Section 32/33 Mines Site (Tronox)

The Section 32/33 Mines site is a former uranium mine located at the east side of County Road 19, approximately 10 miles north of Prewitt, New Mexico in the Casamero Lake Chapter of the Navajo Nation. The Section 32/33 Mines site includes an area of former mining operations and surrounding contaminated areas in the Eastern Abandoned Uranium Mine Region of the Navajo Nation. In 2012, mine waste from the Section 32 portion of the site was collected and covered in a 15-acre on-site fenced repository.

The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is working with the Navajo Nation Environmental Protection Agency (NNEPA) to oversee investigation and cleanup at the site while pursuing enforcement efforts with potentially responsible parties.

Background

Section 32/33 is an inactive uranium mine located north of Prewitt, New Mexico. Commercial exploration, development, and mining of uranium at Section 32/33 began in 1960 by the Kerr-McGee Corporation (Kerr-McGee), a predecessor of Tronox. Both mines are reported to be last operated by the Cobb Nuclear Company. The Section 32 Mine is within Navajo Allotment Land, and the Section 33 Mine is privately owned. Mining at Section 32/33 occurred between 1960 and 1969, producing a total of 24,360 tons of ore, 20,117 tons from Section 32 Mine and 4,243 tons from Section 33 Mine. The mines were deep, dry underground mines accessed by vertical mine shafts. Ore from the mines was moved to the Section 32/33 Transfer Station south of the main mining area, and then hauled off site on the unpaved road to the west to County Route 19. Ore was transported approximately 50 miles from the site to the Ambrosia Lake uranium mill located to the east and north of Grants, New Mexico. The mines were “dry mines,” meaning that the mined ore was above the water table and did not require water to be pumped out.

Cleanup Results to Date

In 2009 and 2012, EPA conducted assessments of the site, and then in 2012 completed a “removal action” and reclamation work at the Section 32 portion of the site, including the Section 32/33 Transfer Station. The work consolidated all the waste from Section 32 in an on-site repository that remains covered and fenced. In 2019, EPA conducted a Removal Site Evaluation field investigation and report later that same year. In 2022 EPA collected additional data at the Section 32/33 mines, the haul road, and the former transfer station to aid the development of the Engineering Evaluation and Cost Analysis (EE/CA).

Current Alternative Evaluation Progress

EPA and NNEPA are releasing the final Section 32/33 Mines site EE/CA report at a public meeting on March 23, 2024. This meeting starts a 60-day Public Comment Period that will end on May 22, 2024. The EE/CA recommends the cleanup alternative for the Section 32/33 Mines site.

Next Steps: Action Memorandum and Design

On March 23, 2024 in a public meeting, EPA released the final EE/CA with a recommended cleanup alternative. This meeting started a 60-day Public Comment Period that ended on May 22, 2024. Following the formal public meeting and public comment period, EPA will review and respond to public comments on the recommended alternative. An action memorandum documenting the cleanup decision will then be prepared. Depending on the alternative selected, the next step will be implementing a design followed by construction in two to five years.

Documents

• Fact Sheet: Section 32 and 33 Mines Site Recommended Cleanup Alternative (Overview) (pdf) (1.93 MB, March 2024)
  This fact sheet provides an overview of the cleanup process for the Section 32 and 33 Mines, considerations related to the recommended cleanup alternative of disposal at the Red Rocks Facility, and a map of the recommended "Ranch Road" haul route and two other routes.
• Section 32/33 Mines: Engineering Evaluation Cost Analysis (pdf) (18.88 MB, March 4, 2024)
  Final Engineering Evaluation/Cost Analysis (EE/CA) report regarding the Section 32 and 33 Mines near Gallup, New Mexico, in Navajo Nation.
• Section 32/33 Mine Removal Assessment Report (PDF)
• Site Screening Report
• Section 32 and 33 Mines Site Community Involvement Plan (pdf) (5.79 MB, February 2024)
• Section 32/33 Mines Site Fact Sheets
• Eastern Mine Region Community Involvement Plans
• Eastern Mine Region Fact Sheets
• Tronox Mines Fact Sheets
• Tronox Mines Financial Reports
• Additional Documents

Community Involvement

Community members have an opportunity to become involved in the cleanup activities and help shape cleanup decisions. EPA and NNEPA meet regularly, in coordination with chapter officials, with residents and other community members about work at the Section 32/33 Mine sites.

Who is the Community?

The community includes people in both rural areas and more populated areas around Prewitt, Casamero Lake, Smith Lake, and Borrego Pass. Many people graze livestock near mine sites. The Section 32/33 Mines are located in the Casamero Lake chapter.

EPA and NNEPA Community Involvement Activities

EPA and NNEPA works with community leaders such as the council delegates, chapter, grazing and land board officials, responsible company liaisons, as well as community members for all outreach activities and information sessions which are conducted with cultural sensitivity. To keep the community informed, EPA and NNEPA has done the following:

• Developed fact sheets and flyers
• Conducted interviews for a Community Involvement Plan
• Attend chapter meetings to share information on cleanup progress
• Held open house meetings and workshops to share and receive input on cleanup alternatives
• Worked with chapter officials and family members to gain access to mine sites
• Attended local chapter meetings to share site investigation information

Partnerships

EPA and NNEPA continue to work and strengthen relationships with a number of organizations focused on uranium and radiation, including:

• Navajo Nation Abandoned Mine Lands Program
• Indian Health Service Community Uranium Exposure-Journey to Healing
• Indian Health Service Radiation Exposure Screening and Education Program
• Office of Navajo Uranium Workers
• Navajo Birth Cohort Study
• Navajo Nation Department of Health Community Health Representatives
• Bureau of Indian Affairs
• Indian Health Service
• Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry
• Nuclear Regulatory Commission
• Department of Energy
• University of New Mexico
• Northern Arizona University
• Others as suggested by community members and local officials

Cleanup Progress Timeline

Before 2009, the buildings and aboveground structures were removed prior to EPA’s initial assessment, presumably by the owners/operators.

2024

Develop Community Involvement Plan for Section 32 and Section 33 mine sites.

2012

• Section 32 mine was backfilled and 3 mine shafts were closed
• A total of 34,686 cubic yards of waste from 15 areas on-site were combined into a stockpile on Section 32 mine including:
  • Waste from Section 32/33 Transfer Station
  • Waste from closing mine shafts
  • Waste Piles
• The stockpile:
  • Covers 2 acres and is up to 30 feet high
  • Is surrounded by a rock-lined drainage ditch
  • Includes a rock-lined runoff detention basin at the southwest corner
  • Was sprayed with soil stabilizer and dust control agents
• No work was performed on Section 33 mine

2019

EPA completed a Removal Site Evaluation of Section 32/33 mines

2022

EPA collected additional data to complete the EE/CA