The Cane Valley Navajo Radioactive Structures Site is located within the Navajo Nation Indian Reservation, straddling the Arizona and Utah state line. Structures in three other regional areas (Cove, Red Valley, Teec Nos Pos and Tuba City) have also been identified for separate removal actions.
The Site consists of 13 structures and 3 yards situated on 12 residential properties known as “homesites.” Four of the 13 structures are currently occupied. In winter 2007-2008, U.S. EPA and Navajo Nation EPA, assessed 56 homesites including 113 structures. Overall, 27 structures and 12 yards require response actions. These efforts have all been conducted in partial fulfillment of the Agency’s commitment under the multi-agency Health and Environmental Impacts of Uranium Contamination Five-year Plan.
Persons occupying contaminated structures are at risk of exposures to external gamma and alpha ionizing radiation by way of radon, radium-226 and uranium contamination. Exposures to alpha ionizing radiation due to the presence of radium-226 and radon, pose an increased risk of toxic effects including cancer.
Personnel On-site: EPA - 2 (OSC Musante, ERT-W R. Connell); PST - 2; START - 2; ERRS - 13
- On 11/02 OSC Musante and ERRS attended a planning meeting at the Oljato Chapter House. A description of project activities planned for the Cane Valley area was outlined for meeting attendees.
- On 11/3 ERRS transported equipment from the Teec Nos Pos area to the Cane Valley area and mobilized to the Cane Valley Site.
- On 11/04 ERRS Crew #1 began demolition at HS-0030-A. ERRS Crew #2 staged equipment at HS-0014-B.
- On 11/05 ERRS Crew #1 completed demolition and began over-excavation at HS-0030-A. ERRS Crew #2 completed demolition at HS-0014-B.
- On 11/06 ERRS Crew #1 completed over-excavation at HS-0030-A and moved equipment to HS-0025-C. ERRS Crew #2 completed over-excavation at HS-0014-B and began demolition at HS-0012-C.
- On 11/07 ERRS Crew #1 continued demolition at HS-0025-C. ERRS Crew #2 completed over-excavation at HS-0012-C and began demolition at structures HS-0022-B & D. A small ERRS crew completed removal of foundation at HS-0027-A with oversight provided by a field archeologist. The archeologist also completed a survey of new home site area for former resident of HS-0018 in to store personal belongings there while soils at HS-0018 were scanned.
- On 11/8 ERRS Crew #1 continued demolition and over-excavation at HS-0025-C. ERRS Crew #2 continued demolition and over-excavation at HS-0022-B&D.
- Between 11/4 & 11/8, START and PST conducted air sampling for radioactive particulates during demolition/excavation activities. START and PST also performed radiation screening of structure debris for disposal and excavation areas for contaminant delineation, cleanup confirmation and waste segregation. START collected samples of debris for waste profiling purposes.
- ERRS will complete demolition and over-excavation at HS-0025 and HS-0022.
- ERRS will assist residents in removal of possessions in structures HS-0024-A and HS-0019-B and begin demolition.
- ERRS will assist resident of HS-0018 in moving personal possessions into storage container. EPA and NNEPA must finalize relocation and compensation arrangements with resident of HS-0018. START will conduct a rad survey of the horse corral at this property. In addition, Navajo Tribal Utilities Authority (NTUA) must disconnect power to this structure before demolition of the structure. EPA will also excavate test areas of soil to determine if elevated areas can be removed or if natural rock formation is the cause of elevated measurements.
- At HS-0016, EPA and NNEPA must finalize access agreement and compensation choice prior to demolition.
- At HS-0010, EPA and NNEPA must finalize the compensation or replacement agreement. NNEPA will meet with the resident to discuss options. NTUA must disconnect power prior to demolition.
- At HS-0008, EPA and NNEPA must finalize access and replacement agreements and discuss temporary housing options.
- EPA and ERRS must approve disposal profile for off-site transport of stockpiled wastes.
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