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Radiological testing to start on field
Long-time rumors prompt action

Next week the National Park Service will begin a radiological evaluation of the Grand Canyon Unified School District athletic field.

Over the years there has been sporadic but recurring concerns expressed by community members that there may be elevated radiation levels at the school athletic field associated with waste rock from various uranium mines in the area reputedly having been used as fill for field construction.

Officials are conducting a comprehensive search of park archival documents concerning the field and to date have not found any evidence or suggestion that mine tailings or waste rock from uranium mines were ever used in its construction. Thus, the NPS has no reason to believe that concerns about the field have any factual basis.

Nevertheless, the NPS will conduct a radiological investigation to address and bring to closure lingering concerns about the field and any potential radiological contamination.

A work plan has been prepared by the Bureau of Reclamation who will serve as the contractor. A subcontractor will begin working with school personnel and utility representatives to have the underground utilities and sprinkler system identified and flagged.

Investigation activities will begin at 7 a.m. on Monday and last through approximately July 31.

Lab analysis will occur during August and September and a draft report is expected by Oct. 31. A final report is expected by Dec. 31.

The general location of the investigation on the field will consist of two areas which include the track/field area and baseball/soccer field area.

An area of park land located adjacent to the baseball/soccer field area and a parking lot west of the track/field area is jointly referred to in the work plan as the "background" area for purposes of the investigation.

Field radiological measurements and samples of soil collected from within the background area will be used to represent typical local soil conditions and will be used for comparison to conditions measured on the Field.

The primary goals for the investigation as outlined in the work plan are:

• Determine whether radiological contamination associated with uranium mine waste rock is present in soils used to construct the field.

• Evaluate human health risk if it is concluded that waste rock is present.

The investigation will address the question whether radiological contamination associated with waste rock is present in the soils used to construct the field by making gamma-radiation measurements throughout the area.

Also, samples of the soil representing the surface and top two feet of material will be collected and evaluated to determine select radionuclide concentrations and, if risk evaluation is deemed necessary, the concentration of metals in the field.

The background area will be similarly investigated and the results used for comparison.

If data generated from the investigation establishes elevated radiation levels at the Field, thereby supporting a conclusion that waste rock is present, then a limited human health risk evaluation will be performed.

Careful coordination with the School District will be conducted to schedule field use for the period of the investigation.

Areas being investigated may need to be isolated with a tape barrier to deter public entrance if such entrance would interfere with timely accomplishment of the investigation.

For more information about the Field evaluation, please contact Maureen Oltrogge, Public Affairs Officer at 638-7779.

Copies of the work plan will be made available upon request by contacting Oltrogge at the phone number listed above or by sending an electronic request to Maureen_Oltrogge@nps.gov.


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