22 December 2005 CE03176 Mr. Glenn Case Manager, Projects and Facilities Development Low-Level Radioactive Waste Management Office Atomic Energy of Canada Limited 5 Mill Street South Port Hope, Ontario L1A 2S6 Dear Mr. Case: Re: Status Report for the Historic Northern Transportation Route (NTR) AMEC Earth & Environmental is pleased to submit our draft report describing the current status of efforts to identify and manage contamination by uranium ores on NTR sites and/or communities. For each of the subject locations, the report describes the site and its operational history, summarizes radiological investigations and/or remedial efforts undertaken to date, and categorizes the significance of any remaining ore contamination. We look forward to reviewing the contents of this draft with you. If you have any questions or comments in this regard, please feel free to contact the undersigned at 403-235-8136. Yours truly, AMEC Earth & Environmental R. Brian Geddes, P.Eng. Project Manager RBG/sms AMEC Earth & Environmental A division of AMEC Americas Limited 221 – 18th Street S.E. Calgary, Alberta, CANADA T2E 6J5 Tel + 1 (403) 248-4331 Fax + 1 (403) 248-2188 www.amec.com S:\Project\Ce03176\dft rev1 rpt-3176-dec14-rbg.doc DRAFT (Rev. 1) – LLRWMO Status Report for the Historic Northern Transportation Route December 2005 TABLE OF CONTENTS PAGE 1.0 INTRODUCTION............................................................................................................... 1 1.1 Background ........................................................................................................... 1 1.2 Objectives.............................................................................................................. 1 1.3 Scope .................................................................................................................... 1 2.0 METHODS ........................................................................................................................5 2.1 Site Categories...................................................................................................... 5 2.2 Material Categories ............................................................................................... 5 2.3 Data Sources......................................................................................................... 6 3.0 SITE INFORMATION........................................................................................................ 7 3.1 Sawmill Bay........................................................................................................... 7 3.1.1 Location ................................................................................................ 7 3.1.2 Operational History and Site Description .............................................. 7 3.1.3 Radiological Investigations/Remediation .............................................. 7 3.1.3.1 Dock and Wharf Area ......................................................... 10 3.1.3.2 Central Lodge Area ............................................................ 10 3.1.3.3 Eldorado Airstrip................................................................. 10 3.1.3.4 Lodge Airstrip ..................................................................... 10 3.2 Deline .................................................................................................................. 11 3.2.1 Location .............................................................................................. 11 3.2.2 Operational History and Site Description ............................................ 11 3.2.3 Radiological Investigations/Remediation ............................................ 11 3.2.3.1 The Radium Gilbert ............................................................ 13 3.2.3.2 Great Bear River Landing (Franklin Landing)..................... 13 3.3 Great Bear River Sites......................................................................................... 13 3.3.1 Location .............................................................................................. 13 3.3.2 Operational History and Site Descriptions .......................................... 13 3.3.3 Radiological Investigations ................................................................. 16 3.3.3.1 Lower Shipyard................................................................... 16 3.3.3.2 Bennett Alternate Landing.................................................. 18 3.3.3.3 Road Between Bennett Alternate and Original Landings ... 18 3.3.3.4 Bennett Original Landing.................................................... 18 3.3.3.5 Bennett Camp..................................................................... 18 3.3.3.6 Road Between Bennett Camp and Bennett Airstrip ........... 23 3.3.3.7 Bennett Airstrip................................................................... 23 3.3.3.8 Road Between Bennett Airstrip and Upper Portage Wharf.......................................................... 26 3.3.3.9 Upper Portage Wharf.......................................................... 26 3.3.3.10 Upper Shipyard................................................................... 26 3.3.3.11 Upper Winter Road............................................................. 31 3.3.3.12 Upper River Tie-Ups........................................................... 31 3.3.3.13 Lower River Tie-Ups........................................................... 31 S:\Project\Ce03176\dft rev1 rpt-3176-dec14-rbg.doc Table of Contents DRAFT (Rev. 1) – LLRWMO Status Report for the Historic Northern Transportation Route December 2005 3.4 Tulita.................................................................................................................... 31 3.4.1 Location .............................................................................................. 31 3.4.2 Operational History and Site Description ............................................ 33 3.4.3 Radiological Investigations/Remediation ............................................ 33 3.4.3.1 Bear River Landing at Tulita............................................... 35 3.4.3.2 NTCL Camp........................................................................ 35 3.4.3.3 Over-Winter Storage Site ................................................... 35 3.4.3.4 Mackenzie River Bluff......................................................... 35 3.4.3.5 Contaminated Soil Storage Mound..................................... 36 3.5 Middle Mackenzie River Sites ............................................................................. 36 3.5.1 Location .............................................................................................. 36 3.5.2 Operational History and Description ................................................... 36 3.5.3 Radiological Investigations/Remediation ............................................ 38 3.5.3.1 Wrigley................................................................................ 38 3.5.3.2 Fort Simpson ...................................................................... 38 3.5.3.3 Jean Marie River ................................................................ 38 3.5.3.4 Axe Point and Cache Island ............................................... 40 3.5.3.5 Fort Providence .................................................................. 40 3.6 Hay River............................................................................................................. 40 3.6.1 Location .............................................................................................. 40 3.6.2 Operational History and Site Description ............................................ 43 3.6.3 Radiological Investigations/Remediation ............................................ 43 3.6.3.1 Old Fishing Village.............................................................. 43 3.6.3.2 NTCL Dock Area ................................................................ 43 3.6.3.3 Old Indian Village – Cemetery and River Bank .................. 45 3.7 Rae-Edzo ............................................................................................................ 45 3.7.1 Location .............................................................................................. 45 3.7.2 Operational History and Site Description ............................................ 45 3.7.3 Radiological Investigations/Remediation ............................................ 47 3.7.3.1 Island and Mainland Areas................................................. 47 3.7.3.2 Rayrock Barge Loadout Area ............................................. 47 3.7.3.3 Marian Lake Indian Village ................................................. 47 3.8 Yellowknife .......................................................................................................... 48 3.8.1 Location .............................................................................................. 48 3.8.2 Operational History and Site Description ............................................ 48 3.8.3 Radiological Investigations ................................................................. 48 3.9 Fort Resolution .................................................................................................... 48 3.9.1 Location .............................................................................................. 48 3.9.2 Operational History and Site Description ............................................ 48 3.9.3 Radiological Investigations ................................................................