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Fair Use Notice: Documents posted on this web page are limited to those draft and final reports the Division of Environmental Protection (NDEP) would normally review as a participant in the oversight of the Yerington Mine Site per section 106 of the Comprehensive Environmental Response Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA). Of note, under CERCLA the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is the lead agency concerning decisions involving site evaluation, remediation and control of the Yerington Mine Site.

Yerington Mine Site -- Fugitive Dust Radiological Dose Assessment
    Foxfire Scientific, INC
    September 19, 2004

    Prepared by:
    Ian Scott Hamilton, Ph.D., CHP
    Matthew G. Arno, Ph.D., CHP

    Background:
    In 2004, the Nevada Division of Environmental Protection (NDEP) requested that SRK Consulting prepare a work plan to characterize selected tailings areas and evaporation ponds at the Yerington Mine. The work plan was designed to provide data required to determine the metal content and radiological characteristics of the surface materials in selected areas that could generate dust. This information was then used to determine radiation doses and metal exposures, which is the subject of this report. The study revealed that the potential exposure to fugitive dusts from the evaporation ponds and tailings study area is significantly below exposure limits for materials that are regulated.
December 9, 2004 — Review of Yerington Mine Characterization Activities —Addendum 1 February 18, 2005 — Radiological Laboratory Results for Soil Samples Collected During the Yerington Mine Characterization Activities Review — Adobe PDF File 16 pages 420KB
Prepared for:
United States Department of the Interior
Bureau of Land Management
Nevada State Office


Prepared by:
Technical Resources Group, Inc.
Idaho Falls, Idaho
December 9, 2004 — Review of Yerington Mine Characterization Activities (15 Pages — 1.0MB
Report Prepared for:
United State Department of the Interior
Bureau of Land Management
Nevada State Office
 Prepared by:
Technical Resources Group, Inc.
Idaho Falls, Idaho
Background
A site visit was conducted on December 9, 2004 to review current and ongoing site characterization activities at the Yerington Mine site. The site visit was conducted by Tom Olsen from the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and Tom Clawson and Doug Walker from Technical Resources Group, Inc. (TRG). Historical operations at the Yerington Mine have been identified as having contributed to elevated radiation levels measured in and around the process areas. The measured increase in radiation levels resulted from natural radioactivity found in native ore and soil becoming concentrated in the waste streams during the copper recovery process. The elevated radiation levels have been identified as a potential concern for exposure to workers performing site characterization and remediation activities at the site.

To address radiological hazards during the site characterization phase, a Radiological Control Technician (RCT) has been hired by Atlantic Richfield Company (ARC). The RCT is responsible for performing radiation surveys and environmental monitoring to identify and characterize the radiological hazards in the process areas and to ensure that current activities are protective of workers and visitors as set forth in the health and safety plans. At the time of the site visit, the RCT had been located on the Yerington Mine Site for approximately one week.

The site visit included a review of the Yerington Mine operations and an overview of the RCT activities being conducted at the site for evaluating radiological hazards. Additionally, representatives from TRG performed an initial site-scoping survey for the BLM. This scoping survey consisted of performing a limited number of radiological survey measurements to determine the presence of elevated radiation and the collection of three grab samples of soil to be analyzed for specific radioisotopes of the uranium and thorium decay series. . . . Read the full Report - 15 Pages — 1.0MB


Draft Initial Groundwater Conditions Work Plan, January 13, 2005

View Document Online - or - Download & Print – Adobe PDF File Format
Section 1 (32 Pages 2.1 MB)
Figures & Tables (14 Pages 2MB)
Appendix A (2 Pages 200KB
Appendix B (49 Pages 4.7MB)
Appendix B1 (8 Pages 6MB)


All Sections - one download (16 MB) 		Prepared for:
Atlantic Richfield Company
307 East Park Street, Suite 400
Anaconda, Montana 59711

Prepared by:
Brown and Caldwell
3264 Goni Road, Suite 153
Carson City, Nevada 89706


DRAFT — Air Quality Monitoring Work Plan – for the Yerington Mine Site – December 22, 2004

View Document Online - or - Download & Print – Adobe PDF File Format
Section 1 (14 Pages - 73KB)
Appendix A, B & C (970 KB)
Appendix D (292 KB)
Appendix E & F (617 KB)
Appendix G, H, I & J (616 KB)
Appendix K (164 KB)

All Sections - one download (2.6 MB) 		Prepared for:
Atlantic Richfield Company
6 Centerpointe Drive, Room 6-171
LaPalma, California 90623

Prepared by:
Brown and Caldwell
3264 Goni Road, Suite 153
Carson City, Nevada 89706




December 10, 2004 — Nevada Division of Environmental Protection Requests a Change to EPA Oversight of the Yerington Mine under Section 106 – CARSON CITY-The Nevada Division of Environmental Protection today requested that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency assume primary responsibility for oversight of the Yerington Mine Site under Section 106 of the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA).

   Read Press Release
   Read NDEP's request to EPA (letter dated December 10, 2004)



November 2004 – Anaconda process area seeing lots of fieldwork – A considerable amount of fieldwork and a general sense of working together could be two ways to describe ongoing progress at the old Anaconda Mine process area. Dan Ferriter, Environmental Business Manager for Atlantic Richfield Company (ARCO), said efforts continue onsite to complete soil sampling, which could be immediately followed by installation of groundwater monitoring wells north of the mine as early as next February – By Patrick Abanathy, Mason Valley News



October 20, 2004 – Fact Sheet: Update on Activities at Yerington Mine Site (4 Page with High Quality PDF Expandable Map - 640KB)

About the Update – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and the Nevada Division of Environmental Protection (NDEP) prepared an update about the status of activities at the Yerington Mine site since the last public meeting held on Aug. 25, 2004. The Agencies hope to make this Yerington Mine Fact Sheet the first of regular written updates to better inform the community regarding ongoing investigations and activities at the site. Copies have been distributed to the community mailing list maintained by EPA.

If you would like to be added to the list, contact the EPA Community Involvement Coordinator, , by E-mail: or phone: 415-972-3244; or contact the NDEP Public Information Officer, by E-mail or phone: 775-687-9395.



October 12, 2004 – NDEP Press Release:  YERINGTON MINE RECLAMATION UPDATE – Nevada praises the City, County and Tribe for collaborating to improve the process of Mine cleanup in Yerington.



March 31, 2004 – Yerington Mine Update – This December 03 document contains a brief operational & regulatory history; Interim Actions and accomplishments by the NDEP and others (i.e., since January 2000); Scope of Work notes; and Plans and Goals for the site.   Note: This is a 29 Page Adobe PDF File with multiple slides and photos - 1.4 Meg



10/24/2002 Consent Agreement