2.1.1 Narrative
May 9 – 14, 2011
OSC Musante onsite this week.
This week ERRS:
-Continued screening plant operations.
-Continued water conveyance system operations.
-Continued site-wide road improvements and maintenance.
-Continued dust control program using water for dust suppression.
-Continued excavation of the drainage diversion swale on the northwest side of the repository.
-Continued excavation of the liner anchor trench.
-Began placement of 1.5”- liner bedding material in repository excavation.
-Began compaction testing of bedding material.
-Set up dust suppression water tank and pump near AML repository.
-Began construction of access roads on north side of mesa to the TLDA, TSDA, and Arroyo areas.
START provided engineering design implementation support, performed air sampling as part of the effluent dust sampling program, and performed radiation surveys as needed to delineate work zones.
May 16 – 21, 2011
OSC Dunkelman onsite this week to cover for OSC Musante.
This week ERRS:
-Continued screening plant operations.
-Continued water conveyance system operations.
-Continued site-wide road improvements and maintenance.
-Continued dust control program using water for dust suppression.
-Continued construction of access roads on north side of mesa to the TLDA, TSDA, and Arroyo areas.
-Completed excavation of the drainage diversion swale on the northwest side of the repository.
-Completed placement of 1.5”- liner bedding material in repository excavation.
-Completed excavation of the liner anchor trench.
-Completed installation of leachate collection piping in repository excavation.
-Constructed an earthern berm around the toe of the TSDA to catch material dislodged from upper slopes.
-Began installation of liner materials in repository.
START provided engineering design implementation support, performed 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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