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Maps, Environmental studies, History Monticello, San Juan County, Utah

REGARDING MILL SITE AT Monticello

http://www.wise-uranium.org/udusat1.html

Monticello, San Juan County, Utah
Aerial view: Google Maps · Terraserver


Database to be extended for study on cancer incidence among residents at former Monticello uranium mill site
State health officials have launched a new phase of their health probe in Monticello, where residents suspect a government uranium mill is to blame for decades of cancer cases and deaths. "We hope that these next steps will bring us closer to understanding the cancer incidence in Monticello and any possible connection to the mill," said David N. Sundwall, state health executive director.
Sundwall's team promised in May 2006 to look for ways to fill in information gaps in the state's data about cancer in the area. It turns out that standard health study practices excluded much information. They would not allow the Health Department to count the cancers of people who had moved out of the southeastern Utah community and people who had died before the cancer registry began. The health department plans to complete its data-gathering by the year's end. (The Salt Lake Tribune, Aug. 4, 2006)

Study finds no increased cancer incidence among residents at former Monticello uranium mill site
The Utah Department of Health (UDOH) report, compiled by its office of epidemiology, concluded that the incidence of cancers in zip code 84535 (Monticello and surroundings) is "not statistically significant." However, the report cautioned that the health department's study is just preliminary and did not include cancers diagnosed prior to 1973, the year the Utah Cancer Registry began, and that it also didn't include cases diagnosed outside Utah.
The mill operated on the south side of town from 1943 to the beginning of 1960, processing both vanadium and uranium. The uranium ore, trucked in from hundreds of mines in the area, was pulverized into fine yellow dust that was blown by the prevailing winds across the town, and was tracked home by workers to unsuspecting family members. After shutdown of the mill, the tailings piles became a favorite playground for children, and provided "sand" for sandboxes, brick mortar and road base.
The town first noticed what might be cancer clusters in the 1960s when seven young people living within blocks of each other died of leukemia. Since then, there have been at least 18 other leukemia cases, according to a health survey prepared by grass-roots group Victims of Mill Tailings Exposure (VTME). VMTE's list includes more than 416 cancers; the UDOH's study included 141. (Deseret News May 25, 2006)
> Download Health Consultation - An Investigation of Cancer Incidence in Monticello, Utah - Monticello, San Juan, Utah, May 17, 2006, Prepared by Utah Department of Health (1.4M PDF - Utah DOH)
> View related reports and links (Utah DOH)


DOE Inspector General criticizes DOE's oversight over reclamation of Monticello uranium mill tailings site (Utah)
"The Department entered into a cooperative agreement with the City [of Monticello] in June 1999 that, among other things, required the restoration of the mill site and certain associated areas. [...]
Our audit disclosed that the Department did not effectively monitor or control certain aspects of the restoration of the Monticello Mill Site. The restoration of the site was completed as required; however, the City did not adequately maintain the site, and it suffered significant erosion. The Department took action to correct erosion problems that were of immediate concern, but it did not ensure that the City used funds provided under the agreement for long-term maintenance of the mill site."
> Download Audit Report - Restoration of the Monticello Mill Site at Monticello, Utah, DOE/IG-0665, October 2004 (PDF)


DOE invites public comment on proposed cleanup approach by natural attenuation for Monticello OU III tailings site
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has developed a Proposed Plan that presents the preferred remedial alternative for Operable Unit III of the Monticello Mill Tailings Site near Monticello, Utah. Operable Unit III encompasses contaminated surface water and ground water at and hydraulically downgradient of the former Monticello millsite. DOE believes that monitored natural attenuation with institutional controls provides the best balance of tradeoffs among the cleanup alternatives being considered.
> Download DOE GJO release Nov. 24, 2003 (PDF)
Comments will be accepted through January 15, 2004.

> View DOE GJO Monticello projects


EPA deletes parts of Monticello Mill Tailings site from National Priorities (Superfund) List
Federal Register: August 13, 2003 (Volume 68, Number 156), p. 48314-48321 (download full text )
"... This partial deletion pertains to a portion of the Site designated as the Operable Unit (OU) II Non-Surface and Ground-Water Impacted Peripheral Properties, which are located within OU II of the Site. The OU II Non- Surface and Ground-Water Impacted Peripheral Properties are 22 of the 34 total properties that comprise OU II. These 22 properties were selected for deletion from the NPL because the primary contaminants of concern, radioactive materials in soils and sediment, have been removed to levels protective of human health and the environment, and because no radiological or nonradiological contamination is present in surface water or ground water located on these properties. [...]
DATES: This direct final partial deletion will be effective October 14, 2003, unless EPA receives adverse comments by September 12, 2003. ..."


Cleanup of 424 Monticello Vicinity Properties completed
Excerpt from Notice in Federal Register Vol.64, No.250, p.73423-73427 (Dec. 30, 1999) (download full notice ):
"SUMMARY: The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Region 8, announces the deletion of the Monticello Radioactive Contaminated Properties Site (Site), located in Monticello, Utah, from the National Priorities List (NPL). The NPL is the National Oil and Hazardous Substances Pollution and Contingency Plan (NCP), which EPA promulgated pursuant to section 105 of the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act of 1980, as amended (CERCLA). EPA, with the preliminary concurrence of the State of Utah Department of Environmental Quality (UDEQ), has determined that responsible parties have implemented all appropriate response actions required and that no further response at the Site is appropriate.
DATES: This direct final rule will be effective February 28, 2000, unless EPA receives significant adverse or critical comments by January 31, 2000."

Interim ROD for the Monticello Surface and Ground Water Remedial Action Project
"On September 29, 1998, an Interim Record of Decision (ROD) for the Monticello Mill Tailings Site Surface and Ground Water Operable Unit III (OU III) was signed by the Environmental Protection Agency, Utah Department of Environmental Quality, and the U. S. Department of Energy." [...]
> View DOE GJO release (Nov. 17, 1998)
> View Monticello site info