Mine Category Assessment Protocol (MCAP) Statement of Work
Background Information:
The area which will be visited for the MCAP reconnaissance effort will cover all 6 zones in the Northern Agency (Figure 1) of the Navajo Nation. The MCAP will be in support of the Tronox settlement. The 6 zones covers approximately 180 square miles and contains 120 mine claim areas. Of the 120 mine claim areas, 26 mine claims are specifically identified in the Tronox settlement (Figures 2 and 3). Additionally, within the Tronox settlement language, additional ‘other sites’ may be identified to also be Tronox mine claims areas. To date, an additional 6 mine claim areas have been identified (Figure 4).
Objective and Scope:
The purpose of the MCAP is to develop and implement a systematic method for assessing and surveying abandoned uranium mine sites and other potential contributions of uranium material areas to determine and evaluate removal factors impacting future site work and to develop ranking system for prioritizing Removal Site Evaluations in FY16 and FY17. This systematic approach should include ranking each mine claim area based on a historical review as well as creating a Target list. The Target list would be made up of the Tronox mine sites and “other mines” sites. The Target list should also include an analysis of the ASPECT aerial gamma spectrometry results. Any areas containing results over 3 pCi/g, above background, within ½ a mile from a Tronox mine claim boundary or from an ‘other sites’ mine claim boundary. These newly defined areas will be identified, provided a name and mapped. Additionally, any non Tronox mine claim within ½ mile of the 26 Tronox mine claim or “other site” mine claim boundaries will be identified.
Additionally the use of Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) will be integral to MCAP reconnaissance effort. The use of UAS will provide two important functions. One, the use of Light Detection And Ranging (LiDAR) will provide the modeling abilities to help identify drainages for waste migration as well as assist with the volumetric estimations of mine waste piles and Two, provide access or sight into otherwise extremely hard to access areas.
Schedule of Activities:
• July:
START will mobilize for an initial field deployment the week of July 13, 2015. This pre-site trip is expected to last up to 4 days. The purpose of this trip is to gain situational awareness with the UAS contractor in order to properly plan for any logistical needs or support for the MCAP reconnaissance. The trip will also act as a field test of the evaluation factors. Additionally, there will be a need to coordinate with Navajo Abandon Mine Lands (AML) to identify access issues, routes and to gain historical documents.
• April:
START will mobilize the second week of April 2016. This deployment is expected to last up to 6 days. Based on the pre-site trip, the MCAP reconnaissance will begin on approximately 15 areas. START is expected to be prepared with: 2 four-wheel drive vehicles, field data collection tablets and safety equipment. Also, START should be expected to use EPA furnished equipment, such as a Ludlum 22-41 and Tremble GeoXTs
• May
START will mobilize the 3rd week of May 2016. This deployment is expected to last up to 28 days. Based on the April deployment, the length of this deployment could possibly change. This deployment will consist of completing the MCAP reconnaissance as well having the UAS contractor complete a trial LiDAR assessment of one area within the Target list. Based on the amount of effort and location of the areas within the Target list, it is expect that field work could vary from 4 – 6 days per week for health and safety purposes as well as information and data processing. START is expected to be prepared with: 2 four-wheel drive vehicles, field data collection tablets and safety equipment. Also, START should be expected to use EPA furnished equipment, such as a Ludlum 22-41 and Tremble GeoXTs
Understanding the remote location of the site, unknown weather conditions and a number of other potential issues, it is understood that the field deployment may take a few extra days or additional personnel may need to be brought in to support the field deployment. It is also understood that due to weather conditions or stakeholder involvement, the field deployment date may change. This is important as there are deliverables due from the contractor prior to mobilization.
General:
The contractor should be aware they are required to be consistent with the START 4 Contract #EP-S5-13-02 Section C – Description / Specifications / Statement of Work as per the contract. Additionally, the contractor is also required to fulfill the tasks as determined by the Task Monitor (TM) within the Performance Work Statement (PWS) Attachment C-1, Exhibit A, the Specific Tasks List, under section C.1, Assessment. Based on the requirements of the contract, START will be tasked with the following:
Specific Tasking prior to field deployment:
Attend weekly meetings in preparation of the field deployments
Develop a site specific Data Management Plan (DMP) in accordance with the EPA requirements laid out in H.19 of the START 4 Contract #EP-S5-13-02 an implement a geo-viewer (Navajo operations viewer) to support field decision making and dissemination.
Develop a site specific Health and Safety plan (HASP) for field activities which comply with OSHA and EPA requirements
Complete and maintain documentation for all contractor actions and costs using RCMS and provide monthly 1900-55s to the Task Monitor (TM) in accordance of H.17 of the START 4 Contract #EP-S5-13-02
START shall create a MCAP target list containing the following:
o Tronox mine claims;
o “Other sites” mine claims;
o Areas identified by ASPECT within ½ mile of either the Tronox or “other sites” mine claims exceeding 3 pCi/g plus background;
o Any mine claim within ½ of either the Tronox or “other sites” mine claims.
START will procure a UAS subcontractor. This UAS contractor shall be available during scheduled field deployments. The UAS contractor should have the ability to provide LiDAR services to model the drainage pathways of the MCAP Target list
START shall conduct a Historical review. START will review and compile all known historical site data and documents to be included in the evaluation, including (but not limited to):
o ASPECT Survey Data
o Gamma Scanning Results
o Site Observation Reports
o Aerial Imagery
o AML Logbooks and Sketches
o AML Site Plans
o Existing GIS Data
o Historical Geological Reports
START shall develop the Evaluation factors in coordination with the Task Monitor (TM) / On Scene Coordinator (OSC). Working with the OSC to develop a thorough lists of factors that will be evaluated during the MCAP reconnaissance may include (but not limited to):
o Mine Features (adits, waste piles, pits, etc)
o Potential Human Exposure (pathways, structures, etc)
o Mine Topography (cliffs, etc)
o Waste Rock Nature and Extent/Volume
o Mining Debris (wood, metal, etc)
o Potential Migration of Waste Offsite (pathways)
o Proximity to Surface Water
o Proximity to other AUMs
o Accessibility Routes
o Accessibility Resource Needs (driving, hiking, ATVs, etc)
o Removal Site Evaluation Scanning Impacts (cliffs, sidewalls, overhangs, vegetation, etc)
o Removal Site Evaluation Resource needs (ATVs, geo-probes, UAS)
o Proximity to Infrastructure (power, water, clean fill, lodging, etc)
o Identification of Staging Areas (or Temporary Waste Storage Cells)
o Presence of any Natural Outcroppings/Ore bodies
o Identification of any sensitive plant or animal species
START shall create a tablet-based field form to be capture the evaluation factors during the field deployments. The tablet-based form will be pre-loaded per the MCAP target list
START shall take the MCAP target list and create a field deployment schedule focusing on a planned logistical approach / plan for implementation of the MCAP reconnaissance.
Specific Tasking for the field deployments:
The contractor shall provide technical support to EPA on removal assessment activities; and perform removal assessment activities in accordance with EPA OSWER Directive 9360.3-08, “Superfund Removal Procedures/The Removal Response Decision: Site Discovery to Response Decision” dated September 1994, and the NCP.
START shall implement of the field deployment schedule using the MCAP target list and evaluation factors
Specific tasking for post field work:
Attend weekly, as needed, meeting / calls with EPA
Prepare a short Trip report for brief out after each field deployment. The Trip report should include an overview of field activities, including number of Target areas completed, a photo log and any follow up activities or field issues that need further review that may impact any deliverables deployment schedule.
Prepare and submit a draft (and then final) MCAP reconnaissance report in accordance to EPA guidelines per requirement of the START 4 Contract #EP-S5-13-02. At a minimum, the report should include the follow:
o Introduction
o Site information
o MCAP reconnaissance
o Presentation and discussion Target area list
o Conclusion and priority removal site evaluation recommendations
Appendices:
• Figures
• Photographic log
• MCAP Summary Tables / priority summarization
• SCRIBE project file
