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Addressing Uranium Contamination
in the Navajo Nation
Abandoned Uranium Mines (AUMs)
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From 1994 to 2007 EPA used its Superfund authority to conduct a thorough screening-level investigation, identifying approximately 1,100 mine features (portals, prospects, rim strips, pits, vertical shafts or waste piles) at 520 discrete abandoned mines throughout the Navajo Nation. EPA developed a Comprehensive Database and Atlas and a desktop risk ranking for all 520 mines. Using this information, EPA targeted 250 high-risk sites for further evaluation.
EPA also removed contaminated materials at several high-priority sites, and has expended over $13 million on the investigation and removals combined. EPA has consulted with Navajo Nation EPA and relied on its local knowledge at all phases of the investigation and removal actions.
By the spring of 2009, EPA plans to finalize 83 on-site screening evaluations of 80 AUM sites in the eastern region and will begin more detailed assessments at five mines. In 2009 EPA will conduct screening-level review and site visits of an additional 160 AUM sites in the Northern region.
Over the next five years, EPA will work with Navajo Nation EPA to conduct a tiered assessment of abandoned mines and to identify mines for further evaluation. On-site screening evaluations will be conducted for 200 to 250 mines and more detailed assessments will be completed at up to 35 mines. EPA will then work with Navajo Nation EPA to determine appropriate courses of action for the highest priority mines.
EPA will also to continue to pursue enforcement under Superfund, focusing on owners or operators of multiple mines. In April 2008, EPA sent information request letters to viable companies who owned or operated multiple mines.
Related Information
Navajo Nation AUM Screening Assessment Report and Atlas with Geospatial Data