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.

Section 33 AUM Site
Navajo AUM Eastern Region
Prepared by:

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

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: 1040

Map ID: E41b

CERCLIS: NNN 000 908 748

NAMLRP: NOT ASSIGNED

New Mexico Mining and Mineral Division ID: NM0059

New Mexico Bureau of Geology and Mineral Resources: NMMK0247

Local name / Aliases: West Ranch (Railroad Land), Moe No. 5, Old Moe, Moe Mine, Moe #5,
Moe decline

Chapter and local area: Casamero Lake Chapter

Lat/Long: 35.4906103257 N / -108.0166273 W

Nearby road and highway: Route 19, Casamero Lake Loop Road
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	I I

Fee land	O

Public lands	Q

Private	^

Bureau of Land Mgmt	Q

State	EH

Ownership and contact information:

The mine site property is classified as private land owned by Lynn "Buddy" Elkins, but no
residences were found within 0.25 miles of the site

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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: None

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.

The mine was closure was the result of a fatality at the mine.

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

The Section 33 mine consists of an area of 11,004.93 square meters and an undetermined extent
of underground workings. Any historical information pertaining to mining operations and
historical ownership of the mine site, other then Cobb Nuclear, appeared to be unclear.

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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. Numerous waste piles were observed at the site and some former unidentified
workings. No adits or shafts were observed during the site visit.

Part IV Summary of radiological readings

Background Locations

#1 16,630 cpm
#2 17,128 cpm
#3 16,882 cpm

Mine site: Section 33

- See Figures 1 and 2

Nearby Structure Perimeter

Describe any other radiological measurements:

A total of 1,550 gamma radiation measurements were collected from mine sites, ranging from
14,322 cpm to 140,917 cpm. The measurements are represented in Figures 1 and 2. A rock
from a waste pile emitted over 800,000 cpm.

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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

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

Part VI Response Action Summary

Site Name(s): Section 33	Chapter: Casamero 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? 0.8 mile
Is there a reclamation cap or sealed adit in place at the site? No
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

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. Section 33 Mine site, towards the north

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

Navajo AUM Project

Photo 3. Section 33 Mine site, wooden hopper and pulverized waste rock pile
located at southeast corner of mine

Photo 4. Section 33 Mine site, Uranium ore exhibiting over 800,000 cpm

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

Navajo AUM Project

Photo 5. Section 33 Mine site, pulverized waste rock piles.

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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:

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	

Title or official role (if any)

Telephone number	

Information provided	

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w

Legend

Gamma Radiation Measurements

• < 2X Backgound
> 2X Background

~	Private

~	Indian Allotment
Mine Claim Boundaries

I Feet

0	200

Gamma survey conducted in October 2008
measured as counts per minute (cpm)
Average background = 16,680 cpm

Gamma Radiation Measurements
Above Two Times Background
Section 33
Casamero Lake Chapter Fjgure
Navajo Nation, New Mexico 1


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tsRWt



1 r

jF

SF

jgp

\

A •

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

Feet

0

200

Gamma survey conducted in October 2008
measured as counts per minute





Gamma Radiation Measurements
Section 33
Casamero Lake Chapter Figur
Navajo Nation, New Mexico 2


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