2.1.1 Narrative
April 18 – 23, 2011
This week ERRS:
-Continued excavation of the repository.
-Continued screening plant operations.
-Continued water conveyance system operation.
-Continued site-wide road improvements and maintenance.
-Continued dust control program using water for dust suppression.
-Had subcontractor install pump in Well OW-9 to supply construction water. This makes a total of two pumps drawing water from the same aquifer.
-Installed gates at the bottom of mesa access road.
START provided engineering design implementation support, continued development of the effluent air sampling plan, and performed radiation surveys as needed to delineate work zones.
April 25 – 30, 2011
This week ERRS:
-Continued excavation of the repository.
-Continued screening plant operations.
-Continued water conveyance system operation.
-Continued site-wide road improvements and maintenance.
-Continued dust control program using water for dust suppression.
-Radiation Specialty subcontractor on-site to set-up radiation safety program.
START provided engineering design implementation support, continued development of the effluent air sampling plan, and performed radiation surveys as needed to delineate work zones.
May 2 – 7, 2011
All site personnel attended a site-specific radiation training on 5/2. The training was delivered by the radiation specialty subcontractor.
This week ERRS:
-Continued excavation of the repository.
-Continued screening plant operations.
-Continued water conveyance system operation.
-Continued site-wide road improvements and maintenance.
-Continued dust control program using water for dust suppression.
-Began excavation of the drainage diversion swale on the northwest side of the repository.
-Began excavation of the liner anchor trench.
-Set-up exclusion zone and decon corridor around the AML work area.
-Conducted health and safety related air sampling in the AML work area.
START provided engineering design implementation support, performed background air sampling as part of the effluent dust sampling program, and performed radiation surveys as needed to delineate work zones.
2.1.2 Response Actions to Date
In April 2010, the ERRS contractor was mobilized to stabilize unconsolidated radioactive tailings at the site. A soil sealant was applied over the waste piles to prevent wind and water erosion, and fencing was erected around the piles to restrict access. An Action Memorandum for a time-critical removal action at the site was approved in September 2010. In November 2010, the ERRS contractor was mobilized to the site to improve the access road up to the top of Oljato Mesa. Between November 2010 and March 2011, archaeological and biological surveys were performed across all areas expected to be impacted by removal activities. The START contractor developed engineering design plans for the repository. OSC Musante participated in Oljato Chapter meetings to provide updates on site progress to the community. Mobilization for removal activities and site setup began the week of March 28, 2011. Excavation of the repository began the week of April 4, 2011, and has been the main work activity to date.
2.1.3 Enforcement Activities, Identity of Potentially Responsible Parties (PRPs)
EPA to date has been unable to identify any existing PRPs. EPA will continue to analyze the voluminous responses to the information requests it sent to numerous parties associated with mining in general on the Navajo Reservation. Because of the urgency of this removal, EPA is proceeding with a fund-lead action. EPA will continue to review the information referenced above to determine whether viable and liable parties may be identified, and will pursue recovery of the removal costs if appropriate.
2.1.4 Progress Metrics
There are no progress metrics to report at this time. Off-site disposal is not planned for this removal. Uranium tailing wastes at the Site will be transferred to the on-site repository. Total volumes of waste moved into the repository may be reported in future POLREPs.
Waste Stream |
Medium |
Quantity |
Manifest # |
Treatment |
Disposal |
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