HRS Documentation Record Jackpile

- Paguate Uranium Mine

NMN000607033 HAZARD RANKING SYSTEM (HRS)

DOCUMENTATION RECORD

- REVIEW COVER SHEET

Name of Site: Jackpile

- Paguate Uranium Mine

EPA ID No.: NMN000607033

Contact Persons

Site Investigation: Brenda Nixon Cook, NPL Coordinator, EPA Reg.6 (21 4) 665

- 7436 (Name) (Telephone)

Documentation Record: Brenda Nixon Cook, NPL Coordinator, EPA Reg.6 (214) 665

- 7436 (Name) (Telephone)

Pathways, Components, or Threats Not Scored

1) Ground Water Pathway: The ground water migration pathway has not been scored because although there is analytical data to support a release, there is not a sufficient number of targets to impact the site score

. Based on information available at this time, evaluation of the ground water migration pathway would not affect the listing decision.

2) Ground Water to Surface Water Pathway: The ground water to surface water pathway has not

been scored because although ground water in the Jackpile Sandstone interchanges with water in the Rio Moquino and Rio Pagu ate through unconsolidated alluvium deposits along the

st r eam channels, t he overland flow component score was sufficient for site listing

.

3) Soil Exposure Pathway: The soil exposure pathway has not been scored

. Based on information

available at this tim e, evaluation of the soil exposure pathway would not affect the listing

decision.

4) Air Pathway: The air migration pathway has not been scored

. Based on information available at this time, evaluation of the air migration pathway would not affect the lis ting decision.

5) Surface Water Pathway: The drinking water and environmental threat s have not been scored. Based on information available at this time, evaluation of the drinking water and environmental

threat s would not affect the listing decision.HRS Documentation Record 1 Jackpile

- Paguate Uranium Mine

NMN000607033 HRS DOCUMENTATION RECORD

Name of Site: Jackpile

- Paguate Uranium Mine

Site Spill Identifier No.: A6 T3

CERCLIS Site ID No.: NMN000607033

EPA Region: 6

Date Prepared: March 2012

Street Address of Site: SR279 n ear Paguate, Laguna Pueblo

City, Cou nty, and State: Paguate

, Cibola County, New Mexico 87040 *

General Location

within the State: The site is located near the city of Paguate

, Cibola County, New Mexico

. Paguate is located in the Laguna Indian Reservation approximately 40

miles west of Albu querque (Ref. 3, p. 1).

Topographic Map(s): The following U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) 7.5

- minute topographic series map was used in locating the site : Moquino

, New Mexico (19 57 ) (Ref. 3, p. 1).

Latitude * : 3 5 ° 8 ’ 1.42 ” North

Longitude * : 107 ° 20 ’ 50.54 ” West

Latitude and Longitude coordinates were measured at the point of convergence of Rio Paguate and Rio Moquino near the center of the former mine and were determined using a scaled aerial photograph and ESRI ArcMap software (Ref. 9, p. 1)

. Scores

Air Pathway Not Scored Ground Water Pathway Not Scored Soil Exposure Pathway Not Scored Surface Water Pathway 100 .00

HRS SITE SCORE 50 .0 0

*The street address, coordinates, and contaminan t locations presented in this HRS Documentation R ecord identify the general area in

which the site is located. They represent one or more locations EPA considers to be part of the site based on the screening inform ation

EPA used to evaluate the site for N PL listing. EPA lists national priorities among the known "releases or threatened releases" of hazardous substances; thus, the focus is on the release, not precisely delineated boundaries. A site is defined as where a hazardous substance has been "depos ited, stored, placed, or otherwise come to be located." Generally, HRS scoring and the subsequent listing of a release merely represent the initial determination that a certain area may need to be addressed under CERCLA. Accordingly, EP A contemplates that the preliminary description of facility boundaries at the time of scoring will be refined as more information is developed as to where the contamination has come to be located.HRS Documentation Record 2 Jackpile

- Paguate Uranium Mine

NMN000607033 NOTES TO THE READER

1. The following rules were applied when citing referenc es in this documentation record:

Tracking numbers are assigned by the region to every page of every reference. The tracking number consists of the reference number followed by the page number within that reference. A tracking number has a two

- digit numb er followed by the sequential number (e.g., Reference 4, page 1 is expressed as 040001 in Reference 4)

.

2. Hazardous substances are listed by the names used in the January 2004 Superfund Chemical Data Matrix (SCDM) (Ref. 2).

3

. Attachment A of this d ocument record consists of the following figures :

**•** A

- 1 Site Location Map

**•** A

- 2 Site Layout Map

**•** A

- 3 Surface Water Pathway

**•** A

- 4 15

- Mile Target Distance Limit

**•** A

- 5A Site Inspection Sample Location Map

**•** A

- 5B Expanded Site Inspection Sample Location MapHRS Documentation Record 3 Jackpile

- Paguate Uranium Mine

NMN000607033 REFERENCES CITED

1. 40 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 300 Appendix A , Hazard Ranking System. Pages:

1. [A complete copy can be obtained from the Regional Docket upon request or found online at http://www.epa.gov/superfund/sites/npl/hrsres/index.htm#HRS Rul e ].

2. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). 2004. Superfund Chemical Data Matrix (SCDM) (excerpts). January 2004. Pages: 23

. [A complete copy of SCDM is available at http://www.epa.gov/superfund/sites/npl/hrsres/tools/scdm.htm].

3. U.S. Geologic al Survey (USGS). 19 57, Moquino, New Mexico ; 1957, photorevised 1971, Mesita, New Mexico; 1960, photorevised 1971

, Dough Mountain, New Mexico , (7.5

- minute
topo graphic series maps). Pages: 3

.

4. U

. S

. Department of the Interior. Jackpile

- Paguate Uranium Mine Reclamation Project Environmental Impact Statement. Volume 1. October 1986 . Pages: 276

.

5. OA Sys tems Corporation. Jackpile

- Pag uate Uranium Mine Record of Decision Compliance Assessment. September 2007. Pages: 219.

6. Marvin Sarracino, Technician I I. Jackpile Reclamation Project. Pueblo of Laguna. Project Status Report No. 71. June 1995. Pages 58.

7. Hydro

- Search, Inc. Hydrology of the Jackpile

- Paguate Mine Area. October 9, 1981. Pages:

111.

8. Weston Solutions, Inc. Quality Assurance Sampling Plan for Jackpile

- Paguate Uranium Mine

. SR 279 Laguna Pueblo, Paguate, Cibola County, New Mexico. February 2010. Pages: 143.

9. Weston Solutions, Inc. Project Note to Project File. Calculating the Latitude and Longitude at Jackpile

- Paguate Uranium Mine. 24 June 2010. Pages: 2

.

10. EPA . Technical Resource Document. Extraction and Benefication of Ores and Minerals. Uranium. Volume 5. January 1995. Pages: 139.

11. EP A . Standards for Interstate and Intrastate Waters, 20.6.4 NMAC, 2005. Effective 29

Dece mber 2006. http://www.epa.gov/waterscience/standards/wqslibrary/nm/nm_6_wqs.pdf Accessed 5 April 2010. Pages: 46.

12. Weston Solutions, Inc. Project Note to Project File. Calculating Distance from PPE s to Level

II Samples RM

- JM

- SW, RP

- JM

- 01, R P

- SW

- 01, RP

- SW

- 02, RP

- SW

- 03, PR

- SW

- 01. 11

March 2010 , updated 18 October 2011 . Pages: 2

.

13. EPA. Toxics Release Inventory Program. www.epa.gov/TRI/ . TRI Explorer search conducted

for zip code 87040. 200 9 Public Data

, a ccessed 12 March 2010. Pages: 1.

14. OA Systems Corporation. Jackpile

- Paguate Uranium Mine Record of Decision ComplianceHRS Documentation Record 4 Jackpile

- Paguate Uranium Mine

NMN000607033 Assessment

. Appendix D Water Quality, WQ Addendum and Monitoring Result Tables (excerpts)

. Surface Water Results. September 2007. Pages: 1 4

.

15. Weston Solutions, Inc. Project Note to Project File. Calculating Average Annual Flow for Rio Paguate and Rio San Jose. Using data from USGS Surface

- Water Annual Statistics for the Nation ( ht tp://nwis.waterdata.usgs.gov/nwis/annual/ ). 25 June 2010. Pages: 6.

16. Missouri Census Data Center Demographic Profile 3, 2000 Census

– Paguate. http://mcdc2.missouri.edu

, a ccessed 15 March 2010. Pages: 4.

17. Reference number reserved.

18. Kaufman n , Robert, Eadie, Gregory, and Russel l , Charles. Effects of Uranium Mining and Milling on Ground Water in the Grants Mineral Belt, New Mexico. Ground W ater, September

October 1976 , Vol. 14, No. 5. Pages: 13.

19. Weston Solutions, Inc. Field Logbooks. WO# 20406.012.019.0514.01. Field Logbook Notes for Jackpile

- Paguate Uranium Mine. Logbooks 1 through 3. 17 February 2010 to 4 March 2010. Pages: 41.

20. ALS Laboratory Group. Final Analytical Data Packages. ALS Work O rder Numbers 10

- 0 3

- 045

and 10

- 03

- 063. 16 March 2010 . Pages: 1317

.

21. OA Systems Corporation. Jackpile

- Paguate Uranium Mine Record of Decision Compliance Assessment. Appendix D Water Quali ty, WQ Addendum and Monitoring Result Tables (excerpts). Monitoring Well Results. September 2007. Pages: 12

.

22. United States Department of Agriculture. Soil Survey of Cibola Area, New Mexico, Parts of Cibola, McKinley, and Valencia Counties. Issued M arch 1993. Pages: 309

.

23. Pueblo of Laguna Environmental and Natural Resources Department. Memorandum from

Curtis F r an cisco , Water Quality Specialist. Subject: Fishing in the Rio Paguate and Rio San

Jose. 15 M arch 2010. Pages: 2.

24. EPA. Soil Cleanup Criteria in 40 CFR Part 192. Directive No. 9200.4

- 25. Use of Soil Cleanup Criteria in 40 CFR Part 192 as R emediation Goals for CERCLA Sites. 12 February

1998. http://www.epa.g ov/superfund/health/conmedia/soil/cleanup.htm . Accessed 24 March

2010. Pages: 5.

25. Weston Solutions, Inc. Data Quality Assurance Review. ALS Laboratory Group. SDGs 1003045 and 1003063. 19 March 2010. Pages: 81.

26. Weston Solutions, Inc. Review of R adiochemistry Data Reports. Work Orders 1003 0 45 and

1003 0 63. 24 March 2010. Pages: 3.

27. Pueblo of Laguna Environmental and Natural Resource Department. Year End Program Report FY09, Surface Water Monitoring Program. February 2010 . Pages: 385

.HRS Documentation Record 5 Jackpile

- Paguate Uranium Mine

NMN000607033 28. Pue blo of Laguna. Jackpile Project, Jackpile Area. Drawings. Jacobs Engineering Group, Albuquerque Operations. August 1989. Pages: 46.

29. Pueblo of Laguna. Jackpile Reclamation Project. OA Systems Corporation. Exhibit 2 Jackpile

- Paguate Uranium Mine, Record of Decision Compliance Assessment. May 2007. Pages: 1.

30. Weston Solutions, Inc. Site Inspection Report for Jackpile

- Paguate Uranium Mine. SR 279 Laguna Pueblo, Paguate, Cibola County, New Mexico (excerpts). June 2010. Pages: 91

.

31. Weston Solu tions, Inc. Project Note to Project File. Observations of Source Areas during 18 February Site Reconnaissance and 2 through 4 March 2010 Site Inspection Sampling Event. 1 July 2010. Pages: 1.

32. Weston Solutions, Inc. Project Note to Project File. Samp le Quantitation Limit (SQL) Calculation. 1 July 2010. Pages: 2.

33. Weston Solutions, Inc. Project Note to Project File. Source Area Measurements. 14 October

2011 . Pages: 3

.

34. EPA. Using Qualified Data to Document an Observed Release and Observed Con tamination.

EPA 540

- F

- 94

- 028. November 1996. Pages 18.

35. Weston Solutions, Inc. Draft Expanded Site Inspection Report for Jackpile

- Paguate Uranium Mine. SR 279 Laguna Pueblo, Paguate, Cibola County, New Mexico (excerpts). July 2011. Pages: 2896.

36. Weston Solutions, Inc. Trip Report for Jackpile

- Paguate Uranium Mine Expanded Site Inspection. SR 279 Laguna Pueblo, Paguate, Cibola County, New Mexico (excerpts). 3 June 2011. Pages: 2 8

.

37. Reference number reserved.

38. EPA. Technology Reference Guide for Radioactively Contaminated Media. EPA 402

- R

- 07

- 004 (excerpts). October 2007. Pages: 25.

39. EPA. Radiation Protection. Frequent Technical Questions. www.epa.gov/radiation/marssim/ faqforusers.html Accessed 19 August 2011. Pages 8.

40. Weston Solutions, Inc. Project Note to Project File. Overland Flow Distance Measurements

. 17 October 2011 . Pages: 2.

41. Pueblo of Laguna Environmental and Natural Resources Department. Record of

Communication between Frank A Ortiz, Natural Resources Specialist, and Stacey Carr, of Mesita Village . Subject: Fishing in the Rio Paguate. 2 4 October 2011 . Pages: 1

.HRS Documentation Record 6 Jackpile

- Paguate Uranium Mine

NMN000607033 SITE SUMMARY

The Jackpile

- Paguate Uranium Mine site is located on the Laguna Indian Reservation about 40 miles west of Albuquerque in Paguate, Cibola County, New Mexico (Ref. 3 , p. 1 ; Ref. 4 , p

. 21) . The
property is located in an area of canyons and arroyos to the east of the village of Paguate as seen on Figure A

- 1 (Ref. 3, p. 1). T he former uranium mine facility encompasses approximately 7,868 acres and includes the following sources: open pits and waste dumps

. Overburden and ore

- associated waste

was stockpiled within the mine are a , stockpiled in an adjacent river’s (Rio Moquino) floo dplain , or placed in the mined

- out areas of the pits as backfill (Ref. 4, pp. 21, 69). The sources at the property (the open pits, and the waste dump) contain hazardous substances that have released into the surface waters of Rio Paguate

, and Rio Moquin o via the surface water pathway (described below). These

releases of hazardous substances have cause d Level II contamination within fisheries identifie d within the Rio Paguate and Paguate Reservoir.

For the purpose of this HRS Documentation Record, the “ property ” is defined as a pproximately 2,656

acres of the facility which were disturbed and contained three open pits that were between 200 and 300 feet deep

, 32 waste dumps and 23 protore stockpiles (Ref. 4 , p. 2 4 ; Ref. 5 , p. 184)

. A Site Layout Map is pr ovided as Figure A

- 2 and the locations of the disturbed areas can been found in References 28 and

29

. The mine was operated by Anaconda Minerals Company, a division of Atlantic Richfield Company. Mining operations were conducted from 1953 through early 1982. The mine was closed because of depressed uranium mining conditions. During the 29 years of mining, approximately 400

million tons of rocks were moved within the mine area and approximately 25 million tons of uranium ore were transported via the Sant a Fe Railroad from the mine to Anaconda’s Bluewater Mill, approximately 40 miles west of the property (Ref. 4 , p. 21 ; Ref. 5 , p. 11 ).

The town of Paguate is located adjacent and west of the property with a population of approximately

492 according to th e 2000 census ( Ref. 3, p.1; Ref. 16 , p. 1 ) . The remaining surrounding area is mainly undeveloped, and a varied topography that contains wildlife consisting of elk, antelope, goats,

and mule deer. There is also a population of approximately 1

, 500 domestic ated cattle on the Laguna Reservation ( Ref. 3, p.1; Ref. 19 , pp. 6

, 7 ). As depicted on a USGS topographic map of the area, t he perennial rivers Rio Moquino and Rio Paguate flow through the property boundary and the two rivers

merge near the center of th e property (Ref. 3, p. 1, Figure A

- 2). According to Laguna officials, contaminated source material is present along the river bank and would be in direct contact with the

sources when the river is flowing (Ref. 19 , p p

. 4, 6, 7 )

. The Rio Moquino flows sou theasterly into the Rio Paguate within the property and the Rio Paguate continues to flow south of the property through the Paguate Reservoir and then becoming t he Rio San Jose (Ref. 3 , p p

. 1 to 3). There is documentation of fishing occurring within thes e perennial rivers and that the fish are used for human consumption (Ref. 23 , Ref. 41 ).

In December 1986, under a series of agreements between the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) and the Pueblo of Laguna, it was agreed that the Pueblo of Laguna would perfo rm the management,

coordination

, and administration of the Jackpile

- Paguate Reclamation Project in accordance with the requirements set forth in the Jackpile

- Paguate Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) and the associated Record of Decision (ROD) (Ref. 5

, p. 184).HRS Documentation Record 7 Jackpile

- Paguate Uranium Mine

NMN000607033 Reclamation of the Jackpile

- Paguate Uranium Mine commenced in 1990. The “preferred alternative” reclamation plan incorporated the following: backfilling of the open pit areas to at least 10 feet above projected ground water recovery levels using protore and waste rock dump material; slope reduction of the upper 15 feet of highwall slopes; recontouring and covering of remaining waste rock dumps; completion of arroyo drainage impr ovements and erosion controls; decontamination of those structures

to remain, and removal/disposal of all non

- essential structures; plugging and bulkheading of underground ventilation raises and decline portals, respectively; reclamation of miscellaneous features such as wells, access roads, rail spur s
, drill holes, etc .; p roperty

- wide revegetation of disturbed areas;

and provision of property security and long

- term monitoring of reclamation success for a period of not

less than 10 years (Ref. 5 , p. 12).

On 10 June 1995, the Laguna Construction Company, who was in charge of the reclamation, officially closed out the Jackpile Reclamation Project (Ref. 6 , p. 57).

In September 2007, a ROD Compliance Assessment for Jackpile

- Paguate Uranium Mine was completed by OA Systems Corporation to determine if the post

- reclamation had met the requirements

of the ROD

. This report concluded that reclamation of the mine was still not complete as several non

compliant and potentially non

- compliant issues still needed to be addressed (Ref. 5, pp. 80 to 92). The mine would be considered comple te when revegetated sites reached 90 percent of the density, frequency, foliar cover, basal cover, and production of undisturbed reference areas (but no sooner than 10 years following seeding) (Ref. 5, p. 92)

.

As part of the ROD Compliance Assessment, s urface water data were evaluated for 10 years between

199 6 and 2006 (Ref. 5, p. 191) . During this evaluation, several samples were found to exceed EPA Maximum Contaminant Levels (MCLs) for drinking water for total uranium at 0.03 milligram per liter ( mg/L ) and National Secondary Drinking Water Standards of 0.05 mg/L for manganese (Ref. 5, pp. 200 to 202) . The following concentration ranges were found in samples collected during this

timeframe:

Location Total Uranium

Concentrations mg/L Manganese

Concentr ations mg/L Reference

Rio Paguate

– Ford Crossing

- Rail

Trestle 0.08

- 544.14 <0.01

- 10.7 Ref, 5, p. 191, Ref. 14, p. 6

Lower Rio Moquino 0.03

- 234.95 0.0089

- 0.127 Ref, 5, p. 191; Ref. 14, p. 7 Lower Rio Paguate 0.016

- 163.25 0.0357

- 0.13 Ref, 5, p. 191; Ref. 14, p. 8 Paguate

- Moquino

Confluence 0.029

- 252.59 0.0112

- 0.14 Ref, 5, p. 191; Ref. 14, p. 9 Upper Rio Moquino 0.008

- 52.89 <0.01

- 0.036 Ref, 5, p. 191; Ref. 14, p. 10 Upper Rio Paguate 0.002

- 32.21 0.0396

- 0.146 Ref, 5, p. 191;

Ref. 14, p. 11 Paguate Reservoir 0.002

- 17.42 <0.01

- 0.004 Ref, 5, p. 191; Ref. 14, p. 12

Note:

<

- Less ThanHRS Documentation Record 8 Jackpile

- Paguate Uranium Mine

NMN000607033 As part of the Water Pollution Program Grants (Section 106), the Pueblo of Laguna Environmental and Natural Resources Department has been collect ing surface water samples along the surface water pathway quarterly from 2005 through 2009 (Ref. 30, p. 39). The samples have been analyzed for total

uranium (Ref. 27, p. 23)

. As with the samples collected as part of the ROD Compliance Assessment,

these s amples also contain concentrations that exceed the EPA MCL of 0.03 mg/ L or 30 microgram s per liter (ug/L). The following concentration ranges were found in the samples collected:

Location Total Uranium

Concentrations ug/L Reference

RPG

- 03 Rio Paguate b elow the former Jackpile

- Paguate Mine (within the TDL) 0.007

- 452 .557 Ref. 27, pp. 23, 43

RPG

- 04 Rio Paguate at Mesita Dam (within the TDL) 0. 167

- 217.45 Ref. 27, pp. 23, 43

RSJ

- 04

Rio San Jose below the Dipping Vat Spring on Sedillo Grant (beyond th e TDL) 2.012

- 21.615 Ref. 27, pp. 23, 43

RMQ

- 01 Rio Moquino above Jackpile

- Paguate Mine (background) 0.005

- 31.138 Ref. 27, pp. 23, 43

These results indicate contamination within the surface water pathway, but according to the ROD Compliance Assess ment, several data gaps remained and it was recommended that further monitoring and evaluation be performed (Ref. 5, pp. 204 to 206).

Post

- r eclamation land uses for the property include limited livestock grazing, light manufacturing, office space, mining

, and major equipment storage. Specifically excluded are habitation and farming (Ref. 5 , p. 79 ).

Based on analytical results from the Site Inspection (SI) conducted in March 2010 (whose results are presented in this HRS Documentation Record), there is an observed release of uranium 234 , uranium 235

, uranium 238 [the main components of total uranium] a nd manganese to Rio Paguate, Rio Moquino and the Paguate Reservoir (Ref. 30, pp. 42, 43) . This release resulted in Level II contamination of two

fisheries with in the Rio Paguate and the Paguate Reservoir, extending approximately 5.43 miles

downstream from sample locations RM

- JM

- SW and RP

- JM

- SW within the surface water migration pathway (see Section 4.1.3.3)

.

The EPA decided to complete an Expanded Site Inspect ion (ESI) of the Site in January 2011 . As part of the ESI, a draft Conceptual Site Model (CSM) was prepared based primarily on the data and

conclusions of the SI and other historical facility reports. The purpose of the CSM was to compile the existing hy drologic and geochemical data for the property (Ref. 35 , p. 2)

. Based on the CSM, it was

concluded that ground water and surface water are in hydrologic communication across the propertyHRS Documentation Record 9 Jackpile

- Paguate Uranium Mine

NMN000607033 Hydrologic observations and modeling indicate that pit waters presen t on the property are not contained and flow into the surface water system via ground water pathways, carrying contaminants into that system (Ref. 35 , p. 2795) . Chemical data also suggest that reactions in the backfilled pits, and subsequent migration to ground water , may be shifting the chemistry of surface water at, and below the
property (Ref. 35 , p. 2795)

.

In April 2011, ESI sampling activities were conducted. ESI sampling activities focused on both ground water and surface water sampling

. Analytical results from the ESI (whose results are presented in this HRS Documentation Record) document an observed release of isotopic uranium, and

manganese to the surface water pathway (Ref. 35 , p p . 3 , 30, 33 )

.HRS Documentation Record 10 Jackpile

- Paguate Uranium Mine

NMN000607033 WORKSHEET FOR COMPUTING HRS SITE SCORE

S S 2

1. Ground Water Migration Pathway Score (S gw ) NS NS (from Table 3

- 1, line 13)

2a. Surface Water Overland/Flood Migration Component 100 10,000 (from Table 4

- 1, line 30)

2b. Ground Water to Surface Water Migration Component NS NS (from Table 4

- 25, line 28)

2c. Surface Water Migration Pathway Score (S

sw ) NS NS (Enter the larger of lines 2a and 2b as the pathway score)

3. Soil Exposure Pathway Score (S

s ) NS NS (from Table 5

- 1, line 22)

4. Air Migration Pathway Score (S

a ) NS NS (from Table 6

- 1, line 12)

5. Total of S gw 2 + S
sw 2 + S
s 2 + S
a 2

---- 10,000

6. HRS Site Score: Divide the value on line 5 by 4 and take 50 .0 0 the square roo t.

Notes :

S Score

S 2 Score squared

NS Not scored

Tables 3

- 1, 4

- 1, 4

- 25, 5

- 1, and 6

- 1 refer to score sheets presented in the HRS (Ref. 1). Table 4

- 1 is reproduced in the following pages of this HRS documentation record for the convenience of the re ader.HRS Documentation Record 11 Jackpile

- Paguate Uranium Mine

NMN000607033 DRINKING WATER THREAT

Factor Categories and Factors Maximum Value Value Assigned

Likelihood of Release

1. Observed Release 550 550

2. Potential to Release by Overland Flow:

2a. Containment 10 NS

2b. Runoff 25 NS

2c. Distance to Surface Water 25 NS

2d. Potential to Release by Overland Flow (lines 2a[2b + 2c]) 500 NS

3. Potential to Release by Flood:

3a. Containment (Flood) 10 NS

3b. Flood Frequency 50 NS

3c. Potential to Release Flood (lines 3a x 3b) 500 NS

4. Potential to Release (lines 2d + 3c, subject to a maximum of 500) 500 NS

5. Likelihood of Release (higher of lines 1 and 4) 550 550

Waste Characteristics

6. Toxic ity/Persistence a 10,000

7. Hazardous Waste Quantity a 1,000,000

8. Waste Characteristics (Toxicity/Persistence x Hazardous Waste Q uantity, then assign a

value from Table 2

- 7) 100 100 Targets

9. Nearest Intake 50 NS

10. Population

10a. Level I Concentrations b NS

10b. Level II Concentrations b NS

10c. Potential Contamination b NS

10d. Population (lines 10a + 10b + 10c) b NS

11. Resources 5 5

12. Targets (lines 9 + 10 d +11) b 5 Drinking Water Threat Score

13. Drinking Water Threat Score [(lines 5 x 8 x 12)/82,500 subject to a maximum of 100] 100 3.33HRS Documentation Record 12 Jackpile

- Paguate Uranium Mine

NMN000607033 HUMAN FOOD CHAIN THREAT

Factor Categories and Factors Maximum Value Value Assigned

Lik elihood of Release

14. Likelihood of Release (Same value of line 5) 550 550

Waste Characteristics

15. Toxicity/Persistence/ Bioaccumulation a 5x10 8

16. Hazardous Waste Quantity a 1

, 00 0,000

17. Waste Characteristics (Toxicity/Persistence/B ioaccumulation x Hazardous Waste Q uantity, then assign a

value from Table 2

- 7) 1,000 1,000

Targets

18. Food Chain Individual 50 45

19. Population

19a. Level I Concentrations b 0

19b. Level II Concentrations b 0 .03

19c. Potent ial Human Food Chain Contamination b 0.00 3

19d. Population (lines 19a + 19b + 19c) b 0.0 33

20. Targets (lines 18 + 19d) b 45

. 033

Human Food Chain Threat Score

21. Human Food Chain Threat Score [(lines 14 x 17 x 20)/82,500 subject to a m aximum of 100] 100 100HRS Documentation Record 13 Jackpile

- Paguate Uranium Mine

NMN000607033 ENVIRONMENTAL THREAT

- Not Scored (NS)

Factor Categories and Factors Maximum Value Value Assigned

Likelihood of Release

22. Likelihood of Release (Same value of line 5) 550 550

Waste Characteristics

23. Ec osystem Toxicity/Persistence Bioaccumulation a NS

24. Hazardous Waste Quantity a NS

25. Waste Characteristics (Ecosystem Tox./Persistence x Bioaccumulation x Hazardous Waste Quantity, then assign a

value from Table 2

- 7) 1,000 NS

Targets

26. Sensitive Environments

26a. Level I Concentrations b NS

26b. Level II Concentrations b NS

26c. Potential Contamination

26c. Potential Contamination b NS

26d. Sensitive Environments (lines 26a + 26b + 26c) b NS

27. Targets (value f rom line 26d) b NS

Environmental Threat Score

28. Environmental Threat Score [(lines 22 x 25 x 27)/82,500 subject to a maximum of 60] 60 NS

SURFACE WATER OVERLAND/FLOOD MIGRATION COMPONENT SCORE FOR A WATERSHED

29. Watershed Score [(Lines 13 + 21+ 28), subject to a maximum of 100] 100 100

SURFACE WATER OVERLAND/FLOOD MIGRATION COMPONENT SCORE

30. Component Score (Highest score from Line 29 for all watersheds evaluated, subject to a maximum of 100) 100 100Source Characterization

- Source 1

HRS Documentation Record 14 Jackpile

- Paguate Uranium Mine

NMN000607033 SOURCE DESCRIPTION

2.2 Source Characterization

Sour ce Description: Source 1

– Open Pits

Mining operations at the Jackpile

- Paguate Uranium Mine resulted in approximately 2,656 acres of

surface disturbance , of which the open p its accounted for approximately 1, 015 acres (Ref. 4, pp. 24, 59). The location of this source is depicted on Figure A

- 2 and features of the open pit can be found in

References 28 and 29.

Mining operations were conducted from 1953 through early 1982 from three open pits , Jackpile, North Paguate, and Sou th Paguate that were between 200 and 300 feet deep. Open pit mining was conducted predominantly with large front

- end loaders and haul trucks. The uranium ore was segregated according to grade and stockpiled for shipment to the mill. Overburden and ore

- a ssociated waste was placed in the mined

- out areas of the pits as backfill (Ref. 4, p. 21; Ref. 5, p. 184; Ref. 28 ).

The Jackpile, North Paguate, and South Paguate open pits make up approximately 40 percent of the total disturbed acreage at the mine (see Figure A

- 2 and References 28 and 29). During the later years of mining, some overburden was placed into the mined

- out portions of the pits. Approximately 101 million tons of backfill composed principally of ore

- associated waste with some overburden have been returned to the pits (Ref. 4, p. 56 , 69 ). The southern portion of the Jackpile Pit and the South Paguate Pit received most of this material. There were no requirements to keep records on the radiological content of the backfill material (Ref. 4, p. 69).

As stated above, the wastes generated at Jackpile

- Paguate Uranium Mine were not removed from the facility but used for backfill. There was no impermeable cap placed on top of the backfill other than 3 feet of overburden (material removed during s urface mining and stockpiled) and 2 feet of topsoil (Ref. 4, p. 64; Ref. 5, p. 7 ; Ref. 31, p. 1 ).

The three pits are being aggregated into one source within this HRS documentation record because they are all the same source type (piles), have the same tar get (as described in Section 4.1.3.3 of this report), have the same containment (as described below), contain the same hazardous substances (as described in Section 2.4.1) and are located in the same watershed (see Section 4.0). In addition, radiological a nalytical results from the ESI show elevated concentrations of gross alpha and gross beta (Ref. 35, pp. 3, 30, 33)

.

Source Type

The waste contents were contained within the former open pit uranium mine, which over the 29 years of operation, accumulated piles of contamination (Ref. 4, p. 24; Ref. 5, p. 11). These piles of

contamination were not removed from the facility , but used to backfill the open pits . The backfill material consists of protore and waste dumps, and as such, the source type for Source 1 is “Pile” (Ref. 1, Table 2

- 5; Ref. 5, p. 7).

Source LocationSource Characterization

- Source 1

HRS Documentation Record 15 Jackpile

- Paguate Uranium Mine

NMN000607033 The Jackpile P it is located along the eastern side of the mine starting at the north side and continuing about midway down the facility

, the North Paguate P it is located on the north wester n side of the facility , and the South Paguate P it is located on the southwest corner of the facility (Ref. 29, p. 1).

Source Containment

Release To Surface Water

Contents of the three open pits are exposed to the elements and can release to the surf ace water through run off. The perennial surface water, Rios Moquino and Paguate, run though the center of the

mine and are exposed to the source through run off and there is no maintained engineered cover, liner,

and a run

- on control system and runoff ma nagement system (Ref. 31, p. 1) . The open pits remained as

close d basins and were covered with just 3 feet of overburden and 2 feet of topsoil, and although required as part of the ROD, no berms were placed to control surface runoff ( Ref. 3, p. 1; Ref. 5, p. 7; Ref. 7, p. 10).

A containment value of 10 was selected for Source 1 because there is no maintained engineered cover, liner, and a run

- on control system and runoff management system (Ref. 1, Section 4.1.2.1.2.1.1).

Containment Value: 10

2.4.1 Hazardous Substances

On 03 and 04 March 2010, as part of the Site Inspection (SI) of the Jackpile

- Paguate Uranium Mine facility , the EPA Region 6 Superfund Technical Assessment Response Team (START

- 3) contractor,

collected the following source samples at the Jackpile

- Paguate Mine : one solid waste sample, JM

- SS

01 , collected from the South Paguate Pit : one solid waste sample ( JM

- SED

- 02 ) and one liquid waste sample (JM

- SW

- 02), collected from the North Paguate Pit ; and one solid waste sample, JM

- S S

- 0 5

collect ed from the Jackpile Pit ( Ref. 8, Figure 3

- 1 ; Ref. 19 , pp. 2, 8, 20, 21, 35 ; Ref. 29; Figure A

- 2 ).

The solid waste samples are considered appropriate source samples since the presence of contamination in the waste rock used to backfill the open pits. Th e liquid waste sample (collected from sample location JM

- 02) is also considered an appropriate source sample because this former open pit continues to fill with water; this sample further demonstrate s the presence of contamination associated with the open pits.

On 19 through 21 April 2011, as part of the ESI of the Jackpile

- Paguate Uranium Mine property , the

START

- 3 contractor collected subsurface source samples from the Jackpile, (JPOP41S), North Paguate (NPOP20E), and South Paguate (SPOP35) open pits a t the Jackpile

- Paguate Mine (Ref. 35

, p p. 23, 26, 78

- 81, 119 ).

The solid and liquid waste samples were collected according to the EPA approved Quality Assurance Sampling Plan s (QASP s ) (Ref. 30, p. 18 ; Ref. 35 , p p

. 111

- 113 ) . The solid waste samples were

c ollected with disposable plastic scoops, and then transferred to an 8

- ounce sample container (Ref. 8, pp. 15, 17 ; Ref. 35, pp. 222 ). The surface liquid waste sample was collected by submerging the sample container into the liquid , facing the mouth of the container upstream while sampling personnel stood downstream (Ref. 8 , p. 113 ; Ref. 35 p. 216 ). The subsurface source samples were collected using low flow sampling techniques and a pneumatic pump (Ref. 35 , p p

. 78

- 81, 1 1 3 ).Source Characterization

- Source 1

HRS Documentation Record 16 Jackpile

- Paguate Uranium Mine

NMN000607033 A total of 6 source samples wer e collected from former open pit locations within the mine area including two solid waste sample s , one liquid waste sample , and three subsurface water samples . The samples collected in March 2010 were shipped via Federal Express to ALS Laboratory Group lo cated in Fort Collins, Colorado (Ref. 8, p. 16; Ref. 19, pp. 11, 13)

. The samples were analyzed for total metals by EPA Methods SW

- 846 3005A(liquid) 3050B (solid) and 6010B, total cyanide by EPA

Methods SW

- 846 9010 and 9014, mercury by EPA Methods SW

- 846 7470A/7471A and SOP812 Rev. 14, and isotopic uranium by SOP778R13 and SOP714R11 (Ref. 20, pp. 13, 51, 542, 720, 758, 1170). The April 2011 samples were analyzed for: i sotopic u ranium (isotopes 234, 235, and 238) by method

Eichrom ACW

- 03

- 15 and ACW

- 10; t otal metals by EPA method 200.7 for water and 6010B for solids; selenium by EPA method 6020; mercury by EPA method 7470A/7471A; Radium 226 by EPA method 903; and Radium 228 by EPA method 904. In addition, all water samples were also analyzed

for: a lkalinity by method SM2310

- B; b icarbonate by method SM

- 17 2320; c arbonate by method SM

4500

- CO2D; Total Dissolved Solids by method SM 2540

- C; and a nions by EPA method 300 (Ref. 35

, pp. 336

- 414, 437

- 446, 756

- 780 ; Ref. 36, pp. 4

- 5 ). Once final analytical results were received, the data

underwent a third

- party data review and validation performed by a START

- 3 chemist or professional health physicist (for radiological data) not associated with the sampling conducted at the facility (Ref. 8; Ref. 25 ; Ref. 36 , p. 5 ).

Anal ytical eviden ce of the contamination in open pit source samples associated with the mine operations at the Jackpile

- Paguate Uranium Mine facility are summarized as follows:

Source 1 Radioactive Results

Hazardous

Substance Evidence

References Statio n Location No. Concentration Reporting

Limit 2 /

MDC/LOD Units 1

EPA Site Inspection Activities

– March 2010 3

Uranium 234

JM

- SS

- 01 0.00173 0.0 ug/g Ref. 19, p. 23; Ref. 20, pp. 714, 1218; Ref. 26, pp. 1 to 3

Uranium 235 0.343 0.015 ug/g Ref. 19, p. 23; Ref. 20, pp. 714, 1218; Ref. 26, pp. 1 to 3

Uranium 238 40.8 0.1 ug/g Ref. 19, p. 23; Ref. 20, pp. 714, 1218; Ref. 26, pp. 1 to 3

Uranium 234

JM

- SED

- 02 0.0224 0.0 ug/g Ref. 19, p. 35; Ref. 20, pp. 712, 1209; Ref. 26 pp. 1 to 3

Uranium 235 2. 62 0.03 ug/g Ref. 19, p. 35; Ref. 20, pp. 712, 1209; Ref. 26 pp. 1 to 3

Uranium 238 367 0.0 ug/g Ref. 19, p. 35; Ref. 20, pp. 712, 1209; Ref. 26 pp. 1 to 3

Uranium 234

JM

- SW

- 02 0.538 0.0 ug/g Ref. 19, p. 35; Ref. 20, pp. 712, 1211; Ref. 26 pp. 1 to 3

Uranium 235 61 1.0 ug/g Ref. 19, p. 35; Ref. 20, pp. 712, 1211; Ref. 26 pp. 1 to 3

Uranium 238 8,500 0.0 ug/g Ref. 19, p. 35; Ref. 20, pp. 712, 1211; Ref. 26 pp. 1 to 3

Uranium 234 JM

- SS

- 05 0.0144 0.0 ug/g Ref. 19, pp. 20 to 21; Ref. 20, pp. 711, 1204; Ref. 26, pp. 1 to 3Source Characterization

- Source 1

HRS Documentation Record 17 Jackpile

- Paguate Uranium Mine

NMN000607033 Hazardous

Substance Evidence

References Statio n Location No. Concentration Reporting

Limit 2 /

MDC/LOD Units 1

Uranium 235 2.06 0.13 ug/g Ref. 19, pp. 20 to 21; Ref. 20, pp. 711, 1204; Ref. 26, pp. 1 to 3

Uranium 238 JM

- SS

- 05 271 0.0 ug/g Ref. 19, pp. 20 to 21; Ref. 20, pp. 711, 1204; Ref. 26, pp. 1 to 3

EPA Expanded Site Inspection Ac tivities

– April 2011 3

Thorium 230

NPOP20E 1.85 0.198 pCi/l Ref. 35, pp. 79, 740, 768, 1587

Uranium 234 36,500 2.20 pCi/l Ref. 35, pp. 79, 740, 768, 1587

Uranium 235 40,400 2.55 pCi/l Ref. 35, pp. 79, 740, 768, 1587

Uranium 238 64,300 2.20 pCi/l Ref . 35, pp. 79, 740, 768, 1587

Radium 226 33.2 0.74 pCi/l Ref. 35, pp. 79, 379, 422, 1587

Radium 228 13.9 0.92 pCi/l Ref. 35, pp. 79, 379, 422, 1587

Thorium 228

SPOP35 0.075 0.041 pCi/l Ref. 35, pp. 78, 79, 748, 779, 1587

Uranium 234 7840 0.208 pCi/l Ref. 35, pp. 78, 79, 748, 779, 1587

Uranium 235 6450 0.241 pCi/l Ref. 35, pp. 78, 79, 748, 779, 1587

Uranium 238 9950 0.207 pCi/l Ref. 35, pp. 78, 79, 748, 779, 1587

Radium 226 17.3 0.74 pCi/l Ref. 35, pp. 78, 79, 390, 430, 1587

Radium 228 17.3 0.92 p Ci/l Ref. 35, pp. 78, 79, 390, 430, 1587

Thorium 228

JPOP41S 0.247 0.164 pCi/l Ref. 35, pp. 81, 736, 759, 1587

Thorium 230 1.49 0.187 pCi/l Ref. 35, pp. 81, 736, 759, 1587

Uranium 234 63,300 9.05 pCi/l Ref. 35, pp. 81, 736, 759, 1587

Uranium 235 72,100 1.57 pCi/l Ref. 35, pp. 81, 736, 759, 1587

Uranium 238 114,000 1.35 pCi/l Ref. 35, pp. 81, 736, 759, 1587

Radium 226 208 0.74 pCi/l Ref. 35, pp. 81, 373, 417, 1587

Radium 228 38.3 0.92 pCi/l Ref. 35, pp. 81, 373, 417, 1587

Notes:

1 ug/g

– mi crogram per gram = milligram per kilogram (mg/kg) pCi/l

– picocurie per liter

2 The Reporting Limit is defined as the Minimum Detectable Concentration (MDC) for uranium and thorium by Alpha Spectroscopy is the net concentration that has a specified chance of being detected (Ref. 39, p. 3). Limit of Detection (LOD) is equal to the Laboratory Detection Limit for radium (Ref. 35, p. 337)

3 Radiological data were validated by a START

- 3 Certified Health Physicist with 30 years of radiation characterizat ion experience. Data for target analytes meet the definitive data quality objective (Ref. 26 , p. 49 ; Ref. 35, p. 1534 ).Source Characterization

- Source 1

HRS Documentation Record 18 Jackpile

- Paguate Uranium Mine

NMN000607033 Source 1 Non

- Radioactive Results

Hazardous

Substance Evidence

References Station

Location No. Concentration Reporting

Limit 2 Units 1

EPA Site Inspection Activities

– March 2010 3

Vanadium JM

- SS

- 01 30 1 mg/kg Ref. 19, p. 23; Ref. 20, pp. 714, 791; Ref. 25, pp. 45 to 49

Chromium

JM

- SED

- 02 5.8 1.7 mg/kg Ref. 19, p. 35; Ref. 20, pp. 712, 785; Ref. 25, pp. 45 to 49

Manganes e 270 1.7 mg/kg Ref. 19, p. 35; Ref. 20, pp. 712, 785; Ref. 25, pp. 45 to 49

Vanadium 15 1.7 mg/kg Ref. 19, p. 35; Ref. 20, pp. 712, 785; Ref. 25, pp. 45 to 49

Zinc 36 3.4 mg/kg Ref. 19, p. 35; Ref. 20, pp. 712, 785; Ref. 25, pp. 45 to 49

Co balt

JM

- SW

- 02 0.023 0.01 mg/l Ref. 19, p. 35; Ref. 20, pp. 712, 776; Ref. 25, pp. 45 to 49

Manganese 1.3 0.01 mg/l Ref. 19, p. 35; Ref. 20, pp. 712, 776; Ref. 25, pp. 45 to 49

Zinc 0.026 0.02 mg/l Ref. 19, p. 35; Ref. 20, pp. 712, 776;

Ref. 25 , pp. 45 to 49

Vanadium JM

- SS

- 05 90 1 mg/kg Ref. 19, pp. 20 to 21; Ref. 20, pp. 711, 783; Ref. 25, pp. 45 to 49

EPA Expanded Site Inspection Activities

– April 2011 3

Chromium

NPOP20E 0.0604 0.001 09 mg/l Ref. 35, pp. 79, 350, 422, 1527, 1534,

1547

Cobalt 0.0692 0.000 51 mg/l Ref. 35, pp. 79, 350, 422, 1527, 1534,

1547

Manganese 4.633 0.000 43 mg/l Ref. 35, pp. 79, 350, 422, 1527, 1534,

1547

Chromium

SPOP35 0.0057 0.00109 mg/l Ref. 35, pp. 78, 79, 371, 430, 1527, 1534, 1568

Manganese 0. 186 0. 00043 mg/l Ref. 35, pp. 78, 79, 371, 430, 1527, 1534, 1568

Chromium

JPOP41S 0. 365 0 .0 010 9 mg/l Ref. 35, pp. 81, 338, 417, 1527, 1534,

1535

Cobalt 0.078 8 0. 000 51 mg/l Ref. 35, pp. 81, 338, 417, 1527, 1534,

1535

Manganese 2.84 0.000 43 mg/l Ref. 35, pp

. 81, 338, 417, 1527, 1534,

1535

Notes:

1 mg/kg

– milligram per kilogram mg/l

– milligram per liter

2 The Reporting Limit is defined as the Limit of Detection (LOD) for the April 2011 data provided by Summit Analytical Laboratories.

The LOD is e qual to the Laboratory Detection Limit which is adjusted for dilution fac tors (Ref. 35, p. 337) . The definition of the Reporting Limit used by ALS Laboratory Group was not provided in the laboratory package (Ref. 20, pp. 758 to 762).

3 Chemical laborator y data collected during EPA SI and ESI activities were validated by a START

- 3 chemist in accordance with EPASource Characterization

- Source 1

HRS Documentation Record 19 Jackpile

- Paguate Uranium Mine

NMN000607033 USEPA Contract Laboratory Program National Functional Guidelines for Inorganic Data Review (July 2002) , and the Regional Protocol for Holding Times , Blanks, and VOA Preservation (April 13, 1989). Data for target analytes meet the definitive data quality object ive (Ref. 25, pp. 5, 36, 49, 74 ).

2.4.2 Hazardous Waste Quantity

2.4.2.1 Source Hazardous Waste Quantity

2.4.2.1.1 Tier A: Hazardous Con stituent Quantity

- Not Evaluated (NE)

Information on the exact measure (in pounds) of individual hazardous substances in this source is not

available to evaluate Tier A, hazardous constituent quantity . The number of samples collected is not

statisticall y representative of the range of concentrations throughout the source. Therefore , it is not possible to adequately determine a hazardous constituent quantity for Source 1 with reasonable

confidence (Ref. 1, Section 2.4.2.1.1). Scoring proceeds to the ev aluation of Tier B, hazardous wastestream quantity (Ref. 1, Section 2.4.2.1.2).

2.4.2.1.2 Tier B: Hazardous Wastestream Quantity

- Not Evaluated (NE)

The information on the total mass of all hazardous wastestreams and CERCLA pollutants and

contaminants for Source 1 is not sufficient to evaluate Tier B, hazardous wastestream quantity . There is insufficient information that documents wastestream disposal over the facilities operational life ; therefore, it is not possible to adequately determine a complet e hazardous wastestream quantity for Source 1 (Ref. 1, Section 2.4.2.1.2). Scoring proceeds to the evaluation of Tier C, volume (Ref. 1, Section 2.4.2.1.3).

2.4.2.1.3 Tier C: Volume

– Not Evaluated (NE)

The depth of each pit could not be accurately d etermined based on the information available

. T herefore, information is not sufficient to evaluate Tier C and it is not possible to adequately determine a volume for Source 1 (Ref. 1, Section 2.4.2.1.2). Scoring proceeds to the evaluation of Tier
D, area (Ref. 1, Section 2.4.2.1.3).

2.4.2.1.4 Tier D: Area

Although the area of Source 1, open pits

, was stated to be approximately 1,015 acres (or 44,213,400 square feet [ft 2 ]) according to references reviewed

, this area calculation could not be reproduce d. Therefore, a n approximate calculation was performed using GIS software. The GIS software calculated the area of the polygons drawn over each of the pit ’s basal footprints , outlined by contours visible in current aerials and within a topographic map in cluded as part of the ROD Compliance Assessment (Ref. 4, p. 11; Ref. 29, p. 1; Ref. 33, pp. 2, 3). This calculation only includes the flat area and does not include the large slopes which are part of each pit. The GIS software calculated the area of Jackpi le Pit to be 7 ,310,080 ft 2 , the area of North Paguate Pit to be 2,570,040 ft 2 and the area of South Paguate Pit to be 2,700,720 ft 2

. The total area of all three pits is 12,580,840 ft 2 (Ref. 33, pp. 1

- 3). The Tier D equation for assigning a value for are a of a Pile is A /13 (Ref. 1, Table 2

- 5).

Area of S ource 1 ( ft 2 ): 12,580,840Source Characterization

- Source 1

HRS Documentation Record 20 Jackpile

- Paguate Uranium Mine

NMN000607033 Area Assigned Value = 12,580,840 ft 2 /13

Area Assigned Value = 967,756.923

2.4.2.1.5 Source Hazardous Waste Quantity Value

Per the HRS, the highest of the values assigned to the source for hazardous constituent quantity (Tier A), hazardous wastestream quantity (Tier B), Volume (Tier C), and Area (Tier D) should be assigned as the source hazardous waste quantity value (Ref. 1, Section 2.4.2.1.5). This hazardous waste value i s based on the non

- radioactive hazardous substances only and does not include the radioactive

substances. There is insufficient information to accurately score the radioactive hazardous waste quantity value and not scoring radioactive hazardous waste quan tity does not affect the listing decision (Ref. 1, Section 7.2.5.3, Table 2

- 6).

Tier Evaluated Source 1 Values

A Not Evaluated

B Not Evaluated

C 0

D 967,756.923

Source 1 Hazardous Waste Quantity Value: 967,756.923Source Characterization

- Source 2

HRS Documentation Record 21 Jackpile

- Paguate Uranium Mine

NMN000607033 Source Description: Sou rce 2

– Waste Dump V

Mining operations at the Jackpile

- Paguate Uranium Mine resulted in approximately 2,656 ac res of

surface disturbance (Ref. 4, pp. 56, 59)

. The only waste dump sampled and evaluated for this source is identified as Waste Dump V (Ref. 29 ). The mine contained 32 waste dumps that account for approximately 48 percent of the disturbed area (Ref. 4, p. 61). The location of Waste Dump V is depicted on Figure A

- 2 and the location of all the waste dumps can be found in References 28 and 29.

The tops of 17 waste dumps were reclaimed between 1976 and 1979. The tops were contoured to a slight slope, water spreading berms were constructed, large boulders were pushed into piles, 18 to 24 inches of soil were spread, and the dumps were seeded (Ref. 4, p. 69). In later years, as part of the mine reclamation project, t he waste dumps were re

- sloped, with those containing Jackpile Sandstone at

the surface covered with 3 feet of overburden and 16 inches of topsoil. Waste dumps that did not

contain Jackpile Sandstone were covered with 18 inches of topsoil (Ref. 5, pp. 7, 8).

As stated above, the wastes generated at Jackpile

- Paguate Uranium Mine were not removed from the
property but left in place and covered with overburden . There was no impermeable ca p placed on top of the backfill other than overburden (material removed during surface mining and stockpiled) and topsoil (Ref. 4, p. 64; Ref. 5, p. 8 ). In addition, radiological a nalytical results from the ESI show

elevated concentrations of gross alpha and gross beta (Ref. 35, pp. 3, 30, 33)

.

Source Type

Waste rock accumulated in piles of contamination and was placed in waste dumps (Ref. 4, p p

. 21, 61 ). These piles of contamination were not removed from the property , but were left in place and sloped

and covered with overburden

. A s such, the source type for Source 2 is “Pile” (Ref. 1, Table 2

- 5; Ref. 5, p p . 7 , 8 ).

Source Location

Waste Dump V is located just to the east and abutting Rio Moquino, just north of where Rio Moquino and Rio Paguate conve rge ( Ref. 29 , p. 1 ; Figure A

- 2 ).

Source Containment

Release To Surface Water

Contents of Waste Dump V are exposed to the elements and can release to the surface water through

direct contact and run off. Portions of the perennial surface water body

, Rio Moquino are in direct

contact with the source

. According to Laguna officials, the river banks were not reclaimed and source

materials are present there (Ref. 19, p. 5). Source sample JM

- SS

- 03 was collected during draught

conditions and therefore was n ot in direct contact with the surface water . However , after rain events, the Rio Moquino would contain water such that sample location JM

- SS

- 03 would be in direct contact

with the surface water (Ref. 19, pp. 4, 6, 7). There is no maintained engineered cov er, liner, and a run

on control system and runoff management system (Ref. 31, p. 1)

. There are several dumps with chronic erosion problems and berming performed as part of the reclamation did not perform as expected (Ref. 3, p. 1; R ef. 5, p. 31; Ref. 7, p . 10). Waste Dump V slopes steeply into Rio MoquinoSource Characterization

- Source 2

HRS Documentation Record 22 Jackpile

- Paguate Uranium Mine

NMN000607033 (Ref. 29, p. 1).

A containment value of 10 was selected for Source 2 based on the surface water being in direct contact

with the source and there is no maintained engineered cover, liner, and a run

- on c ontrol system and runoff management system ( Ref. 1, Section 4.1.2.1.2.1.1 ; Ref. 31, p.1 ).

Containment Value: 10

2.4.1 Hazardous Substances

On 03 March 2010, as part of the SI of the Jackpile

- Paguate Uranium Mine property , the EPA Region

6 START

- 3 contr actor, collected one solid waste sample JM

- SS

- 0 3 from this source at the Jackpile

Paguate Mine

. This sample is considered an appropriate source sample as it was located where Waste Dump V was identified on reclamation figures and by Marvin Sarracino, Pueb lo of Laguna Reclamation Project Technician (Ref. 19 , pp. 2, 8, 21 ; Ref. 29 ; Figure A

- 2 ).

The solid waste sample was collected according to the approved QASP (Ref. 30, p. 18) . The solid

waste sample was collected with disposable plastic scoops, and the n transferred to an 8

- ounce sample container (Ref. 8 , pp. 15, 17 ). The solid waste sample was collected from near surface (Ref. 8 , p. 107 ).

The sample was shipped via Federal Express to ALS Laboratory Group located in Fort Collins,

Colorado (Ref. 8, p. 16; Ref. 19, pp. 11, 23)

. The sample was analyzed for total metals by EPA

Methods SW

- 846 3005A(liquid) 3050B (solid) and 6010B, total cyanide by EPA Methods SW

- 846 9010 and 9014, mercury by EPA Methods SW

- 846 7470A/7471A and SOP812 Rev. 14, and isotopic uranium by SOP778R13 and SOP714R11 (Ref. 20, pp. 13, 51, 542, 720, 758, 1170). Once final analytical results were received, the data underwent a third

- party data review and validation performed by a START

- 3 chemist not associated with the sampling conduc ted at the property (Ref. 8; Ref. 25).

Analytical evidence of the contamination in Source 2 is summarized as follows:

Source 2 Radioactive Results

Hazardous

Substance Evidence

References Station Location

No. Concentration
( ug/g ) 1 Reporting

Limit 2

EPA Site Inspection Activities

– March 2010 3

Uranium 234

JM

- SS

- 03 224 0.0 Ref. 19, p. 21; Ref. 20, pp. 712, 1210; Ref. 26, pp. 1 to 3

Uranium 235 2.62 0.03 Ref. 19, p. 21; Ref. 20, pp. 712, 1210; Ref. 26, pp. 1 to 3

Uranium 238 367 0.0 Ref. 19, p. 21 ; Ref. 20, pp. 712, 1210; Ref. 26, pp. 1 to 3

Notes:

1 ug/g

– microgram per gram

2 The Reporting Limit is defined as the MDC for uranium by Alpha Spectroscopy and is the net concentration that has a specified chance of being detected (Ref. 39, p. 3).

3 Uranium data were validated by a START

- 3 Certified Health Physicist with 30 years of radiation characterization experience. Data for target analytes meet the definitive data quality objective (Ref. 26).Source Characterization

- Source 2

HRS Documentation Record 23 Jackpile

- Paguate Uranium Mine

NMN000607033 Source 2 Non

- Radioactive Results

H azardous

Substance Evidence

References Station Location

No. Concentration
( mg/kg ) 1 R eporting

Limit 2

EPA Site Inspection Activities

– March 2010 3

Manganese JM

- SS

- 03 84 1 Ref. 19, p. 21; Ref. 20, pp. 712, 786; Ref. 25, pp. 45 to 49

Vanadium JM

- SS

- 0 3 20 1 Ref. 19, p. 21; Ref. 20, pp. 712, 786; Ref. 25, pp. 45 to 49

Notes: mg/kg

- milligram per kilogram (mg /kg) = parts per million (ppm)

2 The Reporting Limit is defined as the Minimum Detectable Concentration for uranium by Alpha Spectroscopy an d as the Sample Quantitation Limit adjusted for sample aliquot, sample volume, and dilutions for the metals analysis (Ref. 32).

3 Chemical laboratory data collected during EPA SI and ESI activities were validated by a START

- 3 chemist in accordance with E PA USEPA Contract Laboratory Program National Functional Guidelines for Inorganic Data Review (July 2002) , and the Regional Protocol for Holding Times, Blanks, and VOA Preservation (April 13, 1989). Data for target analytes meet the definitive data quality object ive (Ref. 25, pp. 5, 36, 49, 74 ).

2.4.2 Hazardous Waste Quantity

2.4.2.1 Source Hazardous Waste Quantity

2.4.2.1.1 Tier A: Hazardous Constituent Quantity

- Not Evaluated (NE)

Information on the exact measure (in pounds) of individual hazard ous substances in this source is not

available to evaluate Tier A, hazardous constituent quantity . The number of samples collected is not statistically representative of the range of concentrations throughout the source. Therefore, it is not possible to adequately determine a hazardous constituent quantity for Source 2 with reasonable

confidence (Ref. 1, Section 2.4.2.1.1). Scoring proceeds to the evaluation of Tier B, hazardous wastestream quantity (Ref. 1, Section 2.4.2.1.2).

2.4.2.1.2 Tier B: Haza rdous Wastestream Quantity

- Not Evaluated (NE)

The information on the total mass of all hazardous wastestreams and CERCLA pollutants and

contaminants for Source 2 is not sufficient to evaluate Tier B, hazardous wastestream quantity . There

is insufficien t information that documents wastestream disposal over the facilities operational life ; therefore, it is not possible to adequately determine a complete hazardous wastestream quantity for

Source 2 (Ref. 1, Section 2.4.2.1.2). Scoring proceeds to the evalu ation of Tier C, volume (Ref. 1, Section 2.4.2.1.3).

2.4.2.1.3 Tier C: Volume

– Not Evaluated (NE)

The depth of Waste Dump V could not be accurately determined based on the information available

. T herefore, information is not sufficient to evaluate Ti er C and it is not possible to adequately

determine a volume for Source 2 (Ref. 1, Section 2.4.2.1.2). Scoring proceeds to the evaluation of Tier D, area (Ref. 1, Section 2.4.2.1.3).Source Characterization

- Source 2

HRS Documentation Record 24 Jackpile

- Paguate Uranium Mine

NMN000607033 2.4.2.1.4 Tier D: Area

The area of Source 2, W aste D ump V

, was de termined using GIS software. The GIS software

calculated the area of the basal footprint polygon of Waste Dump V, outlined by contours visible in current aerials and within a topographic map included as part of the ROD Compliance Assessment (Ref. 4, p. 1 1; Ref. 29, p. 1; Ref. 33, pp. 2, 3). The GIS software calculated the area of Waste Dump V to be 566,280 ft 2 (Ref. 33, pp. 1

- 3). The Tier D equation for assigning a value for area of a Pile is

A/13 (Ref. 1, Table 2

- 5).

Area of Source 2 (ft 2 ): 566,280

A rea Assigned Value = 566,280 ft 2 /13

Area Assigned Value = 43,560Source Characterization

- Source 2

HRS Documentation Record 25 Jackpile

- Paguate Uranium Mine

NMN000607033 2.4.2.1.5 Source Hazardous Waste Quantity Value

Per the HRS, the highest of the values assigned to the source for hazardous constituent quantity (Tier A), hazardous wastestream quanti ty (Tier B), Volume (Tier C), and Area (Tier D) should be assigned as the source hazardous waste quantity value (Ref. 1, Section 2.4.2.1.5). This hazardous waste value is

based on the non

- radioactive hazardous substances only and does not include the radio active

substances. There is insufficient information to score the radioactive hazardous waste quantity value

and not scoring radioactive hazardous waste quantity does not affect t he listing decision (Ref. 1, Section 7.2.5.3, Table 2

- 6).

Tier Evaluat ed Source 2 Values

A Not Evaluated

B Not Evaluated

C 0

D 43,560

Source 2 Hazardous Waste Quantity Value: 43,560Other Possible Sources

HRS Documentation Record 26 Jackpile

- Paguate Uranium Mine

NMN000607033 Other Possible Sources

Other possible sources associated with the Jackpile

- Paguate Uranium Mine site include 31 waste dumps and 23 p rotore stockpiles. Due to the large area of the Jackpile mine, individual samples

could not be collected from these possible source areas . Therefore, these other possible sources were not evaluated separately or used in the scoring of the site. Howeve r, the hazardous substances associated with these possible sources are expected to be the same as the scored sources as they resulted from the same mining activities.

Mining operations at the Jackpile

- Paguate Uranium Mine resulted in 2,656 acres of surf ace disturbance (Ref. 4, pp. 56, 59). The mine contained 32 waste dumps that account for approximately 48 percent of the disturbed area (Ref. 4, p. 61).

The tops of 17 waste dumps were reclaimed between 1976 and 1979. The tops were contoured to a sligh t slope, water spreading berms were constructed, large boulders were pushed into piles, 18 to 24 inches of soil were spread, and the dumps were seeded (Ref. 4, p. 69). In later years, as part of the mine reclamation project, the waste dumps were re

- sloped , with those containing Jackpile Sandstone at the surface covered with 3 feet of overburden and 16 inches of topsoil. Waste dumps that did not contain Jackpile Sandstone were covered with 18 inches of topsoil (Ref. 5, pp. 7, 8).

During mining operations, the uranium ore was segregated according to grade and stockpiled for shipment to the mill. Located outside and inside of the open pits were 23 protore stockpiles. The protore that was located outside the pits covered approximately 103 acres and containe d approximately 7.2 million cubic yards of material. Those stockpiles located inside the pits contained about 3.1 million cubic yards of material but do not constitute additional acreage of disturbed ground (Ref. 4, p. 61; Ref. 28, pp. 6, 22, 37).

Prot ore is material that was stockpiled throughout the mining operation because it contains elevated

but sub

- economic uranium concentrations (Ref. 4, p. 73). Approximately 21 million tons of protore, containing 0.02 to 0.059 percent uranium exist at the mine. This material was located on the surface in 23 stockpiles dispersed throughout the mine (Ref. 4, p. 74). Between 1989 and 1993, these protore stockpiles were moved into the pits (North Paguate Pit , South Paguate Pit, and Jackpile Pit) and used

as backfil l (Ref. 5, pp. 31, 32).

As stated above, the wastes and protore generated at Jackpile

- Paguate Uranium Mine were not

removed from the property but left in place and covered. There was no impermeable cap placed on top

of the backfill other than overburden (material removed during surface mining and stockpiled) , shale, and topsoil (Ref. 4, p. 64; Ref. 5, p p . 8 , 31, 32 ).Other Possible Sources

HRS Documentation Record 27 Jackpile

- Paguate Uranium Mine

NMN000607033 Other Possible Sources Summary

Possible Source Rationale Containment

Features Reference

Waste Dumps Mining operations at the Jackpile

- P aguate mine resulted in 2,656 acres of surface disturbance. Waste rock accumulated in piles of contamination and was placed in a total of 32 waste dumps. One waste dump was evaluated as a source and the remaining 31 waste dumps are considered other possib le sources. The dumps were not removed from the property but were left in place and covered with overburden. Contents of the waste dumps are exposed to the elements and can release hazardous substances to surface water through direct contact

and run off. Further, portions of the Rio Moquino are in direct contact with some of the waste dumps.

While specific sampling data does not exist for the 31 waste dumps, hazardous substances associated with these possible sources should be the same

hazardous substance s associated with Sources 1 and 2 since they resulted from the same mining

activities. There is no

maintained engineered cover, liner, or run

- on control system or

run

- off management
system. Ref, 4, pp. 21, 56, 59, 61, 64; Ref. 5, p. 8; Ref. 31, p.

1

Prot ore Stockpiles During mining operations, the uranium ore was segregated according to grade and stockpiled for shipment to the mill. Located outside and inside of the open pits were 23 protore stockpiles. The
protore stockpiles located outside the open p its covered approximately 103 acres and contained approximately 7.2 million cubic yards of material. The stockpiles located inside the pits contained about 3.1 million cubic yards of material but do not constitute additional acreage of disturbed ground. Protore is material that was stockpiled throughout the mining operation because it contain ed elevated

but sub

- economic uranium concentrations. Approximately 21 million tons of protore, containing 0.02 to 0.059 percent uranium exist at

the mine site. This material is located on the surface in 23 stockpiles dispersed throughout the mine. Th e protore stockpiles were not removed from the
property but used for backfill material in the pit areas. There was no impermeable cap placed on top

of the backfill other than a 1 foot cover of sh ale and 18 inches of top soil

. While specific sampling data does not exist for the 23 protore stockpiles, hazardous substances associated with these possible sources should be the

same as those hazardous substances associated with Sources 1 and 2 since they resulted from the same mining activities. There is no

maintained engineered cover, liner, or run

- on control system or

run

- off management system. The only

cover consists of 1

foot of shale and 18 inches of topsoil.

Materials in t he protore stockpiles can

release hazardous

substances to surface water through direct

contact and run off. Ref. 4, pp. 61, 64, 73, 74; Ref. 5, pp. 31, 32; Ref. 28, pp. 6, 22, 37Source Characterization

- Source Summary

HRS Documentation Record 28 Jackpile

- Paguate Uranium Mine

NMN000607033 SITE SUM MARY OF SOURC E DESCRIPTION

Source

No. Source Hazardous Waste Qu antity

Value Containment

Ground Water Surface Water Gas Air Particulate

1 967,756.923 NE 10 NE NE

2 43,560 NE 10 NE NE

TOTAL 1,011,316.923

NE = Not EvaluatedGW Pathway

– Not Scored

HRS Documentation Record 29 Jackpile

- Paguate Uranium Mine

NMN000607033 3.0 GROUND WATER MIGRATION PATHWAY SCORE

- NOT SCORED

The ground water migration pathway will not be scored because it is not expected to contribute significantly to the site score nor affect the listing decision

. The site score exceeds 28.50 and qualifies for listing based only on the evaluation of the surface water pathway.

Althou gh there is historical evidence of contamination through sampling of 11 monitoring wells within the Jackpile

- Paguate Uranium Mine , there is a lack of documented ground water targets. The mine floor is generally above the water table and there are no potab le wells located down gradient (south) of

the property (Ref. 18, p. 11). Annual ground water monitoring was conducted from 1995 through

2007. Analytical results from the post

- reclamation ground water sampling showed contamination

within the on

- site monito ring wells of total uranium concentrations from 0.001 mg /L to 624.51 mg /L. Monitoring Wells MW

- 1 through MW

- 7 contained total uranium concentrations that exceeded the EPA MCLs 0.03 mg/L for total uranium at one time or another during this sampling period (Ref. 5 , pp. 189, 205

, 209 ; Ref . 21, pp. 1

- 12 ).

As part of the April 2011 ESI, ground water samples and hydrologic data were collected from 12 wells

at the facility in an effort to further determine whether ground water is a pathway for the migration of

c ontaminants from the property (Ref. 36, p. 4) . While this pathway will not be scored for this
property , some general information about the aquifers at the property is presented in this section to provide context of the interaction between ground water and surface water.

Regional ground water occurs in both unconsolidated sediments and bedrock. Unconsolidated sediments include Quaternary fluvial, colluvial, and alluvial deposits associated with the Rio Paguate and Rio Moquino systems ( Ref. 35, p. 2 751 ). The two principal aquifers in the area are the alluvium and Jackpile sandstone (Ref. 35, p. 2822).

Ground water also occurs in coarse

- and medium

- grained sedimentary units, including Jurassic sands

of the Morrison Formation. Ground water is also presen t in the capping Quaternary basalts, where it permeates through vesicles and joint fractures; seeps from these basalts likely provide the headwaters for the perennial surface waters of Rios Paguate and Moquino ( Ref. 35, p. 2751 ).

The Alluvial Aquifer is comprised of coarse

- to fine

- grained clastic sediments

– primarily sands

- transported and deposited by the fluvial system. The alluvium is described as up to 80 to 100 feet thick in some parts of the basin, thickening with distance from the source areas of the surface water system. The water

- bearing units are approximately 20 feet thick throughout the study area, and the hydraulic conductivity (K) for this aquifer is calculated at 23 feet per day ( Ref. 35, p. 2751 ).

Ground water chemistry in the Allu vial Aquifer is dominated by calcium

- magnesium cations and

sulfate

- bicarbonate anions, and is classified as calcium

- sufate

- bicarbonate water by Hydro

- Search ( Ref. 35, p. 2870 ). Total dissolved solids (TDS) concentrations are historically quite variable, r anging from 671 to 3,200 mg/ L , but generally increase with the flow direction across the mine ( Ref. 35, pp. 2751, 2870 ).

The Jackpile Sandstone Aquifer is described as an aquifer by the USGS ( Ref. 35, p. 2802, 2822 ). The petrology of the Jackpile Sand stone is described as a light

- colored, friable fine to medium sandstone ofSW Pathway

– Overland/Flood Migration Component

HRS Documentation Record 30 Jackpile

- Paguate Uranium Mine

NMN000607033 variable thickness (up to several hundred feet thick in the study area). The Jackpile Aquifer is stratigraphically confined at the base by thick , black shale of the Morrison Format ion (Jurassic), and above by thick shale mapped as part of the Dakota Sandstone (Cretaceous). The shale sandwich confines the Jackpile Sandstone Aquifer in all areas, except where the shale units are not intact (such

as areas where the Dakota has been rem oved by natural erosion or mining activities) (Ref. 35, p. 2751).

The water chemistry of the Jackpile Aquifer is dominated by sodium cations and sulfate to bicarbonate anions, and is classified as a sodium

- sulfate

- bicarbonate water by Hydro

- Search ( Re f. 35, p. 2870 ). TDS for the Jackpile Aquifer ranges from 666 to 1

, 577 mg/l ( Ref. 35, p p

. 2870, 2751 ).

The surface of the Jackpile Aquifer slopes generally to the southeast, although it appears to be affected by activities near the mine, where it becomes unconfined ( R ef. 35, p. 2752 ). The USGS (1885) calculated a hydraulic conductivity for the Jackpile Aquifer of 0.3 feet per day, which is two orders of magnitude lower than the Alluvial Aquifer (Ref. 35, p. 2838) . This has important consequences, as

when the Jackpile and Alluvial aquifers are in direct contact with each other, the Alluvial Aquifer should dominate nearly all mixing scenarios (except where the water level in the Jackpile Aquifer is above that of the Alluvial Aquifer) (Ref. 35, p. 2752) . Th is is demonstrated by ground water monitoring data from Test Well number 1 from the Hydro

- Search (1979) study ; this well is screened across the Alluvial and Jackpile aquifers, but the water chemistry plots with the Alluvial Aquifer water on a Piper water c hemistry diagram (Ref. 35, pp. 2752, 2871)

.

Historically, Hydro

- Search (1979) used ground water and surface water elevation data, as well as qualitative field observations, to conclude that Rios Paguate and Moquino lose water to the Alluvial Aquifer in th e up

- gradient areas to a point approximately 1

, 500 feet above their confluence. Below this point (approximately 5

, 925 feet above mean sea level), the river system receives water from the Alluvial Aquifer (Ref. 35, p p

. 2763, 2865

- 2869) . The USGS (1985) co nfirmed this observation through its own calculations, using the same data set (Ref. 35, pp. 2763, 2838

- 2839 . A similar study conducted by Hydro

- Search in July 1981, during “a period of high evapotranspiration,” indicated that

the area near the confluence loses water, suggesting a seasonal variation is the gain/loss of the river through this area. No detailed study to date has shown whether this is a regular, or seasonal, variation (Ref. 7, p. 5; Ref. 35, p. 2763) . Hydrologic models by Dames and Moore (1 983) and the USGS (1985) predict that surface water should be in intimate contact with ground water . The hydraulic coefficient of the alluvium is 23 feet per day at the confluence of Rios Paguate and Moquino (USGS 1983), and should be even higher in areas where the alluvium has been replaced by overburden and tailings (Ref. 35, pp

. 2763, 2838).

Currently, g eologic cross sections completed through the property based on measurement s collected during the April 2011 ESI, indicate that surface water may have flowed into the North and South Paguate pits, causing ground water to rebound more quickly than modeled. Ground water elevations

indicate that ground water from the North Paguate and Jackpile pits is flowing into Rio Moquino.

Ground water from the South Paguate Pit appears to be flowing into Rio Paguate, and water from Rio Paguate (and/or the associated Alluvial Aquifer) may be flowing into the North Paguate Pit (Ref. 35, pp. 2766, 2767, 2773).SW Pathway

– Overland/Flood Migration Component

HRS Documentation Record 31 Jackpile

- Paguate Uranium Mine

NMN000607033 4.0 SURFACE WATER MIGRATION PATHWAY

4.1 OVERLAND/FLOOD MIGRATION COMPONENT

4.1.1 General Considerations

4.1.1.1 Definition of Hazardous Substan ce Migration Path for Overland/F lood Component

The hazardous substance migration path includes the in

- water segment that hazardous substances would take as they mig rate away from sources at the facility (Ref. 1, Section 4.1.1.1 ) . The h azardous substance migration path for in

- water segments for the source s are described below. The surface water pathway is presented on Figure s A

- 3 and A

- 4

.

Overland and In

- Water Segm ents

The mine facility and surrounding areas are drained by Rio Paguate and Rio Moquino . The Rio Paguate flows from headwaters located approximately 10 miles above the mine facility , through Bear Canyon, into the watershed that covers much of the eastern flank of Mt. Taylor. The source waters originate through seeps from Quaternary basalts capping Mesa Chivato, as well as Quaternary alluvium along the canyon. The Rio Moquino flows from headwaters located approximately 3.5 miles

above the mine facility i n Seboyeta Canyon. Like the Rio Paguate, the source waters originate through seeps from Cretaceous sandstones, Quaternary basalt and alluvium in the upper reaches of the watershed (Ref. 35 , pp, 2753

, 2813, and 2877 ). The Rio Paguate is joined by the Rio Moquino near

the center of the mine facility . Below this confluence, the Rio Pagu ate flows southeasterly into Pag uate Reservoir before joining the Rio San Jose 5 miles south of the mine facility ( Ref. 4 , p. 101 ). The Rio Paguate has been rechanneled for m ore than 2,000 feet downstream of its entrance to the mine facility ( Ref. 4 , p. 101 ). The Rio Moquino has been extensively modified over a 4,000

- foot segment immediately above its confluence with the Rio Paguate. Waste material has been dumped into the

ori ginal channel on both sides, straightening the course of the meandering stream ( Ref. 4 , p. 102 ). At

the mine facility , both streams usually flow all year (perennially); however, south of the mine facility

, the Rio Pag uate acts as an ephemeral stream becom ing in termittently dry ( Ref. 4 , p. 103 ).

For HRS purposes, in areas in which the average annual rainfall is less than 20 inches, eligible rivers include those that have been determined to be intermittently flowing water and contiguous intermittently flowi ng ditches (Ref. 1, Sec. 4.02). The average annual rainfall at the Jackpile

- Paguate

Uranium Mine facility is approximately 9 to 12 inches (Ref. 22 , p p

. 15

- 16 ).

Flow in Rio Paguate and Rio Moquino is generally moderate from January to March, elevated in March and April, low during the summer months, and moderate from October through December.

Short

- term peak flows occur in the summer in response to thunderstorms. The highest flow recorded on the Rio Paguate was estimated to be 2,300 cubic feet per secon d (cfs) (USDI, Geological Survey 1967). Flood estimates of peak discharges at the southern mine boundary are 1,520 cfs for a 5

- year flood; 6,290 cfs for a 100

- year flood, and 10,500 cfs for a 500

- year flood ( Ref. 4 , p. 103 ).

The Rio Moquino and Rio Pagua te bisect the mine and are in direct contact with the source s (Ref. 3 , p. 1 ; R ef. 7, p. 10 ). Within the mine footprint

, ground water in the Jackpile sandstone interchanges with water in the Rio Moquino and Rio Paguate through the unconsolidated alluvium d eposits along the

stream chan nels. The stream deposits act a s a mixing zone between the surface water in the rivers and

the ground water discharging from the underlying Jackpile sandstone (Ref. 7, pp. 5, 26).SW Pathway

– Overland/Flood Migration Component

HRS Documentation Record 32 Jackpile

- Paguate Uranium Mine

NMN000607033 The in

- water segment begins in the most ups tream Probable Point of Entry ( PPE ) to an eligible surface water body as defined in the HRS (Ref. 1, Sec. 4.02). Eligible surface water bodies that have been determined to be part of the in

- water segment s for the Jackpile

- Paguate Uranium Mine facility inc lude Rio Moquino, Rio Paguate, Paguate Reservoir, and Rio San Jose (Figure A

- 3) . Rationale for including

these eligible surface water bodies is provided below. There are multiple PPEs for each source

identified (Ref. 3, p. 1; Figure A

- 3 ). The PPEs presen ted in this documentation record are located where each indentified pit or waste dump is closest to either the Rio Paguate or Rio Moquino (see Figure A

- 3).

The target distance limit (TDL) for the surface water pathway, which defines the maximum distanc e over which targets are considered, is 15 miles. The TDL is defined as being 15 miles from the f a rthest

downstream PPE in the in

- water segment section. The 15

- mile surface water flow path is presented in Figure A

- 4 (Ref. 1, Sec. 4.1.1.2).

Drainage from Source 1 and Source 2 enters the Rio Moquino and Rio Paguate at PPE s 1 through PPE

4 ( refer to Figure A

- 3 ). The slo p e from each source is towards Rio Paguate and Rio Moquino (Ref. 3, p. 1). PPE1 is the closest point of entry from the South Paguate Pit to Rio Paguate with an overland

flow distance of approximately 1,100 feet (Ref. 40, pp. 1,2). PPE2 is the closest point of entry from the North Paguate Pit to Rio Paguate with an overland flow distance of approximately 150 feet (Ref. 40, pp. 1,2). PPE3 i s the closest point of entry from Waste Dump V to Rio Moquino with a minimal (>0) overland f low distance (Ref. 40, pp. 1, 2). PPE4 is the closest point of entry from Jackpile Pit to Rio Paguate with an overland flow distance of approximately 840 feet (Re f. 40, pp. 1, 2)

. From PPE1, Rio Paguate flows approximately 1 mile before converging with Rio Moquino . From PPE2

, Rio Paguate flows approximately 0.7 miles before converging with Rio Moquino. From PPE3, Rio Moquino flows approximately 600 feet before c onverging with Rio Paguate. From the convergence

, Rio Paguate flows south approximately 1 mile before PPE4. From PPE4 Rio Paguate flows approximately 4.2 miles before entering the Paguate Reservoir and the Mesita Dam . The Paguate Reservoir is approximat ely 0. 5 miles long, and then the Rio Paguate continues an additional 0.6 miles

before conver g ing with and becoming the Rio San Jose . The Rio San Jose continues for the remaining

15

- mile TDL (Ref. 3, p p . 1 to 3 ; Ref. 12 ). Within the in

- water segment of th e TDL, there are two
Level II fisheries which have been identified between the PPE s and the location where sample PR

SW

- 01 was collected within the northern portion of the Paguate Reservoir (Ref

. 23, Figure A

- 3 ).

There is also a potential fishery within t he southern portion of the Paguate Reservoir to the Rio San

Jose downstream to the TDL (Ref. 23, Figure A

- 3 )

.

Surface waters from the Rio Paguate and Rio Moquino are used for irrigation upstream from the villages of Paguate and Seboyeta, respectively. Su rface water is also consumed by livestock from the Paguate Reservoir and along the Rio Paguate between the reservoir and the mine facility at points of access ( Ref. 4 , p. 104 ). The Rio Paguate is designated by the New Mexico Water Quality Control

Commissio n for the following uses: domestic wa ter supply, fish, culture, high

- quality coldwater fishery, irrigation, livestock, and wildlife watering, and secondary contact recreation ( Ref. 4 , p. 106 ).

Surface waters are not regularly used for human consumption i n the Paguate

- Laguna area; however, part of the surface water passing through the mine facility collects downstream in the Paguate

Reservoir

. Water from this reservoir is used as drinking water by li vestock, so a potential pathway exists for indirect expos ure ( Ref. 4 , p. 98 ).SW Pathway

– Likelihood of Release

HRS Documentation Record 33 Jackpile

- Paguate Uranium Mine

NMN000607033 4.1.2.1 LIKELIHOOD OF RELEASE

4.1.2.1.1 Observed Release

Direct Observation

Observed release can be established by direct observation. Material containing hazardous substances is

in direct contact with the surface water and h as been seen entering the surface water pathway through direct disposition.

The Rio Moquino has been extensively modified over a 4,000

- foot segment immediately above its confluence with the Rio Paguate. Waste material has been dumped into the original cha nnel on both sides, straightening the course of the meandering stream (Ref. 4, p. 102).

During the March 2010 SI sampling activities, sample JM

- SS

- 03 was collected on the bank of the Rio Moquino and close to surface water sample RM

- JM

- SW (Figure A

- 5 A ; R ef. 19, pp. 21, 22; Ref. 30, p p

. 76, 77). According to Laguna officials, the river banks were not reclaimed and source materials are present there (Ref. 19, p. 5). Source sample JM

- SS

- 03 was collected during draught conditions and

therefore was not in d irect contact with the surface water . However, after rain events, the Rio Moquino

would contain water such that sample location JM

- SS

- 03 would be in direct contact with the surface

water (Ref. 19, pp. 4, 6, 7). Sample JM

- SS

- 03 contained elevated concentr ations of total uranium at 127 ppm ( Ref. 20, pp. 172, 1210; Ref. 26, 1 to 3). The surface water samples collected within the Rio Moquino adjacent to this sample contained total uranium at 16.8 ppb, 109 ppb and 78.9 ppb (Ref. 19, p. 22; Ref. 20, pp. 22, 75 , 1190, 1219; Ref. 25, pp. 1 to 5; Ref. 26, pp 1 to 3; Ref. 35, pp. 96, 772

- 773, 1587). These concentrations were greater than background concentrations found within Rio Moquino (sample RM

- SW

- BG) (Ref. 19, p. 18; Ref. 20, pp. 18, 70, 557, 580,711,782,1203 ; Ref. 25, pp. 1 to 5, 45 to 49; Ref. 26, pp. 1 to 3; Ref. 35, pp. 87

- 88, 774, 1587).

During the April 2011 ESI sampling event, START

- 3 personnel found radiation readings greater than 999 microRem per hour (uR/h) using a Ludlum Radiation meter along th e banks of Rio Paguate just upstream of the confluence of the Rio Paguate and the Rio Moquino (Ref. 35, p. 96). Rocks containing oxidized uranium could also be seen along the river bank where the high radioactive readings were detected (Ref. 35, pp. 67, 6 8).SW Pathway

– Likelihood of Release

HRS Documentation Record 34 Jackpile

- Paguate Uranium Mine

NMN000607033 Chemical Analysis

Sediment and surface water samples were collected during the March 2010 EPA SI and April 2011

EPA ESI (Ref. 8 , p. 6 ; Ref. 19 ; Ref. 35, p. 114 )

. Sediment and surface water samples during the March 2010 sampling event were collecte d from the surface water pathway at 9 locations in the Rio Moquino, Rio Paguate, and Paguate Reservoir (Ref. 8, p. 27 )

. During the April 2011 sampling event, surface water samples were collected from 8 locations and sediment samples were collected from 9 locations in the Rio Moquino, Rio Paguate, and Paguate Reservoir (Ref. 36 , p. 4 ). Sample locations are depicted in Figure s A

- 5 A and A

- 5 B

.

Background Concentrations:

Background sediment and surface water samples were collected from the locations listed be low to investigate whether a release from the facility could be established (Ref. 8, Ref. 19 ; Ref. 35, p. 118 ).

**•** Rio Moquino

- Two background sediment sample s and two surface water sample s were collected from Rio Moquino during the March 2010 and April 20 11 sampling events ( RM

- SW

BG, RM

- SED

- BG

, RM

- SW

- BG

- 110419, R M

- SED

- BG

- 110419 ) immediately upstream of the Jackpile

- Paguate Uranium Mine before confluence with the Rio Paguate . The background

sediment sample and surface water sample s collected from Rio Moqui no is compared to facility

- related sediment and surface water samples collected from Rio Moquino, Rio Paguate and the Paguate Reservoir

.

**•** Rio Paguate

– Two background sediment sample s and two surface water sample s were collected from Rio Paguate ( during th e March 2010 and April 2011 sampling events ( RP

- SW

BG, RP

- SED

- BG , R P

- SW

- BG

- 041911 , RP

- SED

- BG

- 041911 ) immediately upstream of the Jackpile

- Paguate Uranium Mine before confluence with the Rio Moquino

. The background

sediment sample and surface water samples collected from Rio Paguate is compared to site

related sediment and surface water samples collected from Rio Moquino, Rio Paguate , and the Paguate Reservoir

.

**•** Mesita Diversion

– O ne sediment sample (MD

- SW

- 110420) was collected off the Rio San Jose from an irrigation diversion ditch in April 2011 to determine regional background levels and was used in standard deviation background calculations for radionuclide concentrations from the Rio Moquino, Rio Paguate and Paguate Reservoir.

The topographic map of t he area indicates the presence of surface water bodies for which there are no background samples. Arroyo Moquino, which appears to be an intermittent stream that flows through the mine into Rio Paguate just below the Rio Paguate and Rio Moquino confluence

, no longer converges with the Rio Paguate and therefore was not considered an appropriate background location (Ref. 3; Ref. 19, p. 4). Another intermittent stream

, Oak Canyon

, exists south of the facility and flows into Rio Paguate at a point just north of the Paguate Reservoir (Ref. 3). According to the Pueblo of Laguna Environmental and Natural Resources Department, Oak Canyon is an arroyo with no regular

flow and contains run

- off water from rain events. Due to the topography of the area, there is no way to access Oak Canyon to obtain a background sample. Upon further review of possible sources within the vicinity of the Jackpile

- Paguate Mine , t here are no other potential sources of contamination locatedSW Pathway

– Likelihood of Release

HRS Documentation Record 35 Jackpile

- Paguate Uranium Mine

NMN000607033 upstream of Oak C anyon. The closest mine in th e area, S t. Anthony, drains into Arroyo Conchas located northeast of the Jackpile

- Paguate Uranium Mine (Ref. 3; Ref . 19, p. 3)

According to the QASP s for the property , the Rio Moquino and Rio Paguate background sampling

location s were collected immediatel y upstream of the Jackpile

- Paguate Uranium Mine for the purposes of collecting samples unaffected by the mine facility and to establish background concentrations of the

local area (Ref. 30

, p. 23; Ref. 35, p. 118 ; Figure s A

- 5A, A

- 5B )

.

The background sed iment samples were collected on 0 2 March 2010 and 19 April 2011 by START

- 3 with disposable pl astic scoops, in accordance with the approved QASP s
, and then transferred to an 8

- ounce sample container (Ref. 8, pp. 15, 17 ; Ref. 30, p. 18 ; Ref. 35, p. 121 ; Ref. 36, p. 4 ). The sediment samples were collected from 0 to 2 inch es below ground surface (Ref. 19, p. 29 ; Ref. 35, pp. 222

- 223 ; Ref. 36, p. 4 ) . The samples were collected from locations within the creek channel where sediments had

accumulated

, such as bend s in the creek (Ref. 8 ; Ref. 35, pp. 222

- 223 ; Ref. 36, p. 4 )

. The background surface water samples were collected by submerging the sample container into the water and facing the mouth of the container upstream while sampling personnel stood downstream ( Ref. 8 , p. 113 ; Ref. 36, p. 4 ). T he March 2010 samples were shipped via Fed eral Ex press to ALS Laboratory Group located in Fort Collins, Colorado (Ref. 8, p. 16; Ref. 19, pp. 11, 23). The April 2011 samples were hand delivered to Summit Laboratory, locat ed in Albuquerque, New Mexico on 22 April 2011 (Ref. 36 , p. 5 ). The

March 2010 samples were analyzed for total metals by EPA Methods SW

- 846 3005A(liquid) 3050B (solid) and 6010B, total cyanide by EPA Methods SW

- 846 9010 and 9014, mercury by EPA Methods

SW

- 846 7470A/7471A and SOP812 Rev. 14, and isotopic uranium by SOP778R13 and SOP714R11 (Ref. 20, pp. 13, 51, 542, 720, 758, 1170). The April 2011 samples were analyzed for: i sotopic

u ranium (isotopes 234, 235, and 238) by method Eichrom ACW

- 03

- 15 and AC W

- 10; total metals by EPA method 200.7 for water and 6010B for solids; selenium by EPA method 6020; mercury by EPA method 7470A/7471A; Radium 226 by EPA method 903; and Radium 228 by EPA method 904. In addition, all water samples were also analyzed for: a lk alinity by method SM2310

- B; b icarbonate by

method SM

- 17 2320; c arbonate by method SM 4500

- CO2D; Total Dissolved Solids by method SM

2540

- C; and a nions by EPA method 300 (Ref. 36 , pp. 5 )

. Once final analytical results were rec eived, the

data underwent third

- party data review and validation by a START

- 3 chemist not associated with the sampling conducted at the facility (Ref. 25 ; Ref. 36, p. 5 ).

The background samples (surface water and sediment) and the samples collected to demonstrate an

observed release were all collected during the same time frames during the same sampling events ( Ref. 36, p. 4 ). The samples were collected by the same field team s during the same sampling event s
, following the same sample collection protocols and methodologies. Background sa mples were collected from similar locations, were from similar media, same depth, under the same hydrological conditions and flow, used the same sampling methods, preservation, and handling and were all collected during the same weather conditions as the o bserved release samples ( Ref. 35, pp. 87

- 96; Ref. 36, pp. 7

- 16 ).

No sediment samples were evaluated as observed release samples and therefore are not included in further discussion of background or observed release samples.SW Pathway

– Likelihood of Release

HRS Documentation Record 36 Jackpile

- Paguate Uranium Mine

NMN000607033 EPA SI Background Surface Water Sampling

– March 2010

Station Location Sampling Location Sample Date (Military

Time) Reference

Rio Moquino

RM

- SW

- BG Rio Moquino upstream of the Jackpile

- Paguate Uranium Mine and of the confluence with Rio Paguate 03/02/10
(1012) Ref. 19, p. 18, Figure A

- 5 A

Rio Paguate

RP

- SW

- BG ( Duplicate)
RP

- SW

- BGD
(Duplicate) Rio Paguate upstream of the Jackpile

- Paguate Uranium Mine and of the confluence with Rio Moquino 03/02/10
(0929) Ref. 19, p. 18, Figure A

- 5 A

EPA SI Background Surface Water Sample Concentrations

– March 2010

Station Location Hazardous

Substance Concentration ( mg/l ) 1 Reporting Limit 2 Reference

Rio Moquino

RM

- SW

- BG Manganese 0.027 0.01 Ref. 19, p. 18; Ref. 20, pp. 18, 70 ; Ref. 25, pp. 1 to 5

Rio Paguate

RP

- SW

- BG Manganese 0.045 0.01 Ref. 19, p. 18; Ref. 20, pp. 20 , 73 ; Ref. 25, pp. 1 to 5

RP

- SW

- BGD (Duplicate) Manganese 0.044 0.01 Ref. 19. p.18; Ref. 20, pp. 20 , 74 ; Ref. 25, pp. 1 to 5

Notes:

1 m g/l

– milligram per liter

2 The definition of the Reporting Li mit used by ALS Laboratory Group was not provided in the laboratory package (Ref. 20, pp. 758 to 762).

Samples collected during the March 2010 sampling event from Rio Moquino

, Rio Paguate and Paguate

Reservoir is compared to the highest designated backgr ound level as shown below:

Significant Background Concentration

– March 2010

Matrix Hazardous
Substance Highest Background

Concentration
( mg/l ) 1 3 x Background

Surface Water Manganese 0.0 45 0. 135

Notes:

1 m g/l

– milligram per literSW Pathway

– Likelihood of Release

HRS Documentation Record 37 Jackpile

- Paguate Uranium Mine

NMN000607033 EPA ESI Background Surface Water Sampling

– April 2011

Station Location Sampling Location Sample Date (Military

Time) Reference

Rio Moquino

RM

- SW

- BG

- 110419 Rio Moquino upstream of the Jackpile

- Paguate Uranium Mine and of the confluence with Rio Paguate 04/1 9 / 11
(14:25) Ref. 35 , p. 88

, Figure A

- 5 B

Rio Paguate

RP

- SW

- BG

- 041911 Rio Paguate upstream of the Jackpile

- Paguate Uranium Mine and of the confluence with Rio Moquino 04/1 9 /11
(10:25) Ref. 35 , p. 86

, Figure A

- 5B

Mesita Diversion

T his sample location was co llected to determine regional background levels and was only used in standard deviation background calculations for radionuclide concentrations

MD

- SW

- 110420 Mesita Diversion where water is

collected from the Rio San Jose to irrigate crops for Mesita Vill age. 04/20/11
(1415) Ref. 35, p. 93

, Figure A

- 5B

EPA ESI Background Surface Water Sample Concentrations

– April 2011

Station Location Hazardous

Substance Concentration Reporting Limit 2 Units 1 Reference

Rio Moquino

RM

- SW

- BG

- 110419 Uranium 234

Uranium 235

Uranium 238 4.119

0.0996

2.230 0.066

0.019

0.066 pCi/l pCi/l pCi/l Ref. 35, pp. 744, 774,

1587

Rio Paguate

RP

- SW

- BG

- 041911 Uranium 234

Uranium 235

Uranium 238 6.242

0.216

3.793 0.061

0.018

0.041 pCi/l pCi/l pCi/l Ref. 35, pp. 747, 778,

1587

Mesita Di version

MD

- SW

- 110420 Uranium 234

Uranium 235

Uranium 238 4.858

0.306

2.811 0.0 54

0.0 16

0.0 70 pCi/l pCi/l pCi/l Ref. 35, pp. 736, 760

, 1587

Notes:

1 pCi/l = picocurie per lite r
2 The Reporting Limit is defined as the MDC for uranium by Alpha Spectrosc opy and is the net concentration that has a specified chance of being detected (Ref. 39, p. 3).

3 Radiological data were validated by a START

- 3 Certified Health Physicist with 30 years of radiation characterization experience. Data for target analytes meet the definitive data quality objective (Ref. 35, p. 1587, Ref. 36, p. 5 ).

Samples collected during the April 2011 sampling event from Rio Moquino

, Rio Paguate and Mesita Diversion (for standard deviation calculations) is compared against the designat ed background levels as

shown below:SW Pathway

– Likelihood of Release

HRS Documentation Record 38 Jackpile

- Paguate Uranium Mine

NMN000607033 Significant Background Concentrations

- April 2011

Sample ID Hazardous

Substance Conc. Units Sample

Mean Sample

Variance 1 Sample

Standard

Deviation 2 2 Standard

Deviations

Above The

Mean

MD

- SW

- 110420 Uranium 234 4 .858 pCi/l

5.073 1.161451 1.077706361 7.228412721 RM

- SW

- BG

- 110419 Uranium 234 4.119 pCi/l

RP

- SW

- BG

- 041911 Uranium 234 6.242 pCi/l

MD

- SW

- 110420 Uranium 235 0.306 pCi/l

0.2072 0.01070832 0.103481013 0.414162026 RM

- SW

- BG

- 110419 Uranium 235 0.0996 pCi/ l

RP

- SW

- BG

- 041911 Uranium 235 0.216 pCi/l

MD

- SW

- 110420 Uranium 238 2.811 pCi/l

2.94466667 0.624142333 0.790026793 4.524720252 RM

- SW

- BG

- 110419 Uranium 238 2.23 pCi/l

RP

- SW

- BG

- 041911 Uranium 238 3.793 pCi/l

Note:

1 Equation for sample varia nce =

2 Equation for population standard deviation = square root of the population variance

. (a) The result was reported as a non

- detect (3.58 U pCi/l). A value of 1/2 the reporting limit was used in the calculation of the popu lation standard deviation

. 

## ∑

**= −** 

**−** n

i i X X

n 1 2 ) ( 1 1SW Pathway

– Likelihood of Release

HRS Documentation Record 39 Jackpile

- Paguate Uranium Mine

NMN000607033 Observed Release Samples:

Sediment and surface water samples identified as “contaminated” are those that meet observed release criteria as defined by the HRS (Ref. 1, Table 2

- 3). Observed release criteria is met when the ha zardous

substance is attributable to a release from the property , its concentration exceeds the Sample Quantitation Limit ( SQL ; including the background SQL), and is at least three times greater than the background concentration when the background concent ration equals or exceeds its SQL for non

radionuclides (Ref. 1, Table 2

- 3). For radionuclides that occur naturally or are ubiquitous to the environment, observed release criteria is met when the measured concentration (in units of activity) are

at a lev el that equals or exceeds a value 2 standard deviations above the mean site

- specific background concentration for the radionuclide in a specific matrix (Ref. 1, Section 7.1.1). Surface water sampling

locations with concentrations meeting observed release criteria are presented in the table below.

Observed Release Sampling Locations

Station Location Sampling Location Sample Date (Military Time) Reference

EPA SI Surface Water Sampling

– March 2010

RM

- JM

- SW Rio Moquino, within the property

, upstream of its confluence with Rio Paguate and 5,500 feet south of the Jackpil e

- Paguate Mine boundary at
PPE3 3/3/10
(1529) Ref. 12; Ref. 19, p. 22

RP

- JM

- SW Rio Paguate, within the property

, just upstream of its confluence with Rio Moquino and 6,800 feet

east of the Jackpile

- Paguate Mine boundary and 4,900 feet from

PPE1 3/3/10
(1432) Ref. 12; Ref. 19, p. 21

RP

- JM

- SW

- 01 Rio Paguate, within the property

, just downstream of the confluence of Rio Moquino and Rio Paguate,

600 feet from PPE 3 3/3/10
(1511) Ref. 12 ; Ref. 19, p. 21

RP

- SW

- 01

RP

- SW

- 01D (Duplicate) Rio Paguate at the south property boundary, at PPE4 (the furthest downstream PPE) 3/3/10
(1135) Ref. 12; Ref. 19, p. 34

RP

- SW

- 02 Rio Paguate, 9,500 feet

. downstream of PPE4 3/3/10 (1030) Ref. 12; Ref. 19, p. 34

RP

- SW

- 03 Rio Paguate, on north side of Paguate reservoir, 21,600 feet

downstream of PPE 4 3/2/10
(1710) Ref. 12; Ref. 19, p. 19

PR

- SW

- 01 Paguate Reservoir, 22,300 feet

downstream of PPE 4 3/2/10
(1526) Ref. 12; Ref. 19, p. 32

EPA ES I Surface Water/Sediment Sampling

– April 2011

RM

- JM

- SW

- 110420

RM

- JM

- SW

- 02 (duplicate) Rio Moquino, within the property

, upstream of its confluence with Rio Paguate and 5,500 feet south of the Jackpile

- Paguate Mine boundary at
PPE3 4/20/11
(1705

- SW, 1710

- SW DUP) Ref. 12; Ref. 35, pp. 96, 118SW Pathway

– Likelihood of Release

HRS Documentation Record 40 Jackpile

- Paguate Uranium Mine

NMN000607033 Station Location Sampling Location Sample Date (Military Time) Reference

RP

- JM

- SW

- 110420 Rio Paguate, within the property

, just upstream of its confluence with Rio Moquino and 6,800 feet east of the Jackpile

- Paguate Mine boundary and 4,900 feet from

PPE1 4/20/11
(1615

- SW Ref. 12; Ref. 35, pp. 94

- 95, 118

RP

- JM

- SW

- 01

- 110420 Rio Paguate, within the property

, just downstream of the confluence of Rio Moquino and Rio Paguate,

600 feet from PPE 3 4/20/11
(1540

- SW Ref. 12; Ref

. 35 , p p

. 94 , 118

RP

- SW

- 01

- 110419 Rio Paguate, 9,500 feet.

do wnstream of PPE4 4/19/11
(1540

- SW) Ref. 12; Ref.35, pp. 89, 118

PR

- SW

- 01

- 110420 Paguate Reservoir, 22,300 feet

downstream of PPE 4 4/20/11
(1135

- SW) Ref. 12; Ref . 35 , pp. 92

- 93 , 118

All observed release samples were collected by START

- 3 on 0 2 throu gh 0 4 March 2010 and from 19 through 20 April 2011 (Ref. 19 ; Ref . 35, pp. 85

- 98 )

. The sediment samples were collected by START

3 with disposable plastic scoops, in accordance with the approved QASPs, and then transferred to an 8

- ounce sample container (Re f. 8, pp. 15, 17; Ref. 30, p. 18; Ref. 35, p. 121; Ref. 36, p. 4). The surface water samples were collected by submerging the sample container into the water and facing the mouth of the container upstream while sampling personnel stood downstream (Ref. 8, p. 113; Ref. 36, p. 4).

T he samples were analyzed using established EPA methodologies and laboratory Standard Operation Procedures (SOPs)

. The March 2010 samples were shipped via Federal Express to ALS Laboratory Group located in Fort Collins, Colorado (Ref. 8, p. 16; Ref. 19, pp. 11, 23). The April 2011 samples

were hand delivered to Summit Laboratory, located in Albuquerque, New Mexico on 22 April 2011 (Ref. 36 , p. 4). The March 2010 samples were analyzed for total metals by EPA Methods SW

- 846

3005 A(liquid) 3050B (solid) and 6010B, total cyanide by EPA Methods SW

- 846 9010 and 9014, mercury by EPA Methods SW

- 846 7470A/7471A and SOP812 Rev. 14, and isotopic uranium by SOP778R13 and SOP714R11 (Ref. 20, pp. 13, 51, 542, 720, 758, 1170). The April 20 11 samples were analyzed for: i sotopic u ranium (isotopes 234, 235, and 238) by method Eichrom ACW

- 03

- 15 and

ACW

- 10; total metals by EPA method 200.7 for water and 6010B for solids; selenium by EPA method 6020; mercury by EPA method 7470A/7471A; Radium 226 b y EPA method 903; and Radium 228 by EPA method 904. In addition, all water samples were also analyzed for: alkalinity by method SM2310

- B; bicarbonate by method SM

- 17 2320; carbonate by method SM 4500

- CO2D; Total Dissolved Solids by

method SM 2540

- C; and an ions by EPA method 300 (Ref. 36, pp. 5). Once final analytical results were received, the data underwent third

- party data review and validation by a START

- 3 chemist not associated with the sampling conducted at the property (Ref. 25; Ref. 36, p. 5).SW Pathway

– Likelihood of Release

HRS Documentation Record 41 Jackpile

- Paguate Uranium Mine

NMN000607033 Surf ace Water Sample Concentrations

– March 2010

Station Location Hazardous
Substance Concentration ( mg/l ) 1 Reporting Limit 2 Reference

EPA SI 3

Rio Paguate

RP

- JM

- SW Manganese 0.14 0.01 Ref. 19, p. 21; Ref. 20, pp. 726 , 777 ; Ref. 25, pp. 1 to 5

PR

- SW

- 01 Manganese 0.25 0.01 Ref. 19, p. 34; Ref. 20, pp. 22, 75 ; Ref. 25, pp.

1 to 5

RP

- SW

- 01 Manganese 0.19 0.01 Ref. 19, p. 34; Ref. 20, pp. 714, 780 ; Ref. 25, pp. 45 to 49

Paguate Reservoir

RP

- SW

- 01D Manganese 0.19 0.01 Ref. 19, p. 34; Ref. 20, p p. 714, 771 ; Ref. 25, pp. 45 to 49

Notes:

1 mg/kg

- milligram per liter (mg / l )

2 The definition of the Reporting Limit used by ALS Laboratory Group was not provided in the laboratory package (Ref. 20, pp. 7 58 to 762).

3 Chemical laboratory data c ollected during EPA SI and ESI activities were validated by a START

- 3 chemist in accordance with EPA USEPA Contract Laboratory Program National Functional Guidelines for Inorganic Data Review (July 2002) , and the Regional Protocol for Holding Times, Blanks , and VOA Preservation (April 13, 1989). Data for target analytes meet the definitive data quality object ive (Ref. 25, pp. 5, 36, 49, 74 ).

Surface Water Sample Concentrations

– April 2011

Station Location Hazardous
Substance Concentration (pCi/l) 1 Report ing Limit 2 Reference

EPA ESI 3

Rio Moquino

RM

- JM

- SW

- 110420 Uranium 234

Uranium 235

Uranium 238 37.997

1.540

33.431 0.141

0.029

0.101 Ref. 35, pp. 96, 743, 772, 1587

RM

- JM

- SW

- 02

- 110420 Uranium 234

Uranium 235

Uranium 238 28.334

0.961

23.591 0.038

0.044

0.011 Ref. 35, pp. 96, 743, 772, 1587

Rio Paguate

RP

- JM

- SW

- 110420 Uranium 234

Uranium 235

Uranium 238 28.476

1.071

24.247 0.056

0.043

0.075 Ref. 35, pp. 94

- 95, 746, 776, 1587

RP

- JM

- SW

- 01

- 110420 Uranium 234

Uranium 235

Uranium 238 32.398

1.236

29.257 0.070

0.034

0.0 52 Ref. 35, pp. 94, 745, 775, 1587

RP

- SW

- 01

- 110420 Uranium 234

Uranium 235

Uranium 238 85.098

3.236

78.787 0.031

0.011

0.025 Ref. 35, pp. 89, 747, 777, 1587

Paguate Reservoir

PR

- SW

- 01

- 110420 Uranium 234

Uranium 235

Uranium 238 17.445

0.565

14.624 0.141

0.029

0.101 Ref. 35, pp. 92

- 93, 740, 769, 1587

Notes:

1 pCi/l = picocurie per liter

2 The Reporting Limit is the MDC, the net concentration that has a specified chance of being detected for uranium by Alpha SpectroscopySW Pathway

– Likelihood of Release

HRS Documentation Record 42 Jackpile

- Paguate Uranium Mine

NMN000607033 (Ref. 39, p. 3).

3 Radiological data were validated by a START

- 3 Certified Health Physicist with 30 years of radiation characterization experience. Data

for target analytes meet the definitive data quality objective (Ref. 35, p. 1587; Ref. 36, p. 5).

The metal analysis for samples collected in March 2010 was not of dissolved metals , and field filtration of the surface water samples was not performed

. Both sediment and surface water samples were collected from each surface water pathway sample location . The sediment samples from March 2010

did not exhibit metal concentrations at observed release concentrations indicating that the metal

concentrations present in the surface water samples were not due to the sediments (Ref. 3 0, pp. 86 to 88). All water samples collected April 2 011 were field filtered using 0.45 micrometer ( μ m ) filter paper (Ref. 36 , p. 4 ).

The background samples and observed release samples were both collected from the same medium on 02 through 04 March 2010 or 19 through 20 April 2011, by the same START

- 3 team s operating un der the same QASP s and sampling procedures . Background and observed release samples were collected from similar locations, were from similar media, same depth, used the same sampling methods, preservation, and handling and were all collected during the sa me weather conditions (Ref. 8; Ref; 19; Ref. 30, p. 18; Ref. 35, pp. 87

- 96; Ref. 36, pp. 7

- 16). Both the background samples and observed release samples are of sufficient similarity to document an observed release as defined by the HRS (Ref. 1, Section 4. 1.2.1.1).SW Pathway

– Likelihood of Release

HRS Documentation Record 43 Jackpile

- Paguate Uranium Mine

NMN000607033 Attribution:

As part of an environmental assessment of the Jackpile

- Paguate Uranium Mine facility in March 2010

, and April 2011 START

- 3 collected a total of 7 source samples from former open pit and waste dump

locations within the mine area including three solid waste samples, one liquid waste sample, and three

subsurface water samples from within the former mine area (Ref. 19 , Figure A

- 5 A ). The solid waste samples contained uranium 238 as high as 367 ug/g and manganese as high as 270 m g/kg

. The liquid

waste sample contained uranium 238 as high as 114,131 pCi/l and manganese as high as 4.633 mg/l ( see Section 2.4.1 of this HRS documentation record ). These same contaminants have been found as observed release samples in the surface wat er pathway as high as 78.787 pCi/l for uranium 238 and 0.25 mg/l for manganese ( see Section 2.4.1 .2.1.1 of this HRS documentation record).

The sources at the facility are uncontained, and even in places are in the surface water. The Rio Paguate has been rechanneled for more than 2,000 feet downstream of its entrance to the mine facility (Ref. 4, p. 101 ; Ref. 31 ). The Rio Moquino has been extensively modified over a 4,000

- foot segment immediately above its confluence with the Rio Paguate. Waste material h as been dumped into the original channel on both sides, straightening the course of the meandering stream (Ref. 4, p. 102). It appears that normal practice was to stockpile waste material in the Rio Moquino’s floodplain as records indicate that approximat ely 500,000 tons of material from Waste Dump U on the east side of the river were removed during 1982, the last year of mining operations (Ref. 4, p. 69). Potential hazards resulting from waste dump instability at the mine include rotational failures, bas e translational failures, and foundation spreading (Ref. 4, p. 77). Such waste dump failures could expose material and thus present a health and environmental hazard (Ref. 4, p. 77). Limited slope stabilization studies were performed on the slope of Wast e Dump I to evaluate the ability of biodegradable matting to inhibit erosion. Special reseeding techniques were performed on the slope of Waste Dump J. The matting and special reseeding techniques were unsuccessful; however, it is unknown if slope stabil ization has actually been performed (Ref. 4, p. 69). Rapid surface water flow from flooding of the rivers could expose surface water to sources at the property in addition to accelerated erosion of the waste dumps due to the long, steep slopes of the wast e dumps and potential high

- intensity rainfall resulting from summer thunderstorms (Ref. 4, p. 116; Ref. 22, p. 2).

Mine waste enters the surface water pathway via two mechanisms. As discussed above, mine waste enters the surface water pathway through dir ect disposition by overland flow. During the EPA ESI conducted April 2011, it has also been demonstrate d that mine waste also enters the surface water pathway through ground water within the mine pits (see Section 2.2 for Source 1 and Section 3). The

gro und water to surface water mechanism is further discussed in Section 4.2 of this report.

There are other mines in the area, including St. Anthony Mine which is approximately 11,000 feet northeast of Jackpile

- Paguate Mine. The St. Anthony Mine does not co nnect to Rio Paguate, Paguate Reservoir or Rio San Jose surface water pathway being evaluated (Ref. 3, p. 1 , Ref. 19, p.3 ). Also

, background samples collected for Jackpile

- Paguate Uranium Mine showed low levels (3. 86 ppb and

56 0 ppb ) of total uranium and manganese (Ref. 20, pp. 18 to 20, 70, 72

- 74, 79, 86, 87, 557 to 559, and

561 to 563 ). A search of the Toxic Release Inventory database was performed within the zip code of

the facility location and no other facilities are listed (Ref. 13).

Due to histo rical operations, one that has demonstrated to cause uranium and manganese contamination, combined with the overall lack of containment of the source at the facility and the factSW Pathway

– Likelihood of Release

HRS Documentation Record 44 Jackpile

- Paguate Uranium Mine

NMN000607033 that surface water samples meeting observed release criteria are present that support uranium and manganese contamination migration from the source s at the facility into the surface water pathway, the uranium and manganese contamination in the facility can be attributed (wholly or, at least, in part) to the Jackpile

- Paguate Uranium Mine facility

.

Likelihood of Release Factor:

Based on the analytical data and attribution components listed above, uranium 234 , uranium 235

, uranium 238 and manganese have been documented as the hazardous substance s in the observed release

to Rio Paguate

. Therefore, the observed release factor value of 550 was assigned for Rio Paguate (Ref. 1, Section 4.1.2.1.1).

Likelihood of Release Factor V alue: 550SW Pathway

– Human Food Chain Threat/Waste Characteristics

HRS Documentation Record 45 Jackpile

- Paguate Uranium Mine

NMN000607033 4.1.2.1.2 POTENTIAL TO RELEASE

4.1.2.1.2.1 Potential to Release by Overland Flow

Potential to rel ease was not evaluated because an observed release to su rface water was established by

chemical analysis (see Section 4.1.2.1.1 of this HRS documentation record).SW Pathway

– Human Food Chain Threat/Waste Characteristics

HRS Documentation Record 46 Jackpile

- Paguate Uranium Mine

NMN000607033 4.1.2 DRINKING WATER THREAT

WASTE CHARACTERISTICS

Evidence of contamination associated w ith the Sources has been established based on chemical analyses of samples collected from the sources as well as through direct observation (refer to the Attribution section and Section 2.2). M anganese, uranium 234 , uranium 235

, and uranium 238 , were detecte d in surface water samples collected in Rio Paguate and Paguate Reservoir , establishing an observed release (see Section 4.1.2.1.1).

4.1. 2 .2.1 Toxicity/Persistence/Bioaccumulation

Hazardous

Substance Source

Number Toxicity

Factor

Value Persistence 1

Factor Value Toxicity/

Persistence/ Reference

Chromium 1 10,000 1 10,000 Ref. 2, p. 8

Cobalt 1 10 1 10 Ref. 2, p. 8

Manganese 1, 2 10,000 1 10,000 Ref. 2, p. 10

Vanadium 1, 2 100 1 100 Ref. 2, p. 13

Zinc 1 10 1 10 Ref. 2, p. 14

Radium 226 1 10,000 1 10,000 Ref. 2, p. 15

Radium 228 1 10,000 1 10,000 Ref. 2, p. 15

Thorium 228 1 10,000 1 10,000 Ref. 2, p. 15

Thorium 230 1 10,000 1 10,000 Ref. 2, p. 16

Thorium 232 1 10,000 1 10,000 Ref. 2, p. 16

Uranium 234 1 , 2 10,000 1 10,000 Ref. 2, p. 16

Uranium 235 1 , 2 10,000 1 10,000 Ref. 2, p. 16

Uranium 238 1 , 2 10,000 1 10,000 Ref. 2, p. 16

Notes:

1 A ll hazardous substances were assigned the same persistence factor value (i.e., 1.0000) for both water body types (river and lake)

within t he TDL (Ref 1, Table 4

- 10).

Toxicity/Persistence Factor Value: 10,000SW Pathway

– Human Food Chain Threat/Waste Characteristics

HRS Documentation Record 47 Jackpile

- Paguate Uranium Mine

NMN000607033 4.1. 2 .2.2 Hazardous Waste Quantity

Source

No. Source Hazardous Waste Quantity

Value Containment

Ground Water Surface Water Gas Air Particulate

1 967,756.923 NE 10 NE NE

2 43,560 NE 10 NE NE

TOTAL 1,011,316.923

NE= not evaluated

A hazardous waste quantity of 1,011,316.923 is estimated for all of the Sources at the Jackpile

- Paguate

Uranium Mine facility which when applied in HRS Table 2

- 6 yields a pathway hazardous waste quantity of 1,000,000. Also, as documented in Sections 4.1.2.1.1 and 4.1.4.3.1.2 of this HRS documentation record, a fishery is subject to Level II concentrations; therefore, a minimum value of 100 can be assigned for the hazardous waste quantity factor value (Ref. 1 , Section 2.4.2.2). A value of 1,000,000 is assigned as the Hazardous Waste Quantity Factor Value since it is the greater value. This

hazardous waste value is based on the non

- radioactive hazardous substances only and does not include

the radioactive subs tances. This value alone achieves that maximum value allowable and does not require the addition of the separate radioactive substances hazardous waste quantity value (Ref. 1, Section 7.2.5.3, Table 2

- 6).

Hazardous Waste Quantity Factor Value = 1,000,00 0

4.1. 2 .2.3 Waste Characteristics Factor Category Value

Toxicity/Persistence Factor Value: 10,000 Hazardous Waste Quantity Factor Value: 1,000,000

10,000 (Toxicity/Persistence Factor Value) x 1,000,000 (Hazardous Waste Quantity Factor Value) = 1

x 10 10 (maximum of 1 x 10 8 according to HRS Section 4.1.3.2.3)

Hazardous Waste Quantity Assigned Value: 1,000,000

Waste Characteristics Factor Category Value: 100 (Ref 1, Table 2

- 7)

4.1. 2 .3 TARGETS

No drinking water population targets were identified.SW Pathway

– Human Food Chain Threat/Waste Characteristics

HRS Documentation Record 48 Jackpile

- Paguate Uranium Mine

NMN000607033 4.1.2.3.3 RESOURCES

The Rio Paguate is designated by the New Mexico Water Quality Control Commission for the following uses: domestic water supply, fish, culture, high

- quality coldwater fishery, irrigation, livestock, and wildlife watering, and second ary contact recreation (Ref. 4, p. 106). According to Laguna Natural Resource officials, there are approximately 1,500 cattle whose only source of drinking

water is the surface water from the Rio Paguate and the Paguate Reservoir within the TDL . These

ca ttle are used for meat by the tribe. There are also approximately 800 cow elk that use the surface water for drinking ( Ref. 4, pp. 98, 100, 104; Ref. 19, p p . 6 , 7 ). As such, under the HRS, a resources value of 5 is assigned to the surface water, in

- water segment of the hazardous substance migration path

for the watershed used for watering of commercial livestock (Ref. 1, Section 4.1.2.3.3 ).

Resources Factor Value: 5

4.1.3.2 HUMAN FOOD CHAIN THREAT

WASTE CHARACTERISTICS

Evidence of contamination asso ciated with the Source s has been established based on chemical analyses of samples collected from the source s as well as through direct observation (refer to the Attribution section and Section 2.2). M anganese , uranium 234 , uranium 235

, and uranium 238

, were detected in surface water samples collected in Rio Paguate and Paguate Reservoir , establishing an observed release (see Section 4.1.2.1.1).

4.1.3.2.1 Toxicity/Persistence/Bioaccumulation

H azardous

Substance Source

Number Toxicity

Factor

Value Pers istence 1

Factor Value Human Food

Chain

Bioaccumulation 2

Value Toxicity/

Persistence/

Bioaccumulation

Factor Value Reference

Chromium 1 10,000 1 500 5 x 10 6 Ref. 2, p. 8

Cobalt 1 10 1 5,000 5 x 10 4 Ref. 2, p. 8

Manganese 1, 2 10,000 1 50,000 5 x 10 8 Ref. 2, p. 10

Vanadium 1, 2 100 1 500 5 x 10 4 Ref. 2, p. 13

Zinc 1 10 1 5 50 Ref. 2, p. 14

Radium 226 1 10,000 1 0.5 500 Ref. 2, p. 15

Radium 228 1 10,000 1 0.5 500 Ref. 2, p. 15

Thorium 228 1 10,000 1 0.5 500 Ref. 2, p. 15

Thorium 230 1 10,000 1 0.5 500 Ref. 2, p. 1 6

Thorium 232 1 10,000 1 0.5 500 Ref. 2, p. 16

Uranium 234 1 , 2 10,000 1 0.5 500 Ref. 2, p. 16

Uranium 235 1 , 2 10,000 1 0.5 500 Ref. 2, p. 16

Uranium 238 1 , 2 10,000 1 5,000 5 x 10 8 Ref. 2, p. 16

Notes:

1 A ll hazardous substances wer e assigned the same persistence factor value (i.e., 1.0000) for both water body types (river and lake)

within t he TDL (Ref 1, Table 4

- 10).

2 Bioaccumulation factor values are assigned from the SCDM (Ref. 2), for the type of water body "Fresh Water” , in which the fisheries

are located (Ref. 1, Sect. 4.1.3.2.1.3).SW Pathway

– Human Food Chain Threat/Waste Characteristics

HRS Documentation Record 49 Jackpile

- Paguate Uranium Mine

NMN000607033 Toxicity/Persistence/Bioaccumulation Factor Value: 5 x 10 8

4.1.3.2.2 Hazardous Waste Quantity

Source

No. Source Hazardous Waste Quantity

Value Containment

Ground Water Surface Water Gas A ir Particulate

1 967,756.923 NE 10 NE NE

2 43,560 NE 10 NE NE

TOTAL 1,011,316.923

NE= not evaluated

A hazardous waste quantity of 1,011,316.923 is estimated for all of the S ource s at the Jackpile

- Paguate

Uranium Mine facility which when applied in HRS Table 2

- 6 yields a pathway hazardous waste quantity of 1 ,0 00 ,000 . Also, as documented in Section s 4.1.2.1.1 and 4.1.4. 3.1.2 of this HRS documentation record, a fishery is subject to Level II concentrations; therefore, a minimum value of

100 can be as signed for the hazardous waste quantity factor value (Ref. 1, Section 2.4.2.2). A value of 1,000,000 is assigned as the Hazardous Waste Quantity Factor Value since it is the greater value. This

hazardous waste value is based on the non

- radioactive hazardo us substances only and does not include

the radioactive substances. This value alone achieves that maximum value allowable and does not require the addition of the separate radioactive substances hazardous waste quantity value (Ref. 1, Section 7.2.5.3, Ta ble 2

- 6).

Hazardous Waste Quantity Factor Value = 1,000,000

4.1.3.2.3 Waste Characteristics Factor Category Value

Toxicity/Persistence Factor Value: 10,000 Hazardous Waste Quantity Factor Value: 1 ,000,000

Bioaccumul ation Potential Factor Value: 5 0 ,00 0

10,000 (Toxicity/Persistence Factor Value) x 1,000,000 (Hazardous Waste Quantity Factor Value) = 1

x 10 10 (maximum of 1 x 10 8 according to HRS Section 4.1.3.2.3)

1 x 10 8 (Toxicity/Persistence Factor Value x Hazardous Waste Quantity Factor Value) x

5 0

, 000 (Bioaccumulation Potential Factor Value) = 5 x 10 1 2 (maximum of 1 x 10 12 according to HRS Section 4.1.3.2.3)

A hazardous waste quantity factor of 1

, 00 0,000 is assigned according to HRS Section 2.4.2.2 . From

Reference 2 and Table 4

- 12 of the HRS, mang anese and uranium 238 have a toxicity/persistence value of 10,000 and a bioaccumulation potential factor of 50,000. The waste characteristics factor category value from Reference 1, Table 2

- 7 for a waste characteristics product of 1 x 10 1 2 is 1,000

.

Hazar dous Waste Quantity Assigned Value: 1,000,000 Waste Characteristics Factor Category Value: 1,000SW Pathway

– Human Food Chain Treat/Targets

HRS Documentation Record 50 Jackpile

- Paguate Uranium Mine

NMN000607033 4.1.3.3 TARGETS

Level II concentrations in the surface water pathway can be established based on surface water samples that meet the criteria for an observed release and the hazardous substance has a bioaccumulation potential factor value greater or equal to 500 (Ref. 1, Sec. 4.1.3.3). As noted in

Section s 4.1.2.1.1 and 4.1.3.2.1 of this HRS documentation record, an observed release of hazardous

substances ha ving a bioaccumulation factor value of 500 or greater (uranium 238 and manganese) is

documented in Rio Paguate . A human food chain fishery is present in Rio Paguate within the TDL (Ref. 3, p p . 2 , 3 ; Ref. 2 3 ; Figure A

- 3 )

. According to the Pueblo of Laguna Environmental and Natural Resources Department, Rio Paguate and Rio San Jose are fished for catfish, bluegill , and crappie that are caught for human consumption (Ref. 23 ). Level II concentrations of manganese, uranium 234

, uranium 235 , and uranium 238 in sur face water samples have been documented within the surface water flow path from samples RM

- JM

- SW and RP

- JM

- SW to a distance of 27,800 feet downstream ( Ref.

12 ). The area beginning from the farthest downstream Level II sample location ( PR

- SW

- 01 ) to the 15

- mile TDL is subject to potential contamination ( refer to Figure A

- 3 ).

EPA SI Surface Water Samples Meeting Observed Release Criteria

March 20 10

Station Location (CLP Sample No.) Distance From PPE (Feet) Hazardous
Substance Bioaccumulation Potenti al
Factor Value

RM

- JM

- SW At PPE3 Manganese 50,000

RP

- JM

- SW 3,700 (PPE2) Manganes e 50,000

RP

- JM

- SW

- 01 600 (PPE3) Manganese 50,000

RP

- SW

- 01

RP

- SW

- 01D At PPE4 Manganese 5 0, 00 0

PR

- SW

- 01 22,300 (PPE4) Manganese 50,000

EPA E SI Surface Water Samples M eeting Observed Release Criteria April 2011

Station Location (CLP Sample No.) Distance From PPE (Feet) Hazardous
Substance Bioaccumulation Potential
Factor Value

RM

- JM

- SW At PPE3 Uranium 234

Uranium 235

Uranium 238 0.5

0.5
5,000

RP

- JM

- SW 3,700 (PPE2) Uranium 234

Uranium 235

Uranium 238 0.5

0.5 5,000

RP

- JM

- SW

- 01 600 (PPE3) Uranium 234

Uranium 235

Uranium 238 0.5

0.5 5,000

RP

- SW

- 01

RP

- SW

- 01D At PPE4 Uranium 234

Uranium 235

Uranium 238 0.5

0.5 5,000SW Pathway

– Human Food Chain Treat/Targets

HRS Documentation Record 51 Jackpile

- Paguate Uranium Mine

NMN000607033 Station Location (CLP Sample No.) Distance From PPE (Feet) Hazardous
Substance Bioaccumulation Potential
Factor Value

PR

- SW

- 01 22,300 (PPE4) Uranium 234

Uranium 235

Uranium 238 0.5

0.5 5,000

- Closed Fisheries

No fisheries within the surface water pathway have been closed due to manganese or ur a nium 238

contamination.

- Benthic o r Other Tissue

No benthic or other tissue samples have been collected from the surface water pathway.SW Pathway

– Human Food Chain Treat/Targets

HRS Documentation Record 52 Jackpile

- Paguate Uranium Mine

NMN000607033 4.1.3.3.1 Food Chain Individual

The Rio Paguate ’s designated uses include cold water aquatic life, domestic water supply, fish culture, irrigation, livestock watering, wildlife habitat

, and primary contact according to the EPA (Ref. 11, p. 18). Accor ding to the Pueblo of Laguna Environmental and Natural Resources Department, Rio Paguate , the Paguate Reservoir (Mes i ta Dam) and Rio San Jose are fished for catfish, bluegill , and crappie that are caught for human consumption. The TDL extends from the PPE s to the Rio San Jose

, just south of I nterstate 40 (refer to Figure A

- 4). F ishing is documented within the 15

- mile TDL (refer to Figure A

- 3 ) ( Ref. 3, p p

. 1 to 3 ; Ref. 2 3 ; Ref. 41 ). Level II concentrations of uranium 238 and

manganese have been establishe d in Rio Moquino and Rio Paguate to a distance of 27,800 feet from samples RM

- JM

- SW and RP

- JM

- SW to the northern part of the Paguate Reservoir (as defined by
Level II surface water sample location PR

- SW

- 01 ) (refer to Figure A

- 5 A ).

Fishery Type of Surfa ce Water Body Reference(s) Rio Paguate Minimal Stream Ref

. 7, p. 14 Paguate Reservoir (northern portion) Lake Ref. 7, pp. 22 to 24

An observed release to Rio Paguate and Paguate Reservoir by chemical analysis has been documented (Ref. 20 , pp. 22, 75, 76, 565, 566, 711, 714, 771, 775, 1185, 1191 ) . The release contained uranium 238 and manganese with a bioaccumulation potential factor value of 5 0,0 00. In addition, the release occurred to a watershed containing Level II fisheries wi thin the target distan ce limit; therefore , a food
chain individual value of 45 was assigned (Ref. 1, Section 4.1.3.3.1).

Food Chain Individual Factor Value: 45

4.1.3.3.2 Population

4.1.3.3.2.1 Level I Concentrations

Level I concentrations have not been established as f ish tissue samples have not been collected ; therefore , the Level I concentrations factor value receives an assigned value of 0.

Level I Concentrations Factor Value: 0SW Pathway

– Human Food Chain Treat/Targets

HRS Documentation Record 53 Jackpile

- Paguate Uranium Mine

NMN000607033 4.1.3.3.2.2 Level II Concentrations

Identity of

Fishery Annual
Production

(pounds) Type of Surface Water Body Average
Annual

Flow Reference Population Value (P i ) Dilution Weight (D i )
P i x D i Rio Paguate >0, but
unknown Minimal stream Less than
10 cfs Ref. 1, Tables 4

- 13,
4

- 18; Ref. 15, pp. 1
to 3 0.03 1 0.0 3

Paguate
Res ervoir (northern portion) >0, but
unknown Lake Less than
10 cfs 1 Ref. 1, Tables 4

- 13,
4

- 18; Ref. 15, pp. 1
to 3 0.03 1 0.03

Note s : cfs = cubic feet per second

1 For a lake the dilution weight is based on the sum of the average annual flows for t he surface water body entering the lake (Ref. 1, Sec. 4.1.2.3.1).

The zone of Level II contamination in Rio Paguate exten d s 27,800 f ee t from samples RM

- JM

SW /SED and RP

- JM

- SW /SED to the f a rthest downstream sample location, PR

- SW /SED

- 01 (Section
4.1.2.1.1 ). Rio Paguate and the Paguate Reservoir (Mesita Dam) are fished for catfish, bluegill

, and crappie according to the Pueblo of Laguna Environmental and Natural Resources Department

, and
the se fish are caught for human consumption (Ref. 23 , p. 1 ; Ref. 40, p. 1 )

. Data to estimate pounds of fish caught annually fo r Rio Paguate and Paguate Reservoir are not available; however , because these

water bodies are fished, the annual production is known to be greater than zero. As such, a human food chain population value of 0.03 is assigned from Table 4

- 18 of the HRS (Ref. 1, Table 4

- 18). Sampling data collected from the EPA March 2010 and April 2011 sampling event s document Level II
contamination in both the Rio Paguate and the Paguate Reservoir ( Ref. 1, Section 4.1.3.3.2.2; Ref. 20, pp. 22, 75, 76, 565, 566, 711, 714, 771, 775, 1185, 1191).

Rio Paguate /Paguate Reservoir

- Product of P i x D i = 0.03 x 1

Product of P i x D i : 0.0 3

Level II Concentrations Factor Value: 0 .03SW Pathway

– Human Food Chain Treat/Targets

HRS Documentation Record 54 Jackpile

- Paguate Uranium Mine

NMN000607033 4.1.3.3.2.3 Potential Human Food Ch ain Contamination

Identity of

Fishery Annual
Production

(pounds) Type of Surface Water Body Average
Annual

Flow Reference Population Value (P i ) Dilution Weight (D i ) P i x D i

Rio San Jose >0, but
unknown Minimal stream Less than
10 cfs Ref. 1, Tables 4

- 13

, 4

- 18; Ref. 15, pp. 1, 4, 5 0.03 1 0.03

Paguate
Reservoir (southern portion) >0, but
unknown Lake Less than
10 cfs 1 Ref. 1, Tables 4

- 13,
4

- 18; Ref. 15, pp. 1
to 3 0.03 1 0.03

Note s : cfs = cubic feet per second.

1 For a lake the dilut ion weight is based on the sum of the average annual flows for the surface water body entering the lake (Ref. 1, Sec. 4.1.2.3.1).

Rio San Jose and the southern portion of the Paguate Reservoir are fished for catfish, bluegill

, and crappie according to th e Pueblo of Laguna Environmental and Natural Resources Department ; the se fish are caught for human consumption (Ref. 2 3 ; Ref. 41 ). Data to estimate pounds of fish caught annually for Rio San Jose and Paguate Reservoir are not available; h owever, because t his water body is fished, the annual production is known to be greater than zero. As such, a human food chain population value of 0.03 is assigned from Table 4

- 18 of the HRS (Ref. 1, Table 4

- 18). For Rio San
Jose , the dilution weight was based on the ave rage annual flow data collected by the USGS at a gauging station located at Grants, New Mexico (Ref. 15 , pp. 1, 4, 5 ). Based on the st r eam flow, Rio
San Jose , according to Table 4

- 13 of the HRS, is classified as a minimal stream and receives an assigned d ilution weight of 1 (Ref. 1, Table 4

- 13).

For the southern portion of the Paguate Reservoir, the dilution weight was based on the sum of the average annual flows for the surface water body entering the lake. Since the Paguate flows into the Paguate Rese rvoir, the average annual flow for the Rio Paguate was also used for the southern portion of the Paguate Reservoir (Ref. 1, Tables 4

- 13, 4

- 18; Ref. 15, pp. 1

- 3). A dilution weight of 1 was also assigned to the Paguate Reservoir in accordance with Table 4

- 1 3 of the HRS (Ref. 1, Table 4

- 13).

Rio San Jose /Paguate Reservoir

- Product of P i x D i = 0.03 x 1

Product of P i x D i : 0.0 3

(Sum of Products of P i x D i )/10: 0.00 3SW Pathway

– Human Food Chain Treat/Targets

HRS Documentation Record 55 Jackpile

- Paguate Uranium Mine

NMN000607033 4.2 GROUND WATER TO SURFACE WATER MIGRATION COMPONENT

- NOT SCORED

Section 4.2 of the HRS states that the ground water to surface water component can be used to evaluate surface water threats that result from migration of hazardous substances from a source at the facility to surface water (Ref. 1). G round water in the Jackpile Sandsto ne interchanges with water in the Rio Moquino and Rio Paguate through unconsolidated alluvium deposits along the steam channels

. T he ground water to surface water component is presented in this section although the surface water likelihood and potential t o release as well as the threat

- targets are scored based on the overland /flood migration component as shown in Section 4.1 of this report. Since the threat of release by overland

flow or flood is more than minimal for this facility and the component score sufficient to score the overall site, this information is presented as supporting information.

In April 2011 an ESI was conducted on behalf of EPA Region 6. The ESI sampling included the collection of ground water, surface water, and surface sediments that were submitted to an EPA

approved laboratory for general water quality analyses (metals, anions, TDS), as well as radionuclides. Field water quality measurements, including pH, temperature, specific conductivity, dissolved oxygen,
and Oxidation

- Reduc tion Potential, were collected at the time each sample was collected. G round water elevation measurements were also collected from a wider suite of wells to gain a better understanding of the overall ground water system (Ref. 35, p. 2794) . Based on data culled from several hydrologic studies from 1979 to the present, as well as the results of the 2011 ESI, a CSM was completed in July 2011 (Ref. 35, p. 2794) . T he ground water and surface water systems of the facility may be described as follows:

• Hydro logic data indicate that both surface water and ground water flow from east

- northeast to west

southwest in the western half of the study area, and from north to south in the eastern half of the study

area (Ref. 35 , p. 2740 )

. • General cation/anion chem istry identifies two distinct populations of water

– one is a sodium + potassium

– bicarbonate

- sulfate water that is associated with the Jackpile Sandstone, and the other is a
calcium + magnesium

– carbonate

- bicarbonate

- sulfate water associated with the Al luvial Aquifer and surface water systems. Strong similarities between the surface water and alluvial ground water strongly suggest that these populations are in intimate contact across the facility (Ref. 35 , p. 2740 )

. • Uranium concentrations/activiti es increase with respect to background in both ground water and
surface water across the facility . This is demonstrated in the results of the 2011 ESI sampling event, as well as at least four studies involving surface water, and two studies involving grou nd water ( (Ref. 35

, p. 2794 )

. • Ground water, surface water, and sediment samples collected on

- site and downgradient of the facility have uranium activities that are significantly elevated with respect to background above the property (Ref. 35 , p. 2783 )

.

The hydrologic system of the Jackpile

- Paguate Mine includes surface water, and ground water s of the Jackpile Sandstone, Alluvial Aquifer, and waters of the backfilled Paguate and Jackpile pits. Hydrologic studies indicate that these reservoirs interac t with each other in a fairly complicated manner based on surface water flow rates and the hydraulic conductivities of the reservoirs where they
are in contact with one another (Ref. 35, pp. 2772, 2789 )

.

Mining activities have historically lowered ground water elevations in the upgradient areas of the facility , but not the downgradient areas. The cessation of mining activities, as well as the backfilling of the Paguate and Jackpile pits, has caused the ground water system to rebound. This rebound was

pr edicted before the pits were backfilled; however, the rate of ground water rebound appears to be faster for the South Paguate Pit than anticipated. The models predict that ground water accumulatingSW Pathway

– Human Food Chain Treat/Targets

HRS Documentation Record 56 Jackpile

- Paguate Uranium Mine

NMN000607033 in the pits will flow through the natural (Jackpile and A lluvium) geologic materials, as well as waste rock and tailings, to flow into the surface water system (Ref. 25, p. 2773)

.

Geologic cross sections completed through the facility indicate that surface water may have flowed into the North and South Paguat e pits, causing ground water to rebound more quickly than modeled.

Ground water elevations indicate that ground water from the North Paguate and Jackpile pits is flowing into Rio Moquino. Ground water from the South Paguate Pit appears to be flowing into Rio Paguate, and water from Rio Paguate (and/or the associated Alluvial Aquifer) may be flowing into the North Paguate Pit ( Ref. 35, pp. 2767, 2773 ).

Historical hydrologic data establish that there is hydrologic communication between surface water and
bo th natural ground water reservoirs (Alluvial and Jackpile) at the facility . This observation is based

on ground water and surface water elevation data, aquifer pump tests, and hydrologic modeling. Cross sections using historical and recent hydrologic dat a also support this observation (Ref. 35, p. 2740)

.

The hydrologic models also predict hydrologic communication between backfilled pits and the surface

water

– ground water system. Ground water is predicted to flow from the North Paguate and Jackpile

p its into the Alluvial Aquifer, then into the Rio Paguate. Ground water from the South Paguate Pit is predicted to flow into the Jackpile Sandstone and the Alluvial Aquifer, with some fraction reaching Rio Paguate. This prediction is bolstered by the fact that ground water levels in several of the wells near the pits have increased up to 66 feet in the last 30 years. The rebound of the water table is due partially to the fact that mining activities, specifically pumping of water from the pit areas, ceased in 1982. Cross sections drawn through the pits illustrate the relationship between the excavated and backfilled pit conditions with respect to the m ost dramatically affected wells (Ref. 35, p. 2789).

Field measurements and laboratory analysis of the gro und water in the Jackpile, North Paguate, and South Paguate pits indicate that chemical reactions are occurring in the backfill that mobilize uranium in very high concentrations (four to five orders of magnitude higher than background surface or ground wat er). Ground water in the pits appears to be rebounding at a rate much higher than pre

remedial modeling predicted; ground water in the South Paguate Pit has already rebounded 10 feet above the elevation it was projected to reach after 150 years. Hydrolog ic observations and modeling indicate that these pit waters are not contained and will flow into the surface water system via ground

water pathways, carrying contaminants into that system (Ref. 35, p. 2795 )

.

Ground water sampling was performed as part o f the April 2011 sampling activities. Analytical data from this sampling event indicated the presence of hazardous substances similar to those found in the scored sources and observed release samples evaluated for this site. Information from the April 20 11 activities are presented in the following tables and paragraphs.SW Pathway

– Human Food Chain Treat/Targets

HRS Documentation Record 57 Jackpile

- Paguate Uranium Mine

NMN000607033 Ground Water Release Sampling Locations

Station Location Sampling Location Sample Date (Military Time) Reference

EPA E SI Ground Water Sampling

– April 2011

MW

- 2 Monitoring well loca tion just south and downgradient of Jackpile

Paguate mine. 4/21/11
( 1023 ) Ref. 35

, p p. 8 1

, 119; Figure A

- 5B

MW

- 2

- 2 Monitoring well location just south and downgradient of Jackpile

Paguate mine (duplicate). 4/21/11
(1028) Ref. 35, pp. 81, 119; Figure A

- 5B

MW

- 3 Monitoring well located within the Jackpile

- Paguate mine along the north side of Rio Paguate. 4/20/11
( 1415 ) Ref. 35

, p p. 78 , 119; Figure A

- 5B

MW

- 4 Monitoring well located within the Jackpile

- Paguate mine along the south side of Rio Paguate. 4/20/11
( 1333 ) Ref. 35

, p p. 77

- 78 , 119 ; Figure A

- 5B

MW

- 6 Monitoring well located south and downgradient of mine. 4/20/11 ( 1153 ) Ref. 35 , p p

. 77 , 119; Figure A

- 5B

MW

- MD Monitoring well located downgradient of Jackpile

- Paguate

mine and west of Mesita Dam. 4/20/11
(1030) Ref. 35

, p p. 76

- 77 , 119 ; Figure A

- 5B

MW

- MD

- 02 Monitoring well located downgradient of Jackpile

- Paguate

mine and west of Mesita Dam (duplicate). 4/20/11
(1030) Ref. 35, pp. 76

- 77, 119; Figure A

- 5B

B ackground and characterization samples were collected by START

- 3 on 19 through 2 1 April 2011 (Ref . 35 , pp. 72

- 82; Ref. 36, p. 4 ). The samples were collected and transferred to approved sample containers in accordance with the approved QASPs (Ref. 8, p. 13; Ref. 36, p. 4 ). The ground wa ter samples were collected using low flow sampling techniques and either a pneumatic pump or a bailer (Ref. 35 , p. 113 ; Ref. 35 pp. 72

- 82 ).

The samples were analyzed using established EPA methodologies and laboratory Standard Operation Procedures (SOPs). The April 2011 samples were hand delivered to Summit Laboratory, located in Albuquerque, New Mexico on 22 April 2011 (Ref. 36, p. 4). The samples were analyzed for: i sotopic

u ranium (isotopes 234, 235, and 238) by method Eichrom ACW

- 03

- 15 and ACW

- 10; t otal metals by EPA method 200.7 for water and 6010B for solids; selenium by EPA method 6020; mercury by EPA method 7470A/7471A; Radium 226 by EPA method 903; and Radium 228 by EPA method 904. In addition, all water samples were also analyzed for: alkalinity by method SM2310

- B; bicarbonate by

method SM

- 17 2320; carbonate by method SM 4500

- CO2D; Total Dissolved Solids by method SM

2540

- C; and anions by EPA method 300 (Ref. 36, pp. 5). Once final analytical results were received,

the data underwent third

- party d ata review and validation by a START

- 3 chemist not associated with the sampling conducted at the facility (Ref. 25; Ref. 36, p. 5).SW Pathway

– Human Food Chain Treat/Targets

HRS Documentation Record 58 Jackpile

- Paguate Uranium Mine

NMN000607033 Ground Water Background Sample Concentrations

Station Location Hazardous
Substance Concentration Units 1 Reference

MW

- 1 Uranium 234

Uranium 235

Uranium 238

Radium 228 3.74

0.161

0.826

1.26 pCi/l pCi/l pCi/l pCi/l pCi/l Ref. 35, pp. 374, 756, 1587

MW

- 7

- 110419 Uranium 234

Uranium 235

Uranium 238

Radium 226

Radium 228 3.80

0.062

0.44

2.71

1.11 pCi/l pCi/l pCi/l pCi/l pCi/l pCi/l Ref. 35, pp. 377, 764, 1587

MW

- 8

- 110419 Uranium 234

Uranium 235

Uranium 238 5.21

0.05 9

1.95 pCi/l pCi/l pCi/l Ref. 35, pp. 765, 1587

MW

- RM Uranium 234

Uranium 235

Uranium 238 11.6

0.733

30.0 pCi/l pCi/l pCi/l Ref. 35, pp. 780, 1587

Notes:

1 pCi/l

– picocurie pe r liter

Ground Water Non

- Radioactive Characterization Sample Concentrations

Station Location Hazardous
Substance Concentration Reporting

Limit 1 Units 2 Reference

EPA ESI

– April 2011 3

MW

- 2

- 110421 Manganese 0. 275 0. 000 43 mg/l Ref. 35 , p p 81, 341, 15 2 7, 1534

MW

- 2

- 2

- 110421 Manganese 294 0.430 mg/l Ref. 35

, p p. 81 , 342, 15 2 7 , 1534

MW

- 4

- 110420 Manganese 32.4 0.43 mg/l Ref. 35, pp. 77

- 78, 344, 15 2 7

, 1534

MW

- MD

- 110420 Manganese 654 0.43 mg/l Ref. 35, pp. 76

- 77, 349, 15 2 7

, 1534

MW

- MD

- 02

- 110420 Manganese 693 0.43 mg/l Ref. 35, pp. 76

- 77, 348, 15 2 7

, 1534

Notes:

1 The Reporting Limit is defined as the LOD for the April 2011 data provided by Summit Analytical Laboratories. The LOD is equal to the Laboratory Detection Limit which is adjusted for dilution factors (Ref. 35, p. 337)

. 2 ppb

– parts per billion = microgram per liter (ug/l), pCi/l = picocurie per liter

2 mg/l

– milligram per liter

3 Chemical laboratory data collected during EPA SI and ESI activities were validated by a START

- 3 chemist in accordance with EPA USEPA Contract Laboratory Program National Functional Guidelines for Inorganic Data Review (July 2002) , and the Regional Protocol for Holding Times, Blanks, and VOA Preservation (April 13, 1989). Data for target analytes meet the defin itive data quality object ive (Ref. 25, pp. 5, 36, 49, 74 ).SW Pathway

– Human Food Chain Treat/Targets

HRS Documentation Record 59 Jackpile

- Paguate Uranium Mine

NMN000607033 Ground Water Radioactive Characterization Sample Concentrations

Station Location Hazardous

Substance Concentration Reporting

Limit 1 Units 2 Reference

EPA ESI

– April 2011 3

MW

- 2

- 110421 Uraniu m 234

Uranium 235

Uranium 238 63.5

2.23

54.2 0.051

0.012

0.042 pCi/l
pCi/l
pCi/l Ref. 35, pp 81, 757 , 1587

MW

- 2

- 2

- 110421 Uranium 234

Uranium 235

Uranium 238 62.7

2.49

54.4 0.054

0.033

0.035 pCi/l
pCi/l
pCi/l Ref. 35, pp. 81 , 758, 1587

MW

- 3

- 110420 Uranium 23 4 17.7 0.046 pCi/l Ref. 35, pp. 78, 1587

MW

- 4

- 110420 Uranium 234

Uranium 235

Uranium 238 119

4.58

108 0.038

0.011

0.038 pCi/l
pCi/l
pCi/l Ref. 35, pp. 77

- 78, 762, 1587

MW

- 6

- 110420 Uranium 234

Uranium 235

Uranium 238 73.2

2.62

61.8 0.010

0.011

0.050 pCi/l pCi/l pCi/l Ref. 35, pp. 77, 763, 1587

MW

- MD

- 110420 Uranium 234

Uranium 235 31.3

1.00 0.036

0.033 pCi/l pCi/l Ref. 35, pp. 76

- 77, 767, 1587

MW

- MD

- 02

- 110420 Uranium 234

Uranium 235 29.1

1.06 0.185

0.091 pCi/l pCi/l Ref. 35, pp. 76

- 77, 766, 1587

Notes:

1 Repor ting Limit is the MDC which is the net concentration that has a specified chance of being detected (Ref. 39, p. 3).

2 pCi/l

- picocurie per liter

3 Radiological data were validated by a START

- 3 Certified Health Physicist with 30 years of radiation ch aracterization experience. Data for target analytes meet the definitive data quality objective (Ref. 35, p. 1587; Ref. 36, p. 5).

The ground water and surface water samples both contain the same contaminants , further bolstering
the interaction between t he pathways. U ranium 234 , uranium 235 , uranium 238 , and manganese were found
at concentrations exceeding established background concentrations within ground water and surface water samples. If this analytical data were to be used to establish an observed re lease by chemical analysis, Level II concentrations of uranium 234 , uranium 235 , uranium 238

, and manganese would be established in Rio Moquino and Rio Paguate to a distance of 27,800 feet from samples RM

- JM

- SW
and RP

- JM

- SW to the Paguate Reservoir (as define d by Level II surface water sample location PR

SW

- 01) (refer to Section 4.0 and Figure A

- 3A ).Soil Exposure Pathway

– Not Scored

HRS Documentation Record 60 Jackpile

- Paguate Uranium Mine

NMN000607033 5.0 SOIL EXPOSURE PATHWAY SCORE

- NOT SCORED

The soil exposure pathway will not be scored because it would not significantly affect the overall site

score . F urther, the site score exceeds 28.50 based only on the evaluation of the surface water pathway.Air Pathway

– Not Scored

HRS Documentation Record 61 Jackpile

- Paguate Uranium Mine

NMN000607033 6.0 AIR MIGRATION PATHWAY SCORE

- NOT SCORED

The air migration pathway will not be scored because it would not significantly affect the overall site

score . F urther, the site score exceeds 28.50 based only on the evaluation of the surface water pathway.62 

# Attachment AFIGURE A-1 SITE LOCATION MAP
JACKPILE-PAGUATE URANIUM MINE

SR 279 Laguna Pueblo

Paguate, Cibola County, New Mexico USEPA REGION 6
START - 3

DATE

MAY 2010 PROJECT NO SCALE

AS SHOWN 20406.012.019.0514.01

File: \\fsdtx03\IT\GIS_Projects\brownm\Jackpile\HRS\Figure A-1, 23-June 2011, brownm Source: Microsoft Virtual Earth Roads, 2009
CERCLIS: NMN000607033
SSID: A6T3
TDD: TO-0019-10-02-02 New Mexico Site Location

LEGEND

Approximate Mine Area 0 2 0 10

SCALE IN MILES Approximate site area (which includes sources and zones of contamination) derived from NGS USA Topographic Maps of Jackpile Mine area outlined at 1:60,000 scaleAppproximate site area (which includes sources and zones of contamination) derived from NGS USA Topographic Maps of Jackpile Mine area outlined at 1:60,000 scale. Approximate Source Locations derived from Refernces 28, 29 and 33.

File: C:\Program Files\fsdtx03\IT\TGIS_Projects\brownm\Jackpile\HRS\Figure A-2)101411.mxd, 14-October 2011, brownm 

### USEPA REGION 6
START-3

DATE PROJECT NO SCALE

AS SHOWN OCT 2011 20406.012.019.0514.01 FIGURE A-2
SITE LAYOUT MAP
JACKPILE-PAGUATE URANIUM MINE SR 279 Laguna Puablo

Paguate, Cibola County, New Mexico 0 0.4

SCALE IN MILES

DISCLAIMER: THIS FIGURE IS PREPARED FOR REFERENCE PURPOSES ONLY AND SHOULD NOT BE USED, AND IS NOT INTENDED FOR, SURVEY
OR ENGINEERING PURPOSES. TDD NO: TO-0019-10-02-02
CERCLA NO: NMN000607033
SSID: A6T3

SOURCE: Microsoft Virtual Earth Roads, 2009 South Paguate Pit North Paguate Pit

Jackpile Pit

Waste Dump V R

i o

M
o q u
i n o

R

i o P a g u a t e New Mexico

R

i o P a g u a

t e LEGEND

Approximate Mine Boundary

River

Waste Dump

Open Pit

0

. 8Appproximate site area (which includes sources and zones of contamination) derived from NGS USA Topographic Maps of Jackpile Mine area outlined at 1:60,000 scale. Approximate Source Locations derived from Refernces 28, 29 and 33.

File: C:\Program Files\fsdtx03\IT\TGIS_Projects\brownm\Jackpile\HRS\Figure A-3_101411.mxd, 14-October 2011, brownm 

### USEPA REGION 6
START-3

DATE PROJECT NO SCALE

AS SHOWN OCT 2011 20406.012.019.0514.01 FIGURE A-3
SURFACE WATER PATHWAY MAP
JACKPILE-PAGUATE URANIUM MINE SR 279 Laguna Puablo

Paguate, Cibola County, New Mexico 0 1.5

SCALE IN MILES

DISCLAIMER: THIS FIGURE IS PREPARED FOR REFERENCE PURPOSES ONLY AND SHOULD NOT BE USED, AND IS NOT INTENDED FOR, SURVEY
OR ENGINEERING PURPOSES. TDD NO: TO-0019-10-02-02
CERCLA NO: NMN000607033
SSID: A6T3

SOURCE: NGS USA Topographic Maps South Paguate Pit North Paguate Pit Jackpile Pit Waste Dump V

New Mexico

R

i o

P a g u a

t e LEGEND

Approximate Mine Boundary

River

Probable Point of Entry (PPE)

Level II Sample Locations

Waste Dump

Open Pit

Overland Flow Direction

Level II Documented Fishery

Potential Documented Fishery

Target Distance Limit (TDL)

Surface Water Flow Direction PPE 2 PPE 3

PPE 4

Level II Documented Fishing Area

Potential Documented Fishing Area

R i o

S

a

n J o

s

e Paguate Reservoir PPE 1 RP-JM-SW RM-JM-SW

RP-JM-SW-01

RP-SW-01

RP-SW-02

RP-SW-03

PR-SW-01 Mesita Dam Paguate Lake

3PPE1

PPE2 PPE4

40



### USEPA REGION 6
START-3

DATE PROJECT NO SCALE FIGURE A-4
15-MILE TARGET DISTANCE LIMIT
JACKPILE-PAGUATE URANIUM MINE

SR 279 Laguna Pueblo

Paguate, Cibola County, New Mexico

JUNE 2010 20406.012.001.0222.01

File: \\fsdtx03\IT\GIS_Projects\brownm\Jackpile\HRS\Figure A-4, 23-September-2011, brownm Source: NGS USA Topographic Maps
CERCLIS: NMN000607033
SSID: A6T3
TDD: TO-0019-10-02-02 NEW MEXICO

NOT TO SCALE 0 5 2.5

SCALE IN MILES Rio Moquino

Rio San Jose Paguate Reservoir Rio Paguate

LEGEND

Approximate Mine Boundary Probable Point of Entry (PPE) Surface Water (SW) Pathway Target Distance Limit (TDL)
Flow Direction

Approximate site area (which includes the sources and zones of contamination) derived from NGS USA Topographic Maps of Jackpile Mine area outlined at 1:60,000 scale 15 Mile Target Distance Limit from furthest downstream PPE (PPE4) PPE340

DATE PROJECT NO SCALE

OCT 2011 20406.012.019.0514.01 AS SHOWN

File: \\fsdtx03\IT\GIS_Projects\brownm\Jackpile\HRS\Figure A-5A.mxd, 18-October-2011

LEGEND

Approximate Mine Boundary Surface Water (SW) Pathway SW and Sediment Sample
Location
SW and Sediment Background Sample Location Source Sample Location Sample Name NEW MEXICO

0 500 250

SCALE IN MILES

Source: NGS USA Topographic Maps
CERCLIS: NMN000607033
SSID: A6T3
TDD: TO-0019-10-11-01

DISCLAIMER: THIS FIGURE IS PREPARED FOR REFERENCE PURPOSES ONLY AND SHOULD NOT BE USED, AND IS NOT INTENDED FOR, SURVEY
OR ENGINEERING PURPOSES.

FIGURE A-5A
SITE INSPECTION
SAMPLE LOCATION MAP
JACKPILE-PAGUATE URANIUM MINE

SR 279 Laguna Pueblo

Paguate, Cibola County, New Mexico USEPA REGION 6
START-3 RP

RP-SW-03
PR-SED-03

Approximate site area derived from NGS USA Topographic Maps of Jackpile Mine area outlined at 1:60,000 scale. Rio Paguate

PR-SW-01
PR-SED-01 RP-SW-02
PR-SED-02 RP-SW-01
PR-SED-01 RM-SW-BG
RM-SED-BG

RP-SW-BG
RP-SED-BG

RP-JM-SW
PR-JM-SED RP-JM-SW-01
PR-JM-SED-01 RM-JM-SW
PM-JM-SED

JM-SS-05 JM-SS-03

JM-SS-01

JM-SW-02
JM-SED-02JPOP41N

40

File: \\fsdtx03\IT\GIS_Projects\brownm\Jackpile\Figure 3-1, 8-March-2011, brownm 

### USEPA REGION 6
START-3

DATE PROJECT NO SCALE

AS SHOWN JULY 2011 20406.012.019.0603.01 FIGURE A-5B
EXPANDED SITE INSPECTION

SAMPLE LOCATION MAP
JACKPILE-PAGUATE URANIUM MINE ESI

SR 279 Laguna Pueblo

Paguate, Cibola County, New Mexico 0 1

SCALE IN MILES

DISCLAIMER: THIS FIGURE IS PREPARED FOR REFERENCE PURPOSES ONLY AND SHOULD NOT BE USED, AND IS NOT INTENDED FOR, SURVEY
OR ENGINEERING PURPOSES. LEGEND

Approximate Mine Boundary Surface Water (SW) Pathway SW and Sediment Sample
Location Monitoring Well Sample Location
SW and Sediment Background Sample Location Monitoring Well Background Sample Location Sample Name NEW MEXICO

Source: NGS USA Topographic Maps
CERCLIS: NMN000607033
SSID: A6T3
TDD: TO-0019-10-11-01 Paguate Reservoir Rio Paguate

Rio San Jose RP-SW-BG RM-SW-BG MW-RM

MW-8 RM-JM-SW

RP-JM-SW RP-JM-SW-01

RP-SW-01

RP-SW-02

RP-SW-03

PR-SW-01 RP

MW-MD SPOP35 MW-1

NPOP20E

MW-6 MW-7

MW-2 MW-4

Approximate site area deriverd from NGS Topographic Maps of Jackpile Mine area outlined at 1:60,000 scale. MD-SW MW-3

2