ML20126J190
| ML20126J190 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Issue date: | 09/21/1979 |
| From: | Ryan R NRC OFFICE OF STATE PROGRAMS (OSP) |
| To: | Dubois J NAVAJO NATION, MANUELITO CHAPTER |
| Shared Package | |
| ML19211B053 | List: |
| References | |
| FOIA-81-8, REF-WM-28 NUDOCS 8104230782 | |
| Download: ML20126J190 (2) | |
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-John Dubois, President Manuelito Chapter .
i The flavajo Nation [
Window Rock, Arizona 86515
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Dear Mr. Dubots:
Thank you for providing us with a copy of Manuelito Chapter resolution of !
July 29,1979 concdrning the United Nuclear Corporation Church Rock ;
tailing embankment failure.
' l I assure you and members of your Chapter that we are very concerned about l the public health implication of this failure. The State of New Mexico
- requested assistance from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. As a result i of the request the NRC is providing the State technical assistance in the i following areas:
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- 1. Evaluation of the cause of failure of the embankment; -
- 2. Identification of the critical pathway of radionuclides to i humans and the estimated doses as a result of the embankment l failure; !
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- 3. ' Development of recommended levels of clean up of contamination which will be protective of public health based upon the pathway analysis; i
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- 4. Arran0i ng for the use of the ARMS aircraft (aerial surveillance) -
F to determine the effectiveness of the clean up of contamination; , {
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- 5. '
Use of federal laboratories to assist in assaying radioactivity in environmental samples taken by the State of New fiexico and f) the NRC. This will include mobile facilities of the Church Rock ;
site to expedite the complicated process of radiological analyses. i 1
In_ addition, the NRC has informed the State of New Mexico and United Nuclear Corporation (UNC) that in accordance with its authority to regulate tailings under the Uranium Mill Tailings Radiation Control Act of 1978, the NRC now has authority over these mill tailings and will review UllC's proposed remedial action related to the breached portion of the tailings embankment as well as the overall stability of the structqre. .
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John Dubois , ,
t I promise to see to -it that you promptly receive the results of these analyses as soon as they are completed. If'you have further questions, please feel free to call Mr. Wayne Kerr (301) 492-7767, our Assistant ,
Director for the Agreement States. For details regarding the actions' ,
' taken by the State on these matters, we recommend you contact: . 4 l
Dr. Ted Wolff, Chief, Radiation Protection Section. Environmental
' Improvement Division, P.O. Box 963, Crown Building, Santa Fe, New ffexico
. 87503.
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Sincerely, ,
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1 Robert G. Ryan, Director Office of State Programs I
i cc: Dr. T. Wolff
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