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“Transfer Station 2, that’s located across the road from the Cove Day School, had been scanned, characterized and fully identified back in the 90s,” said Yazzie.
“Navajo AML under the guidance of the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act, did some initial work to address physical hazards that existed at these sites so some preliminary site investigations had been done,” he said.
He said in its role, Superfund identifies the responsible parties for all of the hazards and potential hazards.
“We’ve been involved in identifying what’s been missing here,” said Yazzie.
However, Yazzie said his office was not included in discussion about the Cove Day School early on.
“We got wind of this about a month ago and our ED did request a cease-and-desist order before anything happens,” he said. “When you start handling hazardous waste, you need to identify where everything is going and where it’s being hauled to.”
“There’s a patchwork right now of accountability,” said Slater. “Institutions didn’t follow up in the past. We need to think through how we can prevent this in the future.”
“I would strongly recommend, Ms. Shirley, that you grab the bull by the horns,” he said. “It seems like there’s a lot of cracks in the system where something like this can take place.”
Tso said it was also evident that proper federal-tribal communication didn’t occur and the trust responsibility has not been honored.
“The future health of these young folks and those who attended since the early nineties – now we’ve affected their health,” said Tso. “We, meaning the United States government and an agency of the U.S. government.”
Bart Stevens, BIA’s deputy director for field operations, acknowledged that communications and consultation needed to be improved and said that the Cove Day School issue has garnered the attention of the “Central Office” and Bryan Newland, assistant secretary for Indian affairs at the Department of the Interior.
“As far as Indian affairs, which includes BIE and BIA, we certainly share the concerns that everyone is bringing forward,” he said. “I want to recommit Indian affairs to resolving the issues and doing what’s best for the safety of the staff, students and community members.”
Next steps, radiological scans
Sharon Pinto, deputy director for BIE school operations, said when BIE became aware of concerns over radioactivity at Cove Day School, they thought it was most appropriate to ensure technical folks were brought in to assess the safety.
She said the BIE relies on the BIA regional environmental team to assist with environment support and remediation services and U.S. EPA and NNEPA for reports.
“I think everyone’s been trying to be helpful and responsive, but we need one source of direction,” said Pinto. “As far as BIE, we’re here to deliver education to the students in the best, safe manner.”
In response to the Cove school revelations, the U.S. EPA committed to doing a radiological scan of the interior school buildings starting the week of Sept. 6, and the NNEPA Radon Program conducted another interior radon gas assessment last weekend, with results pending.
Eugenia Quintana, manager of the Air and Toxics Department at NNEPA, explained that radioactive radon, which comes from the natural breakdown of uranium, is an invisible gas that can only be detected through testing.
She said long-term exposure to radon causes thousands of deaths each year and is the second leading cause of lung cancer.
“We encourage all schools across the Navajo Nation to continue to test for radon to make sure their occupants, particularly the young children, have access to their education in an environment that has the least exposure to environmental hazards,” she said.
Even though there is “no safe level of radon,” the radioactive gas is not regulated by U.S. EPA because it is “everywhere,” said Quintana, but there are “actions levels” associated with high levels of radon, measured at 4 picocuries per liter or above, at which the USEPA recommends corrective measures to reduce exposure.
She indicated that radon can be mitigated effectively and inexpensively, including through improved ventilation.
When Cove Day School was tested in 2016, she said, various levels of radon were found throughout the school, but four areas were in a “high-action” level range, between 4 and 5.8 pCi/L, she said.
Subsequently, on July 20, 2016, NNEPA in coordination with U.S. EPA, sent a letter to the Navajo Regional BIA office recommending installation of radon mitigation systems as part of construction of new Cove Day School, which had already been funded back then.
Quintana said her office never heard a response.
Jesse Kass, U.S. EPA remedial project manager, said his team was mobilizing an experienced radiological assessment firm that will collect gamma radiation data inside the main school building and three modular buildings.
Together with NNEPA, they will look at results and make assessments of conditions inside of school and advise stakeholders how to move forward.
Meanwhile, Kass said he believes its “appropriate” that the BIA is moving quickly to clean up the exterior hot spots ahead of construction of a new school, which could pose long-term cancer risk for those who spent a “significant amount of time” near them.
Pinto said the Cove school will remain closed pending completion and results of the surveys and assessments being done by technical advisors.
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