Our Approach

Investigate.

The work of Phase 2 RSE Trust is investigative in nature only, and general site access has been granted by the Navajo Nation to the Trustee, including contractors, employees and associated partners.

Communicate.

Community members have an opportunity to become involved in the cleanup activities and help shape cleanup decisions. The Phase 2 Trustee and her team of experts conduct community meetings to inform the public on the details and progress of the Trust’s mines.

Collaborate.

The Phase 2 Trustee and her team of experts meet regularly, in coordination with USEPA and NNEPA, with chapter officials, residents and community members regarding the mines located in all the abandoned uranium trust mine region.

Where We Work

Western AUM Region

There are more than 100 abandoned uranium mines (AUMs) in the Western AUM Region. These mines are generally located along the Little Colorado River and Highway 89, and are in the Cameron, Coalmine Canyon, Boadway/Gap, and Leupp Chapters. The first set of Phase 2 Trust mines are situated between the Cameron and Coalmine Canyon Chapters. The Trust will also be conducting a water study at Claim 28 in Blue Gap / Tachee Chapter.

Mines in the Western AUM Region were operated in the 1950s and 1960s by a number of different companies before being abandoned. While the Navajo Nation Abandoned Mine Lands program addressed many of the physical hazards associated with these mines, USEPA Region IX and Navajo Nation EPA are working to address remaining chemical and radiological hazards that may pose a risk to community members.

Detail Phase 2 Trust Mines

Addendum 1

Abandoned Uranium Mine Sites

As of September 2019

The Phase 2 Trust and its contractor, WSP (formerly E & E) had conducted sampling at 13 AUMs in late September of 2019. The overarching goal of this work was to investigate the nature and extent of potential surface contamination associated with historical mining activity. During the sampling event, the project team performed gamma radiation scans, collected surface soil samples from all 13 mine sites, and collected surface water and well water samples from a variety of sources within 1 mile of the sites. The samples were sent to laboratories to determine to analyze for radionuclides and metals. Since then, the Trust team has been hard at work interpreting the results and preparing a report of the findings for each site. In the coming weeks, the Trust will submit the interim reports to the NNEPA and the USEPA. The reports will provide a comparison of the types and concentrations of radionuclides and metals that occur naturally in soil.

Addendum 2

Abandoned Uranium Mines

seventeen rse sites in the black mesa Mining District

As of february 2020

The clean-up of abandoned uranium mine sites on the Navajo Nation are set to move forward with the signing of Addendum 2 under the Phase 2 Settlement Agreement. Addendum 1 of the Phase 2 Trust Agreement established the funding for the first 13 sites and one water study. The recently awarded Addendum 2 sites are in the Tselani, Blackmesa, Tachee Blue Gap, Teec nos pos, and Sweetwater communities. The second water study to date is in the Teec nos pos community on the Navajo Nation. The undertaking of current tasks for these new sites is extensive and will require careful planning efforts in light of the current COVID-19 health and safety restrictions. The Trust is employing online and offline multimedia platforms to continue to educate and inform the community of the Trusts progress and efforts. While field work may be temporarily halted, the Trust team is not wasting any time and has diligently been collecting information on the Addendum 2 sites and using all available resources including their previous experience to gear up for this undertaking.

Our Progress

We're passionate about solving the AUM crisis on Navajo in our lifetime. Here's the progress we've made since we started working in early 2018.

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