Final Report: North Cave Hills Abandoned Uranium Mines Impact Investigation Prepared for: U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service – Region 1 P.O. Box 7669 Missoula, MT 59807 Prepared by: Dr. James Stone, PE Dr. Larry Stetler Assistant Professor Associate Professor Dept of Civil and Env Eng Dept of Geology and Geological Eng [email protected] [email protected] South Dakota School of Mines and Technology 501 E. Saint Joseph St. Rapid City, SD 57701 Dr. Albrecht Schwalm Oglala Lakota College 490 Piya Wiconi Kyle, SD 57752 [email protected] April 18, 2007 FINAL REPORT: North Cave Hills Abandoned Uranium Mines Impact Investigation South Dakota School of Mines and Technology TABLE OF CONTENTS APPENDIX....................................................................................................................................x 1.0 Introduction.............................................................................................................................1 2.0 Background Information........................................................................................................1 2.1 Geomorphology....................................................................................................................1 2.2 Geology.................................................................................................................................2 2.3 Surface Water Hydrology.....................................................................................................3 2.4 Groundwater Hydrology.......................................................................................................4 2.5 Regional Climate and Wind Patterns....................................................................................6 3.0 Historical Mining Activities...................................................................................................7 3.1 Control Structures and Previous Mitigation Activities.........................................................8 3.2 Previous Investigations.........................................................................................................9 4.0 Project Objectives.................................................................................................................11 5.0 Field Sampling Strategies.....................................................................................................12 5.1 Target Analytes...................................................................................................................12 5.2 Background Sampling.........................................................................................................12 5.3 Surface Water Quality Standards........................................................................................13 6.0 Surface Water Results..........................................................................................................13 6.1 Establishment of Background Concentrations....................................................................13 6.2 Phase I Results....................................................................................................................15 6.3 Phase II Results...................................................................................................................16 6.3.1 Upper Pete’s Creek......................................................................................................17 6.3.2 Lower Pete’s Creek......................................................................................................20 7.0 Groundwater Results............................................................................................................20 8.0 Airborne Particulate Results..............................................................................................23 8.1 Bulk Soils Analysis.............................................................................................................24 8.2 Aerosol Dust Results...........................................................................................................26 8.3 Ambient Dust Results.........................................................................................................29 8.4 PM aerosol Sampling Program........................................................................................30 10 8.5 Proof of Concept.................................................................................................................31 9.0 Soil Results.............................................................................................................................32 9.1 Background Concentration of Target Analytes..................................................................32 9.2 East-Side Spoils of Bluff B.................................................................................................33 9.3 North-East Side Spoils of Bluff H......................................................................................34 9.4 Comparison of Bluff B and H Soil Results to Pioneer (2005) Study.................................35 10.0 Sediment Results.................................................................................................................36 10.1 Background Concentration of Target Analytes................................................................37 10.2 Contaminant Concentrations in Sediments.......................................................................39 10.2.1 Uranium Concentrations............................................................................................40 10.2.2 Arsenic Concentrations..............................................................................................41 10.2.3 Molybdenum Concentrations.....................................................................................42 10.2.4 Copper/Molybdenum Ratio.......................................................................................42 10.3 Sediment Contaminant Concentration and Source Distance............................................42 10.4 Contaminant Concentrations in the Pete’s Creek Drainage..............................................44 10.5 Contaminant Concentrations in Schleichart Draw............................................................45 - ii - FINAL REPORT: North Cave Hills Abandoned Uranium Mines Impact Investigation South Dakota School of Mines and Technology 10.6 Sedimentation Pond Failure..............................................................................................46 11.0 Data Validation..................................................................................................................47 11.1 Sampling Procedures.......................................................................................................48 11.1.1 Sample Index............................................................................................................48 11.1.2 Field Books...............................................................................................................48 11.1.3 Core Logs..................................................................................................................49 11.1.4 Safety Meeting Forms...............................................................................................49 11.1.5 Sampling Location Coordinates................................................................................49 11.1.6 Sampling Completeness............................................................................................49 11.1.7 Field Duplicates........................................................................................................49 11.1.8 Equipment Rinsate Blanks........................................................................................50 11.1.9 Field Blanks..............................................................................................................51 11.1.10 Sample Custody......................................................................................................51 11.1.11 Sampling Holding Times........................................................................................51 11.2 Level IV (Litigation Quality) Data Validation................................................................51 11.3 Level III (Investigative Quality) Data Validation............................................................52 11.3.1 Data Qualifiers..........................................................................................................52 11.3.2 SDSM&T EMES Lab Metal Analysis Quality Assurance.......................................52 11.3.3 Surface Water Data Validation.................................................................................54 11.3.3.1 Dissolved Metals Internal QC Assessment............................................................54 11.3.3.2 Dissolved Metals External QC Assessment...........................................................55 11.3.3.3 Total Metals Internal QC Assessment...................................................................56 11.3.3.4 Total Metals External QC Assessment..................................................................57 11.3.4 Air Particulate Data Validation..................................................................................58 11.3.4.1 Wind Tunnel Internal QC Assessment..................................................................58 11.3.4.2 Wind Tunnel External QC Assessment.................................................................59 11.3.5 Sediment and Soil Data Validation...........................................................................60 11.3.5.1 Sediment and Soil Internal QC Assessment..........................................................60 11.3.5.2 Sediment and Soil External QC Assessment.........................................................61 11.4 Level II (Portable Instruments of Investigative Quality) Data Validation......................62 11.5 Level I (Screening Quality) Data Validation...................................................................62 12.0 Conclusions and Recommendations..................................................................................62 13.0 References............................................................................................................................65 TABLES.......................................................................................................................................68 FIGURES...................................................................................................................................103 - iii - FINAL REPORT: North Cave Hills Abandoned Uranium Mines Impact Investigation South Dakota School of Mines and Technology LIST OF TABLES Table 2.1: General North Cave Hills Stratigraphy (after Curtis, 1955).......................................68 Table 3.1: Bluff identification, location, and landowner for mined Bluffs in the North Cave Hills ...............................................................................................................................................68 Table 5.1: Summary of target metal and radionuclide analytes and analytical methods employed ...............................................................................................................................................69 Table 5.2: Summary of water quality and radiochemical analytical methods employed............70 Table 5.3: South Dakota DENR surface water quality standards................................................71 Table 6.1: Surface water background sampling sites and results1 for the establishment of overall project background concentrations.......................................................................................72 Table 6.2: Phase I surface water results.......................................................................................73 Table 6.3: Phase II surface water results.....................................................................................73 Table 6.3: Phase II surface water results.....................................................................................74 Table 7.1: Groundwater analysis parameters listed by major classification. Analytical reference method is shown for each parameter....................................................................................76 Table 7.2: Target analytes for water samples collected during the North Cave Hills groundwater study......................................................................................................................................77 Table 7.3: List of analytes and concentrations for each groundwater well sampled in this study78 Table 7.4: Groundwater chemistry for this study (NCHUIS) and the NWIS (USGS) data for 6 location-correlated wells from each study............................................................................80 Table 7.5: MCL exceedences in the groundwater sampled in the North Cave Hills...................80 Table 8.1: Laser particle sizing data for each site showing the particle size in each percentile based on mass.......................................................................................................................81 Table 8.2: Surface dust analytical results with background sites shown in bold red type.........82 Table 8.3: Independent lab results compared to the SDSM&T analysis for three duplicate.......84 Table 8.4: Analytical results from the ambient dust samplers. Values given as <0.5 are below the minimum detection limit of the analytical instrument....................................................84 Table 8.5: Comparison of methods used to collect fine dusts from four locations within the North Cave Hills...................................................................................................................85 Table 8.6: Metals concentrations from site NCH-WT-4 in mg/kg..............................................85 Table 9.1: Sample ID’s and target analyte concentrations of samples used for establishing background values................................................................................................................86 Table 9.2: Sample ID’s, analytical data, and mean values of background samples listed in the Pioneer (2005) study.............................................................................................................87 Table 9.3: Sample ID’s and target analyte concentrations of soil survey below Bluff B.............88 Table 9.4: Sample ID’s and target analyte concentrations below Bluff H...................................89 Table 10.1: Core logs of background sampling sites; classification according to the Unified Soil Classification System............................................................................................................90 Table 10.2: Sample ID and target analyte concentrations of samples used for establishing background values................................................................................................................91 Table 10.3: Sample ID, analytical data, and mean values of background samples listed in the Pioneer (2005) study.............................................................................................................92 Table 10.4: Sample ID and target analyte concentrations............................................................93 Table 10.5: Statistical results for drainage sediments and samples with in-situ formation..........95 Table 11.1: Summary of analytical support data..........................................................................96 - iv - FINAL REPORT: North Cave Hills Abandoned Uranium Mines Impact Investigation South Dakota School of Mines and Technology Table 11.2: Comparison between detected target analytes found within sediment and soil rinsate samples and concentrations of preceding and following samples collected with field equipment..............................................................................................................................97 Table 11.3: List of data qualifiers used for data validation..........................................................98 Table 11.4: SDSM&T EMES and ELI detection limits for the 8 target analytes.........................99 Table 11.5: Failure criteria for external QC samples....................................................................99 Table 11.6: Error and the regression analysis for the dissolved metals external QC sample pairs (SDSM&T EMES and ELI). Data highlighted in Red indicate QC qualifiers..................100 Table 11.7: Error and the regression analysis for the total metals external QC sample pairs (SDSM&T EMES and ELI). Data highlighted in Red indicate QC qualifiers..................100 Table 11.8: Error and the regression analysis for wind tunnel external QC sample pairs (SDSM&T EMES and ELI). Data highlighted in Red indicate QC qualifiers..................101 Table 11.9: Error and the regression analysis for sediment and soil external QC sample pairs (SDSM&T EMES and ELI). Data highlighted in Red indicate QC qualifiers..................102 - v - FINAL REPORT: North Cave Hills Abandoned Uranium Mines Impact Investigation South Dakota School of Mines and Technology LIST OF FIGURES Figure 2.1: Study location map of the North Cave Hills...........................................................103 Figure 2.2: Geologic map of Harding County...........................................................................104 Figure 2.3: Groundwater study location map.............................................................................105 Figure 2.4: Oil well locations utilized in construction of stratigraphic cross-sections A-A’ (W-E) and B-B’ (S-N)....................................................................................................................106 Figure 2.5: Resultant dip gradients drawn on the top of the Greenhorn and Charles formations for cross-section A-A’ and B-B’ shown on Figure 2.4.......................................................107 Figure 2.6: Wind roses and site locations of the 5 climate stations used to analyze wind speed and direction data for the North Cave Hills........................................................................108 Figure 3.1: Location of mined Bluffs Private landownership surrounding the North Cave Hills is indicated by different color shading................................................................................109 Figure 3.2: Historical photograph of overburden disposal at Bluff G.......................................110 Figure 3.3: Current Bluff B overburden....................................................................................110 Figure 6.1: North Cave Hills Phase I surface water sampling locations...................................111 Figure 6.2: North Cave Hills Phase II surface water sampling locations..................................112 Figure 6.3: North Cave Hills surface water background sampling locations............................113 Figure 6.4: Bluff B sediment and spoil areas within the upper reaches of Pete’s Creek..........114 Figure 6.5: NCH SW 27 sampling location located near the terminus of Schleichart Draw as it crosses the USFS road onto private land............................................................................114 Figure 6.6: NCH SW 28 sampling location below an existing stock dam within the Campbell Creek watershed..................................................................................................................115 Figure 6.7: North Cave Hills surface water results for total and dissolved arsenic...................116 Figure 6.8: North Cave Hills surface water results for total and dissolved copper...................117 Figure 6.9: North Cave Hills surface water results for total and dissolved molybdenum.........118 Figure 6.10: North Cave Hills surface water results for total and dissolved uranium...............119 Figure 6.11: North Cave Hills surface water results for total and dissolved vanadium............120 Figure 6.12: Arsenic concentrations as a function of stream distance from Bluff B.................121 Figure 6.13: Copper concentrations as a function of stream distance from Bluff B.................121 Figure 6.14: Molybdenum concentrations as a function of stream distance from Bluff B........122 Figure 6.15: Uranium concentrations as a function of stream distance from Bluff B...............122 Figure 6.16: Vanadium concentrations as a function of stream distance from Bluff B.............123 Figure 6.17: Bluff H spoils located up-gradient of site NCH SW 16........................................124 Figure 6.18: NCH SW 29 sampling location immediately downstream of a lignite spring discharge.............................................................................................................................124 Figure 6.19: Area of significant sedimentation within the lower reaches of an unnamed tributary of Pete’s Creek near NCH SW 43 sampling location.........................................................125 Figure 6.20: Close-up showing extent of sedimentation within the unnamed tributary of Pete’s Creek near NCH SW 43......................................................................................................125 Figure 6.21: Sampling site NCH SW 57 located below a lignite outcropping within upper Pete’s Creek...................................................................................................................................126 Figure 6.22: Slaba “Flat Top” abandoned uranium minesite located northeast of Ludlow on private property...................................................................................................................126 Figure 6.23: NCH SW 35 sampling site within Crooked Creek, west of the South Dakota State Route 85 overpass...............................................................................................................127 Figure 7.1: Final groundwater sampling locations. Domestic and stock wells are designated by - vi - FINAL REPORT: North Cave Hills Abandoned Uranium Mines Impact Investigation South Dakota School of Mines and Technology symbol.................................................................................................................................128 Figure 7.2: Distribution of gross alpha contamination and occurrence in the groundwater system. .............................................................................................................................................129 Figure 7.3: Uranium distribution and occurrence in the groundwater system...........................130 Figure 7.4: Uranium 235 distribution and occurrence in the groundwater system....................131 Figure 7.5: Radium 226 distribution and occurrence in the groundwater system.....................132 Figure 7.6: Selenium distribution and occurrence in the groundwater system..........................133 Figure 7.7: Copper distribution and occurrence in the groundwater system.............................134 Figure 7.8: Molybdenum distribution and occurrence in the groundwater system...................135 Figure 7.9: Lead distribution and occurrence in the groundwater system.................................136 Figure 7.10: Zinc distribution and occurrence in the groundwater system................................137 Figure 7.11: NURE study results of uranium in ppb.................................................................138 Figure 7.12: Comparison of uranium (mg/L) concentrations between USGS and this study...139 Figure 8.1: Sampling sites for phase I and II of the surface dusts and ambient atmospheric dust- fall sites. Ambient sites are numbered 1 to 3 from an upwind to downwind direction. Red circles are the coarsest soils and blue circles are the finest soils as defined in the text......140 Figure 8.2: Site-composite analytical results for surface dust samples.....................................141 Figure 8.3: Arsenic distribution from soil dust analysis............................................................142 Figure 8.4: Copper distribution from soil dust analysis.............................................................143 Figure 8.5: Molybdenum distribution from soil dust analysis...................................................144 Figure 8.6: Lead distribution from soil dust analysis................................................................145 Figure 8.7: Selenium distribution from soil dust analysis.........................................................146 Figure 8.8: Thorium distribution from soil dust analysis..........................................................147 Figure 8.9: Uranium distribution from soil dust analysis..........................................................148 Figure 8.10: Vanadium distribution from soil dust analysis......................................................149 Figure 8.11: Copper/molybdenum ratio distribution from soil dust analysis............................150 Figure 8.12: Ambient atmospheric dust sampler NCH-AD-2 with bird-proofing installed on the upper rim.............................................................................................................................151 Figure 8.13: Data from three methods that were used to collect the fine dust at site NCH-WT-4, a wind tunnel, a soil scoop on the wind tunnel trackway, and a sieving of a bulk soil sample .............................................................................................................................................152 Figure 9.1: A major gully has cut a broad swath through the mine spoils below the major discharge point on the bench of Bluff B.............................................................................153 Figure 9.2: Deep gully cut into gentle slope at the base of Bluff B............................................153 Figure 9.3: Shallowing of gully at USFS-administered/private land interface to knee-deep.....154 Figure 9.4: Shallow bed of major discharge channel just above Riley Pass Road.....................154 Figure 9.5: Incipient gullying on Gene Feist property................................................................155 Figure 9.6: Washover fan of silt and sand below mine spoils of Bluff B...................................155 Figure 9.7: Uranium concentrations of the soil survey on the east side of Bluff B....................156 Figure 9.8: Arsenic concentrations of the soil survey on the east side of Bluff B......................157 Figure 9.9: Copper/molybdenum ratios of the soil survey on the east side of Bluff B..............158 Figure 9.10: Uranium concentrations of three soil cores around the toe of a large slide mass on the northeast side of Bluff H...............................................................................................159 Figure 9.11: Arsenic concentrations of three soil cores collected around the toe of a large slide mass on the northeast side of Bluff H.................................................................................160 Figure 9.12: Copper/molybdenum ratios of three soil cores collected around the toe of a large - vii - FINAL REPORT: North Cave Hills Abandoned Uranium Mines Impact Investigation South Dakota School of Mines and Technology slide mass on the northeast side of Bluff H........................................................................161 Figure 9.13: Uranium concentrations for Bluffs A-I soil sampling sites of the Pioneer (2005) study....................................................................................................................................162 Figure 9.14: Uranium concentrations for background and Bluffs J – L soil samples listed in the Pioneer (2005) study...........................................................................................................163 Figure 9.15: Arsenic concentrations for Bluffs A-I soil sampling sites listed in the Pioneer (2005) study....................................................................................................................................164 Figure 9.16: Arsenic concentrations for background and Bluff J – L soil samples listed in the Pioneer (2005) study...........................................................................................................165 Figure 9.17: Molybdenum concentrations for Bluff A – I soil sample listed in the Pioneer (2005) study....................................................................................................................................166 Figure 9.18: Molybdenum concentrations for background and Bluff J – L soil samples listed in the Pioneer (2005) study.....................................................................................................167 Figure 9.19: Copper/molybdenum ratios for Bluff A – I soil sample listed in the Pioneer (2005) study....................................................................................................................................168 Figure 9.20: Copper/molybdenum ratios for background and Bluff J – L soil samples listed in the Pioneer (2005) study...........................................................................................................169 Figure 10.1: Locations of background sampling sites used for establishing background concentrations in drainage sediments.................................................................................170 Figure 10.2: Locations and uranium concentrations in drainage samples..................................171 Figure 10.3: Locations and uranium concentrations of core samples in the upper Pete’s Creek drainage...............................................................................................................................172 Figure 10.4: Sampling locations and arsenic concentrations of drainage samples.....................173 Figure 10.5: Locations and arsenic concentrations of sediment samples in the upper Pete’s Creek drainage...............................................................................................................................174 Figure 10.6: Sampling locations and molybdenum concentrations of drainage samples...........175 Figure 10.7: Sampling locations and molybdenum concentrations in the upper Pete’s Creek drainage...............................................................................................................................176 Figure 10.8: Locations and copper/molybdenum ratios of sediment samples............................177 Figure 10.9: Locations and copper/molybdenum ratios of sediment samples in the upper Pete’s Creek drainage....................................................................................................................178 Figure 10.10: Uranium concentrations of sediment samples plotted against their distance to potential sources..................................................................................................................179 Figure 10.11: Arsenic concentrations of sediment samples plotted against their distance to potential sources..................................................................................................................180 Figure 10.12: Molybdenum concentrations of sediment samples plotted against their distance to potential sources..................................................................................................................181 Figure 10.13: Copper/molybdenum ratios of sediment samples plotted against their distance to potential sources..................................................................................................................182 Figure 10.14: Uranium concentration in stream sediments potentially affected by abandoned mine sites............................................................................................................................183 Figure 10.15: Arsenic concentration in stream sediments potentially affected by abandoned mine sites.....................................................................................................................................184 Figure 10.16: Molybdenum concentration in stream sediments potentially affected by abandoned mine sites............................................................................................................................185 Figure 10.17: Copper/molybdenum ratios in stream sediments potentially affected by abandoned - viii - FINAL REPORT: North Cave Hills Abandoned Uranium Mines Impact Investigation South Dakota School of Mines and Technology mine sites............................................................................................................................186 Figure 10.18: Uranium concentrations of sediment samples plotted against their distance to potential sources in the Pete’s Creek drainage...................................................................187 Figure 10.19: Arsenic concentrations of sediment samples plotted against their distance to potential sources in the Pete’s Creek drainage...................................................................188 Figure 10.20: Molybdenum concentrations of sediment samples plotted against their distance to potential sources in the Pete’s Creek drainage...................................................................189 Figure 10.21: Copper/molybdenum ratios of sediment samples plotted against their distance to potential sources in the Pete’s Creek drainage...................................................................190 Figure 10.22: Uranium concentration of stream sediments in the upper Pete’s Creek drainage 191 Figure 10.23: Arsenic concentration of stream sediments in the upper Pete’s Creek drainage..192 Figure 10.24: Molybdenum concentrations of stream sediments in the upper Pete’s Creek drainage...............................................................................................................................193 Figure 10.25: Copper/molybdenum ratios of stream sediments in the upper Pete’s Creek drainage .............................................................................................................................................194 Figure 10.26: Uranium concentrations of sediment samples plotted against their distance to potential sources in the Schleichart Draw...........................................................................195 Figure 10.27: Arsenic concentrations of sediment samples plotted against their distance to potential sources in the Schleichart Draw...........................................................................196 Figure 10.28: Molybdenum concentrations of sediment samples plotted against their distance to potential sources in the Schleichart Draw...........................................................................197 Figure 10.29: Copper/molybdenum ratios of sediment samples plotted against their distance to potential sources in the Schleichart Draw...........................................................................198 Figure 10.30: Uranium concentrations of stream sediments in Schleichart Draw.....................199 Figure 10.31: Arsenic concentrations of stream sediments in Schleichart Draw.......................200 Figure 10.32: Molybdenum concentrations of stream sediments in Schleichart Draw..............201 Figure 10.33: Copper/molybdenum ratios of stream sediments in Schleichart Draw................202 - ix - FINAL REPORT: North Cave Hills Abandoned Uranium Mines Impact Investigation South Dakota School of Mines and Technology APPENDIX Appendix A Analytical Results Appendix A1 SDSM&T Surface Water Data Appendix A1 SW All WQ Parameters Phase I ELI.pdf Appendix A1 SW pH,ORP Field Measurements.xls Appendix A1 SW Results.xls Appendix A2 SDSM&T Ground Water Data Appendix A2 Groundwater Quality Analytical Results.xls Appendix A2 GW-C Fiest well construction log.pdf Appendix A2 GW-Clarkson Ranch well construction log.pdf Appendix A2 GW-D Oritham well construction log.pdf Appendix A2 GW-E Johnson well construction log.pdf Appendix A2 GW-Fiest, Gilbert well data.xls Appendix A2 GW-G Miller well construction log.pdf Appendix A2 GW-J Clarkson well construction log.pdf Appendix A2 GW-J Miller well construction log.pdf Appendix A2 GW-L Brown well construction log.pdf Appendix A2 GW-L Brown well construction log.pdf Appendix A2 GW-N Ketchum well construction log.pdf Appendix A2 GW-results.xls Appendix A2 GW-T Hafner well construction log.pdf Appendix A2 GW-T Kalisiak well construction log.pdf Appendix A2 GW-USGS well locations.pdf Appendix A2 GW-USGS WQ data Welch.txt Appendix A2 GW-USGS WQ data Welch(2).txt Appendix A2 GW-USGS WQ data Rotenberger.txt Appendix A2 GW-USGS WQ data Rotenberger(2).txt Appendix A2 GW-USGS WQ data Rotenberger(3).txt Appendix A2 GW-USGS WQ data Johnson.txt Appendix A3 SDSM&T Air Particulates Data Appendix A3 Air -Soil Particle Size Data Sheets.pdf Appendix A3 WT Total Metals Analytical Results.xls Appendix A4 SDSM&T Sediments and Soils Data Appendix A4 Pioneer 2005 Analytical Results.xls Appendix A4 Sediment and Soils Analytical Results.xls Appendix A4 Sediment Sampling Distance to Source.xls - x -