PHASE 1 SETTLEMENT

PHASE 2 SETTLEMENT

In 2015, the Navajo Nation and the United States entered into a
$13.2 million settlement called the Phase 1 Settlement, that was
managed by an independent trustee, with USEPA and NNEPA
oversight. Under the Phase 1 Settlement the United States
provided funds to assess 16 priority mines on the Navajo Nation,
including three in the North Central AUM Region: Mitten No. 3,
Charles Keith, and Harvey Blackwater No. 3. The assessment work
at the 16 mines was completed in 2018. A Removal Site Evaluation
report, which helped to determine the location and level of
contamination at each mine, was developed for each site.

In 2016, the Navajo Nation and the United States entered into
a legal settlement called the Phase 2 Settlement. The Phase 2
Settlement established a trust account that is managed by Der-
rith Watchman-Moore, an independent trustee, under USEPA
and NNEPA oversight. As of February 14, 2022, the Expanded
Trust Agreement was signed into place, which replaces the Phase
2 Settlement and provides funding for the cleanup process at the
Phase 1 sites as needed, three of which are located in the North
Central AUM Region.

Superfund Process on the Navajo Nation

Assessment



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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 - Dm Ko'ne'na'adaa'da

NO mm AT MINES

Contact Navajo Superfund Prograi
(|	for Information at 1-800-314-1846

or USEPA at 1 -800-231 -3075 YsSI

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

Kenyon Larsen

Remedial Project Manager
USEPA Region 9
(415) 914-4213
larsen. kenyon@epa.gov

Elsa Johnson

Community Involvement Coordinator
USEPA Region 9
(480) 250-0990
johnson. elsa@epa.go v

Warren Roan

Environmental Department Manager
NNEPA
(928) 871-7601
warrenjroan@navajo-nsn.gov

Nasrin Erdelyi

Remedial Project Manager
USEPA Region 9
(415) 914-4214
erdelyi. nasrin@epa.gov

Amanda Townsend

Remedial Project Manager
USEPA Region 9
(628) 249-1688
to wnsend. amanda@epa.gov

USEPA Navajo Abandoned Uranium Mine website; www.epa.gov/navajo-nation-uranium-cleanup

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Printed on 50% post-consumer recycled paper
Processed chlorine-free

¦wEPA NAVAJO NATION

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency • Region 9 • San Francisco, CA • November 2022

North Central Abandoned Uranium Mine (AUM) Region

Number of abandoned uranium mines in North Central AIJM Region: 63

Of these 63 mines, funds are available to begin the cleanup process at 14 mines

North Central AUM Region includes the following Chapters:

Oljato, Shonto, Dennehotso, Kayenta, and Mexican Water

PRIORITY MINES AND SETTLEMENTS

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA), in partnership
with 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,
proximity to homes, and potential for water contamination. Six
of those priority mines are found in the North Central AUM
Region.

Funds are available to begin the cleanup process at 14 mines,
approximately 22% of the mines in the North Central AUM
Region, including all six priority mines. USEPA continues
to look for companies responsible to assess and clean up the
remaining mines in this region.

USEPA constructing the Skyline Mine waste repository.

Table 1: Summary of the North Central AUM Region identifying the name of the poten tially responsible party or trust responsible for
mine cleanups, the number of mines, and the status in the Superfund process.

See section below "Legal Agreements and AUM Cleanup Activities" for more information on the settlements.

Name of Responsible Party or Trust for Cleanup

Number of Mines*

Superfund Process Status

Cyprus Amax Minerals Company (Cyprus Amax) and
Western Nuclear, Inc. (Western Nuclear)

Phase 1 Trust (limited to mine assessment)

Expanded Trust Agreement (limited to mine cleanups, as
needed)

Skyline Mine (no potentially responsible party identified)

•	Nine mines (two of which
are priority mines)

•	Three priority mines

•	Two mines (one of which
is a priority mine)

•	Removal Site Evaluations in progress for two
priority mines and Monument No. 2

•	Removal Site Evaluations completed in 2018 for
all three mines

•	USEPA performed time-critical cleanup in 2011

Total

14 mines (six 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 the Navajo Nation entered into a
historic settlement agreement with Freeport-McMoRan subsid-
iaries, Cyprus Amax Minerals Company and Western Nuclear,
Inc. The settlement funds the assessment and cleanup of 94
abandoned uranium mines on the Navajo Nation, including
eight mines in the North Central AUM Region. This agreement
addresses almost 20% of the abandoned uranium mines on the
Navajo Nation. The mines are located in the following chapters:
Red Valley, Sweetwater, Teec Nos Pos, Cove, Shiprock
(Northern AUM Region); Oljato, Dennehotso, Kayenta (North

Central AUM Region); Chilchinbeto (Central AUM Region);
and Smith Lake (Eastern AUM Region).

SKYLINE MINE

USEPA completed a time-critical cleanup of uranium mining
waste at the Skyline Mine in 2011. The waste was from mining
that occurred from 1944 to 1962. The waste was located on the
edge and at the foot of Oljato Mesa and posed a potential health
risk to residents. As part of the cleanup, the mine waste was
moved into a storage area, or "repository," constructed on top
of the mesa. The repository creates a barrier around the mine
waste to ensure it cannot harm residents or the environment.


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Source: The source of the image is ESRI, used by the EPA with ESRI's permission-

Date: July 28, 2022

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