CHURCH ROCK CLEANUP
United States Environmental Protection Agency Addressing Cleanup on the Navajo Nation
Northeast Church Rock Mine, Church Rock, NM
United Nuclear Corporation (UNC) operated NECR from 1967 to 1982. During this time, they extracted approximately 3.5 million tons of ore, making this the second highest producing mine on the Navajo Nation behind the Kermac Mine No. 22 in the Ambrosia Lake Area. While the mine was in operation, the New Mexico Mining and Minerals Division regulated the site. The uranium ore body is located up to 1,800 feet below grade at the NECR Mine Site. Therefore, the mining was conducted over 1,000 feet below the ground surface accessed through two main underground shafts. Other mining features included several vent holes, support buildings, roads and water extraction wells and treatment facilities. Portions of the site are located within an arroyo. Uranium ore from the UNC mine was processed at the adjacent UNC Mill Site, located on private property across Highway 566. Source: USEPA
The Northeast Church Rock Mine (NECR) is a former uranium mine located at the northern end of State Highway 566 approximately 17 miles northeast of Gallup, NM in the Pinedale Chapter of the Navajo Nation. EPA is working with the Navajo Nation Environmental Protection Agency (NNEPA) to oversee cleanup work being done by the United Nuclear Corporation (UNC), a company owned by General Electric (GE). Source: USEPA - Northeast Church Rock Mine
Map showing the NECR and Kerr-McGee mine sites and the UNC Mill Site (pink). Source: USEPA - Northeast Church Rock Mine
Overlooking the NECR Mine facing Northeast. Source: USEPA - Northeast Church Rock Mine
Cleanup Results to Date
To address contamination that had migrated off the NECR Mine Site into the adjacent residential area, EPA, in partnership with NNEPA, has overseen several time-critical actions where UNC removed approximately 200,000 tons of contaminated soil. This soil was brought back to the mine site waste pile which was regraded, covered, and vegetated to stabilize the contamination during the long planning process for the much larger cleanup of approximately 1.4 million tons of contaminated soil on the NECR Mine Site. EPA provides voluntary alternative housing for nearby residents during construction activities. Source: USEPA - Northeast Church Rock Mine
Current Design Progress
The cleanup plan for NECR includes moving approximately 1.4 million tons of contaminated soil to the nearby UNC Mill Site. This construction activity, including construction of a repository, or holding cell at the UNC/GE Site requires a lot of planning that takes place during the design phase of the project.
A design review team has been formed to coordinate the review process among the various federal, state, and tribal agencies. The design review team consists of EPA Regions 6 and 9, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, NNEPA, New Mexico Environmental Department (regulatory agencies), and the Department of Energy. The team also includes a representative from the community assisted by a technical support representative from the Technical Assistance Services for Communities contract administered by EPA.
The design of the NECR cleanup was completed in 2018 and approved by USEPA for submission to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission as part of a license amendment request. Source: USEPA - Northeast Church Rock Mine
Next Steps: Nuclear Regulatory Commission Licensing
After the permanent repository for mine waste from NECR was designed in September 2018, UNC/GE submitted a request (license amendment) to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) to build the repository. The NRC issued a Record of Decision (pdf) approving the License Amendment Request (LAR) to place mine waste from the Northeast Church Rock Mine site at the United Nuclear Corp Mill Site on February 15, 2023. The Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) was filed with EPA and published in the Federal Register Notice on January 13, 2023, and the Safety Evaluation Report was published on December 12, 2022. Source: USEPA - Northeast Church Rock Mine
Northeast Church Rock Mine Area Study Area A1
Church Rock Uranium Monitoring Project, Presentation Materials for USEPA Community Involvement Conference, June 2007 Prepared by Larry King
