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.
- ERRS completed demolition of HS-0010-A (abandoned house), HS-0016-A (abandoned house), HS-0018-A (occupied house), HS-0019-B (abandoned house), HS-0022-B (unoccupied house) HS-0022-D (shed), HS-0024-A (abandoned house), and HS-0025-C (occupied house). Additionally, HS-0027-A (a foundation only) was demolished and disposed.
- START and PST continued to conduct air sampling and radiological scanning for debris management and excavation delineation and cleanup confirmation.
- ERRS conducted pot-holing on HS-0018 and tested to determine if contamination could be removed. Based on survey results from START, EPA determined that higher level materials (apparently mill tailings) were present beneath the soil surface.
HS-008-B (occupied house) is the only remaining structure requiring demolition. This structure will be demolished in the coming week as soon as Navajo Nation Tribal Utilities Authority disconnects the electricity.
Because contaminated soils at HS-0018 appear to be mill tailings they must be profiled separately for off-site disposal. ERRS will fence this area off until a disposal facility can be arranged. EPA will likely write a separate action memo and will remobilize to complete this removal action.
During the winter months, EPA and NNEPA will reach compensation agreements with all of the residents whose homes were demolished. EPA will rebuild the remainder of the structures in the Spring of 2008.
- Occupants of structures HS-0018-A and HS-0008-B will stay in a nearby hotel until rebuilding is completed.
- Occupants of HS-0025 will stay in an on-site trailer until rebuilding is completed
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