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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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