United States Environmental Protection Agency
Region IX
POLLUTION REPORT



Date:
Wednesday, July 20, 2011
From:
Will Duncan III, Rich Martyn, Harry L Allen IV

Subject: 

Final
Red Valley Navajo Radioactive Structures Site
BIA Route 63, Red Valley Chapter, Navajo Nation, AZ
Latitude: 36.7050000
Longitude: -109.0406000


POLREP No.:
7
Site #:
09RL
Reporting Period:
09/01/2008 - 03/02/2011
D.O. #:
022-9032
Start Date:
8/25/2008
Response Authority:
CERCLA
Mob Date:
8/25/2008
Response Type:
Time-Critical
Demob Date:
 
NPL Status:
Non NPL
Completion Date:
3/2/2011
Incident Category:
Removal Action
CERCLIS ID #:
Contract #
EP-W-07-022
RCRIS ID #:
 

Site Description


The U.S.EPA has completed demolition of contaminated structures in the  Red Valley Chapter of the Navajo Nation.  These homesites are situated in both AZ & NM.  EPA has determined that these homesites and structures exhibited elevated levels of gamma radiation.  These structures are believed to be contaminated by uranium mining wastes either carried to the sites and used in building material or transported to the sites by natural means.


Current Activities

Five structures were demolished in August and September 2008.  All five structures were negotiated to be replaced.  One structure was negotiated as a rebuild by homeowner.   In this particular case the USEPA provided money to the structure owner to contract a builder and rebuild the structure themselves.   Earthen pads for foundations were constructed immediately following demolition activities.  Over the next 31 months the ERRS contractor worked with their subcontractor, Southwest Traditional Log Homes and Faver’s Homes (Modular Homes) to construct 4 replacement structures in Red Valley.  Three of the four structures were completed in 2009.  These three were given priority because the residents were living in temporary lodging.   Due to extreme winter weather conditions the contractor’s subcontractor did not get back to area until spring of 2010.  Southwest traditional log homes constructed 1 Red Lake model home, 1 Bed and Breakfast Hogan, and 1 Trout Lake model home.  Faver’s Home constructed a three bedroom 2 bath modular home.  Following is a list of dates when replacement structures were turned over to residents and they were allowed to move back in:

Homesite #               Model                                    Signed Walkthrough

HS-0032                   Modular home                        September 22, 2009
HS-0039                   Trout Lake                             May 2, 2009
HS-0045                   Red Lake                               April 9, 2009
HS-0045                   Bed and Breakfast Hogan        March 2, 2011

Financial compensation for the structure that was rebuilt by the homeowner was settled in 2009.  

Homesite #              Signed Receipt

HS-0046                  July 20, 2009

At this point and time all structures have been replaced and possession of the structures has been given back to the residents.  All financial compensations have been resolved as well.   All activities under the Phase 1 structure removal effort for the Red Valley Navajo Radioactive Structures Site have been completed.


Planned Removal Actions

None


Next Steps

None


Key Issues

None


Disposition of Wastes

All wastes were transported off site under a Special Waste Manifest.  None of the wastes contained enough radioactive contamination to be considered hazardous.  Following is a summary of the waste transported off site.

576 cubic yards of soil were transported off site.
216 cubic yards of construction debris were transported of site.

Waste was transported to Waste Management New Mexico - San Jaun County, 78 County Road 3140, Aztec, NM 87410.



response.epa.gov/RedValley