vvEPA US Environmental Protection Agency Pacific Southwest Region 9 CAMERON CHAPTER MEETING Sunday June 14, 2015 Cameron, Arizona Presenters United States EPA Region g (USEPA) Navajo Nation EPA (NNEPA) El Paso Natural Gas Company Contact Us Z. Angelica Searles USEPA Remedial Project Manager (415) 972-3178 searles.zizi@epa.gov Amanda Pease USEPA Community Involvement Coordinator (415) 972-3068 Toll Free (800) 231-3075 pease.amanda@epa.gov Michele Dineyazhe NNEPA Superfund Program Remedial Project Manager (928) 871-6859 Toll Free (800) 314-1846 micheledineyazhe@navajo-nsn.gov ABANDONED URANIUM MINES More than 500 abandoned uranium mines (AUMs) are located on the Navajo Nation. More than 100 AUMs are in the Western AUM Region, a region of Navajo Nation which includes the Cameron Chapter. El Paso Natural Gas Company, LLC (EPNG) is working with USEPA to investigate 19 of these AUM claims under a signed August 2013 Administrative Order on Consent. EPNG'S PLANNED WORK EPNG is working with USEPA and NNEPA oversight to investigate the 19 AUM claims. EPNG has obtained access agreements from residents with homesite leases or grazing permits that will be affected by upcoming work. EPNG currently has the following work planned: Cultural & Biological Resource Surveys (Completed Spring 2015) EPNG performed a literature search, an archeological inventory, and interviewed people to look for sensitive archaeological sites as part of a Cultural Resource Survey performed for the 19 AUM claims. EPNG submitted the Cultural Resource Surveys findings to the Navajo Nation Historic Preservation Department. Also, EPNG completed a Biological Resource Survey to look for potentially threatened or endangered plants or animals near the 19 AUM claims. The Biological Resource Survey findings will be submitted to the Navajo Nation Department of Fish and Wildlife in June 2015. ------- Signs and Fences (Planned for Summer 2015) EPNG will begin work by putting up fences and signs at some of the AUMs, to inform community members about potential hazards (See map to the right for locations) The signs will be in English and the 'J' 1' Navajo language. KEEP OUT li'hi'diid ¦ Dm Rf'flfntoflij'S] r9i NOIf=*AT mines _ I (4) AI ¦ ¦ iit'* a i Kin en vn "Bpr I CH No. 3 Ramco No. 20+21 Background Study & Gamma Radiation Scanning (Planned for End of 2015/Early 2016) EPNG will scan the surface of the ground for gamma radiation and will take soil samples near the 19 AUM claims. This information will be used to determine the background, or naturally occurring, levels of radiation for the 19 AUM claims. EPNG will also measure the gamma radiation at the surface of the 19 AUM claims. After that, the USEPA, NNEPA, and EPNG will look at the results and discuss future actions that need to be taken, as well as share results with the community. Gamma Scanning Equipment i'Km Hi & GPl GPS-Unit i Ludlum 2221 - Gamma Radiation Count Rates Gamma Radiation Probe ------- |