I&EPA
NAVAJO NATION
U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency • Region 9 • San Francisco, CA • November 2020
Central Abandoned Uranium Mine (AUM) Region
Number of abandoned uranium mines in Central AUM Region: 28
Of these 28 mines, funds are available to begin the cleanup process at 21 mines
Central AUM Region includes the following Chapters:
Black Mesa, Chilchinbeto, Chinle, Many Farms, Rough Rock,Tachee-B!ue Gap, and Tselani-Cottonwood
PRIORITY MINES AND SETTLEMENTS
USEPA, in partnership with the Navajo Nation EPA
(NNEPA), has identified 523 total AUMs on the
Navajo Nation. Of these 523 AUMs, 46 mines were
identified as "priority mines" based on radiation
levels and proximity to homes, or potential for water
contamination.
Funds are available to begin the cleanup process at
21 mines, approximately 75% of the mines in the
Central AUM Region, including two priority mines
and one water study. USEPA continues to look for
companies responsible for the remaining mines in
,, . . Claim 28 is an abandoned uranium mine in the Tachee-Blue Gap Chapter
this region
& ' where the Phase 1 Trustee conducted an investigation. Additionally, the Phase
2 Settlement provides funds to conduct a water study and clean up the mine.
Table 1: Central AUM Region Funded Mines
Legal Settlement
Number of
Mines*
Superfund Process Status
Phase 1 and 2 Settlements
Cyprus Amax Minerals Company
(Cyprus Amax) and Western Nuclear,
Inc. (Western Nuclear)
20 mines,
including two
priority mines
• One mine
• Removal Site Evaluation reports completed in
2018 at the two priority mines
• A water study at the Claim 28 mine began in 2019
• Removal Site Evaluation to be conducted in the
future
Total
21 mines (two of which are priority mines)
*One mine claim can include more than one site.
Legal Agreements and AUM Cleanup Activities
CYPRUS AMAX AND WESTERN NUCLEAR SETTLEMENT
In 2017, the United States and Navajo Nation entered into a historic settlement agreement with Cyprus Amax Minerals
Company and Western Nuclear, Inc., two companies owned by Freeport-McMoRan. The settlement funds the assessment
and cleanup of 94 abandoned uranium mines on Navajo Nation, including one mine in the Central AUM Region. This
settlement addresses almost 20% of the abandoned uranium mines on the Navajo Nation.
The Cyprus Amax mines are located in the Central, North Central, and Northern AUM Regions of the Navajo Nation.
The Western Nuclear mines are located in the Eastern AUM Region.
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Source: The source of the image is ESRI, used by the EPA with ESRI's permission.
Date: July 29, 2020
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PHASE 2 TRUST SETTLEMENT
PHASE 1 TRUST SETTLEMENT
In 2016, the Navajo Nation and the United States entered
into an additional legal settlement called the Phase 2
Settlement. The Phase 2 Settlement includes one trust
account that is managed by Derrith Watchman-Moore, an
independent trustee, with USEPA and NNEPA oversight. A
2020 Addendum to the Phase 2 Settlement provides funds
to assess an additional 13 mine claims in the Black Mesa
Mining District (containing 18 mine sites) in the Central
AUM Region, 13 mines in the Western AUM Region, four
mines in the Northern AUM region, and conduct two water
studies, one of which is at the Claim 28 mine. The Phase
2 Settlement also provides funds to clean up the mines
assessed under Phase 1 Trust, as needed.
In 2015, the Navajo Nation and the United States
entered into a $13.2 million settlement called the Phase
1 Settlement. The Phase 1 Settlement included one trust
account, the Phase 1 Trust, and was managed by Sadie
Hoskie, with USEPA and NNEPA oversight. This settlement
provided funds to assess 16 priority mines on the Navajo
Nation, including two in the Central AUM Region. In 2015,
assessment work began at these priority mines: Claim 28
and Occurrence B. The Removal Site Evaluation reports,
which provide information needed to determine the extent
of contamination at these mines, were completed in 2018.
Superfund Process on the Navajo Nation
Assessment
Access
Agreements
Resources
Surveys
Signs and
Fences
Decision Making Clean Up
Operations &
Maintenance
9
Site
Evaluation
Engineering Public Action Design
Evaluation / Comment Memorandum
Cost Analysis Period
Action
O'OV
Long-term
O&M
Community Involvement and planning for a site's future are ongoing throughout the process
Coordination with the Navajo Nation government including NNEPA, Navajo AML, and the Dine Uranium Remediation Advisory Commission
KEEP OUT
Ba'ha'dzid - Doo Ko'ne'na'adaa'da
NO
Building
[ Playing 1
AT MINES
if*' ^ ^ Contact Navajo Superfund Program
(if 1 lor Information at 1-800-314-1846
or U SEPA at 1 -800-231 -3075 ij&W
Reduce Your Contact with Uranium and Radiation
Steps to keep yourself safe:
• Stay away from abandoned mines and mills
• Find out if your home is a contaminated structure
• Use regulated water for human needs
• Never use unregulated water for human needs—even if it looks ok
• Use good water hauling practices to keep your water clean
• Get regular cancer screenings, like pap tests, mammograms, colonoscopies, and other
cancer screenings
For More Information
Elsa Johnson
Freyja Knapp
Dariel Yazzie
Community Involvement Coordinator
Remedial Project Manager
Environmental Program Supervisor
USEPA Region 9
(Phase 2 Trust)
NNEPA Superfund
(415) 947-3552
USEPA Region 9
(928) 871-7601
johnson.elsa@epa.gov
(415) 972-3025
darielyazzie@navajo-nsn.gov
kiupp.freyja@epa.gov
USEPA Navajo Abandoned Uranium Mine
webpaae: www.epa.sov/navaio-nation-uranium-cleanup
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