Midnite Mine

Contacts

EPA

Project Manager: Ellie Hale (206) 553-1215
Community Involvement Coordinator: Caryn Sengupta (206) 553-1275

Spokane Tribe

Superfund Coordinator: Randy Connolly (509) 626-4425
Director, Department of Natural Resources: Rudy Peone (509) 626-4401
Public Relations Director: Jamie Sijohn (509) 458-6586

How to obtain copies of documents:

Documents are available at the Region 10 Office in Seattle or at:

Spokane Tribal College and Community Library
6232 Old School Road
Wellpinit, Washington
(509) 258-9209

A sign warning of radioactive substances at the site.

More Information

Additional Resources

The following links have been provided for additional information purposes and may not be within the EPA.gov domain.

Site Summary: Midnite Mine is an inactive former uranium mine in the Selkirk Mountains of eastern Washington. Located within the reservation of the Spokane Tribe of Indians, the mine was operated from 1955 until 1981.

Two open pits, backfilled pits, and a number of waste rock piles and ore/protore stockpiles remain on site. In addition to elevated levels of radioactivity, heavy metals mobilized in acid mine drainage pose a potential threat to human health and the environment. The site drains to Blue Creek, which enters the Spokane Arm of Franklin D. Roosevelt Lake. Contaminated water emerging below the waste rock and ore piles is currently captured for treatment in an on-site treatment system.

The final cleanup plan (Record of Decision, or ROD) for the site was issued September 29, 2006.

Record of Decision

The cleanup plan calls for a cap over an area of pits filled with waste during mining, consolidation and engineered containment of remaining waste in the two open pits, removal of water entering the pits, and operation of a treatment system to treat contaminated water from the pits and seeps.

The Record of Decision initiates the design phase. Design of the cleanup will include data collection to support detailed construction plans and is expected to take several years.

Midnite Mine Superfund Site Spokane Indian Reservation Washington Record of Decision (PDF) (248 pp. 5.4MB, About PDF) - September 2006

Please read supporting Technical Documents

Aerial Survery of the Spokane Reservation

In mid-September of 2011, EPA conducted an aerial survey of the Spokane Reservation to look for radiation. An Aero Commander 680 FL aircraft with ‘US EPA’ painted on the bottom of its wings, flew over the survey area in a pattern of straight lines at 500 ft above the ground. Equipment on the plane gathered data on radiation levels in various locations including populated areas, Midnite Mine, the Dawn Mill, and the Western Nuclear/Sherwood mine/mill.

Larger view of areas covered by the survey.

Questions and Answers about the Aerial Survey

Why is there a plane flying low over my neighborhood?: A small EPA plane with ‘USEPA’ written on the wings is flying over various parts of the reservation to collect measurements. The aerial survey was requested by the Spokane Tribe.
What information will be collected?: Equipment on the plane will gather data on radiation levels from uranium in areas of the Spokane Reservation. The survey area includes former uranium mines and mills. Midnite Mine, the Dawn Mill in Ford, and the Western Nuclear/Sherwood mine/mill have been or are being cleaned up. The flyover is part of an effort to determine where material from the former mines or mills may have been moved and/or spilled. For that reason, the survey also includes areas where people live and work.
What kind of radioactive material do you expect to find, and what are the sources?: We expect to detect natural radioactive material. Uranium is naturally present in all rocks and soils, although most contain just a small amount. If we find radiation levels above expected background, we'll investigate the source of the radiation.
Did the nuclear reactor damage in Japan lead to this project?: This project isn't related to the disaster in Japan. The amount of radioactive material that reached our shores from Japan was extremely low and will not be detected by equipment on the plane.
Are you going to provide the survey results, and if so, how?: The survey results will be provided after the reports have been completed and the quality of the information has been verified. EPA will work with the Spokane Tribe to determine how the results will be shared.
What kind of radiation does the equipment on the plane detect?: The equipment detects gamma radiation. This type of radiation can travel the distance between the ground and the plane, so it's easy to detect during a flyover.
Is there radiation you cannot detect?: We will not be able to detect beta or alpha radiation on the ground. The distance between the plane and the ground is too great to be able to measure these types of radiation from the air.
If you find something that can cause health problems, will you tell us, and if so, how?: We will tell the public if we find radioactive material that can cause health problems. EPA will work with the Tribal government and health agencies to share the results with the public.
Who is responsible for the flyover?: The Spokane Tribe selected the areas to be surveyed. EPA is responsible for assuring that the survey is completed properly.
Who is paying for the flyover?: The flyover is funded by EPA. EPA has done aerial radiation surveys in other parts of the country, including the Pueblo of the Laguna.
If you find radiation in a location, will it be cleaned up?: If we find any areas emitting harmful levels of radiation, we will take action to protect the public. Any environmental cleanup decisions will be made in coordination with the Spokane Tribe and other local officials.
How big of an area are you going to fly over?: Less than 25% of the area of Spokane Reservation will be surveyed. See flight map.