vvEPA
United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
EPA Seeks Comment on the Surface Soil
Proposed Plan for the United Nuclear
Corporation Superfund Site	
United Nuclear Corporation
McKinley County, New Mexico
July 2012
This fact sheet will tell you about:
Surface Soil Operable Unit Proposed Plan
Detailed Components and Summary of the
Preferred Alternative
Community Participation and Public Meetings
Site Location
Site History
• For More Information
On the Web
Introduction
The U.S. environmental Protection Agency (EPA) wel-
comes public comment on the Surface Soil Operable Unit
Proposed Plan (Proposed Plan) for the United Nuclear
Corporation Superfund (UNC) Site. The comment period
begins on July 20, 2012, and ends on September 21, 2012.
The Preferred Alternative includes disposal of approx-
imately 1,000,000 cubic yards of mine waste from the
Northeast Church Rock Mine (NECR) Site within the ex-
isting tailings cells at the UNC Site (Figure 1).
tance. This Proposed Plan begins EPA's process to fulfill
step one.
Step 2: The NRC will need to amend United Nuclear Cor-
poration's license to allow disposal of mine waste from the
NECR Site within the existing tailings cells at the UNC
Site. The license amendment process will begin when
United Nuclear Corporation submits for NRC review and
evaluation a request for an amendment of its NRC license
to dispose of mine waste from the NECR Site within the
existing tailings cells at the UNC Site. This license
amendment will be presented to the public for review and
comment. Based on a review of public comments, NRC's
agreement to amend the United Nuclear Corporation's li-
cense to allow this disposal will be necessary to fulfill step
two.
These two steps will need to be completed before cleanup
of the NECR Site begins. As part of Step 1, EPA wel-
comes public comment on the Proposed Plan and the Pre-
ferred Alternative that includes disposal of approximately
1,000,000 cubic yards of mine waste from the NECR Site
onto the existing tailings cells at the UNC Site.
The EPA is evaluating disposal options at the UNC Site in
support of the Non-Time-Critical Removal Ac-
tion Memorandum for the NECR Site that EPA
signed m 2011. In the Non-Time-Critical Re-
moval Action Memorandum, EPA decided to
permanently dispose of approximately
1,000,000 cubic yards of mine waste from the
NECR Site at the UNC Site. EPA's 2011 clean-
up decision for the NECR Site requires two ad-
ditional decisions and associated public com-
ment periods for the UNC Site—one decision
from EPA and one decision from the U.S. Nuc-
lear Regulatory Commission (NRC).
Step 1: EPA will need to issue an appropriate
decision document that selects disposal of mine
waste from the NECR Site within the existing
tailings cells at the UNC Site. This decision
document would be developed in accordance
with the National Oil and Hazardous Substances
Pollution Contingency Plan (NCP) process and
include review of State and community accep-


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Surface Soil Operable Unit Proposed Plan
A total of two remedial alternatives are being considered
for the UNC Site related to disposal of mine waste from
the NECR Site within the existing tailings cells. Alterna-
tive 1 is a No Action Alternative and Alternative 2 is On-
site Disposal at the UNC Site within the Tailings Disposal
Area.
The Preferred Alternative for the UNC Site is Alternative
2: On-site Disposal at the UNC Site within the Tailings
Disposal Area. Under this alternative, mine waste from the
NECR and the tailings located within the Tailings Disposal
Area at the UNC Site will be contained on the UNC Site
for perpetuity. After all cleanup actions are completed, it is
expected that ownership of the UNC Site would be trans-
ferred to the Department of Energy's (DOE's) Long-Term
Surveillance and Maintenance Program under DOE's Of-
fice of Legacy Management. Under this DOE program, the
UNC Site would be monitored, maintained and managed
under the DOE to provide for continued containment and
protectiveness.
This fact sheet provides you with an overview of the Pro-
posed Plan for UNC Site, and only summarizes the key
aspects of the Preferred Alternative. This fact sheet does
not present information related to other alternatives eva-
luated.
The Final Surface Soil OU Proposed Plan is located in the
information repositories and provides details related to the
selection of the Preferred Alternative, the components of
the Preferred Alternative, and the evaluation of the Pre-
ferred Alternative.
Detailed Components and Summary of the Preferred
Alternative
The Preferred Alternative includes the following compo-
nents:
•	Site Controls and Security: During cleanup,
access to the site will be restricted.
•	Site preparation activities include identifying utili-
ties and existing structures in the construction
area.
•	Trained and experienced labor will be used to
transport and manage the mine waste. Graduates
trained and certified under the EPA Superfund
Jobs Training Initiative will also be eligible for
hiring for identified positions.
•	Transportation of all mine waste will be monitored

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so that dust is limited, and any mine waste spills
are cleaned up.
•	Temporary on-site facilities will be provided for
project management, project controls, and decon-
tamination of personnel and equipment.
•	Natural and cultural resources will be surveyed by
a Navajo Nation archeologist. Local residents will
be consulted as well as the State and Tribal Histor-
ic Preservation Officer.
•	Perimeter air monitoring stations will be posi-
tioned and operated to monitor emissions during
site activities.
•	Stormwater and Erosion Control: These controls
will be used to manage off-site migration of mine
waste and protect construction actions.
•	Waste Volume: Approximately 1,000,000 cubic
yards of mine waste will be excavated from the
NECR Site, disposed within the existing tailings
cells at the UNC Site, and capped.
•	Team Coordination: Close coordination with Unit-
ed Nuclear Corporation, NRC, Department of
Energy, EPA Region 9, Navajo Nation EPA, the
community, and the State of New Mexico will be
required to create an acceptable design that incor-
porates the NECR mine waste into the existing
UNC tailings cells and complies with Federal and
State regulations.
•	Five-Year Reviews: The Preferred Alternative in-
volves permanent disposal of mine waste from the
NECR Site within the UNC Site tailings cells. Be-
cause the mine waste remains on the UNC Site,
reuse of the UNC Site will be restricted, and EPA
will be required to conduct Five-Year Reviews of
the cleanup actions.
•	Operation and Maintenance: The capped area will
require Operation and Maintenance (O&M) activi-
ties as necessary, including cap inspections and
maintenance for continued cap stability, erosion
protection, and containment.
•	Site Reuse Restrictions: Because the mine waste
and tailings will remain on the UNC Site, these
areas will be restricted from residential, industrial,
or grazing reuse. Also, unauthorized access will be
restricted.
• Cap Design Criteria: Although the final design
may vary, the major elements of the structure are
not expected to be significantly different than
those presented here. Erosion modeling will be
used to assist with design so that the potential for
erosion is limited.
The cap will be designed and constructed to
o Last at least 200 years with minimal maintenance
and be effective up to one thousand years,
o Provide assurance that radioactive air emissions
remain protective;
o Protect the mine waste from erosion, reduce the
potential for water infiltration and leaching, pro-
vide durability, and contain the mine waste,
o Ensure stability and minimize the effects of ero-
sion, root intrusion, and animal destruction
o Promote vegetation growth and support native va-
rieties; and,
o Include a low permeability layer (liner) between
the NECR mine waste and the tailings currently
disposed within the tailings cells to further limit
water migration.
For cost estimating purposes, the Preferred Alternative
assumes that NECR mine waste would be added to the
North and Central Cells at the UNC Site. A new cap would
be constructed over the mine waste once it is added to the
cells, which would add additional height and protection
against infiltration. Figure 2 provides an example of a ge-
neralized conceptual drawing showing one possible out-
come for the tailings cells after placement of the NECR
mine waste. Final design specifications, mine waste
placement, and the disposal configuration will be com-
pleted during remedial design. EPA will inform and in-
volve the community throughout the design and
construction process.
Summary of Remedial Alternatives and Estimated Cost
Alternative and Description
Estimated
Capital Cost
Estimated
Annual O&M
Estimated
Present Worth
Cost
Estimated Construction
Timeframe
Alternative 1: No Action Alterna-
tive
$0.00
Not Applicable
Not Applicable
Not Applicable
Alternative 2: On-site Disposal
within the Tailings Disposal Area
$40,337,281
$1,227,767
$41,565,048
4 Years
3

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Dates to Remember
Public Comment Period:
July 20, 2012 - September 21, 2012
The EPA and NMED will accept written comments on the Sur-
face Soil Operable Unit Proposed Plan during the 60-day public
comment period.
Public Meeting:
The EPA will hold two public meetings to explain the Surface
Soil Operable Unit Proposed Plan. Oral and written comments
will also be accepted at the meeting.
August 29, 2012
Pinedale Chapter House
1149 Mile Marker 5
Church Rock, New Mexico 87311
Meeting Starts: 6:00 pm.
August 30, 2012
Octavia Fellin Public Library
115 West Hill Avenue
Gallup, New Mexico 87310
Meeting Starts: 6:00 pm.
These meetings are being held in a fully accessible facility.
Should you have questions about this facility's compliance with
the Americans with Disabilities Act, please contact Jason
McKinney, EPA Region 6 Community Involvement Coordina-
tor at 214.665.8132 or 1.800.533.3508 (toll free).
The Surface Soil Operable Unit Proposed Plan is also lo-
cated on the internet at:
http://www.epa.gov/region6/6sf/newmexico/united nuclear/nm
united nuclear proposed plan.pdf
The Administrative Record File is available for viewing at:
Octavia Fellin Public Library
115 West Hill Avenue, Gallup, NM 87310
505.863.1291
Hours: 9:00 am to 8:00 pm Monday thru Thursday
10:00 am to 6:00 pm Friday
9:00 am to 6:00pm Saturday
Navaio Nation Superfund Office
Highway 264/43 Crest Road
St. Michaels, Arizona 86511
928.871.6859
The Preferred Alternative was evaluated against the nine
evaluation criteria and is selected because it is expected to
be protective of human health and the environment, com-
plying with regulations, and utilize permanent solutions
and alternative treatment technologies to the maximum
extent practicable. Additionally, as summarized in the
NECR Site Non-Time-Critical Removal Action Memo-
randum, on-site disposal of the NECR Site mine waste at
the NECR Site was rejected by the Navajo Nation and the
community while off-site disposal at a regulated facility
was found to be cost prohibitive and less cost effective
than disposal at the UNC Site.
The Preferred Alternative will adequately protect human
health and the environment and comply with regulations
by eliminating, reducing and controlling exposures to hu-
man and ecological receptors through disposal and con-
tainment of mine waste within the tailings cells at the
UNC Site and the enforcement of UNC Site use restric-
tions. The Preferred Alternative supports the future reuse
options of residential and grazing for the NECR Site and
will prevent exposure to the mine waste and tailings
through the use of engineering controls (e.g., capping the
mine waste and tailings and fencing), by monitoring mi-
gration of contaminants at the UNC Site, by enforcement
of site access restrictions, and by the performance of site
O&M and Five-Year Reviews. The UNC Site will be re-
stricted from uses, including residential, industrial, and
grazing uses.
Unauthorized access will be prohibited expect for long-
term care and maintenance of the tailings cells by person-
nel working under DOE's Office of Legacy Management,
Long-Term Surveillance and Maintenance Program. Under
this DOE program, the UNC Site would be maintained and
managed under the DOE to provide for continued con-
tainment and protectiveness.
The Preferred Alternative is expected to achieve substan-
tial long-term effectiveness and permanence through con-
tainment of the mine waste. The Preferred Alternative
construction and transportation work is anticipated not to
pose any unacceptable short-term risks to on-site workers,
the community, or the environment due to the use of con-
struction practices that control contaminant migration
(e.g., dust suppression actions or stormwater/erosion con-
trols). No impacts to air, water, or soil are expected from
transportation and disposal actions. The Preferred Alterna-
tive can be constructed using common construction prac-
tices and commercially available equipment and services.
Under the Preferred Alternative, NECR mine waste dis-
posal within the tailings cells at the UNC Site will reduce
the mine waste footprint by creating one disposal location
that will require long-term maintenance and management
for continued protection of human health and the environ-
ment. Consolidation of similar mine waste is consistent
with the current UNC disposal action, can be managed
using the same remediation technology as the UNC tail-
ings, is not expected to cause or promote adverse affects
due to loading, is protective of human health and the envi-
ronment, and is expected to be maintained by DOE in the
long-term.
Although, ground water is not a component of the Pro-
posed Plan, ground water monitoring and remediation of
4

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the contaminant plumes is ongoing and will continue under
the 1988 Record of Decision (ROD). The Preferred Alter-
native is not expected to interfere or affect the current
ground water remediation efforts. Mine waste disposal will
be designed and construction to provide for continued pro-
tection against contaminant migration into the ground wa-
ter in support of ongoing ground water remediation efforts.
The actions called for by the 1988 ROD include monitor-
ing and reporting to document potential contaminant mi-
gration and to ensure compliance with ground water
remediation goals established under the 1988 ROD and
any amendments to that ROD.
Community Participation
EPA, in consultation with NMED, will consider the Pre-
ferred Alternative as well as other alternatives presented in
the Proposed Plan. The final remedy for the UNC Site sur-
face soil will be selected after reviewing and considering
all information submitted during the 60-day public com-
ment period. EPA, in consultation with NMED, may modi-
fy the Preferred Alternative based on new information or
community comments, including comments of Navajo tri-
bal members and the Navajo Nation Environmental Pro-
tection Agency. Therefore, the public is encouraged to
review and comment on the Proposed Plan.
The EPA and NMED provide information regarding the
cleanup of the UNC Site to the public through public meet-
ings, announcements published in the Gallup Independent
and Navajo Times, and the Administrative Record file for
the Site.
The Administrative Record file for the UNC Site includes
documents and reports used to support the preparation of
the Proposed Plan. The Administrative Record file is
available at both information repository locations.
The public comment period for this Proposed Plan is
July 20, 2012, through September 21, 2012. All written
comments should be addressed to: Katrina Higgins-
Coltrain, Remedial Project Manager, U.S. EPA Region 6
(6SF-RL), 1445 Ross Avenue, Dallas, Texas 75202 -
email Coltrain ,katrina@,epa. gov or Jason McKinney,
Community Involvement Coordinator, U.S. EPA Region 6,
1445 Ross Avenue, Dallas, TX 75202 - email
mckinnev. i ason@epa. gov
Site Location
The UNC Site is a non-operating uranium mill site located
approximately 17 miles northeast of Gallup, New Mexico,
in McKinley County (Figure 1). The UNC Site is generally
comprised of the former ore processing mill facilities and a
tailings waste disposal area, which cover about 25 and 100
acres, respectively. The site is owned by United Nuclear,
who also owns the land located northeast of the UNC Site
tailings cells bounded on the north by the Navajo Nation
Indian Reservation. United Nuclear Corporation is now an
indirect subsidiary of General Electric Corporation. EPA
expects UNC and GE (collectively "UNC/GE") to conduct
the removal and disposal of contaminated mine waste and
soils under an agreement with EPA. The area around the
UNC Site is sparsely populated and includes Indian tribal
trust land and Indian allotted land. To the north of the
UNC Site is another former uranium mine identified as
Northeast Church Rock Quivira Mine Site. This is a non-
NPL site that is being addressed by EPA under a separate
action.
The NECR Site is a non-operating uranium mine approx-
imately 125 acres in size, located just northwest of the
UNC Site, less than one mile away. The site is located on
lands held by the United States in trust for the Navajo Na-
tion.
EPA is working with eleven households in the immediate
vicinity of the NECR Site, which includes over 72 people.
Several Navajo families have stated they collect herbs and
plants from the NECR Site and surrounding area for cere-
monial purposes. Apart from the residential areas, the pri-
mary land use in the area around the NECR Site and the
UNC Site is grazing for sheep, cattle, and horses.
Site History
The UNC Site includes a historic uranium mill that was
licensed to operate by the State of New Mexico in May
1977. The mill operated from 1977 to 1982, and processed
ore primarily from two of United Nuclear Corporation's
nearby mines: Northeast Church Rock and Old Church
Rock. Uranium ore was processed at the facility using a
combination of crushing, grinding, and acid-leach solvent
extraction methods. The milling operation produced acidic
slurry of ground rock and fluid (tailing) that was pumped
into the tailings area which consists of three cells. An es-
timated 3.5 million tons of tailings were disposed in the
tailings impoundments (EPA, 1988a).
EPA placed the UNC Site onto the National Priorities List
(NPL) of Superfund sites in 1983 [48 Fed. Reg. 40658
(Sept. 8, 1983)] because contaminated liquids had seeped
from the tailings at the UNC Site and contaminated the
underlying ground water, and because there were toxic
emissions to surface water and air (EPA, 1988b). Acidic
liquids had seeped from the tailings located in the unlined
disposal cells into the underlying alluvium deposits (re-
ferred to as the Southwest Alluvium) and also into two
deeper zones (Zones 1 and 3) of the Upper Gallup Sand-
stone Formation, contaminating the ground water with

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heavy metals, radionuclides such as uranium and radium,
and other chemical constituents.
In 1988, EPA and NRC signed a Memorandum of Under-
standing (MOU) regarding the UNC Site [53 Fed. Reg.
37887 (September 28, 1988)]. The EPA and the NRC have
overlapping authority in connection with the UNC Site,
and the MOU was developed to help assure that remedial
actions occur in a timely and effective manner.
EPA issued a Ground Water Operable Unit Record of De-
cision (ROD) in September 1988 selecting a remedy for
the contaminated ground water that included extraction of
the ground water and treatment by evaporation. Under the
oversight of EPA, United Nuclear Corporation constructed
the remedy in 1989 and continues to address ground water
contamination under the 1988 ROD. Ground water moni-
toring and extraction wells are located at the boundary and
downgradient of the Tailings Disposal Area. Ground water
monitoring and remediation of the contaminant plumes are
ongoing.
United Nuclear Corporation submitted a final reclamation
plan to NRC which was approved in March 1991. Between
1988 and 1996, United Nuclear Corporation cleaned up the
tailings disposal area including decommissioning of the
mill facility, remediation of radium contaminated soil,
capping of the tailings cells, installation of extraction
wells, and construction of evaporation ponds and an eva-
poration system. All of these activities were completed
under NRC oversight, and maintenance of the soil cleanup
action continues.
For More Information
Earle Dixon
Project Manager
New Mexico Environment Department
Tel: 505.827.2890
Earle. dixon@, state ,nm .us
For press inquiries, please call the EPA Press Office at
214.665.2200.
Information Repositories are available at:
Octavia Fellin Public Library
115 West Hill Avenue, Gallup, NM 87310
Tel: 505.863.1291
Navajo Nation Superfund Office
Highway 264/43 Crest Road
St. Michaels, AZ 86511
Tel: 928.871.6859
On the Web
On the internet, the Proposed Plan can be found at:
http://www.epa.gov/region6/6sf/newmexico/united
nuclear/nm united nuclear proposed plan.pdf
Information about U.S. EPA Region 6 and the Superfund
Program can be found at:
http://www.epa.gov/region6/6sf/6sf.htm
Call U.S. EPA at 1.800.533.3508 (toll free) to receive a
Spanish translation of this fact sheet.
Para recibir una traduction en espanol de esta Hoja de Da-
tos, comunicarse con la Agencia de Protection del Medio
Ambiente de los EEUU (la EPA) al numero de telefono
1.800.533.3508 (llamadagratis).
Katrina Higgins-Coltrain
EPA Region 6 Remedial Project Manager
Tel: 214.665.8143 or 1.800.533.3508 (toll free)
Coltrain ,katrina@epa. gov
Jason T. McKinney
EPA Region 6 Community Involvement Coordinator
Tel: 214.665.8132 or 1.800.533.3508 (toll free)
Mckinnev ,i ason@epa. gov

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USE THIS SPACE TO WRITE YOUR COMMENTS
Your input on the Surface Soil Operable Unit Proposed Plan for the UNC Site is important to the EPA and NMED.
Comments provided by the public are valuable in helping the EPA and NMED select a final cleanup remedy for the Site.
You may use the space below to write your comments, then fold and mail to Katrina Higgins-Coltrain, Remedial Project
Manager, U.S. EPA Region 6 (6SF-RL), 1445 Ross Avenue, Dallas, Texas 75202. Comments must be postmarked by
September 21, 2012. If you have any questions about the comment period, please contact Katrina Higgins-Coltrain at
214.665.8143 or through EPA's toll-free number at 1.800.533.3508, Jason McKinney at 214.665.8132 or through EPA's
toll-free number at 1.800.533.3508, or Earle Dixon, NMED, at 505.827.2890. Those with electronic communications
capabilities may submit their comments to the NMED or EPA via Internet at the following e-mail addresses:
Coltrain.Katrina@epa. gov, mckinnev.iason@epa.gov, or earle ,dixon@state ,nm .us. The form also may be faxed to
214.665.6660.
Name
Address_
City	
State	Zip

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£EPA
United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
Region 6
1445 Ross Ave. (6SF-VO)
Dallas, TX 75202

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