United States Environmental Protection Agency
Region IX
POLLUTION REPORT


Date:
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
From:
Harry Allen IV, Will Duncan III

Subject: 

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


POLREP No.:
5
Site #:
09RL
Reporting Period:
9/22-26/2008
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:
 
Incident Category:
Removal Action
CERCLIS ID #:
Contract #
EP-W-07-022
RCRIS ID #:
 

Site Description

The U.S.EPA has begun a Removal Action in the  Red Valley Chapter of the Navajo Nation.  These homesites are situated in both AZ & NM.  EPA has determined that numerous homesites and structures exhibit 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

•   Personnel On-site: EPA: OSC Duncan, ERT Gilbert; 1-PST; 2-START; 9-ERRS
•   ERRS began and completed demolition of HS-0045-B (house), including over-excavation, backfill, compaction, and leveling.  
•   START/PST conducted air sampling for radioactive particulate matter during demolition and excavation activities.
•   START/PST performed radiation survey of debris and excavated area.
•   ERRS began burning non-contaminated, combustible construction debris.  Excavated soil was stockpiled with other soils at T&D staging area.  
•   EPA, NNEPA and START conducted additional assessment activities at four homesites in Cane Valley.  The Homesites which were reassessed included HS-0008, HS0012, HS0019-B, and HS-0029-A.
•   EPA and NNEPA also secured three access agreements (HS-0010, HS-0027, and HS-0025)


Planned Removal Actions

The ERRS wil not Work on 9/27 or 9/28.   Electric service at HS-0039 (house) will be disconnected by Navajo Tribal Utilities Authority.  ERRS will begin demolition activities on HS-0039 on Monday 9/29  ERRS will continue to Burn non-cotaminated debis at the end of next week.


Next Steps

ERRS is planning on demobilizing from Red Valley after completing demolition activities on HS-0039.  ERRS will mobilize to the Teec Nos Pos area next.


Key Issues

Residents of HS-25 are waiting for EPA to provide temporary alternative accommodations. The EPA will need to provide hotel rooms for 10 people (6 children) and arrange for a contractor to evaluate the electrical issues in a second structure on the Home-site.  If the second structure can be repaired, then the family has agreed to reside there during replacement activities.

Excavated soil is currently stockpiled within a fence area in Red Valley.  Analytical data is needed to subcontract T&D services.  Analytical data is expected next week.


response.epa.gov/RedValley