8 EPA Mac and Blackjack Mines Site Update U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region 9 San Francisco, CA June 2019 Background The Mac and Black Jack Mines include four mines. The mine called Mac #1 is located in the Mariano Lake Chapter and the mines called Mac #2, Black Jack #1 and Black Jack #2 are located in the Smith Lake Chapter. The mines were operated by Homestake Mining Company in partnership with several other mining companies. In total, these mines produced approximately 1.8 million tons of uranium ore between 1959 and 1971 with Black Jack #1 producing most of the ore with a total of 1.4 million tons. Locations of Mac #1, Mac # 2, Black Jack #1, and Black Jack #2 mines What Has Been Done? USEPA finished initial site screening of the mines in 2009. Homestake Mining Company has completed the Removal Site Evaluation, which determines the extent of contamination. Homestake Mining Company closed all mine openings and vent holes at the four mines to reduce any physical hazards. What is Happening Now? Homestake is conducting a study known as an Engineering Evaluation/Cost Analysis (EE/CA) to evaluate cleanup options for addressing the soil contamination. The EE/CA evaluates alternatives to clean up the mine site and assesses the effectiveness, implementability, and cost of each alternative. The EE/CA will consider the potential risks to human health and the environment from the contamination and show how the cleanup alternatives fit into future land use of the site. Gallup Grants Black Jack No. 1 Smith Lake Chapter House Black Jack No. 2 Mac No. 2 Legend Project Area ------- Old mining building at Black Jack #2 What Happens Next? USEPA is committed to involving community members during the cleanup process. Once the EE/CA is complete, USEPA and Navajo Nation EPA will speak with the community again about the report findings and get feedback on proposed next steps for final clean up. Superfund Process on the Navajo Nation Assessment Access Agreements Resources Surveys tiXlk 01 Signs and Fences Removal Site Evaluation i p = !B=! '~ = Engineering Evaluation I Cost Analysis Decision Making Public Comment Period Action Memorandum Clean Up Removal Design o^ov Removal Action 4Iğ Community Involvement and planning for a site's future are ongoing throughout the process Coordination with the Navajo Nation government including NNEPA, Navajo AIVIL, and the Dine Uranium Remediation Advisory Commission How Can You Learn More? Jacob Phipps Remedial Project Manager USEPA Region 9 (415) 654-2512 phipps.jacob@epa.gov Priscilla Tom Community Involvement Coordinator USEPA Region 9 (505) 240-0093 tom.priscilla@epa.gov Dariel Yazzie Environmental Program Supervisor NNEPA Superfund (928) 871-7601 darielyazzie@navajo-nsn.gov USEPA Eastern Abandoned Uranium Mine Region website: www.epa.gov/navajo-nation-uranium-cleanup/eastern-region-abandoned-uranium-mines ------- |