DRC-1997-001041 - 0901a06880adeb8d

q
Cotter Concentrates
Govemor
Dianne R. Nielson, Ph.D.
Exffutive Direator
Dennis R. Downs
Dircrtor
DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
DTVISION OF SOLID AND HAZARDOUS WASTE
288 North 1460 West
P.O. Box 1t14880
Salt Lake Ciry, Utah 841144880
(801) 5386170 Voice
(801) 5386715 Fax
(80r) 5364414 r.D.D.
MEMORANDUM
Bill Sinclair, Director DRCffiTO:
THRU:
THRU:
FROM:
DATE:
SUBJECT:
Dennis Downs, Director DSHW A#-
Don Verbic a, ClFFSection Manager DSHW D O^)
B, Robertrson, Engine et ctFFsection DSHW k-Z/'*/6?7
August 18, 1997
RCRA Status of Cotter Concentrates
A review of the submitted information on the Cotter Concentrates has been completed; the
information was augmented through personal telephone contact with Mr. M. Lindsay Ford, Esq. of
Parson Behle & Latimer, attorneys at law. The review focused on the basis for the action taken by
the Nevada state Division of Environmental Protection to remove the "listed" designation from the
Cotter Concentrates, their determination that the materials were an ore for reprocessing, and the
mineral processing activities used by the Dept. of Energy in removing selected isotopes during the
various times and stages of processing and reprocessing the materials. Our review findings concur
with the Nevada Division of Environmental Protection and these findings are consistent with our
interpretation of the federal regulations found in 40 CFR 260 through 270 and the Utah Hazardous
Waste Management Rules (R315).
The Cotter Concentrates materials,1244 (1236 + 8) drums in all, are not a solid waste as presented
and hence are not a hazardous waste. This material represents an ore for reprocessing. However,
if this material is not reprocessed, the owner must follow the Utah Hazardous Waste Management
Rules (R315) and determine the proper status of the material prior to disposing of it.
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June 18, 1997
VIA O\,ERNIGHT MAIL
Honorable Michael O. Leavitt, Governor
State of Utah
State Capitol Building
201 State Capitol
Salt Lake City, UT 84114
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Re: Letters from your office to Great AvikannwHouse and from Great Avikanrutlouse to your
offrce dated May 23, 1997 and May 24, 1997, respectively, regarding the White Mesa
Uranium Mill
Dear Governor Leavitt:
Ef[ective lvlay 10, 1997, International Uranium (USA) Corporation ("[UC") assumed ownership and
became the licensed operator of the White Mesa Uranium Mill. As your office is aware, the White
Mesa Mill is a U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission ("NRC") licensed facility located
approximately six miles south of Blanding, &fr, in San Juan County. As discussed in a previous
letter dated May 8, 1997 (copy attached), the previous owner, Energy Fuels Nuclear, Inc. ("EI]Ili"),
received an amendment to the NRC license for the Mill, which authorizes the processing of an
altemate feed material known as the "Cotter Concentrate" to recover the uranium it contains. [UC
is implementing the approved amendment; but, we will also continue to offer, as EFN has, to
provide any additiond facts that the State of Utatr may require to address questions concerning this
processing.
We have copies of the May 23letter from the Office of the Governor to Mr. Mason of the Great
AvikarmrlHouse, and the response from a Mr. Mason" representing the Great Avikanrullouse. fu
your letter points out, in resporulc to public interest in this issue, EFN and United States Department
of Energy ('DOE.) represcntatives attended the May 9, 1997 meeting of the Radiation Control
Board ('RCB') to present information on the reprocessing amendment. Our presentations were
intended to provide the Board and interested parties with facts concerning issues which appeared,
in new articles ud letters, to be misunderstood. The presentation materids and fact sheets
addressed the same areas of concern addressed in our May 8 letter to your office.
Based on our review of the May 24letter from the Great Avikantttlouse representative to your
office, it again appears that a summary of facts regarding areas of concern raised in the letter may
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2
3
Michael O. Leavitt. Governor
June I 8, 1997
PageZ
be helpful. Therefore, the purpose of this letter is to provide your office with factual summaries in
the following areas:
I lnformational materials provided by the Department of Energy ("DOE") to the Utah Division
of Radiation Control ("DRC")
Board comments at May 9 meeting
Safety of processing the Cotter Concentrate
1. tnformational materials provided by the Department of Energr ("DOE") to the Utah
Division of Radiation Control ("DRC")
The Great AvikanruHouse letter suggests that the Department of Energy ('DOE') had not provided
technical information to the Utah Division of Radiation Control ('DRC'). The letter also contains
the statement that "The only information provided by DOE at the meeting was a seriously edited
revision of their former'secret'proposal to bring the Coffer Concentrate to Utah." In response to our
request that the DOE provide a response to this issue, the DOE notes the following:
"On April 29,1997, fact sheets were provided to the Utah DRC regarding the history of the
Cotter Concentrates and overview of the Environmental Management Program at the DOE
Nevada Operations Office. At the May 9, 1997 RCB meeting, information regarding
radionuclide isotopic composition of the Cotter Concentrate was provided to Preston
Truman, a member of the RCB. To our knowledge, this is the only additiond information
that we requested by any board member of the RCB.'
"The NRC also provided the DRC with technical information that was the basis for the
amendment application. DOE/I{V has not received a request from any congressional office
for information pertaining to the Cotter Concentrate."
"Presentation material provided at the RCB meeting pertained specifically to the Cotter
Concentrates in regards to their shipment to the White Mesa Mill and the recently approved
NRC license amendment. Presentation material provided to the Community Advisory Board
(CAB) in Las Vegas (refened to as "...their former "secret" proposal...") pertained to the
Cotter Concentrate project as part of the overall DOE environmental management Site
Treatment Plan which was a result of the Federal Facility Compliance Act. The Site
Treatment Plan is a publicly available document that discusses all DOE mixed waste
streams, which is updated on regular basis. The Cotter Concentrate has been an ongoing
project that has been discussed for the last two years with the CAB. DOE/I'{V considered
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\{ichael O Leavitt, Governor
June 18,1997
Page 3
the different audiences had different interest and concerns and therefore modified the
presentation to the RCT to provide information pertinent to the amendment for processing
the Cotter Concentrates. "
2. Board comments at May 9 meeting
The Great AvikanruHouse letter refers to the minutes of the May 9, 1997 RCB meeting as stating
the "DRC board Chairman, Norman Sunderson, informed EFN and DOE that they would not be able
to move the Concentrate until after the NRC had completed the "Petition process..." The Board
minutes contain no such statement by any member of the Board. The copy of the Board minutes for
the May 9 meeting we received (copy attached) reflect that Mr. Sunderland, the RCB Chairman,
stated his expectation that the "Dvision should be able to advise the Board at the next meeting, what
kind of action they can take". The same minutes reflect that, after brief discussion, Mr. Sinclair
advised the Board that "The primary decision maker on this issue is the NRC. The state does not
have delegated authority on uranium mills."
3. Safety of processing the Cotter Concentrate
The Cotter Concentrate is l0 to 15 times richer in terms of uranium content than the ores that are
typically processed at the White Mesa Mill. Accordingly, an obvious question is whether the
material can be safely processed at the Mill. As noted in the EFN letter to your office of May 8,
prior to submitting a request for this license amendment, EFN conducted an analysis of this issue
and concluded that the Cotter Concentrate does not present any unique or extraordinary safety
issues. As described in the following subsection, the NRC, in approving our request for an
amendment, agreed that the material can be processed without posing additional risk or impacts to
the environment, EFN'S employees, or public health and safety. In addition, the safety of this
processing was reviewed and confirmed independently by a Certified Health Physicist.
Health Physics and Radiation Safety
Keith J. Schiager, Ph.D., a Certified Health Physicist, reviewed the potential health and
environmental impacts that may be associated with the processing of the Cotter Concentrate. In
addition to his current position as Director Emeritus of the Radiological Health Department at the
University of Utalu Dr. Schiager has served as President of both the American Academy of Health
Physics and the Health Physics Society. His service on scientific advisory committees includes the
International Radiation Protection Association, National Academy of Sciences, National Council
on Radiation Protection and Measurernents, and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Science
Advisory Board.
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N{ichael O. Leavitt, Governor
June 18,1997
Page 4
Based on Dr. Schiager's review of the amendment request submitted to the NRC by EFN;
Amendment I and the Technical Evaluation Report prepared by the NRC; additional data on garnma
ray spectrometry; and his personal communication with EFN radiation safety staff, Dr. Schiager
stated that "The available data demonstrate conclusively that this material has no potential to
increase any radiation risk to the general public or to the environment", and concluded that "Energy
Fuels Nuclear, Inc. is taking all of the appropriate radiation safety precautions to protect their
employees, the public and the environment". [n his letter report, these conclusions were supported
by, among others, the following observations:
. Once the uranium is removed from the Cotter Concentrate the remaining material,
commonly called "tails", is placed in EFN's lined "tailing cells", which are impoundments
which have been constructed and maintained in strict compliance with dl applicable
regulatory requirements as established by the EPA and the NRC. Approximately 420 tons
of uranium-bearing material are estimated to contain approximately 240 to 270 Curies of
radioactivity; the 3.9 million tons of mill tailings already present in the tailing ponds contain
approximately 8,200 Curies. Dr. Schiager reports: "Both in terms of volume and in terms
of radioactivity content, the uranium-bearing material represents a small contribution to the
existing tailings. "
. "The very low concentration of radium-226 indicates that the addition of this material to the
existing tailings pile will have absolutely no effect on radon emissions from the pile."
. "The extraction of uranium for the weapons program is not unique to the Belgian Congo ore,
from which the Cotter Concentrate was derived. Essentially all of the uranium mills in the
Colorado Plateau and, in fact, in the entire country, processed uranium for the weapons
program. Thus, there is nothing particularly unique or hazardous about the Cotter
Concentrate when compared with other uranium feed materials. However, because the
physical form ofthis material is different from a raw ore in that it has been previously milled
and submitted to extraction processes, extra precautions are planned, and have been
approved, for transporting, handling, processing, and disposing of byproduct material after
extracting uranium from the Cotter Concentrate."
In reviewing EFNs license amendment applicatioq the NRC reports that the staff evaluated the
application on the basis of the three criteria listed above under item (2) above, and also concluded
that "the processing ofthis material will not result in (l) a significant change or increase in the types
or amounts of effluents that may be released off site; (2) a significant increase in individual or
cumulative occupational radiation CIeosure, (3) a significant construction impact; or (4) a significant
increase in the potential for or consequences of radiological accidents".
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Michael O Leavitt, Governor
June 18,1997
Page 5
We hope this information is helpful, and will be happy to provide your staff with supporting data
or documentation-in any of the areas described above. Should your office desire any additional
information in these or any other areas, please call me at 303.389.4160 or Michelle Rehmann at
303 389 4131.
MRR/tay
Attachments
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Nfichael O. Leavitt, Governor
June 18, 1997
Page 6
D. Bird @arsons, Behle & Latimer)
Susan Groves (Ute Mountain Ute Tribe)
Colleen T. O'Laughlin (U S. DOE)
Paul J. Liebendorfer (State of Nevada)
Norman Begay
Winston M. Mason (Great AkikanrMHouse)
Members of Utah's Congressional Delegation
Bob Linnell (State of Utah)
Robin Riggs, Esq. (State of Utah)
Charles Johnson, Chief of Staff(State ofUtah)
Dianne Nielson (State of Utah)
Wil Numkena (State of Utah)
Office of the Secretary ru.S. NRC)
James P. Park (U.S. NRC)
William J. Sinclair (State of Utah)
Preston Truman
R. C. Wycotr(U S.DOE)
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PRECEDENCE DEEIGNATION
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U. S, Drpattmant of Herry
WASIE [{A],|AG EiltENT D lVlS ION
DOE NF/ADA OPERATIONS OFFICE
P,O. EOX 98518, LAS VEGAS, NV 89i93€518
Dete: fr
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Verify [phone]
Orlginetrd By:
Commcrclal:
M'S 505
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Cotter Shipment # I
Consr #l lcft thc NTS rt ryproxirmrcly 9;30 rm on Thwrdry, 5ngB7.
Thc fihmmt sonrirtdof 45 druma at t9,798 pqudr.
Cotter $hipmcut fl 2
Cottr #02 hft thc t{[S u rpproxinately I l:30 tm on Morday, 6N97,
Ttc &ipmat conri*ed of 45 drumt rt 31,366 poundl.
Cottrr $hipment # 3
Cottr #03 IGfr the NfS rt *pproximately 2:00 pm on Tuorday, 613197,
Ilrc rtripmrot oonsid€d of 45 dnrmt $ 31,532 poundr.
Cotter $hipncut # {
Cotts#04ld ttrc}.ITS u rpproxinratoly l:t5 pm on Tueoday,6lrcl97,
Thc dripnail sond$cd of45 druma it 29,949 poundl.
Cotler Shipncnt # 3
Cottor #05 lGft ttu NTS rt rpproximrtcly 10:30 im on Thurtdry, full}tgl,
Thc fiipmsnt coori*sd of45 drumg at 3Q725 poundr.
Cottcr Shipmcnt # 6
Cottsr #06 lcft the NT$ rt rpproxirnrtoly 1l:00 am on Moathy,6llil97 .
Thc rhipmcnt conimcd of 45 drumr at 32,rl0l poundr.
Cottcr Shlpmeut # 7
Cottr #07 lGft thc NTS at rpprorimrtcly I0:45 nn oil lUedncrdey, 6lltl97.
Tha rhipmotrt cond*cd of,ti drumr at 30,263 pounfu.
Cottcr Shipment # I
CottEr #0t lcft thG I{TS d approxirnuely 10:45 r,m on Fridry, 6120197 .
Thc rhipmcnt GondrtGd of43 drum ot 31,410 poundr. .
Cottcr Shlpment # 9
Cottrr #09 l.ft thr NTS rt rpprorirnuely 10;00 rm on 6D1n7.
Tto rhipmcot aond*cd of 45 drumo rt 31,650 pounds,
Cottcr Shipment #10
Cotter#l0lcft thoNT$ il approxitn*cly 10:30 am on 6l25lyl.
The rhipmont conrlrtcd of 45 druml ct 30,511 poundr,
Cotter Shipmcnt# ll rnd # l2
Cottu *ipmrnte I I & 12 wcre left the hlTS rt epproximetely 4:30 pm on 6l$n7
'.@0-10-1s9? 1@! e5 ess1
O
P. A3
Cottc#l I coniiltod of 45 drumr Et 32,302 poundr.
Cottu#l2 oorrri*cd of45 druur at 31,244 poundr.
Cottcr $hlpmeut # l3
Cottr #13 lifr th; NTS rt l0:30err\ 6127197 "
Tho rhipnout conrirted of45 dnrmE rt 32,375 poundt'
Cottcr Shipmcnt # 14
Cottcr #14 hft thcNTS at approximrtety l0;l5ttt1 6130197,
Thc rhipmcnt conri*od sf45 dilltr rt 31,600 poundr.
Cottcr Shtpment # lt
Cottcr #tS lcfr thc I.ITS rt rpproximrtely I l:00 r^Er otr 711F.7 -
The fiipmcrrt oonci*od of 45 druru at 31,7t0 porndl,
Cotter Shipmcnt # 16
Cottor #16 ld thcNTS rt appoximrttly I l:00 em,on Tuerdry, 78197,
Ths drlprncnt cmri$Ed of 45 drumr at 31,214 Porrnd!,
Cottcr $htpucnt # l7
Cottgr#l7lG& thcI.ITS at appoximatoly I100 sil onFddry, 7llll97.
Thr fiipmcot conircd of tl5 drums at 29,914 poundt,
Cottrr $hlpncat# l8
Cottu #tS lGfr thcMS rt rpprodfidely Il;00 rm onMondry, 7114197,
Tho rhipman mudmd oftlS drumr rt 32,t5t poundr.
Cotter S[ipncnt # 19
Cotts #19 lGfr thg I{Ig at approrimatoly l0:15 am on Wcdnaday, T116191,
Thc thipnent conri*cd of 45 drumt rt 3l,tl03 pourtdr.
Cottcr Shipncnt # 20
Cotcr #20 tGfr thc }mS at approxirnately 9:45 on Friday,T ll$l9T .
The shipmcnt oonsilEd of 45 dnrms at 30'408 Pounds.
Cottcr $hinmcnt # 2l
Cottcr #21 lcft tht NTS * rpproximrtcly 10:45 on Mondry,T/2187
.Tho rhipmom eonri*od of {5 drumc at 3l'712 poundr.
Gorer Shipncut # 22
Csttcr #22 bfrthc IIITS at approxinutoly 9:30 on Wcdnsdry,1l2lE1.
Thr dripmcnt coruirtod of45 drums rt 31,t58 poundr.
: oo-1o-199? 1@!eG e951
,
P. 04
Cotter $hipncnt # 13
IIn rhiprucnt conrirtcd ofrl$ drumr 0t 30,951 poundr,
Cothr Shipment # 3{
Cottcr #24 lcft ths NTS rt ryproximatcly I I ;00 lm on Mondry.7fZEl97.
Tha fiipnent mnrirted of45 dmm $ 3l,l 13 pounfu.
Cottcr Shipucut il 25
Coter #25 left thc NTS rt rpproximltcly t I:00 rlr on Wodncdry ,7110197 ,
Thc ehiprarnt, aonBirtcd of45 drumr rt 30,318 poundt.
Cotter Shipmcnt # 26
Cottu #26 lGfr thc I.ITS rt rpproximrtely l:00 pm on Tucrdry, 815fi7.
Thc rlripmcnt mnristed of {5 drumr d,12,274 poundr,
Cottcr Shlpnent # 2?
Concr #2? ld the Iilf S * Approxirurtdy t l;00 rrn on Thurudry, gl7l97 .
Thr rhipmont conrbtcd of{o drums rt 2t,049 poundr.
CotEr Shlpmut # 20
Cottsr #2t 10fi thc NTS rt Approximrtdy l0: l5 sm or Tuoadry, lll}l9l.
The rtripmcnt codfod of 38 drums *20,n9 pouldr,
P.O. BOX 470g,2
TULSA, OH 7rt47-09a2
a8-18-199? 11 : 51Ht4 TER GRHY
THE NORM HEPOBT
A NEWSLETTEH ON NORTil CONTAMINATION
Peter Gray, Edttor / Publlsher
18815334897 P.OtFREI.I PEt
18 August 1997
William Sinclair
DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL qUALITY
(Eor ) 533-+097
Dear William:
Phoner 9tE/192{250
FAX; 9l8lrtg449$0
,flryte$'f-{€*\
UTAH
ffintrt-is considered to be irrclud-
ed in Utah'u cornprehonsive radia-
iion control regulations. No specif'
ic NURM relulatiurrs havc bccn
p*pot.a at ihe Prcsent time in
Utatt.
There is a ProPosEl fbr a new
liOirrr and'low'level waste dis-oosal facilitY' Laidlaw
'Environmental cuneutly has a haz-
ardous waste facilitY ten miles
north of Envirocare's NORM site
and wants to convert one of their
iiiJustriat wastc'cells to e low-level
itl-ORI,f cell. Laidlaw must submit
i slting criteria document, get local
approial, go thro.ugh the licensing
Drocess and get lhe governor-$ ans
iegislative approval. Laidlaw is c'ur'
rontly on steP one.
Envirocare is still under investiga-
tion. Semnani, the President and
olvrler of Envirocare resigned from
the companY for a Period of f,t least
threc veirs ana ano resigned from
ttt* Utatr Radiation Council
Envirocare rcmeint in oPeration'
I am preparing the next issue of The NORM Report and will be calling fou
in the near future for an update on NORM activities in your area for tle
Summer 97 newsletter. Alternately, you can fa+'me tfrg, information.
Thank you for your cooperation.
Peter Gray
PRG/Jh
TtrTAL P-A1
Aw
Michael O. L,eavia
Govcmor
Dianne R. Nielson, Ph.D.
Excutivc Diretor
William J. Sinclair
Dircctor
S*me*l;g uj.ilmh
DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
DTVISION OF RADIATION CONTROL
168 North 1950 We.st
P.O. Box lzl4850
Salt l:ke City, Utah 8411,l.4850
[phone] Voice
(801) 5334097 Fax
(801) 5364414 T.D.D.
August 18,1997
Ms. Judy Knight-Frank, Chair
Ute Mountain Ute Tribe
Towaoc, Colorado 81334
Dear Chairwoman KnighrFrank:
Thank you for the opportunity to meet with you and the White Mesa Ute Council on August 5. It
was an excellent chance to meet the community leaders and to better understand their concerns.
As I explained in the meeting, the State does not currently have the ability to regulate the White
Mesa Mill. We are very concerned with the health and welfare of the communities in the area
however, and are doing all we can to protect the supporting environment. Specifically, we are
strongly encouraging International Uranium Corporation and the Nuclear Regulatory Commission
to provide information and meet with communities. In addition, the Radiation Control Board may
hold its regular meeting in the Moab/Blanding area. The Board provides a public forum for
discussion about several issues including uranium mills. Also find enclosed a recent Board policy
relating to members of the public who wish to discuss items before the Board so you can be familiar
with the Board procedural aspects to their regular meetings. We also encourage you to visit our
Website at http://www.eq.state.ut.us/eqrad/drc-hmpg.htm that will provide you information
regarding activities at the White Mesa Mill as reported to the Utah Radiation Control Board in the
monthly minutes.
We are happy to provide any information we have to support the efforts of the Ute Mountain Ute
Environmental Program. Additionally, we would welcome the opportunity to partner with your
Tribe to make sure that communities in the vicinity are well informed and that the best
environmental protection possible is attained.
August 18, t997
PageZ
If you have questions or concerns please call me at the above number or contact Stephanie
Bernkopf at 801-536-4479. I have also included a list of contacts for your use.
It was a pleasure to meet you and I look forward to working with you in the future.
Sue Groves, Ute Mountain Ute Environmental Director
Mary JaneYazzie, Chair, White Mesa Ute Council
Dianne R. Nielson, Executive Director,UDEQ
Joseph Holonich, NRC Headquarters
Michelle Rehmann, International Uranium Coqporation
Stephanie Bernkopf, UDEQ OPPA
c:
illram J. Srnc
Division of Rad
Aw UTAH RADIATION CONTROL BOARD POLICY
AUGUST 8,1997
SUBJECT: Requests by the public to be placed on the Board Agenda
The Utah Radiation Control Board policy is as follows:
(1) The Board desires those that wish to comment upon an issue before the Board to have the
opportunity to do so. The Executive Secretary will provide attendees at the Board meeting with a
sheet entitled: " Public Comment." This sheet will ask a potential commentor to provide name,
organization or affrliation, and the subject they wish to address. Following approval of Board
minutes, attendees will be reminded to sign up if they wish to cornment on an issue. The Board
chairman can exercise his discretion in providing the opportunity to comment in two ways: (1) He
may allow comment following a specific issue, or (2) designate a time during the meeting for "open
public comment." All public comment is subject to time constraints of the meeting. The Chairman
may limit the time for comment on an issue or issues.
(2) Requests to address the Board or have agenda items placed on the meeting agenda or request for
a detailed discussion of a issue or point of view on an issue must be submitted in writing to the
Executive Secretary of the Radiation Control Board at least two weeks prior to the next Board
meeting. At a minimum, the request must contain sufficient information for the Executive Secretary
to determine the appropriateness of such item to be placed on the Board Agenda. The Executive
Secretary may accept such request, request additional information to assess the request, or reject
such request. The Executive Secretary will notiff the requestor of the decision in writing. The
Executive Secretary will consult with the Board Chairman prior to taking any action on a request.
Requests received after the two week period will be considered for the next scheduled Board
meeting. The Executive Secretary may also schedule individuals, companies, or groups to discuss
specific issues with their consent.
White Mesa Mill Environmental Information Contact list
International Uranium Corporation
Bill Deal, White Mesa Mill facility manager (80 1 )-67 8-2221 (Blandine)
Ron Berg, Radiation Safety Officer, White Mesa Mill (801)-678-2221 (Blanding)
MichelleRehmann,EnvironmentalCoordinator (303)-389-4131 (Denver)
(303)-s9s-0930 (fax)
Nuclear Regulatory Commission
Joe Holonich, Chief, Uranium Recovery Branch,
Division of Waste Management, NMSS (301)-415-6643 flMashington, DC)
Jim Park, White Mesa Project Manager
Uranium Recovery Branch (301)4 15-6699 (Washington, DC)
E mail: [e-mail]
Charles Hackney, State Liaison Officer for Utah (817)-860-8267 (Arlington, TX)
Richard Bangart, Director, Office of State Programs (301)-415-3340 (Iilashington, DC)
E mail: [e-mail]
Utah Department of Environmental Quality
Bill Sinclair, Director, Division of Radiation Control
and Executive Secretary, Utah Radiation Control Board (801)-536-4255 (direct line and
voice mail)
(801)-538-4097 (fax)
E mail : eqrad.bsinclai @ state.ut.us
Dane Finerfrock, Section Manager, Environmental
Monitoring and [,ow-[€vel Waste Section, Division
of Radiation Control (801)-536-4257 (direct line and
voice mail)
E mail : eqrad.dfi nerfr@ state.ut. us
Rob Herbert, Groundwater hydrologist, Environmental
Monitoring and low-lrvel Waste Section, Division of
Radiation Control (Project manager for White Mesa
Mill groundwater protection permit) (801)-536-0046 (direct line)
E mail: eqrad.rherbert @ state.ut.us
Stephanie Bernkopf, Tribal liaison, Office of Planning and
Public Affairs, Department of Environmental Quality (80l)-536-4479
(801)-s36-0061 (fax)
Norman Sunderland, Ph.D., Chairman, Utah Radiation
Control Board (801)-797-3500
(801)797-386a (fax)
Version 0
August 6,1997
NA:IIVE AIdERICAN PEETTIONERS
ReSrreoentiug Soutbeastera Utab./Eour Coruers Area
tlte Nuclear Waste
84511
August 8, L997
COPY
lTtT
Box lI3$EIfr[E#'Mesa,
'3ilWI
6cay
TO: UfAil DIVISION
Il : May.30, 1997 letter to the Nuclear Regulatory ConrnissionItr. wirriaur sinclair, Executive Director of utali,s Radiationcontror Board etated, 'lThe pur[Dse of the corresEpndence is tovoice supSnrt for standing ..for (l) The Native AmericanPeopres Eigtoriear For:ndation (zl wesiwater Navajo community, and(3) Norman kgay' lWhite Mesa Ute Community). rle Lerter furttrerstates, "vle request that you suplprt the request for standing so ahearing can be held."
on Jury 23, 7997 Judge Peter B. Bloch of the t{RC issued aMemorandun and order denying utah's request for hearings for utahcitizens.
It ig truly a "slap in the face,, to the state of Utah to havea Federar Agency guch as the NRC turn its back on an officiarlequest such as the one made by your Board on May 30th.
In Judge Bloch's denia1 of the Native American Petitioner,srequests he made contradictory statements as he ,,sturabled,, his waythrough his "feebre" presentation. He risted sorne of the harmfulconstituents of the Cotter Concentrate which would necessarilyclassi.fy it as "Eazardous I{aste" and continued on to denronstrateits 5ntentiar dangers. rn his concrusion he said, "After readingthe staff's materiars, r conclude that it is imSnssible for roe toascertain the basis for the (ttRC) Staff deterrnination that thismaterial is not hazatdous.- Most of Judge Bloch'a presentationgave very good reason for hin to honor the Utah Radiation ControlBoard's rgquest that the People of utah be given a hearing.Houever, in his contradictory o;=ning statenent, Judge Broch said,
"There is littIe reason to susEEct ..that the requestedIicense amendment would result iq any harxr to health -and sdfety orto the envi-ronroent.' After hearing his ilt prepared doctrment, oneNative American tr=titioner came forsard ana iai&, ,,As one hearsJudge Bloch's statenents, the onry vision that comes is that heej-ther has -a gun pointed at his head r oE he is mentallyhandicappnd. "
Judge Bloch circumvented the Native A,merican petitioner,s
foremoet issue of the cotter concentrate carrying bad, spiritswhich are against the rellgious beliefs of aeer:"can IndLans and
therefore cannot be allowed in Energy Fuel's tailings ;nnds. In
Paragraph III E entitled "spiritual and Psyehological Effeets" the
Judg6 slates, "TIte Native Anerican Petitioners have expreesed
profound concerns about the effect of the placement of the Cotter
Concentrate near their ancestral br:riat grounds." Then he sayE,
"While this argument strikes a ree[Dnsive chord, it does not
invoke any Legal authority, and I know of no guch authority. " Itis not veiy comforting to the People to have a decision as
inlnrtant as thj.s one made try a Judge. who does not even recollect
th6 law of the Constitution of the United States and the First
Aanendnrent to that Constitution.
Judge Bloch, in pnragraph III D of his denial for a. hearing,
resSnndea to our concerns relative to Environmental Justiee by
saying, "I conclude that, contrary to the Snsition of the Native
Am6rican Petitionere, the Executive Order 12898, 'Federa} Actionsto Address Enviroruoental Justice in ltinority Populations and Low-
Incorne Populations' (1994) is not applicable. This case is about
continued ogeration of a site that has already beenlicensed.....There is no reaaon to thinJ< that this action could
discrininate against Native Amerj.cans. " We would like ,fudge Blochto anawer why it is that his NRC organization withheld from the
National Public Register the documents which initially established
the White Mesa UiIl in 1977-1980, These documents not only did
not show up on the Register within a few days as required, but
they did not ehow up until Novero,ber of 1994 -- 17 years latet Theinjuetice of the Cotter Concentrate Amendment is very much tied to
the injustice in the way j.n which the original lieense wae
implemented. Suppression of information in this nanner in orderto place a Uranir:m !,1i11 and Waste Dumpt inrnediately adjacent to
and Indian Reservation Community of 300 people is a prime exampleof Environnental Racism. In fact, when one studies the evidence,it is easy to see that the history of the White Mesa Uranium MiIlis 1=rhaps the lttost blatant example of Environrnental Racism in theIlistory of Arnerica's Nuclear involvement.
And nowr continuing on, there has been a rumor circulatingthat Utah Division of Radiation Control Director, 1,1r. Wj.lliamSinclair, is preparing public relations materials and organizing
rueetings to assist Energy Fuels Nuclear/fnternational Uranium
CorSnration in convincing the Native Americans of San Juan Countythat the Cotter Concentrat€ will not harm them, and that it will
bning Rany benefits to the People. This has now been verified astlr. Sinclair attended this roeek's !{hite Mesa Ute Council boara
lteeting where he attenprted to convince the Ute leaders that they
ehould supgnrt the Cotter Concentrate Amendment. We would liJ<e to
ask $hat businegs a etate enployee hag of using tanpayers money to
Iobby against the vote of the lnople of Utah in favor of federal
agencies and Srrivate etrterprise. The inconsistency of l{r.Sinclair's letter to the NRC requesting hearings for Utahcitizens, while at the sane tjrne lobbying for a business op;need
by the those sane citizens, ie not accepbable behavior for a state
employee. t{e therefore suggest that },1r. Sj-nclair resign from his
posS,ti.on with the State of Utah's Division of Radiation Control
.,
and receive hi,s officiat income from International Uraniurn
Cor1pration of whom he is more truthfully employed.
. !$e are subruitting a coFV of a banner which is being
circulated by Eome of, the Navajo People whose signed 5=titions andofficial Navajo Nation Tribal Resolutions representing virtually
100t of San Juan County Utah Navajos in opgnsition to the Cotter
Concentrate Amendnent have been rejected by Federal and StateOfficials. Some of the officials who have verified thetrutMulness of the banner blz regeatedly turning there backs onthe People'g pleas over the Snst three years include PresidentBiIl Clinton, Congrressnan Chris Cannon, Senator Robeit Bennett,
Senator Orin Eatch, Congressman Merrill Cook, Congressnan .rim
Eansen, and Utah Governor l.liehael Leavitt. The Banner reads:
"Democracy
BIed
&Died In Utah"
This is a shaneful legacy for a state to bear, but unfortunately,it is true. In a Democracy Federal- and State elected officialswould not continue to turn their backs on official resolutions andlntitiona representing 100S of a constituency. In a Denocraeyappinted officials of Federal and State covernment would not be
a.Ilowed to eontinually consp.i-re with Big Business against theintereste and wellbeing of the masses of the people. It ie very
apparent that we no longer live in a Democracy, as thecireumstance we find ourselves in verifiesl
We llave SSnken
Native American PetitionersAgainst Cotter Concentrate andother Nuclear Wast€s
fl q* 6;t HA fa-#. .a/ffi/rt,rVua,-' ' Norman Beg4y- v LuIa Katso Winston M. MaBonWtrite ldeea Utes Navajo Citizens
Box 1138 264 w. 100 N.White Mesa, Utah 84511 Blanding, Utah 84511
LeEal Couagel: Rebecca Lorerz,
tl, Cullen Battle, Eaq.
Great Avikan llouse3 E. Center, Box AVIKFNBlanding, Utah 84511
EEq.
UNITED STATES
NUGLEAR HEGULATORY COMMISSION
WASHINGTOI{, D.C. .?05554Go1
August 4, 1997
Mr. Bil'l Sinc]a'ir, Director
=--- Division of Radiation Con-urol
Depantment of Envi ronmental Qual'ity
State of Utah
168 North 1950 West
Post 0ffice Box 144850
Salt Lake City, Utah 84i14-4850
SUBJECT: U.S. IIUCLEAR REGULATORY COMI.4ISSION PARTiCiPATION IN STATE OF III-AH
I'|EETING hIITH THE UTE MOUNTAIN UTE TRIBE
Dear Mn. Sinclair:
I am responding to your request 'uo Mr. Charles Hackney, the U.S. Nuclear
Regu'latory Cornmission, Region IV. State Liaison Office. in your conversation
with Mr. Hackney. your requested that the NRC attend a meeting between the
State of Utah and the Ute l,lountain Ute Tribe on August 5, 1997. The purpose
of the meeting vvas to Ciscuss the White Mesa uranium mill in Bland'jng, Utah.
Unfortunate'ly, because of the short not'ice of the meeting, and the lim'ited
availabjlity-of travel funds so close to the end of the Flscal Year, the NRCis unable tb support the meetinE. I explained this to l'ls, Stephan'ie Bernkoff
during a July ?9, 1997, telephone call.
Although the NRi is unable to attend this specific meeting, it js lnterestedin meeting with not only the Ute Mounta'in Ute Tribe, but also othen Native
American tr^ibes who have interest in the t^lhite Mesa mill. We are cumently
looking for an opportun'ity when we are in Utah to meet with tribal leaders
from ail interestbd tribe!. If such a meeting were held, the State of Utah as
well as reoresentatives from Intennational Unanium, Inc., the owner of the
White Mesa'nrill would be invit,ed to attend.
0nce again, I apologize for not being able to attend the Aqgust 5, 1997,
meeting, but hobefully, in the near future, NRC will be able to meet with the
appropri ate tri ba'l I eaders .
:.M,s
JosEoh 'J . Ho:loni ch, Chi ef
Urani um Recovery Branch
Div'is'ion of Haste Management
Judy Knight-Frank, Tribal
Sue Groves
0ffice of Nuclear Material Safety
Sincene'ly,
Chai rman
and Safeguards
LlJ6q :7 ).AAI'tz'lr-lH
A(;1trn,;l I l,c C.? \ UA_e iCC. b; 11t-,r4?-,.,
RECEIVEi i
JUL P I 1s97
o
,)1:tl ,, {o*.- ,r{ft"--i A &^l
Pilf,r 6ls/?7, 000{EI5D
LBP 97_!2
.lury lb, .Ugtl p I :5g
rNrrED srArEs oF Ar.rERleA 855ki1!ir=iti#H.M]CTEAR REGIJI,ATORY COMMTSSION BiiA}iI:.i..''
ATOMIC SA!'ETY AND LICENSING BOARD PAI{EL
Before Administrative Judgea :Peter B. Bloch, Presiding Officer
Ctrarles N. Kelber, Special Agsietant SERVEDJUL23IggT
fn bhc mattcr of
IIMERTIATIONAI UR.ANIU},I (USA)
COR,PORATIO}i
('rfhit.e l,1esa Ura:rium M:11;
Alternate Feed I'iaterial)
DockeE, No. 4O-8581.-y&A
Re : License A,riendment
ASLEP No.
I'1!}4OR.A1{DUM A}iD ORDER(Der:ying a Hearing )
Mil4OF.AI{DIJM
There ic 1itt1e reason to suspect, bas<rd on the pleadings,
chac the reguested license anendment would result in any harm
to heal"h and eafety or to the enwironment. There ie, ho.rrewer,
an imporcanc iesue of coinrm:nicarion because E,he lnformatlon
awailable to the public in this case dqes not. iadicate the
composition of the "cotter concentrate" that ie the nexug of t.he
cocrplaint of the Native American pet.itioners- This problem may
be solwed, even though t,he, cetitior.s for a hearing are denj-ed.
97 -726 - 03 -MLA
Ju^. lla^l ,,1 ttvua rrr,r.,r^r, 3r.^r
-2-
The Natlve American Peiit,ionere have not accepted the clear
invitation to cst.a]cligh che baeie for gra,ntj.ng etandinsr to t}.cm.
In thls caE,e, whlch involves an amendment t,o an operating
licenee, it is incunbent on pet,ltioners to show how they are
harmed by 'uhe amendinent. Although I have provided guidance to
thcm about bow to do that, Ehey hawe nots reeponded adequacelv
to the guldance. Consequently, the :equest for a hearing is
denied. Petltioners nay appeal th:s determination to the
Coinnrission.
In the absence of a hearing, the Staff of the MRC and
Internatlonal Urani.un (USA) Cor;roration rnighl consider providing
j.nformation to asaure ihe petitioners and Lhe public that mixed
wasteg are not belng processed or stored at Hhlte Mesa.
I. Procedural Hlst'ory
This proceeding involwes a challenge to a licenee amendmcnt
t.hat wae lesued by che Scatf of che Nuclear Regularo:n7 Commis-
sion (Staff) on April 2, 1997.1 The amendnent permlts the
1 Letter from'Joseph J. Holonich, Chief, Uranium Rec6very
Branch, Diwision of l{aete Management, Office of Nuclcar Hatcrial
Safety and safeguarda , Apr!\ 2, i.997, Atrtachment. 4 to the Let,Eer
of the Natlve Amerlcan Peoplee Hlecorlcal Foundacion, April 25,
L997 .
atiltrnr^t I nt.^t ta \6 aa!
-3
receipE and processing cf alternate feed material (i. e. ,
materiaL other than natural ore ) at I-ieo:eeco, g Wl:itc Me sa
Urailiurn Mi11 locaEed near Blandl.ng, Ucah. See 10 CFR part, 40,
Appendix A, which aets forth several design criteria and
re+lires that llcenslng decisions "E,ake into account the risk
to the public health and safety and the environment r,rith due
conslderaBion to t,he sconomic coste involved. .n i Q CFR
Parc t92, Subparte D & E. See also the following non-binding
St.af f guidance: "Final Pos j.tion and Guidance on the Use of
Uranium Mil1 Feed Material Other than Natural Ores,' 50 FR
49296t September 22, 1995.
The followingi rcqucots for a he,aring or for participation
in a hearing have been filed:
1. Native Anerican People'e iiietoric Poundation, ApriI' :-6, 1997, Hj.nston M. Magon, itead of Council.
2. Mr. Norman Begay, April 30, 199'7. Mr. Begay vrites
on behalf of hlmseif and his community.
3 . lieetwatei Navajo Community, May 5, 1997, LuIa J.
Kat60, communlty spokesperson.
4. US Department of Energry, May S, 1997. G. Leah Dever,
Assigtant Manager for Environmen-tal .Management.
The Staf f f iled j.ts responEle on May 21, aggT (Staf f
Response) - Subceguently, I ieaued LBP-97-10, 44 ![RC _ (Hay
z't, 199'/). 'l'hat decieion accepced che Staft Response, even
.lynlrvinl ll{lt\.vun'llljt:ujol] .r7:cl,^-)n-!nv
-4-
though it was untinely. PursuanE Eo thaE decision, the foIlow-
i ng f i 1. j nge aLgo h:rvo bco:l :rceoiwcd r
1. Natlve Amerlcan PeE,ltloners, by Norman Begay (whice
Mesa UteB), Lula Katso (Westwater Navajo Community)
and Winston Mason (Native American Peoplee Hietorlcal
Foundation, Inc.1 Great l\wikan Houee) r r7une 6, ;..99?
(Supplemental Petition) .
2. lfRC St.ff'e Recponse to thc Supplcmcntal Rcqueetb for
Hearlng Filed by [Native American Petitioners]july 10, 1997 (staff Supplement,al ilesponoe).
3. Reeponse of lnternational Uranium (USA) Corporation
to Hearlng Regueot,o Regarding Amendmenc to Source
Materlal l,lcense (IUSA Supplemental Responee) .
1I. Basis of Staff Action
A. The TechnicaL Evaluation Report (TER)
The Staff approved the iseuance of a license amendment for
gfhice Mesa Uranium MiII- in a *Technical Eva'luat,ion Report for
RequesE, E,o Recej.ve alrd Prucess AIternaE,e FueI Material, Dockec
No. 40-8681" (TER), sent to Energy Fuels Nuclear, Inc. by letter
of April 2, t997. see Attachment 4 to the Clarificat,ion of
Petition for Standing of Great Avj.kan House, April 25, 199?.
In thc ftrR, on page 2. thc Staff concluded that the fecd
material did not contain hazardou" ,0""1,". ' The f ol]owlng
language.in the TER ic, however, difficulc
appears to b€ lacking a full oqplanation
to
of
underetand and
its IegaI and
-5-
factual basis, perhaps because the request for an amend.menE
red:rcted' or omitted information cra.imcd Eo bc propricto=y2,
Under the alternate feed g.uidance, prcposed feed maEerialwhieh eo:rt.ains a listed hazardous waste will not be ab_
Feed materlale whlch cxhtbl; only a characrerlsclc ofhazardous waste (i.e. , igrnitability, corrosivity, reac_tivity, or toxicity) would not, be regulated as hazardous
wagE,e and could therefore be approwed by the etaff iorrecycring and extraction of Bource material. ilowever,this doeo not apply to residues f :-om wai,er treatrnt nt.Therefore, l[RC etaff acceptance of such resiciues as feedmaterlal wou'ld depend on rheir- not containing any ha'ard-
ous or charac:er.i sr-i e Iq] c.l ha-j?l-rtZrs wasrp.
Iiowever,
hp-arrlorrq -.warltp: eor---ociw.i ty (due to a pH f n excesB Of).2.5) aqsl to-icity due to selenium concentrations abovethe ?oxiciEy characEerisElc Leaching procedure ITCLP]reguratory threohold. The matcrial's owrrcr has addrease,d
theee findings with the State Department of Environmentar
Protection (DEP) in the Btate in urhich the materiar ielocated- The State DEP, whlch |rae been granted finalauthorlzatlon from che u.s. Environmencal proceccioa
Agency lor the scate-admlnlstered Resource coneer:vation
and Recovery Act. (RCR.A) program, concurred in the materialowner'e determlnat,iorr - copies of the correspondcace
between the materlal owner and the state DEp were provided
wit.h the amendment applicatlon: the xac qtGjf has reviewpd
f,hin co*esDondence and finds the rrr.aniUm-.bearinq matE-
tia'l . whjle c-hih'iting ehararlpristir.s nf haZar-rlelrq uigte.
desq rrOt COvrta.i r a 'l jgtecl haza-douo r6an1-q.
The uranium-bearing material,s
the material does not contain
r:wner l:a8 dcl-eguined that
a lieteC hazardous waste.
Source Material Licenee SUA-13S8,
4 0- 8681, rev. t'larch 5, 1991. :thls
the ReqJesC for SEanding faxed co
by :he Natiwe American People,e
2see Request to
Ythlte Mesa M1L1 Docket
materlal 1a attachmenc
the !{RC on Apri} 15,Hictorical Poundation.
A:nend
No.
2co
1997
n.t-flot cl /41') 0:r-t n7 I tilttnt
-6-
nhe r{RC Staf! has deto:nined also that th jtg
material is not a -esirltte from w.ater LreatlE].::'lL.
Therefore, the !{RC staff considers the uranium-bearing
tnaCerlal acceptable for recycllng and excractlon of soul-ce
materiaL.
lErnphaaio added. l
I{hether or not Eitis waste is hazardous iS r)OL trrerely a:l
academic concern. The NatiVe Arnericarr People sE,ate, oo page 2
of Eheir supplero.ental Peticion (clting, 1n Attachment c, elidee
puz-portedly preeented on April 2, ].997 by Co1l€en o'Laughlin,
the Department of EnerglT's IDOE's] Project Manager for the
cot,Eer concencrace Project) :
The amendment covers 790,000 pounds of "Cotter Concen-
trate,u defined a5 !,Mixed waete containing Radionuclidee
and Hazardous Conotituents. comprising'Eight-eights P€r-
cenE ot NTS CUrrenE Mrxed Wagte Invencory.'',
Lula Kat,so, spokesperson for the Westwater NavaJo Cornmunlty,
wroter or pagee l and 2 of a letter of .7une 1, L997, EhaE:
The leach flelde migh! drain down into the canyon water
and to the rlver.
The Supplemencal PeElclon scaced, in ACCachmenc I, 1 fg, wlthouc
cj-tlng any authority:
IE is [our] . uncerotanding thaE the.'contentn of the
Cotter Concentraie incLude radionuclides and hazardous
constituents, some of which are hearry met,a}g, organlc
wastes and Plutonium-244.
tv^rluaal irrrtvva ltril:udtJ ar.cl ra-tn-ni1v
-7-
The filir:,gs indicate that there may be credible reasong for
a finding of the nonhazardous nature of the Cotter Concentrar,e.
ae prevlously mencloned, che tfltc trer,red muclr of rbe d.aca abouc
the cotter concentrate as propriet.ary, however, and kept it
coafidentiaL. Therefore, the information ie noE publicly
available. some public starements, incruding one made by the
NRC b,efore the utah Radiation control Board , l,lay g, tggT
(Supplemencal peE1tr1on, Appendlx H, atr z, ,l s), are egulvocal
as to whecher the Cotter Concentrate is hazardoue corroslvely
ard Loxicologically. The NRC has said, relying primarily on a
health physiciat, whose ezqpertise may be limitcd to radiation
eaf er-y:
Prlor co EubrTlitcing Ehe request, for che lj-cense amendmenq,
Energy Fuele conducted an analyeia of the iesue and con-
cluded the Cotter Concentrate does not present any un.i gue
or e-ttanrdlnary eafety {esrres.. The NRC agreed that the
mat.erial can be procesoed vithout posing additional riskor lmpacts to the environment, Energy Fuers3 employees orthe public'e health and eafety. The eafety of the pro-
ceesing uas conflrmed independently by a health phyeicist.
He revle,rrcd. the potential health and environmental l.mpactstbat may be assoclated wlth the processlng of the cor,Eer
Concentrate. The physicis[ found that the data demon-etrated conclusively that the material hae no poteltial to
increaee any radiation riek to the general public or the
envlronmenE. The company ie taking all ,of the radlation
3ttite Meea l,lill was acquired from Energlg 3uels Nuclear,Inc. by IUSA.
63r-n3l cL,ln i Q:I-i c7 | )clcan.JlJ^1 l9c^l wlttrv!^ 1rUl.u6rJ cr..t
-8-
safety precautiorls to pxotect, t,heir employees, the public
- and the envlronment.
lSmphasis added.]
B. Conclusion
After readlng che Staff'E materials, I conclude thaE, it. is
impoeeible for rne to ascertain the basia for the Staff determl-
nation that this material is not, hazardous. The basis is nct
found either j.n the TER or in any otheir material f iled with me.
In particular, I do not know t.he composltlon of thls material,
how hazardous it iB, or how a determinacion was made trhac the
nateri.al "i.s not a residue from waEer treatmenE." Since I
can::ot make ttrese deterrr-inations, I undersiand the concerns of
the Native American Petitioners, whoee feare cannot at this time
be properly addreEeed by available facte.
Determining whether thle materiaL le hazardous is cruclal
to the consideration of the health and safety aspects of the
concerns of che Nat,lve Amerlcan Petltloners. Hence, the Staff
and 1OSA may chooee voluntarily to eupply the legal and factual
3
baeis f or t,hie determLnation to the petitJ.onero and the public.
.r'\ataaaa tl^tl'-a^r r!.rt'u!a .tltt.rratJ t:.at t:-\a-a^u
-9-
III. Concerns: lnjury in Fact
A. The tar* of t.he Cqee
Above, I have just scated a concern ahout public informa-
tion about the Cotter Concentrate. Nevert,heless, the Native
Americaa Petitioners have not complied with }IRC reguirements for
a hcaring, including:
o ?hey hawe not stated whom thcy repreoent.
o They have not etated in a Eworn statement where any of
represented individuale resj.de or how far they reside from
alleged threat from the Cotter Concent,rate.
They have not provided a plausibie scenario coneernlng how
they may euffex health or safety conseque:rces f:orn Lire C<.rt-Le:.'
Concentrate .4
.An earlier decision in this case, LBP-97-10 44 NRC _,
(tlay z7r 1991) stacesr on page 5, Ehat. -one way or anocher, a
petitioner mupt ehow the specific injury thaE is feared and how
that lnjury might occur.n Ic, algo 6Eates, oII pages 4-5, that:
To ehow standing, Brr individuaL or an orgarization musL
show how thcy may be harmed ('\injury in fact") by the
t,he
the
4a11eged future events, such
'!'ernald and other DoE 8ites", are not
request. Our attentlon 1s limited tc
l-lcensc a:ncndment and thic d=y.
aB brlnging waaEea from
relevanc co Ehls licease
the alleged evils of this
it,/6r'l otr-r c2l)61ie0a Jy0_1 tvlnl H'il svufl 'l!!|:uror J 62: ! t l6-r0-!ny
amendnent.5
-10-
ft i.e'L]rpieal in ortr proeeedingn fhat rn
indlvldual would submit an affidavi: concerning where Ehey
).iwe and how tar chaE 1s from che propoeed acclvJ.Ey. AJI
organization tlpically wouLd file an affidavit ehowingthat its lnterests as an organization will be injuted or
that a partierrlar person or group of people, whom it is
authorized to represeni, live in particular addresses,
et,ating how far chey 11ve from che proposed acE1v1ty.
B. State of the Record
Ehe Btralghcfontard reqr:iremencs of theIt is a puzzle Ehat
1aw have been largely
exlrended to nake the
ignored even
requj.remente
peEitioners' filings lack even
1. The opecific addresa
relies in proving Ehat it
posed. license amendment,.
after effort has been
underst,andable.S What
now ].s:
of a peroon on whom thc a=oupis placeo at risk by the pro-
2. The names of ti:e people who are members or are other-
wi:re represented by the g=oup and how they have authorizcd
repreeentation. A precioe deocription of the geographical
areaa 1n whlch these rnembers or represented peoPle resideor 1ive.
5 The regulrement of injury in fact'" muet not be taken
1irera11y. IL j.c fu1fi1Ied by demou8LraLing that there is
reason to believe an accident may occur. Curators of thF
Lrniversitv of Miesouri, LBP 90-18, 3t lfi,C 559 at, 555. (1990)
Note that thie Srrbpart L case lnlerprets "injury in fact" 1n
11ght of the extent to which facts may be avallable to a
pecltloner.
6The Staff Supplemental Responae, at 3-!2, ie a scholarly
approach to the subject of stanoing as previously intelpreted
in chis case.
J\.1.|1 llrir'l 'Alrtvvn llt.il:utc.tl nt'cl ra-r)n-eiv
-l.L-
3. At least, some superficial information about the pathsthat eurface water or sEreams take in the area and thereaaon to believe that represenced i:dividuale are at rj.ekdespite the precautions and monitoring undertaken underche ltcense to whlch chJ.o amendmenr ls reguested.
4. The distance that pollution would have to t,raver tocausc phycicar injury to repreeented indiwidual-s. Thie
. couLd be measured along wat,er or atmospheric pathways.
5. Specificatlons of reasons to belleve in the inade-quacy of the precautione taken by rusA to prevent water
and air pollution-
Itr 1s my ccncluslon, afcer revlewlng E,he 1asc sectlon of
the TER, that this amendment, makee very 1lttle substantive
change in m:lIing or tailing-disposal operat,ions, nraking iE
diffisult for petiiionero to show 'injurT in fast.. The sraff
found, on pp. 3-4 of the TER, that:
. the process:,ng of chis macerial wiLl noc resulc in(1) a sigmificant. change or increase in the tlpes or
amounta of effluents t.hac may be released offeite; (z) aoig::ificant j.ncreasc in indiwidual or cumulatiwc occupa-tional radiatioo elrposure; (3) a significant constructionlnpact; or (4) a sigrniflcanr lncrease in the potential foror conseguenceo from radiological accidente. This con-clueion is baeed on the following information:
a. Proceeelug of thls materlal w111 not resulc 1n che
currently-approved annual yellowcake production lknitof 4380 tona being exceeded.
b. No physlcal changeo to the mil1
to process this materlal.
e.Processing this mat.erial will
lusAl to enLarge 1ce calllngs'
cj,rcuit are required
not require EBN [or
dlsposal facllicies.
n.l-r1c.' ql/rl ,.l c:t-r lr;ia:lfal6 .lrnl l!.t'l wlrivln 'trul:u,aJJ n.'nl r.-5i_n^u
-12-
Trucke transporting t.he material to the mill site
wil"I be suileyed and decontaminat,ed, as necessaty, in
accord:nce with EBN iOR ITJSAI'c proccduree, lrcforc
leaving Ehis site.
C. Pleadings
involved in handling the material will be
with personal protective equipment.
of che Nacive American SeEiti.onerE
t'{r. Begay come6 closest to alleging a ground for standing.
lle st,ates:
Our Community and our water wells 1ie adjacent to, ae well
as down8tream anC do*nwind from the tBN [oR lusAJ MiII.
The radionucleidg which make up the Cotter Concentrate
originaLly came from Belgium Congo Ore containing approxi-
mately 5ot Uranium, and now 6ti11 contain 10t Uraniurn.
No-- only does rhls hazardoua wasEe concaln excremely hlgh
radioact.ivity and radon gas propertiee, but each time ic
io processed it adds further harmful cons'-ituentg, uhlch
ar€ perhape mor€ inrmediately dangeroue to human health
than tne radio-nuclldes. According to reports, your
agency, and the Department of Energry have etated that DOE
ie unable to et,abilize the Cotter Concentrate. Therefore,
en the baeie of co:1cern6 for the health and eafety of
myself, rqr fanl}y, and my conmunitY, I ask for standing to
argue agalnet brlnging these contaminants to the lihite
Mesa MiII.7
*: Segay, hcwever, rrites from a poet, offlce box and does noE
provide his reeidential home addresg, a Etaternent of how he 1s
authorized to reprcsent other Ute citize::sr or. the reoidence of
any Ute citizen. Nor does hie concern show an injury in fact,
7 Norman Begay'e letter of April 30, 199?, on page 1.
d.
e.Employees
proYided
Ju6i tveal utrrvun 1t\tt "l!6 rJ 6t:et lc-t4-nnv
-1-3-
re8uLtlng from Ehe amendment, aB contrasied wirh continuing
opcrat,iorre ef thc mi11 undcr ito oxiotirrg liccnoc. so Mr. Bcgay
. faile to provlde a baels for 6Eand1ng, elrher for h1e organlza,
tion or himeelf.
Lula Kai,so, who io styled as 'spokesperson for t{estwate:
NavajoB,"S doee not, provid€ a rceidcntial addregs, a ctaterment
of authorizaeion to tepreoent other Navajo eitizcnsr or the
residence of any =epreseni,ed person. Lula Katso thus fails to
shc,w "injury j.n fact" or any basis for standing, either for the
Westh,ater Navajos or persoaally.
Mr. mlnston M. t'lason, Head of Councll o( Greac Avlkan
House, uses'the address of the liatlve Anerican Peoples Hiotori-
ca1 Foundation. i{e does not provide his own resideace or the
residence of any member of the HiEtorical FounCation. Nor does
he E,iate the dlstance from whiie Mesa oi the Natiwe American
Peoples Hj atori ca1 Foundation nor any pLausible e>cplanation of
how 1t mlght be harmed. }le f alls to provlde a bae j.s f or
etanding, either for hie organizatlon or himself.
SSee Lula Kateo'e lett,ers of
L977, appearlng ae attachmenE,s at
American' e Supplemcntal Petltion.
'June 7 , 1997 and April
the front. cf the Native
nc t-alD. il /tt') 01t- t c:rrtitcent J1161 alanl q,ttrvln trilr.rlrirJ
30,
-14-
D. Environnental Jrrstice
f conclude thai, conErary to the poslclon of the !(aE,lwe
American Petitioners, the Executive Order 12898, "Federal
Actions to Address Environrnental ,lustlce in MlnoriEy Populations
and Low-rncome PopulaE.ionso (1994) is not applicable. This case
1s about continued operation of a nit': that haa alre.acly h(::.,n
licensed. IC 1s my reeponslbl).1cy to evaluaEe che Pet.lElons and
to assure that health and Bafety is protecEed. ?bere ie no
reason to think that, thie act,ion could diecrlminaEe againsi
Native Americans. 59 Fed. Reg. 7629.
E. Spiritual and PsychoJ.ogical Ef fect€
The Native Anerican Pecitioners have e>cpresoed profound
concerns about the effec! of the placement of the Cotter
Concentrat.e near their anceetral burial gzounds. While this
argument et,rikcs a responsive chord, it does not inwoke a::y
1ega1 authority, and i know of no such authority. The Atornic
Energy Act and the National Envj.ronmental Po1ley Act are
concerned with publ:.c health and eafety arld harm to the human
cnvironmcnt. See (D.e. Cir. 1982)
222 , 249-53 ., and MQ.lq:rOpOILian sdr son coi v. pAI.IE (rg0r ) 460
U. S. 166 at 772'19 ,
tt rta!:ene JV-1 fvclll t{l tlv\J,1 .ilrl t:ujoJJ la.ct
IV.
- 1< _
Negotiation
Tho D=coiding officer would bs plcaood to facilicaco
producE,lve Cllscusslone a:nong che partles. I{h1le E,he case 1s
pending, this should be dcne j.n an open forum. After the time
for appeal er(pires, if the case is no longer active, the
facilitation could, vith special approval of the lil'RC, occur at
p:ivate meetings.
OR.DER
For all the foregoing reasons anC upon conslderation of the
enclre record 1n rhls maicer, lE ls chls 23rd day of rruly ].991,
ORDERED, trhat:
1. hrreuaxt to 10 C-F.R. S 2.tzcS(n), the decision to deny
the petitions to intervene ie appealabie to the United Staies
Nuclear Regr:1atory Corun-iesion within ten (10) days of ser-'rice
of th{.e order of the- Presiding' Officer
2. A Petltlon for revlew and a response to a petition for'
revieu mugt meet the re{.rj.rements of 10 C,F.R. S 2.785b(2-6) .
3. Pureuarrt to 10 C.f'.R. S 2.'77L, a petlf-ion for reconsid-
eration of a final decielon rilay be filed by a party within (lO1
days after the datc of the decioion. The petit'io;: for reconsld-
erat.j.on ehal] state specificaLly the respeci'e :'n *'hich the final
^r'5a:aana runliyqnl,/tltrjvln'll\l:tlroll 2q:qt 2s-?0-!nv
- 15 -
decision is claimed to be erroneous, the grcunds of the peti-
t i "rr',, and tha rel i af co:.rght .
4. Under 10 C.F.R. 5 2,734e, a Party may t1le a motj.cn to
reopen a closed record to consider additional evidence. The
motion must, be timely, must address a significant eafety or
environmental igsue, and must demonstrate that a materially
differenE. reeult would be 1ik-e1y had the newly proffcred
evidence been considered inicially.
Peter B. B1och,
ADMTNlSTRATIW
Presiding
JUDGE
Rockvilie, Maryland
9thi" eection ia
Applicability and appearg
C.F.R. grrhpart L.
contained in ruleo of Generai
to have no para11e1 section in 10
Officer
UT{ITED STATES OF
IIUCLEIR RTGULATORY
AIlERICA
C0t'lfiISSI0l{
In the iatter of
r{TERi{ATIofiAL URrfi rUil (usA)
CORPORATIOI{
(llhtte tlsss Uranlua il'lll;
Alternate Feed llaterlal )
Admln'lstratl ve Judge
Char'les H. Kel ber
Speclal Asslstant
Atoolc Safety and Llcenslng Boardllai'l Stop - T-3 F23
U.S. tluc1ear Regulatory Conmisslon
liashlngton. DC 20555
John T. Hull. Esq.
Sherrln E. Turk, [sq.
OffJce of the General Counselllall Stop - 0-15 818
U.S. l{uc'lear Regulatory Conmission
Yash'lngton , DC 20555
tltche'l'le R. letrmann
Envlromrental llanager
Internat'lonel Uran1un (USA) Corp.
Independence Plaza, Sulte 950
1050 Seventeenth Street
Oenver, C0 80265
I hereby cert'lfy that copies of the
have been served upon the fo'llowlng
es otherttlse noted and ln accordance
0f f 'l ce of Comnl ss 1 on Appel I ato
AdJudt cati on
U.S. t{uclear Regulatory Comisslon
liashl ngton , 0C 20555
Docket ilo. (s1 4FE681-ltLA
CTRTIFICATE OF 5ERYICE
forego'lng LB tt&0 (DEHYING A HEARII{G)persons by U.5. nall, flrst class, exceptwith the requlrements of 10 CFR Sec. 2.712.
Adnlnlstrative Judge
Peter B. Bloch
Prcs'lding 0ff{cer
Atomlc Sefety rnd Llcenslng Boardllatl Stop - T-3 F23
U.S. Huclear Regulatory Cormlsslon
llashington, DC 20555
Robert R. Piarce
Senior Attorney
Atomlc Safety rnd Llcsnsing Boardl{aii Stop - T-3 F23
U.5. Huclear Regulatory Conmlss'lon
l{ashington, DC 20555
Rlchard A. tlunson, Esq,()ne Tabor Center, Sulte 1000
1200 Seven',eenth Street
Denver, C0 90202
ilonnan Eegqy
l{h1te t{esa Ute Cltizen
Box 1138
l{h1te llesa, fi 84511
nr ! -cct ql /71') cr t - t ar,tqi.c'1i Jvnllvtrl wrl\V!n 1tur.lJc,J ea,.r t. s. i.u
a
Docket l{o. (s )40-C081-llLA
LB-lno (oEt{YIt{G A HEARIi{G)
G. Leah Oever, Asst. llanagerfor Envlronmsntal llanagoment
Departmnt of EnergY
ilevada Operatlons 0ff1ce
P.0. 8ox 98518
Lrs Yegas, l{Y 89193
tllnston t. llason
6reat Avlkqn Hquse
tlatlve Aaterlcan Peoples Hlstorlcal
Foundati on
3 East Center Street, 8ox AYI(Alt
Blandlng, UT 84511
Dated at Rockvll le, tld. thls
23 dty of JulY 1997
Lula 0. Katso
l{estxater llavalo Cormunity
c/o tt. Hutchlns
264 t{est 100 llorth
Bland1n9, fi C45ll
I 5 -t0-!nY
- JUL-I6-37 0i:59 From: INTL IJRANIUli4 [USA)C0RF
Irrrns r"no.,-Q
UR.rsru.u (usA)
Conron,rrtor
3033491r 25 T-902 P.AZ/0X Joh-691
hrtlt lx.'rlnrr,t' P]uz,r, Srritc, 0,5() r l.{}5() Ser.errtt.rrtlr Str.,(,t .
MRR/Iey
hlurcn\or\q/p'n60\frlcsblrrlctrcre\bo$7l 5,ltr
l]en'r,r, f:0 ,5()l(i; r r3(lli 6!ti ?igtj (,rai,) . ;]0:j;jrit).*l!I rtinr
July 15, 1997
YrA QVEIINTGHT Mslr
Mr. Boh LinneU
State of Utah
State Capitol Building
201 State Capitol
Salt Lake City, UT 84114
Dear L,Ir, Linnell:
International Uranium (USA) Corporation ('[UC"i has a copy of Navajo Utah Commission
Resolution No' NUCJLY- 143-9?, which states the Commission's'opposition io ',transportation andplacement of high level nuclear waste".in tailings ponds at the Whitu Mesa Mil! "i., gf;di"S,
Ljtah. The Governor's office is aw&re, from our prrvious lcttcrr and from correspondence uy ttieUtah Department of Enviroilnental Qudity, of thi facts concerning our plan to proce$s a uranium-bearing materlEl, knourn as the Cotter Concentrate) ro recovpr urJnium.-We wili not restate all theirtformation previousiy submittcd. However, it appears that the Navajo Utalr Comniesion hae beenmisirtformed with respect to this project, and this is reflected irr in.ooect statements in theresolution' lVe have sent lettBrs and tsve been in contact with the Executive Director of theCornmission, and are offering to prwide any additional facts conceming the project that thecommi_ssiol nnay wish to review, In the meantime, please note the follorrin[ *onections to poinisin the Resolutiou
r the material il rtot high level nuclsar wasto and docs not contain plutonium 244
' the material is not being tranrported across any portion of the Navajo Reservation
' the material is. rtot being directly disposed of as waste in the tailings ponds, but is beingprocessed for it'E ursniu*l content.
wc will continue to provide the Commission with accurat€ inJlormation concerning this projea,
Since;fly r"/r,
li €'Michelle R, Rehmann
Envirsnmental Manager
JUL-i0-E? 0Ir59 From;INTL URANIt,l[la T-90a P.0e/03 Jab-091
July 15, i997
Mr. Butr Linnell
MRR/Iay
cc, Charles Johnson, Chlef of Staff(Govcrnor,s Office)
Clarenco Rockrryell, Exeeutive Dircctor
Navajo Utah Commission
Walter Atene, Ctuir
Nav{o Utah Commission
Bill Sinclair, l-)irector
Utah Departmenr Environmental QualityRadiarion Conrrol Dlvision
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U. S, Dlplrtmont of Enargy
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PRECEDENCE DESIGMTION
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FRoM: W ^
T,\'ASTE MANAGEMENT DIVISION
DOE NE1/ADA OPERATIONS OFFICE
P.O. BOX gA51E, IAS VEGAS, NV 80193,8518
For Communlcstlon Csntcr Use
MSG IDENTIFICATION
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[,US 605
WMD Fqx (702) 295.11S4
Verify (7WleS5-3181
Offlclal
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Date:
UNCLASEIFIED
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Cottcr $[lpmcnt # 7
Cotta#0?hfr fuln$ u rpproxinrrtdv 10145 unonltradnardry, ilW97.
Ihc ddpnrnt cotui*sd of45 drumr rt 30,263 eoudr,
Cottcr Shipnmt # I
Cottr#0t 16ft thc ITITS rt ryprodrutdy 10:45 rtr on Fridry', il20F,7.
ThG rhiprrrril cordcrdoftl5 dnlnr d 31,410 pounda
Cotter $hipnmt # I
Cottr #0e hft thc II{TS rt rpproxirnrtdy 10100 in on 6123197,
ltc ftipmom onrdltrd of45 drumr S 3I,650 pourdl
Cotter $hipmcot #10
Cottrr#I010ft thoNTE rt rppmxirnrtsly 10:30 rm on6125197.
Tni fiipmGat amri*cd oftlS drumr it 30,511 pomdr,
Cottcr $hipucut # 11 rnd # 12
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Coffi;r#l i oouri** of 15 dnrmr rt 32,30, D$undr
Cottcr#tZ oonri*cd of45 &umr rt 31,244 parndr.
Cottrr $hlpucut # l3
Cott r #13 lGfi th }trS I rpprsdm#dy rt 10:30 W 6t27l€,7.
Tho fipdid 0oads0dof45 drumr r132,375 pqurdi,
Cotter Shipuent # l{
Cqttcr #l{ tcft thGNfS u ryproximrtdy 10:15 rrq flt0/97..
Itc fiipmd conri*cd of45 drumr rt 31,6fi1 poudl
P. A2
IurBnxarro*orO
URaNruvr (use)
Conpon.rrrox
lndependence Plaza, Suite 950 . 1050 Seventeenth Street o Denver, CO 80265 o 303 628 7798 (main) . 303 389 al25 (f'ax)
Iune26, L997
Mr. William J. Sinclair, Director
Division of Radiation Control
P.O. Box 144850
Salt Lake Ciry, UT 84114-4850
Dear Mr. Sinclair,
This letter follows our telephone discussion in which you requested information on the interactions
we have had with the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe and the White Mesa Ute Community concerning the
White Mesa Uranium Mill. Our communications with these parties were initiated by Energy Fuels
Nuclear, Inc. ("EFN"), ond are being continued by International Uranium (USA) Corporation
("IUC'). In particular, on June 24-25,IUC sent a number of letters to various American Indian
government offices; local city or county government offices; and non-profit entities including, of
course, the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe and the White Mesa Ute Community. The purpose of these
letters was to give the parties an update on recent activates at the Mill and to offer information on
any areas of interest, including our plan to process the Cotter Concentrate.
Prior to this, some of the interactions between EFN and the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe and White Mesa
Ute Community have been as follows:
. December, 1994. EFN observed samplings of the White Mesa Ute wells, which was
conducted by the State of Utah Water Quality Division. Sampling of the two deep-aquifer
wells located at the White Mesa Ute Community yielded no evidence of contamination due
to Mill operations.
. 1995. Sent report entitled Hydrogeologic Evaluation of White Mesa Uranium Mill (June
1994) to Ute Mountain Ute Tribe Environmental Department.
. July 22,1996. Meeting with Sue Groves, Director of the Ute Mountain Ute Environmental
Department; Scott Clow, Ute Mountain Ute Water Quality Specialist; and Mary Jane Ya""i.
The purpose of the meeting was to promote ongoing dialog and interchange of
environmental information. Follow-up included :
- EFN sent copies of semi-annual efluent reports (which contain data for all
environmental and radiation monitoring at the mill) to the Ute Mountain Ute
Environmental Department.
- EFN and the Tribal environmental staffagreed to locate and share analytical results
from sampling of deep wells conducted by the State of Utatr in 1995.
- EFN would alrange to give tours of the Mill to tribal staffand representatives.
h lusas\tay\wpwin60Vilcs\rnrr\lcttcrs\bil0626. lt
Bill Sinclair, Director Iune26,1997
August 23, 1996. Requested details on location of the two White Mesa Community wells,
so that the wells could be shown on maps in future EFN documents. Proposed dates for site
tours.
September 3,1996. Transmiued semi-annual effiuent reports (from lune 1992 to date) to Ute
Mountain Ute Environmental Department.
September 23,1996. Received a map showing locations of the two wells for the White Mesa
Community from the Ute Mountain Ute Environmental Department.
November 15, 1996. Letter from Ute Mountain Ute Water Quality Specialist commenting
on positive impressions of environmental programs observed during tour of the mill.
In summary, EFN has developed a cooperative data-sharing arrangement with the Ute Mountain Ute
Environmental Department. The Ute environmental staffhas provided EFN with map locations and
descriptions of the two water supply wells located at the White Mesa Ute Community, which EFN
was then able to add to our map of locations of known deep-aquifer wells within a five-mile radius
ofWhite Mesa Mill. It is important that tribal representatives have access to these data, which show
that hydrogeologic conditions, design of the tailings cells, and low annual precipitation are among
the factors, which, combined, create a situation in which there is no potential for White Mesa Mill
operations to impact wells located at the White Mesa Ute Community. Further, as shown in reports
submitted by EFN to the NRC, the State of Utah, and the Ute Mountain Ute Environmental
Department, groundwater monitoring data collected from 1979 to the present demonstrate that the
operations at the Mill have produced no contamination of any groundwater. The same reports also
demonstrate why it is reasonable to except that there will be no release of contamination to
groundwater supplies in the area.
In addition to exchanging data at least 14 members of the White Mesa Ute Community and/or the
Ute Mountain Ute Tribe, or their representatives, have toured the White Mesa Mill during the past
two years. During Mill operations, the White Mesa Mill staffprovides newsletters to a local Tribal
Member, for posting at the White Mesa Ute Community Center. ruC will continue this
communication. I can be reached at 303.389.4131.
Sincerely yours,
-2-
Michelle R. Rehmann
Environmental Manager
MRR/tay
h :\users\tay\wpwin60Viles\mn\letters\bi10626. lh
,i
Bill Sinclair, Director -3- hne26,1997
cc: David C. Frydenlund
Harold R. Roberts
cf LElEfivlilWtahlConespondance and Ute Mountain Ute
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Radiatioo
June 25, 1997
lWs. Stephanie Bernkauf
State of Utah Department of Environmental Quality
P O Box 144810
Salt Lake City, UT 84114-4810
Dear Ms. Bernkauf
International Uranium (USA) Corporation ("IUC") owns and operates uranium mining and
processing facilities in the western United States, and also conducts exploration on an international
basis. Although IUC is a relatively new company, it recently acquired the assets of Energy Fuels
Nuclear, Inc., and thus gained the expertise and history of one of the most efficient and
environmentally responsible companies in the industry. Specifically, IUC owns and operates the
White Mesa Uranium Mill near Blanding, Utah.
Constnraed in 1980, the White Mesa Mill is a state-of-the-art facility, with an exemplary record of
environmertal and safety compliance. Over the past three years alone, the Mill has contributed over
20 million dollars to the locd economy, with jobs for up to 95 local citizens.
Since its start-up in 1980 the Mill, which dso has a vanadium circuit, has produced over 27 million
pounds of uranium oxide (refened to as "Yellowcake") and over 43 million pounds of vanadium.
The uranium produced by the Mill is used to fuel nuclear power plants for generating electricrty tn
1995, nuclear power plants generated approximately 21.9 percent of the world's electricity. Twenty
percent of the electricity used in the United States is generated by nuclear power plants.
fu we have discussed, recently we have become aware of some apparent mizunderstandings about
operations at the White Mesa Mill. There appears to be a great deal of misunderstanding about our
plan to process a particular dternate fbed material, and also some general questioN about our
operations. We have sent a lettcr similar to this one to a number of governrnentd and/or tribd
entities, as well as certain non-profit orgurizations, to update those parties on the recent activities
at the White Mesa Uranium Mll, and to ask whether any of their members have any specific
questions or areas in which we may provide additiond information.
We hope that this direct conrmturication will open an avenue to ensure that thesc parties have access
to dl the facts necessary to understand our activities. The following subsections are brief summaries
on selected topics. We also attach copies of fact streets that were distributed at the Radiation Control
Board meeting in Sdt Lake City on May 9,1997. We would welcome the oppornrnity to give you
more information in these or any other areas of interest to you.
{{\lN rrit \',1 ?
[ ,YYxs'nili;,li,i3'T*, Ss "ii;t'ott' .,]
QGrror.gD
a:\sbo625.la hlulcE\tlgwpwin6owcs\nrilarntsb0625.ltr
Stephanie Berkauf June 25. 1997
License Renewal
The White Mesa Mill must have a license from the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission ("NRC")
in order to operate. In March of this year, after a lengthy approval period the NRC granted the Mill
a l0-year renewal to our operating License. Ten-year license renewals are only granted to licensees
who meet specified NRC criteria for good, safe performance.
Ownershio Transfer
Effective May 10, 1997, International Uranium (USA) Corporation ("IUC") assumed ownership of
the Mill from Energy Fuels Nuclear, Inc. ("EFN"), and became the licensed operator of the White
Mesa Uranium Mill. The license transfer was reviewed and approved by the NRC. Nearly all of the
employees who had been working for EFN decided to stay on, so the transition to the new owners
has been very smooth.
Employment Status
As of Apil24,1997, minority employment statistics for the Mill indicate minority employment at
32 percent of the total staff. American Indians represent 20 percent of the workforce, while
Hispanic and female employees represent 4 and 8 percent of the total worldorce, respectively.
During full operations, based on employment statistics for December 31, 1995, minority
employment was at 44 percent; with 26 percent of these workers being American Indiarl 6 percent
Hispanic, and 12 percent women.
Radiation Safety
The NRC inspects the mill at least trvice annually to ensure that operations are conducted in such
a way that the possibility for radiation exposure for the workers at our mill and the public is kept far
below all of the required safety limits. Those required limits are set at levels which are considered
by the NRC and other internationd experts on radiation safety as being very protective;
nevertheless, as is consistent with NRC requirements, we constantly work to keep the potential for
exposure far below those limits.
Environmental Protection
The Mill has a comprehensive environmental protection and monitoring prograrn, designed to ensure
that contamination does not escape from the facility. The precautions in place to prevent
contamination are tested to ensure that they are working by regularly scheduled sampling of air, soil,
vegetatiorq and water. All of the sampling must follow written procedures, and the results are
submitted to the NRC semiannually. The data in these reports show that the environmental
protection procedures are working well within the stringent standards required by the NRC.
a:\sb0625.lct hlurrs\tay\wpwin60Vilcsvnn[cttcrsbb0625.ltr
-2-
Stephanie Berkauf June 25, I997
Communications with American Indian Tribal Members and Representatives
We have maintained lines of communication with the White Mesa Ute Community and have
developed a cooperative data-sharing arrangement with the Ute Mountain Ute Environmental
Protection Office. At least 14 members ofthe White Mesa Ute Community and/or the Ute Mountain
Ute Tribe, or their representatives, have toured the White Mesa Mill during the past two years.
During Mill operations, the White Mesa Mill staffprovides newsletters to a local Tribal member,
for posting at the White Mesa Ute Community Center. We will continue this communication, and
this letter is one way in which we are exploring new contacts to help expand this communication
network.
Cultural Resources
We respect the cultural history of the White Mesa area. We have performed all required culturd
resource inventories, and carefully comply with the conditions in our NRC license concerning
identification and preservation of cultural resources.
Kinds of Feed Materials (Ores) the Mill is Licensed to Process
The White Mesa Mill is licensed to recover uranium concentrates from uranium bearing material.
The most common source of uranium is the processing of ore from mines located in the area.
Another source of uranium that the mill is licensed to process is called "alternate feed materials".
These are materials other than naturd ores, that are generally by-products from other extraction
procedures. These are processed at the mill in the same manner as natural ores, to recover the
uranium they contain. General facts abclut the alternate feed materials include:
l. Alternate feed materials are similar, in terms of the kinds and activity levels of radionuclides
they contain" to the ore and uranium concentrates routinely handled at the Mill.
2. Alternate feed materials contain valuable uranium product that we can recover. They are not
"waste". They certainly are not. for example, high-level nuclear waste, such as spent fuel
from nuclear power plants.
3. Alternate feed materials do not contain radionuclides that are different from those found in
natural ore. They certainly dg-1tg11l, for example, contain plutonium.
Cotter Concentrate
Recently, the NRC gave us authorization to process an alternate feed material previously owned by
the Department of Enerry ("DOE"), known as the "Cotter Concentrate". This material contains a
significant quality of recoverable uranium. Also, processing the Cotter Concentrate to remove the
a:\sb0625.lct h:\uscrs\tay\wpwin60Viles\mnVettcrs\sbo625.lt
-3-
Stephanie Berkauf June 15, 1997
uranium saves tixpayers over three million dollars in needless treatment or disposal costs. [t seems
to us that this process, which can be done very safely, and which both removes most of the
radioactivity and saves many tix dollars, is the best way to use this resource and protect the
environment.
Again, we sincerely hope that this information is helpful. We will be calling those receiving letters
like this one to follow up on whether they would like further information in these or any other areas.
As you know, we have already spoken with Wil Numken4 Executive Director of the Utah Division
of Indian Affairs, who was very helpful in suggesting tribal contacts. I also spoke with Melvin
Capitan of the Navajo Nation Groundwater Pollution Control Program this morning, and am
following that discussion with a letter and additional data reports for his information. Thank you for
your assistance in developing this set of contacts and insights as to issues of concern. Please let me
know if you have any questions or suggestions. I can be reached at 303.389. 4131.
Sincerely,
>2, @
Mchelle R. Rehmann
Environmental Manager
MRR/tay
Attachment
-4-
a:\sb0625.lct hluscrs\try\wpwin60Vilcs\mn\lcttsrs\sb0625.It
JUL-OI-EI 09;40 From:INTL URA|IIUl'l (USA)CORP 30388E4r a5ra T-7El P.0?l0Z Job-401
June 20. 1997
Walter Atene
Chairiliiiio Utah commission
[i3;"t?,1i.i3,*rr, umh 84534
Re:MisrepresentationandUnauthoriaedUseofBtandingCiryl\ame
DearWalter
ti*ffi';+**,*'-.iu*u.$i;fl f H'-iifl l*ilHj*i'tii'#i'f,[:'.x'uiif
[i
rrti,bsT,d:'111x#l$.*,ifl,''lfi. hli*:il.",Pffil",t*:fiH#JlH,U:T,ll1lJ,li',lf#ill.ffi
ffi HH jf Eil ixrlulm'iril niii,gv n"i i fi '" iiar' I nc.' s pr
in no way t reat'n E'ry ieiftn *ifr-a health haeard'
F,rther, t-et it be understood thtttrre!i1rT8ll-fi11[:hxlJ:rE;#i'$t1i"'tr"itE ff"H#il'1fi"f#I
il;ffi; iili,lit to be a sreat benefit tu
roavoidfurrhcrtcgatactionagainsrrheNavajo.uT!'-,9o*missiorrbvthe€itv#ifitir:Itl"::i
ui"I,no,i,,. ," *TTfi,:,'J#*lfflg['[,-i"f,ly,A"f;:-tl[F.i]:'ft:#{'S';,;"fi-iip'o
trat th'
offer a rormal '"t'.[":T,i",tt,"l#'1li"i rJ*iio'n "f rhe resoluti-ort -t3tt--*:-^',1::l',,',?:J"\["*iri tttin
Resorution u. ,*rir.alna iti,u tt. ,#;i'rJ;ffi;Ii*-;*luiitry q*tc Ih9 jJson for the-amendme*t
:TJ."$i-"T;;d,ffi r?rtfttrIi;ild#'xrr:;ftE;i';}l!$".;t'li1*lul"H-Hirrsa'lve
bodies wno recervi'i;c.ol'y;i ule orilinat resolution' inclu'
$'JE ore i n ravor
f*ory*g* il:fpt'itr.$JJ"'Bii"":fl,6i-[?ffi:l*i$'Yxl[:
*':T'i*:']'i"11
Council. and the I
this resolution tht
flease act expeditiousry so that wc can avoid furthcr da,r*gcs to the city and or the mitl as a result crf your
misrePresentsnoils
M
K. Slavens
Btandirrg CitY Cotrncil
EriG HEtt.. 'Blandinenc rr Ano*ivquiw
UtaiDePartrnent o{
Whitc Mesa Ute lndian Council
Tle Navujo Notiorr
i-iii'Iil* ilui, inr**ational uranium corp
MiChael O. l€avin
Govcmor
Dianne R. l,lielson, Ph.D.
Exerutivc Diutor
William J. Sinclair
Dir€cttr
TO:
FROM:
DATE:
SUBJECT:
MEMORANDUM
Dianne R. Nielson, Ph.D, Executive Director
Utah Department of Environmental Quality
Bill Sinclair, Director Sj
Division of Radiation Control
June 1 l,1997
Cotter concentrates
As previously discussed with you, I have received radiologic information from the Department of
Energy regarding what is called the "Cotter concentrates." Health physicists from my staff reviewed
the information and made some rough calculations relative to the potential public health impact from
exposure to the concentrates. According to the garnma spectroscopy results provided, the
concentrates have radionuclides associated with uranium and the uranium decay series including Ac-
228,8i-2l4,Pa-23I,Ra-223,Ra-226,Th-227, Th-230, Th-232,\J-235, and U-238.
The radionuclide which could represent the greatest public health hazard is Ra-226. Ra-226 emits
garnma radiation in sufficient energy that could represent a exposure potential. The highest value
reported for this radionuclide is 8 nanocuries/gram or 8000 picocuries/gm (a picocurie is one-
trillionth of a curie). For radium, health physicists use a rule of thumb of 2 microremsftrour per
picocurie/gram of radium to assess a dose rate. This would calculate to be an exposure rate of 8
millirem/trour (mR/tr)for an individual that came in direct contact with the Cotter concentrates (by
layrng on it). This waste is double-contained and managed to prevent such inadvertent contact and
the package is important in terms of providing shielding protection as well as the factor of distance
greatly decreases any risk of exposure. For comparison purposes, an occupational radiation worker
can receive 5000 mR/yearly and the general public can receive 100 mR yearly above background
doses. For another perspective, the average natural background radiation dose to people in the
United States is about 300 mR/year. A two-hour airplane flight results in a dose of approximately
1 mR.
The other radionuclides, resulting from the decay of uranium, do not emit gamma radiation with
sufficient energy to represent a exposure potential. These radionuclides emit alpha particles which
cannot penetrate the skin and must be ingested or inhaled to cause a problem. Once again, the waste
is packaged and managed to prevent this problem.
r,, a
Memorandum
June 10, 1997
Page2
The waste is to be transported by what is termed by the Department of Transportation as "exclusive
use." The shipment cannot contain any other commodity. Each container is labeled with the
exposure rate measured on the outside of the container. The exposure rate within 2 meters of any
point of the vehicles cannot exceed lOmR/hr. The driver cannot be exposed to a rate greater than
2 mR/hr. The shippers are specially trained and insured to handle radioactive shipments.
We have information provided to us by the Department of Energy, the Nuclear Regulatory
Commission, and Uranium International Corporation including the license amendment application.
We have reviewed this information, especially pertaining to the 1995 "NRC Branch Technical
Position on the Reprocessing of Ores" in regards to determination of "ore-like," whether the material
is a hazardous waste, and whether the material can be successfully reprocessed. UIC has certified
that the information provided is correct as part of the license amendment to the NRC. This
information has been forwarded to Radiation Control Board members and is available to members
of the public upon request.
. KINKOS OF OREM
i ,.0'to t22tI4tA ruo4 'e7 1 1 :55 No .024 P .02
,,IN HONOR OF THE GR&IT CRE4T.OR',
CRtrATAYIKAN-. HOUSE
NA' ['tYE AMNITICATT PEOPI,ES HISTORICAI, IIOUNDA'I'ION3 Easr Cqnrsr Srrpst B<x AVIXANTM Blanding, Utat E4St I itOtiOr*-ZeOS
June 3, I997
Dr. Dianne Nielson, Director
Utah Division of Environmental euatityI68 Nonh t950 West
Salt Lake City, utah g4t 14
Dear Dianne:
Thank you for sending me information from the Nationat Environmental Justice Advisorycouncil Resolution of Miy 16,lggT regarding rtr l"Jig.rrus peoptes, waste Disposal, etc. Thisinformation willbe mo.st helpfut.
^ on satttrdav, you inquired of me as to what it was that we wanted from the Governor andfrom your office to lessen the Native A1,r^rcan peoplef criticiem of the tack oiresponse liom theGovernor and from your Deparlment'g Division of nuairtion control. The answer is simple. wewant conoern and the response of our electod ofEcials and gtaff',gxpgrts,, to our pleas for thchealth and welfare of the ieople and the rands of southeastern Utah.
we want our elected officials and staf experts to rake time to malse the effort to know asmuch about the contents and dangers of the Departmen, oiEn.rgy's most hazardous nucleartailings called "cotter concentraGs" as I ao, u rirfir N.w;o Grandmoth.r. w" *.ni"ni.irr,who are opposed to dumping this product, which gtatistics iror", runs 1,000 times higher inradioactivity than the hoflesiwastis allowed by law in the }invirocare Commsrcial Nuclear Dump,next to a ute Indian Reservation and other sacred lndian lands.
we want elected ofEcials and staffexperts to prove themselvee eensitive to the traditionalbeliefs and flears of over half thc reeidenis of San Juan county who cannot allow the evil spiritsof a nuclear waste that has killed over one million people to be dumped upon the graves of theirancestors
we want officials wh.o exert every effort to stop the illegal transporting ofthe cotter concentrate,which is currently being translolud against the order oia Federat Judgo of the Atomic Safety andLicensing Board' we want oificials riho would enliet the aid of the Environmental protectionAgency and the courts, if necessary, to force the DoE to rweat the isotope content ofthe cotter
KINKOS OF OREM 0'to t22ttaLa :u!a 'sz 1 1 :54 No .024 p . oJ
Sincorely,
conccntrate beftlre it.can be.brought into ths state. we want officials who would demand the[:t]j*:,:l:5*o and what has bin brought in us tJen blck untir proper investigations and tests
we want oflicials who would bo concerned that the Nuclear Regulatory .stafi the Departmentof Energy and unioncarbide's Energy ilr, Nuclear, lr. tnoo, do;; ii}"tional uraniumltisA] corporation [IUSA]), ha"eclnrpirea throrgi, r."r", and ,,retrofit,,(backdated) documentsfor the purpose of suppressiiig i"or*utibn frgm idil;;-*hile they bring ',mosr,, ofthe wastegfrom the Ncvada resi s;te ani the ,nuioriry ol_.th;;;piirn.n, ofEnergy wastes fr,mthroughout America to.dump o;;;;;rre miles orutaiiiurd immodiatoty next to an IndianReservatjon and upon the graves ofNuiiu, Ancestors.
we want elected oflicials and management people who know what it mean' to govern and toadministrate in a Democracy and who iould, ti,rr.ror", toior the formal petitions and resolutionswhich ropresent gg% of thiE,000 urc -a w""irp*pr" ri s* Juan county.
This is what we want
Ajrrg ,/y''ao,,v
Alborta Maeon
Deeigrrated Speaker
For Thc Councit
KINKOS OF OREM
J-0,to t2211414 11:54 No.O24 P.04JUo4 'e7
SATURDAY/Moy 3 r,
[.,,-ranium
RouteMim
Moabites
Don't Want Tailings,".;
,<
BY rnENr.rl44*L:lt! :"
TITE EAUTLAf,EITI'UNIT
. A tryet eonteining rougbp rrtoru of lor-levcl nuclcar yrrterollcd quletly thrvulh Morb qnThrr drt on rsule t6 g urrulunpro(t.3tng f aefittt nerr Blandtu.It lr ono st 2E'rcbedulcd rhlimsatrltetbevs eaught HorU rejt-dgnt offlurrd endprorrpted raAmdeen lndtrn group to etlt for'
thc. dtrmlgl of Utah! dtroctot oftrdlrUos eonttol.Vtnrtort lftron, hcrd of an In.dhl herltrgc grgup, rdd Utrb
Oov. Mlke Leavltt hdr btar ,,uab-
Iqrurcd" rbout the wrltc esd
ceUcd for llre guverror b nre gili
Slnclrlr, dircclorol the slate Dlvi.rlsn ol RadhUoa Coatrot.Slaehlron Erlrtaymltl htaJoD trnot ln leopardy. ,'I'm not golng togot Ioio a.rhoutlng prtch wlt[bp.polrnlu." ho rdd.
Heqgn lr hsed qt tbe Counclltor AVIMN, e group o( varlourArDcrleto In6lru bial to Uuilaj sulllmillror.dollrilsifian qans.elogt and nuoum? centgr-uqtd9!f to thc Whtte Mere urrnlumaUll, Jurt artrldc qf Blradlo{. --
Ovued by Deovonbarod tlnni.
um.tnta-mc_Uonrl Corp. (UrC), therulll lr tis flnal dosfiiruon qf thewrttc^rblpmeata thst DegaBThurday.
th-c wlrte, 400 loor tn sll, lrconlng frouo ttc U.8. Ihpfftucntof.Eocrg r Ncyrde T*t'gttr. fOOtoiles- lorth of Irr Vqgrr. lt Ilertlqd thr "Cotla CotrdartrelJ&xl I, ]Doag lhc llrt rlrnnub ofortltnrl,unalu.or o-rc ulld lo prs-ou.r.g tto nrUou.r ltrrl rbsrieF€rlxrlr to World Wtr U.
DO_E orfturlly hrd pharcd torhbtUlc rnd dblore oi ttre wrrtcln Nertdr rt r -oort of lE.O nll-llon, 16l{ DOE rpolctorn Cerlgcttr. 11* thc rallt,r lorOrorPuer, Eu-g, Fueb Nuelcrr
iTr,liltx.T-1H * ofr t,e
UIC, whieh took qver Eocrorruelr Nustor la Afil, ptroil6rcpDooetc tto ?r.te ird-fitncturtnlun, whor prlee lr rlrlnt onule o9lumcrelrl mrrket.Itc. rhlpmcatr to Whlte l{or
Sre URANIUM, prjo D-g
Uranium PIan
Angers Utes
And Moabites
I Contiuued from D-t
rrtll.cort j-tut mqrs tbaa t60O,000,Gertr eald-
.-_ll9ttt ttbca, parrieularly $roYYtJtr Dlora Utsr, who U"e down_wlud rnd dornrlope of tbr rslll,
tre oppoued to any tuclclr wautc(lomhg to the htil. llrey eay thrwartc- could leak rrdiori(irc lonilnto tholr groundrval,er.
. But thetr b,ggest obJccUon lgthrt the wASte is en uf(rbnt to se.cred huollng rnd burtrl f,rourtrltadJeccat (q 0remill propiitf.
I? e flurrrof letteri *iittc-n tt,trTltlg to l.crvltt aud pmrirtcni
Urlnlbo, Mr5on Ctllod the rhlp.alrenb a elrtumven[on of terlcritlawe and m cxampl€ otl.e""tron.peufa! rlclsm" perpolrated ontIe lndlans by the Eoieroment.
- "1to Cqtter Coic.entrate rerl.duer from World \[rr rl'l oiiii_net atomic bonrb, whten tiltldnearly 1 mfllion people, earry IYery bod rplrlt," Meeon wrotd toClbton. "Thingr ot lhlr neturomugt no.t bo dumped upon tlrcSreyes of our ancrttorl."-
.. Sinclslr rold tlre ahipmcntr rretlr€ lurirdictlon of the [J.S. Nucle-e-r Regulatory Comuleaton. notlhc rtate. But Sirretqlr hsr wrltlorr
e lsttsr aeHng lhe NIIC to gtvc theIndlans strrndlng tn lhelr iattionto prpteat the sldpraentr. -
Meanwhtle, MoaD rrrldentr aav
-tle; hayg bcen caugbt otf guarl
Dy rnc thrpmentu an<l ar€ exprcte-lng e0ncern that they arc comlrrclhrough Morb, e rapiaty rrowlniresort lown whoee Irtrli Street lioften choked wlth tourtrt trefflc,'
. "fir?ro'g no phcc for r nuelelr
lw.rtoJ epill lhere,', said KercnN.clron, a Cae0e VellrT rertdeniwho srrkec ftequent- t lpr ioMoab-
Ctrnd County Councllman AlMcleod ftrot lerrned of tho rhlp.rnente lFrldty from rn taquirlrigTlibutu roporter.
_"1don't !lke thlc,,,MeLeod mkl."We rryeren't nottfled or warnerlthat thlg woutd be the route. Mev.S ttey dtdn't wanr us to fl-oiv.'raey ,u8t wrnted to olldc tt onthrough rdth lhe Icrrt arnount olrrbtance."
'a ffixme#f illrmFx
DEPARTMENT OF EI.WIRONMENTAL QUALTTY
DIVISION OF RADIATION CONTROL
168 North 1950 West
P.O. Box ltl4850
Satt Lake City, Utah 841144850
[phone] Voice
[phone] Fax
(80r) s3il414 T.D.D.
Michael O. Leavin
Govmor
Dianne R. Nielson, Ph.D.
Executivc Diretor
William J. Sinclair
Dirctor
May 30, 1997
Charles N. Kelber, Special Assistant
Atomic Safety and Licensing Board Panel
U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission
Washington, D.C. 20555-0001
Re: Docket No. 40-8681-MLA , Energy Fuels Nuclear, White Mesa Uranium Mill;
Alternate Feed Material
Dear Mr. Kelber:
The purpose of the correspondence is to voice support for standing in the matter of the above
referenced docket for (1) The Native American Peoples Historical Foundation (2) Westwater Navajo
Community, and (3) Norman Begay. The Division has reviewed information provided by Energy
Fuels Nuclear (now International Uranium Corporation) and the Department of Energy regarding the
alternate feed request. Additionally, International Uranium Corporation and the Department of
Energy made a presentation on May 9, 1997 to the Utah Radiation Control Board regarding this
matter. The parties that have requested standing were also present and testified before the Board.
A transcript of that discussion is enclosed for your information. Since the Board has no authority
to take action on this matter, the parties were encouraged to petition the NRC for standing.
We request that you support the request for standing so a hearing can be held. The parties are
frustrated by the very complicated NRC process for standing and hearing and simply want the
opportunity and forum to express what they feel are valid concerns, some which uniquely apply to
Native Americans. We feel that a hearing could provide the appropriate forum to address the issues
associated with the request.
May 30, 1997
Page2
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me.
Sincerely,
Enclosure
c: Dianne R. Nielson, Ph.D., Executive Director, UDEe
Joe Holonich, Chiel NRC Uranium Recovery Branch
Harold Roberts, CEO, Intemational Uranium Corporation
Richard Bangart, NRC Office of State programs
Charles Hackney, NRC Region fV
Excerpt from utah Radiation control Board minutes of May 9,1997:
ITEM YI.
a. Presentation and discussion on recent reprocessing approval for the White
Mesa MiIl by NRC
Bill Sinclair stated that on April 2, 1997, the NRC approved a license amendment for the
White Mesa Mill that would allow reprocessing of some material that had been stored for
a period of time at the Nevada Test Site. The basis of the approval was the NRC "Final
Position and Guidance on the Use of Uranium Mill Feed Material other than Natural
Ores," which was approved by the NRC on September 22,1995. This position paper was
brought to the attention of the Board, both in draft form and as a final document. Bill
Sinclair indicated he would turn some time over to Energy Fuels Nuclear and the
Department of Energy to discuss this reprocessing request with the Board.
Harold Roberts of Energy Fuels Nuclear stated that the sale of the Energy Fuels Nuclear
assets to International Uranium Corporation is taking place concurrently with this
meeting. The NRC license has been transferred and the hurdles have been passed. The
immediate plans for the new company are to begin mining ore from two mines on the
Colorado Plateau and one mine in Northern Arizona. The mill should begin processing
of these ores in the second or third quarter of 1998.
The White Mesa Mill has received authorization from the NRC to process material that
came from the DOE known as the Cotter Concentrate. Energy Fuels became interested in
the Cotter Concentrate through a proposal that the DOE was soliciting for treatment and
disposal of this material. It was apparent to Energy Fuels that the Cotter Concentrate
represented a significant quantity of uranium which could be obtained with little or no
cost to the company and the processing of which could save the American taxpayers
several million dollars for needless treatment and disposal costs.
Since the issuance of the NRC license amendment allowing Energy Fuels to process the
materials, several issues have been raised by members of the public. In response, Energy
Fuels has written a letter to the Governor of Utah, addressing a wide range of concerns.
A copy of the letter was sent to DEQ and the main issues involved in the letter are
available in the form of fact sheets. There are two primary issues. The first is the request
that the NRC hold selected portions of their amendment application as confidenrial and
second, whether the material can be safely processed at the white Mesa Mill.
Mr. Roberts continued by referring to the request by Energy Fuels that the details of the
source of the feed material, the quantity of uranium in the concentrate be held
confidential and the basis of this request was solely for commercial release reasons
related to the company's desire that the specifics of their production, including quantities
and costs, not be easily available to their competitors. This decision was prompted
because of an instance of adverse economic impact to the company due to specificinformation being published which detailed production figuresand timing r"lut"d to
uranium obtained through an earlier, alternate feed contract. This information was
obtained by a national trade journal through the license amendment procedure and wasutilized by one of their customers during negotiations for acceleration and deliveries
under an existing supply contract.
The NRC granted and maintained the confidentiality ofthe requested aspects of the
amendment application. During the past few weeks, some items related to the
confidential information have become the subject of public cornment. public comment
does not change Energy Fuels' belief that its competitive advantage qualifies forprotection and that the information claimed as confidential does, in fact, qualify for
confidential treatment under applicable regulations. On April 27, lggT,dn"rgy Fuelswithdrew its request that the information be held confidential to allow a fuU ana fair
evaluation of the basis for approval of the license amendment,
A[r. Roberts stated that he sincerely regrets any misunderstand.ing the confidentiality
request may have caused, but they will not stop their efforts to make the company and theWhite Mesa Mill as competitive as possible. This will help to ensure that the mill will
continue to operate, providing well paying, stable jobs for up to 130 citizens of San Juan
County, Utah. The company will commit to work toward preventing misunderstandings
such as this from occurring in the future. Since Energy Fuels took over the mill from
UMETCO Minerals in 1994, they have attempted to maintain an open dialogue with the
Utah Radiation Control Board with respect to their ongoing operations. They will keep
those channels open.
Mr. Roberts continued by talking about the second issue regard"ing the Cotter Concentrate
which has to do with whether the material can be safely processed at the mill. The Cotter
Concentrate averages approximately IjVo Ur0, while their normal ores run from l/4 Vo tojust over l7o uranium. The Cotter Concentrate is 10-15 times richer in terms of uranium
content than the ores that are typically processed at the White Mesa Mill. Accordingly,
an obvious question is whether the material can be safely processed.
Prior to submitting the request for the license amendment, Energy Fuels conducted an
analysis of the issue and concluded the Cotter Concentrate does not present any unique or
extaordinary safety issues. The NRC agreed that the material can be processed without
posing additional risk or impacts to the environment, Energy Fuels employees or the
public's health and safery. The safety of this processing was confirmed independently by
a health physicist. He reviewed the potential health and environmental impacts that may
be associated with the processing of the Cotter Concentrate. The physicist found that the
data demonstrated conclusively that the material has no potential to increase any radiation
risk to the general public or the environment. The company is taking all of the radiation
safety precautions to protect their employees, the public and their environment.
In March of 1997, the NRC granted Energy Fuels a ten-year renewal to its operating
.>
license. Ten-year license renewals are only granted to licensees who meet specific NRC
criteria for safe performance. This licensing action by the NRC was posted in ttre Federal
Register with a thirty-day cornment period and no cornments were received. Since mid-
1994, the White Mesa Mill has had four full NRC inspections, resulting in only one
minor violation for failing to notify the NRC of process changes made to further reduce
emissions. Mr. Roberts stressed that they have nothing to hide with respect to the White
Mesa Mill. They have not polluted the surface or ground waters. They do not physically
infringe on the commercial, agricultural, industrial or cultural activities of their
neighbors. What they have done is contributed over g20 million to the economy of San
Juan County over the past three years including jobs for over 95 local citizens,Z540Vo of
which have been minorities, mostly native Americans.
Carl Gertz from the Department of Energy in Nevada gave a presentation regarding the
Cotter Concentrate. The Cotter Concentrate is a moist, solid residue from uranium ore
processing that contains about l07o uranium. There are approximately 1220 55-gallon
drums of Cotter Concentrate. DOE is now in the process of over packing the drums at the
NTS into Department of Transportation compliant containers for shipping to EFN. EFNwill do the uranium recovery and the byproduct of the recovery process will be disposed
of in the mill tailings pond at EFN.
It{r. Gertz continued by providing a history of the Cotter concentrates. The material
originally came from the Belgium Congo as an ore. It was processed by a company that
extracted much of the uranium in St. Louis in 1942. In 1968, the material was purchased
by the Cotter Corporation where they extracted more uranium plus copper, cobalt, and
nickel. The Concentrate was sent to Mound which is a DOE facility in Miamisburg, Ohio
where they attempted to extract still more materials in 1975. The materials stayed at
Mound for a period of time and then the mission of Mound changed with the country's
policies changing. The material was still considered to be valuable and was sent to the
Nevada Test Site where it has been stored since 1987. In 1995, the Cold War ended and
there was a decrease for raw materials for nuclear weapons production. As a result of
this, the material was no longer considered stmtegic material and was considered waste
by the DOE community.
Mr. Gertz continued by stating that since the Cotter Concentrate was stored at the Nevada
Test Site and was considered waste, it fell under what is called the Federal Facilities
Compliance Act. Therefore, they had to agree with the State of Nevada on what to do
with the material. The estimate to complete an on-site treatment of the material was $3.5
million dollars. In their attempt to stabilize the material, they decided that they weren't as
smart as private industry and weren't able to come up with a cost-effective process, so
they issued a request for proposals in the Commerce Business Daily. As a result of this,
they had over 20 responses, one of which was from EFN. EFN's proposal was to recover
the uranium content of the material through reprocessing at the White Mesa Mill. The
DOE is now in the process of awarding a contract to EFN.
Mr. Gertz continued by stating that the DOE is shipping as an alternative to on-site
{.
treatment and disposal. Another reason to ship is that commercial processes are available
to extract the uranium and EFN has demonstrated that their process will work and,
overall, there will be a $2.5 million dollar cost savings to the taxpayer. The material will
be shipped in 45 overpacked drums per truck, which amounts to about 28 truckloads.
There will be about two truckloads per week and the overpack containers will be sent
back and reused. The transportation will be shipped under the regulations of the
Departrnent of Transportation. .shipments will begin in mid-May and continue through
mid-August.
Preston Truman asked why some of the overheads Mr. Gertz used in previous
presentations were not the same as the overheads in the presentation made to the Board.
Iv{r. Truman stated that some of the things that worried the public were left out of the
presentation to the Board such as the failure to mention the fact that wherever this
material has been in the past, it has ended up being a Superfund site with cleanup costs in
the millions of dollars. Mr. Truman also stated that he could get no answer from the
DOE when he asked specifically about isotopes. He stated that everywhere the material
has been, there have been problems with contamination.
Mr. Gertz and Colleen O'Laughlin from the Nevada office of the DOE stated that their
off,rce was in the middle of a move and that is why Mr. Truman couldn't get the
information he wanted regarding the isotope count. Mr. Truman allowed this fact, but
added that it was interesting that the DOE was continuing to tell the press that everyone
was OK with the material. lvfr. Truman wanted to emphasize that he was casting no
blame on Energy Fuels Nuclear in this situation. He added that there will be protests by
not one, but several congressmen.
Mr. Truman asked what kind of problems would be raised if there were public meetings
to go along with this process. Harold Roberts stated that there would not be a problem
with public meetings; however, it is up to the NRC to decide what ro send to public
comment as far as licensing goes. Mr. Roberts stated that it is hard to decide where to
have public meetings so as not to leave anyone out. Mr. Truman stated that the fact that
there are members of the public upset about very specific portions of the deal with the
DOE, should lead to public meetings. Mr. Roberts stated that this meeting is a good start
and the lines of communication will be open with the public and with the Board. Irzlr.
Gertz stated that the DOE will go anywhere at anytime to talk about anything that is not
classified.
Bill Sinclair asked if Energy Fuels Nuclear has done any testing of the material to ensure
that the recovery of uranium was feasible. Mr. Roberts stated that testing had been done
on the Cotter Concentrate. When EFN finds an opportunity like this, they look at a
sample of the material. They want to be able to recover uranium out of the material, that
is the purpose of doing this. They got a broad range of samples from rhe DOE of this
material and the recovery rate looks very good.
Alberta Mason spoke for Winston Mason as a member of the Native American Historical
Foundation (Avikan House). She stated that in 1989, they acquired 600 acres south ofBlanding for the pu{pose of building a multi-million dollar facitity of archives for Native
American historical documents and artifacts. To the south of their land is a uranium
processing plant that sits on six square miles of land that has been closed down. They are
opposed to the Cotter Concentrate being taken from the Nevada Test Site to be re-
processed and dumped into open tailings next to their property. It is their understanding
that the contents of the Cotter Concentrate include radionuclides and hazardous
constituents, some of which are heavy metals, organic wastes, and plutonium-244. It is
also their understanding that it is illegal by Utah State law to allow hazardous materials,
such as those mentioned, to come into the State of Utah as wastes. They are asking that
the Board take a firm stand against such hazardous waste being broughiinto the White
Mesa Mill.
Norman Begay is a citizen of the White Mesa Ute Reservation which is south of the
White Mesa Mill. His stated that there will be an action taken because of the White MesaMill opening up again. He expresses regularly the fact that the members of the White
Mesa Utes drink well water and his people are worried about the Cotter Concentrate
coming to the mill. He stressed to the Board that the material is very dangerous. irz1r.
Begay is worried for his children, his neighbors and his people.
Lula Katso is a Navajo from westwater which is west of Blanding, utah. She is
representing all of the Navajos there. She states that she loves the land at her home so
much she doesn't want anyone to hurt it. They do not want the Cotter Concentrate to be
brought to the White Mesa Mill. They believe hazardous materials such as these will
bring bad spirits to their Iand and to their ancestral burial grounds.
Gary Edwards asked what kind of action the Board could take on this issue. Mr.
Sunderland stated that the Division should be able to advise the Board at the next
meeting, what kind of action they can take. i\zlr. Sinclair stated that when the approval
was given by the NRC and parties were notified, they had an opportunity to file for
standing in this action. Some of the parties that have come forward today have done so.
They will have been granted standing by an NRC administrative law judge. Mr. Sinclair
indicated that it was his understanding that NRC had already appointed an administrative
law judge to consider standing requests in this matter.
Under the provisions of the NRC, if they make a determination that the parties have
standing, they will have a hearing on this matter. This will allow the issues that have
been brought forward by the individuals before the Board to get full consideration by the
NRC. This may be in the form of an actual hearing held in the Blanding area or an
exchange of briefs by the parties on this matter. The NRC in the past has been very
sensitive to the Native American issues and Mr. Begay, who came before the Board
today, was granted standing in a previous case. Mr. Sinclair's advice to the Board was to
wait to see what the NRC does and keep the Board informed on the matter. The primary
decision maker on this issue is the NRC. The state does not have delegated authority on
uranium mills.
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lndependence Plaza, Suite 950 . 1050 Seventeenth street . Denver, CO 80265 . 303 628 7798 (main) . 303 389 4125 (fax)
May 29, 1997
VIA OVERNIGHT UPS
Mr. William J. Sinclair, Director
State of Utah Department of Environmental Quality
Division of Radiation Control
168 North 1950 West
Salt Lake ciry, uT 84114-4850
Dear Mr. Sinclair:
As we discussed, enclosed is a copy of the request dated March 5,1997, sent by Energy
Fuels Nuclear, Inc. ("EFN") to the United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission ("NRC") to
amend Source Material License SUA-1358 to authorize the receipt and processing of a specified
uranium-bearing material at White Mesa Uranium Mill. I can be reached at [phone].
Sincerely,
2,2/L-w
Michelle R. Rehmann
Environmental Manager
MRR/pl
Enclosure
cc: William N. Deal
Earl E. Hoellen
Richard A. Munson
Jeffrey D. Price
Harold R. Roberts
File
LBP-97 -10
t{ay 27 , !997
UNTTED STATES OF AMERTCA
NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
ATOMIC SAFETY AND LICENSING BOARD PANEL
Before Administrative Judges :Peter B. B1och, presiding OfficerCharles N. Kelber, Special Assistant
In the matter of
ENERGY FUELS NUCLEAR, INC.
Docket. No. 40-868i--MLA
Re: Alternate Feed Material
ASLBP No. 97 -725-03-MLA
(White Mesa
License
Uranium Mill;
Amendment)
MEMORANDUM AND ORDER(Addit.ional Filings Required)
This proceeding involves a challenge to a license amendment.
that was issued by the staff of the Nuclear Regulatory commis-
sion (staf f ) on April 2, L997 .L rhe amendment permit.s the
recej-pt. and processing of alternat,e feed material (i.e. material
other than nat.ural ore) at, Licensee,s white Mesa uranium MilI
located near Branding, utah. See 10 cFR part. 40, Appendi-x A,
which sets forth several design crit.eria and requires that.
licensing decisions "take into account t.he risk to the public
Branch,
Safetyof the
1-997 .
Letter from Joseph ,J. Holonich, Chief , uranium RecoveryDivision of waste Management, office of Nuclear Materialand Safeguards, April 2, L997, Attachment 4 to the LetterNat.ive American Peoples Historical Foundation, April 25,
-2-
health and safety and the environmenL with due consideration t,o
the economic cost,s involved . .,; 40 cFR part 192, subparts
D & E. see arso the following non-binding staff guidance:
"Fina1 Position and Guidance on the use of uranium Mi11 Feed
Material Other t,han Natural Ores,,, GO FR 4929G, Sept,ember 22,
r-995.
The following requests for a hearing have been filed:
L. Native American people,s Historic Foundation, April15, ]-997, Winston M. Mason, Head. of Council.
2. Mr. Norman Begay, April 30, Lgg7. Mr. Begay writeson behalf of himself and his community.
3 - westwater Navajo communit.y, May 5, Lgg7, Lula ,J.Katso, Community Spokesperson.
4. US Department of Energry, May 5, Lgg7, G. Leah Dever,Assist.ant Manager for EnvironmenLal Management.
The Staff filed its response to these filings on May 21,
L997 (Staff Response). Although the Staff Response is admit_
tedly untimely, based on ',some confusion,,,2 r have decided to
permit its filing out-of-time. The staff Response is very
helpful because it reviews in detail the Commission,s reguire-
ments for standing. rn particular, the st.aff draws att.ention
to the need to specify "the particular manner in which those
persons or entit.ies may be affected by the instant. license
amendment. "
' Staf f Response at 2, f ootnot,e 1
-3
My review of the firings persuades me that. there is a need
for greater part,icularity concerning standing. Among petition-
ers, Mr. Begay comes closest. to alleging a ground for standing.
He states:
our community and our water we1ls 1ie adjacent to, as wellas downstream and downwind from the EFN MiI1. The radio-nucleids which make up the cotter concentrate originallycame from Belgium congo ore containing approximately 6oturanium, and now still contain 109 uranium- Not only doest'his hazardous waste contain extremely high radioaclivityand radon gas properties, but. each time it is processed itadds further harmful constituents, which are perhaps moreimmediately dangerous t.o human healt.h than the radio-nuclides. According to reports, your agency, and theDepartment of Energy have stated that DoE is unable tostabilize t.he cotter concentrate. Therefore, on the basisof concerns for the health and safety of myself, my fam-i1y, and my community, r ask for standing to argue alainstbringing these contaminants to the white Mesa Mi1l.a
Because the license t.o operate the whit.e Mesa uranium Mil1
is not at issue in this proceeding, a petitoner,s standing must
not be based on harm resulting from the license to operate. The
only issues that may be raised must relat.e to the specific
actions proposed t.o be taken under t.he license amend.ment,. To
show standing, do individual or an organization must, show how
they may be harmed ("injury in facL") by the amend.ment.a rt is
tlpical in our proceedings that an individual would submit an
t Norman Begay's letter of April 30, lgg7, orr page 1.
a The requirement of "injury in fact" must not be taken1it.eraI1y. rt is fu1filled by demonstrating that there isreason to believe an accident may occur. Curators of theuniversity of Missouri, LBp go-19, 31 NRC 559 at 556. (1gg0)Not.e that this Subpart L case inLerprets ,,injury in fact,, inlight of the extent to which facts may be availabre to apetitioner.
-4-
affidavit concerning where they live and how far that is from
the proposed activity. An organization t1pica11y would file an
affidavit showing that its interests as an organization will be
injured or that a particular person or group of people, who it
is authorized to represent, live in particular addresses,
stating how far they live from the proposed activity.
rn addition to proximity, petitioner should show a plausi-
b1e way in which activities licensed by the challenged amendment
would injure them. For example, Mr. Begay is concerned about
the contamination of water wer1s, and'he states that the cotter
concentrate is "unstabIe". This, in itself does not show a
plausible mechanj-sm for injury. The license permits these
materials to be stored according to prescribed procedures and
met,hods of monitoring. rf a petitioner alleges a way in which
it fears that this part.icular material would fail to be properly
confined and would escape into the ground water, then a require-
ment. for standing would appear to be met..5 Alternatively, if
intervenor can show that. there is a Iaw prevent.ing this part.icu-
1ar material from being stored pursuant to t.he amendrnent, then
t.here may also be a presumption of injury sufficient to estab-
lish standing. one way or another, a petitioner must show the
specific injury that is feared and how that. injury might occur.
t A pet.itioner may not a11ege an injury to anyone otherthan itself. For example, a member of the general public maynot a11ege an injury to a worker at the pIant. rlorida poweTand Lioht comtr>any (st. Lucie Nuclear power pl-ant, unit.s 1 and2), CLI-89-21,, 30 NRC 325 at 329 (1989).
-5-
At this stage of the proceeding, r will interpret t.he
petition favorably to the petitioner and will not require the
same kind of proof of injury that would be required to render
a decision in its favor. But a plausible mechanism for injury
must be described. r recommend that petitioners become familiar
with an excellent discussion of st,andj_ng found in Consumers
Power comoany (palisades Nuclear plant) , LBp-79-20, l-o NRc 1og
(te7e).
r note that it is the policy of the united states Nuclear
Regulatory commission to encourage settlement in cases pending
before it. pursuant to that policy, I have encouraged the
parties to negotiate and have offered my services in on-the-
record mediation. At this time, there is no interest in those
efforts and I have abandoned them. Parties are sti11 encouragred
to negoti-at,e. Even if they do not negot,iate a settlement,
part.ies may f ind negot.iat.ions f ruitf ul in f acilitating the
exchange of information and devising efficient, ways of proceed-
ing with this case. There is no rule prohibiting contacE among
parties. The Presiding officer cont.inues to offer, orr request,
either his own mediation services, which must. be on the record,
or the mediation services of a settlement ,Judge, who could be
appointed on request and could assist in private discussions.
Procedural Recnrirement s
-6-
rn accordance with my authority under 10 c.F.R. s 2.1209,
r set forth the following directives regarding the further
conduct of t.his proceeding:
schedule for Additional Filings Regarding petitioner,sHearing Request
A. Supplements to petitioners, Hearing Requests
on or before Monday. ,June q 1q97, petitioners may file
supplements to their hearing requests. rn the supplements, a
petitioner should address in detail the following items:
1. An interest, in the proceeding and how that interestmay be affected by the results of the proceeding,including the reasons why the judicial standards forst,anding are met, so as to be permitted a hearing,with particular reference to the fact.ors set forth in10 C.F.R. S 2.1-205(h) ; and
2. Amended areas of concern about. the license amendment.
Any factual informat.ion provided in support of the peti-
tioner' s supplement. (such as stat.ements providing det.airs
regarding the petitioner's proximity to the facility) should be
set forth in an accompanying affidavit that (a) is notarized,
or (b) states that all stat,ements in the affidavit are true to
the best of the affiant's knowledge and belief and are made
under penalty of perjury.
B. Answer t.o Petitioner's Hearing Request. and supplement.
This order is being served by express mai1. Any ApplicanL
answer to a pet.itioner's hearing reguest and any supplement
thereto shal] be filed so that it is received by all recipient.s
-7 -
on or
sha11
before Monday. June 23. 199?.
II. Notice of Appearance
rf they have not already done so, within 15 days of the
date of this memorandum and order, each attorney or representa-
tive for each participant shaI1 file a notice of appearance
complying with the requirements of LO C.F.R. S 2.213 (b) . In
each notice of appearance, in addition to providing a business
address and terephone number, if an att,orney or representative
has a facsimile number and/or an rnternet e-mail address, t.he
attorney or representative should provide that information as
weI1.
rrr. Service on t.he Presiding Of f icer and t.he Special Assist.ant.
For each pleading or other submission filed before the
Presiding officer or t.he commission in this proceeding, in
addition to submitting an originar and t.wo conforming copies to
the Office of the Secretary as reguired by 10 C.F.R. S 2.j,203(c)
and serving a copy on every other participant in accord.ance with
sections 2 .7 0l (b) and 2 . L203 (e ) , a part.icipant. should serve
conforming copies on the presiding officer and on the special
Assistant. by one of the f ollowing met.hods:
before Monday. June 23. t9g7 .
be filed so t.hat ir is received
A St.aff answer likewise
by all recipients on or
Regular Mail
-8-
To complete service via United States postal Service first-
class mail, a parLicipant, should send conforming copies to the
Presiding officer and the special Assistant at the following
address:
Atomj_c Safety and Licensing Board panelU.S. Nuclear Regulatory CommissionWashington, D.C. 20555_OO01
For regular mail service, the staff may use the NRC int.ernal
maiL syst,em (MaiI Stop T-3F23 ) in lieu of f irst_class mail .
2. Overnight or Hand Delivery
To complete service via overnight (e.g., express
hand delivery, a participant should send conforming
the Presiding officer and the special Assistant at, the
address:
5-" E-mail_ filing aLso will be acceptedcopies also are served. The presiding Officerquestions about E-mail service.
Atomic Safety and Licensing Board panelThird Floor, T\llo Whit.e Flint North1l-545 Rockville pike
Rockvil-1e, MD 20852
3. Facsimile Transmissions
To complet.e service by facsimile transmission, a partici-
pant should (1) send one copy by facsimile transmission t.o the
attention of the Presiding Officer and the Special Assistant at
[phone] (verification (301) 4]-5-7405); and (2) thar same
dat.e, send. conforming copies to the presiding officer and the
mail) or
copies to
following
providing paperwill respond to
-9-
special Assistant by regurar mail at an address given in para-
graph fII above.
5. Timely Service
To be timely, any pleading or other submission served on
the Presiding officer and the special Assistant by hand deliv-
€ry, facsimile transmission, or e-mail must be received by the
Presiding officer, the special Assistant and each of the other
parties no later than 4:30 p.m. Eastern Time on the date due.
The secretary of the commission arso should receive a copy,
which may be mailed regurar mail at, the sarne time the other
service is effected.
6. Parties may
readable copy of any
at.tachment. to e-mai1.
wou]d be useful .
send, for my convenience, a computer-
filing, either on a floppy disk or as an
Any format readable by Wordperfect 6. L
C. Mot,ions f or Ext.ension of Time
For any motion for ext.ension of time fired with the
Presiding officer in this proceeding; except upon a showing of
good cause, Lhe part.icipant requesting the extension sha11:
1. Ascertain whether and when any ot.her participant
intends Eo oppose or otherwise respond Eo the motion and apprise
the Presiding officer of that information in the motion; and
D.
-L0-
2. serve an. motion on the presiding officer and the
parties so that, if possible, it is in t.heir hands at, least
three business days before the due date for the pleading or
other submission for which an extension is sought,.
Exhibits/Attachments to Filings
rf a participant files a pleading or other submission with
the Presiding Officer that has additional documents appended to
it as exhibits or attachment,s, a separate alpha or numeric
designation (e.g., Exhibit L; Attachment A) should be given to
each appended document, either on the first page of the appended
document. or on a cover/divider sheet in fronE of the appended
document. Each attachment also should have a tab so that, it may
be easily accessed without t.humbing t,hrough al1 the pages.
IT is so ORDERED.
Peter B. Bloch, presiding Officer
ADMINISTRATI\TE JUDGE
Rockvj-lIe, Maryland
NIay 27 ,L99't
O ,N HoNeR oF THE GREAT cRFArop
GREAT AVIKAI.{- HOTJSE
NATIV.B AMERTCAN PEOPLES TIISTORICAL FOUNDA'TION3 East Center.Street Box AVTKAN- Blanding, tltah 84511 (SO1) o78_Zaos
l"by 24,1997
Abo for your inforrrqtionr Governr.rr, as the ndnures of the May g, 1gg7 boarclnreeting verify, the DRC has not concurred with the llRc in its approvatof EFN,srequest' The topic of the cotter concentrate proposal was an *inforrration,, onlyitern at ths l'4ay board r*eeting- DRC boarc! ctrairman, Norman sunderson, inforrnedEFN and DoE that they would not ue able to rtove the concentrate untilafter rhe NRC
Governor Michael O. Leavitt
Utah State Capitol Building
Salt Lake Ciry, Utah 84114-0601
Dear Govemor Leavitt:
Thank you for responding to our letters of furil i ti, 1gg7 and i"lay zo,1gg7 inwhich we have tequested your iltervention in tne crirnes which are being cornrnittedagainst your p€ople in Southeastern Utah. your May ,4, i;;;;;;';= eascr[r tornop€f,, with expectatiorrs of your support in our pright However, rve uere bothdisappointed and ararrrpcl ar your uninfornreo ,eslon.".
For your inforrmtion, Governor, the utah Divisbn of Radiatbn control (DRc)has not yet rcvieured the technical aspects of Energy Fuels Nuctear, lnc.,s (EFN)request to bring the hazardous cotter concentrrt"a into southeesrern utah, as youstated in your letter to us. The reason they have not reviewed ttre technk=t aspectsof cotter concentratc is because dre Division lras rrur-yet recelved anything from theDepartment of Energy (DoE) to review. The DoE ,.frru, to give the utah DRCrequested technical infornration for review, although board nnnilrers andcongressbnal representative have bccn pressing DoE for well over a rncnth now lnatterrpts to get the supposedly public infornation. Obviousty the DoE, the NuclearRegulatory corrrnission (NRC) and EFN have something which tJrey wish to hide. ltseerE it wouH behoove you, Govemor' to find out what it is. The on\r inforrr.atir.rrrprovftJed by DoE at the nreeting w?s a seriously edited revbion of their former'secret' proposal tCI bring the cotter concentLte tc utah. lnforration in the originalproposal would enrage any Utah cithen, even yourself, who took the 59 scconds ittakes to read it' we sent you a copy of that proposal with our f irst letter over anmnth ago' we are itrcluding another copy with thls letter in hopes that you will takethe Urne to read it.
Page 2, May 24, t gS?rttur to Govemor Leavitt
had completed the Petition process concerning our organization, as r+crt asaddressing the issues of the others who have loou"o for ,,standing,, in the nut.ter.otrr organiration, at the nreeting, requested action by your board against the cotterConcentrate. The DOE and gffrfieO noa ..or"ra ,-.,ion a t the rr,eeting. tt was dccicedthat' pendins DoE providing the technitar inrornr.lio;r"dffE'[|a, the itemwourd then be put on the agcnda of the .lrnu ,,o"ting for possibre action.
Governor' we find that Mr- livilliam sinclair, DRc Fxecutive Director, has eithermisinforrned you, or has failed to inform yo, in tna n,tter. His passive aftrtudetouard thb serious Radiation issue now being faced by the uuh citizenry rnakes iraplJarent thar he does not adequately..*""tn"lii.r.=t of the peopre of thb state.As citizens' we request that yo,, ,.*or him frorn his position. we will continue tolobby in thb matter until there is a more competent person serving as director of theDRC' These is>*ues affecting the health, safety, anJ otr,u, rehts otlhe peopre of thisstate are too important to be passed off as LhrrnC"ss,,, or to be misrepresented inany other way to your office, as Mr' sinclair h;;;;. in rhe past. Mr. sinclair is by norncans an 'rexpert' (as you refer to him) in these rnatters. Most elernentary schoorchildren know of ttre dangers of Plutoniurn, which b one of the ererrrents of cottcrconcentrate' Arrd you don't have to be much older to have knowledge that there areone trillion Pico curies (ntasurerrrent of radiation) in a one curie rreasurenrent ofradioactive rreteriat' Foryourinfornlation, Goveinoc experts have verified thatcotter concentrate rreasures from three to five curies. No wonder Dot *r,= to getri.l of it But why would EFN vrrant to-.1uo." the emproyees who wiil mig it? And whywould you want to do so, Goverro:?.,.or why wouralou afiow such wastes as these
ff:r.1'ped into EFN's open air tailings ponas io ,rr.., Utah waterwrys ano
Let us abo inform you, Governor, that Energy Fuels did not attend the l,lay 9threeting as a result of our organizations intcrest in"'Ju cotter crrrcentrate issue. Therneeting was set up for EFN and DoE to p;'esent their inforrration to the DRC board.our <;rgantzathn fonrerfy requested being pr, on'ai" agenda, but it wasn,t untir theday before the meeting that we received a reply from Mr. sinclair gr.arrlirg ourrequest by passively suting that any interestei citizen could attend the nceting andbe heard. Orrce again, Mr, Sinclair has misinforrrnO you.
Yes' Governor' as you sairc in your letter, our hgal recourse b to contjnue inpetitioning the NRC. Hovrcvsr', yo, J,,or.;; ;;;Tn .trtng that our pfght is in"unique Native Arrerican interests.,,
.Governor, oir orinnt Ls not in unique NativeAmerican interests' our plight is in the health and iuir.r" of thousands of uHumanBeing-s" who have a hope and tru=t that tlreir erected leader wiil stand with ti?emagainst corrupted individuals from federalagencie, ,rrt,o are known ro t:e conspiringH/ith big business (through "secret'and "retrofit" docurrcnts)against the v*erfare of
Page 3, lrlay Z4,lSgZ eter to Governor Leavitt
the people and lands of the state of utah. I{e had so hoped that you wcrurcl show aconslstency of interest and integrity_by standing witl-, sor.hurstern utah HurnanBeings as you are standing with ir," cort r.* nuion e"ing, of skulr vailey.
one rast tlring, Governor. you might b€ right in the fact that NRC hasjuris<Jiction ov€r tiii rratter, but ony in on"" ".,il..
'NBC
has lr.soioio, in approvinga license anrendment to EFN - they do not have iuisoiction in forcing the state ofutah to allow the lir:ense ameno*Jn: to b_e irr.tion.ity applied against the health andsafety of utah's people and lands. Actuafly, you, uilt, Radiariu, ..conrrot,, goard hastiat jurisdiction' lt would oe inturesting to .". tt *rn-.xurcise it your DRC boar,should regucst standing with the NRC in eveqy ri.uns; arrrendnrent applied for in thestate of utah' in orderio irsure tlre he.anr, "ia..r"v of utah citizens. Energy Fuers,NHc, and DoE are. circurnventing ut.h Law as ;;il ;; disregarding EnvironnnntarHurmn Rights and th^e Smocrr-ri" frocess, rn their creation of a rassive Nuclearwaste Durnp at the white Mesa ull[ en,r you, Governor, are doing nothing about lrbut herping the oppressors. rf you ,..u n:l for the peopru of the state of utah, thenyou are against us' Please do not tak'e this letter wrong. we respect the office ofGovernor of the state of utah witJr a seriousness which you undoubtedly couH noturtdersund' However, the nran in the office must.n.n *" people,s respecl There bstill tinp. We wiU await your reply.
Sinerely,
// .. -.! ,rt'/-, -./^t r-,t /+n8" l,U/ a-, 9^ - -
Winston M. t*lason
Speaking For The Council
cc: Nornan Sunderson, Chairnun, Utah nRCKarl C. Jones, Vice Chairman,'Utah DRCWilliam Sinclair, Dirq61qr, Utah DRCPreston Trunnn, public Rep., Utah DRCDianne Nelson, phD., Director, Utaf, OfqStephen J. Rees, Utah State SenareKelly Atkinson, Utah House of RepresentativesRebecca Lorenz, The Law rirm oi Merar, pi..l,*n Eze, & Higbie
S'r'A'l'Ir
OFFICE OFMtCHAELO. LEAVITT
GOVERNOR
ot, U't'an
THE GOVERNOR
SALT LAKE CITY
a4l t4.o60t
il4ay23,1997
Winston M.Ivlason
llead ci /-ounc:l
Great Avikan House
3 East Center Street Box AYIK.{N
Blandiag. UT 8451I
frearMr. Mason:
Thank you fcn your lettcr of April 16, 1997 conccrning wastcs knuwn as ths "Ccrtter Couugutratc"
which hale been designaled to be shilryed to thc Er,ergy Fuels Nuclear White Mesa Mill for reprocessing
Io rccovcr rhe uranium in the maerial. The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), tie entig:ttrat
rtgulates fte White Mesa Mill, reviewed this reprrces.sing request in accordance with applicable gxridnnce
and has approved tl,e request. The Division of Radiation Control (DRC) has reviewed tire rechnical
aspects of the r:quest and concun that the request i; appropriate. Horvever, the DRC has questioned &e
necessiry of Energy Fuels and the NRC in keeping the informalion confidential.
As a result of your interest in liis issue, I understard rhar Energv Fucls aneoded the May 9, 1997meeting of the R'odiation Control Bocrd !o prcrcnt infonnation on thc rcproccssing rcqucst- Thc
Department of Energy, the generatc,r of the lvastc. was also pr.-sent to answer questions. I aiso under.sian6
that Bill Sinclair, Director of the Division of Radiation Conrol. conacred you regarding your participation
in the discussion.
Your le-ea-l recou$e !s tc conti::ue !n pet!tio:!::g the NR.C to recogniz.e what may be unique N*iye
American interesls because ihe NRC is the entity that h; jurisdiction over this ntauEr.
*A
(-c*.4-
\
OLENE S. WALxER
(!EUTENAhT 6OVfRNOR
Governor
lvloL:DRN:dco
Thc Legislative Brench
Thc Navajo Nation
RESOLUTION
OF
AVAJO UTAH COMMISSION
Kclsev A. Begayc
S1.x'aker o.f tht Narnio Nation Countil
NUCJN-I42-97
A
JlJl{ 1997
ReochdDMroodn ddolrOc.rC
WHEREAS:
L. The NAVAIO UTAH COMMISSION is officially recognized as a local
torrer.ring body designated !y the Intergovernmental Relations Committee (IGR) of
if," N"rr{o Nation iouncil by Resoluti6n No. IGRIN-134-92 with the authority to
review all matters affecting if," communities in the seven chapter areas of Utah,
making appropriate recomirendations to, and requests of, the Navajo Nation and
other pertinent agencies; and
2. The Department of Energy, Nuclear, Regulatory S"TTission and Energy
Fuels, Inc. have proposed pro."-rsir,g anq disposal of a high level nuclear waste,
referred to as the Cotter Concentrat-e, which contains Plutonium Isotope 244 an
unused ingredient of the first Atomic Bomb dropped on Nagasaki & Hiroshima,
japan; and
3. Any exposure to high level nuclear waste poses extreme hazard to human
health ur,a th" environnneit, locating any high level nuclear waste in Utah would
por" , risk of "*porrr. for the citizeis of"Utaf,, and particularly the residents of the
Whit" Mesa Ute and Navajo Nation Reservation; and
4. Cotter Concentrate Project estimates that a total of twenty-eight trips with 45
packed drums per truck will be required to transporlJhe.lottg Concentrate from
the Nevada Nuclear Test Site to Eneigy Fuels, Inc. in Blanding, Utah via the Navajo
Reservation and San Juan County roihr, current road construction activities in the
vicinity of the p.oporld site will'certainly caus€ delays during transport which will
increaie the risk oi "*pot,rre for the people and the environment; and
S. None of the citizens of San ]uan County have been advised nor informed of
this intent via any public communication media; and
I-lrc l,egislrrtivc Br.rnch / Post Otllce Box 3390 / Windor.v Rock, Arizona / 86515 / Tclephone [phone]/63801638116382/6383
6. Research findings show that Utahns, and particularly the residents of the
White Mesa Ute and Navajo Reservations, have suffered a legacy of illness and
death as a result of participation in and exposure to the nationls nuclear programs.
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT:
1,. The Blanding City Council, White Mesa Ute Indian Council, and the Navajo
Nation oppose the transport and placement of a high level nuclear waste material
for processing at the Nuclear Energy Fuels, Inc. Mill Tailings Pond in Blanding,
Utah.
2. The Navajo Utah Commission, the Navajo Nation, and White Mesa Ute
Council urge Federal, State, and Local jurisdictions to engage in a concerted effort to
deter the Department of Energy, Nuclear Reguiatory CommissiorL and Energy Fuels,
Inc. from following through with this proposal and to seek input and approval for
any such endeavor from impacted communities prior to giving consent for such
activities which place the health of these individuals in jeopardy.
CERTIFICATION
We hereby certify that the foregoing resolution was duly considered by the Navajo
Utah Commission of the Navajo Nation at a duly called meeting at which a
quorum was present and that same was passed by a vote of 5 in favor 0 opposed,
with Q abstention on this 12th day of IlrseJgl[.
Wa1ter Atene, Chair
Navajo Utah Commission
Motion: David Laughter
Second: Emerson Jackson
May ?0, i 992
.G.:fryr* t{iched o. LeavittUtah. State Capttol guiUing
Salt Lake Oty, Utatr
Dcar Gorernor Leavitt:
G@PV
t{e are still waitlng foryour re$rcF tg orr letter to you dated Aprir r 6, 1 992. rt ishard for uq to understand-ilrffiffiri *it.iJrept];=1" qis mqst serious and urscntmatter. Enctoeeoyou wi, fi,ir;il;-prep(""iiiiil* prpt€sring the ifticit activi,es ofsonn of the DoE
"n
d ryrc "qrr r"s";-;j;g the iurhi.,s;il 5rrry Fuds Ndear, hc. defurrturaniunr rnifi into ?."ojorrurfr""ffii.o*r,, iliiit',I."4.rFF.mrjority or Nerada TesrSite (Nrs) current i*""t",y?ir,iJ *"a;,! lni-il#ate fpe pnrire NTS wssre stream.,
or.*fr#,#,ffi#F,"T#.***rj,st qpte4gpF E^da and NRCFran maquirerJano.niiitu.,,i"G[*ffi
il,i,mpll,Jff ffi,.f;i[l;i*,Xff,ffi{..".a common fence rrne wrth ugfon c"rtll,s',rr#:ir"* ;*r" mi;r,i,pe purcna* by Unioncarbide fior punoce or turnrrrs-ii r.i". ,Ii#?fi;:'- .,*,
As gpr,ernor, y*r csnngt aflow the dumprng of this ry.t"Ff in our beautitur state. weappealto vorJ toJoin in o" p*-*iiri"" *nfii I; ffiJii'"d'frrack ,po., i*i state,s peopre
sirne DoE Nera<la has rEfttsed to sTr1fler to your utah R4{iatircn cqrtrol Berd theisotope frgures of the c"n* i-'#*"ldn *nc-#;[."*"d.sil ,o drmp h the nhite Mesar.llll open air taitinos Fgrr f,;;;;ilE inlpp,ds to start m
;6,6.tx*1;ffi6*t;::*ffi^:r y:l,n$[$:?i+fi flTE t
ffi *?',Hrtr#imf:ffi:;ifu ffiA"trifr nfi:,?:Hffi#r*,
GREAT^XVrCIff:?ousr
NATNTE AMERICAN PEOPLES HISTORICAL FOUNDATION
3 East center street Box AVIKAN. Btanding, Utah 84511 (80.1) 678_2805
April 16, 1997
Ms. Shirley Jackson, Chairperson
Nuclear Regulatory Commission
1 1555 Rockville Place
Rockville, MD. 20555
Dear Ms. Jackson:
we are hereby petitioning for standing in the nntter of your agency,s
consideration of Energy Fuels Nuclear's requests for license amendments allowing thetransporting, re-milling, and waste storage of the Cotter Concentrates, which containmixed wastes of radionuclides and oiher hazardous constituents, at its White MesaUranium Mill. The mill lies adjacent to the sacred traditional land upon which ourorganization is building the all tribes Native American historical archive called theGreat Avikan House. We are nrade aware through our Native Arnerican benefactors,as well as others, that such approval on your part would place this valuable project injeopardy; therefore, we are requesting standing.
We are aware that the Cotter Concentrate has been reclassified from a RegulatedSolid Waste to "Feedstock Material," in order to compty with Energy Fuels Nuclear,srequest to dispose of this hazardous material in their tailings ponds. We are alsoaware that a 1996 repoft indicates that the said concentrates cannot be stabilized.
Energy Fuels Nuclear has requested that this license arnendment be granted thisrncnth (April 1997), and they atso intend to start shipping the Cotter Concentratesthis month, without any public hearings or awarenessc; therefore, time is of theessence. We are also aware that following the successful deployment of their plan,they are intent on requesting license arnendments for permission to bring thousandsof tons of hazardous wastes from Fernald and other Department of Energy sites.
Since Energy Fuels Nuclear is currently in the process of restructuring and
renaming their company "lnternationat Uranium (USA) Corporation,' (lUC), therefore
we must state that, no matter the name of the company involved, we are herebyrequesting standing in all issues which are now before you, or which might come
Page Z, Request for Standing to NRC, April I 6, 1 992
before you in the future, regarding changing the dispositions of Nuclear,s wastes andother hazardous constituents in order to justify bringing them to the lvhite lvlesa tvlilltailings ponds.
As an all tribes historical agency, we are also aware of the siginificance of the landupon which the white Mesa Mill was originally built. lt is a sacred Ute Buriatground, aswell as an ancient Anasazi site containing numerous human burials, as well ascermonial kivas' The Mill sits adjacent to the Ute Reservation community of whiteMesa which has over 300 residents. The white Mesa community was not evenmentioned in the original environment impact studies conducted on behalf of EnergyFuels Nuclear prior to building the mill. Therefore, in addition to our own interests, wealso officially suppoft this Native Arnerican community in their plight.
we hereby request standing, and denmncl that public hearings be implementecJ i,this, and other rnatters affecting the people and propefty of this area, before anydecisions are either rrade or implernented.
Sincerely,
U/,"*ry2L"D
Winst-on M. Mabon
Head of Council
Governor Michael Leavitt, Governor, State of Utah
Mr. Hugh L. Thompson, Jr., Acting Executive Director for operations, NRCMr. lvilliam Sinclair, secretary, utah Division of Radiation controlMr. Preston Truman, Public Representative, Utah Division of Radiation controlMembers of Utah,s Congressional Delegation
May 21, 1997Windor Rock, Arizona
*!,"#;. A'nericqns have 3$"a togetrer to fight against the
-Ltric) tdri; :ffifl.jffi] -a"q the n'iJr"". n"gurii;.d'co-ri"=io,,ft* r : #,{"-*HIF$H H3:r' :rl;" l:* " ilti;" "
winston_-!-f*I, BeqC "l_cqqn:it for t!:_ Natire Anericanffl3*'rffiri"ar'ro'riiLir:t' rtion ;a lpo agre" oii""isnated
3e _ r'ryiGf. ffiilXT*H,'F:, St *6;Jf #*XA;*:: :ffiff.ft"d oa ug pregiaei.iFl iG,f,r# order on Envirormental
. Union Carbide,s EF}{ Ur3air:a- pall, ttrrough t[e help of NRC,s"retrofit - license_
"rqeoa.it. , ihLh itu;. ,rp+. has E-opportrrn i 1yto rqror about ''tirliffiT{L5E liTeooy in the airr,e
m+rr-qis#*ff-$i:ff*3-g,"m+t";:,Horrd Har rr'"^ originrr-it*ie. tqru rrri.u'ur,ed r,oo0, 000 b,nanbeings, ras intendt-* tlpp., "r=;;;*rf* the pubtic, hrt#iilij*:l EHBil,;HIiffue GiJi"i*oo i,,-ti,", an4 threeir,"-ro-&i-a}.rye=td:'"ff;Iffi:ff "'r"'ffi r:;I"tI ff ."Anerlean iuo"r"u riq,#r;Ii rdi,Iioiti"ii-to,, Nor.man Begay of thewtrite Mesa uie_cory.l+i;;;n4 pre raoajo-iaEr.on, s westrraterReseryatiou comunLfl-" qrr
:*:ir"tf: 3fl.t#r1il4"ff;"t$9 rsne rence line rith the 3sogpffitrsu*m4l,#;;",#x$H*ff "
Ii*i?:"tl: ffi) H:.*r-:_Tt:pr. b.",d inrorueo DoB ard!il. il..'S Hil:#*' E#i-#1,''iiTi"1-?ffi ..&ffi,tr"HIlE iillg, HfiH.* S:t ;#, ffi i":!dfL:1HS.,JITi*i..n"petitioners an'rqsers on tbelr ru++r urrgJ'r aft€r the llRc tras giien tout trrai;Flr i" benlnnino *"-tffi5=::,I"t slanrliag, tiE-n*r ig3X3,&5'"#rS HIH*g;.* #;i";to I "LE[ :'"ffi3' ;li. Iffi =Suspe* another ,riH1l;'ffiff -re{pofi." tgvrion! ln **T ep";;:"fii$.Xff *.
19_t""*r,i_re'r'l33o B=:.lFrt"HE#3i *Jiri$ : l#TL iseuedffsffi$Iff $.$**:iffiif 5$=tft ;*.!i"iH#Atrari^--- -t-^-ffi,ffitr#tr{**tf rffi;lii'ii3"*tu:ff ;:':$;.*iii";,inforaation by-tne fftnC.
(sEE NEXI PAB)
WHITE MESA UTE COMMLTNITY
Cotter Concentrate is the Nuclear Waste left over after making the first Atomic
Bomb which killed nearly One Million (1,000,000) Human Beings at the end of World
War II. These materials have bad spirits, and now Energy Fields Nuclear (EFI.I),
Deparrnent Of Energy (DOE), and Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) are planning
to bring these things to White Mesa to dispose of them. For 50 years now, the old
Atomic Energy Commission (AEC), the Departnent of Enerry, and the Nuclear
Regulatory Commission have tried to find a place to dispose of the hazardous waste; but
it is so dangerously "HOT" in it's Radioactive content and other Mixed Hazardous wastes
it is not legal by Environmental Protection Agency (E"A) laws to dispose of in any
Nuclear Waste Dunp.
Energy Fuels Nuclear, lnc. has now teamed up with DOE and NRC to unlaurfi,rlly
slip these extremely hazardous waste into the White Mesa Mill tailing ponds. The World
War II waste have been reprocessed several different times, in several different locations.
Everywhere they have been they have caused problems, showing up in water supplies,
and also being ingested through breathing the air. The materials are now at the Nevada
Nuclear Test Site, which is where they must stay. They must not come here.
It has also been confirmed that the Cotter Concentrate contains Plutonium Isotope
244, one of the Hottest Known Radioactive materials. It is extremely dangerous.
Union Carbide bought the mill and started at that time to try and tum it into a
Waste Dump. They promised jobs which people of White Mesa never got. The six
square miles of Iand they bought is over the graves of our ancestors and war heroes. We
cannot let them put evil Cotter Concentrate, or any more Hazardous Wastes of any kind,
on and in the graves of our ancestors. This venture must be stopped. White Mesa
Citizens issue this protest in resolution against bringing this material to White Mesa.
o 4N Hory,,fr q rHFcFp{r ffiER,GREAT AV
, NATIVE AI,{E*CAI.I PmP3 Eest cenqfr stiFet eox evixal
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United States presilent Bfl CFnton
Th€ lYhite House
.l 600 Fennsyhanh AvenUp
Washirgpn, D.C. Z0SO0 '
D,ear PreqUent Ointon:
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^,**;C';; *;j" [#:':T:ltffi f' Hf;,tr fi,.m["**m:b absorutcv criti=r to $Q preser*T::i-tr";#"#Ff FLH;i;#", u*..r,and tJre gursuit of tnpphpss, of.trc affcq.tft O""r-l*. :
oqr r'rative tdFl o*narn flry" a 600 acffi mrger of sacred rndianLlnd next to Energy puql? Ur"f..., i
fli_#liffiDepartrrent of Energyq f$e) oigg*. nt-"LI'LaI-"
fiar lr, to be durrped in'fi{" "*nli onii[I?{;::r-;:'J= g:::T:.::,iyerou*,rater..**'ffi"H:11 '
Page 2, l,by 20, tO t*ru, ro president crintut *g"ratrgli*nment4Justice
EFN Presft{ent HaroH Roperts has denied b $" pubfrg, aF we, as to the utahRadiatbn conr.llfard, tfret tris cQmFqrry hai any desi1e fo lranspose itserf into acornerchl *": du-F- .H:T"."t,t{i. noperts and other grrierco (union carbide)offhbls have now expo$Fd their inlpntitrns by tr,.""t"ning to sue Enjrocare, utah,srnajor corrrnercbl nuetear yry qit p, "TT!g them oiphying a rore in defeatrng anearfer license arrendnent (pOE,s lrilfr.ufp r,art-tafihsr=) rn'?n,enir,.o r."p EFMswhhe i.,lesa Miil out of the ponnnercfiluaste business. i
NRcs rurclt ryacr'ce o[ 'rechsoifyng" rnateriab from (flazardous, and".R.g_:!ats" l{tldear y=tofi. and mixpd ,ra"t"r, to corrrnorl ,Feedstock, in order for
i"-trYT,.P*ry* *" :fp:FV'dnrqprops rraterbts info its open "i. r.tinguponqs' F a Hatant exanPle of EnviroqflE$., Racism lgainqf orr ut lndbn p"opewfto live adjacent to_T._ojprt.po.ndsl'Tnlwiol"tion b-coypplunu"o even ruruer bytfie fact that h t" o.,gt"f ffasUffity strdy (fs), ttre aajq$rpt Ute Reservaticncorrrruni$r of 3@ PpF yf= i:1"V.fn nrcntioned as a poppption of concern, whilethe town of Hanksvp.: ilTd l3e prlp" to the nortlrwes[ nas cited. t{ot only wastfte conrrunry o,f white tiui n_ot rn lrtio*a in the FEs, h4 nim". rr. any of trecornrnunity's culinary watelllrclb (rfibh are situated on the'fhnre water aqutfers asEFN's uetb) even tested as leouired Qy b*. Thb b ouvio,rsty a;;;;;;"rr acLdenpnstna*n .".-:lli3# for hqfrn heartfr and safety,hno b oerefore anotherreason for the drarge ot Efldronnprlihl Racisrn.
President T_Y, tirrF b:f T: *1*, due to rre facE flut NRC .retrofit,
docunents tnve a-ke-a1! i{tTt"d Ef,"r$r Fuels Nrrclear, lrrc- tp @in processing theextrenelt hazardous ettdt conce4tnti'world war ['s original Atonnc Bombresidues' we lmve h"l lfprrmea uit th. concentrate s bea#*r1ro"i h" uoekfrorn the Departn*nt of Enirgv's r,reyrda Test She io .},"-wijfl" ffi G[ rn arnpeting with tfr€ uuh Radiation c.ongot Board (RcB) on May ip, t gsz, the RCBinformea EFN and OOf U.tr"tt" rnatefiats EouH not tre sh,pned Unti the NRC had
"ifl:iiryJ'.i'J:I:"ff l".,r,Tfi [:i,H#ilffi::fldffi#tr"H';''sre
i[r,T"H; r ffi;lJEffi'.fi,q: ffi ffi 55[ $r *i [t*inr,t r
*: rH:: i1ffi,.q#il,ffi,q*;;Htr ;;l i,,i\td jHH' ;u,
status of our requests for $tendirrg. nt I 'l
According to t{ative
residues from World War tt,
huncn beings carry a very
of t}ris natrre mtst not be
fr:* I -lnditigra I beriefs, tfre Caper ConFe nFR Ie
}:n'ffi ffi E##:iiff tffiffl ff T,X.'fl ,,,,
+need Wn tlii flfE"= or oq[, trwestqr?. hiir."orogr=r' | .,, ',1
Page 3, tlay zo, t O urro o prcsklont crinton tegzrdtngt*r*ntat Justice
t-"p"* vPf'fY thq FFt that tfre EfN tt*fl qnd tallings ponds ryere buit on traditionat*tnf, ftqnn !f.ht sitss. The g7-qvps sr Jese posly pnd ofirer important r]te andf::J!,ES: "r^qt past two "lnturies are arso on FFI! bnds whicir have not yet
:::^!F-f,It1o e Native Arrerkans rlt p?nnot afpJv further desecr:ation of ourancesl0r't fFvos.
_--.^_lhF:jTTicens and non rndhn citizens "f gn JHqn Founty utah haveq'Tl?f, f,q00.l[lqHuarsi3naturer gn ffiflTfr* "ofi;BtiriB m"* o-..ny other ueste
#JqF|:?ffi'HkhH"Tqffr'*rlJ:{r#I#"1:r".s#mt,
3H'3ffi{[$iffiiE*!"1'Hst[,[am#Hr"J,,"*"**'uPtrff * rf, H"}:H:Y- TIIflI Tuy qretin ryntti t'tesa he sa H'h,r[,r.1
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wfffi firpuoht about this coiipaisionate orddr or.;ustlc['h tfre rioip...-If. *rlluait l0lHlf f--you.
Fc: Uqh Sqyffngf Mi*raet O. Leavitt
Ft"{flqn Fffni gecretary of Errersy
}l[V Ann Jackson, Chairrrnn lrBi
Eni Faleormvilega, US Congrces
Chris Cannon, US Congress
i{errill Cook, US Congress
James Hansen, US Congrcss
Orin Fhtch, uS lonilteRobert F. Bennetg U[ SlneteRebccca Lorenz, The t[[]lp;r-or *n*, prTW,[tll
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Board
Carl Gertz
Dcputy Assistsnt Meager
Environmcntal Management
May 9, 1997
CotterConcentrate
What is it?
- Amirt, eliduidw &om Umiu Orc PrGuU
- CmbiB$prmrtdy l(P/5llmm
- Apprcrdmrtcly 1,220 5tgllondrmr
CotterConcentrate
Projecl Description
- Fofil,itgNu.LrRcguhrorycmisin(NRe gui&ne,
obtrh NRC rp,porlto prN thc mitsdd u udtamtiw 6tcl
- Ow[Pr.k&h 55-g8uon ontriMin DoT{mplimt mtEinc- Ship mtairtto EFN for Umim Rrycry
- BypodEt ftdn m pc*ing ir I l(e) 2 by.prcductm.t6id,
authniEdtobc dispo6cdinEFN's NRC-Umscd MiltTrilinsrPad
CotterConcentrate
History
1942 . Mafincbodt Cmpuy in SL Louis gmmt d Edimtivc
BidEwhib cxtncting lmim tm Bclgim Congo orc
l%8 . CotEcorPmlim of Goldsr, Colqrdo borghtroidu ud*t otcdm@ wim,plucopFr, @balt, mdnickd
- RGi&BwcaUcdcottqconmtratc
1975 . Cotlcr Cormt8A st to Moud hcility in MimisburS;
Ohio inm sttanpt to cxEact thoim-230 md protacrinim-231
CotterConcentrate
.ftistory @ont,)
l9&7 - Moud.lrbpcd 1244 &m! of Cotlcr Conccntsrtc !o NTSffi 3too8c, coEid.rld r 'statcgic mataial"
I 995 - Dmrcd dmud for nw mrtarials for nucla wapore
Fodrtin- Rmsd'stsrtrgicmatdid"d6igmiDn
- NodtallltiB wc idcnt'rfcdatthc timc s itwsconsidftd
CotterConcentrate
History @ont.)
1996 - FcdddFrcilityComplircActCoMtOrdqncsobt dbctra Nctadt Dcputnc* of Envirommt l hotcction(NDEP)udFE/NV
- Includcdrchcdnlcfor3trbiliationtsaunmtrtprcpolcdNTS
f.ciEy
- CortofpopoecdmitctBtnntfrcilitl t3.5milim
CotterConcentrate
History ftonr.)
1996 (mt ) - Isucd RcqEt for Propo6als in Comm Buins' DcilylotBtcoaas
- Ra[acd thet moy of tmim could bc pcrfome4
llrb maraial hs vrlrc?- EnagyFubNwlo,Inc.r6pdrdcd Arudcd@ntBctpffi this G forit's lmim mtrnt
CotterConcentrate
Ilhy Are IYe Shipping?
- AlEilliw toorr-SitlTHuHt rd Dispml
- Conureidprcerrnibblc toqt&t ljluim. CofraconmhtcmtrirorpproximaGly lO%Unnim. EFN'| prm srwfully dcmtltod m Cottcr '
ColHt tcsrda
- R.proqsingcott6 d EFN iEtadofon-sitc lattrmauddispcrl cqudr tt5 millim Gt $vin8s to trxpsyffi
CotterConcentrate
Where Is lt Going?
- Fm NTS to En€qy FEb Nrcl{, tnc. in Blanding; Utrh
- TnrBporrrpprcrndcly4rdcprclcd&mspstsrrck
- Ortytwaty<iShrhrcklods
- Emptyoeeack&msrctrmcdudrced
o
CotterConcentrate
Transportation
- Dcdiotldtwb
- Mrtairl Shippcd s lrw SpcciEc Activity Radiorctivc Class ?
Hradou Mrtaiel, u dctsmincd by Dcpsrtnat ofTrulpcilimerguLdG
- Wcldy3hipnmts: Mid-Maythrcughmid-Augut
CotterConcentrate
When ls It Going?
- April t997 EFN reis rpprcval of NRC Licre Amadnoi
- Mry 1997 lnibtc melai.l lmding md tmrBpoft
- Aqgurt l997cmpLr. m.ldidtruEportto EFN
- S(pfanba l9Tcmphtc Final Projct Rcpon
CotterConcentrate
Anricipated Project Accomplishments
- Proccrmjqity ofNTswtinvmtdy ofsurplu mimmEht
- Rc&in mrrairl irctad oftauU md dtpquu of it
- Dqmtnlc thrtpdnfatimm$vc t Jeoyd'smoncy
o,)
Summary
. Is consistent with the Presidents policy of
privatEation
. Provi&tor reqcling ofvaluable
. reusable material. .9arzr t@c pa)rers 2.5 million bllars. Ewironmentally wfe
\ltlLlar rt
page I
Initiall,v-. EFN did not appreciate the value that its contacts represented. However. as
evidenced by the interest shown in industry' publications following the submittal of the Request
tbr Amendment t-rled for the alternative feedstock commonly referred to as the "KOH Material",
EFN now' realizes that its contacts and business zurangements with those contacts has significant
intrinsic value much like "customer lists" developed by retail or publishing businesses which are
recognized, and closely guarded, as confidential and proprietary information.
Consistent with this realization of EFN's place in the marketplace and the value of its
customer list, EFN is requesting that (i) information related to the source of the alternative
feedstock. and (ii) information concerning how EFN has structured its arrangement with the
source of the material, be withheld from public disclosure because disclosure of such information
is likely to cause substantial harm to the competitive position of EFN.
Specific Points
The confidential information is currently held in confidence by EFN.
As described above, the confidential information is currently information of the fype that
is normally held in confidence by EFN.
The confidential information is being transmitted to the NRC in confidence.
While the confidential information contains some data available from public sources,
EFN's claim of confidentiality is based on the fact that if the confidential information is
divulged in this licensing process, EFN's competitors will obtain such data in a format
and context that is different than would be available from the public agencies. That is to
say that disclosure of the confidential information as a collection of information from
many sources would provide those competitors with knowledge of EFN's business
arrangement that could significantly harm the competitive position of EFN. While EFN's
competitors could obtain some of the data from public agencies, they would have to go
to several different agencies and search in several sets of records. EFN has already
performed this work which has been an integral part of EFN obtaining this business
arrangement and its market share. To diwlge this work in its "packaged" form, as
included in this Request for Amendment, will provide EFN's competitors with information
that they could use to interfere with this business iurangement and EFN's competitive
position.
H \USERS\I,IRR\I-ETTERS 97\AfFIDAV] 5 ATT
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energy fuels nuclear, inc.
thre€ park central . suite 900
'1515 arapahoe street . denver, colorado 8C2C2
3C3-623-831 7
twx 910-931-2561
fax [phone]
March 5, 1997
Via Overnieht UPS
Mr. Joseph J. Holonich, Branch Chief
High Level Waste and Uranium Recovery
Projects Branch
Division of Waste Management
Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards
U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission
2 White Flint North, Mail Stop T-7J9
I 1545 Rockville Pike
Rockville, MD 70852
Re: Revised Amendment Request to Process an Alternate Feed at White Mesa Uranium Mill
Source Material License SUA-1358
Docket No. 40-8681
Dear Mr. Holonich:
Energy Fuels Nuclear, Inc. ("EFN") hereby submits the enclosed revised request to amend
Source Material License SUA-1358 to authorize receipt and processing of [certain residues
resulting from the processing of ore for the extraction of uranium,] known as the ["Cotter
Concentrate"] ("uranium material"). The uraniurr material will be shipped to the EFN White
Mesa Mill ("the Mill") by [the United States Departrrent of Energy ("DOE') Nevada Operations
Office ("DOEAry")], the "material owner".
The uranium material has been stored at the owner's facility, the [DOE Nevada Test Site
("NTS")] since November, 1987. The uraniurr material is currently stored in approximately
U,2251fifty-five gallon dnrms. The weight of the uranium material is approximately [790,000]
pounds. The material owner estimates an average uranium content of [ten percent].
The processing of the ruanium material will not increase the mill's production to exceed
the License Condition No. 12 limit of 4,380 tons of UrO, per calendar year. As production will
remain within the limir assessed in the original Environmental Assessment, and as the process
will be essentially unchanged, this amendment will result in no significant environmental impact
beyond those originally evaluated.
\1r. Joseph J. Holonich
lv{arch 5, 1997
Page 2
Complete details are provided in the attached request to amend, which includes the
following sections:
1.0 Material Composition and Volume1.1 Radiochemical Data1.2 Review of Hazardous Constituent Data1.3 RegulatoryConsiderationsL4 Shipping
2.0 Process
3.0 Safety Measures3.1 Control of Airborne Contamination3.2 Radiation Safety3.3 Vehicle Scan
4.0 Certification
Attachment 1 [Uranium Material Description]
Attachment 2 lMaterial Owner's Letter to EFN]
Attachment 3 tletter from representative of Material Owner to State Agency]
Attachment 3a [Letter from State Agency to Material Owner]
Attachment 4 Energy Fuels Nuclear, [nc. White Mesa Mill Equipment
Release/Radiological Sunrey Procedure
To ensure that all pertinent information is included in this submittal, the following
guidelines were used in preparing this request to amend:
' U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission ("NRC") Final Position and Guidance on the
Use of Uranium Mill Feed Material Other Than Natual Ores (Federal Register
Volume 60, No. 184, September 22,1995).
' EFN request to the NRC for the amendment to process uranium-bearing potassium
diurinate (KrUrO) in a solution of potassium hydroxide/potassitrm fluoride in
water ("KOH Amendment").
' NRC and State of Utatr comments and requests for information relative to the
KOH Amendment.
\1r. Joseph J. Holonich
N{arch 5. 1997
Page 3
. EFN request to NRC for the Rhone-Poulenc alternate feed amendment.
. NRC and State of Utah comments and requests for information relative to the EFN
request for the Rhone-Poulenc alternate feed amendment.
We believe that use of these guidance materials, supported by our discussions with the
NRC, has allowed us to prepare a complete, concise submittal. Therefore, as we discussed with
our Project Manager, Jim Park, at White Mesa Mill on January 16, 1997, EFN requests that the
NRC please attempt to reply to this request within 30 days of this transmittal date. Please note
that in the attached Affidavit, EFN requests that bracketed portions of this revised application,
and selected attachments, be treated as confidential. This letter and enclosed application are
hereby transmitted as two versions:
1. Complete text with brackets indicating portions of text and the selected
attachments to be withheld as confidential; and
2. An edited version of (l) with bracketed text deleted and selected attachments
removed. This version is meant to be used for the Public Document Room.
I can be reached at [phone].
Sincerely,
r4,,rl^u7 >/* l,
#[:'h:,-]'ffi* fu+;'L4
MRR/pl
Attachments
H \IVIRR\LETTERS 97\[IOLOO35B lE
Request to Amend
Source Material License SUA- 13 5 8
White Mesa Mill
Docket No. 40-8681
Revision of March 5, 1997
Prepared by:
Energy Fuels Nuclear, Inc.
1515 Arapahoe Street, Suite 900
Denver, CO 80202
contact: Michelle L}.ffiffi ,?i#l"i-ental
Manager
Submiued to:
United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission
2 White Flint North, Mail Stop T-7J9
11545 Rockville Pike
Rockville, MD 20852
1.0
Re\ rsc.J .\mcndmcnt Rj,.tLlc jr
Lrcense S[_.\-l,ti8
Varch j. lq97
Paee i
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
INTRODUCTION
MATERIAL COMPOSITION AND VOLUME
l.l Radiochemical Data
1.2 Review of Hazardous Constituent Data1.3 Regulatory Considerations .
1.4 Shipping
2,0 PROCESS
3.0 SAFETYMEASURES .......53.1 Controlof AirborneContamination.. .......53.2 RadiationSafety .......63.3 VehicleScan. ...6
4.0 CERTIFICATION .....8
I
1
2
3
J
Attachment I
Attachment 2
Attachment 3
Attachment 3a
Attachment 4
List of Affachments
[Uranium Material Description]
[Material Owner's Letter to EFN]
[Letter from Material Owner to State Agency]
[Letter from State Agency to Material Owner]
Energy Fuels Nuclear, Inc. White Mesa Mill Equipment
Release/Radiological Survey Procedtre.
\nrenJmelt Recuest
Lrcense SL'.\- l_:58
\larch -<. l99l
Page I
TNTRODUCTION
Energy Fuels Nuclear, Inc. ("EFN") operates an NRC-licensed uranium mill located
approKimately six miles south of Blanding, Utah. The mill processes natural (native, raw)
uranium ores and feed materials other than natural ores. These altemate feed materials are
generall)' processing products from other extraction procedures, which EFN will process primarily
fbr the source material content. All waste associated with this processing is, therefore, 11e.(2)
byproduct material; or. as stated in the alternate feed analysis noticed in Federal Register Volume
57. No. 93:
"The fact that the term 'any ore' rather than 'unrefined and unprocessed ore' is
used in the definition of I le.(2) byproduct material implies that a broader range
of feed materials could be processed in a mill, with the wastes still being
considered as lle.(2) byproduct material".
This application to amend NRC Source Material License SUA-1358 requests an amendment to
allow EFN to process a specific alternate feed primarily for its source material content, and to
dispose of the associated I le.(2) byproduct material.
MATERIAL COMPOSITION AND VOLUME
The "material owner", [Department of Energy Nevada Operations Office ("DOE/I{V")] will
overpack and load for shipping material described as [residue resulting from the processing of
ore for the extraction of uranium], designated as the ["Cotter Concentrate"] "uranium material".
The uranium material is currently contained in approximately 11,225] 55-gallon drums, and
weighs approximately [790,000 pounds]. The material owner estimates the average uranium
content to be [ten] percent. Physically, the uranium material consists of a moist solid (up to 50
percent moisture). Descriptions of the uranium material, including analytical data showing
uranium concentrations ranging from [ .32 to 27 .44) percent, are included as Attachment l.
1.1 Radiochemical Data
The analytical data listed on Table II of Anachment I show average uranium content to range
from [1 .32 to 27.44) percent. The material owner estimates the average uranium content of the
uranium material to be approximately [ten] percent. This uanium content justifies processing
this material to ex8act uranium.
USERS\I{RR\LETTERS 9^SMA] 5 B RPT
1.0
\menimenr R:quesr
L icense SL .{- i -:5 8
March 5. 1997
Peop )
t.2 Review of Hazardous Constituent Data
NRC guidance suggests that if a proposed feed material consists of hazardous waste, listed under
subpart D $$261.30-33 of 40 CFR (or comparable RCRA authorized State regulations), it w,ould
be subject to EPA (or State) regulation under RCRA. To avoid the complexities of NRC/EPA
dual regulation, such feed material may not be approved for processing at a licensed mill. If the
licensee can show that the proposed feed material does not consist of a listed hazardous waste,
this issue is resolved. NRC guidance further states that feed material exhibiting only a
characteristic of hazardous waste (ignitable, corrosive, reactive, toxic) would not be regulated as
hazardous waste and could therefore be approved for recycling and extraction of source material.
The NRC Alternate Feed Guidance also states that NRC staff may consult with EPA (or the
State) before making a determination of whether the feed material contains hazardous waste.
The material owner has determined that the uranium material exhibits two characteristics of
hazardous waste. Sampling and analysis has established that the material includes selenium above
the TCLP regulatory threshold and a pH in excess of 12.5. However, NRC guidance quoted
above states that these characteristics do not prohibit the material from being approved for
recycling and extraction of source material. Furthermore, the material owner has reviewed all
available data and process knowledge to ensure that the material does not contain listed hazardous
waste, and has coordinated such review with the State in which the uranium material is located
[Nevada]. The State [of Nevada] ("State") Division of Environmental Protection has been granted
final authorization from EPA for the State-administered RCRA program.
Attachment 2 is a letter from the material owner which transmits to EFN letters from the material
owner to the State [of Nevada] Division of Environmental Protection and from the State to the
material owner, respectively, (Attachments 3 and 3a) in which the material owner proposes, and
the State concurs, that the uranium material does not contain listed hazardous waste. The State
has indicated that until the material owner can demonstrate that the uranium material can be used
as an alternate feedstock, the State is requiring the material owner to manage it on site as has a
characteristic hazardous waste at the material owner's facility. Once it is conclusively
demonstrated that the uranium material has a beneficial use, the State has agreed to declare the
uranium material a non-RCRA regulated material. In the State's opinion, this will be
demonstrated with this amendment to the license.
Amendment Request
License SUA- 1358
ivlarch 5, 1997
Page 3
1.3 RegulatoryConsiderations
According to NRC guidance, for the tailings and wastes from the proposed processing to qualify
as I le.(2) byproduct material, the feed material must qualify as "ore." NRC has stated alternate
feed material is determined to be ore. by the following definition:
"Ore is a natural or native matter that may be mined and treated for the extraction
of any of its constituents or any other matter from which source material is
extracted in a licensed uranium or thorium mill".
Classification as Alternate Feed
As described under 1.2 above, the uranium material as alternate feed to a licensed uranium mill,
would not be subject to regulation as a hazardous waste as defined in the Resource Conservation
and Recovery Act, as amended, 42 U.S.C. $6901-6991 and its implementing regulations, or
comparable State laws or regulations governing the regulation of hazardous wastes. In Section
4.0, below, EFN certifies that the feed material is to be processed primarily for the recovery of
uranium and for no other primary purpose. EFN justifies the certification on the basis of the high
uranium content of the feed material.
L.4 Shipping
The material will be shipped to the White Mesa Mill in DOT l7-H,55-gallon drums. The 55-
gallon drums will be packaged in 85-gallon steel drums to ensure prevention of any leakage or
contamination to the environment.
The material will be shipped as LSA (low specific activity) Radioactive Hazard Class 7
Hazardous Material as defined by DOT regulations. The material owner will be responsible for
properly labeling, placarding and manifesting the shipments in addition to selecting a vendor
licensed to transport the material. Each shipment will be exclusive use (i.e., the only material
on the shipment will be the uranium material).
.\mendment Requesr
License SUA-1158
March -i. 1997
Page .l
2.0 PROCESS
The uranium material will be added to the mill circuit in a manner similar to that used for
processing the calcium fluoride material in 1996. The uranium material will either be dumped
into a small batch tank, slurried, then pumped to the No. 2 Pulp Storage Tank, or it will be
processed through the SAG mill before being pumped to No. 2 Pulp Storage.
The pH adjustment will begin in Pulp Storage Tank No. 2 with the addition of sulfuric acid.
After initial pH adjustment, the slurry will be pumped to the leach circuit, where it will be mixed
with tailings solution for final pH adjustment. Additional sulfiric acid will be added as necessary
for pH control in the leach circuit. The solution will then be transferred to the CCD circuit for
washing.
The solution will be advanced through the remainder of the mill circuitry with no anticipated
modifications to either the circuit or recovery process.
Amentlment Request
License SL'A- l-l 58
\larch 5. 1997
Paee 5
3.0 SAFETY MEASURES
This section describes how the uranium material will be introduced into the mill circuit. and the
safety measures to be employed.
Material transported in drums will be either dumped into the mix transfer tank, or processed
through the grizzly into the SAG mill, then pumped to the leach circuit. There are no process
changes to the mill circuit and the extraction process sequence is identical to processing
conventional uranium ore.
Employee exposure potential during initial material handling operations is expected to be no more
significant than what is normally encountered during conventional milling operations. Employees
will be provided with personal protective equipment including full-face respirators. Airborne
particulate samples will be collected and analyzed for gross alpha concentrations. If uranium
airbome concentrations exceed 25 percent of the DAC, full-face respiratory protection will be
implemented during the entire sequence of material dumping operations. Spills and splashed
material that may be encountered during this initial material processing shall be wetted and
collected during routine work activity. Sample material of the uranium material indicates it is
a [uranium carbonate complex with a measured pH of greater than 10.0]. Therefore, it is
anticipated that no unusual PPE apparel will be required other than coveralls and rubber gloves
during material handling activities. Respiratory protection will be implemented as determined.
3.1 Control of Airborne Contamination
EFN does not anticipate unusual or extraordinary airborne contamination dispersion when
processing the uranium material. The contamination potential is expected to be less than what
is normally encountered when processing conventional uranium ore. The material will be
contained in 55-gallon drums. The successive extraction process circuitry from CCD through
solvent extraction and into precipitation are all liquid processes, and the potential for airborne
contamination dispersion is minimal.
Uranium extraction proceeds through the mill circuit as if the process material were uranium ore.
As the material is dumped onto the ore transfer belt, water is sprayed into the grizdy enclosure,
which minimizes dust dispersion. As the material is transfered through the ore transfer tururel
into the SAG mill, a water spray system along the length of the transfer belt is activated. If it
becomes more practicable to dump individual 55-gallon drums into the mix transfer tank as in
Amendmenr Requesr
License SUA- ll58
March ,s. 1997
Page 6
bulk processing, a water spray system on top of the mix tank will be activated. The material is
a moist cake as received (moisture content > 5 percent). Nevertheless, water spray provisions
are provided w'hen handling individual drums or bulk material processing.
The efficiency of airborne contamination control measlues during the material handling operations
will be assessed in the immediate vicinity of the mix tank and next to the grrzzly enclosure.
Airborne particulate samples and breathing zone samples will be collected in those areas during
initial material processing activities and analyzed for gross alpha. The results will establish health
and safety guidelines which will be implemented throughout the material processing operations.
Personal protective equipment, including respiratory protection, will be provided to those
individuals engaged in material processing. Additional environmental air samples will be taken
at nearby locations in the vicinity of material processing activities to ensure adequate
contamination control measures are effective and that the spread of uranium airborne particulates
has been prevented.
3.2 Radiation Safety
The radiation safety program which exists at the White Mesa Mill, pursuant to the conditions and
provisions of NRC License Number SUA-1358, and applicable Regulations of the Code of
Federal Regulations, Title 10, is adequate to ensure the ma:<imum protection of the worker and
environment, and is consistent with the principle of maintaining exposures of radiation to
individual workers and to the general public to levels As Low As Reasonably Achievable
(ALARA).
Vehicle Scan
As uranium material arives at the White Mesa Mill site, an initial radiation survey will be made
of the vehicle and contents to ensure the cargo has not sustained any leakage or rupture of
contents during transportation, and that the radiation levels are consistent with DOT requirements.
After the cargo has been offloaded at the mill site, a radiation survey of the vehicle and any
returned overpack drums will be performed consistent with standard mill procedures (Attachment
4). In general, radiation levels are in accordance with applicable values contained in the NRC
"Guidelines for Decontamination of Facilities and Equipment Prior to Release for Unrestricted
Use or Termination of Licenses for Byproduct, Source, or Special Nuclear Material." If radiation
levels indicate values in excess of the above limits, appropriate decontamination procedures would
be implemented. However, these limits are appropriate for materials and equipment released for
unrestricted use only, and do not apply to restricted exclusive use shipments. As stated in Section
3.3
Amendment Request
License SUA- 13-i8
March 5. 1997
Page 7
1.4 above, the shipments of uranium material to and from the White Mesa Mill will be dedicated,
exclusive loads; therefore, radiation surveys and radiation levels consistent with DOT
requirements will be applied to returning vehicles and cargo.
USERSWTRR\LETTEN.S.97\SMA} 5B.RPT
Amendmenr Request
License SUA- l3-s8
March 5, 1997
Page 8
CERTIFICATION
Laboratory analysis indicates the uranium material contains approximately [ten] percent uranium.
Processing costs to recover the uranium content from the uranium material are minimal, and the
processing of this material will be profitable to EFN. Following is the Certification that rhe
material is being processed primarily for recovery of uranium.
4.0
Certification of Energy Fuels Nuclear, Inc.
(the "Licensee")
I, fuchard A. Munson, the undersigned, for and on behalf of the Licensee, do hereby
certify as follows:
l. The Licensee intends to require from the [United States Department of Energy
("DOE")] a Contract under which the Licensee will acquire certain material, in the form of
certain residues, to process at the White Mesa Uranium Mill for the recovery of uranium. The
Licensee hereby certifies and affirms that such residue material is being processed primarily for
the recovery of uranium and for no other primary purpose.
2. The Licensee further certifies and affirms that such residue material, as alternate feed
to a licensed uranium mill, is not subject to regulation as a hazardous waste as defined in the
Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, as amended, 42 U.S.C. $6901-6991 and its
implementing regulations, or comparable State laws or regulations governing the regulation of
hazardous wastes. The Licensee is obtaining such residue material as an alternate feed, consistent
with NRC guidance, for the uranium recovery process being conducted at the White Mesa Mill.
Signature
Richard A. Munson
Corporate Counsel
Energy Fuels Nuclear, Inc.
March 5. 1997
Date
USERS\I,{RR\LETTERS gNSMA} 5B,RPT
d.
e.
AFFTDAV'IT
I. fuchard A. NIunson. Corporate Counsel of Energy Fuels Nuclear, Inc. ("EFN") do swear
that the enclosed request to the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission ("NRC"), revised as of
March 5, 1997, for an Amendment to Source Material License SUA-1358, contains confidential
commercial and/or financial information held in confidence by EFN and that it meets the criteria
as listed under $63.2 of the Government Records and Access Act, and 10 CFR 2.790(b).
In support of the claim of confidentiality, the following is submitted:
IDENTITY OF DOCUMENT OR PART SOUGHT TO BE MTHHELD:
a. The parts of the cover letter transmitting the Request for Amendment to be withheld as
confidential are set forth in brackets on pages 1-3 of the letter;
b. The parts of the body of the Request for Amendment to be withheld as confidential are
set forth in brackets on pages I -9 of the Request;
c. Attachment I is to be withheld;
Attachment 2 is to be withheld;
Attachment 3 is to be withheld;
Attachment 3a is to be withheld.
STATEMENT OF REASONS:
General Statement
EFN understands that the policy of the Commission concerning commercial or financial
information, believed by EFN to be confidential, is to achieve an effective balance between
legitimate concerns for protection of competitive positions and the right of the public to be fully
apprised as to the basis for and effects of licensing actions. EFN further understands that it is
within the discretion of the Commission to withhold confidential commercial or financial
information.
EFN is actively seeking alternative feedstocks of material containing commercial quantities
of uranium that can be recovered at the White Mesa Mill. EFN has invested significant time and
monies in developing information and contacts necessary to achieve the market position EFN is
developing for such recovery projects. The alternative feedstocks are an integral piece of EFN's
long term business plan and they play a role in maintaining jobs and activity at the White Mesa
Mill.
H \USERS\T,TR.R.\LETTERS 97\AFFIDAV] 5 ATT
.{tljdar rr
page 3
I hereby certify to the Commission that I have been specifically delegated the function of
reviewing the intbrmation sought to be withheld and that I am authorized to apply for its
withholding on behalf of Energy Fuels Nuclear, Inc.
STATE OF COLORADO
COLINTY OF DENVER Corporate Counsel
Energy Fuels Nuclear, Inc.
On this 5th day of March 1997, personally appeared before me Richard A. Munson, who
being duly sworn, did say that he is the Corporate Counsel of Energy Fuels Nuclear, Inc., and
that the said instrument was signed on behalf of said corporation.
My Commission expires March 13, 1988
Notary
)
)
)
Richard A. Munson
\s1 Afi
-o'''o-
Pg gLtC
H \USERS\I\,TNR\LETIERS,97\AFFIDAV]5 ATT
ATTACHMENT I
Cotter Concentrate Description
laa.-rrr\"
cdmun coNcENTMTE
OVERVIEI{
Phyrlcel[y rlrlr satcrlel conslltt of I notuC rolld (uP to 50t ootrtura)
stch Chr: prf,,cLpii-lon.iia.cnGr bclnj uretrirn 'rrd lron' Pr'6ent rt r clrbon'c'
or hydr,lEt,t ,,rrui. 0chcr elescntr lncludc sodl'1, rlllcon' vanadlul' l.rl'
lotybdtrrua, .lr.i,r,ra, tlgtalrrnr coPPar, elrcontrtar rsnt'nrru, bcrylllun'
ortn.rrr', rrrr.rlrie-pi"i.rrri reii crrrtrr. F*trr erd, rrrdrd durlng prevrour
proc.rrtn3, orty irosrffrotr uP to I2l of t5r urtghr of thr dry oarerlel' 0rganl
crEllc!,rEtlr.?, ifttlt rla3rldatlon gralucCur r'y elro br Pr'r'q3'
Th tr ort rrtrt urr rcgulrcd by llouod for lcr uousurll, lrljh concrotsrtloo
ot protec.ro,--iir-l.o-iiirlu-2i0. rn addtrtoa, Ghtr rrtcrtrl conttlnt en
rpprrclrbr. ,l,r.oiiir-li ruturll ur.nlu!' rtrr rotrrtrl rer obsrlard trol thl
coG,G.r corpor.rtt"i-lt-c"iiin, cororrdo. liubrqurnBlr, lt uor dctrtllord chrc
thr qurotlrl,r oi'plo.Il;ilL:tii-roo rh,r1.r-230 ulrct co.ld br -c.crrd dl
oo3 ult r.o3 t.h. irii pio".trtr,3_cot3.. coo'qurorlr, -thr latrrtrl 1r ao
loo3tr orrdlrl .a"frroi. trbl,r r provldcr r r,rnrrl-ot ttr rrrrrtll, end rrb*
ii iiorta[ furshrr rnrlytlcel breljround totorrrrloo.
lAcrc*(tt'ND
r- roa, thr lhlr .co{rpea, of !rG. Loulr, }llrroulc31nalnj ln 1942, thr llrlllocLrod; Chclcrt
groc.rr.d lrttiri ;;; ioa nettr. or.. b, gsrrctlnj rhl u6olr,a frol r olsrl
ectd terd .orori,o]ii aii.r,yr .iuii. Tirr rrf tt'erl rcLurloa e.. lr.rrd; ctrr
Itlrd r lkl s.r Blrro rtorrd tna Uiiu Lnovn lr chl 33' Iautr Rulduo' In 196
th. CotCrr Corporrtloa rcqulrrd thlr rgldurr rod bllen-proc.trlo3 Bo tl3cov'r
thr rrllduel urrnlur ead oGh.r viiuOll rrcrk la chr .lli locecrd r3 Cenoa Cl
Colortrto. Thr Cogcrq Ptoc.t. coiiirtrf o! d13or3ls3 rhr rcoldu[ tn rulfurtc
rcld. r.rBrrc.ln;;;7.;ir,--"i,i-ar-i'rtrtvlhlvtph-rpborlc rcld rod rrripptnB
Ehr urlslur yltb dtlutr crtbone:r .if.gd. nrl lrttinrtr lrr Ehr utruc'g1on
proc.tu ,.a at-f.f Uy oShat gaocaaa.a go ircgvrr GoPP'at cobelt' ul elclrl'
tr.or tlrrdrr li?t uasll tutut3 r9!! rirc-Ptocr.'lt ot:hr 33' Lol'
Borlluct ug crp53ld, @38.s .ia.A rldllt'oo'l rtrpr tc erlturr thr pE of thr
lrlvrss .rstrc3loo rtrl; rofutfoir-ifUit ctt rod coUrc: tho rolldr ccotlinln
tlortrrl!0. prcucstnlur2rr utii-;a-prii "r tbr ureolrt . tt rprcutod by
ltruod. AB th. od ct Gb. gtoc.rrtif lr2li 11". of rtrrlel h" brra collrctr
s{sbGlrrwcrellchrrleGrrrrtrcr-iilr-tqteblrt'tlrtrrr:rrlrl'slrlcb,rb.qurarly b..;l"o"r rr Co..l;-iittltiiti, sr rto.d rs tbr Cottrr rtl'
rtsr lrn:tl lt?t ytro 3b. !.B.tdi-;-;iiarfrrrrf G:o ot' drrlr ed rbtpgod
llouoi trbon:cr7 1o lllullbur3. Ohto'
lror 1g?! 3o lg?g lSuod riger.3rl I rtpllor-plo: rcrlr" ogrr:loo 3o 9toc'
Gor,rrr Gocoosrrc.,.ra r.cce.r iii r--pi. .uir,-lto !!,r Fo3'GslDtits23l
tor D03 prorr.Jl- nifot sfrfr rL;iti.-. of Gosc'a'Ccncrctrrc' s'rr 9roc'
rt.b rh. urrdur Drlo3 rce,5rlri.a-i.-.gprorbe:ofi-ioo pr,odr olrrllctvrly
I gusa r-olrn dturtoa3a.
-..rar5'
Or
Appendtr contlnued
Allr.LITIClL DATA
Durlng ghr collccglon Ptoces! rc CotGer, lroplat brrr Crkco o[ mch drrr!
for shc ,l:ccrrrl.naij"i-ir roi.r,rr. conrGnr. Drtal reaplrr urrc Ehrn cooportcrd
(agproxtr|lately I0 drulr P.t coaPortCr) !or urenlul 'n'lytct' tlrorluo-230 rnd
;;;t;;;ir,rua-i3t rtrrlyrer nrrr prrforord on .h,o rerplel rt t{ound lrborecory'
thr rrsuIrr r]"og-"rafi-iiteutrrra tocrl uraotrn .rr ltrcrd trr Trbll r. A fcn
rroplor rrrr rubil;;:i tot urirnlrn radyrlr by etr todaprodrat lrboreBory, vlch
it.'r..utGr brtnS rrlrbln trptetcd lhlrr of .rror.
Ttrrrr hrvr brro Guo at roGr ulrtch uy lnvr clrenjrd gbr tocrl urroltn
.rrshiii.- il;il-ilr rcdrurrnj oprrestonu .G co!G.t, r tP.clrl oltorc t[r
rrdr Go rcoovr, .iy-ir..-ilqurd *rrit hrd ruprr*ud tror rhr rorldr. prrltrlnrr:
E.rE! tn,ltcrrcd ;[.]-ii.i. liquldr contrrncd nr3r,tgrbrr 'ounr. of ureofi.c'
rnd tB te brttrvli-ir,i'i-iir tosrl Eoun. of urrntur ru ooG ehrojrd durlnj thtr
rrdruotng. l" ia.ffiiin, durtn3 !bu!d'r proc,rto3-ot-thr 22 d.n1 tor Pr/tlr
a.cov.rr, thr'r -i t.".-blro nell "procirl'lorcll" of ureolrl' Th' bull ot
Chr urrolur proc3rird nound up 1o thr dturoatCl tott.
)
TAULU T,
CHAMCTERISTICS OF COT'CER CONCI|NTRATET(tr ol Srgrcrobur f973)
Nunbcr of dttrol 1251
ttrt tlel1,hc 926,570 lb Avg 740 lb/druo
Dry Tcll,hG . . 433,55E lb Av3 146 Lb/dru.a
corrteln.d uro, 59'959 I'b Av3 4E lb/drrn
procec.lnl.r23l 75 gru 3 60 l3/drul
firortur.23O 13.9 Lj Avj t1'l l/drrrn
.flrrlt vrlutr do rpG rrtlrct chr cheojll lncurtsd b, Ptoc'tsl'n3 22 drrru ot
ortrrtrl ec Hourd.
II
TAELE I I
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I
ATTACHMENT 2
Department of Energy ("DOE")
Letter to EFN
-..---::- .. a. O-r: .=:-.::-o
Prsl J. Ucbcndorftr
jE- I:lffi
Enclorurr:
tu nncd
cc danclr
i. r. w.b. N\IYK,, c$ott ciry,llv
Chr* BuEs \:DE' IJ vitr' ry -ii.h.rd-v.i[q U.S. eB't n#o1 I)(-Srn Frudtco' CA
ntu*ffir,r;:r":ffi'':?.
L L. CowhY, EN' lfrorY' llv
M. J. Knrr* BN, Mrurr' IW
B. n BodbY, BN. hl Vqu.lW
P. A" Sudm,
Io'ilr$ttr wl\,cr, DoE/lw. Lu vqrr
{rrl UoSel{ i
30042t{Crtrtr9109ll1,tlr|r3l.5$e
a,Id;6\
o
roIoa
energy fuels nuclear,
wr,al otrilrl . llrla lQiiiC-rrrrcr iltrl . atu, coPre*IlE
Oaobc 24' t996
Mr Rurron C. WYcofi, Dit*to?
Gt d Star xPrtnat of Eocrg
Ncvrdr OPrndool Ofrlcr
Wlrt! tttrn4eoat Divitlo
2621 Lu*c Rod
Norti Lrs vefrr tW t9030
Rc ProcrrOnf of Conrr Coacrautr
Dcl: Mr. Wyootl!
TIEPu'Porofr[itcorbbdvbryqIEolfsrFlI!NrlC,tr.('EF}f)hrr&r.-irCidd *i.*t -rt. t!.ll th, h il fcrittr E ps 6. Co66 Cocratrr a thr
#il'fr'til M* U*|- tAU ft gq! !firirl coar4 ud r ertladzr tu kq-Pry
,ilil i" ;il.irt"i .pp ",rt eoo b ulird srrrn. Nrrlor nryruy cooddm ('llRfl
u, ptocltr tib ortsirl'
t. Dr$lnlulhl
EFN rcqu.,1ld toE DOE udydcl @ o &. rdiobioDnc rad o6ul-c coardtucu
,ont m olrb. ggm Cooc.outtl r ilt -B
pqlrrl tr9{n !o.orP &a (l).6' Ei'irl
;fi; ;€erd b, itnt-rrd, tf tclo of oL Sorr€t [(odd Llclltl hrd tt th. NRC: rd
6',il;;rfu ;; 6r errt fu rcotu s rlsurr tLrd p r llcrard undu oill
ibi-*J*ra .o.r:mr rrcrt oa rcrrridw-uPhr of or co'tE Cocottr to provldr
ur wirh uc ,rqulrf'Oc n dtotinoetc rlrllu-st ryJA T1rf-* thrpoccr
informrtim rnlr rnitrblo uy poa u uti dmr firggo.n-rl8 rb urrdrn b rl$c d.?l.tsd
;r-;;Aa d ,rr, 6".OL tr Gohd b, ri! ry!1.. Y. l. -i".q ul cpnlc rorlva
rii r;*dna r ri ,rii; rL eqllnoar or ur nnd ecd+q rTr o{fTlc' T'd",t?!'qr
ilI"r-ril-iirrr rJVf+ftOui 1r!,r N"tr" of"geau1 R.dc v*- 60, No. lt{,
' Itrlun0-ffi1{{1?.rnomdr
u,i r..a -tirr.r #itfti hrdru -f,lrqd rr*Esubp.rr.g tt.z6l3o33 of {0 crR.
mr ;;p.il 6r Fotltilo; u r lierorrd unnlrra nill hs Fovl&f.&r 'tf F licrar crl
rhow thrt U. e.oeoli ftrd-i rrrdd h mt cslda r lirtcd tnadou' r'|sB thh irrl it
;;i".dl -Til .ifi; 111l oe-cr rtrilhr psovrdr $a fr.d arrid c,olbidal oolv r
.i.r*r.iai. * f*itO,"--**1-tintt$h Gtniths nrcdvr' rdc) would br rppmttd fot
;;;lint .rrd rxtrtlo of rorncc fultfltl A co97 of thr dumn f.d Suldsot tt irlu&d
u Att*turu l.
rttlr
lrraf,clttrmrII
E.D
-
i .- "r--::
Mt. Runorc C. Wycoff, Dirrctot
Octobcr 24, 1996
PrSe 2
fu un tuw dirru*d. rad bnrcd on &r rltrag fid $irrmcq tir dotcctioa of cenda
il'#;Imit*,mt*m4'mtr#rt#ffi fr ffi
l.l.l.ric,orocrhm;.d t trfi.ttdtyfone rn tt4ol h tl.'' nfrrUOoo' ft 'adcrarul
thr
ooe ur coosrarra6r-+rc*-i;J ti;-ir.4 br+ o procor mdran md voluur
coaddcrlionr thrt th. Coir Cmcoaao doa rd codrb r lirrd h'adou urrru Wc rLo
qaircmur 6d you frUiila. t;6
'
*ritta nraary of thl &E dldm for u- h 6'
lnt rn narncot aPPlicrtio Ptoc€r'
l. Ancnrb[E T.rtlq rt Wlltr MllLMll
InitidrmmrtilityrrscmductadbyEF}IlWUuMrrMillmhturblrfolroooolo
rccovcrY of rbs unaiun'
3. rtm,C souro Mil*hl LkrDnlnlld!il
Gn rccoprn c tb CotE Coocronrq of corI* nEd!' nud O rwl.w rod
.pe*r,.iiy ,*-ffi-ift.mffOoa o uA o.r So' t'{,rtd Llet uAlch will rllov
6c M,r to rccfr .oiffirirr e.d.,,l, nrrunlt d. Tt Mlll lr c.o!@ llcmnd o
DftrErr oro fot nrcrirrtrt coatit& 'i b d'nt Codt Eorr b NnC dr6nidoa of
Ion' ra tb Gufirn fd fuX&nr:
,oto il I nrnnrl ot nrdw Ersr tb rry h ElDad lld utttd fC tb GilErti6
. of ray of i11 coodi5! a E, ;dr tlrttr 66 u'ticl slsr E.1'[trl it
;;.d ia r llcmrrd rllrlrra q ttoriua nill"
EFN h|| rccdty tGah,td rE.odoo toc I'[RC !o Pfoc'? offi -dErt' fo'd
mruridr ,rd .*r *;;fr-d.;M"r 6c icorapt tq corsir-mffi rqtrr atloiErl
cnirmo NRc,r.uirtl'i-r.r-l g.r riarty 6rF. Ar *r hru dr,urd' EFt{ wltl b.
nrmruiblc for pmrrhr Ed ltcl- d!3 b'.tcdha r9Pucdoo. od n+r thd mEffiffi ffiJ":H,ffiffi
relovrat O.n en-GJ2 f1.[! I Proporra-;# fc frprndoo of l.llcror oada:a
rppticrrioo fo, *o,G;irh-atd" lt1rrr6iir s 1rlru f'd E.16d
a. Schcduh lor ilRC Ltc'il' AErldEml
Thr iunlro of drcnar fcod uacdcot fmra NlC fc 6r tt/tii' Mcr Mill blffi:f#'rffiffiffiSffi;iilH;;;.,tdffi;'niuil rili-**to rqrprrhmc um1 o rqod o tH
Mr. Runorc C, Wycofr, Director
Ocobcr 24, 1996
Pge 3
rmcrdmGot rcqwJr wi6 commerut \yithi! 30 drn of rubrtital. DcFtditrs oo $G compla,ig
of 15. commcotl nrb*qrrot r.vlry ud ltnrtrca of thc ticcnr rtrrtdtlGt could h
Itr,rprrr1'a *it io t0 o 60 drp Tur could rcrulr i! r tour ryylql ud rppmvrl tiar of
ffi ilffif lrffi .I$"ffi ',Sfi #$f,,Lf 'ry'ffi ry"ffi
rrd fdFN'ni r.ri' urO nrbiit b Os NRC, r tdd lioJ.Gt d dmr lq 6G ,PPlFdo! Foc.r
*;iril,i- h dx moa6r Aruhet 2 llsr rengdool comnill8 r rhdulc fot rpplicrdm
pregrntioo rnd rPProvrt
aAcc.otroera|th.cott|tcoll.lirrrrrtwt|t.ut.M|I
Ttc WhiE Msr Urrniuna Mil[ lca.d rDpmdoGly dr nilor rorli of Bhndnl Ur$,
hg rdcqrsr sccwd nolr3t ry*c 9_9tod d rrnporrlly lcr (podnf.eroc{50 ttl
l$ad;,* of Cotrr Cdntrla DOE wl[ b n;ondblr la Glp9,lry b &ra;i Elttl $U
;ul,=-rt", rhc urrtr u$d b Ernrporr p.t r rdolojc ua bcfcr ctq ou rcrulcd zoa'
iibmeUsrc widl 6. rur of orr NRC llccrr od pocrdur
We lok fo$lrrd o nrcda3 wi6 you la Nonobct to dhqn 6r pmlcC sd bopcfuily
linrlizr plru
Vct, Euly rotlq
hrrldd
HRn/pI
Antchmclltr
cc: Michcllr R. R.hE !!
MtltoN. D..l
Rlchrrrd A. Muan
Ronrld E Brtt
f 't' ':r
A*achno,,*t" I
ELR td.rd Re3irtcr
ffi l*':l:lH l tF #ilgi :tTilStH B'.118:"*trry
com pr r,rc wrth thc nc rraution rd
,i;I!*l"J',lJi'ffi .T,H$ilIiffi ffi fiiH$Ixlf,lffit*,fi'Tr*ll,bvrr'cA;EnL "'ttor
jurirdicrion tho diqpnl rlu lr locrrcd'
,J;H,Ho,iffi ik:ls5.'P!,?fr Hti[[,ll8y'iI*,fr t!!i[!ffi'*
btr;t?in:.,i*iiff [ffi ,,1.'&tffiaffitm'.i*:ffi'8.11*[f g["
;;;iili[iii.i,t un'ittamcu to thc t tE.tzl liccnrcc.
10. T1,3 mcchudsu to rurhorla tlrr dlrygrrl of mn l lc._(2)Qnrodrrt mrtcrlrl.ln r uillng
rmrrnrtmmr i. * -cri[t[ rtr nri[licor udc ld CFf, Ptr rl0, ruthotQl3 !p-ry,ld cFf, Ptr,10, ruthorQq3 ltr_rydptimmundmcnt ir u lncndmcltt toft.miq.tlccor uDdc l0 CFR PIl.Or tulDon3l-l3lllC ncttrfiq?::'nr;*#j'ffir*ffiffi, ll',ss[toi'rtrc rnarcrirl lttd iu diPd"
61. rlrder thc ruthority olC 6tl oracrncnt Srrrr nith low.lwci';*;;h-iri;-;iii-1d.L6i-'iir lhctdnj lnhcity, thr Surs myd FIc rpplgFirtr rdon
d*#i#llilitt'mn:imtSa$H:i,r.':1il'xlill9#,li'ffid*.#iffi t'jliti'.r#nlmtS&gg:i,f .':l;+'Xl,ill9#,li'ffi
imrrar dircugd in tilr nridrn*.isrrcr di*trsrcd in tilr 3uidrn*.
Fi*t podtion md Guid]rcc on thc Urc of Unalrun Mlll focd
Sufrrcvicwinr licca r.. (Gqlss to ptooar dtcmrtc feod mtrerir!tmrctid gdlff thn rutrurl
::il*,'Jllt"s,iill[*Hi*]H,lElffi ffi ffi Hl8iio'ffi fi islfftH*
$ould do rddran dr follotriaj isucr:
Copynilt 1996, Clerl bcr*w Calhskr
Dvlron ql Trrrlrl,rlt W; /4ort &,rv!;u l*,
ELR Fcdcd Re5inrt
l, Dcrtminrtion of s/hetbcr rhr Fccd N{rt'rid lr otr
For the uiling urd wrnn from tr,propo*d
rl"riii, thc-iJd rnrtcrid-mrrl qt'd!ry !-:ot'Prg"sj1!*pillgqlncgrins to qurliB g I la(2) byPtodtrt
Io daaririnitiS witahG thc ft.d mncrid il ott,
liil'iiir-o*i'tiialhoition of on mir* uc urcd:
on k r nrtunl or nativr !'lttrll thrt qu.1bc mlnrd rnd rnacd fol' drc ortrctloa of ray of iE
corutiilcn. or ary ",ffi';;did;-i,tti6b-roinimicril
lr extxtcd in r licmred r,sriun or
iiiaiii" mitt.
2. Detcrmirurion of whsucttb. Fccd Macrirl conuinr Hrasdru wrns
. J'Jlitr$i{:s,$HffiHffillffi ffi UT[3[ i$',i*! 3 of
Surcl niulrtion undct RCRA To rtoill tb
-' ps83 4929?'-
:H,jtllt:1[],,9'*,li5|,i1i*ts'$,H1TtrH#S.T.ffiI]* jo[".,*,
Illifr l?iliiti-hrzimou rrnc, rur iur ir rcrolvcd'
*{HI#iiH#*ffi "ffi ffi:ffif$ffi'#ffiiffiH:
CrytiSiht 1996, Cle* Mu CellaZln*
Audan olTlo;a Is'tffil&ruilrt ln
ELR Fdctrl Rcainer
r. Codirporl tsr: DGtcsilrin f.Jlr fE{Igf*l,IPglI *qpt"S^kl53;!li$l,[*:,uf,gn*i gffifr'snffii'Hy
il:f; ff.Iffi ffi 'f Hlfriifffi ti'dHy.1#liFu'f fl &filil,H*H,ffi o'
i!ffiffiil; .;f
-*hdhct
thg fcd tttltctld'conuir hralldout lxtrr'
3. Daormirution of whcrhcr thr orc lr Bclnt Proccrrd Primrrily for tu SowoMrtcrid
Content
*lrnlf f,#i'*,:
thrt wuicr thrt woulflffi#ffi]'ffi#ffiHi '$**'
Acr o
rourc€-mltcrirl contcat
rcptrccmqnP to. -th.t gQ19
:li,{#L*:l::"*L'ffi ,ffixH,,nfiffi [ff |lffi ilxl:,.Hffi,y jl*'i5"
ffi;.-r.irlii-contcat ttre mrfcrtit would hrvc o bc phyricdt[#,ffiHffi
ij;iiif"@irnrtt .*f' qd q !c urtjru to RCRA or othcr
ii.nt gv,rcdg M111ntd ia Tdli4r Impotudmcnu," 0s rwitiotu
iiiii..tfitt miicdit t*outa * ry[roveb for dirpoll, ilSq bt.
locr&n Dfirsrct to proccrt it' thc proccslff it pnm&ily totllc
Jiuiiiioii utlrur* -t i.r thc Sridrne.
,H *L:Xf,ifilf *iffiJfillf$, tcrt rhr ricenr* rqur cenirv rndcr orth or*tt#[r*rffr ffi::
CowtCht 1996, Cluk fu*nn Calhdt*
Dvi*nof |1onoa WntenWot lrc'
| ..=- -.:
ELR Fd.nl R4iner
grimuily for rhc tourcG mrtcdd G'ontcnt mrrn bc mrdc on r c[c'rgccific bub'
,:l[ffi Ef,TffiIfh*ffi
* ur'I*o*" n*q*' q.Effi
and rhrt thc prim'y purgorc orr. Fsrtdti i;6; iti-n*rci-nrrrcrtd conmq 6r rcqurn co
ba agprovcd. '
DrtcdrtRocMtlr,ygylrn4thltl3thdryofscPtcmbrrl99S.
For thc Nricleg Re3ulttoty Commisioo
Joscphr.H.oronicrr,:y{ilrlil$:iJffi #IurH$*T:ffi H..EBrrmrr'Divirion
of tlluc MrnrSpmc stllrrr.L s"5" rD Y
[FRDoc,95.2353tFllGd}21.95i&l5rnrlBILLINocoDETS9G0I.P
Copyrijht Pg/', Ch* fudrwCalhfui
D,;rr.; olllozron Ufonrdritr Sttlim' b'
Attrchm:ot 2
ProportdApprorctforPreplrrtlol.ofR:qugttothoU.S.NRCtoAocod' Sourt. U.tilri f.i[ii* SUA.I$a lo Allot Procgrir3 ol
Cotlrr Coo..otit. rt l{tlt! Man Mlll' Bhodbi UtrL
o\TERVIEw
Uoon$rccmgstbgt'trt.oDo!,.rhdEFN,EIlt{lvillprePucurdn$ruitbthoNRCr
rcouci ti rmsnd il;;'il;d r'iccnr
-sur'trsl to d6" EFN o rErF tbc Conet
cooccncan r*o p6i r, 'ri**i"s .r rh. wtir Mrr Mil. Thrr rnrhmcar derib EFN'.
Fopor.d ropc, *b.oil;'.Iojtrioir .tf U,raF for th: rmcndmrot rppllcdo'
Enrwi,,*Tffi ffi iltsrTr"rffi*w*iHIil1"Sffi;diF*li ritr .iur ri-'p.'.o Doi-cmsrmo rad nrbmit thc
*nmdsrcm rppllclio'o;lnb *ilhl" 30 dryr of rcccipt oJcqnmcm fto' DoB' Itc coatcot
of thr rmcndmcat .dri..,ri *rtr bc Dcidgto raanb ttr conrr cmcoEr' . ra dtc,rn
fGGd, h,r wiu bc ilfi;;;;ifi *ld,r rt,rarroizec fotzra to Gonnq b rhc cxtror
po.iblc, rlirt rll ,.q.fiid.,... *urrn c tb rppllc*ioa will lncludo:
l.O Mnartd Coonoritioo rad Voltm
l.l nrAoemU1.2 Orrds1.3 iiublry coruldmdo
. 2.0 hoccta
3.0 SdGtY Mcrns3.1 Conuol of Airtonn Conualuioo
3,2 dil'."d R.t * of Tnrlr from th Rcfiiacd Alt.
4.0 Carificlrloo tbll Mrr.st l b Bd!| Ptoc.t|.d Prlntily for lburcc Milerid
Contrnt
tt, I
O ..: ' '-l
Attrchment 2
propord Apprcrch for Prcprntloa-of .lo{o.tl.t: tbr u.$ NRC to Aoroil---r-
Sorirce Mrrcrlrl Llieal 3UA.ll3! to Allow Proc6rhi of
cotmr coaculrrh tl wtltr M.|r Mill, Btudilj, utrb
(contiaucd)
asslJlagsNi
. EFN \fill bc rerporuibh for coru of rp'ptiorioa pcarrrrioa rnd nrbmittrl' includilS
I*m*i*tioru-urd mcainS with thc I{RC'
. DOE w1l rcimbrr- EFN for coru of NRC rncrdarcnt rwirry fc* rfiid EFN cttinrter
*itt nnfc 6om $0,000 to t50,000'
. EtN will &rw upoothc tcchnicrl rnd qulrtory..rrpp{l PtwidGd ly DOE utd thc DOE
;;,r..t t ia prcfurrdoa of thc ancodtmi rppllcrtlo
. DOE will comptcrc rwlcw of ric &rftdncot .ipU..t* rd providr comnrcotl to
g[BI- *itl,it 3d dryt of rccclpt of b dnfL
. Ao cAlmrts of th timc rcquhod u, nld tL licmr iffludca
. Dnft APPiiedon PcPrrtloor 30 drYr
- DOE rcvll#commcltt: 30 den- Rcvidnftolt to NRC: 30 dryf. Conncdl fro NRC: 30 dryl
- R.tP.td o NRC connotri ncdr mdnd: 60 &yr
R.cnrldry in r tod rrrcndmcnt dmr of rpprorinlely dr rmmhr
EUDgET
Ttr NRC doc! ffi provtde rdvrnc. tilinc of conr rrcirtod wtth liconr'rnmdrrcat
requart
-fiyiil
Th. ;;3d con of t40,0OO o t!0,00 b b.d oi &!na. co1r to EFN of
fr"lo- ff.** .,rr."drffi For nrrlcrr ttLtEhl ltcerrr* NRC fs fc ma$rcntr to
llccr,cr rn b.oc ,non ruff-*tr of ttr rvlcw, udaf profirdoad rtdf ior ntcr ufrich ut, fc
iV-rfC,ll26 pcr-tnuiiOCtn Put l?0.20). n: is rn involcod qurrly' q$ry tu hr
m*tf of *h ,it"r;. EnI will rcqrrl thrt NRC-:I tp.l t!D.r!t3.Pr ry* for thc Conct
A;;fr[ *rioAr.m roi.*, .rra i"itt prwle mE wilh coprc o^f !n querucly.hroico from
rhc hlRC. EfN, urhcii.--' wlll mric dlrcct Prylmt to [r NRC on of ftrndr d'rsrcd to
efN tot thtr purporc b, DOE or tho DOE dd3n
?rlf
F/c* t rct€ .7
Fcdcnl FrcllttY ComPllence Act
Flrcel Yerr 1997 Fint Qurrter McetlnS
@
Notunbc ll, 1996
l.Th.U.s.ocpugnrmofErr6T-lDopwi!'Jqrd!tlnt.erd{omurlruldSoil
.-rv*.r-ro[ru io trr. x*.liotrrtl.ir of Einvtroruncnta Protrcdon (toE}
Dui: End ofNovnnba l9e6'
z.DoEwillprovidcthoSolvrrrtsludry.''.'$+::+utoNDEPjutilhnrSolvqrtSMgr
ir ruardoll-fr iJ not mLod. -Drrc Erd of Nomrbc 19!16'
3.htDEPwillprwidrlldcrtoDoBittdicrdry![e-mail]3.,r*"#f,'J.'Edi; il c;il oroJlqol. Dur:-D.Dsrdn upqr rrdpr of ,
ttm Nuntl2'
' a, DoE will rwinr rtrc Srvlnnrtr RirrlVrg rcc*uneo cdgb 11d prwid' r flrpry
dd"rtd;do;;il-rpdl..Hftrio 3; TlF.+.fCB orrrnic *.r' .5'.,il DoG A
ilr*r toj}6t ;l-,tty *l-fi i et*UA Ad,n th FYg? S6rd A,,1r Mdo.:
5. A iow ctun ud/r dlldld d.*:{E!o|t of th Lod{onrmdnard !3oil *rnc ilft3l
n.o,. uill bc incbd.d in ihr ilt 'Flrn a,,t'rr ttt'dr3 mitrtrr" 'Drrr: End of
Nownbc 1906'
6.DoEwiurt$ddroblorirrrbfrmrdonb.Poiddbyth.sdfidfrtEcologGtutp
!t*'tiHH.- ortt' u,ll ld rqdlnr prcc*
. iffiffir:H['ffi'roc*dindr
T.IrNDEPbdl$,arh:infrrrndolgynndodFr.pNurrrbc6lrdr+rat.sbtywi[rrrbrnlt
. r*n '.6ilfrmr-*idr il68'; rllr&,, rhrt rh. bulk l.d b rcrclrbh renp rnrrl
.r,a O*f i;fr!- 6t [t-Jn .d $. CO' thn: otEt lh bil& hd murhl b
rcrdY obr ddPPr{
t. htDEP will.proddr r lar o DOE to ddar ttF shiPgf,tt! cr* from itr co'
9. . DOE sill ptwid. I ldr to NDEP lndi€d'| ttr co ud ilr gTP co'nrplhncc du3 for
ctoJdtHlil;tFdi-t e tr B wiu b' tdd h &Gt/rH wldla ncrotirtiou us
*dr; f it*,u prfit.dirri 1m0. DrE ro comptrr th. Enf rcdvltv udl bo
f ,--.==
provided rftcr thc Novombcr 20,- 194! mehS wirh intcrutl pt*G.' Thr larr will'
prsrcnr pon1utoruffiffi ii,h,41lutti rti tttt ufcodrtook iltai& ud requat
thc tirtrd o,.sory'ni,i;-;;ri;; i 5jr;mot Gd on' EFN u'.'3r to do n'
h{DEP rgreod to dcl*c thr rntin Cottc CorrcamE uT nt ilttllm dtl, thc rmsrdrnot
to-eli{'ixuclcrr drffiiiirti.i- llcqrG hrt bc't rprund'
If thc Rccord of Dsclrion ir mr prtlirhod "d thc colutruGdon of dr lvur EBminuion
FE*iry nrry be dj;;;6; diryDEp .g.ir ro^ir,id.r,. conrmuriadon wirhin r ua*
or ro grior,o Cutiil to-at*tt drc porltility dm ceuiqr
12. [{DEP will providr r laur to BOE indlcrdnj tb R$A E&&tS cqII rr|ftins ftnt
tr,. T2 Ld violrdon ir rdrq,rr n,f r.r;t" rc$d* rmt n bnh in th violrtion
r0.
I t.
r2n6
tzl96
ltyl
4lv1
1l9l
ttyt
9tvt
9tuW54€3
bpcdltGd Trutuot of cott , colcltntr rt E!!rST PrcL Nuclrr
Ilitillc wttt! doclrdladoa Pt!il
Ilidi! IAC [Ea, mdut (mI)
R*JucmroffilofNnJC t03 uodoc GnI)
Proqrrl owlDact dttu
IdriLiliddhdln3odmnroc
Coqlr. Erdd tttlTod to mI
Cqllc fulDdct?ott
r:\- 8'
l.
R.DB No' 306
t-:- ,.: ..: O.. .;:--:l
E/Ct^%u2-€ I
lxrrIo llAYtt tlvllOrirl'xtAL tt0TlCtl0l lgtXCY
)
oEG 6 tS8
sulJECA: BsgulrRory s!!!l:, 9t 56!vctt!-99lrtltrtc6 tl'tB'ttrta'nt
f rolr r Ph'Ftrc'ugl€rl l'lululrcgua't
iR2ll: DevarGrur Blrn't'-DltrCtOrchlrlcB.rlzrglonJa.il;;i'".ngDlvlrlonl03.!10)
il::;',131:i:i : HiE,3ili'? l#l[I3'
i:iiliiit:irifi'*itiltn,tifl1;'i#3ll$r'+';;:,lil*it;.$; rtildllill'no lir-l.lr iil H'-lniorrrcron
uhlctr you Plovrili-iJii-urr-'il-irinonr t'o w lsrlf'
tlrr rPrnt lotvrnt ltrtlngl coy'f !ry:: stsrut tltr? rrr
,,, c o
- ., i ; 5 i !,! r'ri lrt ii,Eli I iii jr ii lIffi : I::i: ktffi i,, : ::
i ii;: ili,i*trii:;ii! 1i i*-;o- ;; - ;h. I;;iicu.r-'1 ;1, I t''br rrctrheo iqlgr to fusthii-oii-oi-rnrlr. t" lo El l
jlc.aler ff, Ittt-
utr ll I rarcturt or.ra tngrrdlrnt ln cnr Ernutrc)-urt or
lornulrrtoa ot-iiilrict.r iiitilli'iri!9ii tr oot Glstrltlrd
rE .l tole.tls urr ioi tnt ntf--;l-t: !5o hazudout Y!ts'
iiiiriii ;qit'r-r65i, - rrrircli;i;.;ml,Xl'!ll:lirl!!!r:I3:e
;ffi :iiiiril#i,il ::iifiii ;rii;i-il:i'i::E:,ii'lr'3i:;?"
lill$l*ffi*ifr:Ilhi*irii #rqili:: #jli' :'
urt.r -16 Enr *E.r Dr9?!-:!diiiiii;i.;li[i1i]rfun* otyrtaf rn6 Enr YrErs r,'l.!Y'!" ;:";ai;i- ir rorlvl(l ylUr-thOiliilnt.- il gnlr G,Dl', -t'1pro6uct -o .nll';"i;i:;;";Iimi;[-Jt'
---
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Eeacd on ou! revl'e-ot gh' 6rtl tubmitt'6' vr hlvc rnedr thc
:o r rliiit actrrnrrnrtlont :
o All lsrtant brlng^ l!!!-to dlrporrr-::-tlt troG thc ectton''
rnmhel,ot , ';a-;lihvtrnr-Eni6ii dr rrcov::I'?*i::t;:t ':E;'t '
::,ilHi'iti;l;iiilii,'l:' i iii]i!:i';;:' E;;I;r'inc or
i$.,Jil;ilii.iilifi:iili,iffiri'ir di,rEn.,.6,, rn Epr
o,hotlrqlr.outttr.ult.vhlchrrtultflontlgrrld.:tor16ersrrcsr"i-;.iq- i;rg1liii'-rii"in!: -lt. contt6'rc6 Prccrrc
r.,ettttttelilt airO r1-ruti"'Oo-noi T!9! =hr 11rtin9
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o rllc.r Prttt ltf lltngr ruch rr thr onr rrltlng thr rrnlt
drslgnrtd.Ist.rii- t?l-z:ir lr. contlorrrc lP.nt tolvtnt
rtrtrrr.'bicrurl they tonirli ;i-t-?iiiint tnri ,rt uco6 ar
. r crrrr.r-iii-irp--niocolf ii iir-rirt*gron rrrp. *ou.vrr,
f t lBt' prcla rtf lurnc.,-iriil ii-trtr onr-ixttlnt- thr f I lcrr
dre lEnr-,.;-:';:;- r;; r:li-iir-ircerrr uf8tterEcr 3t:la'!nt '
noB sp.nt-rotvrnt' icrrd;'-Dlciur' t'tttr ur' introduced
t t' ?, iu.Ei 3*f I if *i'rfl iii[ili,lf ' i;: l3l':l: i:i::: :removrd;;i;'to-itrcricii;r-ini-t"tri+rurcievotrcnrlnins ln th'-^ty11ti ii;i il'rrn6rr-3[f ur!t'u't'r
tlltrr pl.ii rttluint r tDcnt tolvcnt'
o Rlnrt vistfvlBlft, lu:h rl thorl tIP product or ogutpnlnc
rinrrnritiCrrp:-I-t''i:ri'-tii-ttotcbnrlorrcdrprntsolv.nr.-uttesrl- r!rl.i*r eioilrr ttr.rn. uhlch rn'v havo
btcoi. .oiliiiiit'il-itur oigurtc tolv"ret'
ttthou,hrPertlgttlll..Urtt.rgrclnnrynotne.gtllctlrglngotlcrtD8lon rir'ii.ii-ior"t:ii;; i;';il'F'ndiiroour t( ernr=1"3
on. o, !roa. ii'.iiTi..raoii-Iirii.tlitrircr 6ilcrlbc6 :n
r0 cFB zrr.zileiilzfl--crriitn rtrs.r r.i-iiso hlvo rprclrr
r r rt r I ct I onr' oi- iir ir srorii - -d
r - i6 luctlB-iencrttrl nrs'6
ultEatgtarnt '
fl1rnx You tor youl lnqutr?'- It-I9u hlv' rny turth'r
su.t!,tonr, Ji.ili ionircc';;;'iorlpnlon rG ft3 {7t-€?lt'
ISgtctE.nt'3
cer Erle cllllrto ' eruagn lrtl'ltol
ATTACHMENT 3a
Letter from Psul Liebendorfer, State of Ncvada,
Division of Environmental Protection,
to Runore C. Wycofr' Waste Management Division, DOE
,9:ER J vi PQr -< - a::i
LH. trcoclox. |dtun$Earor
,;r.)2) 6E:{570
ToD 66;{6,7E
ldmrnafrOon
)tnrng Rcguhbon .rd Rcclrttraoon
Wrl.r Pollutlon Conttol
Facdnlh 667.5t56
.lddnst ReVly to:
clrlba Cerad
Crro Cltr. YV t9?10
r, q v I a?
iaadnoT
^ !f i r- _.l.:-a-
. .. a-.. -1
-a r I { ;.j i'i<a'r.:o
Facdailc 365-,o,oA
, t ,',:l ' Arr Qu,lrtT
Wrtr? qrrlit P.nnrr(
FcrCr,ilo 66:n396
lsotcd tl:
313 lf. ryr breC{n Clt. Y} lt7l0
DEPARTITEI{T OF CO}-SERVATION AND NTTURAL RESOURCES
DIVISION OF ENVIRONMENTAT PROTECTION
Cepitol ComPlcr
Curon City, Nevrde E9710
JanuarY 13, 1997
Runore C. Wycoff, Director
waste Management DivisionU.S. Departnent of, Energ:f
Nevada operatlons offlceP.o. Box 98518Las Vegas, t{\I 89193-8518
RE: Adninistrative Deadlines for Recclpt of Docrrnentatlon trlandatedby thc Federal Facilities coDPlLancr Act Consent order
Ths Nevada Dlvislon of Environn.ntal ProtrctLon concur! thatthc Decenbcr 31, 1995 adllnistrativ. dcadllno outlined in the
Federal Facllltlec Coupllanc. Act Congent Order (FFCAct co) have
been tret. the flve rast€ streant affccted by this deadline arelisted belor ulth connent! ragarding NDEP'g curr.nt regulatory
stance.
1) Area 12 Solvent Sludoa
The docrrnentatl,on supportlng thc dctetmlnatlon that thc Area L2
Solvent Sludge ls a hazardour sastr rlthout a radioactlvr conponent
has been revieuod and thc Divigion concurt slth DOE. Per Part xI.3of thc FFCtct CO thr Solvcnt Sludgr Dutt b. trangtcrred to the
Hazardous tfart. Storagr Unlt (HIISU) or shlppcd off-sltc rithin ro
days of recelpt ol thlr concurrenca.
2l & 3) PCB solI and f,lE-Eg.IyinlThe Divlslon concurt that thc aaDpllng requlrcd by the deadllnedate har bcsn cotpl.t.d. Although rrlttan approval fron the
recelvlng rltr 1r not rrgulrcd untll Junr 3O, L997, DOE/!I\/ should
keep NDEP apprta.d o! th. DOE/ORrI statut rlth regard to acceptanceof tnr anaUrtlcal data af scll ar provldlng a DoE/oR polnt otcontact lor tho Eanagc!.nt ol thrsr ua.t.t.
4) Bulk Lcadal T2 Lcad Cnllndrrs
The Divlgion rer.rrr.. Judgencnt a. to whcthrr thr T2 lead
cy11nd.r8 can bo resYcl.d. At thlr the thr rubJrct uaat.t ar.
clasEiliad ar hazardour uast., spGciflcally ulxtd uatta. Thereforeoff-sltr shlpuontt lurt be nanl!.rt.d aa hazardour uatt. and sentto a sit. capabl. of rec.lvinE hazardour salter. Further
discusrlon and res.arch 1r n.cer.ary bolorr a flnat drclsion is
nadc on thlr igsul.
Runore C. Wycoff, DirectorJanuary 13, L997
Page 2
b) Spent Batteries
DoE should keep NDEP infotmed of the progress of negotiationswith off-site facillties.
c) Lead Shot
NDEP concurs that the lead shot vaste strean nay be nanaged
under the FFCAct Lead-Contanlnated So11 waste strean.
5) Cotter Concentratc
NDEP concurs that the F001 and F005 codes can be renoved fron theCotter Concentrate waste strean on the basls that the Cotter
Concentrate is a process waste contaninated with solvents.For our records, NDEP requests co5lies of represcntatlvc
docuuents through shlch thc procecr knorledgc wag obtalned by
DoE/lIv to nake this deterninctlon.
Although thr llsted sastc codes rlll be dropped, thc portionof the Cotter Concentratc naeto streau uhlch ls a characteristichazardous wastc remalng subJect to nanagenent as a rnixed waste
regulated under the FFCAct CO.
Reclassification ol thr Cotter Concentrate ag extrtbitlng onlya characteristlc of hazardour ragtc ncctt thr altcrnatlve feed
gnridance requirements described ln thc October 2{, L996 letterfrou Harold R. RobertE, President ol Energy Fuels Nuclear, fnc.(EFN) to Runore C. Wycoft, Director, wastc [anagenent Divlsion,U.s. Departnent of Energy, Nevada Operations office, therefore, EFNshould pursue anendnent of their NRC license to accept alternatefeed naterlal.
Upon receipt of, docuucntatlon that EFN hag anended thelrSource l.laterial Licenr to acccpt thr Cottcr Conccntratc aialternatc feed, NDEP, undc Statc authorlty, whlch lncludesfederally dclegatcd authority for thasr dstrrainatlong, willforually declan tbr Cottrr Concrntratu to br non RCRI rcgrulatednaterlal and avallablr for rcleas. at focd uaterlal to EFN.
Qucetlonr conc.rnlng thcrr lscur should be directed to ChuckBulilr in thr lar VrEar olllcr at {86-2871.
SLnccrrlv /-^5"77'.-/ / I ,/, -Crr, / -( l-?'V-<L'
PauI .r/ rlehndorffr, P.E.ChlrtBur.au of Frdrral Facllltlor
PJL/cB/db
Ken Hoar, Dlrcctor, DOE/EPD
H.R. Robortr, Prorldont, Energy Frrlr Nuclrarrfnc., Denvcr, Co
!1.1. naL# EnarEy Furlr Nuclcar, fnc., Danvar, coJ.B. I{alkcr, Nl{PCr, Carton City, lIV
cc!
ATTACHMENT 4
Enerry Fuels Nuclear, Inc.
White Mese Mill
Eq u ip men t Releese./Rad iological S u rvey P roced u re
3Er 3y r.rur Ocrgirf il1 ,';-i;-il ; ''^l ..i :t: .t.. I
;t "'e - A,v -r 1
lt.l.UrElrllo
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-
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drucdo ril tsL l rffi ttr Aa!$ry d rrldr :!11!,!!-9{1ffiffi ir mq drria. nl qrlpc pdc
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t. Cocnr{nric IrrS crdd r O. tt{ dr Or rdclr o(quipac
fu urtlcri ur b r ml dpb cocuthdc lcd of 1000
ddilrydor f rda*r r. 100 d(drdl0 qd} d r ildllia
sron f* d0: trEL pl lor (aut) rtl r dra rct to
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7. tl6. [rdo Or r ud lpb cmrre b t1lh rcd{ ra d9br rvrt or l0 d lrb rlr r d-fi tuvrt[dnhrodlt Ir d0h, r&- {blrcdtblrf atudfrrlPil. IrtEdfitl Il[3
0rddr rr G-l r m rfrr drffi doa b
|P,ta
a.. . a a. 'a.. a .,.-' ' t'""
Department of Energy
Na/ada Operations Off ice
P O. Box 98518
las Vegas, NV 89193-8518
JAX 2 I Bg7
Michelle R. Rehmann, Environmental Manager
Energy Fuels Nuclear, Incorporated
Three Park Centrd, Suite 900
l5t5 Arapahoe Strea
Denver, CO E0202
STATUS OF COTTER CONCENTRATES RESOURCE CONSERVATION A}ID
RECOVERY ACT DESIGNATION
Enclosed are two letters regarding the waste classification status of the Cotter Concentrate.
The first letter dated December 31, 1996, is from the DOE Nevada Operations O6ce (DOE I'V)
to Nevada Division of Environmentd Protection (NDEP) requesting the removal of the Resource
Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) "listed" waste code. The second letter dated
January 13, 1997, is NDEP's response to the DOEAiV letter indicating their concurence with the
removal of the "listed" RCRA waste codes. A brief overview of the information exchanged
leading to this conclusion follows.
In lanuary 1995, DOEAI/ determined it no longer had a use for the Cotter Concentrate, it
declared the concentntc to be a wasc. Thc Cottcr Conccntrate had been dctcrmined to bc a
"characteristic" RCRA waste becausc of its sclenium content and high pH. The waste was also
assumed to bc a "listed" waste becansc of thc prcs€,lrcc of solvents. Howwer, further
investigation into the regulatory status daermined tbascd on a December 6, 19Et, EPA
Memorandum (enclosed)J that Cotter Concentrate ne!/er qudified for the RCRA "listed" waste
codes for spent solvents. As indicated in the sccond bullct, on thc second page of the EPA
memorandum "Thosc aqucous waste strearls which result from liquid-liquid extraction steps
involving solvents rre considcrcd proccss wastc strearrs and as sucb do not me€t the listing
description for spcnt sotvem strcems." Therefore, DOEAIV had erroneously applicd the RCRA
"listed" wastc codcr to thc Cottcr Concentratc. Bascd on this information and sincc the Coner
Concentratc ncv6 qudifiGd as a listed w8stc, DOEAIV requested concurrcnce from NDEP to
remove the inappropriue RCRA"listcd" westc codcs.
The January 13, 1997 lcner, I{DEP hrs concurred that thc RCRA "listed" waste codes can be
removed from the Cottcr Conccntratc (scc Pagc 2, Itenr 5, thc first ttro paregraphs). I'IDEP
indicates, in thcir opinioq that with thc removd of thc RCRA "listed" wastc codeg, the Cotter
Concentrate"... maet!thealternativcfccdguidanccrequirenrcnts. . " Althoug[ theRCRA
"listed" wastG codcc hevc bccn renrovd thc toxicity (for sclcnium) and conosivity (for high plft
hazardous wrrtc "chancteristic" RCRA wsstc codes still appty to thc Cottcr Concq[rate.
lvfichelle R. Rehmann JAII r997
The NDEP is requiring DOE/I{V to manage the Cotter Concentrate as "characteristic" RCRA
waste while stored on site at the Nevada Test Site, until such time that it can be demonstrated that
the concentrates have a beneficial use. Such a demonstration would be " . . . documentation that
Energy Fuels Nuclear, lncorporated has amended their Source Materid License to accept the
Cotter Concentrate as alternative feed . . . " Once this documentation has been provided to
NDEP, they will, " . . . under state authority, which includes federally delegated authority . . .
formally declare the Cotter Concentrate be non-RCRA regulated materid . ., " meaning they
will consider the Cotter Concentrate to no longer be a waste, but rather a commercial product
that is not subject to RCRA regulations.
If you have any questions on the subject matter, please contact Colleen T. OI-aughli4 of my staff,
at (702) 295-064t.
WMD:CTO
Enclosures:
fu stated
cc dencls:
H. R. Roberts, EFN, Denver, CO
R. A. Munse4 EFN, Denver, CO
W. M. Ded, EFN, Blanding UT
P. J. Liebendorfer, I{DEP, Carson City, }.I\/
Chuck Butik,I\IDEP, Las Vegag IW
I. L. Cowley, BN,l\,trcrony, NV
B. R. Bowlby, BN, Las Vegas,l.il/
M. J. Krauss, BN, Merarry l.IV
Runore C.
RDB No' 306
Ux tiED STAf ES EFviROxr.€xT^L
-/
FRC TECT ]OX ^CE HCY
oEc 6 1988
;:ffi::'"r,i".il':"il;illllni-,rnarca u.trr ls not a sP€nc
Ustssar.rcturtor.rningrcdlcntlnthrn.rnufactureorfornulatlon ot I comerclat iniiictr Prodoct 1s not classif ied
as . a .orvent u8. lor the p"tp"ii of !!: n'cRA hazardous Hasle
ristlngs FOO1
-I-fOOS. Thlreiore, sPent.naterlals fron chese
,,Dor-sotvenrr us.s do not tlli- inc-irsting desctiPll9l" for
spent solvGngs. Al3O, pro""ii ,istcc tnei bcconc cont'anlnated
uith srnall anountg o! sofr.iii auring Proccsring arc not r;ithln
ihe scopr ot th. sP.lt sol;;;; iistings' All exanPlo ot thls is
an aq\reous eriiucni fron "';i;'ttie:iiti"if extraction steP' in
uhlch a solvent has bcen osiO-io-cxtiact a Product fron tne
uaser an6 rne earcr b""or"i'Io"i"r'i";!at ,iln slralt amor'rnts of
solvent. rn Ehls exanplcr tlrl solvenB ie rellovcd ""L:1"
TE ORlr{D[ x.
SUBJECT:Regu:.atorystatus,o!solvent-Conta.urinatedwastestreansfron i pnirttceutlcal t'tanufacturer
i3,cll: Devereau'( Barnes' DlreCtOr
cn"rlIiill;;;i;;';a-Assesstent Divislon (os-330 )
TO: Ar--hur Hor6tta, glc cOnerol Pro-g:a'lr.,"."I-Dl;iiiot', neglon v (srlD-rUB-9)
Tnls nenorartdutn ts tr responsc t'c your rlsrest fer
lec::rnlnagien or-tne regula:Oi'y SCatU3 Of aqJaous t,,asEesErear;s
oenerared ar, iur upjohn corp"r,y-Pharnacsutlcir facillty in
iata.urazoo, MI. All "r,SreriJie'basett on our bcst' understanding
of thc process flot shert" "niln iJu sent and thG lnformatlon
uhlch you p:o"ioio ovcr tne--iiieinone co ny staff.
ThesPenEsolv€[tllstlngscoggrthosestreansthatare
used ro sol.Jrfif ic-oi noDlftza othGr constituents (e'cr' ' for
degreasing or-ialitc scouring, a! d+luents' txsractants'
reaction .r,a "yn-glliifi-"iAi;:'ana
sittlar uses) atrd tnroush
such use, navi'bccom "ottiiit.i;O-io ttrc e'(t'nt' thec thcy nu'st
bereclaluredprlortofurtheruscorrgusc..Sces0El53315,
Decenbct 31, 19t5.
---
-
Based on out: revie"r of ghe dara submitted' "'e nave made ihe
fo I louing determinations:
o AlI sEreams ucing seng to disPosal uel'ls from tne aceione'
rnethanor, and rnethylene-inforiae recovery Progesses (pp' A'
B, C, ard ;J eieher !ne€t-;;"- rl..inE dcsiription for sP€nE
solven.s or are residuais-iirived fiom thc treatnent of
spenc sorrenti-and .n"iii"ii-snould b€ destgnated a.s an EPA
rriiaraous uaste (f0ol - Fo05) '
o Those agueous scrga.ns.which resu]t fro:n !lqtrid-liquid
extract,ionstePslnvolvingsolventsargconsideredProcessu,astestreams and as such' do not 'neeB th' Ilsting
descriPt,ion fot spent' solvent stre:rn3 (sce a'bove) '
oFilterpresscffluencssuchasthcon.exiting:heunitdeslgnat,e;-;5i:tro" (p. z-r) are consldered sPenE solvent
streanr because rhey consist of a soivcng g[3! u35 used as
a sarrl"r-i;i-ine pioa"li-i" tn" f trtratlon s!'tP' llot"ever '
f ilser preis ef fluenc.l-Jt in "" th' one exiting the fl !'ter
cesiEnel"i-iw-, (p. *-2) are Frccess uasteuaEer st:?ams '
nos spenE 59lv€t1E, screilns; becausc ,iter ,ras introduced
into the Produccion ptoieis as the carricr for che Prccuc--
in rirtrali;;:--i"--tfrii-conriguratlon, tn€ solvcnt $as
removed prlor to filuration; ine srnati grantity of solvenc
remaining!nthesysgendocsnotrendrrtheL,astetJaterfilter Press efftuent a sPcnt solvcnt"
cRinser,asteuatcrs,suchasthoselronProduceorequiPmenErinslngstePt(pp'-l-3;-i:rrartnotcinsldrrrdsPen!solvenrs Decaus. they ira pioi""r strcant trhich may have
becotna "oni"rt
ittetld trltn orgenlc solvcnts '
AlthoughlPlrticularuastest'rtannly-not-T::::h"Iiseingdescrlptton for sprnt tor"inii, ii-tty.Ui'na"ardlous. lt exhibit's
ons or !ror. of thl nazardoii-"i.iitiiititfcs drscribcd in
o0 cFB Z5L.2O-26I.2a.. certain staGes .iy atso have sPecial
regtrictlons on etrc dlsposai or solvent-iontaarlnat'ed
\.iastcsgrealts
rhaJrl( you for your inquiry'- Il- y9! havd iury furthcr
questions, pi"iil iontact'ion' JosePhson ac Ets {75-6715'
AetachD.nts
cc: Erie crlllsto , ovl/oDu (ffi1-550)
Dcprrtm.nt o, Enrqy
Nff5! OPrralonr Otllca
P. O h ga$t
tl V.gu NV 8olg3.Eglt. .r'4(E
ttt J t "'
Prd J. Ueodorfir. P.E. Chid
Bunlr ofFcdrrl Fdtdr
Divirion of Ervirorung[rl Protection
Stm ofNandr
3!3 Wm NYc[rnc
Crnon 6tY,lW t9?10
AEEYANCE oF TIIE FEDERAL FACIuTY COMPIJANCE ACT COIS-ENT ORDER
DEADLu\Gs roi-coffi, CoNcENTBATE PoPUIAnoNS A AI{D B
Drutry rhl F.dml Frilirty cornplFr Ast (FFCAcl) Flgl Y|tr 1997 Flra Qrlncr [{ccin3
hdd Norsnbr d. t996:ih OOe I't!t"dr OPd-. OGcr (DOEAIV) + $t NcYrdr
Dividon ofEnviruurlnnl Prcrction (tIDEPi tF.d to hotd h lfyurca thr dgdlhs
crbllrh.d h rhc f;iAaCorull Orir St uli. lurlll Conr ioncutrtc Populgiotr A
srd B -,mf. rlftrOoar * ur,at*y.,ill Eflg.Frdr Nnds, tncoreorua (EFN)
&b"r. rl -effi it- ttus$e I rieddrrf tul m fE Qsnr l'{-ry-
Gnaonrc 2) ,*uhd OOfnW to p r-lGrto I'IDEP i6" thlry{:rn to hold thr
d11dnrr h 1!ilr8 . .of io p.rifi Ol. eoaorn !) bv u,ldlhfu EfNr Nudrt nfUuory
Conrnirdo 61tjq [.r. ",[f Un rnaid* rd th. CoiiComlr silltr ovtr Fe ud
rupp.d ro EN #,-dn lurd* Ae; bG nrff.g drq&d ?9E rV to prl'r!'
bod Popgldo of Coat Cot rur. u lldpck nrtrtl d r rd+r* U Fwid'
3gpponht do6 to NDEF lo lltrvtt dr llilld |11rdout *rns idortillcuionr F00l
rnd FooS tfor ..i,rtir.*foridG ltd 2-bugprpl ftom Comr Concmtnrs Porl$o1-B. ]f^r
ir6mr6on pdJ-fih conrerrrl rtr nquhurm lisrd 6rrhh raioa hcm for DoEn\ry'
Conr cffi,lr Udlt d u rr{rrd urrrr.ln di lVa* Irrrsrr,.-Stl, ltcaom l'lan
(STp). i. *riffil"t bil h 1p DOE irwmy u nrrtric mrGid ftr tlr prE
dccr& It r111tbl wlr lrs prtcrurd $ ih DOE M&td nd[$'ty.rr1"iu1r thoriun ud
prpqssinh5 6jd; Ttt Cop, Corrmu wI tm rc rb lictrfr Tcr Slp (NT$ fc
ffir$ h 1tft fi;]-il3ln trrar tk $r nnrirl hrd b.r jg rcP{ocan--rhr om for
.airIoJur.,tn'ff;; f. t rr ts rh. DoE nrpoluffir.Hfii5ygjtr
lqh $r$ou psdusrim oprnrionr ilrdt d in tho drcl$dot ?lryl1Y:iirr.r, figl, inJ aur ro rhi pt'ttslct of 6grcrids Itd llrtdl'.,rdou1 mrt contntuatu
.rt-''itor".Ufi. rhr wUr hrr bcr ldartia.d u mircd wut .
Ia Jl'nrs-v 1994. Cort.r Concmmtr wrr dlvldrd lmo mrc $Prns. PaF{*:l: for th: prl':Potc of
chr'srrdzllon aui ii affitrGttt chanicrl efoc..rhr1 ofrd6ar prrfonnrd-on-thl r*l
' poFrllioru. Concr Concrnguo Popgbiin e conilid oii:ld &umr of rnrrcrirl thrt rvco rll
O,,::..:l
PrulJ. Liebcdomr F
:roce$cd in rlu |]mc t'rrhion, ihur l]36 drum wrtr darnninad througn procc3! knowhdge
:c rncludr rlenium ;ovr rhe Toxicitv Chrnsterirtic Lcrctutr PrOcrdurc rTCLP) reSulrtorl
:hrerhold rnd r pH iiirc,ell ot' I 1..t. Concr Concanrnte Populdon B conrisrd ot' cigttt drumr
:rur hrd.ndrjonr.aaiiinJpno*$ing rr Mound ro GffinEr unniunr rhoriurn urd prcustinium
from rhr murid. D"ridfifry grd-gulpir Pspnrlrdon B rnr danrninrd to conuin c*bon
rrtrrdrloridr rrra z+nrrine rina rtratoril;d concimmr: rhrrfoil cottrr conctntnrs
i;prrft;i.r", a..-r.roa r mired wrnc cdribhrng borh thr chur*erinic of r hrandour wurc
*dcnium,rd ur dd"i pm inJrnr lind rnsoicri3nrdoar F00l (cubon remchloridr) urd
F6;E;,;ffi;.61..lrrcgrrnriou of e.ton urrehlortdc ruqC.fnm 0.0.14 to 5t0 ppm in
six of rhr dgh drunt ii.r.1. md rlom O.Ol, ;2.6 ppnr 2'brlnnoio in nvi ot'thr ciSht dnrmrJ
Ttrrougfi furh!' irwrrrig[rion. DOENV h|| dacminrd ttuou$ Pt.octlt knou-lcdgr thrr orbon
,iiiriilfu r,.a uorr,--rlJdunn3 ururium. rhoriunr urd ptutrcdniun rnrrction. Thl procar
soruind of dirrpiiiE a*it it Cono Conccmrul ln nisic dd ud that rclvrnr'tgltmt
enncrioru rvuiogr rlp3;1i, in csbon rcsrchloridc) m6 urod to Gcfir33 thc'uruiunr' thoriun
ilil;i*ti * nl urutiun. rhoriurn rrrd proirdnirur lrFr rhar nripprd ftom thr rol'aar
pllro wit|.n-"d;hydtoriOc f ururUmi url onlc rdd (thsrhm rrd Pforstiniurn)' Thr
ururium pl1.r wu .ii*".a t_i ut*9t Oti6s udd41 corng,rtr ilurr of thr eigfir drunr of
poprrl*ion E. Thr ri.lninj firr drumr of Popnhtion g fun of ur rcid rqucout wrnr thtt
r"ji.1,, *[*r.a i* *ie .nc roridlfrrdanlnr trr prccardng ofthr 2,3 rrnrmrof nucrid.
Thr procer wrr nrrpandod whm rhe oqnric rdwnn boornr coilttltittlltc THe procst u'll
errdcd p./rnriltrly dmt it wU darnnird thn tt13 !finEd6 conld not bc prfrrmd
cconomirlly. n ai tor".n t tor,h. Fo..r wrr rrtr whh rbtorbcrt Urd prclorrd into
30.$11q1 d;r* Or ifeorr 1rd ucn lot inc6td itt t113 m13gld ddmd to the NTS'
DOEAIV r.ffittv intrriflcd whchc$lrtll thrt hrtr b.ar didtdlconrminrtod durinl
rclycm.ro6ur.*mrr1oip*c6tct sirh oryrnig idcmifrrd g linrd hrardos n'utt
connirusrr rnrr hi&rd;hd u lind fr-Ido,rt mr.r tn r D*mbcr 6. l9!t' msnonndum'
thr U.S. Enviromnorrrl Protcaion .{gmcy tEPA) (Enclorn 4} dttGmincd thu "rqu6ur
rrnlmr whidl,Grdi froi liquld.liquii orirrcrlon $Gpl irrvolviq rlvemr rre conridcnd prccar
rvl* 3*r13t5 rrd, rrch do nor t!G.r rrrilirtinr ori*rion rb-r ryan lolrur.ncrmr." Tltut.
rhe fivc drumr ofdp,rhi* g whiitr conrin of'rh rcid rqucoru \rrtr3 thrt *ill contrln uruium
r0.9 . 1.7 pcrcrrnr.. *, lincd hrardoul wrrtlt rincr thir rtlt ltl Equ.out $rcun Gulting
from liquid.liquid cmaim
In rddithr rlr EPA mrnromdum $UGt thrt'proc.tt wrn.. wltich b53mr sonlnnurd with
r"rO .r.*ror Jrokmtr dunry proc9rtr5 11.t not wirhla tho rcopr-of tha rPem.roh'cm
lirrin3r." sin6 rtn'rt'rfil;i d"fi lr'iogrr11jiol B-c9ndn of urrnium oridr rvhich wu
p6lplucd ton rfro rcp* umi-;tdil h.A;,,id. DOENy conrldc6 thcrc wuter to be
,.pt!c.tt wrn..vtrtl urcrmc conirminued wirti mrll rmourtr of rolvcntl" rnd' thcrrtbra not
linrd wmter.
fr,==--==
PuriJ Licbondorftn .J.
The oniv lin€d wr$r g.nrr.o irof tlt erocltrinf ptnbrm?s n }tound wouid hrvr bccn the
ryru solvcmr wni€h ff;tiairi.o *itrr rurcmiii**ed imo Jo'grilon drumr' ovc prcitcd
inro -.!-,,ilondn-.ll'Jit.l.o ior oif-rirr diryorl by rhr r\lound ttcilitv'
DoE,}rvhrrdmnuinrdrftorfunhcirvtdjuiorofthrmrra{rtptlcrringhinoryutdEPA
ruglrrof.v $rF! c,.roirro.,ofyttr qrndilF ..tt try dt sf rnr drht dsufl conrinhj
cour concrre. popnrdon g muGridih;iii r.o.,insd. cpmdrdnr onl.y chrnscrinic
hr,rdour u/ri. .orriffi. rr,... o, d;;,ribh i.r"d*r $rtr. crrr.ncdni. b.rd on
rhr TCu con6t of-dn lDolo ' tdft'rnd cotr"dtit!' lD0og ' PH)' Thr rilnriniqt
nno cirunr.n rr.ryIia *.rto dnco tfr;f tttd tdrdum comrm of thcrc wutlJ ur rvithin
il.-d..il; r.E rl"r,y llmir rbr hrardonr *'lur, conrhrsrn
wilh rhr rcclurificuion olrh3tr eight dnrmr u rirlnr chrnda{nic t,'rdour *r$G. or rolid
rvr$Gr. rhr.v w1r ,-;: hbincdlnro r;;;.p,ri"i"1*. ,n.eet*r*ray 12!6 drunu of
cotrrr cornomrul *,i.r whish ** er.Itirfooo,t c...t#...'idc hip,to.r wrne All
of thr' rcdd.r *i[ h1Jrdfi.d qlg tl1r rr1d cu4ory o rlrnrtiv: l5d mucttd (or
fird$odr) in o,u,!ffiffi DoF4lv';.ri-4;;-{qrF of.qil TT-*^:fl lbt
reslrctiu ti,o.. uodffifiionr, n il-Jd.d." odifo;'G. h ddr:d b'v rhr NRc (l'tRc
ir rhr EFN r.nf*ot ir.niihr qarcy) .. t tritf dhr nrnu't o'1 whidr nill mcar thc
ddniriar of orr Ttiri'.6"iffi ;ioi'it u riuorr "orc ir r,nrnl or nsitr rrrntf ther r'.y br
,nh.d ud ururd oi,hJffir" ir.rw .iiiiconcorm a ut/ orhcr mutrr from rvhidt
louns3 mrscrirl ir ;r;J-ii r ticcttd uhtt*r r rhorirrn sg['' llhan t!!r to EFN for
ddidorrl urrilm ;;fu ,t . conrEililn-qglr lr'rrry orhrr mrrrr fiom whicJt
_r*a-r""u lr anard ln r lica[rd urufum . . . flill.'
:{Rc tlto|wt rlr procrdr olf|.rlroct Uhld' *,.e chrrrcrrinic lrrrrrdanr rvtsl
io*rsurilt ri.r.. rtEq; concgr!.r. rhnr rtro ndusidcrkrn of rhr concr concgrnrc u
rtedrrocrr. rr,ie'sJrJ;i+t ;ftidt *,.: ,-dtt',,! t + for ur,riurn ltilrce mrprid)
e.sncuon urd dlfotd ef ury r.tjdq .i Enf *1 h'Pttfut;i upon fPtot'rl b1'rhr NRC ot'
;ENlilil. rilt&sl forrhir rcititY'
DOE:{\, ir rcguclifl rwinen r$tG!ffinl ftom IDEP rcarding rrmotrl,of tlt:-lTl and F00l
Fom rhr popuruioii,*roin, ro rtru rll ofrhr conc conciir*c rn4'bc chippcd ro EFN tbr
prpcarrin3
, If yar iurr u.v qualo|u br_.-orH,:^concuainl rhfi irse plcrr comct cotlsra T'
ii6Jh[t. oittt nrfi u l7n:l :9!{&l!I,;'l ,l\r,- ,fl,;du'f'*
runorelCl ivycotf.,Ehct or
J.fu Winc llfir5qrt ftf, pmdonitrrtn cro tI-'
ATTACHMENT 3
Letter From Runore C. Wycoff' Waste Management Division' DOE,
to Paul Liebendorfer, State of Nevada,
Division of Environmental Protection
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STAIEMENT AEGABOIIrc XUCIEAN' VA"TTE
AY &T,tRNffi. ltIXD T.EAVTIT
AFil 1 4, t g97 o tBILf r 'Co!ffitc rillr tu Omrrrtd
Tmighr I bqiu w tdsl5 rn trc of gct @rlc tc ib8 bl[t' ldht, .ott
Snlft, of tfr of sr-cnar. Otr $rD Aeg fu &rtl of tcmilu & dm'r drying
ffi frrUA hd E&rgtilb' rad I urdto rer lt fton trycdqg'
I[rErs &n'tlcqunrdorporr, f,ledu'tmasrngrfarrnorr' Yd' it4!ry&-b{,'
o.. *1. ir 5.eg r*15F omddci ; r rirgl rir fri crrt tts 200 6osud mdr of *ra
urclarrrc-
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frigb l""GI EclEtn$o, dig[ir r hlpffi dttr psrrtry ry5tra Gcir r1crryct'
4[,t n rr-iqg rdii"g $ Osrd,lrg n rfrair br* yd, co tu mryricr re rillinc h,
pry r rrsy UfD ;licc t uat t il b nm clr'r brrt yed- Grr-
S@. dt rt r Go&to tffi ppm hflrfry cq* odrim Ed dfiilt_mElcr
UtsD f,am.ll oyurtr ouufry Ut, Uirh &*t, /o mth! IEC of |fc WrS& Frcmru Wo're
r5t rdtiE 6d* e Elc tit of-nflgr mG, lf r I h. ts hq &L EluLt tr e udr duE9ang
,-; ,6 tu rb: dn of rry trdlry ofth lfpp ffnffi i! tr crsrc I'Idbil Sutar-
Oo,fua* dm't rtr q38, hA 6013 xtD wd to bdry rlca, tsE b tIlh OdDk ft Tdll
@j.b Ed ;;t f raioaOrar &*c r tnprow d-L $gg ofltf, hl I rtrpccdtlv
e4r* gith Oll *rf tia*f it lrdfiftE lL. tigferr arlcr 16 grut1l1;il in tb coutty
in{egood gnlry orfliD dct&tirn br ryrtn h In*'
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mrtft U'rtrin*m" ftcr rytc wrt coes mt lntt, Ed U tleE *uot bc
strr tshfif"rsf.g?"6rtxptl KUrY NE'!6 -'
ldlt ro ro ea'r lif sill ba cldillrpc.. EUtlr oa il h+c, il ndcC. Tb fct lEgb ir 65g, b 1151;Lc ?trp rh rrt io jrrer. fl ur&r u* ttry rrn r ud O
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rt dtt fEr L r lcjry drLI rs & ot sco lcrrr s ctilia d e;ir flOE.
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Iffil mlcr rrrb, I hw rOood qp n qc it brfrrr' !d I rb t ri& H$t
{Xn 4gr frr bapiqg rr$lar w ott of ilt Udr .lGiit i. unripqgril:
. Bycrmriwor&rilsillhucs&ordiqcyttt,fotutbrtvill do
euElt&i1lpuihh b tlo.t rcqp of hL! Iad rr&r rrcc in lnil. Thc l8k
fuDG EiIl tc bd ty ny dimr ofcwilpd $rlit, rDd rilt tE obEled
sie rrrqcUns rd mciordag rtl rLblo dl dloldo Ertcil ilt[t
tr1o*lL
. La.uill bc rat iaoa0tty !o b tLrddsq lb St$It V.lLy Go$ub+ $e
Nuchr nAuhy CmgAq, ConC, tcc&r c,mFottifir dota ood$hl tto oft: *c'r qgpoffm, ad f17erury k oth
elqnuiq.
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il tb ng{hq, FB }frd rfiro e lico rrdffi ir or0idr[f rthttitcd.
. Itc rc rlll rd$ly cpfoetnr lfoac qdhlirn uri uill rsch mrplac aud
-tlt-*tirc rrvicrr, rdrtgldffiood T[lcrbif EcErrr.
o AlltndtlrGyrludirrof6stfu wNllDtru*rnfca,hshdlnsrnevimmlhpasf:oA-
. TtcffisIcftbtsmtrWy fu&,, xltl bGqpo*tt'
h nrmry, ta lr: ry qr& tta se dmtrul itkE ltol lto ntd tD triDx
1qlc1: rno toc rry tfr r&. I rry, lf it'r m rD t& djct to* il nh !t ir. If h umficd
f,rr tE ld 15 r,rrrr Errbr.rc odh ris* llrc il r&lt ir b.
MICHAEL O. LEAVITT
OOVERNOR
Srerp oF UrnH
OFF!CE OF THE GOVERNOR
SALT LAKE CITY
a4t t4-o601
OLENE S. WALKER
LIEUTENANT GOVERNON
May 23,1997
Winston M. Mason
Head cf Council
Grcat Avikan House
3 East Center Street Box AVIKAN
Blanding, UT 8451I
Dear Mr. Mason:
Thank you for your letter of April 16, 1997 concerning wastes known as the "Cotter Concentrate"
which have been designated to be shipped to the Energy Fuels Nuclear White Mesa Mill for reprocessing
to recover the uranium in the material. The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), the entity that
regulates the White Mesa Mill, reviewed this reprocessing request in accordance with applicable guidance
and has approved the request. The Division of Radiation Control (DRC) has reviewed the technical
aspects of ttre request and concurs that the request is appropriate. However, the DRC has questioned the
necessity of Energy Fuels and the NRC in keeping the information confidential.
As a result of your interest in this issue, I understand that Energy Fuels attended the May 9, 1997
meeting of the Radiation Control Board to present information on the reprocessing request. The
Department of Energy, the generator of the waste, was also present to answer questions. I also understand
that Bill Sinclair, Director of the Division of Radiation Control, contacted you regarding your participation
in the discussion.
Your legal r€coume is to continue in petitioning the NRC to recogniz.e what may be unique Native
American interess because the NRC is the entity that has jurisdiction over this matter.
@
Governor
MOL:DRN:dco
O",* HoNoR oF THE GREAT q*ro*O
GREAT AVII(AN- HOTJSE
NATTVE AMERICAN PEOPLES HISTORICAL FOUNDATION
3 East center street Box AVIKAN. Btanding, utah 84511 (8o1) 628-2805
May 24, 1997
Governor Michael O. Leavitt
Utah State Capitol Building
Salt Lake Ciry, Utah 84,l l4-0601
Dear Governor Leavitt:
Thank you for responding to our letters of April 16, 1g97 and May 20, 1997 inwhich we have requested your intervention in the crirnes nhich are being committed
against your people in southeastern utah. Your May 23, 1997 letter was eagerllr torn
open, with expectations of your support in our plight. However, we were both
disappointed and alarnred at your uninforrned response.
For your inforrmtion, Governor, the Utah Division of Radiation Control (DRC)
has not yet reviewed the technical aspects of Energy Fuels Nuclear, lnc.,s (EFN)
request to bring the hazardous Cotter Concentrates into southeastern Utah, as you
stated in your letter to us. The reason they have not reviewed the technical aspectsof Cotter Concentrate is because the Division has not yet received anything from the
Departrnent of Energy (DOE) to review. The DOE refuses to give the Utah DRC
requested technical inforrmtion for review, although board nrembers and
congressional representative have been pressing DOE for wetl over a rnonth now inattempts to get the supposedly public infornration. Obviously the DOE, the Nuclear
Regulatory Commission (NRC) and EFN have sornething which they wish to hide. ltseerE it would behoove you, Governor, to find out what it is. The only informationprovided by DOE at the nreeting was a seriously edited revision of their former
"secret" proposal to bring the Cotter Concentrate to Utah. tnforrnation in the originatproposalwouH enrage any Utah citizen, even yourself, who took the Sg seconds it
takes to read it. We sent you a copy of that proposal with our first letter over anrcnth ago. We are including another copy with this letter in hopes that you will take
the tirne to read it.
Also for your infornntbn, Governor, as the minutes of the May 9,1997 board
nrceting verify, the DRC has not concurred with the NRC in its approval of EFN,srequest The topic of the Cotter Concentrate proposal was an ,,infornntion,, ontyitem at the May board meeting. DRC board Chairman, Norman Sunderson, inforrned
EFN and DOE that they would not be abte to rnove the Concentrate untit after the NRC
Page 2, May 24, 1gg7 t)", to Governor Leavitt
had completed the Petition process concerning our organization, as welt as
addressing the issues of the others who have applied for "standing" in the rnatter.
Our organization, at the rrrceting, requested action by your board against the Cotter
Concentrate. The DOE and EFN did not request action at the nreeting. lt was decidedthat, pending DOE providing the technical inforrnation requested by DRC, the item
would then be put on the agenda of the June rneeting for possible action.
Governor, we find that Mr. William Sinclair, DRC Executive Director, has either
misinforrned you, or has failed to inform you in this matter. His passive attitude
toward this serious Radiation issue now being faced by the Utah citizenry makes it
apparent that he does not adequately serve the interests of the people of this state.
As cithens, we request that you remove him from his position. We will continue to
lobby in this rnatter until there is a more competent person serving as director of the
DRC. These issues affecting the health, safegr, and other rights of the people of thisstate are too important to be passed off as "harrnless," or to be misrepresented in
any other way to your office, as Mr. Sinclair has done in the past. Mr. Sinclair is by no
Ineans an "expeft" (as you refer to him) in these matters. Most elerrnntary school
children know of the dangers of Plutoniuntr which is one of the elenrents of Cotter
Concentrate. And you don't have to be much older to have knowledge that there are
one trillion Pico Curies (rneasurerEnt of radhtion) in a one Curie rnasurernent of
radioactive rnaterial. For your infornmtion, Governor, experts have verified that
Cotter Concentrate rneasures from three to five Curies. No wonder DOE wants to get
rid of it. But why wouH EFN uant to expose the ernployees who will mill it? And why
would you want to do so, Governor? Or why would you altow such wastes as theseto be dumped into EFN's open air tailings ponds to affect utah waterways and
airways?
Let us abo inform you, Governor, that Energy Fuels did not attend the May 9thmeeting as a result of our organizations interest in the Cotter Concentrate issue. The
rneeting was set up for EFN and DOE to present their inforrmtion to the DRC board.
Our organization forrnally requested being put on the agenda, but it wasn,t until the
day before the meeting that we received a reply from Mr, Sinclair granting our
request by passively suting that any interested citizen could attend the nreeting and
be heard. Once again, Mr. Sinclair has misinforrned you.
Yes, Governor, as you saitl in your letter, our legal recourse is to continue inpetitioning the NRC. However, you error once again in stating that our plight is in
"unique Native American interests." Governor, our plight is not in unique Native
Arnerican interests. Our plight is in the health and welfare of thousands of .,Human
Beings" who have a hope and trust that their etected leader will stand with them
against corrupted indivlduals from federa! agencies who are known to be conspiring
with big business (through "secret'and "retrofit" docunrents) against the welfare of
Page 3, May 24, l ggTfef to Govemor Leaitt
the people and lands of the State of Utah. We had so hoped that you woutd show a
consistency of interest and integrity by standing with southeastern Utah Human
Beings as you are standing with the Goshute Hurnan Beings of SkullValley.
One hst thing, Governor. You might be right in the fact that NRC has
jurisdiction over ttris nmtter, but only in once sense. NRC has jurisdiction in approving
a license arnendnent to EFN - they do not have jurbdiction in forcing the state of
Utah to allow the license amendrnent to be irrationally applied against the heatth and
safety of Utah's people and lands. Actually, your Utah Radiation ',Control,, Board has
that jurMiction. lt would be interesting to see them exercise it. Your DRC board
should request Standing with the NRC in every license armndnpnt applied for in the
State of Utah, in order to insure the health and safey of Utah citizens. Energy Fuels,
NRC, and DOE are circurnventing Utah Law as wetlas disregarding Environrnental
Hurnan Rights and the Dernocratic process, in their creation of a rmssive Nuclear
Waste Dunp at the White Mesa Mill. And you, Governor, are doing nothing about it
but helping the oppressors. lf you are not for the people of the State of Utah, then
you are against us. Please do not take this letter wrong. We respect the office of
Governor of the State of Utah with a seriousness which you undoubtedly could not
understand. However, the nmn in the office must earn the people's respect. There is
still tirne. We will await your reply.
Shcerely,
rt rl;X^tflVr*Dtu^--
Winston M. Mason
Speaking For The Council
cc: Norrnan Sunderson, Chairman, Utah DRC
Karl C. Jones, Vice Chainrnn, Utah DRC
William Sinclair, Director, Utah DRC
Preston Trunnn, Public Rep., Uuh DRC
Dianne Nelson, PhD., Director, Utah DEe
Stephen J. Rees, Utah State Senate
Kelly Atkinson, Utah House of Representatives
Rebecca Lorenz, The Law Firm of Melat, pressman Ezell& Higbie
NATIVE AMERICAN PETITION
ln The Matter Of Enengy Fuels Nuclear, lnc.'s License
Docket No. (S) 4O-8681-MLA
o
ERS
Anendmen t Request
May 24,1997
TO: Shirley Ann Jackson, Chairman
Nuclear Regulatory Commission
1 1555 Rockville Pike
Rockville, MD.20555
RE: Petitions for Reconsideration of lnitial Decisions, and,
Petitlons for Reconsideration of Final Decisions
Dear Chairman Jackson:
We appeal to your sense of Justice.
Since your NRC Commission attorney, Shenrin E. Turk, has not dignified us as separate
bona fide clans, communities, and organizations by giving us separate replies to separate
requests for standing with your Commission, we will take justification, at his lead, to join in
one letter in making our individual responses to his letter of denial dated May 21, 1997, and to
ourindividual "Petitions forReconsideration of lnitial Decisions." Let us make it clear, that
we are separate entities, with certain diversifications of interest in the matter of Energy Fuels
Nuclear, lnc.'s license amendment request Docket No. (S) 40-8681 - MLA which would bring
the Hazardous "Radionuclides and Mixed Wastes," of the "Cotter Concentrate," World War ll's
original Atomic Bomb residues, to be dumped in open air tailings ponds directly adjacent to, and
within harms way of our communities and projects. We do, however,have a common concern for
the health and safety, both physicaland psychological, of the Native American clans,
communities, and organizations to be affected.
Yesterday, May 23,1997, we received notification VIA U.S. FIRST CLASS MAIL
(postmarked May ?1,1997 with no Certified Receipt), signed by Sherwin E. Turk, Counsel for
NRC Staff, that your NRC Staff initial decision is suggesting to your Commission that our three
individual requests for hearings in the matterof Energy Fuel's Nuclear, lnc.'s license
amendment Docket No. 8681-MLA should be conjointly denied. Mr. Turk's letter of
notification, dated Miay ?1 , 1997 , and received May ?3, 1997 , is fourteen days late of the legal
date of notification as required by law regarding the Native American Peoples Historical
Foundation's request for Standing. Likewise, Mr. Turk's notice is seven days late of Mr. Norman
Begay's legal and rightful date of notification, and four days late of the Navajo Nation's
WestnaterCommunity's legaland rightfuldate of notification. This circumstance appears to be
more than coincidental. lf this is not indicative of willful suppression of information, then it is
most certainly indicative of incompetence in the staff lawyers ancl judges who are entruste<I in
such a high governmental office as the NRC. This circumstance alone gives reason ancl just cause
to oxpect that these individualand separate appeals to you and your Commission, dated May 24,
1997, will be granted.
Further, the Commission's Staff statement to us is ill prepared. ln what appears could
very well be another ploy in delaying and disrupting proper proceedings, we were sent a 23
COP Y
page Z, Begay, Mason, rcatfiay 24, t gg7 NRC petitions for recorlrailon against Energy
Fuels Nuclear, lnc.'s Tfcense amendment request, Docket No.YS) 40-868| -MLA
page ,,Memorandum and Order" "Denying Hearing Request" of petitioner John Frances Darke in
the matter of Atlas Corporation's Docket No. 4O-3453-MLA, rather than receiving any adequate
documentation of reasons for denial in our own case. Again, if this is not an intentional
diversion in the suppression oF information, it is a prime example of negligence and
incompetence in high government offices. Mr. Turk stated to our three Native American parties,
in the same letter, "....the staff inadvertently failed to file its responses witlrin the allotted
time. The Staff regrets any inconvenience which may have been caused by this oversight, and
respectfully requests leave to file the instant response at this time." Mr. Turk's claim that in a
telephone con\ersation Mr. Norman Begay stated that he did not oppose the granting of Counsel's
requsest regarding late notification is far removed from Mr. Begay's understanding.
It may be noted here that this "instant response" mentioned by Mr. Turk was written on
the same day (May 21,1997) that the Native American Peoples Historical Foundation's letter
was dated and faxed to President Bill Clinton, requesting his intervention and investigation of
NRC Staff's practice of 'retrofitting" documents to conceal the discrepancy between NRC's
document dates and the actualdates that the information was made known to the public. A
considerable number of the situations involved in the approximately 8,OOO "retrof it"
documents generatd by the NRC since 1994 manifest strong implications of environmental
racism, since they have to do with Nuclear projects on or near lndian Reservations or other
minority communities. President Clinton's Executive Order on Environmental Justice provides
that .'....each federalagency shall conduct its programs, policies, and activities that
substantially effect human health or the environment, in a manner that ensure that such
programs, policies, and activities do not have the effect of . . . subjecting persons (including
populations) to discrimination under such programs, policies or activities, because of their
race, color or natural origin." We thank the Great Creator for President Clittton's insiglttful
and compassionate understanding of Justice relative to the people of this American Demcrcracy
over which he is a temporary steward. We are sure that because of this Executive Order alone,
if he remains faithful to his own Order, President Clinton, despite whatever his failings miqht
be proven in time to be, will rank in future remembrances of the people of this natiotr alongside
Abraham Lincoln, John Kennedy, and Martin Luther King for his stand on Environmental
Justice.
Please allow us to point out that of the 1,818 current Union Carbide/Energy Fuels
Nuclear, lnc. (EFN) White Mesa Uranium Mill documents, 338 are retrofits, meaning they
were suppressed from the public until after the license was already implemented. Since early
1995, other than for a short Uranium processing run in 1 996, the EFN nlill has posted a sigrt
saying "Plant Ctosed.' Today, ltlay 24,1 997, it still says these words. lt seems strange that
NRC would grant So many ticenses to a plant that is closed down. lt is no secret among members
of the communities of Blanding and White Mesa with family members who have, or do, work at
the mill that year after year barrels and truckloads of "unknown" (to the workers) materials
are brought to the millwhich are eventually dumped in the mill's tailings ponds. These ponds
sit next door to the Ute Reserviation Community of White Mesa, and to the Native American
Peoples Historical Foundation's Great Avikan House site. The hazardous debris from the mill's
smoke stacks are inhaled and ingested through the airways, and the poisot'lous radionuclides and
hazardous constituents are put into open air tailings ponds to further enter the airways and also
to leech and seep into the water aquifers from which our Native American People draw our
water. And your Staff, Chairman Jackson, informs us that we have no grounds for a hearing? ls
it any wonder we are accusing your staff of environmental racism? We are sure that you can
, Page 3, Begay, Meson, Xatsoll 24, I gg7 NRC petitions for reconsltion against Energy
Fuels Nuclear, lnc.'s hdhse amendment roquest Docket No. ({4O-BOBI -MLA
see, Chairman, that these materials must not keep coming here to further pollute our lands and
our people. But what is to be done? Why not Justice?
Chairman Jackson, correspondence from certain NRC Staff members has criticized our
groups for sending our requests and information directly to you. However, because of the
plilctices mentioned abol€, we have not yet been given any reason to trust your staff members.
And, desiring to believe that you, yourself, are an honorable person to be trusted, and are not a
part of those practices, we are again petitioning you, personally. Therefore, Honorable
Chairman Jackson, before exhausting our individual and separate currently available remedies
under the law, and prior to our seeking Judicial Reviews, we do hereby petition you and your
Commission for separate reviews of the Staffs initial decisions regarding our individual
petitions under Energy Federal Code of Regulations, 1O CFR Ch.1 , Subpart L, Hearings,
11 2.1253 - "Petitions for review of initialdecision," and also in accordance with the
procedures set forth in 1O CFR Ch. 1 Subpart L, Hearings tl 2.786 and ?.763, or, upon motions
of your Commission. lf the Commission's final decision is not in favor of any one or all of the
individual petitioning parties, then said parties, in advance of, and as of the date of this letter,
do hereby petition for Judicial Review, in accordance with the provisions of 1O CFR Ch. 1 ,
Hearings 11 2.1 259 (b) and n 2-771, for a reconsideration of that final decision.
We, each, separately, sincerely thank you for your kind consideration of these f ilings.
vhffi,kY L ,X.L- to4r,
Lula Katso
White lvlesa Community
Boxll33
White Mesa, Utah 84511
l;x^*trfr*w^--
Winston M. Masdr
Natirc American Peoples
Historical Foundatlon, lnc.
Box AVIKAN
Btanding, Utah 84511
Westwater
Navajo
Community
264W. 1 00 N.
Blanding 84511
cq President Bill Clinton
Hugh L. Thompson, Jr. NRC Acting Ex. Dir. of Operations
Governor Michael Leavitt
Congressman Chris Cannon
Congressman Menill Cook
Senator Robert F. Bennett
Congresvnan James Hansen
Senator Orin Hatch
Congressman Eni Falaomawega
William Sinclair, Utah Radiation Control Board
Preston Truman, Public Representative, URCB
Sherwin E. Turk, Counsel for NRC Staff
Cullen Battle, Counselfor Norman Begay
Rebecca Lorenz, The Law Firm of Melat, Pressman, Ezell & Higbie, Counsel for Petitioners
Don Howarts and Katy Jacobs, The Law Firm of Howarts & Smith*Note: Other Copies in these *new' filings will be served as directed by Chairman Jackson.
NATIVE AMERICAN PETITION
ln The Matter Of Energy Fuels Nuclear, lnc.'s License
uocket No" (S) 'lO-8881-MLA
a
ERS
Amendment Request
F,AX
MAY27, 1 997
TN
Fresident Bill Clinton
Hugh L" Thompson, Actlng Exccutivc Dircctor of Opcrations (l-lRC)
Governor Michaei Leavitt
Congressman Chris Cannon
Congressman Merrill Cook
Senator Robert F. Bennett
Conoressman James Hansen
Senator Orin Hatch
Sl'rerwin E. Turk, Counsel for NRC Staff
l-ullen Battle, Eounsel for Norman Begav
Rebecca Lorenz, Law Firrn of Melat, Pressman, Ezell & Higbie
Don Howarts & Katy Jacohs, Law Firm of l-lowarts & Smith
FROM
Norman Begay, Winston Mason, Lula Katso
Representatires of
Petitioners Against Energy Fuels Nuclear's License Arnendnrents
Sinchir, Utah Divrslon of
Representative,
NATIVE AMERICAN PETITIONERS
ln The Metter Of Energy Fuels Nuclear. lnc.'S License Amendment Request
Docket No' (S) '{0-8681-MLA
May 24, 1 997
TO: Shirley Ann Jackson, Chairman
Nu elear Regu latory Corn rnission
i 1555 Rockville Pike
Reckville, MD.2OS55
RE: Petitiuns fsr Recqnsideratien of lnitial Decieions, and,
Petitions for Reconsideration of Final Decisions
Dear Chairman Jacksort:
We apgreal to your $ense of Justice.
Sincc your NRC Corrrmission attofney, Sherwin F. Turk, has not dignified us aA Separate
bona fide clans, communities, and organizations by givirp us separate rEplies to separate
reque$ts for standing wittr your Conrfiission, we will takc justificution, at his lead, to join in
one l6tter in rnaking our inuMOual responses to his letter of denial dated May 21, I SS7, and to
our individual upetltions for Recon$iderarion of lnltlal Decisir,rrrs." Let u5 make it clear, that
we are separate entities, with certain diversifications of interest in the matter of Energy Fuels
Nuclear, lnc.,s license amendment request Docket No. (5) 40-8681 - MLA whtch would bring
the Hszardous uRac{iorruclirjes and Mixed \tlastes," Of the uCOtter ConCentfate"' W0rld War ll's
original Atomic Bomb residues, to [q dumped in open air tailings ponds directly adjacent to, and
wliiril Sarms way of our coffirnunitics a1d projects. We do, however,he\,e e common concern for
the health and safety, both physical and psychological, of the Native American clans'
communities, and oruBr{zatiorls to be afftxted.
Y6sterday, May ?3, 1997, we recelrrcd notflcation VIA U.S. FIRST CLASS MAIL
(postmarXed May 21, f ggZ with no Certified Receipt), signed by Shenrin E- Turk, Counsel for
tiRC Staff, that your NRC $taff initlaldecision is suggesting to your Commission that our three
individuat requests for hearings in the matterof Energy Fuel's Nuclear, lnC-'s license
amendment Docket No. 8681-MLA should be conjointly denied. Mr. Turk's letter of
.utification, dated May ?1 , \ gO7 , and received May 23, 1 gg7, i$ foufteen day< late of the le0al
date of notification ai requireO by law regarding the Native American Peoples Historical
Foundation,s fequest fof Standlng. Likewise, Ml. Turk's tiutice i5 seven days latc of Mr- Norrnen
Begay's legal and righttul date of notification, artd four days tate of the Nawjo lhtion's
We-stwatei Community's lega!and rightful date of notifrcatrcn. This circumstance appeus [u t e
more than coincidental. ltthis is not indicatiue of willful suppression of informetion, then it is
most certainly indicative of incompetence in the staff lawyers and judges who are entrusted in
such o hQh governmental office ds the NRC. This r:irettrnstance atone oiveS feason ard iust sause
to expecitnit ttrese individualand separate appeels to you and your Cornmission, dated May 24,
1997, will tm grarlted.
Funher, the commission's statt statement to us ls lll preparecl. lri wlrut aPpesns could
very well he another ploy irr delaying and disrupting proper proceedings, we tYere sent a 23
COPY
Page 2, Begey, Mar;on, t 't(!- Ney 24, rss7 NFC patition*ro. r*of* ration ag*insf Encrgy
Fr.rels rvucleer, lnc.'f license emendment rF,gu€st, Dacket No. (s) 4a-g6gl -MLA
page "MemorEnoum and OrdBr" .06nying HearinE Request" of p6tition€r John Franceg Darl<e in
the nnatter of Attas Corporation's Docket No, 4CI-3453-MLA, ratfrer than recc;ving any adequale
documerttation oF reasons for deniel in our own ca$e. Aguin, if this is not an intentional
diversion in the suppressiott of inforrnati$n, it is a prirne example of negligance and
inconlpetence in high gsvernrnent offices. Mr. Turk stated to our three Native American perties,
in the'rafie lsttcr, ",.,.thc $teff inadvertently faitc<J to file its rB5p(fnsBS wltllir'r [llE nlluIledtirm. The Staff regrets ar$r inconveniencg which may have been caused by this ovensight, and
rr:u6reutf'.rlly reguests leave to flle th6 lnsqant respe,nse at thi$ ttme.' Mr. I urk,E claim that in a
tdephone cOfl\ersa$al Mr. lllcrman Eegay stated that he did not oppo€e the granting of Counsel's
requ$est regarding late notification i5 far removed from Mr. Begay's understanding.
It may be noted here that this "lnstant response" rnentioned hy Mr. Turk was written on
the snma day (May el, 1 997) that tha Native Arnerican Feoples Historicet Foundation's letten
Yvas dated and faxed to President Bill Clinton, requestinE his interverrtion and investigation of
NRC Staff's practicc of 'ratrofittiilg" docunrent$ to canceal the di,:creputx,y lret weerr NRC's
document dates and the actualdates that the inforrnetion was rnade knovyn to the publh. A
conslderable number of the situattons mwl\(Brl rn the approximately B,0OO "retrof it"
documents generated by the NRC since 1994 manifest strong implications of errvironmental
racism, since they have to do with Nuclear projects on or near lndian Reservations or other
fnlnority communities. President Clinton'$ fxecutive Order nn Fnvironrnental -hrstin* prnvirles
that '"...each federelagency shall conduct its programs, policies, and activities that
substantially eftect hurnen h€Blth or the eftvironment, in a ntannor that cnsurc that such
progrmmsr policies, and act;vities do not have the effect of . . . subjecting persons (incluoing
populutlons) to discrirnination under such prograrns, pollcles or acttvirtes, beceuse of rhetr
lEee, color or natursl origin"" We thank the Great Creator for President Clinton's insightful
ard cornpassionate understanding of "lustice relative to the people of this Arnerican Denlocracy
over which he is a temporary steward. We are sure that because of this Executive Order alone,
if he remains faithful to his own Order, President Clintan, despite whatever his failings might
ha proven in tirne to be, will rank in future remembranees of the people of this nation alangside
Abraham Lincoln, John Kennedy, and Martin Luther King for his stand on Environmental
Juetice.
Please allow us to point out that of the 'l ,818 current Untun Carbicle./Energy Fuels
Nuclear, lnc. (EFN) White Mesa Uranium Mill documents, 338 are retrofits, meaning they
vrsre $uppressed from the pblic until after the license was alraedy implemented" Since early
1E95, other than for a short Uranium processing run in I 99fi, thr EFN rnill has posted a sign
sayinE 'Plant Closed"" Ioday, May 24, I997, it still says these words. lt seems strange that
NRC wottld grant se many liceneae to a plant thet is closod down. lt is no secret srnong membens
of the comrnunities of Blanding and White Mesa wi[h family rnembers who have, or do, work at
thc millthtt year afteryear barrels end truckloads of "unkrrrJryr"l" (to tl're wclrkers) rnaterials
are brought to the mill which are eventually dumped in the rnill's tailings ponds. These ponds
srt n$(t door to the Ute Resenatbn Community of White Mesa, and to the Native Ameracen
Peoples Historical Foundation's Great Avtkan House site. The hazardous debris from the mill's
smke stack are inhaled End ingested through the airways, and the poisonou$ radbnr.rlides and
hazardous eonstituertts are put into open air tailinga ponds to fufiher enter the airwaye end aleo
to leech and seep into the water aquifers from which our Native Arrrerican People draw our
water. And your Staff, Chairrnatr Jachscrrt, inlornrs uE, tl'rat wc lrave nu grourrds fr:rr a lrear"iug? ls
it any wonder w€ are accusing your staff of environmental racism? We are sure that you can
pagc B, Begay, Mason, Xat{ay 24, l ggTNPCpetitrbn s for recon**: against Energy
Fuets Nucleer, lnc.'i tiiertse amendment request Oocket IVo. (5140-8681'l{LA
see, chairman, that thrse materials must not keep cornlng htsre to turther poflute our lands and
our people. But what is to be done? Why not Justice?
Chaifman Jackson, correspondence from certein NRC Staff mernbers has criticized ottr
groups for *nding our requests and infornation directly to you. Howwer, because of the
practic€B msntiofied abore, ws have not yet been given dny rea'ron to trust your staff tnemlrcro.
And, desiring to believe that you, yourself, are an honorable p€rson to be truEted, and are not a
part of those pr-actices, we ure aguin petil,irlring you, personally. Therefore, Honorable
Chairman Jackson, before exhausting our lndividual and separate currently available rernedies
under the taw, and prior to our seeking Judicial Reviews, we do hereby petition you and your
Comrnission for separate reviews of the Staffs initial decisions regarding our individual
petithns under Energy Federal Code of Regulations, 10 CFR Ch,1 , Subpaft l-, Hearings,
I e.1 253 - "Petitions for review of initial decision,r' and also in aeeordanec with the.
procdures set forth in 10 CFR Ch. 1 Suhpart L, Hearings 1l e.786 and 2.763, or, upon rnotions
of your ComrnisEion. lf the Commis,sion's final decition it not in favor of any one or oll of the
indiMdua! pdtitioning parties, then said parties, in advance of, and as of the date of this letter,
do hereby petitiolr for Judicial Review, irt aq;r,erdarrse witlr [tte provisions of 1O CFR Ch. I ,
Hearings tl Z.'1259 (b) and fl?.771, for e reconsidsration of that final decision.
We, each, separately, sincerely thdnk you for your kind consideration of these f ilings.
L iflf* {,,tu,
Lurrl KHt30
White l,ksa Community
Box1138
White Mesa, Utah 84511
/;n^Wffft*tu,--
Winston M. Mas*l
Netivs American Peophs
Hlstorleal tuUndailon, hc.
Box AVIKAN
Bhnding, Utdh 84511
Westwater
l'-lavajo
Cmrmunityzffi w. 100 N.
Blandins 8451 1
cc $Tesldent Eli[ Ointon
Hugh L. Thompson, .lr" NRC Acting Ex. Dir. of Operations
Governor Michael Leavitt
Songrersttturt Clrris ft nnon
Congressman Merrfll Coqk
Sr*tator Robert F. Bennett
Congressman James Hansen
Senetor Orin Hatch
Congressman Eni Falaoma\rlaege
William Sinclair, Utah Radiation Control Board
Preston Truman, Public Rcprescntative, URCB
Shenrin E. Turk, Counsel for NRC Steff
Cullen Bacrle, Counselfor Norman Begay
Rebecca Lorenz, The Law Firm of Melat, Pressman, Ezell& Higbie, Counsel for Petitioners
Don l"lowafts and Katy Jacoba, The Law Firm of Howarts & Smith*Ngte: OtherCopies in these dne$r' filings will he serued aE direeted by Chairman Jackson.
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
N {JCLEAT( REOUI,ATORY COMMISSION
BEFORE THE PRESrDIIj.S-,OFFICER
ln the Matter of
ENERGY FUEI.S NIICLEAR,, INC.
(White Mesa Uraniurn Mill;
Alternate Feed Material)
Docket No. 4&8681-MLA
NRC STAFF'S RESPONSE TO THE
REQUESTS FOR HEAzuNG FILED BY
(t) THE NATIVE AMERICAN PSOPLES tils'r'ORIUAL
FOUNDATION, (2) WESTWATER NAVAJO COMMUNITY.
(3) NORMAN BEOAY, AND (4) THE UNITED STATES
DE$'A&TMENT Orl EryE[{q,Y fiEVADA OPEITATIONS OFFTCE)
INTRODUCTION
On April 2, lW7 (tcissucd April 8, 199?), the NRC Staff (.Suff") granred
an application tiled by bnergy Fuels Nuclear, Inc. ("HtN" or ''the Licensee") to amend
Source Material License No. SUA-1358 (Amerxlment No. 1), to permit the receipt and
processing of certain specified elternate feed material at the Liceruee's White Mesa Mill.
Requests for hearing werc [hen filed corrcerning this amendment bV (l) the Native
American Peoples llistoricnl Foundution (filed on April 16, 1997, as nrodified April 25,
1997), (2) ttrg Westwater Nava.yo Communiry (trled on Aprit 3U, 1997), arul (3) Norman
Begay (filed on April 30, 1997). In addition, on May ?, 1997, ttre united States
Department of Energy (Nevada Operatious Office) (DOE/NV), submitted a letter stating
that it has an interest in tte license amendment at issue herein. and requesting that it be
-2-
allowed to participate in any proceeding tlut may be held concerning the subject
amendment-
Iu aucurdarrrs wirh I0 c.F.R. g z.tzoj, rlre NRC sraff ("sraff,,) hereby frles
its response to these reque$t$ fi:r hearing.r For the reasons set forth below, the Staff
respectfully submits that the requests for hearing filul by Mr. Begay, rhe Native
Arnericffi Peoples Historical Foundation and the Westwater Navajo Cornrnuniry fail to
estahlish that the requestors have stendirrg to participate in this proceeding and, in the
abuenue of auy funher informatlon, the requests shoulrl he denied at this trme.2
I hrrtuant to I0 C.F.R., $ ?,1205(9), ttre Staffs response to the hearing request offie Native American aeoples Historical l.oundation was due to be filerl within iO aaysof ttre designation of the Presiding Officer, i.e., on or before May 9, l9g7; and the$taffs rcsponse$ to the hraring reque$ts of Norman Begay and the Westwater Navajo
Community appear to hove bccn duc to bc filcd by May 15 and May 20, respectivcly.
Due to some conflmion arising from the indirect and delayed service of these rcquests for
hearing and a misunderstanding as to the response dearJlines, the Staff inadvertenily failed
to file its resporues within the allotted time. The .Staff regrele any inurnvenience whic.h
may have been catrsed by this oversight, arrd respectfully requests leave to frle tlre instant
rc$ponsc it this timc. Staff Counsel has spokcu with Mr. Nonnan Degay, wfuu utatcd frat
he does not oppose ttre grmting of this reguest. Staff Counsel atteurpted without successto reach Llounsel for the Licensee (Rich Muruon, Esq.), the Native Arnerican peoples
Historical Fourrdation (Wiruton lvlasou), and the Westu,iter Navajo Community (I.rrla lim
Katso) prior to the frliug of this response, and is therefore unable to s1ate their posirionswith respect to thir rcqucst.
I In the event mal the Presiding Officer detennrnes to att'ord the rgquestors anopp?rtunity to amend ttreir requests for hearing in order to demonstrate their itanding topanicinate in this ptoceeding, the Sraff requests that it be afforded an opportunity rorespord lo those subminels, aE may then be appropriate"
e e
LEARENERGY FUELS NUC , INC.
Three Park Central. Suite 900
l5l5 .{rapahoe Street
Denver, Colorado 80202
May 8, 1997
303-r)23{317
fil( 30$5954930
Honorable Michael O. Leavitt, Govemor
State of Utatr
State Capitol Building
201 State Capitol
salt Lake ciry, uT 84114
h
...',,
Re: Letters to your office from the Avikan House and Mr. NormannClay aatea April 16 and
17, 1997, respectively, regarding the White Mesa Uranium Mill
Dear Governor Leavitt:
Energy Fuels Nuclear, Inc. ("EFN") operates the White Mesa Uranir.rm Mill, a U.S.
Nuclear Regulatory Commission ("NRC") licensed faciliry, in San Jtran County, approximately
six miles south of Blanding, Uts5. The White Mesa Mill is a multi-million dollar facility that
is operated for the recovery of uranium to be sold to utilities that operate electrical generation
.facilities powered by nuclear fuel reactors. EFN has owned an inter-est in the Mill since its
original constuction in 1979. The White Mesa Mill processes natural (native, raw) uranium ores,
and uraniun-bearing "alternate feed materials", which are materials other than nafiral ores. On
April 2, 1997, the NRC granted EFN an amendment to the license for the Mill, which authorizes
EFN to process an alternate feed material containing uranitrm, known as the "Cotter Concentrate".
EFN has received copies of the two referenced letters to your office, in which the authors
state their concems about our processing of this feed material. Based on our review of these
letters to yow offrce, it appears that a summary of the facts regarding many areas of concern
would be helpful to those expressing such concerns. Therefore, the purpose of this letter is to
provide yotu ofEce with summaries of facts regarding the areas of concern mentioned in these
letters. The following factual sumrnaries include:
1. Overview of the NRC amendment to License SUA-1358 (*Amendment l') which
authorizes processing of the Cotter Concentrate as alternate feed material, and classification of
alternate feed materials
2. Use of NRC Final Position and Guidance on Accepance of Alternarc Feed at Licensed
Uranium Mills in obtaining the license amendment for processing the drcrnate feed material
3. Basis for the EFN request that the NRC hold selected portions of the license amendment
application as conlidential
H:\USER.S\MRL\LETTEI S.9?1I.EAVITIS t.LTt
\$):I.
sL',i':1,"n'[.';ijr drn'
't_i
!
Honorable Michael O. Leavitt, Governor
May 8, 1997
Page 2
4. Protection of public health and safety in the processing of the material
5. Issues affecting American tndian tribal and community members; including employment
at White Mesa Mill, communications, and consideration in environmental assessments.
1. Overview of the NRC amendment to License SUA-1358 ("Amendment l") which
authorizes processing of the Cotter Concentrate as alternate feed materiel, and classilication
of alternate feed materials
Alternate Feed Amendments
The White Mesa Mill processes natural (native, raw) uranium ores, and uranium-bearing
"alternate feed materials", which are materials other than natural ores. These alternate feed
materials are generally processing by-products from other exfiaction procedures; this material is
processed by EFN primarily for the recovery of the *qr.*, or the "source material" content.
By letter dated April 2, 1997, the NRC notified EFN that they had apprwed EFN's
request to amend the NRC source material license for the Mill, to allow EFN to process an
alternate feed material. This material, which is currently stored by the Departrnent of Energy
("DOE') at the Nevada Test Site ('NTS'), is refened to as the "Cotter Concentrate". Amendment
I authorized EFN to receive and process the Cotter Concentrate for the purpose of recovering the
uranium it contained. The NRC staff reviewed EFN's request for a license amendment in
accordance with l0 CFR Part 40, Appendix A, requirements, and NRC staff guidance Final
Position and Guidance on the Use of Uraninm Mill Feed Material Other Than Natural Ores (60
FR 49296; September 22, 1995) ("Guidance"). Based on its review, the NRC staff found the
proposed amendment request to be acceptable. The details of the amendment request review are
discussed in the NRC staffs Technical Evalnation Report ('TERU), a public document.
Classification of Alternate Feed Materials
Operations at the White Mesa Mill are controlled by the NRC. The Mill is licensed to
recover uranium concentrates from ruaninm bearing material. The most common source of
uranium is the processing of ore from mines located on the Colorado Plateau (southwestern
Colorado and southeastern Utah) and in Arizona. Another source of uranium is the prbduct
owned by other milling companies that remains after that company has recovered a metal
concentrate from the natural ore, but that company either is not allowed under the terrrs of its
permits to recover uranium from the ore, or does not have the technicd capacity to recover the
uranium. These materials, containing recoverable qnantities of uranium, are valuable products.
They are not wastes.
H:\USERSIMRR\LETTEX.S.9nLEAVtTTttl.Ti,
I
Honorable Michael O. Leavitt, Governor
May 8, 1997
Page 3
In the 1970's, Congress directed the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency ("EPA") to
begin controlling the disposal of "wastes" that exhibited certain characteristics such as being
highly corrosive or susceptible to leaching of metals or chemicals if the material came into
contact with water. It is important to note that the "test" of which the material is a waste does
not come into play unless the material being considered has been discarded in some fashion by
the owner of the material as "waste"; that is, if the material is still a commercial product it is
logically not subject to the requirements for waste.
In the context of determining whether a transaction is a milling transaction or a disposal
fransaction, the Guidance concludes that if the material is actually being processed for uranium
recovery (a true "milling transaction"), it may be processed even if the material, if discarded,
might otherwise be characterized as hazardous wastes. The DOE shipped the Cotter Concentrates
to the Nevada Test Site ("NTS') for storage in the 1980's. There has been no processing of this
material by anyone at the NTS. But, due to a change in the defense strategy of the United States
in the early 1990's, material that had been held by the government for recovery of uranium was
declared excess material and called "waste" by the DOE utitler the weapons progam. The Cotter
Concentrate was included in this reclassification.
Under any commercial (as opposed to governmental) definitioolr "valuable product", a
uranium-bearing material that contains 10 percent uranirrm is certainly not a "w1ste" to be
discarded without further processing. As noted below, the NRC Guidance is based on the
premise that processing of a material which has commercial value at a tuanium mill is a "milling
process", not a "disposal process".
2. Use of NRC Final Position and Guidance on Acceptancc of Altemate Feed at
Licensed Uranium Mills in Obtaining a Licensc Amendment to Process the Alternate Feed
Material
The NRC has considered what materials may be processed by uraniuur mills for the
recovery of ruanium. One of the stated goals of the NRC in developing the Guidance on
acceptance of alternate feed at uranium mills was to establish requirements that prevent mill
operators from conducting 'sham disposal" of materials that, absent minimal uranium content,
would have to be disposed of as "waste", since the material has essentially no value in terms of
mineral content. Another way of stating this is that if the material has commercial valub, then
processing the material at a uranium mill is a "milling process" rather than a "disposal process".
You would expect that real or tue miling processes would be allowe4 and in fact they are
allowed by the NRC.
H:\USERS\IIIRRUJTTEn S.ml.EAwtTt l.LTt
Honorable Ivlichael O. Leavitt, Governor
May 8, 1997
Page 4
The NRC analysis of this issue is contained in the Final Position and Guidance on the Use
of Uranium Feed Material other than Natural Ores. (United States NRC, 1995). Under this
Guidance, the NRC concludes that licensed mills may process materials other than natural ores
for the recovery of uranium if certain criteria are met. The Guidance was developed by the NRC
in response to comments, and with input from, various interested parties, including the State of
Utah Deparunent of Environmental Quality/Radiation Control Division. In the Guidance. the
following definition of "ore" is used:
"Ore is a natr.ual or native matter that may be mined and teated for the extraction
of any of its constituents or any other matter from which source material is
extracted in a licensed uranium or thorium mill.'
Since the alternate feed materials are being processed primarily for the source material
content, all byproduct materials resulting with this processing are, therefore, 11e.(2) byproduct
material, or "mill tailings". Or, as stated in the alternate f-eed analysis noticed in Federal Register
Volume 57, No. 93:
"The fact that the term 'any ore' rather than 'unrefined and trnprocessed ore' is
used in the defrnition of l1e.(2) byproduct material implies that a broader range
of feed materials could be processed in a mill, with the wastes still being
considered as 1le.(2) byproduct material".
The Guidance requires that the NRC staff make the following determinations in its
reviews of licensee requests to process material other than natr.ral tuanium ores:
l. Whether the feed material meets the definition of "ore";
2. Whether the feed material contains hazardous waste; and
3. Whether the ore is being processed primarily for ir source-material content.
Based on the information provided by EFN in the amendment request submitted to the
NRC, the NRC staff concluded that the Cotter Concentrate qtralified as alternate feed because it
met the criteria listed above.
H:\USERS\I\,IRR\LETTERS.9nLEAwf T5t I.IR
Honorable Michael O. Leavitt, Governor
May 8, 1997
Page 5
3. Basis for the EFN request that the IttRC hold selected portions of the license
amendment application as confidential
It appears that considerable misunderstanding exists with regard to EFN's request, which
was submitted with the application for Amendment l, that the NRC keep certain information
about the material confidential, in accordance with the provisions of 10 CFR 2.790(b) and $63.2
of the Government Records and Access Act. As explained in the Affidavit that was filed (as a
public document) with the amendment application, EFN considers the mechanism by which, and
the parties from whom, it obtains alternative feedstocks confidential. EFN sought to keep
information that would allow competitors to readily identi$ the acquisition mechanism and
identity of the current owner of the material confidential under applicable NRC rules to maintain
the businesVeconomic advantage that we have developed in relation to other competitors.
EFN explained in the Affidavit that other public agencies, such as the Departnrent of
Energy, had data related to the uranium bearing mater(! and we did not seek nor expect that
these agencies would attempt to classiff such data as confflential. As explained in the Affidavit,
however, industry reporters and our competitors generally monitor oru activity through review
of Commission documentation, so the logical place to seek protectlon of our competitive
advantage is with the Commission. Contrary to recent assertions, our motivation in seeking the
confidentiality protection was not to keep the history or characteristics of the uranium-bearing
material secret" but rather to preserve our economic advantage by preventing our competitors
from using our amendment application as an "how to book" on the subject of obtaining economic
arrangements for alternative feedstocks.
While the Commission granted and maintained the confidentidity of the requested aspects
of the amendment application, during the past few weeks some items related to the confidential
information have become the subject of public comment. The public comment does not change
EFN's belief that it's competitive advantage qualifies for protection and that the information
claimed as confidential does in fact quafiry for confidential teatnent under the applicable
regulations. However, to allow a full and fair evaluation of accurate infonnation concerning the
uranium-bearing material and the basis for the approval of the license amendment on April 27,
1997, EFN withdrew its request that the information identified in the Affrdavit be maintained as
confidential by the Commission.
4. Protection of public health and safety in the processing of the materiel
The Cotter Concentrate is 10 to 15 times richer in terms or uranium content than the ores
that are typically processed at the White Mesa Mill. Accordingly, an obvious question is whether
the material can be safely processed at the Mill. Prior to submitting a request for the license
amendmen! EFN conducted an analysis of this issue and concluded that the Cotter Concentrate
HIUSERS\T,IRRUITTERS.9?\LEAWTT5I.LlI'
Honorable ivlichael O. Leavitt, Governor
May 8, 1997
Page 6
does not present any unique or extraordinary safety issues. As described in the following
subsection, the NRC, in approving our request for an amendmenl agreed that the material can
be processed without posing additional risk or impacts to the environment, EFN's employees, or
public health and safety. In addition, the safety of this processing was reviewed and confirmed
independently by a Certified Health Physicist.
Health Physics and Radiation Sefetv
Keith J. Schiager, Ph.D., a Certified Health Physicisl reviewed the potential health and
environmental impacts that may be associated with the processing of the Cotter Concentate. In
addition to his current position as Director Emerins of the Radiological Health Departrnent at
the University of Utah, Dr. Schiager has served as President of both the American Academy of
Health Physics and the Health Physics Society. His service on scientific advisory committees
includes the International Radiation Protection AssociatiorU National Academy of Sciences,
National Council on Radiation Protection and Measrements, and the U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency Science Advisory Board. **F
Based on Dr. Schiager's review of the amendment request submitred to the NRC by EFN;
Amendment I and the Technical Evaluation Report prepared by the NRC; additional data on
gamma ray spectometry; and his personal communication with EFN radiation safety staff, Dr.
Schiager stated that "The available data demonstrate conclusively that this material has no
potential to increase any radiation risk to the general public or to the environment", and
concluded that "Energy Fuels Nuclear, [nc. is taking all of the appropriate radiation safety
precautions to protect their employees, the public and the environment". [n his letter report, these
conclusions were supported by, .rmong others, the following observations:
. Once the uranium is removed from the Cotter Concentrate the remaining material,
commonly called "tails", is placed in EFN's liosd "tailing cells", which are impoundments
which have been constnrcted and maintained in strict compliance with all applicable
regulatory requirements as established by the EPA aod the NRC. Approximately 420 tons
of uranium-bearing material are estimated to contain approximately 240 to 270 Curies of
radioactivity; the 3.9 million tons of mill tailings already present in the tailing ponds
contain approximately 8,200 Curies. Dr. Schiager reports: "Both in terms of volume and
in terms of radioactivity conten! the uranium-bearing material represents a small
contribution to the existing tailings."
. "The very low concentration of radium-226 indicates that the addition of this material to
the existing tailings pile will have absolutely no effect on radon emissions from the pile."
HIUSERSU,IRR\LETTENS. gNLEAWTT' I.LTR
Honorable lv{ichael O. Leavitt, Govemor
May 8, 1997
Page 7
. "The extraction of uranium for the weapons program is not unique to the Belgian Congo
ore, from which the Cotter Concenfrate was derived. Essentially all of the uranium mills
in the Colorado Plateau and, in fact, in the entire country, processed uranium for the
weapons program. Thus, there is nothing particularly unique or hazardous about the
Cotter Concentrate when compared with other uranium feed materials. However, because
the physical form of this material is different from a raw ore in that it has been previously
milled and submitted to extraction processes, extra precautions are planned, and have been
approved, for transporting, handling, processing, and disposing of byproduct material after
- extracting uranium from the Cotter Concentate."
ln reviewing EFN's license amendment application, the NRC reports that the staff
evaluated the application on the basis of the three criteria listed above under item (2) above, and
also concluded that "the processing of this material will not result in (l) a significant change or
increase in the types or amounts of effluents that may be released off site; (2) a significant
increase in individual or cumulative occupational radiation exposure; (3) a significant construction
impact; or (4) a significant increase in the potential'for or consequences of radiological
accidents". ,
5. Issues affecting American Indian Tribal and Community Members; including
employment at White Mesa Mill, communications, and consideration in environmental
assessmentg
History and Stanrs of White Mesa Mill
Energy Fuels Nuclear, Inc. ("EFN") operates the White Mesa Uranium Mill, a U.S.
Nuclear Regulatory Commission ("NRC") licensed facility, in San Juan County, approximately
six miles south of Blanding, Utah. The White Mesa Mill is a multi-million dollar facility that
is operated for the recovery of tranium to be sold to utilities that operate electrical generation
facilities powered by nuclear fuel reactors. EFN has owned an interest in the Mill since its
original construction in 1979. For the time period of 1983 through 1994, Umetco Minerals
Corporation (a subsidiary of Union Carbide) was a partrrer with EFN in the ownership of the mill,
and Umetco served as operator of the Mill. Over the past three years, the Mill operation has
contributed over 20 million dollars to the economy of San Jtran County, including jobs for over
95 local citizens; 25 percent (or more) of our employees are minorities, most of thesd being
members of American Indian Tribes. Our current employment is 25 people, which will increase
to almost 50 by the end of June.
Honorable Michael O. Leavitt, Governor
May 8, 1997
Page 8
Employment of American Indian Tribal or Community Members at White Mesa Mill
As of April 24, 1997, minority employment statistics for the Mill indicate minority
employment at 32 percent of the total staff. American Indians represent 20 percent of the
workforce, while Hispanic and female employees represent 4 and 8 percent of the total workforce,
respectively. During full operations, based on employment statistics for December 31, 1995,
minority employment was at 44 percent; with 26 percent of these employees being American
Indian, 6 percent Hispanic, and 12 percent women.
Communications Benneen EFN and Ameilcan Indian Tribal Members and Representatives
EFN has maintained lines of communication with the White Mesa Ute Community and
has developed a cooperative data-sharing arrangement with the Ute Mountain Ute Environmental
Protection Office. At least 14 members of the White Mesa Ute Community and/or the Ute
Mountain Ute Tribe, or their representatives, have toured the White Mesa Mill during the past
two years. During Mill operations, the White Mesa Mi[ statr provides newsletters to a local
Tribal Member, for posting at the White Mesa Ute Community Center. EFN will continue this
communication and we ile exploring ways to work with the Utah O{fice of Indian Affairs to
expand this communication network. In addition, EFN has had several discussions with the Ute
Mountain Ute Environmental Protection Office, and has provided that Office with up-to-date
reports concerning the groundwater monitoring program, as well as data for all of the
environmental and radiation monitoring conducted at the Mill.
The Environmental Protection Office staff has provided EFN with map locations and
descriptions of the two water supply wells located at the White Mesa Ute Community, which
EFN was then able to add to our map of locations of known deep-aquifer ws[s within a five-mile
radius of White Mesa Mill. Hydrogeologic conditions, design of the tailings cells, and low
annual precipitation among the factors whiclu combine4 create a situation in which there is no
potential for White Mesa Mill operations to impact wells located at the White Mesa Ute
Community. EFN observed sampling of the Whirc Mesa Ute wells, which was conducted by the
State of Utah Water Quality Division in December of 1994. This sampling of the two deep-
aquifer wells located at the White Mesa Ute community, yielded no evidence of contamination
due to Mill operations. Further, as shown in reports submitted by EFN to the NRC, the State of
Utah, and the Ute Mountain Ute Environmental Protection Offrce, groundwater monitoriirS data
collected from 1979 to the present demonstrate that the operations at the Mill have produced no
contamination of any groundwater. The same reports also demonstrate why it is reasonable to
expect that there will be no release of contamination to grormdwater supplies in the area.
Honorable Michael O. Leavitt, Governor
May 8, 1997
Page 9
Consideration of American Indian Tribes and Communities in Environmental Assessments
The White Mesa Ute Community was described in both the original Environmental
Statement ("ES") for the White Mesa Mill and in the updated Environmental Assessment (EA),
which was prepared and published by the NRC this year (U.S. NRC., Environmental Assessment
for Renewal of Source Material License No. SUA-1358. February 1997). As stated in the EA
prepared by the NRC, which accompanied the 1997 renewal of NRC Source Material License No.
SUA-1358 for White Mesa Mill, the White Mesa Reservation is approximately 5.6 km (3.5 miles)
southeast of the project si_te. The EA states that this is "a community of qpproximately 320 Ute
Mountain Indians, although only an estimated 60 to 75 individuals live within 8 km (5 miles) of
the site" (NRC, 1997, p.l0). The EA notes that the nearest resident to the site is not on the
reservation, but is approximately three miles northeast of the mill.
Culflral Resor:rces
EFN respects the cultural history of the White Mesa area EFN has performed all required
cultural resource inventories, and complies with license conditions concerning identification and
preservation of cultural resotuces. As noted in the EA accompanyingthe 1997 NRC license
renewal:
"Archaeological surveys of the project site conductedn 1977 and L979, identified
l2l prehistoric sites which are affiliated with the San Juan Anasazi Indians who
occupied this area of Utah from about 0 A.D. to 1300 A.D. As a rezult of the
archaeological findings, a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) between NRC, the
Utatr State Historic Preservation Offrcer, and the Advisory Council on Historic
Preservation was established to specify requirements necessary to minimize
adverse impacts to the previously identified archaeological sites. These
requirements were incorporated into the Mill's NRC license."
We hope this information is helpful, and will be happy to provide yotu staff with
supporting data or documentation in any of the areas described above. We will contact your
offrce shortly to arange a meeting with yotr staff. In the meantime, should your office desire
any additional information in these or any other areas, please call me at 303.389.4160 or Michelle
Rehmann at 303.389.413 l.
Sincerelv.ffi'ZH-/Harcld R. Roberts
HRR/pl
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Honorable Michael O. Leavitt. Governor
May 8, 1997
Page 10
cc: D. Bird (Parsons, Behle & Latimer)
Susan Groves (Ute Mountain Ute Tribe)
Colleen T. O'Laughlin (U.S. DOE)
Paul J. Liebendorfer (State of Nevada)
N. Begay
Winston M. Mason (Great Akikan House)
Members of Utah's Congressional Delegation
Bob Linnell (State of Utah)
Robin Riggs, Esq. (State of Utah)
Charles Johnson, Chief of Staff (State of Utah)
D. Nielson (State of Utah)
W. Numkena (State of Utah)
Office of the Secretary (U.S. NRC)
James P. Park (U.S. NRC)
William J. Sinclair (State of Utah)
Preston Truman
R C. Wyncoff (U.S DOE)
H:\USER S\MX,R\IJTTER|i.971I.EAW[T!l.LIR
,'o
t.IAY 0 2 1997
Executive Director for Operations -2-
cc:
Peter Block, NRC Judge, Rockville, MD
Jim Park, NRC Project Manager, Rockville' MD
William Sinclair, UDRC, Salt Lake gity' Ufftff
H. R. Roberts, EFN, Denver, CO
M. R. Rehmann, EFN, Denver, CO
R. A. Munsen, EFN, Denver, CO
P. J. Liebendorfer, NDEP, Carson City, NV
Chuck Bulik, NDEP, Las Vegas, NV
C. P. Gertz, DAMEM, DOEAw, Las Vegas' NV
S. A. Hejazi, OCC, DOE/NV, Las Vegas, NV
R. C. WYcoff, WMD, DOENV, Las Vegas' NV
P. A. Sanders, ERD, DOEAry, Las Vegas, NV
Department of Energy
Nevada Operations Off ice
P O. Box 98518
Las Vegas, NV 89193-8518
tlAY 0 2 pg7
Executive Director for Operations
Nuclear Regulatory Commission
One White Flint North
11555 Rockville Pike
Rockville, Maryland 20852
ENERGY FUELS NUCLEAR, INC., NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION LICENSE
NUMBER SUA-I358, AMENDMENT I
The DOE Nevada Operations Office (DOE/NV) is an affected party to any decisions regarding
the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) license amendment regarding the Cotter Concentrate
material. DOEAry and the state of Nevada negotiated and entered into an agreement (as
required by the Federal Facility Compliance Act as mandated by Congress) concerning the
management of this material. The agreement includes a deadline of August 30,1997,for
shipment of this material offsite to Energy Fuels Nuclear, Inc. If this offsite shipment date is not
met, there is a potential for fines and penalties to be incurred by DOEAIV. Therefore, DOEAIV
requests leave to participate in any hearings or preliminary conferences that the NRC may hold
concerning Amendment 1 of the White Mesa Mill NRC license number SUA-I358.
If you have any questions or require more information, please contact Colleen T. O'Laughlin,
DOEAry Waste Management Division, at [phone], or Peter A. Sanders, Environmental
Restoration Division, at [phone].
(\/1fu./>^r--,/l
WMD:CTO G. Leah Dever, Assistant Manager
for Environmental Management
&
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Cabot Reprocessing request
WAIS Document Retrieval
IFederal Register: Sept
lNoticesl
[Page 49296-492971
From t.he Federal Register
IDOCID: fr22se95-881 Online via GPO Access lwais.access.gpo.gov]
a
ember
http://frwebgate.access.Seo.SovQin/...oclH9o'142397+0+0+0&WAISaction=retrieve
22, 1995 (Volume 60, Number 184)l
[ [Page 49295))
NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
uranium MiIl Facilities, Notice of Two Guid.ance Documents: FinalRevised Guidance on Disposal of Non-Atomic Energ"y Act of L954, sectionLLe. (2) Blproduct Material in Tailings fmpoundmenE,s; Final position andGuidance on the Use of Uranium MilI Feed Materials Other Than NaturaLOres
AGENCY: Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
ACTION: Not,ice of final guidance.
su,o,lARY: The u.s. Nuclear Regulatory commission has finalized twouranium mil1 licensing guidance documents after consideration ofcomments received in response to a request for public comment in aFederal- Register notice published May 13, 1992 (5? FR 20525). onlyminor changes were made to the proposed guidance documents titled,"Revised Guidance on Disposal of Non-Atomic Energry Act of 1954,section 11e. (2) Blproduct Material in Tailings rmpoundments,' and''Position and Guidance on the Use of Uranium ltiI1 feed Mat,erials OtherThan Natural Ores. ' '
ADDRESSES: copies of the comrnents and the NRC staff responses, as wellas SECY-9I-243, can be examined at the commission's publ_ic DocumentRoom at 2]-20 L Street NW. (lower 1eve1), Washington DC.
FoR FURTHER TNFoRMATTON CONTACT: Myron F1iege1, office of NuclearMaterial Safety and safeguards, u.s. Nuclear Regulatory commission,Washington, DC 20555; telephone [phone].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATTON :
Final Revised Guidance on Disposar of Non-Atomic Energ.y Act of L954,sect.ion 11e. (2) Blproduct Material in Tairings rmpoundments
1. rn reviewing licensee reqn-rests f or t,he disposar of wastes thathave radiological characteristics comparable to those of Atomic EnergyAct (AEA) of L954, section 11e. (2) blproduct. material (hereafterdesignated as "11e. (2) blproduct. material" ) in tailings impoundments,staff will fo11ow the guidance set forth berow. since mill tailingsimpoundments are already regulated under 10 cFR part 40, ricensing ofthe receipt and disposal of such material Ihereafter designated. as"non-11e. (2) blproduct material<sup>1''l should also be done under 10
CFR part 40.
\1\"non-11e. (2) blproduct material , , as used here is simply anencompassing term for source, special nuclear, and 11e. (1) blproductmat.eriaLs.
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WAIS Document Retrieval http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/lin/...oclD=990442397+O+GIO&WAISaction=rerrieveeov/Qir/... oc lD =99 044'.
2. Radioactive material not regulated under the AEA sha]l not beaut,horized for disposal in an 11e. (2) blproduct material impoundment.3. Special nuclear mat.erial and Section 11e. (1) blproduct materialwasEe should not be considered as candidates for disposal in a tailingsimpoundment, wit.hout compelling reasons to t.he contrary. rf staffbelieves that such material should be disposed. of in a tailingsimpoundment. in a specific inst.ance, a request for approval by theCommission should be prepared.4. The 1l-e. (2) licensee must demonstrat.e that the material is notsubject to appricable Resource conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA)regrulatioaE or other u.s. Environmentar protection Agency (EpA)standards for hazardous or toxic wastes prior to disposal. To furtherensure that RCRA hazardous waste is not inadvertent.ly disposed of inmiIl tailings impoundmenEs, the 11e. (2) licensee also must demonstrat.e,for waste containing source material, as defined under the AEA, thatt,he wast.e does not also contain material classified as hazardous wasteaccording Lo 40 cFR part 251. rn addition, the licensee mustdemonstrate that the non-1Le. (2) material does not contain materialregulated under other Federal statutes, such as the Toxj-c SubsEancescontrol Act. Thus, source materiar physically mixed with othermaterial, would require evaluation in accordance with 40 CFR part 261,or 40 cFR part,761. (These provisions wourd cover material such as:characteristically hazardous wast.e,. listed hazardous waste; andpolychlorinated biphenyls. ) The demonstrat.ion and test.ing should fol-Iowaccepted EPA regrulatioae and protocols.5. The 11e. (2) licensee must demonstrate that Ehere are nocomprehensive Environmental Response, compensation and Liability Actissues rerated to the disposal of the non-11e. (2) bl4product materiar.6. The 11e.(2) licensee must demonstrate that there wirl be nosignificant environmental impact from disposing of this material.7. The Ll-e. (2) licensee must demonstrate that t,he proposed disposalwilr not compromise the reclamation of the tailings impoundment bydemonst.rating compliance with the reclamation and closure criteria ofappendix A of 10 CFR part 40.8. The 11e. (2) licensee must provide documentation showing approvalby the Regional Low-Level Waste Compact. in whose jurisdiction the wasteoriginates as well as approval by the Compact in whose jurisdiction t.hedisposal site is Located.9. The DepartmenE of EnerSy (DOE) and the State in which thetailings impoundment is Located, should be informed of the NuclearRegulatory commission findings and proposed. action, with a request toconcur within 120 days. A concurrence and commitment from either DOE orthe State to take title to the tailings impoundment after closure mustbe received before granting the license amendment to the 11e. (2)licensee.10. The mechanism to authorize the disposal of non-11e.(2)blproduct material in a tailings impoundment is an amendment. to themi1l license under 10 CFR part 40, authorizing the receipt of thematerial and its disposal. Additionally, an exemption to therequirements of l-0 CFR part 61, under the authority of Sec. 61.6, mustbe granted. (If the tailings impoundment is locat.ed in an AgreementState with low-1eve1 waste licensing aut.hority, the State must takeappropriate action to exempt the non-1te. (2) byproduct material fromregulation as low-leveI wast.e.) The license amendment. and the sec. 61.6exempt.ion should be supported with a staff analysis addressing t.heissues discussed in this guidance.
Final Position and Guidance on the Use of Uranium Mi]] Feed MaterialOther Than Natural Ores
Staff reviewing licensee requests to process al-ternate feedmaterial (material other than natural ore) in uranium milLs shouldfo11ow the guidance presented be1ow. Besides reviewing to determinecompliance with appropriate aspects of appendix A of 10 CFR part 40,the staff should also address the following issues:
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WAIS Document Retrieval
1. Determination of Whether the Feed Mat.erial is Ore
For the tailings and wastes from t,he proposed processing to qualifyas 11e. (2) blproduct material, the feed material must qualify as"ore.'' In determining whether t.he feed material is oie, the followingdefinition of ore must be used:Ore is a natural or native matt,er that may be mined. and treated forthe extraction of any of it.s constituents or any other matter fromwhich source material is extracted in a licensed uranium or thoriummi1l.
2. Determination of Whether t.he Feed Material Contains Hazardous Waste
rf the proposed feed material contains hazardous waste, listedunder subpart D secs. 26L.30-33 of 40 cFR (or comparable RCRAauthorized State regrrlatioae), it would be subject to EpA (or state)regrrlation under RCRA. To avoid the
[ [Page 49297))
complexities of NRC/EPA dual regulation, such feed material will not beapproved for processing at a licensed mi1l. If the licensee can showthat the propoeed, feed material does not contain a listed hazardouswaste, this issue is resol-ved.
Feed material exhibiting only a characteristic of hazardous wast.e(ignitable, corrosive, reactive, toxic) would not be regrulated ashazardous waste and could therefore be approved for recycling andextraction of source material. However, this does not apply to residuesfrom water treatment, so acceptance of such residues as feed materiaLwill depend on their not containing any hazardous or characteristichazardous waste. sEaff may consult with EpA (or the State) beforemaking a determination of whether the feed mat.erial contains hazardouswaste.
3. Determination of whet.her the ore is Being processed primarily forits Source-Material Content.
For the tailings and waste from the proposed, processing to gualifyas 11e. (2) byproduct material, the ore must be processed primarily forits source-material content. There is concern that. wastes that wouldhave to be disposed of as radioactive or mixed wasEe would be propose4for processing at a uranium mill primarily to be abLe to dispose of itin the tailings pile as 11e. (2) blproduct material . rn det.erminingwhether the proposed processing is primarily for the source-materialcontent or for the disposal of waste, either of t.he following tests canbe used:a. Co-disposal test: Determine if the feed mat.eriaL would beapproved for disposal in the tailings impoundment under the "FinalRevised Guidance on Disposar of Non-Atomic Energ-y Act of t954, sect.iontte. (2) Blrproduct Material in Tailings rmpoundment.s, ' ' or revisions orreplacements to that gruidance. rf the materiar would be approved fordisposal, it can be concluded that if a miII operat,or proposes toprocess it, the processing is primarily for the source-materialcontent. The material would have to be physical-ty and chemical-Iysimilar to 11e.(2) blproduct materiar and not be subject to RCRA orother EPA hazardous-waste regrulations, as discussed in the guidance.b. Licensee certification and justification test: The licensee mustcertify under oath or affirmation that the feed material is to beprocessed primarily for the recovery of uranium and for no otherprimary purpose. The licensee must aLso justify, with reasonabledocumentation, the certification. The justification can be based onfinancial considerations, the high uranium content of the feedmat.erial, or other grounds. The determination that the proposedprocessing is primarily for the source material content must be made ona case-specific basis.
http://frwebgate.access.gpo.govfrin/...oclD=990442397+0+0+0&wAISacrion=rerrieve.eovQin t...oclD=990r44i
3 of 4 04110/9'l l3:05:07
WAIS Document Retdeval
rf it can be determined, using the aforement.ioned. guidance, thatthe proposed feed material meets the definition of ore, that it wil1not, introduce a hazardous waste not otherwise exempted, and that theprimary purpose of its processing is for its source-mat.erial- content,the request can be approved.
Dat.ed at Rockville, Maryland, this 13th day of september 1995.
For the Nuclear Ri:gulatory Commission.,Joseph ,J. Holonich,Chief, High-Level Waste and Uranium Recovery Projects Branch, Divisionof Waste Management, Office of Nuclear Mat,erial Safety and Safeguards.IFR Doc. 95-23531 Filed 9-2t-95; 8:45 amlBILLING CODE 7590-01-P
http://frwebgate.access.gpo.govtQirV...octO=99M42397+O+GIO&WAISaction=rcrrieve
4of4 04110197 l3:05:07
l
aUNITED STATES
NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, O.C. 2o555-{m1
June 10, 1997
lnternational Uraniurn (USA) Corporation
ATTN: Ms. Michelle Rehmann,
Environmental Manager
lndependence Plaza, Suite 950
1 050 Seventeenth Street
Denver, Colorado 80265
SUBJECT: REQUEST FOR WITHHOLDING INFORMATION FROM PUBLIC DISCLOSURE
Dear Ms. Rehmann:
By letter dated April 3, 1997, the former owner of the \Mite Mesa uranium mill, Energy Fuels
Nuclear, lnc. (EFN), submitted a license amendment application to receive and process
uranium material at the mill, located near Blanding, Utah. ln May 1997, the millwas sold and
NRC Source Material License SUA-138 transferred to lnternational Uranium (USA) Corporation
(lUC). IUC has agreed to abide by all commitments and representations made to NRC by EFN.
Accompanying EFN's April 3, 1997, submittalwas an executed affidavit of Mr. Richard A.
Munson, Corporate Counselfor EFN, also dated April 3, 1997, requesting that specific portions
of the amendment application be withheld from public disclosure pursuant to 10 CFR 2.790. A
proprietary and a non-proprietary version of the amendment application also were submitted.
Mr. Munson stated that the submitted information should be considered exempt from
mandatory public disclosure for the following reasons:
EFN's business contacts and arrangements can be considered similar to retail or
publishing business'customer lists,'which are recognized as confidential and
proprietary information.
. A competitor's knowledge of the information could significantly harm EFN's
competitive business Position.
. The information is currently held, and is of the type of information that is normally
held, in confidence bY EFN.
. The information was transmitted to the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission
in confidence.
We have reviewed the request and the surrounding circumstances carefully. We have
consulted also with the NRC Office of the General Counsel. Based on this review and
consultation, the NRC staff concludes that the affidavit provides a sufficient basis for
withhotding the information from public disclosure. However, the NRC staff has concluded,
{-'r\f iw, -Ntffiffi-q
w;-@
"7
:
M. Rehmann -2-
pursuant to 10 CFR 2.790(bX5), that the continuing local public concern regarding the types
and quantities of alternate feed material received and processed at the White Mesa mill
outweigh EFN's interest in keeping the information confidential. Expression of the local public's
concern came as recently as April 1997, with the NRC's receipt of multiple requests for hearing
on the NRC staffs April 2, 1997, approval of EFN's request to process uranium material
currently stored at the Nevada Test Site.
ln accordance with 1O CFR 2.790(c), this determination is being forwarded to IUC as notice that
the information in question will be placed in the NRC Public Document Room (PDR) 30 days
from the date of this letter. lf within this 30-day period, IUC requests withdrawal of this
information in accordance with 1O CFR 2.790(c), the information will not be placed in the PDR
and will be returned to lUC.
lf you have any questions regarding this letter, please contact the NRC Project Manager for the
White Mesa mill, Mr. James Park, at [phone].
Sincerely,
;:*/14,./
Joseph J. Holonich, Chief
Uranium Recovery Branch
Division of Waste Management
Office of Nuclear Material SafetY
and Safeguards
Docket No.40-8681
License No. SUA-1358
cc: W.Sinclair, UT
AUG-1Sl-El7 14,4El FROM=INTL URANIUM (USA) CORP ID,3tr33BSt4 12E PAGE 2E/34
IBCFffiMffi
tr€c O u.E xtrctsAtteEtrur rtnycofirsfloil O EtEE-l--6 I 465s
MAIERDII,gLT@$D
Purcs{at tc tb AloEic EsEsy AEt of t95d rs *uadcrt P +ry REorgnci,t$oil AEa {f 1fl4 (hblnc r.rw g3-43t), rDtr Tiuc I0, corrc ofFdsel RBnl'ldols, cErPEr I FuE 30' 3 I. 32, 33' 34 35, 36, 3g, {o, .nd fi, r"c iE rciucg or rrrri,lr-t-rs ud rcprr*onrions Mfott orbh ec lbcoEEG.eli*ascishcmbyitlueautorraingtla lftEosto ttclrrE,rdqri!8, pffisrrtd un$fErbyproduct, rorrce,ud ryGEirt ilrdcerEtttrid &dtmEd b{dow; 5 gsc nrch rri+rri+l frrtle prrymc(s} ug u & fiac{ri irdd.Ed b-1"*; ro Ccliver cr uusfrr sucl Ergirt rorsms authxlael 0e tGcGitjE it io recardue wifr tnc rtirruur of &c ryti,ciur fu&). I}nr lic:rnc s[r[ te rlcarcrr to ffiiD fu -*iq,ic,*specifitd in Scstion I E3 of &a tuoteic EEeq AEt of r!s+, e* ,--rri'r"a is EblH to aII qflicrDb rube. ngul*r-oos, aDd od;.is of frexuclerr ncguluury curdrdss Bor or hcader il cftrr :lrd o eoy.*fio,, rit-r pgry.
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[fiD,FocscssalAnyfrsTw,. thtuIldsUEcilsc
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9.1 Theailhorked pl#e of use tfirll be frE lheftseeb tllthltg lllesa ,ri"',* rrflfng fiadlrty,lo# h Sn Jurr Gurrty, lJtalr,
hlafr$gl Umnr'un
SEcTtoN e: Admlnlsilraffin Gonditions
9.3
e_4
Al writEn noficEs ard-rgPorts to fts nne reql8red $derthb fiitnse, uith tre reffibn ofhddentand cgrt nottuations und* 10 cFltil2202 gr.t 10 cFR {0.60 rcquirirrEtgephone ndfiEdiotl, std be addnsEed b fte Cftbf, t}uriml REcftqrr-Erincn]mrba" "rlr\hsc t{anflgement, ofice of Nudear luta&riail $ery and ffi$rarur: ' - - -----'
lrrffert and errefit ntfiffic#na that mqure tele+hone noffirdiron shE[ be made b) he HRCOperd'ma canlor at (g)1) Sf eEIm,
Ttp licansm *rdl wrfuct opratiurs h acosdanc= ufh s{Btenrents, t+rasentetions, ffidcolldifrns oontaineC In $e lceme lunerel rypliztion srfiifltEd uy Gru#aarx Aqguli*-.1991 as-revEnd Ey strEmifiats €Et Jrtuai is, ,nd AF ! ?, iE heryunn#A tff {,
luty 37.1tXH, Detenter !9, md Oecemler gr, iss, irC llurr:f so. fggil r*riirr arel-$f inemcrded by reGrtlrce, *rd tuthe ryey fru* tireriinrrlt, a&-ifin ZS,1E87. ereSrr*rcre shenregeO EU [canse co]dEcl*i bebur
\r*tenevertfie tr,6rd tiF is used h tho abore r*r€ned fufiterdq itsfidl denote arequfiamil Hmllcable Ansnrr:nts 4
A The fceEsee n'ny, rrilhottr $or ],lRc aFprdy{ and sutfeab the condt'ons spetifnedh Pfi E of tltis con{tirn:
(r, Iti}ilre drartgcc in the ffity or proEe€s, as presefifted h ffie apHiciilicrr.
AUG-Isl-EI? 14.4sl FROM= INTL T.IRANIUM (USA) CORP ID.3B33E}El412Ei PAGE 27/34
ltncFoBlrsr{A(r{.,ur".-HEErrLfroRVreoil FIGES
MflIBIAT.S IICEN8E
fl,PPtFrH{T{TVS{EET
(2) l,IEkB dranges -!n ilre procEdrres prcseilfiEd in the applcaiau
(3) cordrctEsts orsrperimenB notgesanEd in tre +pfpatinn.
The fit-nsee shal file an appltrdicn for ilt ilrEndrnent b fte Fce#se, unlee3 thrfrIoring condions are satlfred
(1) TtE chilrge, tast oreoqerrnent does notcorrf,idtflith arry requ5rerEiltspeffiry qqEd in ftb licE[r*, srlryairfte l*pnseds-abrlitv io rrcet ell
appfcable NRC regt{nttnE
(2}
(3)
c-concerftg Fart [ffifr1 shil be made by aSERPErdlcondstof aISffifidReYiew Pand
rdnktlrn sf tuEE On€$dlhare agertise hmarry;vpnt and sfi#tlF 1E+oEHbb ardftr#lapisval dwrges;one lrenter shall hare lirgertS h censiltffir rrna smn qry
end ift rttenter drall be thecoEpre rd{Etur lffr itg.'fispsnsFfry sfass*lritg
Addtslel metrdig nsv B hc*rd#in rhdnsPuqEtsudr es liaC.th i*rrsfis crhriffi bafiressEcluEcal
arth sHdnei-ilrifriF&
flmentbrs, ffierfiil{teha ,i. | .t'
hydrohfu,merters r
rrry be
e,valud*ms, madecorplere uror fte -requrEd#Ff6ffi to.'fr part e-"r-u*s ;ilffi. Thffi;
EhEx fiIlrl*r. h ilr ailrJal r?port lo NRG, a dasaripthn dsrdr drengeg, tpgtsi. s
d'fr Part B sf t*E En .-Ihfncerrsee
erpcttt*$ts, lnctr{ng a sil{ffilay dfie sdEty aitd enrturrumf eratr*ur sf eE6.ln ffilffif tlp [cense€ shal anr*ufiy urbrdt io fre NRC durrgerf pages b tra --
Ope3dirts PEI and Hpaarndirr Rryr onhe appfirt Ed fcense-apgh*on b rEflect*enges rnade undartrle cgnfilisL
Ths lillEnsee's SERP sH ftrdirr in aecrdanceuittr the siandard eerefing prHures$&nritEd by letqdmC JutE 10, l9g7.
[ApplcaHeenEfttrEil$ 3l
fugrust 15, 1997
AUG-1E-S? 14'sEI FROM.INTL UEANIUM (UEA) GORP ID,3E,33Etsl4t2E
IIIRCF0RM lt7{llra{rf
MATERIAI.$ LIC[Tfffi
SUPPT,^ETEITTARYSHEET
PAGE 2A/34
rl.a NucLErR REclrLAroHY COtffi iro
9.s The rcensee shall nEhteiln_*r.NRD,approv€d frrem*il silrEv arrengp rtnq Eonsistent $rfri
19^9S.f. 4rypenqs A ffEria s and io, @raie G 6,;'6E#r#i*iElrrstccoEHi$ted bl-a th{d perty, frrrleeonrrrix**iing su aeentarfmaEm of ure,nU-and rinsiE, br redamatlon sf eily tarTrrgs oru,asE csreft area=,-il r"Jiffi, eemfljflg$g]9lqg=srrveturceei unurm firt6 rnorrur* oi tw "pnmor or "rgt ised the Ecensee #1flt trt, ftr HRG rd*wandappmva[ aampvat' a poposed rcuisfion u tre fnandet srrett ffdngemert f dsfrni*ad mG A me
:a[-Tg1a{{1t_q51! fte arnurr errered m ue $qru-iinE "*v.h rEU&rEds{,rEty shdt fien be h emct ufrfth g mrfis of rrmen-ffnC *i,rEt
ffi fl ffi &*F'-e_ffi _EHIffi ffi$ffiffi ffi 1="*,0,desisnated aE Jure +fr-P*lfiyey. tf ilE ffitEHffi,ed a pirinsea-il,ri=hrr te treoenslateo a$,rure + fi-g#Iyear. FfiellRoH:;ffir"ffi
ffiffi#8ffiffi"*nq.*rt tu { ye+mg uiu, EE*, propsetrI.eT ryannuilipdate, ne Gnseelnau -forrtt;ptr#-ndi t+"4;** "idmns ,Oraeftfum oq$e coqBanO fie basb trtr" csst fs inHiao.rrintananc+_rif,i ntnfotfrifq perwrt cirnftBeffiil;1 ffiffi,*te*s tr itrt €st esrim#. [g S"'NRc apruna-iffi [n or NRG
?pnured Hfsqls E_ur_s.Silr.'Ihe priforcU nfo_l*dbpi(Hrce ehroO {Erlmrsraeaoirhe turtre q-rircHff&,,tfi,;$i'fsfnae*.onErce tfi e nlrrlrumconsiderafinE ,.eedfur,tu I{BE h1fi0 ievlirwd:rc.ffis..
sft 6dd toq#r-fiis qrrfne.ffiffiffix+tr*Agrcernenq sruec April Zs, lELl*rd be anfrtiirni* ffi ,ffiIffi'#miBtffiffim$ry*o*,-. : ..\. -,
tlpptica* ernenrt.nnfu Z, St .i{o,'
9.6 H:H!,gsf,gffiF* +:ll.\Tf.rEEfi*Ethnd tuttned frr ai oFrsriofia. process
=tgf_ T4ptg riffi,e m*uruirtrat' EE hftd=d; -d;d;";,;-#t:SE*H
opentionil afit\frte$ $EI ersrneraE eeitistt riit6d;rrr-Hffi/ paaitps ts be fctsrrcd.ffi, l1gn tryq+qes.srs 6e asrabtiihec rr-rffi indudettftstrt atd efi,ironmeftdffirrnutrg, binassay snetyrses, rrO irsfuln:nt c*14fon3 lntplodae coiry deadr witlxr pmcilr.ue shar'ba t rS i" [r. nf,l {€Bb tflhifr it epe5es"
s.7
A[ wtifien pqFdtrrEE q b$t operdr'onal and nonopenathrcl adiytties sftall be rafixedardapprued in wtithg B fi?rafiatorr s#tyfficsr(Rsoi hrforcilniienr*rn"Uin anaqqg a drange h rocedqre is"props* o adui ur# prop"r;tuo" il JrEcfi*ryE gre beilrg epphf. ln Effiorf th€ RSCI sttat perttim a doq.rnenterl,Erksf allexlEfirg operating procedures a least ammffy.
Before engaging in gry ffiel,iv not preryiously essessed by tle NFtc. ure liensee shalafinhisbr s eilfural resotnrc hnentory- en -o=tnt*rcee-aGuuro rril, id pd"EEddevelcprnentsi! be cffidGred i,n utrplience riE tre Nefioxr.t nuuricit$:etlil[,n-ea tas
AUG-IS-sl7 14'51 FROM=INTL URANIUM (USA) CORP rD.303sEst4t2E PAGE 29/34
ilNEFOHMg?{A(r{{
9.8
9.10
tt-
ltpntd) and lE ililer.teryng regdetions FG CFR 8m), arrd treAdraaologicn ResourceePmtedbn Ad (as E'rrnded) eirc ft irprenrinrting res*ifuxs * ffi A.
by lderfom C. E E*er of@fv Fueh Nrrdear,ptb-hnar*nT, smillr utfi- _t@rL pnestrr|diffi offir."(SHPO). detedeprr:'r&,lg81. - t.'4' .;
","'t-=r,-*-+-#*fuqgh adreolcgied **orffi; fur*u*" sies lised infie r€pst wttil{3re'lmted in orrrrurir 100 ftet of bonmr a#r€bcnxte-areas-oonsfrrralm rdls, Ttr=EFg'EtE. of.lht rE+irEd Hrs'-riptE*l;ni fri'r.mrrnyfiddtruk at q$r site ftiefriii.treee clitsriEl stnl be4lii#eq'prieEtrJ=r*t #.qyprojeet n{4gd dsturtenEB uithirr i00 fet of tlre #+dr[en+rsG anc*eest p*pamton
,"a ' , !.
Addftionary, ifre f**+ rilrdtrcf4u.uc**rrt.te*,ng X,6tr"q*=a b.Sable &e cdrunissfronb ffirire if trDEeFIbs des-gp*e{ .fs-.f+Coufnrf h ErB lepoEryrs- tocated rlthinl_m Eq ufpresent ur-kngm trtQre.criirfiftu.sid*t ar+uinrai sfri,rttcante to uarrant!-0q Eq ufpresent ur-[ngm mQre'ctii'fiftu.sitiE aquarcti sfri,rttcare to uraflHrtI=H#H-;PBflqi,in { cb$d; srrdr Eqifg'*ra S. cenpcteo befiore arryaspEct of t$-rtuderta}ilq'atrry +{r?,.,. .: j,' .,.'. .i ii+ ..it..,_..,,,r.1';;--'--Ilr"l;;lT,l: i ii*' *i:,,,-..;.ri'li' ;1:
AnirGobgiEdE Fffidffi $H[5E "epqr,*i nfimr'*Fl * c*:**s*. rhe connisqimutlr apprpt e ar @$tri-[ned*1h-rrrmdfi*amarus ror a pfno-pai - - -
invedtdrsat trti An * cfn part.hir;+*Hroix c,:ad y'fitGEtEu,-""fi*"'",Jtuurid
acccpiable ry tE srP. e&,*o
sfidl ttffidn s pcflrEtEilt r€Eurd sf atr tflnsfers medc undertp prrtsions of fiis ffitdtr"rt
The li-nsee iE heraEy oerf,ed frryr tre reqdranrente of Seahn tr.{grt (e) of l0 CFREt Z0 ffi areas rrihin tlerrfl, pruvided thd'dt enhmces b ftE sfl are ctiuftnruurgyped in scsd*r sfth Sestbn 20.1& (e) anO wiEr the rrords, ;Aqr
"G ffi3n ftb rdlrry cs'ntrfrn radioacfue firilerial'
Bge?qP of e$iPnEilt or pad€gas from the retfriaed area strat be h eccordatrc uitr'cullellrg trr Decontamfination of Facilitles and Eqripnent prfortr ReHse ftr l,Jrrresfii*edU* orTerminallon of Lit-nsee Er hproduct, su*a orspechi ll-uHeEi-t-,il#i*.- datedlB 1987, rzuiubb dhrrative poii{ures ;nemrEd by trs }lRC priort ,rry'*d, deese.
'-rd
$
ffiE t*rgs snd dlpr utatr.onffi
operdnilts flrftsizEd hrthE license.
Tte llcensee iE hereby meHEl htteftrmof ranium
tty fte lieenseels nfllngshd nst be fransftned fum trp *Entittottt sPffio ptifi apProval of fiG NRc irt fte frffir of a license anenrtnerr, ne-frstsee
9.9
u.U.r*REGln{IonYffifl
TfiATBIAT.SLIMITSE
STIPFLEilET{IiIHY$flEEr
In olderto rtsute that no unaFFrgrEd ftfurtilae dtrdfrrd reggufoe$ ocarrs, arry vrorkreflltthg irn tte diEcotlw cf pnryiousU rmkrrmn Erdtrd asac{s s|ralt ceese. ire armaAsshal be inveatorEd ard evahd€d h lccorusre xiih 96 CFR pert-Em. am- no i-istruane$rdl omrr rlrfil fte fens hes receirred *rrroruauon tun tt" NRc 6 proda-
The Ecense sttall avoid bV Froieg qed,gn, $herc feasihle. ttre ardreologicat sihs desigrreteo'contililtingr in-the repqt srtmrueo oy-nfoer aauu Jdy *, itEB. wtrei it is not ftesille toan*l a ste destundedl1lrsH|llq5 qPrFfloge Fe#eestu[il-fitu8 i'Ah ]E6r,*ryprograrn brmd site bes€{l di,d'rEEifohEnefgy Fueh Nrrdear.blL.hilil\dn T, SrfU(SFIPO). datEd Apri!:t&,i(81.
gF FrEEt
st 15. 1997
AUG-1SI-EI? I4.51 FROM. INTL URANIUM (USA) CORP ID.3B33E}EI412Ei PAGE 3@/34
tffi Fonmirr/u
O{.1
sEcnoN
10.r
10,2
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10.4
10.5
10.6
10.7
y"d_#**. E*r.fl{"El; .frema ntotb dsqgld {Edl5ndfiEtsttl.}otriffi Eilit'E corrtdrf;fl'so1 or shxtgeEshall beffi E* tu! Ftsrto mspo"aL T.$ryTfl-*' be niaE uirr ffi$
".'-
" ':e- A[ uEs{t.f,"ii'gurrri.a in Cdl hlo. 3 mlets prlrrddflni apprurd B oDteined to,n tteNRCfu{'€ltenagUugEf hc*t*rna '\it}
B- rutr+ed.**"m;.e*Hc.*r."r*,r,**,shar rlcrde
;" ffid;:* Er rrarer*rh
"".,
i;*- ; r, hss rhan 4-Ec{t'iridL_ sJSFFeflt Ens efi4t be tess tlttrr z-H tridc H* m shdl be mrrpacted hyra*itBrgf tieavyeqdprnent, s.dr as a Cd D6, at.F+ffi prioru ptliEm** sfs.6s8qitb,rt mii. =- -4,t.,.,, =rL
sfrfrlct b ihe tufleuhg errttortsr 1. ; ,, ,i,ii i ;I=]
fllEsBqqgil utg.{. ,,.., i.-J.r^,,51v'.'orl'
ln mrdapoeuitt trE rmnSds srbmital.defiedtit#;ni 1sq ttrqaiqptrtee B hereby
l*:g3-ap*51= d oisripa rntutrisi d*gd*$ qhnnsit ili"Si' reaCI-rar*hEl,
"'t
firnhs6d's s
f lgsfirua
conffiOrs:
A- u+qfu orrxil+nu r,!tof,p som Eu$.ig{i.n m 1 *rsle Si*.B- Ar.qqnri*qfail+rrt+"4"1+ i+erit t"d. irtx{H, orftim"o to mirirnf,ze
descripfiCIns of tfieuas*e ild tte {spmd loc*icrq as rd as a[ arfions rEquired bf
tfits qrdilicn Ar arffird smmary of rc ffiDfilts of saste dEpmed of tum ofi-sftEgenssbrE shdl be EetI rs ftE NRC-
The lcans E amrolirad to raceine anrl pcocess so{rEe n#iafs ftDrn the All*ld Signat
fornq$a:1uetroptrs, llllrris, faGtrV inamolUarce rfrh ttrc snerrdnent rEquest datedJune 15, 1H3.
The [censee is auttrorized to recdve and proceus solJ]tre mitEriEl ftornAllied SEna[ Irrc, ofireuopo[s. lryE, in accqdance udfir fisanrndlnefrt rEqrrgst dsed S"pt*nber-zo, tsro,ad atrutdEd by lefiErs dated OcbEerg0, ilrd lloveilber-l1, 1sS,
Th,e ficEnsee i* euthodzed to rucaiw and prress $uEe nr*erb[ in amruene uiffi fltearendrrnt rEqrr€sn daCO lulardr 5, 19S7. [Appfr*p errpn*rpirts: it
,u**o FEBuLiruR? oomlsI,l{
MAiIMIAI-S I:IEENEE
SUFFIEilEIIITAITYSGET
1o: Ofretonal ContnoE" Limits, ard Restlcfions
The mill ptoduuion rateshEllnotexceed draO tons dydtffidre pCIryear-
ru fquiq cffirerds tom nrllt proces buir*rgs. $[r ilre ectrp@n of sanitary wg$tes, s]rall berEfrnerl to the rnr q'ranrt ordecftarged to hiurrys nrreotmtnent
Freeboatd lrrits forCdls'l-l,3. EnddlA. Erd bnnage [nll$furcell S, shall be as silabrl inSeoion 9.0 toAppefiIx E of 0re spprwed lcense ippfcaion
Disposal of nraterialand equlffie_ndsilestdl Deentlrcted ardescrihed in llr licerrseeie srbrdiftaEtaiba bEe4h#F- tss4 end Ms,y 2ts, 1s85, uut tfiefuluhg sddtiEn: . tl].i-" '' ' rint,
to.E
AUG-1Et-97 t4,52iHuFLrruir(ulrr{at
11.2
FROM. INTL URANIUM (USA) CORP IE
IJS. IYUCI.EAR HEqITITOR" qHffiilo
II{AIEXXATS LICETiUIE
ST,FPI.EEISrAHV $IGET
PAGE 3I/34
1o'9 Hffi* iq atnhodzed to receiye arrd proce+B souEe materEl tom cabd Ferbnnance**^ftffI%i:iffi,i" .fi,E'
[ApptitraUe ArrnE]rntrts: 4I
SECTIOIIJ 11:tonibdng, Recordlng, and Eoolffieeplng Requlrcments
11.1 The rEsuls of HnpIIEL anqlyses,equFflent, r€ports on alUie and_ithb lcensi *it *V-.scunEotEd. Lhlesu
TlrmforiU, the reedts of calbrathn of
End hainiltg@qrses re5riEd bv
in the Enedive affions, stra[ beliom all sudr doqrmentetsn
tiE" ';r"'
'o- "# ;!
kkT*"-sfE!$rpfanert fte effiIenr ard eilrirunrnenrat m
sfiell be rmintainEd
.- \1,j
Sedhn g.S ortinl
A" St*or**inpfi"g -ir{t d,{il" e dE*htndftmd.ti,fii#d
B furfgce rnatersg:npie ,' ,'".'" ' r'*'
oar, R+228;+sarFled annus[v frr*eter s6d[ret# E d]rreffiili;ffi *serfinent samflestm[ ]ffi be EkEft r, prg""'dil#e, q;#EffiG f##AHc" ras nor Eva&rbte,c' fiHffi.f,|im*tJ +**i',f"*6trilf" *mp reqr.rirenren* in
D' The rensee srrarl'uree Iorct urr:r* "r*ieilidiin a*m wisr sedion E of \
neEutdory. elddE 4. 1 4 Cevriion [ # anJI# ;t;Gffit erwirorrmerrtat' rrl'r- 9
E"
11.8 The licenseesHl irplerrenta gyu*trraErdete
.F',,sut*riEed by retrEr dEr*t Ocobetii, isjf; fu*O by the tu[oriru:
A" The Ealt(mrfion systffifurafl pondswill
"r.rE #ffi *Lr,uu,
ECG, Jffi#f;ffiJffilffi H** *
stHEstsdy sptyzeo u-a*rmi,nJ lrlis-riiilnt [-rEiffid;'J&t, *a u.,e re*rttsuiltbestrftieO to-ilRCbrra,fetrr. --*----J
AUG-1SI-s,? 14.53 FROM,INTL URANIUI,t (UsA) CORP ID:3O33E}El4 1zEi
ilHCFORttlt{Ao€q \f*EBn-troFYGorssa{
MATEIAIS LIffiTtTSEs.FPt EtEtftlHvsHEET
..j, t - -trd
F'IGE s F'TIEs
11.4
B- lf a si'.0niftcarE fin€arterd h indicated, tre Eeenseewil subndt a ptuposed corecriyEadott br revhY and epPrgrral ttr lWc The cqrectirre ffin ihall i,iEd; i d.,sarssonon delheatirn of fte arcilt es#nt arrd conerrtrfion offr"=argous csrsfifrrents.
G- The lirerrsee shafi sanp&e rJdlslfi,trfffiir6, -11. -12. -1+ -ls. arrd -17, sr equailefiv bt_. sEnFleB :ha[ b* an"tyao tur drlodG pi,taqii,m, ''iea. ;ndurdrilu& qnd frte resulE sf srctt samflhg shsfl be irdu'deo niilr tti'gwiru]nmentaln'nitsing rEports subn*ttsd h acrordarce xfrh 10 cFR 4o,6s.
Hllqg*H perfgds {qu staney, sgtrttourannuer satrprrE hr tktet, Re.az6, TrF230 and Pbzro rnay be cffir#It!6rdiE-Eiii-rsr.;
of tte apprcpriare ,O ST.F iOYnrils. : ' rrr i\S q.if
..
ffiH.ffitrI5 Effii#ffiSffi Fmpffis it'oL kl,ers hanu r0 percent
lt
Htlg,ryi1{1ojlffir
-.*,ts
In fr.*...flcies for ar'fr #qm" rraniun sEn"E g niilrh* flryf5to4| i'i q,rfl ffi ;, ilgrueo mda-"ffi 6E#ffi ,I'tilffi tffiE't'ithe derhred * cB.*nbefidi (trAci. lrmese rrEF u*u*o rb-dsEiii Ail ;iilGearrrmng ftEquerret sfiorld fuflowtire reaornrrcndafiorg h fo orue s.so.)115 Calibration of 'rtrflEriliir$d i
$Erterty arrd airsampffng eqLhment qheE|ca sli{En
' ''r':*.
&
11.6 Tte lksrs*sha[ pcrbrm trnirr*t]rre8 ,F*+dtii" rett*irn.gtr prsrram inaccordancprdiEr negt$torycu6h661,, i ,.i', ; -- -r-
.. ..i,' .r-;*t
SECTtsrt t2: neport'urg Rsqrrifementi ''; :.. .i'i.:
' ,*'
7;-:1 The tiensee
"filhU-qrrrrrto NRc.frEFd?I,,E r*glo, fee3aqilta,r"c redsnation ptaflftr fie autfrqEed titns @ssd aelr *rlirr inuuaes d* trdEhs,7' . ^-.. l+clA A poetoperatorc ittt=tttr t!{Eeton ptsn fiicrr ffils rneftods to preventulind andHterefosion ffid rcclr*se#.EBrrffatE
B. A plan F oetennine q E* ry,[5i"r"fr b deuc*rand/or srsotirtde fir raithgscdls piorto plaeenent sf fie ftnd redfrainr coircr.
c- Plan and crws'sedional vierre qf a fnal redamaion mr*rir*t ddefls fie hcefiofland elsationd-talngs. ftt plqn shEI irclrrdetrils on cffertrlflmess, drfshai-cfialaqeds,['cc of cdrry marffiq proposed tedtg of orrver mr!.riaE tE;l#etionsand qnnty aEElrtEnEe), he estrr$Ed'vdunrs sf EorrErndsial,s andt*rayai$frtyard location.
D. tlehiled pEne for placEment sf roct or vegehdile trcyer oE tfrc find rcdained tEfing$piE and mill sfte srea.
E. A propwed iilPleflrentatiffi sfiedulefrr iErns Afirorrgh D tbsve urlilgf| dEfines tleseguence of ewng ard ryededtinc ranges
AUc-tSl-S7 14.54 FROM,INTL URANIUM (USA) CORP ID= 3033Etg4r2EfiBC FOFit sr4AO{rl US. UTCLEAR FEEIU|3TI FY G*Essroro
IIIIIBTAIS IJCMEEfirlH-flErrAff${Er
Hfiit"ffi{Htrffi*ffiffiS:ffiJffiJil ffiffiP a"d t'ne *ffi fi.iiffiil.iiliilrffi* i,.
The licensee shaff lrctrde a detailed esn-analyrils of 6acfi ptEse of tfp |tdaEHi(,|'tplilt ttr indrrce conhrcbrcoe{s. F'ojeqea;as[s-of to,ilafio;E*d :po|r the sdiedrftfffiH=#ffiffi* urtinseffv cosr, atra ure 6€rs oril+i#"- -'
The iiensae sftal submit e de[ailEd;inerdrs pnlo ra planned araFitriiiuolr
PAGE 33/34
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AUG- 1 5-El?lE=25 FROM=INTL URANIUM (USA) CORP rD.3Gr33As4r2E
I Nl'EIII\^I'I()NAL PAGE 2./S
UntNlurvr (usp
CoRronerlou
Independerrcre Plaza, Suite S50 . I0I0 Seventeentlr Street r Denret CO S0265 . .3tE 6pB TT9B (main) . S0S BBg 41gE ({ax)
August 15, 1997
VIA FAX
Utah Radiation Control Barod
c/o Bill Sinclair
Division of Radiation Controlp.o. Box I44gS0
Salt Lake City, IJT B4t 14-4850
NRC Authorizes the White Mesa Uranium MII to Receive and Process Uranium-bearing
Materials,
Dear hdr Sinclair:
Effective today, ttre Nuclear Regrrlatory Commission (tlRC') Etaffhgs grasted a requesr from
Internatioual Uradum (IISA) Corporation (-ruC") to receive *d p.ooess uiuiurn-bearirg , r*rrreg* t! Cabot Corporation's facility near Boyemowa Pennsylvania, at IUC'g NRC-licensed WhiteMesa Uranium Mill nearBlanding Utah.
The rnat€rial wtrich is a prwiously-processed ore that contains approxirnately 0.30 percent uranium
as well as other mineralsr will bE shipped by train and exclusiv+use trucks. It is a moist soli4 witha-vveight of epproxirna_tety 16,000 dry tons. Cabot is authoriaed to possess this material under anNRC lioense- AttheWItitEI\4esaMIt, the material wilt beprocessed in essentially the samefirarmer
as afiy other ore, for the recovery of uranium and other minerals.
The NRC has concluded that IUC's receipt 3nd processing of the marerial will not result in aoysifficant increase is the t]"es or amourrts of rnaterials that may potentially be released offsite, inocct{paional nadiation €s$oStlr-e, o: in the potential for or couseqrretceg from radiological accidelrts.rhat is, there will be no poterrtial heahh or safety iszues trrat would be different froo processing ofany other urmium ore. Furthernrore, the tailings rrill be materially similar to tailings res.rlting fromthe processing ofmined ores_
AUG- l5-Et7 1E:2Ei FROM ' INTL URANIUM (UEiA) CORP ID'3633Bg4l2Ei
Bill Sinclair
Sincerely yours,
This activity will necessitate approxiffirtely one rnillion dollars worth of capital improvernents tothe Mill complex, yhile employirrg from 50 to 70 full-time employees, aud I0 to 15 contractworkers' Historically, o* wod#otc" rr* included ao*iiio 30 perceot minorities, most of thesebeing Native Arnericans; and we hope to maintaiil our diverse worldorce.
we attach a suiluEry fact sheet. ruc will be pleased to ans*/er any questiors you have. I can bereached at 303.389 .41i4
PAGE 3/S
Angust lS, lgg7
+fu|ra*
Itfichelle R. Rehmann
Environmental Manager
IvffiR/tay
h:\*erv\taykrpwin60\filce\mrdlcters\mrsinclr0E t S.le
AUG- t 5-St7 lE'2Ei FROM= INTL URANIUM (USA) CORP ID"3e,33ElSr4 1zEi PAGE 4/S
AUGUST 15,1997
SUMi}TARY FACT SFNTI
ALTERNATE I|EED AME}IDMENT
WTITE MESA Mtr,L
rucis resycling ore concentrates resulting from the previousrnetal extraction.
The Mill's existing uraniurlvanadium circuit will be used tominerals from this ore.
This processing will presant no health and safety issues that would be different fromprocessing of any other uranium ore.
Tailings will be materially similar to those resulting ftom processing of mined ores.
Attivities will require lqpl9y*rtely $1,000,000 of capital improvement to the white MesaMill, as well as 50 to 70 full+ime employee,s and l0-li coiltract workers.
Concentrates ere being shipped from Cabot Corporation in Boyertown, pennsylvarria, anNRC-licensed facility,
Weight of the material is approxirnately I6,000 dry tons.
The average uranium content is approximately 0.30 percent, a grade very similar to ffianyores mined from the Colorado plateau.
processing of mined ore for
extract wanium and other
Transportatiorr
shipment will be via a combination ofrail and truclq as follows:
- LSA radioactive hryArd class 7, as defined by DoT regulations
- Exclusive use intermodal containers
- Following all applicable regulations
- Approximately-l5o miles on publio hig[way from the Crrand Jrrnction ar.a toBlanding (via Moab)
- shiPping will involve approximately 15 tnrckVday during September, ostober, arrdNovernber
MRR/Iay
AUG- l Et-sl? l4 FEOM=INTL URANIUM (USA) CORP ID.3Et33Elsl4 12E
energyfi"Eb rT.rchr, illn
pp. bor 7$i r ttudnu, qtqh B{5rl
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:
Mr, Ioaqhl. Ildmich, BrBEh Cbiid i
HgLi*vrd trtute uad llaaiuu Remnry Pmiofis Brodffii{mofWam!ffragffi ;
Office oflt{ndcrtrrmirls Srftty Esd S.ftgrrd;
U. S. Ifrrdcr Rmhtnry Cornnision
3 ll[ite Flin Nmh, ]Ylsl EBp T.TI9
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StiAFISrE, Do& IS. 40{6EI
Sugptcmcd narftr Arpdneut Rcgu€d fubcfuca,tpnt 3, 1997
DearMr, Holonicb:
Itis Idff EEDuitr $ryphmffilndiodmiulEfr mdbd 1260 lmry{lmlrtf,flr$ fur
@m 0f eo tsssillra ryMal for yrti* Eil $$rc#d ra tiBC frcmo ucildilGof dr AFil g,
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sorld prr h*rr auy ryu*ioue t co'rftrts ftgrtdiryttir ffirrmrcE ym car rerd me
c u Rertdiu $8ftt, 0fter, [oa Bsrg, d (800 AruffiL m ltf,rchCh Rdoau. CtrportreEn/tffil Mam$r m (303) 38s413 L
h@,
PAGE 2/34
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BY TELECOHTAilD FBDERAL EXPNESS
Mr.llfruHRdffrs
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WoFFEh[IrIsYLv.d}iIA
COUNTY OF MOI{TCCIililERY
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sad ffii4g uldiEpstd ffi materi"t,
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tI- pA, codc zs $ 26r.+ ErerEqiQFE Ii#$ t[os' srid wE#$ whict arc
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EucrgyAct of tgt+,[e-mail] ss hurtdous rrya#e. AssotEd pwisus$t tbe re u*ltialsar rEEuld dscoure uarcriel rd6r ar I\IRC lica$e
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in $cstion ZllJi?offitle40 oftbaCadeoffsdnrl Ec$d{ir. fheoreuasghls atso do aot
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AUG-lSt-El7 14.42 FROM,INTL URANIUM (USA) CORP ID.3033E}sl4t2E PAGE I"/34
S*qn to and urb*itrd bcflIt*ey'*@rw"tW
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URANIUM (UsiA) CORP ID.3033E}st4 IzEi
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NUCLEAN REEULtrTOEY COiIHISBIOI{[AEfiCIOf+ A.c.!EE!5t0{
flugust 15, IggT
PAGE 78/34
InEruthnil Urerriun (USA) Corpon*nr
ATTN: [tls. MidrdtE Rehmann,
EnvironrnsrEl Manryer
Indepenuence plaa, Suile gil
1050 Sevffiee*rth Strret
Denver, cdreth EmBf
$I.,BIECTT AriEhtDMENT4 To souRcE IIATERIAL U'EI.I*E sIA.f358,INTERNANONAL IJRANIUM (U$A) CONPO*MONS lflHITE I'ESAURAMUU MIIJ- B[,ENDF,IG, IrrAT{
Dearlls. Reftnrann:
The u's' l*HearRegulatory cormtlsiorr stgfihes oqnpleterl iE reuiqr olf InterndionElunanium (l'Jsru corPotilkn's (luc's) reqrestto aniend irnc surpe MaEtftrt Lft-nsesuArlgs8, stlborqf.by tEftErdatEdAFrflg, IggZ. AddEtrHl Lrfrrrmdorru,asprouir!6d EyleilE s drted Hay e Hav 19' Jure 20, ina n o,g s, rggz. Ey ure* $rilni6ah, luc reqrrsteaftat sttrA'f 358 be arnerrhd b allw frp r-E|1*pt atd prffi$sirg of ureniumtearlrg materidfrom caEst Perfunnance MEfrerEB'Gpt .s) r;.il,v-re; Bo}*rffin p*svrr,"r,i,.
ThE detds dfie arnendment request arc decrrcsed i,n ftE NRC srete Tectmi.:at Err*aionREport (TER)' TIE TER doc.m*h the besBfrrthe NRosaffs e\rerudiul of u'E illr(firmentrEquest and [s ptu,tsed as Erdeure 1- The NRc ffirarie,iru ruce rEsrest in accoruanoewiEt 10 c'FR Fan {0, Appenffi( A re$rirE rsrtB ild NRc ct# gnridane Frnd Fcsitirn anoGufttance on ifie tEe .f urenim uflr-Fced H#riar otrer iian N*rd q€s, (60 ffi 4sls;seplernoer 22' lggs)' ked an its teuiett, fte NRc Entr hs ftHrnd tl= popoeerr rnerdrnentto he aeeptaHe
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M. Refirnsur -z-
Snrcerefi,
PAGE IEJ,/34
lf yott lEtrc any quegtions rwardrq ftis Erer or tttg enfurres, flease contact fie Nrcftrft'tt Hrlasgrfnthe t t hb Meea mil, Mr. Janes psrlq d (mil +rsme.
*I*--L*-tM-rl
JGEFhJ. Hffir Ctri#
lJnarium Racovery Brendr
Dtoi$on of Ul& HrryrrEr{
Office of NndwfNfrrh{ S#y
and SaGguilds
Dodu NB. 4[}8681
SIrAF{ S{il}, Aroendment !{o.
Oase Cbsed: lStEEff
Ends,res As staEd
cc W. SincEir, UT
AUG-1SI-SI7 I4.44 FROM,INTL URANIUM (UsiA) CORP rD.3C,33E}El4 12E;PAGE 2@,/34
TECFINICAL EVALI,IANON REFORTREQI.JESTTO RIECEIVEA},ID PiiE& Ar.r=NruErE FEED HATERIAL
DOcl(Er !{o- 40+681 ucEltsE No. suA-1358
UGEN$EE: rrremathnd uranrrum GJSA) Gorporarion
FACIUTY: tirhib Mese Urenimr lfl
PROIECT I,TAhIAGER. JArrreS PArK
S[n |MARY AI{D CONCLUSToNS;
The u's' NlrcJeerne$rHorycqnmission stafihgs reuhled Ener$, FuEts Nudear, lnc..s(EFNb) tEquest Aateinprn i. 'igi. mr=c*rrre anO fiG uranflmtearirg m6pr*rt cffieflgyoorilahed et Ceb* Ferbnnance l{deriah, tCnffi,")E-ffn"e, goFrtown-FennEdnanh,Tte m#rrat rclkt be proces*d
"t
frq Writ" t a; ffi 6f *rU, EFT,I h the former wner_The qrrent owner of the mill ana f.tnC f,r**i*l n*#tori"f Uranium (IJSA) Corporai,on(lue), prerbqsly hEB agrreed u sb*Ie by a[ conirnitnerds aro represengnor; made by ErH
Bced on ils reviHt sf he April 3, 19sr, submmd ard addi['onal hturrnation prwided by letprsdaEd ltiay 6, ttlay 19, Jurp 2o. and Augrrst o, rsgi-tr= niic ffi consirlerc ttre *nerr*nentr€guestffioepttbre qEsE gF
DESCRIPT|ON OF LISENSEB$ ATTIENDI,ENT REQUEST:
By flts srnmihal detq 4ilil 3.r 1997, EFN reqrrcshd fte( NRc sorrce HfrEdd Licerrse$t'tR-tesa be sme'rrded'u alloy ryia-qndGirg "r-"rcnr"e fted materg S.e., materiatoffier Uren tffiItal ursrium ore) d ils 'tvhibtfidud;i;;il t*d"d-,6-BdfiE, r,tah,Thi" ua$um+eering maeriat, vsetghhg eeP.oim{eti6,fu drytons, iB heE errEnuy bycPt/[ 4 ils Edrtu rm eoyefth,n,-6,irsyar*rna. nrd;€iffir is a mtisil solkt (up b4o prwrt moistre mrrei*l *fti+'.dtrt* uarrium ai an aongge correnffiat*n ofgf.ee"eq bvrc-lgtt, ard econgmicaty mirr= condrhns orhntdunr and niobium.cPH ls aLulsi4d to poseess rtk dt*id uruer uiC s-& uderH ucefi$e sirE-gzo.
Tte mffiial wtl be stdpPed byuarin and excltlsiv+us ruc*E fur, cpu's Edrty b fte uuhiletle€a mill in irrtenrrcdar;rntdnerB. Afrer b.hg tr.d.d tril-4"d d cpg,s fastty, u,"GontairEIE wlll De rgrryolbd by tt ck to a ne*rry imerunooar rall Erminat TIe coruarers wlllbE haded m fleeo nailcas EIn haTlpttd creil;ltyb ft6 ffi rail dedinatofl (eiuprBEd "tnctir]t colorado r Grear if*, utah). r*rere tfrey urn be rarsferred b ErrclEE frr ilieftnd leu d fte iqnnEy tr ure urhite Mesa mi[. EeEfi "ffi.hes a qacfty of 25 qrtfc yards.and il bercecGd ut*apprrorrnauy is "ortairrersui[ be Gded andtanqFortsd ea.tr day.
Atthe mill a!h' tfie uanilnrtealirg m#ia dll.F emffi fionrr the lrtennoda con*ilners irntothe are receiuirg hopper. fp.r n"re ilt. rffiii uririE r**.d $rorJgh the senri-EutEEnoos grind (sAc) milt. *here ri"truau ne-J;Ato?# a slury, wtrifi isfr,ren
AUG*IS'-sl? 14.45 FROM.INTL URANIUM (UEiA) COEP ID.3e'33E}St4 l2E PAGE 2I/34
ry-,Fd-_q a Pulp storrye tank srd ftom there infrD flre teach drHSL tn the leedr dru.dt fiEslury txi[ be trEated to $epatsBlhe utarirm fio]n &e tantahrm and niot*rrn, end IUC wrjil utrzEtfie uranitrn ard uarafi.un sdt eflt e,fiadbn ciru.fu, reapedinety. b;#i*Ee mefiab.
IUG pEns to add ttw fifterpresses ard esne edfiional pprru m ns n*n cirflrt to aid in theprocessing of thb rftaHhl_
W#rspray syt{ens will h tfred b refirce the poEntirl fur dust dFp€rsifir and airtome@frarnhdion h emptfiU the lnfienrudat errtahers, Offrerthan fre siEm drq.ct dunge$mentiltHl gwiursly, tUC arilknpahslhdprocessing frre uranhrrnbearlqg nraerialsill-notdiftr fom rcceesfrng nafiral unnnisnrrirardwn oreJ.
ILrc Yill prErYile personsl^pruEdive e+ripment (colerils, gtoves, Erdfull-fEc resprators (u
be used frf rEededDb lndiviilraE eqgeged h pmcessrrrgte nmerk* The emrejcy otdrbonn conterrinetiqn control meaeurer ilJtttg the m#rid herrdliE oFErsds wr.ll beesessed h fie irn Fim-vifin[fy of ttEae operat'ons. Artorm pnticll# sanfle+ mdbreathirg are samples wrll be cde*d duffrg inilial mau*rl pro,*slrg a6ivftib andmaht=d turgmss alptia" Silnperg resultE *rnl Ue used to eiGblbh hHHr ild saEry
Sndefps to be implemented kqrghout the prmsshg operdions-
Addtiond environmentsrl drsanpGs wix be aleftd * r*erty locdionE b the materialprocessttg aclivitbs and andq@ to ensure ftdtre e#bltshrd contsrfnation contnrlmeasucF am adequEte and ffictire,
Truds Llsed b hansport frre m*erEl to tE mill # wil be radiometricsly scanrnd r+sr arriualto ensurt ttet leal€ge has not ocarned anrl frlat radtathn lerrcls are niUi'lr appropdeie [mils.Trucks Ya'l! aSah be scarmed $$b their rdease frronr tfie siE reertcred arei. ti addtbn, lhefiileffiEdel corilairerc us{ F tranBport flre materiel will h proprty dosed, deErpd (f
neessary), flrvelrEd, and dmrne*rled betue Ieaving the site.
TECHNICAL EVALUATION:
The tilRG Etafi hes rwitzwed lLJ0s request h amdanoe wfrr 10 EFR part 40, Appelfx AretttiemerG gnd NRC stffiguHance'Fnd PcE*Eon *rd Guidance qr the Use d ilrranirrn irtiltFeed t{aterftil ofter Than Naruru Ores (60 ffidozgti; sepember 22, lSS}, THE g6d;16(refrned b trrehfu * tre alErnate fred *nOarre) reSI|TEE th* fie daf rrake Se mofirqderennfHione h its reu[ews dloeneee requests to prooece rr@id derifian pilrel
uranlum ores.
1. l^lteherilrefred maEtEl m€etsthe defir*Esr d.ctE;,
L l,tlffirerthe Eed mderia[ contslns lwdouerr#: and
3. lrJheffierthe qe is b€hg processed Himattyfor iEeorrce.maErial @nErf.
AUG-lg-Sl 7 14 '4Ei FROM,INTL URANIUM (UEiA) CORP ID'3A33Elsl4t2E PAGE 22,/34
o
FortIP hiltEs and-tflHEnes friom tleprcped ptEesshg b qualiry as rle.(2) ffirr*ff*, t'e fted maEhl nru* quahr;a,n.l-lnE-i6r+ tued gr*Uair6e, ore iB .t"fil*t
'... a rffirra or*EtirrE rdBr hat may be m?rned ard t*d hrtfp e!fiaction 0farry dits consft,"ffi fiarv afirsrnaffifril whftI, sow'e nrrtsria[ tseHrrchd h a Ecensed utanium ortrqlum mii-,
--'--
The proposed ailenrabEed r#rtsr cor{dns rrr*rium atEE everage cqreerffdion troSPEftent E!'uretstt uterefurB' it me€ts tfie defffifisn d'drr+ mderid,- es deftred st i0 cF,*4o.4. ILrtr is propeilrg to BirectthtB u=ni,m. matErEil me€ts the definiliilt oforE' because it [s e'rfuerftofi wircrt source nrslerif,l i$;rfiaoted h a licensed ur*tirm orttrcrium mlll..
lJ|derflre altemm fud suruance.HPpced fEed maierhl whictt mrEirrs e hffi l|azanlrusula# ufl nd be eFprovEd by lhe l'tRc Etaffor pr**i,G at a ltHrsed mill. Feed m,Erhlswhtrch erdTtjt only a cfurachristk of froaruous G* A..], ifrimffy, correivty, reaffiriftr, ortufufry) muH nd be le${ded a" rlazru*o ueEte ,rii-duu therefure be approrred bytrestafi for lEqrcfrrs end E fracilitrt of sourcE m#iat. rbrrcver, tfs doe6 rm +pU to resirrresftam t/uderrcstnenl TheIEforE, xnC wacce&nce-*su* rE {ilr's * fueu ma*rhlrcsld deperd on their not conteirirE arry trazantrs * Cir*reno hzardo,s wffi.
The NRc st# hss lsited the fulbirt'rE soufioee d ilrroonilion in deHnrirnlE whcrt=r $euranlmrbearilt! nrilerhr rs sr @nrairs fiTlrh*idd;'iir u,- ;*rye';;i;rm* date frrtfie nuErial, as submttEd by IJC on ;qq_!o. 1s0r;E] iiliEE fr sf Jmruir HW, otrtrr,icled by Eftr diled rilay 0, 1997, (g) NRc fihs il-ffi Bq"tu ,, f*frty, ,i,hi{!h addr*Es, inpBrt fte trEHE used to proauce tre ;nau:rin ild fl; ilfiofo used b;tdr! G ilr€r*rrnt, and!4) TDplem_er.r{{ry nrrrrn*ion *rre"ing ttE $lile of c*.*lri*rh Depafine't derntiumertEl PtuGction's haruous -ri+ ,qdr.tr*. iri
"ooru"rr, es ar qttactmst ba letbr dated Arlgrd 6..1S7, IUC prsuiled a"ffi*'fo* CpU in whi:t Cptr, ffirrned tttettfie maerial b n* afid des nd cofunr-rra*rcors ffi:-"' vr Er *r wr.dr vr,
Baee*l on its J€uieitr, fte NRg Efiffifud8 ur4 Ure uran'umtearing rrratertsl k not hEadotEn'ffi and docs not mntah trarrrdoss u,*, The NFc ffihEE determh€d aho ftat ilIemerH is na a re*il-ctorn *aE dffi;nfl Thir rnaErid h fte rEfi of.hE irfiial prffi$sirE sf rar aes qrtarr*g-t",tairm *d;i;bi,- - - l
fteremre, me NRG fficoru*lers tre unanlunr&arhg maEnial rept,He furrec,ydiu mdsdradhn of sorre rnaHht
3
AUG-1S-El? 14,4E FROM,INTL URANIUM (USA) GORP I D, 303sag4 t 2E PAGE 23,/34
o
To efiqr llrat p#rrti-al alEmaE tsed menaial is behg proeesed primeriry fsr iE $our'+material canEnt a liensee mrd enUrer (ii de,norl{E# & U," ilatffH,rouH Ee approrredfor dqp$al in trE tnllrtgs i,mp.,rro,r*nt !id=rtr; Cnd i[,ir"c Guidence on Exsposar gf Non-Atomic EnergY Act of tgsa, $edton flap^; Bllpro.Ia6 l\r;,E i*I h T,Itr,EE Impc,ndmer6;, or(2) cerfiil, underodr orad@, irratte ffirld t'b."g rccesgEd pnrrnaritvturtherEcurBry d uraniurn "rr.tjT To *r*prinary prrp.=i. arri srdr ertificafion must beEl,pporhd hy an apropriani*fifica''i;n ild i.o[,rr6ffi doennent*lrr
The [rcErrsee fas prouided a gned ffirmdion hatthe uranfum{earhg matedd hE beingptoeesed ptirnarilv ftrthe recirrcry of uranirnn arH frrnl dur* gmery HJrpoEe. IUC rtdesfiatfte uranfum dtElil *utl-n"*[rlir, n .onl,rrcton t il, tl* ,rduced,ffii* processqgcoEts ass@d uih he reoovery qf the tarrafum rra nioti,rm, mal€s procesging g1e cpMffiaHhl eoorunicallv ilradiu' t6 urc- The NRc s.f ha--d"q,s-ed u,ih llJc fie business
;g1ene regardrE the rraHial snd rrrds frr"t tub is pJyirg epu fo.ilE ""q,risifi", sf the
The NRc $afi hffi P'iflts ute anaffiicat 4a;ta prouided by lug *rd inftrmEtion conteired intfie NRCs fl"" f"t ry cPM Edlity, -"ito ona" h& ure u,arilm conoent'ation ln fte nrderiEl tsffinpa'ere with ftat in nilurd uEnlurn ores wtriclr "* ird-r,e* norrEly prooessed byurfiium milb h fiE U's-. IIlese natural ores mntaincd ureniJm at onenhgtion$ of o,BFerHrt ald benl'r' theremre $e iIRg stmsteiG-ruc;frr8fifi".tb"-1" tetcept ur,
Based on the infotr-Etm protHeo b! tre.lirxnsee, tte NFtc stetr ftdE fiat the cpM,s uranlrm.her*tg maruiat e arerndu t a ,aqiaf a*,G,iU n',iile tu efinifion-oiore,. py tt
fficonteh hazardor.rswa,#,.n4 tsl nr GG ffi;"d pri,Tr"rilyfrrrG sor,rernaernl
Otrscorrqilegfitns
The NRC stshas aEo eonduded thattlte processing of trb maftriat wilt nst readt in (1) as{ilificant change T l..TTeJn tu-B'i,es or *nqrrc sf effiuerrts rhat may be rgeased oftsi6;E) a *lnifcant incrcase ln ln&rHual ciur.rr*ir=.""r#or"l radidi)n eryosrne; (0) asirnificart mnshtsd?T ryn"S -or (o i spnm.atrt hd#il, the poterrtid bi or mrqrerrcesfrorn redoroglEar ffiqG. TIs= ;#d;Jaiir-dr.;;,, # Eso','g inhnndftrn:e' Ydumle rydq fiort $e eryqs{rE of $ts rnaterial wix not GilEe tre errerrttr+prutrcd yEoC Eke ptEductioir firril of-4iEA uG'* ,*r b b eoeedett. ln addftilrn,ild 3s a rcq'ilt, tEdiobsHt dees u nsrens orrfi pn or" h fie virfnfty of fie rnifl rdlnd be eleva*d abore tsvets er=ti"usrya*"ssdl"a
"pe*,r.o.
4
AUG-IsI-Et7 14,47 FROM.INTL URANIUM (USA) CORP ID' 3Gl33E}El412Ei PAGE 24/34
b-The pfrysicC_cfiengEe b the mll drcld fiat l[JC wll implemert b ptueess ftb rneprhlatE nntdgnlEcart- No onstucfim imFects ffitd trbe prwtorirty "qseeJed r,frl behvuhred u,iEr $e6e drnrges
T{fings -ProquoF bytte prroessing dfilg maErialwil be dEpo€ed of o*,sh in En
esflg^ln o wnp-lnry$ffir (cei 3). T?E addrisr 'rtrre* tdlfirgs (e #m"rnsf 16,0m t*rsi to Cell 3 wtn increse ilre &r amount dffiB in g1e &n ny *"peroEnt, h a Etg[ of epproxftnaHy 69 prcent dcell capadty--thereilon=, no rEwInpoun&reils ire mces*ry. T?re desigrr of ftE erfffib niomdrEnts previqgy trasbeert apruted by fte NRc. {rd llJC le re$rted by rts NRc ilcense u aorituct rWuB'monlhillg ortle lnpoutlflprt lhers and sf fte gruundrarer*qnd tre mnirinenernsto debci teege if itdror{d oocur.
The uianfumtearilA rr#rial contains meiels andoffrer pararr#rs wtrfrfi alreafr arep,EsEilt h tle mil ffirgs @G€d of in ttp cdl g irmponn*nent. Anallrufis oreanbtesfrsfi fie rraniurtearfiBmaErial and *un cel g strirwtrstfire srty,6,*net *present h si$$EcarW hEher concenh*thrs in the uaniurnbeaffig-Eiagiat areftrorine# crton. Hourenrcr, hege Hnoenhe.ia-^ sfiflJH nd hane an dlerte ircped m theoverall C{ 3 ffirgs conpognm becare tlre anror.rrt cf hiEngg (a nrrxinrrhn d t6,motons) pruillced Uy procesgrg the rn#rid is nst sftr#lert in drnirarton to flre totalertilrt of tafil[E q{ftily ln fte cel (approrirruHy 1.4 millgn tdE] Artctitilrndty. asstated prct iruSy, tt C iE rE+rired u endrrt rcqukrnoniblU of tG irpourtdrnentteak deiedion sycileltts end of fte grormtftrderln Ure viciliy gf tte fnprurranrentc todehd IEEIeSE if it shouttl occur.
For rE fu[*hg lettsorts, it is nd e*pected H trenspstdihn irnpacfE essqge6d nifirthe movsnent dHre mshrinl by hetr End h.d( from Perrnsylrrrrti a tre W?dE llesa
mill will be t*gtflEcam
' The maErid will beEhlPped as'tqr specifis aethriy mEterhl in exdr*Hranrse
GontairErs ft-e., tn oilpr milerials wilt h !n tfie srtrirprs uih re urgnfuJm-
beadng maEriel). The oorrtai'rrees uril be apwpri#ly hbeted. ilanade4 ilrdmaniEsbd. ard sfipnents will be hedred h tte stdpSng csrnpaqf ftom Cpll,sfadlil mlil they readr ureUvhile Mesa mitl
' qraveragEdunhg 1996, fiotudtsperdayftE\,etedffie sfiEHrof s.taERH
191 Emeen ilonE[o, UT arul Bhrrfirg; UT (persond conrrnnkdon s,itrr 1,EStde of lfteh Oeeatnentof frenspormnl nn,aOfiUqrat lsrrrcl1spgrday
frilrelrE fits lqfiE b$e mil reprcsenE arr incrr*sed ffic load donlyfoJ;prwn Shipnentr arc elpmted toHe phce orcrthe cstEe *e tirn'fod tineperiod (tnee to Sr rmttr).
' The onEinensatxlEttdc iwoh,Ed infiansportinglhe materid btrc mill ritewillE stnffi ntd demnHrritaH, as neffiry, pioru leffing CFU'B fiacmyfurthite MEsa and ruBin pdorto le*nrg tre nim'r*e ftrfte rEt rn trP-
5
AUG- lEI-sl? 14 = 4Et FROM, INTL URANIUM (USA) CORP ID=3833Egl412E PAGE 25/34
f' ur-erryloyeas inrchred in innrlrrg te maErial wil be prurited urilfi personat pro6a1.,*eq4ornerL inauurng-resphdsy Fr#ctron Arbome particil*rp ffi brpffirqg arpssrfipling rEEilfrs will be used b ecauEfi tEEItr-;;'*Ety g,ioen =u t a"impbmenEd tffixlghout the rcoeseiE op.rdions,
REGOTIITilENDED ucEI{SE CT{AT{GE:
Hrsuant b T[e 10 Hf t]e Code of Fedelal ffirrlauorrs, Fert4o, sou]Ee lrrarerid LiEn*suAr1358 wi[ be emEnded !y Bte addilim orEoerde ilnulnon No, 10.g es fsflotxsi
10-9 The lienEee b ar.rtrortatl to rect*ve rrd process ffilEE rldgfH tErr GEbdHftrnarrce lHerhh'facilff near Eqpriorrr, perrrsr/ty{re in acconf""* wffi thery deEd April 3, lssi. * anierfefl Uy sunirm*s d;Ed [ia, ig,-aldAngurt6, igS/-
EiWIROI{MENIAL Ii,t-FAcT EVALIAT| ON:
Eecause IIJC's rffi** and proessfirq sf ilre natedd uril rm rEs.fr in (1) a r$gnificant drarger i,tt*"E=-in frte typeB or aunourils sf effiueHs trt rr"u E" r*ced ffi- (2) a stigrdficaillncmase in irxliv*rrd or qmrtstive ocflpafiond raildi;n cxpffirre; (3) a surlltcantslsfiudlon nnpaEq sr (4) a dgnfficanr ilEreffi h tE poenfraf m #cfiffiilie,ic* t*,rtadologicttl a*idents, an erutunnentat review raslat F"rf"fiI*d sirrce aai,ns nreefing theseEribriE are caEgricdly eNcfrded urrder i0 CFR St.U(eittt}.
6
energy fuels nuclear, inc.
three park c€ntral . suite gOO
1 5 1 5 arapahoe street . denvsr. colorado 80202
303-623-8i]17
t'rvx 910-931-2561
fax 303-595{930
April 3, 1997
Via Overnight UPS
!1r. Joseph J. Holonich, Branch Chief
High Level Waste and Uranium Recovery
Projeca Branch
Division of Waste Management
Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards
U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission
2 White Flint North, Mail Stop T-7J9
I 1545 Rockville Pike
Rockville, MD 20852
Re: Amendment Request to Process an Alternate Feed at Whitc Mesa Uranium Mill
Souce Material Licensc SUA-1358
Dear Mr. Holonich:
Energy Fuels Nuclear, [nc. ('EFN") hereby submits the encloscd reqrrcst to amend Soruce
Material License SUA-1358 to authorize receipt and processing of certain ore concentrates
resulting from the processing of narural orc for the extraction of [untalum and niobium] metal
products. For easc of refercncc, this ore concentratc is referred to hercin as the "Uranium
lvlaterial". The Uranium Matcrial is being acquired by [Rccove'ry Dynamics Corporation, with
offices at 200 East Main Strect 6th Floor, Johnson CE, Tennessce 376Ul and tbat party (the
''Material Supplier') will ship thc Uranium lvlatcrial to the Whitc Mesa Mill. The Material
Supplier is acquiring thc Uraninm ty{aterial from [Cabot Corporation - Cabot Performaoce
Materialsl a metal produccr (tbc "Party of Origin') which has held thc Uranium Material, in
anticipation of furthcr proccssing, in sccure concrstc aad cindcr block vaults at a facility owued
and operated by thc Party of Origin near [Boyerto$nL Penrsylvania].
The weight of the Uranium tvlaterid is approximatcly [6,000] dry tons. The Material
Supplier estimates u averagc lspairrm contcnt of [0.37o]. In addition to recovety of the uranir.rm
content of the Uranium Matcrial, mcal couccntratcs [antalum pcotoxidc (Ta2O) and niobinm
pentoxide (Nb20r)J will dso be recovered utili?ing thc sccondary vanadium rccovcry circuit of
the Mill that is utilized whea vanarliun/uranium feedstock is processcd"
The processing of thc Uranium ltlatcrial will not increasc thc mill's prodrrction to exceed
the Licensc Condition No. l0.l limit of 4,380 tons of UrO3 pct calcn&r year. As prodnction will
remain withitr the limits asscsscd in thc original Environmcotal nssessncot, and as the process
will be essentially unchangd this ancndmcut will result in no significant envircnmental impact
beyond those originally evaluated.
\tr Joseph J. Holoruch
.\pril 3. 1997
Page 3
Complete details are provided in the anached request to amend, which includes the
following sections:
1.0 lvlaterial Composition and Volume
L l Radiochemical Data1.2 Review of Hazardous Constituent Data
1.3 RegulatoryConsiderations1.4 Shipping
2.0 Process
3.0 Safety Measures3.1 Control of Airborne Contamination3.2 Radiation Safety3.3 Vehicle Scan
4.0 Certification
Attachment I Uranium Material Description and Flow Diagram
Attachment 2 Energy Fuels Nuclear, [nc. White Mesa MiU Equipment
ReleaselRadiological Survey Procedure
Attachment 3 Flow Diagram for Processing Uraninm Material
To ensure that dl penineat information is included in this submittal, the following
guidelines were uscd in preparing this reqrcst to amend:
. U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Qqmmissien ('NRC') final pesilion and Guidance on the Use
of Uranium Mill Feed l,Iat€rial Othcr Tban Natural Ores (Federal Regster Volnme 60,
No. 184, September 22, 1995).
. EFN rcquest to the NRC for thc amendment to process uranium-bearing potassinrr
diurinatc (&UzO) in a solution of potassiun hydroxidc/potassium fluoride in water
(.KOH Amendurent').
. NRC and Starc of Utah comments and reqnests for information relative to the KOH
Amendment.
. EFN request to NRC for the Rhone-Poulenc alternatc feed amendment
. NRC and State of Utah commcnts and reqtrcsts for information relative to the EFN
request for the Rhone-Poulenc alternate feed amendment.
\lr. JtrsePh J. Hurlcrnich
.\pril 3, I997
Page 3
W'e believe that use of these guidance materials, supported by orrr discussions with rhe
NRC, has allowed us to prepare a complete. concise submittal. Therefore, as we discussed with
ow Project Manager, Jim Park, on March 26, 1997, EFN requests that the NRC please aftempt
to reply to this request within 30 days of this transmittal date. Please note that in the anached
Affidavit, EFN requests that bracketed portions of this revised application, and selected
anachments, be treated as confrdential. This lener and enclosed application are hereby
transmined as two versions:
Complete text with brackets indicating portions of text and the selected attachments to be
withheld as confidential; and
An edited version of (l) with bracketed text deleted and sclecrcd attachments removed.
This version is meant to be used for the Public Document Room.
EFN requests that the information identified as "confidential" contained in this amendment
request be maintained by the NRC as confidential until March 31, 2000. EFN also reserves the
right to reevaluate this proposed releasc date as circumstances change over the course of the
proposed tlree year period. I can be reached at [phone].
Sincerely,
l.
2.
,/r*,LR.Pp/,*- +
H*:'hLfi'm*?'t b"/"e
IvIRR/pl
Attachments
Request to Amend
Source Material License SUA-1358
White Mesa Mill
Docket No. 40-8681
April 3, 1997
Prepared by:
Energy Fuels Nuclear, [nc.
l5l5 Arapahoe Street, Suite 900
Denver, CO 80202
Contact: Michelle R. Rehmann, Environmental Manager
Phone: [phone]
Submitted to:
United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission
2 White Flint North, Mail Stop T-7J9
11545 Rockville Pike
Rockville, MD 20852
\mcnJmcnt Ri,.:ucir
Lrcense S L .{- I -i -( B
{pnl J. io9r
Paee i
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
INTRODUCTION .....I
r.0 IV1ATERIAL COMPOSITION AND VOLUME
l.l Radiochemical Data1.2 Review of Hazardous Constituent Data
1.3 Regulatory Considerations1.4 Shipping
2.0 PROCESS
3.0 SAFETYMEASURES .......63.1 Controlof AirborneContamination.. .......63.2 RadiationSafety ,......73.3 VehicleScan. ...7
4.0 CERTIFICATION ,.,..9
I
2
2
J
4
Attachment I
Attachment 2
Attachment 3
List of Attachments
Uranium Material Description and Flow Diagram
Energy Fuels Nuclear, Inc. White Mesa Mill Equipment
Release/Radiological Survey Procedure
Flow Diagram for Processing Uranium Material
Amendment Request
License SL:A- li-(8
April -1, 1997
Page I
INTRODUCTION
Energy Fuels Nuclear, Inc. ("EFN") operates an NRC-licensed uranium mill located
approximately six miles south of Blanding, Utah. The mill processes naturd (native, raw)
uanium ores and feed materials other than narural ores. These alternate feed materials are
generally processing products from other extraction procedures, which EFN will process primarily
for the source material content. All waste associated with this processing is, therefore, l1e.(2)
byproduct material; or, as stated in the alternate feed analysis noticed in Federal Register Volume
57, No. 93:
"The fact that the term 'any ore' rather than 'unrefined and unprocessed ore' is
used in the definition of l le.(2) byproduct material implies that a broader range
of feed materials could be processed in a mill, with the wastes still being
considered as I le.(2) byproduct material".
This application to amend NRC Source Material License SUA-1358 requests an amendment to
allow EFN to process a specific alternate feed primarily for its sonrce material content, and to
dispose of the associated lle.(2) byproduct material in accordance with the Mill operating
procedures.
MATERIAL COMPOSMON AI\ID VOLI'ME
EFN is requesting an amendment to Sotrce Material License SUA-1358 to authorize receipt and
processing of certain ore concentrates resulting from the processing of natural ore for the
extraction of [tantalum and niobium] metal products. For ease of reference, this ore concentate
is referred to herein as the "Uranium Material". The Uranium Material is not a residue from a
water treatment process.
The Uranium Material is being acquired by [Recovery Dynamics LLC, with offices at 200 East
Main Street, 6th Floor, Johnson City, Tennessee 37604] and that party (the "Material Supplier")will ship the Uranium Material to the White Mesa Mill. The Material Supplier holds and
maintains a license issued by the NRC which allows the Material Supplier to hold and ship the
Uranium Material.
1.0
H \USEN5\MRtr,\t.Ef,TEn'S,9NSU^sMA"9? N,PT
Amendment Request
License SUA- ll-i8
April 3. 1997
Page 2
The Material Supplier is acquiring the Uranium Material from [Cabot Corporation - Cabot
Performance Materials] a metal producer (the "Party of Origin") which has held the Uranium
lvfaterial, in anticipation of further processing, in secure concrete and cinder block vaults at a
facility owned and operated by the Party of Origin near [Boyertown, Pennsylvania]. The Parry
of Origin also holds and maintains a license issued by the NRC which allows the Party of Origin
to hold the Uranium Material.
The Party of Origin and Material Supplier estimates that the Uranium Material weighs
approximately [16,000] tons (dry basis). The Material Supplier estimates the average uanium
content to be [0.3 %]. Physically, the Uranium Material consists of a wet hlter press cake (60%
.solids content). Isotopic analysis of the uranium material is currently being performed at an
independent laboratory and results will be forwarded to the NRC as an addendum to this
amendment request.
After the uranium is extracted from the Uranium Material in the solvent extraction circuit, the
material will be processed through the vanadium solvent extraction circuit for the recovery of
metal concentates [tantalum pentoxide (TqOr) and niobium pentoxide (Nb20r)]. The Party of
Origin estimates the concentration of metals in the Uranium Material to be 12.0o/o tantalum and
1.4% niobium]. The metals recovery process will be very similar to the process used to recover
vanadium during mill operations when vanadiurn/uranium feedstock is processed.
1.1 Radiochemical Date
Preliminary laboratory analysis indicates a uranium content of approximately [0.3%]. Isotopic
analysis of the uraninm material is currently being performed at an independent laboratory, and
results will be forwarded to the NRC as an addendum to this amendment request.
1.2 Review of Hezerdous Constituent Dete
NRC guidance suggests that if a proposed feed material consists of hazardous waste, listed under
subpart D $$261.30-33 of 40 CFR (or comparable RCRA authorized State regulations), it would
be subject to EPA (or State) regulation under RCRA. To avoid the complexities of NRC/EPA
dual regulation, such feed material may not be approved for processing at a licensed mill. If the
licensee can show that the proposed feed material does not consist of a listed hazardous waste,
this issue is resolved. NRC guidance furttrer states that feed material exhibiting only a
characteristic of hazardous waste (ignitable, corrosive, reactive, toxic) would not be regulated as
Amendment Request
License SUA- I i-s8
April 3. 1997
Page 3
hazardous waste and could therefore be approved for recycling and extraction of source material.
The NRC Alternate Feed Guidance also states'that NRC staff may consult with EPA (or the
State) before making a determination of whether the feed material contains hazardous waste.
The Party of Origin, based on its analysis of the Uranium Material and process knowledge,
believes that the Uranium Material contains no RCRA listed wastes. The Party of Origin
purchased natural ores and contacted the ore concentrate with hydrofluoric acid at elevated
temperatures in a closed digester system to extract metal products [tantalum and niobium] in a
soluble form for further purification and conversion. The Uranium Material was separated from
the aqueous [tantalum and niobium] stream and stored at the Parry of Origin's facility. Despite
this process knowledge, a composite sample has been submitted for analysis and analytical results
of Method 8260 analysis will be forwarded to the NRC as soon as the analysis is completed.
1.3 RegulatoryConsiderations
According to NRC guidance, for the tailings and wastes from the proposed processing to qualiff
as I le.(2) byproduct material, the feed material must qualift as "ore." NRC has established the
following definition of ore:
"Ore is a natual or native matter that may be mined and treated for the extraction
of any of its constituents or any other matter from which source material is
extracted in a licensed uranium or thorium mill'.
Classification as Alternate Feed
As described turder 1.2 above, the Uranium Material is not be subject to regulation as a listed
hazardous w:ulte as defined in the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, as amended, 42
U.S.C. $6901-6991 and its implementing regulations, or comparable State laws or regulations
governing the regulation of listed hazardous wastes. In Section 4.0, below, EFN certifies that the
Uranium Material is to be processed primarily for the recovery of uranium and for no other
primary purpose. EFN justifies the certification on the financial considerations of the transaction
between EFN and the Material Supplier which is based on the value of the uranium and other
metals to be recovered from the Uranium Material.
H \USEIjilMII'V-ETItiS.9,\SUASM^I,, Rtt
Amendment Request
License SUA- 1158
April 3. 1997
Page 'l
Preliminary laboratory analysis indicates a uranium content of approximately [0.3%]. This grade
is very similar to many nanual ores from the Colorado Plateau. Historically, EFN and its
predecessor operators have economically recovered and sold uranium concentrates from ore of
this grade if vanadium in sufficient quantities could be recovered from the ore to generate a
"vanadium credit" against the cost of processing the uranium ore. That is, in the production
budgeting process utilized for the Mill, the "credit" against the processing costs for the recovery
of the uranium that is generated by the value of the metal concentrates recovered from the
Uranium Material allows the production of a uranium concentrate at a very low cost. This
recovery of uranium and other metals is very similar to the historical miling op€rations by EFN
and its predecessors at the Mill utilizing vanaditrm/uranium feedstocks.
The uranium content of the Uranium Material, in conjunction with the metals [tantalum and
niobiuml content, estimated by the Party of Origin to be approximately 12.0o/o tantalum and 1.4
% niobium], justifies processing the Uranium Material by EFN to extract the uranium
concenfiates. The value of the recovered products [$13.00 to $14.00 per lb of uranium, $35.00
to 540.00 per lb of tantalum concenfrate and $ 3.00 per lb. of niobium concenEate] demonstates
the economic viability of the processing of the Uranium Material by EFN for the recovery of
uranium concentrates.
1.4 Shipping
The material will be shipped to the White Mesa Mill in 25-cubic-yard intermodal containers. The
containers will be shipped via tnrck from a facility owned and operated by the Party of Origin
near [Boyertown, Pennsylvania], to a nearby rail head. The containers will then be loaded on rail
cars and transported to a rail facility for tansport to the White Mesa Mill. The containers will
be removed from the rail cars and tansported the remaining distance to the Mill via truck.
Empty containers will be returned to the facility or origin by the same method.
The Uranium Material will be shipped as LSA (low specific activity) Radioactive Hazard Class
7 Hazardous Material as defined by DOT regulations. The Material Supplier will arrange with
a materials handling contractor for the proper labeling, placarding, manifesting and transport of
each shipment of the Uranir.rm Material. Each shipment will be "exch.sive use" (i.e., the only
material in each container will be the Uranium Material).
2.0
Amendment Request
License SUA-1i58
April 3. 1997
Page 5
PROCESS
The Uranium Material will be offloaded from its intermodal bin into a small batch repulp tank
equipped with an agitator. Water will be added to aid in the breakup of the Uranium Material
as it is agitated in the tank to generate a slurry. The slurry will be pumped to one of the Pulp
Storage Tanks.
The Uranium Material slurry is first contacted with sulfuric acid in the Mill's leach tanks where
the bulk of the [tantalum and niobium] metals will go into solution along with a portion of the
uranium content. The solution will then be pumped to the leach circuit, where it will be mixed
with tailings solution for further pH adjustment. Additional sulfuric acid will be added as
necessary for pH control in the leach circuit. The solution will then be transferred to the CCD
circuit for washing. The bulk of the washed solids are then contacted with caustic soda NaOFf)
in the leach tanks to further break up the ore matrix, thereby freeing up uranium for subsequent
leaching. The resulting solids are again washed and a portion of the solids, separated from the
slurry by a filter press, are sent to tails. The remaining solids are then contacted with an
hydrochloric acid solution and then washed and then recycled to the fust acid leach step to
maximize metal recovery. The hydrochloric acid leach liquor, now containing most of the
uranium from the solids, is run through the Mill's uranium solvent extraction circuit to recover
the uranium concentrates. Sulfuric acid is added to a portion of the raffinate from the circuit to
precipitate calcium sulfate (gypsum) which is separated from the resulting slurry by a second
filter press and discharged to tails. The filrate is reused in the process as a strip solution for
recovering the metals from the Mill's vanadium solvent extraction circuit. [n this step, the
sulfuric acid leach liquor generatcd in the first leach step is rur through the Mill's vanadium
solvent extraction circuit to recover the metal concentrates. The two filter presses referred to
above will be added to the existing process and some minor additional piping for recirculation
will be added to facilitate the maximum recovery of uranium and the metal concentrates. A
diagram of the process flow, showing the addition of the filter presses and the additional piping
is attached as Attachment 3.
3.0
{mendment Request
License SUA- 1i58
April 3, 1997
Page 6
SAFETY MEASURES
The Uranium Material will be delivered to the mill via closed intermodal bin. The Uranium
Material will be dumped into an existing pre-leach tank where initial processing will begin. The
material will proceed through the leach circuit, CCD circuit, and into the solvent extraction circuit
in normal process fashion as detailed in Section 2.0 above. Metallurgical recovery of the metal
[tantalum pentoxide (TEo,) and niobium pentoxide Oh20j)] concentrates will proceed in the
solvent extraction circuit using the existing vanadium recovery process and normal mill organic
extractant reagents. Since there are no major process changes to the mill circuit, and since the
extraction process sequence is very similar to processing conventional tuanium solutions, it is
anticipated that no extraordinary safety hazards will be encountered.
Employee exposure potential dtring initial material handling operations is expected to be no more
significant than what is normally encountered during conventional milling operations. Employees
will be provided with personal protective equipment including full-face respirators. Airborne
particulate samples will be collected and analyzed for gross dpha concentations. If uranium
airborne concentrations exceed 25 percent of the DAC, full-face respiratory protection will be
implemented during the entire sequence of material dumping operations. Spills and splashed
material that may be encountered during this initial material processing shall be wetted and
collected during routine work activity. Sample material of the Uranium Material indicates it is
a neutral material with a measured pH of approximately [8.0] after dissolution in water.
Therefore, it is anticipated that no unusual PPE apparel will be required other than coveralls and
rubber gloves during material handling activities. Respiratory protection will be implemented as
determined.
3.1 Control of Airborne Conteminetion
EFN does not anticipate unusual or extraordinary airborne contamination dispersion when
processing the tuanium material. The contamination potential isexpected to be less than what
is normally encountered when processing conventional uranium ore. The successive extraction
process circuitry from CCD through solvent extraction and into precipitation are all liquid
processes, and the potential for airborne contamination dispersion is minimal.
Uranium extraction proceeds through the mill circuit as if the Uranium Material were uranium
ore. As the Uranium Material is transferred into the mix tansfer tanh a water spray system on
top of the mix tank will be activated. The material is a moist cake as received (moisture content
Amendment Request
License SUA- 1i58
April 3. t997
Page 7
up to 40%). Nevertheless, water spray provisions are provided when handling bulk material
processing.
The efficiency of airborne contamination control measures during the material handling operations
will be assessed in the immediate vicinity of the mix tank. Airborne particulate samples and
breathing zone samples will be collected in those areas during initial material processing activities
and analyzed for gross alpha. The results will establish health and safery guidelines which will
be implemented throughout the material processing operations.
Personal protective equipment, including respiratory protection, will be provided to those
individuals engaged in material processing. Additional environmental ah samples will be taken
at nearby locations in the vicinity of material processing activities to ensure adequate
contamination control measures are effective and that the spread of uranium airbome particulates
have been prevented.
3.2 Radiation Safety
The radiation safety program which exists at the White Mesa Mill, pursuant to the conditions and
provisions of NRC License Number SUA-1358, and applicable Regulations of the Code of
Federal Regulations, Title 10, is adequate to en$ue the maximum protection of the worker and
environment, and is consistent with the principle of maintaining exposures of radiation to
individual workers and to the general public to levels As Low As Reasonably Achievable
(ALARA).
3.3 Vehicle Scan
As uranium material arrives at the White Mesa Mill site, an initial radiation survey will be made
of the vehicle and intermodal bin to ensure the cargo has not susrained any leakage or ruptureof contents dtrring transportation, and that the radiation levels are consistent with DOT
requirements. After the cargo has been offloaded at the mill site, a radiation survey of the
vehicle and intermodal bin will be performed consistent with standard mill procedures
(Attachment 2). In general, radiation levels are in accordance with applicable values contained
in the NRC Guidelines for Decontamination of Facilities and Equipment Prior to Release for
Unrestricted Use or Termination of Licenses for Bygroduct Source. or Special Nuclear Material.
U.S. NRC, May, 1987. [f radiation levels indicate values in excess of the above limits,
appropriate decontamination procedues would be implemented. However, these limits are
Amendment Request
License SUA- l i58
April 3. 1997
Page 8
appropriate for materials and equipment released for unrestricted use only, and do not apply to
restricted exclusive use shipments. As stated in Section 1.4 above, the shipments of uranium
material to and from the White Mesa Mill will be dedicated, exclusive loads; therefore, radiation
surveys and radiation levels consistent with DOT requirements will be applied to renrning
vehicles and cargo.
{.0
Amendment Request
License SUA-1358
April 3, 1997
Page 9
CERTIFICATION
ln accordance with the NRC Guidance on alternate feed materials, the financial conditions of the
business arrangements with the Material Supplier regarding the Uranium Materid justift the
processing of the Uranium Material by EFN primarily for the recovery of uranium in conjunction
with the recovery of the [tantalum and niobium] metal concentrates from the Uranium Material.
The financial value of the Uranium Material assures that this material is not a "waste" that would
have to be disposed of as radioactive or mixed waste unless it could be processed at a uranium
mill. As discussed above, processing costs to recover the uranium content from the Uranium
Material are minimal. and the processing of this material will be profitable to EFN. Following
is the Certification that the material is being processed primarily for recovery of uranium.
Amendment Request
License SUA-1158
April 3. 1997
Page l0
Certification of Energy Fuels Nuclear, Inc.
(the "Licensee'r)
I, Richard A. Munson, the undersigned, for and on behalf of the Licensee, do hereby
certiry as follows:
1. The Licensee intends to enter into a conEact with [Recovery Dynamics Corporation,
corporation with offrces at 200 East Main Street, 6th Floor, Johnson City, Tennessee 37604, Attn:
Dan Black. Presidentl (the "Material Supplier") under which the Licensee will process certain
natrual ore concentrate material at the White Mesa Uranium Mill for the recovery of uranium.
As demonstated in the foregoing amendment application, based on the financial considerations
surrounding this material and the processing transaction, the Licensee hereby certifies and affirms
that such concentrate material is being processed primarily for the recovery of uranium and for
no other primary purpose.
2. The Licensee further certifies and affirms that such concentrate material, as alternate
feed to a licensed uranium mill, is not subject to regulation as a listed hazardous waste as defined
in the Resotuce Conservation and Recovery Act, as amended, 42 U.S.C. $6901-6991 and its
implementing regulations, or comparable State laws or regulations governing the regulation of
listed hazardous wastes. The Licensee is obtaining such concentrate material as an alternate feed,
consistent with NRC guidance, for the uranium recovery process being conducted at the White
Mesa Mill.
April 3. 1997
Date
Richard A. Munson
Corporate Counsel
Energy Fuels Nuclear, Inc.
Signature
AFFIDA!'TT
I. Richard A. Munson, Corporate Counsel of Energy Fuels Nuclear, Inc. ("EFN") do sw'ear
that the request to the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission ("NRC"), dated as of April 3, 1997.
tbr an Amendment to Source Nfaterial License SUA-1358, contains confidential commercial
and/or financial information held in confidence by EFN and that it meets the criteria as listed
under $63.2 of the Government Records and Access Act, and 10 CFR 2.790(b).
In support of the claim of confidentiality, the following is submined:
IDENTITY OF DOCUMENT OR PART SOUGHT TO BE MTHHELD:
a. The parts of the cover letter transmitting the Request for Amendment to be withheld as
confidential are set forth in brackets on pages I through 3 of the letter;
b. The parts of the body of the Request for Amendment to be witlrheld as confrdential are
set forth in brackets on pages I through 9 of the Request;
c. Attachment I is to be withheld;
d. Attachment 3 is to be wittrheld.
STATEMENT OF REASONS:
General Statement
EFN understands that the policy of the Commission concerning commercial or financial
information, believed by EFN to be confidential, is to achieve an effective balance between
legitimate concerns for protection of competitive positions and the right of the public to be fully
apprised as to the basis for and effecc of licensing actions. EFN furttrer understands that it is
within the discretion of the Commission to withhold confidential commercial or financial
information.
EFN is actively seeking alternative feedstocks of material containing quantities of uranium
that can be commercially recovered at the White Mesa Mill. EFN has invested significant time
and monies in developing information and contacts necessary to achieve the market position EFN
is developing for such recovery projects. The alternative feedstocks are an integral piece of
EFN's long term business plan and they play a role in maintaining jobs and activity at the White
Mesa Mill.
Initially, EFN did not appreciate the value that its contacts represented. However, as
evidenced by the interest shown in industry publications following the submittal of the Request
for Amendment flrled for the alternative feedstock commonly referred to as the 'KOH Material",
EFN now realizes that its contacts and business .urangements with those contacts has significant
intrinsic value, much like "customer lists" developed by retail or publishing businesses which are
recognized, and closely guarded, as confidential and proprietary information. The submission of
H \USERS\MRT\LETTERS,gNAFFIDAV4I ATT
\tlldayt
Prge J
this request for amendment is related to another successful effort by EFN and its contacts to
create a corrrmercial opportunity consistent with the proper use of the White Mesa Mill.
Consistent with this realization of EFN's place in the marketplace and the value of its
customer list, EFN is requesting that (i) information related to the source and nature of the
alternative feedstock and (ii) information concerning how EFN has structured its ilrangement
with the source of the material, be withheld from public disclosure because disclosure of such
information is likely to cause substantial harm to the competitive position of EFN.
Soecific Points
. The confidential information is currently held in confidence by EFN and is not available
from other public sources of information.
As described above, the confidential information is cturently information of the type that
is normally held in confidence by EFN.
The conJidentid information is being transmitted to the NRC in confidence.
I hereby certiff to the Commission that I have been specifically delegated the function of
reviewing the information sought to be witlrheld and that I am authorized to apply for its
withholding on behalf of Energy Fuels Nuclear, Inc.
Richard A. Mrurson
Corporate Counsel
Energy Fuels Nuclear, [nc.
STATE OF COLORADO
COLINTY OF DE}.TVER
On April 3, 1997, personally appeared before me Rictrard A. Munson, who being duly
sworn, did say that he is the Corporate Counsel of Energy Fuels Nuclear, [nc., and that the said
instrument was signed on behalf of said corporation.
)
)
)
'rrerYruruc.--#m,-My Commission expires:
ATTACH}IENT 1
Cabot Material Description and Flow Diagram
1.6
Attachment I
Exemptions and Soecial Authorizations
[The Boyertown facility's sole licensed activity involving source material is its generation
and temporar,v storage on-site of by-product sludges, which result from the processing of
raw ores to extract columbium and tantalum. These by-product sludges constitute] source
material because they contain excess of 0.05% uranium and thorium, in combination, by
w'eight. In addition to potentially commercially valuable uranium and thorium
concentrations, the by-product sludges also contain significant concentrations of
columbium, tantalum and other rare earth elements.
CPM has been storing these by-product sludges on-site in secure concrete and cinderblock
vaults at the Boyertown facility while it investigates various possibilities for recycling or
other commercial uses of the sludges. The proposed revised extraction process would use
the sludges as a supplemental feedstock in addition to new ores and ore concentrates. The
revised process would recover the hydrofluoric acid from the sludges, and extract the
remaining concentrations of comrnercially valuable columbi,'nr and tantalum. The
company's ultimate goal is to reprocess its entire inventory of stored by-product sludges
in this fashion, and to ship the reprocessed residues off-site for further reclamation or
disposal before the eventual decontamination and decommissioning of the facility.
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Energy Fuels Nuclear, [nc.
White Mesa Mill
E quipment Release/Radiological S urvey Procedure
2.1 Relc.rrc of Eouiomcnt
All mrteriaLr, equipment rnd scrrp which ut intcndcd for rclcere from thc milt lhe for
unrcrtriqted utar ar! surveycd for ndiologicd contrminrtion lcvclr in accordrrrcc wrth thc
limiB rct fonh in itilRC documa:q "Gridetincr for Dccontrminrtion of Frciliricr urd
Equipment Prior to Rclesc for Unreariacd Ur or Tcnninrtion of Liccnr for Bl2roduct
of Sourcc Mlterials", dud Scptemba, tg8l. Ihe innruaioru in thil guidc in
conjunctlon with Trblc I spcofy thc ndiorctivity rnd Rrdiuion o(po1rlrc nte limir whicS
ars uscd in rccomplirhin3 thc dccontuninrtioo utd orvry of nrficcr rnd oquipurart prior
to abrndonmcnt or reterlc for unrcrtrictcd ur.
2.1.1. Mntcrilh lnd Scno
Scnp mrterirl urd quipmcnt nrch u pumpt proce$ equipmcnq ac.
which rqulrq rcpair $rvicei arc cleEnd Opropriedy in an effon rc
diminnc reridurl contaminuion prior to urrveying for :-rdiologicd
comamination lcveh. Rrdio.stivity on thc rurfrcr of cquipmart urd
muqidr ir msrnrnd by ervryrry for dplu aomrminrtioq ruinf thc
appropriug portrblq cdibrrtcd dplu nncy irumncm+ uci u Eb.stin
ModGl ESP-I '?onrblo Smrnmar n wrcytg inrurrmcrt cquippcd wirh
ur AC-3.7 dphr rintilhdon probg or othor quivdarr inrcumau
Rrdietion aeolnr rur mctrrnatmu u! mrdr on thu mucirlr urin3
crlibntcd arponnt ruc incnrmcmr nrch u r Ludlum Modd 3
Betr-Grmmr rlwy macr ud probc or equivdcnt in*rumart. MrtcrirLr
rnd cquipmcnr rs rclarod 6rom thc mill ritc for unrwtriacd urc if rhc
rotrl dphr comrminuhn conccnfuton md flpoluE ntc mcrluftment!
ue lcu thn rhe rppticrblc lirnfu connincd in Trblc I of thc l{RC Grida
2.1.2. Ensdln
l. Obtdn rypropri& cJibnrrd rlphr orvcl inunrmsrt 0om ndiolo$crl
trb.
1, Ch*k maa pcrformrncc rnd funcion udng Th230 calibntion
lout!0.
Suwcy itmrr on rurfrcc for dphr contudnrtion rt numcrour locrtioor
nrfficiet to detcnninr tvan33lrd pourtirl mrrinum coouminetioa
larch
Slorly rul ovc aurfic. ofc.dr hm @ I cnr hoigit urd dccnninorycrtr rnd mrximum cryottttc rlta matlrrtnrclrtt.
3.
4.
2 1.2 connnucd
5, Conumirution lwch ilcrsisrd m rhc mill srrr for rdusc of equipment
for unrectricted ur ir r totrl rlphr conunrnuron lcvel of 1000
disentigratonl pcr minutc pcr 100 cmr (dpnul00 cmr), urd r ndirtion
rxpo$re lirut of 0.2 nullind pcr hour (rnrlr) with r maximum nor r0
axcrrd 1.0 mr/hr.
6. In thc cvGnt thcr.limiu ue cxcccdo4 thr itor ir dccomrminrtcd by
rppropriur rncrnr rnd ru-runrqpd"
7. if the limio for r totd dphr contrninrdon ir rgrin crccrdc( u dphr
tmcrr erilsy ova 100 cmt rrol ir trkon to dltcrmnG rcmonblc
alpha conuminrdon. In ddition, e fixd dphr mculreilffi of rhc
rrq il mrdr uring ur dphr mrtr. tf rhc limiu of Trble I NRC
Gride are exedd I more rigorous dcontaminrtion mahod il
apptid.
2.1,1 Ychldc rnd Moblh Inulon:nt Rdanr
Vohislc ud mobih quipmm rdrr pnrcecdr on r rimilrr buir u
m&rid ud quipmem rrlcrsa An dphr $ncy i! mdc ud u cxpolurs
suryq i! mrdc on fu imsior ud cnsior rurfica of rhc vehiclg
panioluty thc tira ud og$d undcrcuilgc, if the convcymcc il
non ddicsrcd for ercluiw u$ mrupon. Plying puiolu rnanon r
thc tircl ud undcrcuriqc during r $illy dacnnina whahcr r vchidc
ho bcome connminud wtrilc cmsing in ud fuorgr thc mi[ Rcsrictd
ArtG Thc rpplicrblc crhrir fbrcoruninaim linrhr, dmmrmhrdort
pro€.drn1 rrrwyr / rr.lr\,tyt urd ultirrrlc rdcu ut idrnticd o thor
in plnpgh 2,1.1
If lvchidc h chrsifid u adusirrculs rtrorc sindc tnnrpon purpoc
il intmdod rpccif,c.lty for hading ndiolctiw musirll00 0 contirud
buir, thcr\ only thc atcrior arfrcr rnd tirrl of thc tnngort vdriclc rrc
survcyd whar lcnring th recriad ua. Ermpla of thac tnn$on
vchiclo includc oro harhp tnrclr md clorcd bulk mntpor! trakcr.
Applicdb dphr conuninrtior ld .!golr. nr hvdr rn thor ryrciftd
in 49 qFn l73.a4l rad l7l.{1 Tln miU dr qrtin rn dph.
coomminrrirn cootrol lrrd of 1000 dpnrl00 orf prolocol 6r tfr.
tnnryort vdidr tiru only upoa aidns th. nrill 3he No imcnd dphe
ilw.y. rn donr on rhr intand nuficr of,clorcd nn$ort turlsr
dodiccGd for cxclusivc ura untll tltac vrhicb bconr dcorrnirrioncd.
ATTACHMENT 3
Flow Diagram for Processing Uranium Material
o
FLOW DIAGRAM FOR PROCESSING URANIUM MATERIAL
.iA'ii, V \1A-i? ,lr-
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LEACH IANKS
CLARltrER U CCNCENII
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FIL]'ER PRESS URANIUM PEECIP
I ,lt,ATE TO IAILS SIRIP
CCD THICKENERS -i URANTUM Sx CiRCUtI
WASH
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IANKS GYPSUM PRECIP
wArER- I
FILTER PRESS
3YPSUM SOLIOS TO IAILS
INrsnuarrotof
UneNruna (use)
ConponATroN
Independence Pltrztr, Suite 950 . 1050 Seventeenth street . Denver, CO 80265 o 303 628 7798 (rnain) . 303 389 4125 (fax)
June 26, 1997
-/: -;-;----
Aro"r" "o, a:.....,.
/;1" A =-'\\
c,V ri'\s JUl,l 1ee7 t
Mr. William J. Sinclair, Director
State of Utah Department of Environmental Quality
Division of Radiation Control
168 North 1950 West
Salt Lake City, UT 84114-4850
Dear Mr. Sinclair:
$ Received ocf, Divisron 0f (e
Po t8illtr
"7%.,n,nrd
For your information, enclosed are two versions of supplemental materials submitted to the U.S.
NRC on June 20, 1997 These data supplement a request to amend U.S. Nuclear Regulatory
Commission ("NRC") Source Material License SUA-1358 to authorize receipt and processing of
certain ore concentrates resulting from the processing of natural ore for the extraction of metal
products. In submitting the amendment request to the NRC, Energy Fuels Nuclear, Inc. ("EFN")
stated that the request contains confidential commercial and/or financial information held in
confidence by EFN and that it meets the criteria as listed under section 63.2 of the Government
Records and Access Act, and l0 CFR 2.790(b). The same is true for the supplemental data.
As you are aware, International Uranium (USA) Corporation ("ruC"), is the new owner of the White
Mesa Mill, and the NRC has transferred NRC License SUA-1358 to IUC. IUC makes the same
assertions as put forth by EFN regarding the confidentiality of the noted portions of the request.
Therefore, as discussed with Fred Nelson of the Utah Attorney General's Office, IUC hereby
transmits these copies of the supplemental materials to the request to amend with the understanding
that bracketed portions of the applications, and selected attachments, be treated as confidential,
pursuant to section 63-2-304 of the Utah Code. This material would remain confidential for the
same period as is applied by the NRC. In the transmittal letter to the NRC, the request was that the
information identified as "confidential" be maintained by the NRC as confidential until March 31,
2000. The company also reserved the right to reevaluate this proposed release date as circumstances
change over the course ofthe proposed three year period.
The enclosed copies ofthe June 30, 1997 submittal were transmitted as the following two versions:
l. Complete text with brackets indicating portions of text and the selected attachments to be
wittrheld as confidential; and
h :\users\tay\wpwin60Vilcs\mn\letten\sinc0626. lh
William J. Sinclair, Director lvne26,1997
2. An dited version of (t) with brackaed tort delaed and selected attachments removed. This
version may be used in public files.
I can be reached at 303.389.4131.
-2-
, Sincerely,(_Z*--tt+
Mchelle R. Rehmann
Environmental lvlanager
MRR/tay
Attachments
hluscrs\taflurywin60\fitcs\nrr\lcttcrshinc0626.lt
June 20, 1997
\TA OVERMGHT MAIL
Mr. Joseph J. Holonich, Branch Chief
High Level Waste and Uranium Recovery
Projects Branch
Division of Waste Management
Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards
U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission
2 White Flint North, Mail Stop T-7J9
11545 Rockville Pike
Rockville, MD 20852
Re: Supplemental Data for Amendment Request to Process an Alternate Feed at White Mesa
Uranium Mill Source Material License SUA-1358
Dear Mr. Holonich:
In response to a request by NRC Stafi International Uranium (USA) Corporation ("IUC")
hereby transmits a letter from the Material Owner describing the average composition of the
uranium material, together with associated average composition data, as a supplement to the request
to amend Source Material License SUA-1358 dated April 13, 1997 (see Attachment A). We also
transmit, as Attachment B, the following documentation regarding the regulatory classification of
the uranium material:
. Letter from the Material Owner explaining that the material is classified as source material,
and managed under an NRC license. The letter also explains that source material is excluded
from regulation as hazardous waste under the applicable State Code.
- The Material Owner's Source Material license.
- State Code citation with exclusion of "Source, special nuclear or byproduct material"
from regulation as hazardous waste.
The enclosed letter and data are transmitted as two versions:
l. Complete text with brackets indicating portions of text and the selected attachments to be
withheld as confidential; and
2. An edited version of (1) with bracketed text deleted and selected attachments removed. This
version is meant to be used for the Public Document Room.
h:\uscrs\tay\wpwin60Vilcs\mnUettcrsrlrolon06 I 9.let
Joseph J. Holonich
lune20,1997
Page2
IUC requests that the information identified as "confidential" contained in this amendment
request be maintained by the NRC as confidential until March 31, 2000. IUC also reserves the right
to reevaluate this proposed release date as circumstances change over the course of the proposed
three year period.
We hope this information meets your needs for reviewing these elements of the amendment
application. I can be reached at (303) 3 89.41 3 1 .
Sincerely,
7LJ*<
Michelle R. Rehmann
Environmental Manager
MRR/tay
Attachments
Ronald E. Berg
William N. Deal
David C. Frydenlund
Earl E. Hoellen
James Park (NRC)
Harold R. Roberts
h lusers\tay\wpwin60Vilcs\mn\letten\holon06 I 9. let
IrrEnr rr,, rr.O
URl\rL \r (usA)
ConpoR.rrtor
lncleperrcle.rice l'laza. Srrite 950 . 1050 Ser.enteerrtli Street r Denver. (lO 5()165 o :10:l 62u 7798 (rrrain) o ;10:l ll,Stl -{125 rfLxr
June 20, 1997
VIA O\,ERNIGHT MAIL
Mr. Joseph J. Holonich, Branch Chief
High LevelWaste and Uranium Recovery
Projects Branch
Division of Waste Management
Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards
U S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission
2 White Flint North, Mail Stop T-7J9
1 1545 Rockville Pike
Rockville, MD 20852
Re: Supplemental Data for Amendment Request to Process an Alternate Feed at White Mesa
Uranium Mill Source Material License SUA-1358
Dear Mr. Holonich:
ln response to a request by NRC Stafl International Uranium (USA) Corporation ("[UC")
hereby transmits a letter from the Material Owner describing the average composition of the
uranium material, together with associated average composition data" as a supplement to the request
to amend Source Material License SUA-1358 dated April 13, 1997 (see Attachment A). We also
transmit, as Attachment B, the following documentation regarding the regulatory classification of
the uranium material: , ,
. Letter from the Material Owner explaining that the material is classified as source material,
and managed under an NRC license. The letter also explains that source material is excluded
from regulation as hazardous waste under the applicable State Code.
- The Material Owner's Source Material license.
- State Code citation with o<clusion of "Source, special nuclear or byproduct material"
from regulation as hazardous waste.
The enclosed letter and data are transmitted as two versions:
L Complete text with brackets indicating portions of text and the selected attachments to be
withheld as confidential; and
2. fui edited version of (l) with bracketed text deleted and selected attachments removed. This
version is meant to be used for the Public Document Room.
h:\uscrsrtay\'*pwin60\fi lcs\mdlcncrsVtolonO6 I 9. lct
Joseph J Holonich
June 20, 1997
Page2
IUC requests that the information identified as "confidential" contained in this amendment
request be maintained by the NRC as confidential until March 31, 2000. IUC also reserves the right
to reevaluate this proposed release date as circumstances change over the course of the proposed
three year period.
We hope this information meets your needs for reviewing these elements of the amendment
application. I can be reached at [phone].
MRR/Iay
Attachments
cc: Ronald E. Berg
William N. Deal
David C. Frydenlund
Earl E. Hoellen
James Park (NRC)
Harold R. Roberts
Sincerely,
7L,z/4%-
Michelle R. Rehmann
Environmental Manager
hluscrs\tay\wpwin60Vilcs\mntlettcrs\holon06 I 9.lct
ATTACH}IENT A
Subjccc Avcra$ Comeogtlot trfi-rrf'tlnAatrl
Io dirnssbor ciri o.'itc. rbo,rr tDc *m,ffi#f.fffL:fiffi;fdli
,"Or* urlYrcl. AIb.BSt * Frtr PEJ
errryscr. tlosnr. ;-iffi *i rru.i-rro * s:ir.rno dryry of E'irl tc bi!, 2,1,7,3
ro Marltrsl rs osq?';.d 6.1tffi.-;6d!nd6 b ccorry. I! tu.o.$ oGfEr!
fuhioq tlly or& .J t*ty* of rlr orctirl rod gil rrr b tEultt'
t coogilcd &c rcour of drir.,rly? rhicf, rtIG cryrtsal e3 t!! ct@, ui ol([latcd tlrc
rv6r8s vrhg.a uliitro-a,r.a.q e;;fr'd u v+|.! o rod ftffiui' t''
rd bchoK I cro ;;i6 l00f tt-'-oitityf 1b-Ca d rnIE rrr !br! b Trbb 1'
Itc ouly di* ng.E ;, ,fi;;';no,rd doi* ir Stl' sEtrr rlrir rrmgr l[osi& it
ie r . -'nr, a bl *rffio,ffi."*-m.'leffi'fffi ^;orytltnridB illct tlll Uu(Elll' tltl 5 rsr un' rt!' v' Yr
Nor tlrt ltry t?al u 'vtur'lp "t-{'II IrrQ' rEar y urcO 2'1ll h b AFE My
lacbia3 $db o.d3lbT, -r,tri t uiiii crog b q! Erl tdE. Ab' 8n 611 6r
unrta *,. -Voffio.ffil 'r ttffi a o'+lr' wc oor$ q4 o' onsila rt
03* .d b efua rr0"1t3'
Wchrvr.lc!.rgocuillqrlqlotsoodul$lldurIqry,'o(MbtEeirElo
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ATTACH}IENT B
[c*norJ
June 19, 1997
Ms. Michelle Rehmann
I ntemational U ranium Co rpoatiott, USA
lrtdependence Plaza, Surte gS0
1050 17th Street
Denver, CO 80265
RE: REGIJIITORY CI./ASS/F/CA TION O&AAOfo,ETERIAIS BEINGPROPOSED FOR USE AS AN ALTERNETE TEEOSTO CK AT THEWHITE MESA MILL
Dear Ms. Rehmann:
Based on ow drscussion, and your explanation of the NRC rcquesf foradditional information conceming the regutatory status of the materials
*ilg,prposed for use as an altemate fCedstocr at the white Mesa Miil,
fc-aoojfrc prcviding the foilowing drscusston of the management system forffie aforc mentionecl m aterials.
Eased on the fact that the materials in guesfio n contain natuntty occuringuranium and rhorium at a concentntion grcater than 0.06oi, they aic/ass/Ted as Source Matenals uneer the Atomic Energy Ac,t of igsl andare managed under NRC Licensepnra-ezo]see Anatiinent t) which wasrcnewed on December 31, lgg6 ailct expirei on December al,-zool.
The meterials are currenily sfored in seyen (l) vaults which are,cor'tstructed with conuete walls and floors. The roofs arc formed uiingprcformed concrete T beams and arc covered with insulation and rubbirmembnne roofing mateials.
The protection ol wo*ers from potentiat ndiation exposune is e vitalelament in our ndi.atign safety prognm and access to i/re Dirrs ls sfrGllycontrolled through tocked enw gates and a tog book.
ln order to insurc that there arc no adverse environmental impacts, andthat.the integrity of th.e..6rhs ,s being maintained, a senes ot'montitoinjwells which sunound the Oins arq sampted on a quarfcrly 0asis aidrscussed in the materlats submitted forthe Lrbease renewal afplication.
ln addition to the above r'fems, an ore inventory, which fracks the sourcematerial volume, is calculated annually as requircd under the Llcense.
At present fcaoot corporatiolhas suDm itted a Letter of eredit andexecuted a standby Trust Agreement in favor of the NRc ,n order to insurefunding for decommissioning thepoyertowjtacititr as requircd under theSite Decommissiong Funding ptai
Further drscussrbn of the regulatory status of thefcaoot-l materialsconcemed lie issue of hazardous uvasle and the sfatus dt UesJ;e materialsunder the hazardous waste regulations of the pa Depadment ofEnvironrnental Protectiort. Attachment lt to this tetter is a copy of a pagefrom Tiile 25, Chapter 261 of the pennsytv-ania code, Titte zs- is the',boiyof regulations which gavem environmental Notection in the state andChapter 261 addresses fhe criteia for the identification and llsting ofhazadous raste.
Pa code 25 f 261.4, Exctusions, /ists fiose solld raste s which arcs_peciftcally excluded as hezardous wasle under the regulations.
suDsecfibn (a) (4) under this citation excludes Eourcq special iuclear orby'product mateial as defined by the Atomic Energy Act of 1g54.., frcmrcgulation as hazardous waste. As noted above, thi naterials ln questioin
are regulated as sourue material under an appropriate ilRC ucense.
I believe that this information is adequate in exptaining the regutatorystatus of the matedats being proposed as attemate raeOstick for tie whiteMesa Mill.
shou/d you have any questions, or require additional informathn, pleasecontact me at your convenience.
M an ager, Environmentat Affairs
attachments
Anthony T.
ftrrsuanr to r'hc Atomic E'Gf5t rtc of t95a' os.s5g6"4 rtre Encrg Rcorgadzadoc Acr of IgI4 (hrblic lrw fi-rlo. od rirlc 10.ccdc ot F dc'I Rcgu(uton* C}.EE L hr.' lo' :l' 12. ,3. i4. 15. :g,1 d 70. ald h aiirnce fi fircac*3 rd reprurrodo,s Lcrcrofo*nadc by 'Jtc licc'rsc'' r ticar b hcEby isarcd srlonzog 6e lleose o recirc. rqtir!. trsscrs. .d oarft? bye6dg- soq*.o, 3rd ,pcc,alnuCear narcrirJ dcsignarcd bdos: o rrse ntdr msEill for rnc pnrposds) ad rs & Cra{c) dcsirfl.Ed bclort o dciivcr u raasfcr suc! fisrEnalto
'celons
rudrorized o reccive ir ,! rcodr, e si(h 'ltc-,lgulaEou or drc rppiical5 ftrqrL ltir lic:rsc !ha[ bc dEEacd 6 corrri! 6c cono.iuorrsrlecificd ia Sccion tt3 of dtc Atomic Eocr5r ect of 195a. Js rn.adEd. .rc L *a6cr o a[ cEplicnbh ruic!. cgnlrsros ,rd ordss o( rlc NuclerRegularoty Commission oor, fi hcltl$af h effeg ld o .oy cordinoq sperficd bdor.
u.s. NU€LEJ\A i €qu uroRy co*tLtsgona
K{TERLAIS UCE{SE
ooce -! ze- 2 2jcaj :
4{l-6940
fcaoot corporrri.ff
l-County Line Road -'l
(_Eovertown, PA I9SIZ J
3. Uc-.r aumbcr
a- Expinaoo <lrra 0eceder 3I, 2001
i. Doctcr or
Rcfcrsrce No
8y product. source. urd/or
spccial n uc,lear mrrenal
Natural uraniuu
and thoriur
7. Clcmrcrl urd/or physsl
lorm
Any
8. Maxiruun mount'Jrar licsasei
lniry poss63 tt rny ona umc
uodcr thir iLcltsE
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elenental
uraniuE andtfioriun
10.
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e' i::i:iii:1,!]ttt or .se: The licensee's racilitv rt[ountr Line f,oad, Borertownl
Authorized use: Receipt,.possessionr tnd processing rt thcfaci I ity in accor{ance' ritfi rrii-stiiiniiisi' ilirisentrtions,in the Iicensee's revised applicatlo! qatei r,ralctr- to, lgg4;Iay e.+, Ausust_I7, and octo6ir ii, iigil-F&ffiil 26, Itarch,t{ovember 26, 1996.
Ihe licensee shrll docrmnt aII AI_ARA Couitteers: n :'ao;at'ion prrtrtion, pr"oposea-tn .iA-;iiini.snatl be provided io iiii ftil;i r{;d;j cE.r"ts'
12' rhe licgnsee-strall revis€ rttactrmnts I, c and i to tie rcnanal rpplication 6.tec!{arch l5' 199'1, to reflect tnc curent regu'lations-at io cin-part 20, rhicll becameeffective on January 1, 1994.- n-e ii'iiiiii'inould be coupteted ritiin E0 days of rheissuance of ttris rciclad- iicense-
1t]:::. gf qquipnGnt, facit.iti-es, or sackages to rheuncontrolled areas qnsite shrll 6e tn'accor{arrci ritboecontaoinatioo of Faci I itiii ani-equiiiiniJiiir" toor Teruinarion cf Licerres rorlyp.dju&l-'i"iiii, o.dated April 1993.
Boyertom, Pennsylvan I a,
and conditions specif ied
and supplemnts dated13, and April 10, and
rccomndations for achievinE AI-ARAA copy of tie reconucndatidns
unrestrictcd area or tothr "Guidclinrs for
Rcleasr for Unrestricted UseSgecial !fucleer lhterial, "
rt),$Iadni{c
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SUPPLEMEITTAFY SHEET
qt
40 -6940
1{' IIi,Jll'l::',.:liJlJ?Jlff'.lni.::l'l;l:iJifl res at rhefBoprt*!'i'. and
a' coutposite sarnp'les froo l.continuously collected sanple of ilre efiluent atOutfa]1 001 ,rhen efftuent ti oirir,iii.il'
b' upstream and dornstreas rater sarryles (relative to outfrll 001) of lJestSwamp Creek.
c. Groundwater sanrples from !{onitoring tfells Ia, Z, 3, rnd I idelrtified inFigura 4.1 of ttuREc-nzi. : .If the concentration of any radionuclide exceeds I percent of the value given in10 cFR Part 20, Appendir B; i;bi; ii; ';; iil;ilgitiii'r-iiirr be cade to detenuinethe possibre ciusl'and ipproprraic-iition strarl be taken.
If the concantration of a radionuclide erceeds l0 percent of ttre value inrabte iI, rhe_ricensee stati-r.pi;i'il.l;cident to the A&
H;t;nX'ii:U.l::iiiiiiv'io-tsslon, ;ithi; 30-dayi-a;;;dl'l;$:['tl'lJi3,,];o
d' Sedinent sanples Frqm upstrean and dornstreau locations in rest $aopcreek and 'lmnediarely oirnstrea; ,f-oilFiir oot. If 9r0ss arphaconcentrations excaei 100 pCilg, in in,iiiitgrtion sfrall be oade todetermine the cause-
The 'licensee
:f'a]].rnaintaln a rccord of all monitoring results o'trined inaccordance rlth this Iicense condition-
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Diviston oFTuETEffi
and Safeguardsl{ashington,0C Z0SSE
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HistrT of Rqtlariott
Itrc Earronmcaat Qrdiq gord arcl ir rcE$@tce qirb scoio .tdl of tc Solid wtse Mu.
]:6rrl .A6! (35 .o. S. J olt&rm a proroldiaEE tir rE:ul{&o. -IE (!ir(oJt3 rulc.' gldfltr
opfora]nrty fot lotrct rad ccnsr. Cotacracd Rcl:i&att q:fu laqL lts. t- Dtpc'tstcm of Eaw-
'vtnralal Rcsoares. (995 E{B rl.
Cre Rrftrg
Thrs rcrioa crtcd rt 5 h Cdc ! ]fl: tragq 6 qchsibEr 5 h. Ce I 50! (rdilini
E d.t-rront pocsdl[tsr 5 h- Ci& I 51.1 (Etrury o giclusisE! 5 fu. C* I :54.197 (,!!1t'
o! o cl6ruc rIrd gogclcrrlt: 5 PrCoC I 164i22 (.EhstB o cloIlrt {ld P6tbn!! orct: 5
h. Coc i 165.t97 (rdtoq to clcrt td f..lorutt crEE, 5 PL qre t :55.:Jt (GlarlIU €
ElOCu,t url goiElau,l (.:u!l: 5 h. Coe S :65JlO rdllrli E rl6a,r8 $d PtsErt crrcr. rnd
llt F!.Grd. I 5i23 (rcIury a chrE {a Ff,ddrG cettt
! 261.{. E,xcluslons-
(a) the followrng solid urascr 0G sp€ciilcdly e.$lud€d as hazudou {ctltcs:
(l) Sotid or d,issolved oacnal in domesdc ;eelgc rod aay fllxlut! of
domesric sclase rsd o&Gr vasas thil pess Drough a scwcr sysGo o a POTW
lor grsqnenL
(Z) lndrsrnal w:tlilElr,itta disctrar-sEc iiat trc poiu sonrccr subiEcs o Ggu-
lacion undcr Jccuoo lSZ of tlc Fedgnl Wanr Pollution Codtrol .c.cs (i3
Us.C..{. $ 1342). itis *drsron lgplics unly ro thc asual poir[ source dil-
cbarge,. It docs noc excludc inds.ri8l wascwtcr:3 vhib 6ey arc being col-
lected- stqcd or tretcd prir o ditclarge. uor dGr ir arslu& shdgcs tlag arc
gederatld by i*hrstrial silrlturaEr Elgmcfrc.(3) Sotid or dissolvEd rnrttrids rn irrigation rca.tn floqrs.
($) Sourca. spccrol orlcar or by-product marerial as dedncd by cle
.\ornic Encrgy Act of 1954 (42 U.S.C-L J$ l,0tl-2394).(:J Marcriatr subpaed o r4 nru mrnfiE achnrqrras slrrh arc oot rcnovcd
Som rhc goud 3s a !,art of tbc :rstr.':loo psciss.
(6) Houschold ,saste. ircMin-g hous.Sold slgc hat hrs bca coilcctctl
ransponcd stortd- Ererts( disposcd. rccovcrld-i*e! q3 rtfuse-cienved
fuel-x reuscd-(a Solful wascs gencnnd by ruy oi t[c fo0owing and {hic! ase rcoilrcd
o 6s soiir as feniizer:(D The growing ud hrrvcsring of agrioilunl cogs.(iD Thc raisiag 6t':niorrla 6cltdilg nainrl 6sglJlltl(8) Cod rcnrsc as dctincd in rtrc Col Refirsc Dispsd Couqol Acs (52
P.S. $$ J0.5r-i0.6o.($ MiniaS ovcrburdr! rccracd o rhs mine sie
(I0) Tre$gLil slrdtcs ton cocl oiuc dra,rnqu [tlgrtcrst facr-liricr- titc dis-
po68l ol whiclr is being coodrcrcd uuricr and io compliarre wiIh a valid pcrmit
ssed undcr Thc Oeaq Sotans t$v (.15 P. S. $$ 69t.rjgt.t$l)-
(2:E:i2.r No. l7l Jun- S7
26t{
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ATTACHNIENT 1
Cabot Material Description and Flow Diagram
1.6
Attachment I
Exemptions and Special Authorizations
[The Bolertown faciliry's sole licensedactivity involving source material is its generation
and temporary storage on-site of by-product sludges, which result from the processing of
raw ores to extract columbium and tantalum. These by-product sludges constirute] source
material because they contain excess of 0.05% uranium and thorium, in combination. by
weight. In addition to potentially commercially valuable uranium and thorium
concentrations, the by-product sludges also contain significant concentrations of
columbium, tantalum and other rare earth elements.
CPM has been storing these by-product sludges on-site in secure concrete and cinderblock
vaults at the Boyertown facility while it investigates various possibilities for recycling or
other commercial uses of the sludges. The proposed revised extraction process would use
the sludges as a supplemental feedstock in addition to new ores and ore concenrates. The
revised process would recover the hydrofluoric acid from the sludges, and extract the
remaining concentrations of commercially valuable columbium and tantalum. The
company's ultimate goal is to reprocess its entire inventory of stored by-product sludges
in this fashion, and to ship the reprocessed residues off-site for further reclamation or
disposal before the evenrual decontamination and decommissioning of the facility.
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Indeper-rdence Plaza, Suite 950 . 1050 Seventeenth street r Denver, CO 80265 . 303 62fl 7798 (main) o 303 389 4125 (fax)
June 17, 1997
VIA OVERMGHT MAIL
Mr. William J. Sinclair, Director
State of Utah Department of Environmental Quality
Division of Radiation Control
168 North 1950 West
Salt Lake city, uT 841l4-4850
Dear Mr. Sinclair.
As we have discussed, enclosed are two versions of a request to amend U.S. Nuclear Regulatory
Commission ("NRC") Source Material License SUA-1358 to authorize receipt and processing of
certain ore concentrates resulting from the processing of natural ore for the extraction of metal
products. In submitting this amendment request to the NRC, Energy Fuels Nuclear, Inc. ('EFN')
stated that the request contains confidential commercial and/or financial information held in
confidence by EFN and that it meets the criteria as listed under section 63.2 of the Government
Records and Access Act, and l0 CFR 2.790(b).
As you are aware, International Uranium (USA) Corporation ("ruCu), is the new owner of the White
Mesa Mill, and the NRC has transferred NRC License SUA-1358 to IUC. IUC makes the same
assertions as put forth by EFN regarding the confidentiality of the noted portions of the request.
Therefore, as discussed with Fred Nelson of the Utah Attorney General's Office, IUC hereby
transmits these copies ofthe request to amend with the understanding that bracketed portions of the
applications, and selected attachments, be treated as confidential, pursuant to section 63-2-304 of
the Utah code.
Although the NRC has not yet responded to the request for confidentiality, we further understand
that the Attorney General's Office will reply to this submittal with a letter confirming that the
confidential information will be maintained as confidential by the state of Utah. This material would
remain confidential for the same period as is applied by the NRC. In the transmittd letter to the
NRC, the request was that the information identified as "confidential" contained in the request be
maintained by the NRC as confidential until March 31, 2000. The company also reserved the right
to reevaluate this proposed release date as circumstances change over the course of the proposed
three year period.
a
William J. Sinclair, Director
June 17,1997
Page2
The enclosed copies ofthe April 3, 1997 amendment request are bring transmitted as the following
two versions:
l. Complete text with brackets indicating portions of text and the selected attachments to be
withheld as confidential and
2. fui edited version of (l) with bracketed text deleted and selected attachments removed. This
version may be used in public files.
In addition to the request to amend, we also transmit herewith the following supplemental
information, which was provided to the NRC following the initial submittal on April 3,1997:
l. Transportation Summary and Equipment Informatioq transmitted to NRC on May 19, 1997;
and
2. Radiochemical and method 8260 analytical results, transmitted to NRC on May 6,1997.
I can be reached at 303.389 .4131.
,/ Sincerely,/-7.;/,/,*
Michelle R. Rehmann
Environmental Manager
MRR/tay
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