The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) said that it had reached a deal for the uranium contamination probe on the Navajo Nation former mining site. On Monday they said that Chevron USA Inc. was to survey the radium contaminated soil in the 31 acre Mariano Lake Mine site near Gallup, N.M., and in the surrounding 10 homes and 2 water wells.
Jared Blumenfield, administration of EPA's Pacific Southwest Region said, they were working to make sure that every responsible party takes the steps needed to protect Navajo families from radioactive contamination. He added that the investigation was part of EPA's commitment to help the Navajo Nation deal with the significant impacts of historic uranium mining
The EPA is now in its fourth year out of a total of five allotted to a clean-up plan that is addressing uranium contamination at former uranium mine sites. The Mariano Lake Mine was operated as a uranium mine from 1977 to 1982, and includes one 500-foot deep shaft, waste piles and several surface ponds.
While mining was banned at the Navajo Nation in 2005 the abandoned mines have become a legacy of death and disease across the reservation. The reservation is spread over 27,000 square-miles and is part of New Mexico, Utah and Arizona. Chevron is the fifth party that EPA has required to take action at sites on the Navajo Nation.
Andy Bain, remedial project manager with the EPA said that they were confident there was not an immediate risk, but they were concerned about livestock and the activities of the families. Navajo President Ben Shelly was happy at the agreement that the EPA had reached with Chevron as it would protect the communities in and around Mariano Lake.