As part of epas commitment to finding innovative and effective solutions to the potential threats abandoned mine lands pose to human health and the environment, significant attention is being focused on potential future uses of these lands and the economic, environmental, and social. Environmental protection agencys epa preferred alternative for cleaning up the midnite mine superfund site on the spokane indian reservation in wellpinit, washington. Addressing community concerns training, wellpinit, wa, nov. Located within the reservation of the spokane tribe of indians. Midnite mine cleanup meetings slated the statesman examiner. Cleanup okd for uranium mine on tribal land the seattle times. Cleanup agreement reached at former uranium mine on. Radioactive remains the forgotten story of the northwests. The shawl society continues to educate people as it holds newmont mining company, owner of the midnite mine superfund cleanup site, accountable to remediation agreements to clean up radioactive contamination and toxic wastes on the spokane indian reservation by 2025. The mine was operated between 1954 and 1981 by the dawn mining company on land leased from the spokane. The environmental protection agency epa identifies sites such as midnite mine because they pose or had once posed a potential risk to human health andor the environment due to contamination by one or more hazardous wastes. Midnite mine, located on the spokane indian reservation eight miles from the spokane tribe government complex in wellpinit, is an inactive openpit uranium mine closed in 1981, leaving behind 2. An overview of activities and strategies initial request for assistance.
Monitoring for both radon and radiation will continue at the midnite mine site after the cleanup is complete. A cleanup plan, estimated to cost 193 million usd, was finally agreed upon in 2011 30 years after the midnite mine was closed. Decommissioning of midnite mine and ford uranium mill and. The midnite mine is an inactive former uranium mine in the selkirk mountains of the american. Midnite mine superfund litigation historical research. His bill included waivers not just to the clean water act, but also to the toxic substances control act and solid waste disposal act. Most of the uranium ore processed at the site came from the midnite mine located on the spokane tribe of indians reservation. Contamination from the midnite uranium mine on the spokane indian reservation in eastern washington remains a major focus of community concern more than 20 years after the mining ceased. A washington federal judge on tuesday signed off on the u. The company responsible for cleaning up the midnite mine on the spokane indian reservation has asked the federal government to relax cleanup standards for radiation at the defunct uranium mine. Nov 04, 2014 pagel referred to a 2006 abandoned mine cleanup bill brought by thensen.
Under todays agreement, the mining companies will perform the cleanup of the midnite mine. The company responsible for cleaning up the midnite mine on the spokane indian reservation has asked the federal government to relax. In the meantime, the local population has been continually exposed to radioactivity and no proper epidemiological studies have been conducted. Read more about midnite mine cleanup meetings slated omak man who threatened sheriffs to be released wednesday. The mine was listed as a superfund site under the comprehensive environmental response. Since the mill shut down, dawn mining company has been cleaning up the millsite with oversight by the waste management section.
The epa web page you have selected may be unavailable on sunday, may 17, 2020 starting at 8. The technical specifications for cleanup remedies and technologies have been designed and described in the final basis of design report. Jun 11, 2008 the midnite uranium mine on the spokane indian reservation is an open pit mine that has been left open with exposed radioactive ore throughout the site since 1981. The spokane tribe of indians has won one battle in its long fight against uranium pollution, after a deal was reached this fall between the federal government and mining companies to clean up the longclosed midnite mine on their reservation. The midnite mine is an inactive former uranium mine in the selkirk mountains of the american state of washington that operated from 19551965 and again from 19681981. The report consists of design investigations, cleanup performance standards, technical specifications and engineering. The local meeting will take place in the spokane tribal longhouse at 5 p. If my calculations are correct, midnight mine is alaskas 42nd or 43rd operating brewery. Midnite mine a cleanup plan for a former uranium mine on an indian tribe reservation was issued in september 2006. The geology is tabular uranium deposits at the contact of monzogranite of the. Midnite mine 308 wendell ave, fairbanks, alaska 99701 rated 4. The spokane knew nothing about the detrimental effects uranium mining has on the environment and human health. Midnite mine clean up february 18, 2020 in current projects by wdwalrus. The midnite mine site, the larger of the two uranium mines on the reservation is a superfund site 27.
The tribe wants the water pumped directly into the spokane river, where the pollution would be diluted in the larger water body. A cleanup plan was not drafted until 30 years after the mine was decommissioned. Wellpinit for nearly three decades, the midnite mine on the spokane indian reservation was a source of paychecks and pride. The midnite mine operated from 1954 to 1981, providing a key ingredient for nuclear weapons at the height of the cold war. Hobbs wants to feature his neighbors beers because hes as proud of them as he is his own.
Newmont mining company seeking epa approval of less stringent cleanup standard on washington states largest superfund site. You may need a pdf reader to view some of the files on this page. Two open pits, backfilled pits, and a number of waste. Community continues pressure for cleanup twale abrahamsonswan and deb abrahamson persevere to educate on mines. Research topics included the corporate relationship between the mining company and its parent. This is a list of superfund sites in washington state designated under the comprehensive environmental response, compensation, and liability act cercla environmental law. Midnite mine superfund cleanup agreement and community perspectives lake roosevelt. Our hydrologic monitoring stations continue to send data in near realtime to nwisweb, and we are continuing critical water monitoring activities to. The energy injustices at midnite mine arose because of the spokanes lack of knowledge, the. March 2004, tosnac site visit and meeting with spokane tribal community and epa.
Other mining sites have created environmental problems, and some are on the national priorities list for cleanup. Iuoe ntfs trainings for the midnite mine site cleanup are funded by both the niehs hazardous waste worker training program as a consortium member of niehs grantee center for construction research and training cpwr and the niehs department of energy nuclear worker training program. Midnite mine, located on the spokane indian reservation eight miles from the. From the mid50s to the early 80s, dawn mining company milled uranium at the ford site. Members of the spokane tribe say they want more time to evaluate the proposed cleanup plan for the midnite mine, a project designed to seal its debris and radiation away. Chapter 10 summarizes several conventional and innovative as of 2000 treatment technologies. The mine was listed as a superfund site under the comprehensive environmental. Hra conducted research in corporate and federal government records. Newmont mining asks to relax radiation cleanup standards at.
There will be two community meetings next week on cleanup plans for the midnite mine site. The mine and neighboring areas affected by contaminants released to air, soil and water from the mine. Envirocon has the technical expertise and project experience to support a wide array of environmental projects while meeting safety, quality, regulatory, budget, and schedule requirements. One of the worlds largest mining companies is trying to wash its hands.
The spokane tribe of indians has recently won big victories in its long fight against uranium contamination, including a deal reached this fall between the federal government and mining companies to clean up the longclosed midnite mine on the reservation. Midnite mine is an inactive former uranium mine located on the reservation of the spokane tribe of indians. Geraniosspokane, washington ap november 2011 the spokane tribe of indians has recently won big victories in its long fight against uranium contamination, including a deal reached this fall between the federal government and mining companies to clean up the longclosed midnite mine on the reservation. A cleanup plan, estimated to cost 193 million usd, was finally agreed upon. This reclamation plan uses waste to bury waste high country. Hra prepared an expert witness report and provided testimony at trial for a case involving cost recovery for cleanup of a former uranium mine. Midnite mine, the only openpit uranium mine in the northwestern united states. Just 45 miles down stream from spokane, within the spokane tribe of indians reservations, is the former uranium midnite mine and its toxic, deadly legacy. Dawn mining company dmc began mining uranium ore at the midnite mine in the 1950s. Cleanup okd for uranium mine on tribal land the seattle. The spokane midnite uranium mine cleanup plan training session convened on november 17, 2005 as a daylong forum of presentations and dialogue among spokane community members and other interested people regarding human health and ecologic risk, impacts on traditional activities near the mine, groundwater contamination, and the proposed cleanup. The midnite mine, a uranium mine on washingtons spokane indian reservation, would like to bury its highlevel waste with truckedin lowlevel nuclear waste, a plan the spokane tribe protests.
The epas record of decision rod for the midnite mine epa, 2006a requires consolidation of aboveground mine waste deposits and impacted soilssediments into pits 3 and 4. At the midnite mine superfund site, the remedial design phase of the cleanup is complete. Allstate, newmont settle over uranium mine cleanup law360. Midnite mine superfund site proposed cleanup plan september 2005 this proposed plan presents the u. Fig tree shawl society perseveres about mine cleanup. The midnite mine is a uranium mine located on the spokane tribe of indians reservation and is 25 miles from dawns uranium millsite at ford, washington. Midnite mine informational meeting spokane riverkeeper. The cercla federal law of 1980 authorized the united states environmental protection agency epa to create a list of polluted locations requiring a longterm response to. In this 1997 photo, the open pit uranium mine can be seen on the spokane indian reservation near wellpinit, wash.
Midnite mine was operated by a subsidiary of the denverbased newmont usa limited, one of the largest mining corporations in the world. In 1955, the lebret brothers opened the midnite uranium mine with help from the newmont mining corporation. In 1954, the long and deadly hand of the cold war touched the spokane reservation. Clicking on a sites name in search results will enable you to view more information about it. Progress made toward cleaning up uranium mine deseret news.
February 2004 by epa region x midnite mine mm rpm, elli hale. Urgency of mining law reform 1872 mining law reform. Tuesday, may 14 at eastern washington univeritys riverpoint campus in spokane. National priorities list and superfund alternative approach sites have web profiles with extensive detail about epas activities. Located within the reservation of the spokane tribe of indians, the mine was operated from 1955 until 1981. Two open pits, backfilled pits, and a number of waste rock piles and oreprotore stockpiles remain on site. Works on upper columbia river, coeur dalene, midnite mine. Download gao report radiation exposure compensation act. In july 2018, the newmont mining company newmont, the company responsible for implementing epas selected remedy for the midnite mine superfund site on the spokane indian reservation, requested that the epa approve a substantially less stringent cleanup level to. To exploit this fuel and bombmaking material the midnite mine opened run by the dawn mining company. Midnite mine joins hoodoo brewing and the new black spruce brewing company in fairbanks and silver gulch brewing company just north of fairbanks in fox. Midnite mine is an inactive openpit uranium mine located on the spokane indian reservation in stevens county, washington, about 8 miles northwest of wellpinit. Notice the usgs water resources mission areas priority is to maintain the safety and wellbeing of our communities, including providing critical situational awareness in times of flooding in all 50 u. The superfund cleanup plan calls for a cap over an area of pits filled with waste during mining, consolidation and engineered containment of remaining waste in the two open pits, removal of water entering the pits, and operation of a.
Feds, midnite mine operators reach deal on cleanup the. Abandoned mine lands revitalization and reuse website, u. New midnite mine brewing company a shining example of. Download preliminary design and related documents epa region 10. The slow clean up of midnite mine out there outdoors. The midnite mine superfund site is located in eastern washington state within the boundaries of the spokane indian reservation. Midnite mine superfund site consent decree pdf 54 pp, 511 k. The midnite mine community liaison provides information to the community on the midnite mine remediation project, organizes community meetings, and forward any concerns regarding the midnite mine to the appropriate entity. Society cultural integrity components and grassroots facilitation survey of community concerns and evaluation of outreach needs. Radiation exposure from 50 years of uranium mining continues. Midnite mine superfund site 10090 percent design appendix.
Additional information is available on the midnite mine superfund site case summary. List of superfund sites in washington state wikipedia. The uranium business offered jobs and wealth, but brought with it a haunting legacy. In july 2018, the newmont mining company newmont, the company responsible for implementing epas selected remedy for the midnite mine superfund site on the spokane indian reservation, requested that the epa approve a substantially less stringent cleanup level to address. Shannon work, a coeur dalene, idaho attorney who represents the spokane tribe of indians, said a large portion of the reservation is off limits because of potential contamination. Located within the reservation of the spokane tribe of indians, it is approximately 8 miles km from wellpinit, stevens county. Radioactive remains the forgotten story of the northwest. This page allows users to search active and archived sites in epas superfund enterprise management system database. The legacy of uranium development on or near indian. Sep 30, 2011 under todays agreement, the mining companies will perform the cleanup of the midnite mine. Hale said radiation exposure from being on the site should be no different from low, natural background. Newmont mining asks to relax radiation cleanup standards. The epa abandoned mine site characterization and cleanup handbook 2000 provides a compendium of information gained during many years of experience on mine site cleanup projects.
Midnite mine superfund site, wellpinit, wa tosnactosc collaborative outreach to spokane tribal community. In addition, tribal members in september became eligible to receive. Hale said radiation exposure from being on the site should be no different than low, natural background. Superfund site profile superfund site information us epa. Technologically enhanced naturally occurring radioactive. Midnite mine washington state department of health. Jennifer watkins, sfsu, 2017 midnite mine is a superfund site, formerly a uranium mine, located near wellpinit, wa on the spokane reservation. Contact list midnite mine superfund site spokane reservation.
Midnite mine is an inactive former uranium mine in the selkirk mountains of eastern washington. The midnite mine is one of only three superfund sites in washington state without an identified funding source for cleanup. Major cleanup activities are anticipated to be ongoing until 2024. The midnite mine, just 100 miles to the north, is all but forgotten, a combination of denial, neglect and willful amnesia. Midnite mine is a superfund site located at 35 miles northwest of spokane, wellpinit, wa 99040. Environmental protection agency last year, saying the mine site has high, naturally occurring levels of.
At the end of the cleanup, an 8foot fence around the midnite mine site will be taken down. Its long refused to pay for the cleanup of the mine. Progress made toward cleaning up uranium mine indian. Midnite mine, for example, underwent a preliminary ecological risk assessment urs 2003, and a number of metals were examined, including copper, lead, arsenic, selenium, uranium, vanadium, zinc, molybdenum, and chromium. Midnite mine update and white paper spokane riverkeeper. Located within the reservation of the spokane tribe of indians, it is approximately 8 miles km from wellpinit, stevens. Lack of cleanup and reclamation of uranium sites from the 1950s through 1980s. The radioactive ore was used to build nuclear reactors and weapons, and the tribe was left with a toxic legacy that continues to this day. Mine cleanup program california state water resources. The site is on lands held in trust for the spokane tribe and individual indian allottees.
Sediments eroded from mine site toxic contactwater including acid mine drainage eroded mine site soils contaminated by processing of ore eroded waste rock. The cleanup will bring important environmental protections to residents of the spokane indian reservation, including the control of radioactive mine waste and the protection of nearby waters from acid mine drainage, said ignacia s. Environmental protection agency recently announced a settlement with newmont usa limited and its subsidiary, dawn mining co. The surprising reason abandoned us mines havent been cleaned. Midnite mine superfund site spokane indian reservation washington record of decision prepared by office of environmental cleanup epa region 10. August 2, 2019 already a local spot for decades, the new deck and cleanup have really revitalized this bar and the upstairs brewery adds a whole other facet and makes incredibly good beer to boot. Under leases signed by doi and the dawn mining company, the 350acre site operated as an openpit uranium mine between the years.
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