting radiation exposures. Sixteen of the
37 dwellings surveyed were found to have tailings and/or
uranium ore used in their construction. Tailings were used
in concrete floors, exterior stucco, mortar for stone footings,
cement floor patchings, and inside as cement "plaster".
Uranium ore was found in footings, walls, and in one fire-
place. Other structures, not used as dwellings, were also
identified as having tailings and ore use.
Gamma ray exposure rates were measured inside dwellings
and structures identified as having tailings and/or ore used
in their construction. Indoor radon progeny samples were
collected in occupied dwellings where practical.
-------
CONCLUSIONS
Uranium mill tailings and ore have been used extensively
for construction by the Cane Valley residents. The source
of the tailings and ore is the inactive uranium mill site (for-
merly operated by the Vanadium Corporation of America} and an
adjacent open-pit mine, which are located in the Valley. The
reason for their use is that the residents have unrestricted
access to the white sands of the tailings pile and the broken
stone at the mine and former ore storage area.
The most predominant use of tailings and ore was found
to be in residential structures and has resulted in elevated
radiation exposures to the occupants of these structures.
Tailings were incorporated directly into the floor, foundation
materials, and exterior stucco. This is not similar to their
use in dwellings in Grand Junction, Colorado, where they were
used primarily as bedding material for floors and foundations.(1)
The highest net average gamma exposure rate measured
three feet above an inside floor was 332 mR/yr and the high-
est net corrected average exposure rate at floor level was
402 mR/yr. If the tailings from the nearby Mexican Hat mill
site had been used, the exposure rates would have been in-
creased by nearly ten fold.
Indoor radon progeny samples collected in the Valley
residences were essentially "grab" samples and may not reflect
long-term averages. It is likely they are low because tem-
perate weather prevailed during the survey and the dwellings
were well ventilated. The highest indoor radon progeny level
measured during the survey was 0.046 net Working Level (WL).
In order to establish long-term indoor radon progeny
levels, "Track Etch" badges will be installed in selected,
occupied dwellings.(2)
-------
SURVEY PARTICIPANTS
Several Federal and State agencies and the Navajo
Nation, through NEPC, assisted the U. S. Environmental Pro-
tection Agency's Office of Radiation Programs--Las Vegas
Facility (EPA, ORP-LVF) staff in conducting the survey.
The participants and parent organizations are listed below:
Joseph M. Hans, Jr. EPA, ORP-LVF
Richard L. Douglas " " "
Dr. James K. Channell EPA, Region IX
Jack Womack PHS, IHS
Albert Bailey " "
John L. Thompson " "
Ray Van Ostran " "
Ralph B. Ochoa Arizona Atomic Energy Commission
Thomas A. Schell " " " "
Benjamin Manygoats NEPC
PURPOSE OF SURVEY
The survey was conducted to determine the extent of
use of uranium mill tailings and uranium ore in structures
in and around Cane Valley, and to assess the resulting
potential human exposures. Specific objectives of the
survey are listed below:
1. To confirm the findings of the "screening" survey.
2. To screen other structures in and around Cane
Valley for tailings and ore use.
3. To measure the ambient exposure rates in structures
containing tailings and ore.
4. To screen dwellings containing tailings and/or ore
for indoor radon progeny levels.
5. To assess the need for any additional sampling or
measurement followup.
-------
SURVEY EQUIPMENT AND USE
Several types of radiation survey equipment were used
to identify structures containing tailings and/or ore.
They are listed and briefly described below, along with
how they were used in the survey:
Pressurized Ion Chamber
A pressurized ion chamber (Reuter-Stokes RS-111) is an
exposure rate measuring device capable of evaluating exposure
rates in the microroentgen per hour range. It was used to
measure exposure rates three feet above ground and floor
levels inside and outside of structures.
Shielded Scintillometer
A shielded scintillometer is a rate meter (Baird Atomic
NE-148) utilizing a sodium iodide crystal as a detector and
is capable of measuring relative exposure rates in the micro-
roentgen per hour range. A sliding shield was used in con-
junction with the scintillometer, which could be interposed
between the detector and an object being measured. Measure-
ments were taken dn contact with objects (floors, walls, founda-
tions, etc.) of interest with (closed reading) and without (open
reading) the shield in place. The magnitude of the differ-
ence of the two readings (A) gave an indication of whether
tailings and/or ore were or were not present in the object.
An estimate of the true net exposure rate was made
by subtracting a background value from an open reading and
multiplying the difference by 0.56 and adding 0.9.(1) This
instrument was used to determine the presence of tailings
and/or ore and to estimate the Ground-Floor Gamma (GFG)
exposure rates.
Radon Progeny Air Samplers
A radon progeny air sampler is a particulate air sam-
pler which collects radon progeny on a filter. A known frac-
tion of the energy of ionizing radiation emitted by the
radon progeny is stored in the thermoluminescent dosimeters
These dosimeters are "interrogated" and the resulting energy
deposition is expressed in terms of Working Level (WL). One
(WL) is defined as any combination of radon daughters in one
liter of air that will result in the ultimate emission of 1.3 x
105 MeV of potential alpha energy.
-------
These samplers were used to screen occupied structures
for high (WL) values and to serve as indicators for the need
for further sampling.
Portable Generators
^
Since no electrical power is available in Cane valley,
gasoline-engine portable electric generators were used to
provide power for the indoor radon progeny samplers.
SURVEY PROCEDURES
A Navajo Chapter member, representing the Cane Valley
residents, was requested, by NEPC, to advise the residents
that radiological surveys would be made in and around their
dwellings.
An orientation session was conducted for the survey
team participants at the Mexican Hat uranium mill site to
review instrument operation and develop survey procedures.
The team was divided into two groups. One group, with an
interpreter, proceeded to screen structures and dwellings
in and around the Valley for tailings and ore use. The
remaining group conducted surveys on dwellings previously
identified as containing tailings and/or ore.
Many of the Valley residents live in family clusters
and these clusters were identified as residential locations
in the survey. Permission was requested from the family
head to survey the structures in the clusters. The names
and ages of the occupants were recorded, where possible,
and measurements with the shielded scintillometer were
made in and around the dwellings to determine if ore or
tailings were used for construction or other purposes. If
the use of ore or tailings was indicated, pressurized ion
chamber measurements were made, where possible, inside the
dwellings to determine the ambient exposure rate at three
feet above the floors.
After tailings use was confirmed and exposure rate
levels were measured, indoor radon progeny samplers were
placed in occupied structures. The samplers were removed
the following day and placed in other occupied structures
and the cycle was repeated.
-------
Background measurements were made with pressurized ion
chambers at several locations off the road and away from
washes in the Valley. These and the residential locations
are indicated on the Monument Valley map (Figure 1).
Water samples were collected from one artesian and fou'r
hand-pumped wells during the Valley surveys. Radium-226
concentrations are listed in Table 1.
SURVEY RESULTS
Table 2 provides a summary of the 17 locations surveyed.
The survey results at each location are discussed
individually. A sketch of the structures at each location
is included with measurements indicated at the approximate
point where they were made. Scintillometer measurements
are indicated by triangles. Gross, uncorrected, unshielded
measurements are on the left side and gross, uncorrected,
shielded measurements are on the right side of the triangles.
The difference between these two measurements is indicated
in the center of the triangle and letters beneath the tri-
angles indicate the object measured. A difference or A value
greater than two indicates the presence of tailings and/or
ore.
-------
Table 1. RADIUM-226 CONCENTRATIONS
IN CANE VALLEY WELL WATER
Location Number Radium-226 CpCi/1)
16 0-25
15 °-36
8 0.11
6 0.15
A 0.11
-------
Table 2. SUMMARY OF LOCATIONS SURVEYED
Location
Number
1
2
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
Owner/Occupant
Ned Yazzie
Tony Yazzie
Ben Stanley
Luke Yazzie
Anna Adekai (Cly)
Don Wilson
Belva Johnson
Thomas Adekai
Jean Yellowman
Residential
Structures
Surveyed
2
3
2
2
3
1
1
4
Cecil Blackmountain
Woody Benali
Jesse Black
Juanita Black (Jackson)
Oscar Sloan
Bessie Yellowman
Yellowman Begay
2
4
1
1
3
4
Residential
Structures With
Tailings Use
1
2
1
2
1
0
0
1
2
0
1
1
1
0
Comments
Highest measurements.
Includes house under
construction.
Includes house under
construction.
Tailings used in open-
log structure used as
summer house.
Ore; no tailings.
Well structure had
tailings use.
Artesian well structure
had tailings use.
Locations 9-11 and 15-17 are in Utah;
the others are in Arizona.
-------
Pressurized ion chamber (PIC) measurements are indi-
cated with circles and the value in the circle is the net
exposure rate at three feet above the floor or ground. A
legend, attached to each sketch, provides a key for each
type of measurement and orientation of the -structures.
The discussion contains pertinent information concern-
ing the locations and a summary of the indicated radiation
measurements. The summary includes net working level (WL)
values and PIC and GFG exposure rates extrapolated to an
annual basis. The latter is the•average net corrected,
unshielded scintillometer measurement on floors. Other
appropriate measurements and available family information is
included in the discussion.
Residential Location 1 - Ned Yazzie
Two occupied structures are at this location. One is
a 13-year-old frame house and the other is a hogan, which
was found to contain no ore or tailings. Tailings were
found to have been used in stucco on all four walls of the
the house and in cement used in the floors, including the
patio. In addition, some tailings have been lost or spread
on the ground around the patio and also incorporated into
the patio slab.
Twelve persons reside at this location, including two
five-year-olds and three teenagers.
House
High (mR/yr) Low (mP./yr) Average
PIC 393 253 332
RFG 594 349 402
(WL) - 0.046 for sampling time of 23.6 hours
Residential Location 2 - Tony Yazzie
Four structures are at this location of which two are
used for occupancy by eight adults and two children, one is
used for storage, and one is a house under , construct ion.
10
-------
Storage Shed
High (mR/yr) Low (mR/yr) Average QnR/yr)
PIC 183 96 140
GFG 314 169 241
Tailings and/or ore are suspected to have been used
beneath the wood floor in the storage shed because of large
A values and elevated PIC measurements. In addition, tail-
ings have been used in the outside slab and appear to have
been spread on the ground behind this structure. Approximately
100 feet west of this structure is an artesian well" which
has tailings used in cement around its casing.
North House
High (mR/yr) Low (mR/yr) Average (mR/yr)
PIC
east side 131 70 102
GFG
east side - - 169
PIC
west side - - 35
GFG
westside - - 18
The house on the north side of this location is occu-
pied and has tailings and/or ore used in the floor of the
east side. A fireplace, constructed from ore, was voluntarily
removed by the owner. The west side is used for sleeping
quarters and the east side is used for family activities.
Indoor radon progeny sampling on the east side for 18 hours
indicated a net of 0.0017 (WL).
Southeast House
High (mR/yr) Low (mR/yr) Average (mR/yr)
PIC 35 17 26
The southeast house is also occupied, but no tailings
or ore were found in or immediately adjacent to the structure.
However, gamma exposures were above background, which is
probably due to tailings in the driveway and "shine" from
the mill tailings pile. An indoor radon progeny sample was
collected in this structure to determine a background
which was 0.0029 (WL).
11
-------
Southwest House
A frame house is under construction on the southwest
side of this location. Mortar used in the stone foundation
contains some tailings but does not appear to have increased
the ambient exposure rate inside the structure.
Residential Location 3 - Ben Stanley
Two structures are at this location. One is under con-
struction and the other has ten occupants. Eight of the
ten are less than 13 years old.
North Structure
High (mR/yr) Low (mR/yr) Average (mR/yr)
PIC 17 17 17
GFG Bckgrnd Bckgrnd Bckgrnd
Some tailings were present in the mortar used for the
foundation in the house under construction. Indoor radon
progeny sampling for 23 hours indicated a net of 0.011 (WL).
PIC measurements indicated exposure rates slightly above
background due to tailings use and proximity to the mill
tailings site. No tailings or ore were found to have been
used in the floor.
South Structure
High (mR/yr) Low (mR/yr) Average (mR/yr)
PIC - - 79
GFG 120 62 • 80
Tailings and/or ore have been used in the floor of the
occupied structure on the south side of this location and
the outside entrance slab. Radon progeny sampling for 23
hours indicated a net 0.0025 (WL).
12
-------
Residential Location 4 - Luke Yazzie. Sr.
Three structures are at this location, one of which
is a storage shed. The other two are occupied by four
adults and four children, under 14 years of age.
NorthStructure
High (mR/yr) Low (mR/yr) Average (mR/yr)
PIC 26 26 26
The structure on the north side of the location was
found free of tailings use; however, several pieces of
ore were used for the foundation. Indoor gamma exposure
rates were above background and were essentially the same
as outdoor exposure rates. This is probably due to the
close proximity of the uranium mill tailings pile.
Hog an
High (mR/yr) Low (mR/yr) Average (mR/yr)
PIC - - 70
Tailings were used for cement finishing on the walls
inside the hogan. An indoor radon progeny sample collected
for 13 hours indicated a net 0.0042 (WL).
A well, located approximately 200 feet west of the
hogan, had tailings used in its construction. The storage
shed was found to be free of ore and tailings.
Residential Location 5 - Anna Adekai (Cly)
Two structures, occupied by eight adults and one infant,
are at this location. Both structures are approximately the
same size and have the same type of construction.
North Structure
High (mR/yr) Low (mR/yr) Average (mR/yr)
PIC 44 35 40
GFG 23 13 17
13
-------
Tailings and/or ore have been used in the foundation
of this structure. It also appears that a small quantity
of tailings have been used in the exterior stucco on the
north wall. There is no indication of tailings or ore
beneath the wood floors. Indoor radon progeny was sampled
for 21 hours indicating a net of 0.0002 (WL).
South Structure
High (mR/yr) Low (mR/yr) Average (mR/yr)
PIC 96 70 83
GFG 115 71 81
Tailings and/or ore appear to have been used beneath
the wood floors, in the stone foundation, and in the outdoor
step pad. Tailings also have been used in the outside stucco
on all four walls. A cement block foundation (about 1 foot
high) on the south side of the structure was found free of
tailings use. An indoor radon progeny sample collected for
13 hours indicated a net 0.0011 (WL).
Residential Location 6 - Don Wilson
Four structures at this location, three hogans and one
frame house, are occupied by three adults, four teenagers,
and two children (ages 7 and 4).
Frame House
High (mR/yr) Low (mR/yr) Average (mR/yr)
PIC 26 17 22
GFG 23 18 21
An indoor radon progeny level sampler operated for 15
hours indicated 0.0019 net (WL).
Tailings were used in exterior stucco and on all four
walls and appear to have been used in footing cement in the
frame house.
Hogans
No tailings or ore were found to have been used in the
hogans.
14
-------
Residential Location 7 - Belva Johnson
The two structures at this location consist of a wood
hogan with a dirt floor and a canvas-covered wood storage
shed. No indication of tailings or ore was found at this
location.
Residential Location 8 - Thomas Adekai
An adobe hogan and plywood building are the only struc-
tures at this location. No tailings or ore was found in or
around these structures.
Residential Location 9 - Jean Yellowman
No tailings or ore were found in the three hogans at
this location; however, tailings and ore have been used in
the log structure foundation as mortar and patching.
Occupancy of the loosely spaced log wall structure is
limited to summers because it is cooler than the hogans.
The owner indicated that tailings material had been used in
a former hogan.
Residential Location 10 - Cecil Blackmountain
Two structures at this location are used for occupancy;
however, no one was occupying the north structure and a
temporary occupant and family were using the south structure.
North Structure
High (mR/yr) Low (mR/yr) Average (mR/yr)
PIC 140 61 90
GFG 277 96 85
The north structure had tailings and/or ore used in
the cement floor. The (WL) value was background for a 20-
hour sample.
15
-------
Residential Location 11 - Woody Banali Hogans
No tailings use was found at this location; however,
ore has been used around the entryways on the outside of
the east and south hogans.
Residential Location 12 - Jessie Black
This residential structure, used as a summer house,
has tailings used for mortar for the concrete block walls
and in the concrete footing, as well as in the cement floor,
Tailings have also been used in the cemented log walls and
floor in the south section of the house. The foundation on
the south section probably contains tailings and/or ore.
Ore was found on the ground outside the south side of the
house.
/
Since the structure was unoccupied at the time of the
original survey, IMS staff returned at a later date to com-
plete the inside measurements. Since a PIC was not avail-
able, gamma ray exposure rates were measured with a scin-
tillometer three feet above the floor over the positions
ground-floor gamma exposure rates were made.
Summer House
High (mR/yr) Low (mR/yr) Average (mR/yr)
(Net corrected
scint. meas. @
3 ft. above floor) 169 67 113
GFG 228 96 149
An indoor radon progeny sample collected for 18 hours
indicated a net 0.0033 (WL).
Residential Location 13 - Juanita Black
The structure at this location is occupied by two
adults, three teenagers, and four children. Tailings have
been used in the stucco on the walls on the east side of
the house. It appears that some tailings and/or ore is
present beneath the wood flooring; also, tailings are on
the ground on the east and south sides of the house.
16
-------
House
High (mR/yip Low (mR/yr) Average (mR/yr)
PIC 61 44 52
GFG 47 37 44
Indoor radon progeny were sampled for 17.6 hours in
this structure, resulting in a net 0.0032 (WL) .
Residential Location 14 - Oscar Sloan
This residential location was not occupied during the
survey and only outside measurements could be made. Tailings
were found to have been used in the stucco on all four walls
of the center structure. They were also used in the mortar
for the patio stone floor.
Inside measurements were completed at a later date
by the IHS staff and the results of these measurements in-
dicate tailings have been used in the cement floor. Since a
PIC was not available, gamma ray exposure rates were measured
with the scintillometer three feet above the floor over the
positions ground-floor gamma exposure rates were made.
House
High (mR/yr) Low (mR/yr) Average (mR/yr)
(Net corrected
scint. meas. @
3 ft. above floor) 71 27 45
GFG 169 47 104
A seven-hour radon progeny sample, collected in the house,
indicated a net working level at background.
Hogan § South Structure
Both the hogan and the south structure were found to be
free of ore and tailings use.
17
-------
Residential Location 15 - Bessie Yellowman
No tailings or ore were found at the Yellowman residence.
The nearby Toh Dekais well has tailings and/or ore used in
its construction.
Location 16 - Artesian well
The well at this location has a six-foot high tank
(with a six-foot diameter) over the well. Tailings and/or
ore were used as construction materials for the tank foun-
dation. The well overflow is stored in a mortared stone crib
which also had tailings and/or ore used in its construction.
Residential Location 17 - Yellowman Begay
Two houses are occupied at this location. The one to the
southwest was found to have no tailings and/or ore used in its
construction. Some tailings are suspected to have been used
on the concrete floor slab on the east side of the northwest
house. Possible use was for leveling or finishing the slab.
No PIC measurements were made at this location.
Northwest House
*
High QnR/yr) Low (mR/yr) Average (mR/yr)
GFG .62 Background 28
A net 0.0019 (WL) value was measured for a 17-hour
sampling period for indoor radon progeny.
18
-------
REFERENCES
1. Use of Uranium Mill Tailings for Construction Purposes—
Hearings before the Subcommittee on Raw Materials of the
Joint Committee on Atomic Energy, Ninety-Second Congress,
First Session, October 28-29, 1971.
2. Carroll, J. L. and D. B. Lovett, Theoretical Relationships
of Track Densities in Track Etch Materials, NEDM-12137,
Nucleonics Laboratory, Vallecitos Nuclear Center, General
Electric Company, Pleasanton, California.
19
-------
LOCATIONS of RESIDENTIAL RADIOLOGICAL SURVEYS
CONDUCTED in MONUMENT VALLEY,
ARIZONA and UTAH
Figure 1
-------
RESIDENTIAL LOCATION 1
Ned Yazzie
_
"w"
23/\13
/10\
W
29/\17
'12^
W
^35>
FL
90A50
/40\ *
FL
70A40
/30\
W
FL
85/\50
/35\
FL
25
FL
1
80A45 90/\50 90/
FL FL FL
-II-
J20/V0
^30\ /60\
FL FL
lOO^O n^^5
/40\ /45\
FL Fl
35A19
W
18x44'
HOUSE - FRAME
WALL - STUCCO
FLOOR - CEMENT
*m*
w
©
FL
30
FL
FL
FL
21/\13
/8\
^
&
LEGEND
NE 148 (^R/hr)
FL.FD, W,G A-Open Shield
FL- Floor
FD - Foundation
W - Wa 11
G —Ground
Pressurized Ion Chamber
(Net AiR/hr)
DRAWINGS NOT TO SCALE
DISTANCES & DIMENSIONS ARE
APPROXIMATE
Figure 2
21
-------
RESIDENTIAL LOCATION 2
Tony Yazzie
35/\J3
/22\
G
70A40
/30\
FL
I
45'x2O'
FL
35AI7
FL WELL" 100'
H »-
30
FL
40
I 20x20'
HOUSE - FRAME
FOUNDATION - STONE
0
45/V35
10^
0
0
STORAGE SHED - FRAME
FLOOR - WOOD
FOUNDATION - STONE
HOU
FOUND*
pE - UNFINISHED FRAME
FLOOR - WOOD
TION - STONE & CEMENT
f^\ 25' x 30"
LEGEND
NE-148 (^R/hr)
A-Open Shield
B-Closed Shield
C-(A-B)
FL- Floor
FD — Foundation
W-Wall
G —Ground
Pressurized Ion Chamber
(Net pR/hr)
DRAWINGS NOT TO SCALE
DISTANCES & DIMENSIONS ARE
APPROXIMATE
Figure 3
22
0
40/\25
/15\
Fl
SHADE
ROOF
(0 )
* 4V> * • • • A ft ^^ 4% f
TAILINGS
HOUSE - FRAME
FLOOR - SLAB
O
'& :
FL
S
HX1
Dt
FL
©
20' x 20'
; ROOF
-------
'A
FD
A
o
A
RESIDENTIAL LOCATION 3 Ben Stanley
FD
y\5
Fl
©
/ 1\
FL
y^
F10
FL
0
0
*A5 ^
/'N s~\
FL 0
^
(2j|
r
0
Fl Fl
FD 4Q\ 20'
HOUSE - FRAME
FLOOR - CEMENT
FOUNDATION - STONE
A
G
FD
70A
LEGEND
/(N^ NE-148 (^R/hr)
FL,FD,W,G A-Open Shield
V B- Closed Shield
^ C-(A-B)
T FL— Floor
V^9B!V_/ Cf\ C J »•
XfffX FD - Foundation
^Jgg) W-Wall
>Q5( G- Ground
O Pressurized Ion Chamber
(Net >jR/hr)
DRAWINGS NOT TO SCALE
DISTANCES & DIMENSIONS ARE
APPROXIMATE
*^r r n VI/A i mn t c
A
FL
/ \ •* \
^13\
2A
FL
'A
FL
0
'A
FL
'&
/12\
FL
^
&
FL
16'x 16
HOUSE - FRAME
FLOOR - CEMENT
FOUNDATION -CEMENT
WALL - STUCCO
0
SHADE ROOF
Figure 4
23
-------
RESIDENTIAL LOCATION 4
Luke Yazzie, SR
©
©
©
©
26 x 16
FOUNDATION - ROCK
HOUSE - FRAME
FLOOR - WOOD
© J ©
WALL - CELEX &
WIRE MESH
ORE LYING UNDER HOUSE
WALL - STONE & CEMENT
ROOF - BOARDS & TARPAPER
FLOOR - CEMENT & STONE
©
WELL 2OO'
W
©
>IOO'
STORAGE SHED
15' x 1O'
LEGEND
NE-148 (;uR/hr)
A-Open Shield
B-Closed Shield
C-(A-B)
FL-Floor
FD — Foundation
W-Wall
G- Ground
Pressurized Ion Chamber
(Net juR/hr)
DRAWINGS NOT TO SCALE
DISTANCES & DIMENSIONS ARE
APPROXIMATE
Figure 5
24
-------
RESIDENTIAL LOCATION 5
O Anna Adekai (Cly)
130
25/M9
0
30/\20
no
w
10A8
FL
FL I4'x28'
HOUSE - FRAME
WALL - STUCCO
FLOOR - WOOD
FOUNDATION-STONE
FL
h
8' x 14'
TARPAPER
COVERED
ADDITION
DIRT FLOOR
23^,5
W
* 0
LEGEND
NE-148
FL.FD, W,G A-Open Shield
,. B-Closed Shield
C-(A-B)
FL- Floor
FD - Foundation
W-Wall
G — Ground
O
Pressurized Ion Chamber
(Net
DRAWINGS NOT TO SCALE
DISTANCES & DIMENSIONS ARE
APPROXIMATE
W
FD
O
Figure 6
25
2£
6
0
21A17
FL
29/V20
GO
|?Al5 24yv ,6
/4\ /8\
W FD
BLOCK FOUNDATION
2' x 3'
CD
4#X°
FL
^ *
I4'x28'
HOUSE - FRAME
^^^^ |/^/<%/<\
WALL - STUCCO
FLOOR - WOOD
FOUNDATION -
STONE
-------
RESIDENTIAL LOCATION 6 Don Wilson
w
w
12' x 16'
HOUSE - FRAME
WALL - STUCCO
FLOOR - CEMENT
? s~\
& 0
0
'M°
FD
O6 & MUC
V HOGAN I
BACKSROUND
LEGEND
NE-148
FL,FD,W,G A-Open Shield
B-Closed Shield
C-(A-B)
FL- Floor
FD — Foundation
W-Wall
G — Ground
Pressurized Ion Chamber
(Net >jR/hr)
DRAWINGS NOT TO SCALE
DISTANCES & DIMENSIONS ARE
APPROXIMATE
15' dia
STORAGE
HOGAN
BACKGROUND
WALL - STONE
ROOF - WOOD & DIRT
W
Figure 7
26
-------
RESIDENTIAL LOCATION 7 Belva Johnson
AREA & BUILDINGS AT BACKGROUND
WOOD &
TARPAPER
STORAGE
1O' xlO'
Figure 8
27
-------
RESIDENTIAL LOCATION 8 Thomas Adekai
AREA & BUILDINGS AT BACKGROUND
PLYWOOD
BUILDING
1O' x1O'
Figure 9
28
-------
RESIDENTIAL LOCATDN 9
Jean Yellowman
EXISTING HOGANS
AT BACKGROUND
Fl,FD,W,G
.V
2SgL
!$QF'
LEGEND
NE-148 (pR/hr)
A-Open Shield
B- Closed Shield
C-(A-B)
FL- Floor
FD ~~ Foundation
W-Wall
G "Ground
O Pressurized Ion Chamber
(Net >uR/hr)
DRAWINGS NOT TO SCALE
DISTANCES & DIMENSIONS ARE
APPROXIMATE
£50'
ISA") f
i A
/ 3\
FD
/ * \ ^
FD r
CABIN
A
/2\ :
FLOOR - DIRT
WALLS - LOG
29/\15
/14\
FD
23/M5
ZiA
FD
Figure 10
29
-------
RESIDENTIAL LOCATION 10
Cecil Black Mountain
15' x 18'
HOUSE - FRAME
FLOOR - CEMENT
35
22
FL
FL
r4"
•••••
FL
38A30
Z§^
FL
FL
WALLS - WOOD
FLOOR - DIRT
(NO ROOF)
100
W
23A14
FD
'W°
FL
O ,3 ,
FL FL
30' x 15'
HOUSE - FRAME
FLOOR - CEMENT
FL FL
M3j M3j
8/V
FL /3\
FL
0
FL
=OUNDATION
- STONE
)
LEGEND
/C\ NE 148 (^R/hr)
FL,FD,W,G A-Open Shield
, B Closed Shield
A C-(A-B)
FL- Floor
y2 fj£ FD ' Foundation
*~ »} W - Wa 1 1
>5 y* G- Ground
O Pressurized Ion Chamber
(Net yuR/hr)
DRAWINGS NOT TO SCALE
DISTANCES & DIMENSIONS ARE
APPROXIMATE
Figure 11
30
-------
RESIDENTIAL LOCATION 11
Woody Banali Hogans
ALL READINGS BACK6ROUND
EXCEPT ORE ROCKS AT
DOORWAYS, AS SHOWN
PARTIALLY
BURIED
HO6AN
20' dia
ORE
155A50
LEGEND
NE 148 (juR/hr)
A-Open Shield
B-Closed Shield
C-(A-B)
Fl- Floor
FD — Foundation
W-Wall
G — Ground
Pressurized Ion Chamber
(Net AiR/hr)
DRAWINGS NOT TO SCALE
DISTANCES & DIMENSIONS ARE
APPROXIMATE
Figure 12
31
-------
RESIDENTIAL LOCATION 12 Jessie Black
25A21
/4\
FL
10
FL
3,R/hr)
Fl,FD,W,G A-Open Shield
B- Closed Shield
C-(A-B)
FL- Floor
FD - Foundation
W-Wall
G- Ground
Pressurized Ion Chamber
(Net pR/hr)
DRAWINGS NOT TO SCALE
DISTANCES & DIMENSIONS ARE
APPROXIMATE
-------
RESIDENTIAL LOCATION 14
25' x 25'
HOUSE - FRAME
WALLS - STUCCO
FLOOR - CEMENT
Oscar Sloan
HO6AN AND SHADE ROOF
AT BACKGROUND
16A10
Z*A
w
25'
w
no"
i^BBM
FL
61
••••
FL
35A30 25A20 30A20
'5\ /to\
FL
FL
FL
w/ws 2y\7 iyv3
FL FL FL
STONE
PATIO
WAIT
4
&
Figure 15
34
LEGEND
NE-148
A Open Shield
B-Closed Shield
C-(A-B)
FL-Floor
FD — Foundation
W-Wall
G —Ground
Pressurized Ion Chamber
(Net >jR/hr)
DRAWINGS NOT TO SCALE
DISTANCES & DIMENSIONS ARE
APPROXIMATE
.STONE MEASUREMENT
MORTAR MEASUREMENT
I6'x 30'
HOUSE - FRAME
NO TAILINGS USED
IN CONSTRUCTION
-------
RESIDENTIAL LOCATION t5
Bessie Yellowman
TOH DEKAIS WELL PROJECT NO. 8-8-3, 4/7/69
3'x3'
MORTARED
STONE
40A19
/21\
PUMP
6'x6'
CONCRETE SLAB
MANHOLE COVER
FL
O
LEGEND
NE-148
A-Open Shield
B- Closed Shield
C-(A-B)
FL- Floor
FD - Foundation
W-Wall
G — Ground
• Pressurized Ion Chamber
(Net /jR/hr)
DRAWINGS NOT TO SCALE
DISTANCES & DIMENSIONS ARE
APPROXIMATE
YELLOWMAN DWELLING (NOT SHOWN)
NO TAILINGS USED IN CONSTRUCTION
Figure 16
35
-------
LOCATION 16
ARTESIAN WELL
Completed April 5, 1968
METAL TANK
OVER WELL
3'x3'
MORTARED
STONE
CRIB
NE-U8 (^.R/hr)
A-Open Shield
B-Closed Shield
C-(A-B)
FL- Floor
FD - Foundation
W-Wall
G — Ground
Pressurized Ion Chamber
(Net /uR/hr)
DRAWINGS NOT TO SCALE
DISTANCES & DIMENSIONS ARE
APPROXIMATE
Figure 17
36
-------
RESIDENTIAL LOCATION 17 Yellowman Begay
_
FL
FL
40 x 20
HOUSE- FRAME
FLOOR - SLAB
FL
300 TO SECOND HOUSE
NO TAILINGS USED IN CONSTRUCTION
OLD
STONE
FOUNDATION
SLAB
LEGEND
NE 148 (>,R/hr)
A-Open Shield
B-Closed Shield
C-(A-B)
Fl- Floor
FD - Foundation
W-Wall
G — Ground
Pressurized Ion Chamber
(Net ;uR/hr)
DRAWINGS NOT TO SCALE
DISTANCES & DIMENSIONS ARE
APPROXIMATE
S60*
I I I
SHADE
ROOF
SHADE ROOF
AT BACKGROUND
Figure 18
37
-------
TECHNICAL REPORT DATA
(Please read Instructions on the reverse before completing)
1. REPORT NO.
ORP/LV-75-2
3. RECIPIENT'S ACCESSION-NO.
4. TITLE AND SUBTITLE
Radiation Survey Of Dwellings In Cane Valley,
Arizona And Utah, For Use Of Uranium Mill
Tailings
5. REPORT DATE
August 1975
6. PERFORMING ORGANIZATION CODE
7. AUTHOR(S)
Joseph M. Hans, Jr. and Richard L. Douglas
8. PERFORMING ORGANIZATION REPORT NO.
9. PERFORMING ORG \NIZATION NAME AND ADDRESS
Office of Radiation Programs-Las Vegas Facilit)
U. S. Environmental Protection Agency
Las Vegas, Nevada 89114
10. PROGRAM ELEMENT NO.
11. CONTRACT/GRANT NO.
12. SPONSORING AGENCY NAME AND ADDRESS
Office of Radiation Programs-Las Vegas Facilit}
U. S. Environmental Protection Agency
Las Vegas, Nevada 89114
13. TYPE OF REPORT AND PERIOD COVERED
Technical Note - Final
14. SPONSORING AGENCY CODE
15. SUPPLEMENTARY NOTES
16. ABSTRACT
A radiation survey was conducted in the Cane Valley area
of Monument Valley, on the Navajo Reservation, to identify
dwellings in which uranium mill tailings had been used and
to assess the resulting radiation exposures. Sixteen of the
37 dwellings surveyed were found to have tailings and/or
uranium ore used in their construction. Tailings were used
in concrete floors, exterior stucco, mortar for stone footings,
cement floor patchings, and inside as cement "plaster".
Uranium ore was found in footings, walls, and in one fire-
place. Other structures, not used as dwellings, were also
identified as having tailings and ore use.
Gamma ray exposure rates were measured inside dwellings
and structures identified as having tailings and/or ore used
in their construction. Indoor radon progeny samples were
collected in occupied dwellings where practical.
7.
KEY WORDS AND DOCUMENT ANALYSIS
DESCRIPTORS
b.lDENTIFIERS/OPEN ENDED TERMS
c. COSATI Field/Group
Uranium Isotopes
Radioactive Wastes
Irradiation
Uranium Mill Tailing;
Population Radiation
Exposure
Cane Valley, Arizona
Utah
1802
1807
1808
S. DISTRIBUTION STATEMENT
Release to public
19. SECURITY CLASS (ThisReport)
Unclassified
21. NO. OF PAGES
37
20. SECURITY CLASS (This pageJ
Unclassified
22. PRICE
EPA Form 2220-1 (9-73)
------- |