DRC-2023-003129 - 0901a068811d4512

State of Utah
Department of
Environmental Quality
Kimberly D. Shelley
Executive Director
SPENCER J. COX
Governor
DIVI SION OF WASTE MANAGEMENT
AND RADIATION CONTROL
DEIDRE HENDERSON
lieutenant Governor
Douglas J. Hansen
Director
MEMORANDUM
TO: Phil Goble ?126 J/2~23 /}J1 3)2o/4oz ~
FROM: Dean Henderson
DATE: March 20, 2023
SUBJECT: Utah Division of Waste Management and Radiation Control (DWMRC) Staff
Observations of the Drilling and Installation of Well MW-41A at the EFRI White Mesa
Mill Facility near Blanding Utah.
On March 13-16, 2023, DWMRC staff Dean Henderson observed the drilling and installation activities
for well MW-41A at the EFRI White Mesa Mill facility near Blanding Utah (see MW-41A location in
figure 1).
The drilling contractor was Recapture Drilling. Drill, crew: Scott Marian, Ryan Marian, and Tommy
Bright ( drilling crew). The geologist for EFRI was Travis Voam.
On March 13 , 2023 , the 6.75" dia. bore hole for MW-41A was drilled to a depth of 130 feet from ground
surface (fgs). Based on the core samples and boring cuttings the depth of the Burro Canyon Formation
and the Brushy Basin Member of the Morrison Formation contract was approximately 123 feet fgs. To
get an accurate measurement of a statice groundwater elevation in the bore hole, it was cleaned out and
left open and the water levels were measured periodically till morning March 16, 2023.
Water level measurements fgs:
March 13 , 4:30pm 128.5 feet
March 14, 9:00am 117.5 feet
March 14, 12:00pm 114.2 feet
March 15, 8:00am 109.2 feet
March 16, 8:00am 107.5 feet
Based on a water level elevation measurement of 107.5 feet fgs. and to assure the top of well screen
would be below the static groundwater level, the well construction for MW-41A would be:
DRC-20 I 95 North 1950 West• Salt Lake City, UT
Mailing Address: P.O. Box 144880 • Salt Lake City, UT 84114-4880
Telephone (801 ) 536-0200 • Fax [phone] • T.D.D. (801 ) 536-4284
www.deq.11tnl1.gov
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DRC-2023-003129
Page2
Well screened: 125 -115 feet fgs.
Sand pack: 130-113 feet fgs.
Bentonite seal: 113 -0 feet fgs.
On March 16, 2023, the DWMRC staff observed the drilling crew successfully install the well casing,
sand pack and, before leaving the site, only saw the start of a few feet of the bentonite seal being
installed as described above. On March 17, 2023 Kathy Weinel with EFRI reported that the well boring
had collapsed and were unsuccessful in getting bentonite installed and the well was abandoned. EFRI
Plans to drill and install a new boring for MW-41 B on April 11, 2023.
Page 3
Figure 1. Location and drilling activities of well MW-41B. The view is to the west. The drilling
contractor is Recapture Drilling. Drill, crew: Scott Marian, Ryan Marian, and Tommy Bright.
Page 4
Figure 2. Core of the Burro Canyon
Formation and the Brushy Basin Member
of the Morrison Formation.
Burro Canyon Formation
---------------------Contact approximately
Brushy Basin Member of 123 feet.
Morrison Formation
Figure 3. Saturated boring
cuttings from the Burro
Canyon Formation
(brownish) and the Brushy
Basin Member of the
Morrison Formation
(greenish).