DRC-2011-007860 - 0901a068802b155c

State of Utah
GARYR HERBERT
Governor
GREG BELL
Lieutenant Governor
Department of
Environmental Quality
Amanda Snuth
Executive Director
DIVISION OF RADIATION CONTROL
Rusty Lundberg
Director
DRC-2011-007860
TO
FROM
DATE
SUBJECT
Phil Goble
Dean Henderson
August 17 2011
MEMORANDUM
Review of the 2009 Annual Seep and Spnngs Sampling Report
for the Denison Mines (USA) Corp (hereafter DUSA )
White Mesa Uranium Mill near Blandmg Utah
On December 2 2009 the Division of Radiation Control (hereafter DRC ) received 2009 Annual Seep
and Spnngs Sampling Report (hereafter Report ) for the Denison Mines (USA) Corp (hereafter
DUSA ) White Mesa Uranium Mill near Blanding Utah For the review of this Report the following
regulatory enforcement documents will be used
• White Mesa Uranium Mill Ground Water Quality Assurance Plan (hereafter QAP )
Revision 4 0 dated Apnl 16 2009
• Groundwater Discharge Permit No UGW370004 (hereafter Permit ) Permit version that was
signed by on March 17 2008
• Sampling Plan for Seeps and Springs In the Vicinity of the White Mesa Uranium Mill Revision 0
(hereafter Plan )
The review for the Report will be 1) Summary of Compliance and 2) Mill Operations Impact on the
Seeps and Springs
Summary of Compliance
It appears that DUSA was m compliance with the QAP Permit and Plan which mcluded sampling
locations sample collection methodology analysis of required parameters QA/QC and reporting
During the 2009 seeps and springs monitoring event DRC split the Ruin springs sample with DUSA
Comparisons between the two analytical results for these samples are summarized m Table 6 in
Attachment 1 below To determine if samples results between two samples from two different laboratories
are comparable a relative percent difference (hereafter RPD ) of 30% is acceptable (DRC 2007) The
RPD compansons between the analytical results were below 30% with the exception of nitrate (33%) The
DRC nitrate result was 1 mg/l and the DUSA nitrate result Dunng the 2009 seeps and springs monitoring
event DRC split the Rum springs sample with DUSA was 1 4 mg/l both well below the Ground Water
195 North 1950 West Salt Lake City UT
Mailing Address PO Box 144850 Salt Lake City UT 84114 4850
Telephone [phone] Fax [phone] TDD [phone]
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Pr nted 1009' y led p pe
Page 2
Compliance Limit (hereafter GWCL ) of 10 mg/l Therefore DRC staff feels this RPD exceedance is not
a concem and the analytical results between the two samples are comparable
Mill Operations Impact on the Seeps and Sprmgs
The analytical results for the 2009 sampling event show contaminants with concentrations below their
respective GWCLs At every spnng most contaminants had concentrations below laboratory detections
limits (see Table 1 in Attachment 1) Spnng locations with detectable contaminant concentrations were
summarized m the table below
Sprmg Contammant
Cottonwood Spnng Nitrate 0 1 mg/L Uranium 8 4 |ig/L and Fluonde
0 4 mg/L
Entrance Spnng Ammonia 0 28 mg/L Nitrate 1 4 mg/L Manganese
54 pg/L Selenium 12 1 pg/L Uranium 15 2 pg/L
and Fluonde 0 7 mg/L
Ruin Spnng Ammonia 0 09 mg/L Nitrate 1 4 mg/L
Molybdenum 17 pg/L Selenium 12 2 pg/L
Uranium 9 1 pg/L and Huoride 0 5 mg/L
Wastewater Spnng Nitrate 0 8 mg/L Iron 89 pg/L Manganese 37
pg/L Uranium 15 1 pg/L and Fluonde 0 7 mg/L
Historical concentrations for each seep and spring can be seen m Attachment 1 tables 2 through 5 Pnor to
the 2009 seeps and springs sampling event Cottonwood Sprmg was sampled m July and November 1977
(Dames and More 1978) [see Table 2 m Attachment 1] and Ruin Springs was sampled m July 1977
(Dames and More 1978) and eight total sampling events in 2003 and 2004 by DUSA (see Table 4 m
Attachment 1) The analytical results for these sampling events show all contaminants were below the
GWQS with the exception of manganese (1100 pg/L [GWCL = 800 pg/L]) lead (30 pg/L [GWCL = 15
pg/L]) mercury (2 pg/L [GWCL = 2 pg/L]) and selenium ( 140 pg/L [GWCL = 50]) m the July 1977
sampling event for Cottonwocxl Sprmg (see Table 1 in Attachment 1) It should be noted that the lead and
mercury were analyzed as total metals therefore they would likely have a higher concentration than a
dissolved metal analysis The Mill began operating m 1980 more than two years prior to this sampling
event (July 1977) it is unlikely that the Mill operations impacted Cottonwood Spnng
Currently based on the analytical results for the 2009 and all other previous seeps and springs sampling
events it appears that the Mill at this time has not impacted Cottonwood Spnng Entrance Sprmg Rum
Spring and Wastewater Spring
Page 3
References
Denmson Mines (USA) Corp March 2009 Sampling Plan for Seeps and Spnngs In the Vicinity of the
White Mesa Uranium Mill Revision 0
Denmson Mines (USA) Corp Apnl 16 2009 White Mesa Uranium Mill Ground Water Quality
Assurance Plan Revision 4 0
State of Utah Division of Water Quality Department of Environmental Quality Utah Water
Quality Board Sak Lake City Utah March 17 2008 Groundwater Discharge Permit No UGW370004
Permit version signed by on March 17 2008
Utah Division of Radiation Control August 7 2007 Utah Department of Environmental Quality
Division of Radiation Control Guidance for Groundwater Split Sampling Collection at Uranium
Mill Operations
Page 4
Attachment 1
Tables 1 through 6
Table 1
Summary of Seeps and Springs Analytical Data 2009
Cottonwood
Contaminant GWCL Canyon Spring Enterance Spnng Rum Spnngs Westwater Spring
Parameters Listed m Table 2 July 9 2009 July 9 2009 July 9 2009 November 18 2009
Nutnents (mg/L)
Ammonia (as N) 25 <0 05 0 28 0 09 <0 05
Nitrate + Nitrite (as N) 10 01 1 4 1 4 0 8
Heavy Metals (pg/L)
Arsenic 50 <5 <5 <5 <5
Beryllium 4 <0 5 <0 5 <0 5 <0 5
Cadmium 5 <0 5 <0 5 <0 5 <0 5
Chromium 100 <25 <25 <25 <25
Cobalt 730 <10 <10 <10 <10
Copper 1 300 <10 <10 <10 <10
Iron 11 000 <30 <30 <30 89
Lead 15 <1 <1 <1 <1
Manganese 800 <10 54 <10 37
Mercury 2 <0 5 <0 5 <0 5 <0 5
Molybdenum 40 <10 <10 17 <10
Nickel 100 <20 <20 <20 <20
Selenium 50 <5 12 1 122 <5
Silver 100 <10 <10 <10 <10
Thallium 2 <0 5 <0 5 <0 5 <0 5
Tin 17 000 <100 <100 <100 <100
Uranium 30 8 42 152 9 11 15 1
Vanadium 60 <15 <15 <15 <15
Zinc 5 000 <10 <10 <10 <10
Radiologics i pCi/L)
Gross Alpha 15 <0 8 <0 8 <0 8 <0 6
VOC (pg/L)
Acetone 700 <20 <20 <20 <20
Benzene 5 <1 0 <1 0 <1 0 <1 0
2 Butanone (MEK) 4 000 <20 <20 <20 <20
Carbon Tetrachloride 5 <1 0 <1 0 <1 0 <1 0
Chloroform 70 <1 0 <1 0 <1 0 <1 0
Chloromethane 30 <1 0 <1 0 <1 0 <1 0
Dichloromethane 5 <1 0 <1 0 <1 0 <1 0
Naphthalene ( 100 <1 0 <1 0 <1 0 <1 0
Tetrahydrofuran (THF) 46 <1 0 <1 0 <1 0 <1 0
Toluene 1 000 <1 0 <1 0 <1 0 <1 0
Xylenes (total) 10 000 <1 0 <1 0 <1 0 <1 0
Others
Field pH (8 U ) 65 85 73 7 64 7 45 76
Fluoride (mg/L) 4 04 07 05 07
Chlonde (mg/L) NG 124 60 28 41
Sulfate (mg/L) NG 383 178 528 646
TDS (mg/L) NG 1 010 605 1 010 1 370
General inorganics Listed in Part 1 E 1 (c)(2)(ii)
Carbonate (mg/L) NG <1 <1 <1 <5
Bicarbonate (mg/L) NG 316 292 233 465
Sodium (mg/L) NG 205 61 4 104 196
Potassium (mg/L) NG 57 24 33 1 19
Magnesium (mg/L)
Calcium (mg/L)
NG
NG
25
90 3
26 6
90 8
32 3
151
45 9
191
Total anions (meq/L) NG 167 103 157 22 3
Total cations (meq/L) NG 156 9 47 148 21 8
NG = No GWCL
Table 2
Historic Cottonwood Spring Concentrations
Contammant GWCL Sampling Event
Parameters Listed in Table 2 ^ 7/25/1977 Ml/10/1977 7/9/2009
Nutrients (mg/L)
Ammonia (as N) 25 0 13 <01 <0 05
Nitrate + Nitrite (as N) 10 0 06 0 26 01
Heavy Metals (pg/L)
Arsenic 50 ^<10 NA <0 05
Beryllium 4 NA NA 01
Cadmium 5 ^4 '2 <0 5
Chromium 100 "^20 ^<10 <25
Cobalt 730 NA NA <10
Copper 1 300 ^5 ^<5 <10
Iron 11 000 3 200 110 <30
Lead 15 "^30 '^<50 <1
Manganese 800 1100 60 <10
Mercury 2 ^2 <0 5
Molybdenum 40 <10 NA <10
Nickel 100 NA NA <20
Selenium 50 140 NA <5
Silver 100 4 NA <10
Thallium 2 NA NA <0 5
Tin 17 000 NA NA <100
Uranium 30 4 NA 8 42
Vanadium 60 6 <10 <15
Zinc 5 000 60 150 <10
Radiologics (pCi/L)
Gross Alpha 15 10 2±31 NA <0 8
voc (pg/L)
Acetone 700 NA NA <20
Benzene 5 NA NA <1 0
2 Butanone (MEK) 4 000 NA NA <20
Carbon Tetrachlonde 5 NA NA <1 0
Chlorofonn 70 NA NA <1 0
Chloromethane 30 NA NA <1 0
Dichloromethane 5 NA NA <1 0
Naphthalene 100 NA NA <1 0
Tetrahydrofuran (THF) 46 NA NA <1 0
Toluene 1 000 NA NA <1 0
Xylenes (total) 10 000 NA NA <1 0
Others
Field pH (S U ) 65 85 70 8 1 73
Fluoride (mg/L) 4 1 05 04
Chlonde (mg/L) NG 1 71 124
Sulfate (mg/L) NG 333 243 383
TDS (mg/L) NG 1270 780 1 010
General Inorganics Listed in Part 1 E 1 (c) 2)(li)
Carbonate (mg/L) NG 0 0 <1
Bicarbonate (mg/L) NG NA NA 316
Sodium (mg/L) NG 400 115 205
Potassium (mg/L) NG 66 43 57
Magnesium (mg/L) NG 19 28 25
Calcium (mg/L) NG 58 133 90 3
Total anions (meq/L) NG NA NA 167
Total cations (meq/L) NG NA NA 156
1 Dames and Moore January 30 1978
NA = Not analyzed
NG = No GWCL
T = indicates metals analyzed as totals
Environmental Report White Mesa Uraium Project San Juan County Utah Energy Fuels Inc
Table 3
Contaminant GWCL 2009 Annual Monitormg Event
Parameters Listed m Table 2 Juiy 9 2009
Nutrients (mg/L)
Ammonia (as N) 25 0 28
Nitrate + Nitrite (as N) 10 1 4
Heavy Metals (pg/L)
Arsenic 50 <5
Beryllium 4 <0 5
Cadmium 5 <0 5
Chromium 100 <25
Cobalt 730 <10
Copper 1 300 <10
Iron 11 000 <30
Lead 15 <1
Manganese 800 54
Mercury 2 <0 5
Molybdenum 40 <10
Nickel 100 <20
Selenium 50 12 1
Sliver 100 <10
Thallium 2 <0 5
Tin 17 000 <100
Uranium 30 152
Vanadium 60 <15
Zmc 5 000 <10
Radiologics (pCi/L)
Gross Alpha 15 <0 8
VOC (pg/L)
Acetone 700 <20
Benzene 5 <1 0
2 Butanone (MEK) 4 000 <20
Carbon Tetrachloride 5 <1 0
Chloroform 70 <1 0
Chloromethane 30 <1 0
Dichloromethane 5 <1 0
Naphthalene 100 <1 0
Tetrahydrofuran (THF) 46 <1 0
Toluene 1 000 <1 0
Xylenes (total) 10 000 <1 0
Others
Field pH (S U ) 65 85 7 64
Fluonde (mg/L) 4 07
Chloride (mg/L) NG 60
Sulfate (mg/L) NG 178
TDS (mg/L) NG 605
General Inorganics Listed in Part E 1 (c)(2)(ii)
Carbonate (mg/L) NG <1
Bicarbonate (mg/L) NG 292
Sodium (mg/L) NG 61 4
Potassium (mg/L) NG 24
Magnesium (mg/L) NG 26 6
Calcium (mg/L) NG 90 8
Total anions (meq/L) NG 103
Total cations (meq/L) NG 9 47
NG = No GWCL
Table 4
Contaminant Samplinc } Events
Parameters Listed in Table 2 GWCL V/25/1977 3/28/2003 6/5/2003 8/29/2003 11/11/2003 3/15/2004 4/20/2004 8/13/2004 9/27/2004 7/9/2009
Nutrients (mg/L)
Ammonia (as N) 25 <0 1 <0 05 1 5 <0 05 <0 05 <0 05 06 <0 05 0 06 0 09
Nitrate + Nitnte (as N) 10 277 1 6 <0 05 1 4 1 4 1 7 1 8 1 34 1 7 1 4
Heavy Metals (pg/L)
Arsenic 50 NA 1 <1 <1 1 <1 <1 <1 <1 <5
Beryllium 4 NA <10 <10 <10 <10 <10 <10 <10 <10 <0 5
Cadmium 5 ^4 <5 <5 <5 <5 <5 <5 <5 <5 <0 5
Chromium 100 "^100 <50 <50 <50 <50 <50 <50 <50 <50 <25
Cobalt 730 NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA <10
Copper 1 300 ^<5 <10 <10 82 <10 <10 <10 <10 <10 <10
Iron 11 000 20 <50 <50 <50 <50 <50 <50 <50 <50 <30
Lead 15 <50 <50 <50 <50 <50 <50 <50 <50 <50 <1
Manganese 800 <5 <10 <10 <10 <10 <10 <10 <10 <10 <10
Mercury 2 "^<5 <1 <1 <1 <1 <1 <1 <1 <1 <0 5
Molybdenum 40 NA <100 <100 <100 <100 <100 <100 <100 <100 17
Nickel 100 NA <50 <50 <50 <50 <50 <50 <50 <50 <20
Selenium 50 NA 13 12 12 12 12 12 12 12 122
Silver 100 NA <1 <1 <1 <1 <1 <1 <1 <1 <10
Thallium 2 NA <1 <1 <1 <1 <1 <1 <1 <1 <0 5
Tin 17 000 NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA <100
Uranium 30 NA 9 11 10 10 11 11 9 10 911
Vanadium 60 <10 <100 <100 <100 <100 <100 <100 <100 <100 <15
Zinc 5 000 15 14 <10 <10 <10 <10 <10 <10 <10 <10
Radiologics (pCi/L I
Gross Alpha 15|NA NA NA NA <1 0 <1 0 <1 0 14 <1 0 <0 8
VOC (pg/L)
Acetone 700 NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA <20
Benzene 5 NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA <1 0
2 Butanone (MEK) 4 000 NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA <20
Carbon Tetrachlonde 5 NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA <1 0
Chloroform 70 NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA <1 0
Chloromethane 30 NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA <1 0
Dichloromethane 5 NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA <1 0
Naphthalene 100 NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA <1 0
Tetrahydrofuran (THF) 46 NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA <1 0
Toluene 1 000 NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA <1 0
Xylenes (total) 10 000 NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA <1 0
Others
Field pH (S U ) 65 85 78 NA NA 7 91 7 98 NA NA NA NA 7 45
Fluonde (mg/L) 4 06 NA NA 06 05 05 06 06 06 05
Chloride (mg/L) NG 25 28 1 21 5 27 4 28 29 3 28 5 26 25 28
Sulfate (mg/L) NG 472 503 501 495 506 539 468 544 613 528
TDS (mg/L) NG 975 NA NA 1040 1000 1050 1110 1050 1070 1 010
General Inorganics Listed in Part 1 E 1 (c)(2)(ii)
Carbonate (mg/L) NG 0 NA <1 <1 <1 <1 <1 <1 <1
Bicarbonate (mg/L) NG NA NA NA 239 241 235 232 238 223 233
Sodium (mg/L) NG 200 110 105 103 113 104 110 113 116 104
Potassium (mg/L) NG 28 26 33 33 39 34 36 4 37 33
Magnesium (mg/L) NG 265 34 8 34 2 31 7 34 2 35 8 351 37 1 38 6 32 3
Calcium (mg/L) NG 375 153 156 149 158 158 162 176 186 151
Total anions (meq/L) NG NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA 157
Total cations (meq/L) NG NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA 148
1 Dames and Moore January 30 1978 E vironmental Report White Mesa Uraium Project Sa Juan County Utah Ene gy Fuels Inc
NA Not a alyzed
NG No GWCL
T nd cates the metal analyzed as total
Table 5
Contaminant GWCL 2009 Annual Monitormg Event
Parameters Listed m Table 2 November 18, 2009
Nutrients (mg/L)
Ammonia (as N) 25 <0 05
Nitrate + Nitrite (as N) 10 08
Heavy Metals (pg/L)
Arsenic 50 <5
Beryllium 4 <0 5
Cadmium 5 <0 5
Chromium 100 <25
Cobalt 730 <10
Copper 1 300 <10
Iron 11 000 <30
Lead 15 <1
Manganese 800 37
Mercury 2 <0 5
Molybdenum 40 <10
Nickel 100 <20
Selenium 50 <5
Silver 100 <10
Thallium 2 <0 5
Tin 17 000 <100
Uranium 30 151
Vanadium 60 <15
Zinc 5 000 <10
Radiologics (pCi/L)
Gross Alpha 15|<0 6
VOC (pg/L)
Acetone 700 <20
Benzene 5 <1 0
2 Butanone (MEK) 4 000 <20
Carbon Tetrachloride 5 <1 0
Chloroform 70 <1 0
Chloromethane 30 <1 0
Dichloromethane 5 <1 0
Naphthalene 100 <1 0
Tetrahydrofuran (THF) 46 <1 0
Toluene 1 000 <1 0
Xylenes (total) 10 000 <1 0
Others
Field pH (S U ) 65 85 8 01
Fluoride (mg/L) 4 07
Chlonde (mg/L) NG 41
Sulfate (mg/L) NG 646
TDS (mg/L) NG 1 370
General Inorganics Listed in Part E 1 (c)(2)(n)
Carbonate (mg/L) NG <5
Bicarbonate (mg/L) NG 465
Sodium (mg/L) NG 195
Potassium (mg/L) NG 24
Magnesium (mg/L) NG 26 6
Calcium (mg/L) NG 191
Total anions (meq/L) NG 22 3
Total cations (meq/L) NG 21 8
NG = No GWCL
Table 6
Duplicate QA/QC Samples
DRC s sample of DUSA s sample of Back Sprmg (duplicate
Contaminant Rum Spring Rum Spnng RPD Rum Spnng sample of Rum Spring) RPD
Parameters Listed in Table 2 GWCL July 9 2009 July 9 2009
Nutrients (mg/L)
Ammonia (as N) 25 (J) 0 05 0 09 NC 0 09 <0 05 NC
Nitrate + Nitrite (as N) 10 1 1 4" 33 33 1 4 1 4 OOC
Heavy Metals (pg/L)
Arsenic 50 <2 5 <5 NC <5 <5 NC
Beryllium 4 <0 2 <0 5 NC <0 5 <0 5 NC
Cadmium 5 <0 2 <0 5 NC <0 5 <0 5 NC
Chromium 100 <3 <25 NC <25 <25 NC
Cobalt 730 <1 <10 NC <10 <10 NC
Copper 1 300 <3 <10 NC <10 <10 NC
Iron 11 000 <50 <30 NC <30 <30 NC
Lead 15 <1 <1 0 NC <1 <1 NC
Manganese 800 <5 <10 NC <10 <10 NC
Mercury 2 <0 2 <0 5 NC <0 5 <0 5 NC
Molybdenum 40 172 17 I 17 17 17 0 00
Nickel 100 <3 <20 NC <20 <20 NC
Selenium 50 12 1 122 0 82 122 123 0 82
Silver 100 <2 5 <10 NC <10 <10 NC
Thallium 2 <1 <0 5 NC <0 5 <0 5 NC
Tin 17 000 <5 <100 NC <100 <100 NC
Uranium 30 <25 9 11 NC 9 11 90 1 21
Vanadium 60 22 2 <15 NC <15 <15 NC
Zinc 5 000 <5 <10 NC <10 <10 NC
Radiologics (pCi/L)
Gross Alpha 15|NS NS |<0 8 <0 8 NC
voc (gg/L)
Acetone 700 <5 <20 NC <20 <20 NC
Benzene 5 <1 <1 NC <1 0 <1 0 NC
2 Butanone (MEK) 4 000 <1 <20 NC <20 <20 NC
Carbon Tetrachloride 5 <1 <1 NC <1 0 <1 0 NC
Chloroform 70 <1 <1 NC <1 0 <1 0 NC
Chloromethane 30 <1 <1 NC <1 0 <1 0 NC
Dichloromethane 5 <1 <1 NC <1 0 <1 0 NC
Naphthalene 100 <1 <1 NC <1 0 <1 0 NC
Tetrahydrofuran (THF) 46 <1 <1 NC <1 0 <1 0 NC
Toluene 1 000 <1 <1 NC <1 0 <1 0 NC
Xylenes (total) 10 000 <1 <1 NC <1 0 <1 0 NC
others
Field pH (S U ) 65 85 7 56 7 85 3 76 7 85 77 1 93
Fluoride (mg/L) 4 0 57 05 13 08 05 05 0 00
Chlonde (mg/L) NG 25 2 28 10 53 28 27 3 64
Sulfate (mg/L) NG 476 528 10 36 528 520 1 53
TDS (mg/L) NG 1000 1010 I 00 1 010 996 I 40
General Inorganics Listed in Part i E 1 (o)(2)(ii)
Carbonate (mg/L) NG <2 <1 NC <1 <1 NC
Bicarbonate (mg/L) NG 197 233 16 74 233 232 0 43
Sodium (mg/L) NG 113 104 8 29 104 103 0 97
Potassium (mg/L) NG 3 28 33 0 61 33 32 3 08
Magnesium (mg/L) NG 32 9 32 3 1 84 32 3 31 6 2 19
Calcium (mg/L) NG 152 151 0 66 151 149 1 33
NG = No GWCL
RPD = Relative Percent Difference
NC = RPD no calculated because one or more of the concentration were below laboratory detiction
NS= No Sample
limits