ML20217N011
| ML20217N011 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | 07100143 |
| Issue date: | 09/30/1983 |
| From: | Miera F NEW MEXICO, STATE OF |
| To: | Millard J NEW MEXICO, STATE OF |
| References | |
| TASK-TF, TASK-URFO NUDOCS 9802270269 | |
| Download: ML20217N011 (4) | |
Text
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,1 GOVERNOR Ah"d YE
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STATE OF NEW MEXICO George S. Goldstein, Ph.D.
SECRETARY k fM ?~ " h ENVIRONMENTAL IMPROVEMENT DIVISION P.o. Box 968, Santa Fe, New Mexico 87504 0968 H
d (5o5) 827 5271 Lorry J. Gordon. M.5., M.P.H.
( ENVIRONMENT Eg 5...,,
n, Thomas E. Baca, M.P.H., Director DEPUTY 5ECRETARY I
MEM0RANDUM T0:
Jere Millard, Health Program Manager k
FROM:
Felix Miera, Environmental Scientist DATE:
September 30, 1983 l
SUBJECT:
Trip Report - Survey of Reclaimed Areas in the Vicinity of the Johnny M Mine On September 14, 1983, I accompanied Ted Brough of the Milan office and, Sam Simpson of the Santa Fe office to the Johnny M Mine reclamation project.
Upon arrival at the site, I'was briefed on the project, the termination report submitted by Ranchers Exploration and Development Corporation, and the results of previous surveys by Radiation Protection Bureau personnel.
p The purpose for the resurvey on this date was to determine if a response U
was in order for the contention in the Rancher's termination report, that the reclamation effort "... by the addition of adjacent cover material has,
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in most cases, caused higher level gamma results".
Of particular concern i
are thE high survey readings and high-soil radium values which have been reported for background.
During my visit on this date, I conducted an informal survey.
The foi-lowing are general observations on the reclamation project:
(1) Revegetation efforts in the reclaimed area were for the most part unsuccessful. Species of vegetation observed were those typical to disturbed habitats and included Sitanion histrix (Bottle brush squirrel tail), Kochia scoparia (Belvedere summer-cypress) and Salsola kali (Russian thistle).
(2) The terraces of the canyon walls bordering to the east and west exhibited much lower exposure values than those obtained en the canyon bottom (see attached figures).
Cover material for the area to be reclaimed was obtained from the east terrace.
The.xR readings appear to increase sliohtly on the SE region of this terrace, most probably a result of its close proximity to the areas where most mining activities had occurred.
(3) Some of the higher exposure values obtained were in the drainage
(_)
areas located at the base of both the east and west canyon walls.
This is probably a result of the' accumulation of contaminated fines materials which have eroded from the immediate vicinity 9802270269 830930 PDR ADOCK 07100143 63 C
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Memo Trio "eport 4
September 30, 1983 c,
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of the bore hole and the area which was reclaimed.
O (4) The values reported as " background" soil concentrations for Ra-226 are not in agreement with background data reported for the region.
In 1981 soil samples were collected from background areas that included San Mateo, Crownpoint and Marquez, which had Ra-226 mean values of 0.71, 0.65 and 0.64 pCi/g respectively.
The Ra-226 values reported in the termination report (which were referenced as analysis provided by the Milan field office of the EID) for soils from the North Bore Hole area ranged from 45 to 68 pCi/g. This is the approximate range one might expect for contaminated soils.
It is very probable that some of this site has also been contaminated by mining activities which have taken place at this location.
Indeed, it c
might be difficult to seperate the contamination attributable to the activities licensed by the EID, from those activities which are not under the jurisdiction of our regulatory functions at the Johnny M Mine site.
Based on the above, I recommend that all information available for this reclamation project be carefully evaluated to ascertain if the reclamation activities which were performed effective.
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cc: Tom Buni Benito Garcia Sam Simpson 9
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