NAVAJO NATION ABANDONED URANIUM MINES U.S. Environmental Protection Agency • Region 9 • San Francisco, CA • March 2018 USEPA Addresses Erosion at the Former Cove Transfer Station #1 Site Background Uranium ore was mined throughout the Lukachakai Mountains (near the Cove/Red Valley Chapters of Navajo Nation) from 1950 to 1967. The Cove Transfer Station #1 site was used as a mining company's field camp and ore transfer station for this mining work. Uranium ore was stored at the site temporarily before it was moved to a nearby mill to be processed. Current Activity U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) excavated parts of the site contaminated by mining activity from September to November 2012. About 12,370 cubic yards of soil and native vegetation were removed. After the removal, intense rain storms caused sections of the site to slope and nearby areas became highly-eroded. This ero- sion formed small channels and gullies throughout much of the site. In September 2017, USEPA completed work at the site (see page 2 for more information) to prevent surface erosion at the former transfer area. BEFORE (October 2016): Eroded soil at the base of the site. AFTER (November 2017): Stabilized slope and restored drainage channel made of rock material. xvEPA ------- Construction Area •. v ^ I&mp' ssi&j#**! - s , - i*'', .(•) Water Tower I -¦¦ •••¦^ Cove Day School Aerial photo of the site. Erosion repair work at the site included: • stabilizing slopes on-site; • constructing water diversion channels; • restoring a roadside ditch with rock material; • removing dead or dying vegetation; • re-vegetating the site slope with seeds and young plants; and • installing an on-site water tank to drip-irrigate plants until they are grown. The site will be inspected in Spring 2018 to determine if any maintenance is needed. Utah Arizona Colorach New Me. poute 33 Cove Transfer Stations The former CoveTransfer Station #1 is located in Cove Chapter, Apache County, Arizona on the Navajo Nation. For More Information If you have questions about work at the former Cove Transfer Station #1 site, please contact: Chip Poalinelli Remedial Project Manager USEPA Region 9 (415) 972-3390 poalinelli.edwin@epa.gov Secody Hubbard For more information visit: Community Involvement Coordinator wvtw.epa.gov/navaio-nation- USEPA Region 9 uranium-cleanup/cove-arizona- (415)972-3241 mines-cleanup hubbard.secody@epa.gov ------- |