Grants Mining District Community Cleanups
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Cleanups on Tribal Lands
Middle Reservoir
In 2013, EPA secured relinquishment of ownership by the resident of a historically and culturally significant house in the Village of Paguate in the Pueblo of Laguna. The house was contaminated with radon1 which could not feasibly be abated. The house was returned to the village for non-residential use. EPA constructed a replacement house for the resident. For more information, read the Middle Reservoir Action Memo.
Oak Canyon
In 2012, EPA excavated and removed contaminated soil and/or installed radon1 abatement systems at 27 residences in the village of Paguate in the Pueblo of Laguna. For more information, read the Oak Canyon Action Memo.
Rio San Jose
In 2012, EPA excavated and removed contaminated soil at 11 residences in the villages of Laguna, Mesita, Paraje and Seama in the Pueblo of Laguna. For more information, read the Rio San Jose Action Memo.
Sun Clan Road
In 2011, in the village of New Laguna, EPA demolished and disposed of a house built with radiologically contaminated building materials and provided funding for materials for a replacement home. For more information, read the Sun Clan Road Action Memo.
Cleanups on Nontribal Lands
- Bluewater Radiological Site
- Hogan Mine
- Homestake Mining Company Radon Abatement Site
- Johnny M Mine Area
- Mormon Farms Site
Bluewater Radiological Site
In 2013, EPA excavated and removed contaminated soil from 26 residential properties in the village of Bluewater in Cibola County, New Mexico. EPA also installed radon1 abatement systems in five of those 26 residences. For more information, read the Bluewater Radiological Site Action Memo.
Hogan Mine
In 2011, EPA excavated and removed contaminated soil at a residence in San Mateo, McKinley County, New Mexico. For more information, read the Hogan Mine Action Memo.
Homestake Mining Company Radon Abatement Site
In 2012 and 2013, EPA installed radon1 abatement systems in nine residences in Milan, Cibola County, New Mexico. For more information, visit the Homestake Mining Company website.
Johnny M Mine Area
In 2011, EPA temporarily relocated a resident and his small ranching business from his property in rural McKinley County, New Mexico. The ranch was adjacent to the former Johnny M Uranium Mine and was contaminated with radionuclides and uranium Additionally, approximately 286,000 tons of tailings sands from the Kerr McGee Mill was used to backfill mines stopes. EPA is currently overseeing an Engineering Evaluation/Cost Analysis (“EE/CA”) to evaluate response alternatives for the site. The potentially responsible party acquired the property from the resident. For more information, go to Johnny M Mine.
Mormon Farms
In 2013, EPA excavated and removed contaminated soil from 19 residential properties near Milan, Cibola County, New Mexico. For more information, read the Mormon Farms Action Memo.
Note: One of the results of the mining activity in these geographical subareas of the Grants Mining District is high levels of radon in or near certain area residences. EPA has been working with local partners to address these high levels of radon.