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Section 32 Abandoned Uranium Mine (AUM)

 
Site Contact:
Randy Nattis
On Scene Coordinator

(nattis.randy@epa.gov)

Site Location:
Thoreau, NM 87323
 response.epa.gov/Section32_33AUM

Geo-Spatial Viewer:
Section32_AUM


Abandoned Uranium Mines - Sections 32 and 33 Mines
Section - S32
Township - T15N
Range - R11W
Quarter section(s)
NWNE, SWNE, NENE, SENE

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA) Region 9 is working to protect the residents of Casamero Lake Chapter by cleaning up leftover mine waste from past uranium mining operations.

Uranium mining operations occurred throughout the Navajo Nation from the 1940s to the 1980s. The Cobb Nuclear Company operated uranium mines in the Casamero Lake Chapter area. Uranium ore was mined and taken out of the area. The US EPA is looking at two mines called the Section 32 and Section 33 mines.

At the Section 32 mine, there is an unfenced deep mineshaft at the southeast portion of the site. At the Section 33 mine, there are mining waste piles that contain some leftover uranium ore.

The leftover uranium ore has more radiation than the surrounding area and people should avoid touching it or walking near the mines.

The USEPA Region 9 Superfund Emergency Response Section will conduct a preliminary assessment of uranium ore and mining waste at the two mines. We will share this information and talk with the community about cleanup options.

September 2012
Based on removal site evaluation, USEPA will take a removal action. Additional information can be found in the POLREPS and Removal Site Evaluation report located in the document section.


Installation of GEO coir complete. Installation of water drainage rock pathways and sediment basin also complete - Top and east side, looking east. Also, in the distance, the rock re-enforced boundary between Section 32 and Section 33 Installation of GEO coir complete. Installation of water drainage rock pathways and sediment basin also complete - Top and north side, looking northwest Installation of GEO coir complete. Installation of water drainage rock pathways and sediment basin also complete - top and north side, looking east Installation of GEO coir complete. Installation of water drainage rock pathways and sediment basin also complete - Top of pile, looking south Installation of GEO coir complete. Installation of water drainage rock pathways and sediment basin also complete - Looking west Completed installation of the GEO coir and water drainage on the south side of temporary consolidated waste pile Placing of the rock to support the water drainage as well as to anchor the GEO coir into place. Staple installation 6 in staples used to anchor the GEO coir into place. The staples are places every two feet. Also, a view of the GEO coir mesh re-establish the water drainage and preparing to rock the bottom section of the GEO coir to further stabilize the GEO coir laying the GEO coir material to maximize the protection from water runoff / erosion anchoring in the GEO coir on top of the consolidated waste pile removal and staging of rock from drainage area Installation of the GEO coir 900 mesh, cleaning out the water collection / drainage areas and the sediment basin Post removal inspection ~ 1 year since completion Post removal inspection ~ 1 year since completion Post removal inspection ~ 1 year since completion Post removal inspection ~ 1 year since completion Completed fence installation Restoration - Sediment basin to collect water and sediment from the catch basin surrounding the repository Restoration - Spillway from storm water catch basin into sediment basin. Restoration - 180 degree view of the excavation of the transfer area. Looking west Restoration - Final storm water runoff catch basin. Aggregate rock added to hold larger rocks in place. Restoration - AUM32-RA-12 - Rock break in the excavated area to hold water runoff and sediments 180 degree view of Temporary Stockpile / Repository. Restoration - second application of the soil tackifier solution Restoration - Final compaction Restoration - Warming the soil tackifier prior to mixing with water for application Restoration - Application of tackifier water solution on the northwest sidewall of the Repository Restoration - Application of tackifier water solution on the north sidewall of the Repository Restoration - Soil tackifier mixed to appropriate ratio with water (in water truck) prior to application. Restoration - Final compaction on Repository Restoration - Excavator lining the capture basin around the repository with rip rap rock to control runoff and prevent erosion. Restoration - Regrading excavation areas to promote safe drainage and vegetative regrowth Restoration - Rock lining the earthen berm Restoration - Construction of the earthen berm surrounding the Repository Restoration - Staged gravel and rock to be used as part of the site restoration process Decontamination - Haul trucks getting filters replaced as part of the decontamination process. All equipment will go through a dry and wet decon. All equipment will then be scanned. Restoration - Earthen berm around the Repository filled with rock. Continental Divide Electric Company repairing a down tension line between two utility poles over the repository ramp. ERRS surveying drainage plan ERRS retrieving dust suppression water from water supply well in Milan, New Mexico. Fence around well pump building Excavation of AUM32-RA-08 with repository in background, facing north Excavation of AUM32-RA-08, facing south Excavation of AUM32-RA-08, facing southeast Excavation of AUM32-RA-15 complete, facing west Excavation of AUM32-RA-08, facing south Excavation of AUM32-RA-08, facing north Escavated area around vertical mine shaft in AUM32-RA08, facing North Vertical mine shaft uncovered in AUM32-RA08 Vertical mine shaft and concrete pad uncovered in AUM32-RA08, facing North Vertical mine shaft and concrete pad uncovered in AUM32-RA08, facing south Repository, facing North Excavation of AUM32-RA-08, facing North Excavation of AUM32-RA-09, facing North Excavated culvert in arroyo, in between AUM-RA-15 and AUM-RA-16. Facing East AUM32-RA-08 excavation, facing North AUM32-RA-09 excavation, facing Northwest Repository, facing North Excavation at AUM-RA-09. Facing South AUM32-RA-09 AUM32-RA-06, -07, and -08 Air sampler downgradient (NE) from the repository Air sampling between the site and the residence Repository - Looking west, 180 degree photo angle , AUM32-RA-12 - Excavated area and hot spot removal , AUM32-RA-03 - Pre-soaking prior to excavtion AUM32-RA-06 - Excavated sidewalls - 3 feet , START screening excavation areas, confirming the 3 foot and 1 foot excavation levels. AUM32-RA-07 , AUM32-RA-06 and AUM32-RA-07 (Direction: North) AUM32-RA-12 (Direction: North) Repository (Direction: East) NNEPA visiting site AUM32-RA-15 (Direction: East) AUM32-RA-06 (Direction: North) AUM32-RA-11 (Direction: North) START hand scanning with a 3x3 a 3-ft deep excavation section in the Tansfer Area. Looking north, excavator starts removing soil in the Transfer Area. Looking southwest at the last remaining area of Section 32 being excavated. A dozer and roller on top of the repository pile in the background. Looking east at the western excavation of Section 32 and the repository pile in the background. START hand scanning excavated area in Section 32 with a 3x3 detector. START setting up two air samplers at nearest homesite to the west. Haul truck on consolidated pile, driving up a clean layer of soil to drop soils for consolidation , AUM32-RA-02 - Excavated area - looking east southeast , AUM32-RA-02 - Excavated area and load out - looking east , AUM32-RA-02 - Excavated area - looking east northeast , Mine tailings and debris under a very thin soil cap. The area was exposed during the excavation of area AUM32-RA-05 , Buried Mining debris. Appears to be wood supports used during the mining operation. The wood was buried with mining tailings. The reading were over 1,000,000 cpm. , Buried Mining debris mixed with tailings in AUM32-RA-05. The scans within this area were over 1,000,000 cpm. , Dust suppression / pre-soaking of area AUM32-RA-02 prior to excavation. Looking west , Operational dust suppression during the excavation of AUM32-RA-05, which was full of mine tailings and mining debris. Looking southwest , Excavation at the east end of the Section 32 removal area with two air samplers in the background. Looking northwest at the repository pile being worked by a dozer and excavation of Section 32 to the west (left) Vertical mine shaft continues to be excavates in teh southeast corner of Section 32 removal area. Looking east at excavation at the east and west ends of Section 32 removal area. The repository pile being worked by a dozer between the two excavators. Excavation of the vertical mine shaft at the norheast corner of Section 32 AUM site. Looking west along the repository pile. Excavation and loading dump trucks at the far west end of the pile. Excavation at the vertical mine shaft and laoding of wetted material into a dump truck before placement on the repository pile. Repository pile being shaped by a dozer, looking northeast, and excavation at the vertical mine shaft at the end of the pile to the east. Excavation around Shaft and east fence. Excavation is sloped to ensure fence integrity. Water truck and hose being used for dust control during excavation and loading , Excavated areas - AUM32 RA-04. Excavation around power pole , Haul truck loading in AUM32 RA-04. Looking west , Air sampling and monitoring. The location of this air sampling and dust monitor is roughly halfway between the construction site and the home site. Vertical Shaft excavation. Looking southwest Excavated area in AUM32-RA-04 looking Northeast. The beginnings of the Consolidated stockpile is on the left. Excavator removing soil at the western end of Section 32 AUM site. Repository pile to the northeast (right). Excavator removing material at the western edge of Section 32. Air Sampling downwind of the work zone. The southern most edge of the Consolidated Stockpile (looking SE) Excavation in AUM32-04, South of the Mine hole. Drainage into Sediment basin (up stream) Sediment basin which will be used to help control runoff from consolidated stockpile. The Sediment basin will be re developed Dumping of Uranium contaminated soils by temporary respository site START setting up F and J air samplers near the support zone / command post START setting up the F and J air samplers downwind from construction site Road improvements / building for haul trucks Command Post Command, support and staging area AUM32-RA-01 - Test dig for operational preparation Background - meter and probe set up for background scanning , PIC at Background location , Background location , VIPER Deployment - OSC Nattis. Ludlum 22-41 and 3x3 probe. Defining the boundary of Section 32 Mobile VIPER - Screening waste piles inaccessible by the VIPER buggy , New area south of section 32 and 33 , Additional area south of section 32 and 33. This was part of the Mine. A crane would sit here and unload Ore from a shaft extending from the bottom of the Mine to the surface , VIPERized SUV for screening additional area outside of the original section 32 and 33 area , Installing VIPER on SUV , VIPER tracks VIPER Deployment. Ludlum 22-41 and 3x3 probe. VIPER deployment for radiation scanning of Mine sections 32 and 33 Waste pile on AUM 33 viewed from AUM 32 Open shaft in AUM 32 and waste piles in AUM 33 Homesite west of and access to AUM 32 Typical rocks scattered around the area - Section 33 , Looking East. Section 33. Tailing piles and mining debris. , Looking NE. Tailing pile on section 33 with mine debris (wood and other materials) , Fence line is non existent in areas , Looking NE, Section 33 has many tailing piles , Looking SE toward the section 33 area from section 32. The fence line separates tailing piles from the 2 areas , Section 32 mine opening, looking west towards resident , Section 32 mine opening , Fence line between the areas of section 32 and 33 , Site dogs defending the site , Site dogs Site dogs Post monsoon site visit Post monsoon site visit - Top of stockpile Post monsoon site visit - Top of stockpile, looking at sediment basin Post monsoon site visit - drainage around stockpile Post monsoon site visit - sediment basin
For additional information, visit the Pollution/Situation Report (Pol/Sitreps) section.