[NukeNet] water contamination .

[Dolph Honicker]

Kathy Helms works for the Gallup Independent.  
 
This is a social justice issue as well as an environmental issue. 
 
Jeannine Honicker 







Navajo, Hopi take issue with uranium cleanup plan.

NOTE ON SPELLING:  Lower Moencopi and Upper Moenkopi IS CORRECT

By Kathy Helms
Dine Bureau
WINDOW ROCK – One thing seldom mentioned in the feds' argument for “clean nuclear power” is what to do with the mountains of not-so-clean radioactive wastes that must be stored in some community's back yard and monitored for generations lest it contaminate nearby soils or water supplies.

The Navajo Nation is still trying to get the feds to clean up radioactive wastes from the nearly 4 million tons of uranium ore extracted by mining companies from 1944 to 1986 under lease agreements with the Nation.

So the concept of “clean nuclear power” and a new era of uranium mining doesn't wash with a legacy of more than 500 abandoned uranium mines, four inactive uranium milling sites, a former dump site, contaminated groundwater, structures that may contain elevated levels of radiation, and environmental and public health concerns.

The Navajo Nation gave testimony Oct. 23, 2007, before the U.S. House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform and was asked to respond to comments on a draft federal agency five-year action plan compiled by the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Department of Energy, Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Environmental Protection Agency, and Indian Health Service.

The Hopi Tribe, whose water sources are threatened by their close proximity to the Tuba City Dump site, also was asked to comment.

Last week, on March 24, David Taylor from Navajo Department of Justice, sent the Nation's comments to the House committee, pointing out that though Navajo made a number of specific requests regarding cleanup, there is no recognition of those in the draft plan.

“It is unfortunate that the agencies have shown no appreciation for, or recognition of the Navajo Nation’s own analysis of what is needed to start addressing this national tragedy.  Every time an agency indicates its willingness to work with, consult with or support the Navajo Nation in its uranium-related efforts, the promise is hallow unless it is backed up with a commitment to obtain the necessary personnel and funding,” Taylor wrote.

At the close of the October hearing, Committee Chairman Henry Waxman specifically asked the federal agencies to think about and tell the committee: “What authority and what funding do you need in order to clean up the uranium contamination of the Navajo Nation and to address the health problems resulting from contamination?”

Taylor said there is no clear response to that question in the draft plan. “The Chairman was not asking for a laundry list of what has been done in the past. He was asking the agencies to indicate what additional funding and authority is needed in the future.”

Hopi Tribal Chairman Benjamin Nuvamsa, in March 27 comments to BIA's Jerry Gidner, said the plan falls far short of adequately addressing the many environmental and public health concerns and gives no real indication of when those concerns will be completely addressed or the cost of doing so.

He urged that the plan emphasize the critical need to rapidly implement groundwater corrective action and complete final closure of the Tuba City Dump.

Nuvamsa said investigations at the site have indicated “the presence of an imminent and substantial threat to human health and the environment – the plume of contaminated groundwater is migrating towards and is closely approaching Hopi drinking water supply wells and drinking water and irrigation springs.”

The Hopi Tribe has installed 32 groundwater monitoring wells and the results “clearly demonstrate the need for groundwater corrective action,” he said, adding that contaminants in the closest monitoring well downgradient from the site are nine times greater than the federal maximum contaminant level for drinking water.

“The Hopi Tribe is deeply disappointed by the agencies' refusal to recognize that an imminent threat to Hopi water supplies currently exists,” Nuvamsa said.

The Hopi Tribe believes the plan should recognize the importance of groundwater as the sole source of drinking water and irrigation supplies in the villages of Lower Moencopi and Upper Moenkopi. The groundwater comes from the N-aquifer, which is 10 to 20 feet below surface in the vicinity of Tuba City Dump.

Lower Moencopi obtains its drinking water from two springs, one of which feeds a small community water system with four outdoor taps in the village. Upper Moenkopi obtains its water supply from three wells, ranging from 135 to 280 feet deep. Several springs also are used for irrigation in areas downgradient from the plume.

Nuvamsa said the contaminant plume has  migrated 4,000 feet away from the Tuba City Dump to within 2,500 feet of both the springs and supply wells that provide the only drinking water source.

“The contaminated groundwater plume emanating from the Tuba City Dump threatens the villagers' source water wells and springs. Yet, there is no mention of the Hopi villages' contaminated drinking water aquifer in this section of the Five-Year Plan,” he said.



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