&EPA TseTah Area Mines Updates U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Francisco, March TseTah is in the Northern Abandoned Uranium Mine (AUM) Region and includes the following chapters: Sweetwater, Teec Nos Pos, and Red Mesa Background Funds are available to assess and clean up 31 abandoned uranium mines in Tse Tah, 81 percent of the mines in Tse Tah. Funds are also available to assess and clean up 11 mines near Tse Tah (see Map A for locations). Funds to assess and clean up the mines are provided by: two legal settlements between Navajo Nation and the United States (more information below); a legal settlement with Cyprus Amax Minerals Company (Cyprus Amax); the Tronox legal settlement for mines operated by Kerr-McGee Corporation. Uranium was mined in the Tse Tah area from the 1940s to 1960s. Beginning in the 1990s, the Navajo Nation Abandoned Mine Lands Reclamation Program addressed physical hazards at these mines. Under the direction of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA), detailed investigations, or Removal Site Evaluations (RSEs), are being conducted at 24 funded mines. Phase 1 Trustee's team of experts assessing soil samples at Tse Tah abandoned uranium mine. Settlement Name Number of Funded Mines Superfund Process Status In Tse Tah Near Tse Tah Phase 1 and Phase 2 Settlements (limited to mine cleanups, as needed) 3 1 Removal Site Evaluations (RSEs) for four Trustee 1 mines completed in October 2018 Cyprus Amax 27 9 RSEs for 18 mines to be completed in late 2019 Tronox 1 1 RSEs for two mines to be completed in late 2019 Total 31 11 Legal Agreements and the Superfund Cleanup Process Phase 1 and Phase 2 Trusts Four of the mines being assessed in and near Tse Tah are among 16 mines being assessed under the "Phase 1" legal settlement between the Navajo Nation and the United States. Sadie Hoskie is the trustee implementing the Phase 1 Trust. The results of the Phase 1 assessments in the Tse Tah area are included in RSEs and were shared with the community in fall 2018. The mines assessed by the Phase 1 Trustee will be cleaned up using funds provided for in the Phase 2 PO Trust, as part of the Phase 2 Settlement. A trustee for this work has not yet been selected. Cyprus Amax Minerals Company Settlement In 2017, the United States and the Navajo Nation entered into a historic settlement agreement with Freeport-McMoRan subsidiaries Cyprus Amax and Western Nuclear Inc. The settlement funds the assessment and cleanup of 94 abandoned uranium mines on the Navajo Nation, including 36 mines in and near Tse Tah. Cyprus Amax is currently finishing detailed investigations (RSEs) at 18 of these mines in Tse Tah. Tronox Settlement In 2015, the United States entered into a historic legal settlement that provides almost $1 billion to investigate and clean up approximately 50 abandoned uranium mines on or near Navajo Nation that were operated by Kerr-McGee and its successor, Tronox. Two of these mines are in or near Tse Tah. ------- Block K Wilbur Sells Nos. 4A and 5A i Silentman 1 McKenzie 3 Hoskie Henry Black Rock Point Mine's NA-0917A Tse079 North Martin Jimmie Bileen 1 Martin Mine and'Georgey Simpson No.'l 1. Graver Cleveland 1 George Simpson 1 Incline Rattlesnake i No. 8 Saytah arson Last Chance NA-0926 UtaiV A r i zs o n a ^ f , / / , V r- *&'.i / Cyprus Amax - First Component Cyprus Amax - Later Component Iron ox Trust - Phase 1 Other Priority Mine [ j US State Chapter House Roads Map Sweetwater I Area Tracks Stream Source Esn Digital GIS Us mm and the Navajo Nation - Tse Tah Abandoned Uranium Mine Sites and Current Settlements March 15, 2018 ^EDSr^ [Miles ------- Capitan Benally No. 4A Barton 3 Brodie 1 Sweetwater See Other Side for Map Details CBW-MC Mine Melvin Benally No. 1 Saytah Canyon Eurida Mine and East Workings John Lee Benally W A . i Rattlesna No. 1 Cyprus Amax - First Component Cyprus Amax - Later Component Tronox Trust - Phase 1 Other Chapter House US Highway Roads Streams NA 0505B Navajo Nation All Abandoned Uranium Mine Sites ',u ree.ii brsri^njjG Elljlllll User Comrnunit, Navajo Nation - Tse I ah Abandoned Uranium Mine Sites and Current Settlements % March 15, 2018 (Miles ------- What Has Been Done? Legal settlements have been reached to provide funds to assess, evaluate, design and clean up 42 mines. USEPA met with chapter officials, hosted two informational meetings for the Tse Tah communities, and began developing a Community Involvement Plan. The Phase 1 Trustee completed RSEs for four mines, shared results with the communities and heard comments on October 23, 2018. What is Happening Now? USEPA will have a Community Involvement Plan by Spring 2019. Cyprus Amax is finishing field work to investigate 18 mines. USEPA is conducting field work to investigate two mines funded by the Tronox settlement. A community Liaison will be hired for Tse Tah area. What Happens Next? In early 2019, USEPA will finalize and implement the Community Involvement Plan and share it with the community. Cyprus Amax will complete investigations at 5 mines in 2018 and 13 mines in 2019. USEPA will complete investigations at two Tronox mines. Once RSE reports are complete: > the risk the mines pose to people and the environment will be assessed; > cleanup alternatives will be evaluated; > a final cleanup alternative will be selected; and > the mines will be cleaned up. USEPA will continue to investigate companies responsible for all other mines not currently funded. Superfund Process on the Navajo Nation Assessment Decision Making Cleanup Access Agreements /f* Resources Surveys T Signs and Fences £jl s ns - SsF sa = Removal Site Evaluation Engineering Evaluation / Cost Analysis Public Comment Period Action Memorandum Removal Design Removal Action m Community Involvement and planning for a site's future are ongoing throughout the process Coordination with the Navajo Nation government including NNEPA, Navajo AML, and the Dine Uranium Remediation Advisory Commission KEEP OUT Ba ha dzid - Doo Ko ne na adaa da ® 5? Reduce Your Contact with Uranium and Radiation Steps to keep yourself safe: Stay away from abandoned mines and mills Find out if your home is a contaminated structure Use regulated water for human needs Never use unregulated water for human needs - even if it looks OK Use good water hauling practices to keep your water clean Get regular cancer screenings, like pap tests, mammograms, colonoscopies, and other cancer screenings For More Information Linda Reeves Remedial Project Manager (Phase 1 Trust Mines) USEPA Region 9 (415) 972-3445 reeves.linda@epa.gov Freyja Knapp Remedial Project Manager (Phase 1 Trust Mines) USEPA Region 9 (415) 972-3025 knapp.freyja@epa.gov Elsa Johnson Community Involvement Coordinator (All Tse Tah Mines) USEPA Region 9 (480) 250-0990 johnson.elsa@epa.gov Dariel Yazzie Environmental Program Supervisor NNEPA Superfund Program (928) 871-7601 darielyazzie@navajo-nsn.gov Navajo Nation Abandoned Uranium Mines webpage: https://www.epa.gov/navajo-nation-uranium-cleanup ------- |