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.

Nanabah Vandever AUM Site
Navajo AUM Eastern Region
Prepared by:

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

May 2009

Nanabah Vandever AUM Site

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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: 1033

Map ID: E81

CERCLIS: NND 986 669 109

NAMLRP: NOT ASSIGNED

New Mexico Mining and Mineral Division ID: NM0102
New Mexico Bureau of Geology and Mineral Resources: NMMK0213
Local name / Aliases: Indian Allotment, Nan-A-Bah, Glen and Edith, Section 24
Chapter and local area: Baca/Haystack Chapter
Lat/Long: 35.3465449599 N / -107.947928184 W

Nearby road and highway: Haystack Road (BIA 23), Red Mountain Road (BIA 41)

Local Post Office: Prewitt, 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.

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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:

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: A Church and an attached residence

are located downhill from the mesa approximately 700 feet
south of the site

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

-	3 houses east of site - measured at 11,140 counts per minute (cpm)

-	Church south of site - measured at less than two-times background levels

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: Windmill well located approximately

2.5 miles northwest of sites

Observed 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.

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

The Nanabah Vandever mine consists of an area of 110,779.97 square meters. Any historical
information pertaining to mining operations and historical ownership of the mine site appeared to
be unclear.

Nanabah Vandever AUM Site

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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 site is currently unknown. The mine appears to have been
reclaimed by dirt covering waste piles. The mine is fenced and posted with signs warning of
underground radiological hazards. The signs were faded and nearly illegible. No adits or other
mine features were observed during the site visit.

Part IV Summary of radiological readings

Background Locations

#1 6,238 cpm
#2 5,828 cpm
#3 9,044 cpm

Mine site: Section 24

- See Figures 1 and 2

Nearby Structure Perimeter - None

Describe any other radiological measurements:

A total of 3,024 gamma radiation measurements were collected from mine sites, ranging from
4,569 cpm to 594,083 cpm. The measurements are represented in Figures 1 and 2.

Nanabah Vandever AUM Site

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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

Nanabah Vandever AUM Site

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

Part VI Response Action Summary
Site Name(s): Nanabah Vandever AUM Site

Navajo AUM Project

Chapter: Baca/Haystack

Decision Criteria

Is there an unreclaimed waste pile at the site? No

At what distance from the waste pile is the nearest residential structure located? N/A
At what distances from the waste pile are there potential drinking water sources? N/A
Is there a reclamation cap or sealed adit in place at the site? Yes
Is the cap/seal functionally intact? Yes

Is the cap/seal sufficiently degraded to create a concern about releases? No
At what distance from the cap/seal is the nearest domestic structure located?

At what distance from the cap/seal is the nearest domestic drinking water source? 1.0

mile

Summary of emergency response factors

None

Summary hazard ranking system factors

None

Summary of reclamation factors

No known reclamation

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

Part VII Photos

Navajo Al M Project

Photo 1. Nanabah Vandever Mine site, towards the south

Photo 2. Nanabah Vandever Mine site, section corner survey marker

Nanabah Vandever AtJM Site

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

Navajo AUM Project

Photo 3. Nanabah Vandever Mine site, suspect covered waste piles

Photo 4. Nanabah Vandever Mine site, waste rock emitting gamma radiation

Nanabah Vandever AtJM Site

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

Navajo AUM Project

Photo 6. Nanabah Vandever Mine site, view of church from mine

Nanabah Vandever AtJM Site

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

Part VIII Contacts Reports and Information

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

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

Name	

Title or official role (if any)

Telephone number	

Information provided	

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Legend

Gamma Radiation Measurements

Public Land Ordinance

Mine Claim Boundaries

Gamma survey conducted in October 2008
measured as counts per minute (cpm)
Average background = 7,036 cpm

• < 2X Backgound
> 2X Background

Q Church
| | Private
~ Indian Allotment

Section 24

Gamma Radiation Measurements
Above Two Times Background
Section 24
Baca/Haystack Chapter Figure
Navajo Nation, New Mexico 1


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Church

Mine Claim Boundaries

Gamma survey conducted in October 2008
measured as counts per minute (cpm)

Gamma Radiation Measurements
Section 24
Baca/Haystack Chapter Figure
Navajo Nation, New Mexico 2

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

A

(§>


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