U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region IX, San Francisco

Navajo AUM Project

Navajo Abandoned Uranium Mine
Site Screen Report

This form is for use at the site of abandoned uranium mines (A UM) located on Navajo Nation
lands. Applicable sites include all mine and mine features that have or have not undergone
reclamation by the Navajo Abandoned Mine Lands Reclamation Program, including features, adits
and pits. Applicable sites also include all A UM sites listed in the USEPA CERCLIS database, all
sites listed in the 2008 AUM GIS Report issued by USACOE and USEPA, all AUM sites on
allotment lands associated with the Navajo Nation, and any and all A UM sites lands not listed in
any database located on Navajo lands. Reconnaissance of any sites located on lands adjacent to
Navajo lands but that are or may be impacting Navajo lands will need to be coordinated with the
authorities appropriate to those lands.

The purpose of the form is to ascertain the status and location of the identified AUM site, to record
all immediate site information associated with the mine site and to document the recommendation
and/or decision on what additional steps, if any, are needed at the site.

Black Jack No. 2 AUM Site
Navajo AUM Eastern Region
Prepared by:

Weston Solutions, Inc.
Contract: W91238-06-F-0083
12767.063.496.1111
May 2009

Black Jack No. 2

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May 2009


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U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region IX, San Francisco	Navajo AUM Project

Part I	Site Identification, Location and Status

Site Names and ID numbers as applicable

Mine ID: 319

Map ID: E32

CERCLIS: NNN 000 908 700

NAMLRP: NOT ASSIGNED

New Mexico Mining and Mineral Division ID: NM0042

New Mexico Bureau of Geology and Mineral Resources: NNMK0016

Local name / Aliases: Black Jack #2, UNC

Chapter and local area: Smith Lake Chapter

Lat/Long: 35.532370817 N / -108.254358782 W

Nearby road and highway: BIA 1491 (Wolf Canyon Rd) BIA 49 Local Post Office: Thoreau,
NM

Land Status: check one or more and provide ownership and contact information below

Tribal Trust Land	I I

Tribal Fee Land	Q

Allotment	15^1

Fee land	O

Public lands	Q

Private	O

Bureau of Land Mgmt	Q

State	EH

Ownership and contact information:

The mine site property is classified as Indian Allotment land

Black Jack No. 2

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May 2009


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U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region IX, San Francisco

Navajo AUM Project

Part II Site Observations

Observed Structures: list number of and describe human habitation status of structures at
the following distances from mine:

0 to 200 feet: None	200 feet to 0.25 mile: None

Observed Public or commercial structure: list and describe all schools, clinics, Chapter
Houses, places of business and any other structure used by members of the community at
the following distances:

0 to 200 feet: None	200 feet to 0.25 mile: None

Levels measured around the perimeter(s) of the identified structure(s):

None

Observed water sources: list the number and type of wells and surface water sources that
are potentially used for human consumption at the following distances from the mine:

0 to 0.25 miles: None	0.25 miles to 4 miles: DWR 16T 519 livestock well

Sensitive environments: note and describe all sensitive environments located within visible
range of the mine site, including: wetlands, endangered species habitats and approximate
locations of sites that may be under protection of the government of the Navajo Nation.

None observed

Known Site History: include information from interviews with Chapter officials and
residents.

Homestake Mining Company of California may have some involvement with the mine.

Note information on mine ownership, period of operation, and type of mining operation.

The Black Jack No. 2 mine consists of a surface area of 55,538.51 square meters with
approximately 114,893 square meters of underground workings. Lance Corp operated a well at
the mine site. Any historical information pertaining to mining operations and historical ownership
of the mine site appeared to be unclear.

Black Jack No. 2

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May 2009


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U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region IX, San Francisco

Navajo AUM Project

Part III Type, number and reclamation status of mine features

Provide description and reclamation status of all mine sites and features at site. Include all
waste piles, adits, pits and other features, and indicate whether they are open, closed,
covered, capped, buried or unreclaimed. Indicate approximate size, shape and extent,
including description of any reclamation caps. Note condition of all reclamation caps.

Reclamation status of the mine sites are currently unknown. No visible signs of reclamation were
observed. One large structure remains on site. An subsided area was fenced off and may be a
former adit. No waste piles or other mine features were observed during the site visit. Evidence
of flooding was observed at the site.

Part IV Summary of radiological readings

Background Locations

#1 19,743 cpm
#2 20,412 cpm
#3 17,877 cpm

Mine site: Black Jack No. 2
- See Figures 1 and 2

Nearby Structure Perimeter - None

Describe any other radiological measurements:

A total of 3,593 gamma radiation measurements were collected from the mine site, ranging from
11,731 cpm to 904,592 cpm. The measurements are represented in Figures 1 and 2.

Black Jack No. 2

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May 2009


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U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region IX, San Francisco

Navajo AUM Project

Part V	Site sketch of all mine features and readings, including locations of all

structures, sources of drinking water and any other important features and radiological
readings.

Presented in Figures 1 and 2

Black Jack No. 2

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May 2009


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U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region IX, San Francisco

Navajo AUM Project

Part VI Response Action Summary

Site Name(s): Black Jack No. 2 Chapter: Smith Lake

Decision Criteria

Is there an unreclaimed waste pile at the site? Yes

At what distance from the waste pile is the nearest residential structure located?

At what distances from the waste pile are there potential drinking water sources?

A domestic well is located 1.3 miles to the south east. DWR well T16-509 is a livestock well
located 0.5 miles to the east, however the well is posted as non-potable water. Drinking water for
the residences in the area is piped in.

Is there a reclamation cap or sealed adit in place at the site? No indication of a cap. Possibly
one or two sealed adits, one subsidence area was fenced off.

Is the cap/seal functionally intact? N/A

Is the cap/seal sufficiently degraded to create a concern about releases? N/A
At what distance from the cap/seal is the nearest domestic structure located? N/A
At what distance from the cap/seal is the nearest domestic drinking water source? N/A

Summary of emergency response factors

A domestic well is located 1.3 miles to the south east. DWR well T16-509 is a livestock well
located 0.5 miles to the east, however the well is posted as non-potable water.

Summary hazard ranking system factors

None

Summary of reclamation factors

No known reclamation

Black Jack No. 2

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May 2009


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U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region IX, San Francisco

Part VII

Photos

Navajo Al M Project

Photo 2. Black Jack No.2 Mine site, small mounds of dirt, towards the southwest

Black Jack No. 2	j	May 2009


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U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region IX, San Francisco	Navajo AUM Project

Black Jack No. 2	o	May 2009


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C.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region IX, San Francisco

Navajo Al \I Project

.v r Sv-

Photo 5. Black Jack No.2 Mine site, fenced subsidence area and possible adit

Photo 6. Black Jack No.2 Mine site, subsidence area.

Black Jack No. 2

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May 2009


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U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region IX, San Francisco

Navajo AUM Project

Black Jack No. 2	^ Q	May 2009


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U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region IX, San Francisco

Part VIII Contacts Reports and Information

Name: Alan Cox

Navajo AUM Project

Title or official role (if any) Project Manager for Homestake Mining Company of California

Telephone number: (505") 287-4456	

Information provided: Indicated that Homestake Mine may have some involvement with the
operation of Black Jack mines	

Name

Title or official role (if any)

Telephone number:

Information provided

N ameStanlev Edison	

Title or official role (if any) Navajo EPA Superfund Program
Address PO Box 2946. Window Rock. AZ 86515
Telephone number (928") 871-6861	

Information provided General Background and Contact/Access Information

Name Ms George Padilla	

Title or official role (if any) Regional Environmental Scientist. BIA. Navajo Nation

Telephone number (505") 863-8434	

Address PO Box 1060. Gallup. NM 87305

Black Jack No. 2

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May 2009


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Legend

Gamma Radiation Measurements

• < 2X Backgound
> 2X Background
Indian Allotment
~ Mine Claim Boundaries

I Feet



n:-pi

mmmm

400

Gamma survey conducted in October 2008
measured as counts per minute (cpm)
Average background = 19,344 cpm

-

<





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. ,V-

^ «» r * w v

-k- mmm

L	—

L.11 . :	>b||< -

K > • ¦

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	.			:———

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Gamma Radiation Measurements
Above Two Times Background
Black Jack No. 2
Smith Lake Chapter Figure
Navajo Nation, New Mexico 1


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Legend

Gamma Radiation Measurements

•	0-10,000

•	10,000 -15,000
15,000 -20,000

•	20,000 -50,000

•	50,000 -100,000

•	> 100,000

~ Mine Claim Boundaries

I Feet

0

400

odiinrid survey i

measured

Gamma survey conducted in October 2008
as counts per minute

	

Gamma Radiation Measurements
Black Jack No. 2
Smith Lake Chapter Figure
Navajo Nation, New Mexico 2


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