DRC-2010-003383 - 0901a0688018eec9

State ofUtah
GARY R. HERBERT
GREG BELL
Lieutenant Governor
Department of
Environmental Quality
Amanda Smith
E.xecutive Director
DfVlSlON OF RADIATION CONTROL
Dane L. Finerfrock
Direclor
DRC-2010-003383
MEM O R ANDU M
TO:
Through:
FROM:
DATE:
File
Loren Morton, Section Manager
Phil Goble, Hydrogeologist
May 27, 2010
//I 5j9-^)i^
SUBJECT: October 14, 2009 Sample Results From the "Frog Pond" Located
Northeast of the Denison Mines (USA) Corp. White Mesa Uranium
Mill Near Blanding, Utah.
The Division of Radiafion Control (hereafter DRC) conducted the 2009 Split Sampling Event for
the Denison Mines (USA) Corp (hereafter DUSA) White Mesa Mill facility near Blanding, Utah
from October 12 - 14, 2009. On October 14, 2009 the DRC collected a surface water sample from
a pond northeast of the Mill. This pond is referred as the "Frog Pond" by DUSA. The purpose of
this memorandum is to document the sampling event and discuss the results. Pictures taken
during the Frog Pond sampling are attached to this memo.
The October 14, 2009 Frog Pond surface water sample was collected by DRC hydrogeol ogists
Phil Goble and Dean Henderson. Mr. David Turk, who is the Site Radiafion Safety Officer for the
Mill also collected a surface water sample from Frog Pond at the same time as DRC staff. DRC
staff told Mr. Turk they were going to analyze the sample for Ammonia (as N) and Nitrate +
Nitrite (as N).
The October 14, 2009 Frog Pond sample was submitted to DRC contract laboratory Lionville
Laboratory for analysis. The sample was analyzed for Ammonia (as N) under method A4500-
NH3 G and Nitrate + Nitrite (as N) under method E353.2. The results for the sample are
summarized below:
Sample Analyte Analytical
Method
Results Utah Ground
Water Quality
Standard
FROG POND Ammonia (as N) A4500-NH3 E 0.11 mg/L 25 mg/L
FROG POND Nitrate + Nitrite (as N) E353.2 <0.02 mg/L 10 mg/L
195 North 1950 West • Salt Lake City, UT
Mailing Address: P.O. Box 144850 • Salt Lake City, UT 84114-4850
Telephone [phone] • Fax [phone] • T.D.D. [phone]
www. deq. uiah.gov
Prinled on 100% recycled paper
Page 2
As shown on the table above, the results for Ammonia (as N) and Nitrate + Nitrite (as N) were
well below the Utah Ground Water Quality Standard (hereafter GWQS) of 25 mg/L and 10 mg/L,
respecfively. In fact the result for Nitrate + Nitrite (as N) was non-detect.
In 2009, during review of the New Wells Background Report and other reports, a Nitrate
contaminant plume was identified by DRC staff in five monitoring wells in the mill site area,
including wells: MW-30, MW-31, TW4-22, TW4-24, and TW4-25. The highest nitrate result
found in the wells on site was in well TW4-19 with a result of 47.8 mg/L during the 4"^ Quarter of
2008.
In the December 30, 2009 Nitrate Contaminafion Invesfigafion Report, DUSA argues that the
Frog Pond is the source of the nitrate/chloride plume idenfified by DRC staff in 2009. From the
mid 1980s unfil the Recapture Reservoir water was first piped to the Mill in 1991-1992, the Frog
Pond served as an additional water source for Mill operations. DUSA claims that water from the
upgradient waste water treatment facility is the source of the water for the Frog Pond. Apparently
water from the Frog Pond was piped to the northern-most wildlife pond at the Mill and to another
holding pond on site for Mill makeup water (Lawzy Lake).
Conclusion
A surface water sample collected from the Frog Pond on October 14, 2009. The sample was
analyzed for Ammonia (as N) and Nitrate + Nitrite (as N) and both results were well below the
GWQS; therefore, if the Frog Pond was the historical source of the nitrate/chloride plume as
DUSA suspects, it doesn't appear to contribute to the problem today.
Photo 1. This pond is located northeast of the DUSA White Mesa Uranium Mill.
DUSA refers to this pond as the “Frog Pond.” Photo taken October 14, 2009.
Photo 2. Frog Pond. Photo taken looking east.
Photo 3. Frog Pond. Photo taken looking north.
.
Photo 4. A small amount of water discharge leaves the Frog Pond though a culvert
under a nearby road. I’d estimate the flow of the discharge no greater than 1 to 3
gpm. Photo taken looking southwest.