HomeMy WebLinkAboutDRC-2016-010164 - 0901a0688066c09eState of Utah
GARY R HERBERT
Governor
Spencer J Cox
Lieutenant Governor
Department of
Environmental Quality
Alan Matheson
Executive Director
Div of Waste Managers.•‘-r
and Radiation Control
SEP 2 I 2016
DIVISION OF WASTE MANAGEMENT
AND RADIATION CONTROL
Scott T Anderson
Director C- 201G-OIO \(ok-
MEMORANDUM
TO:
THROUGH:
FROM:
DATE:
SUBJECT:
On August 23, 2016, I traveled to the White Mesa Uranium Mill to perform multiple inspections, including
an inspection of in-situ leach (ISL) waste disposal operations on behalf of the Utah Division of Waste
Management and Radiation Control (DWMRC). This report pertains to the waste disposal operation
inspection and responds to a 1 le.(2) Byproduct Receipt Notification from EFR, dated June 10,2016. EFR
is allowed to dispose this byproduct material in Tailings Cell 3 only, which is allowed by License
Condition 10.5 of the EFR Radioactive Material License.
On June 10, 2016 the DWMRC received notice that EFR would receive one load of I le.(2) byproduct
material, and intended to dispose of that waste in Cell 3 on August 24, 2016. One load was ultimately
received, and that load arrived concurrently with my arrival at the mill the morning of August 24, 2016.
I checked in at the White Mesa Mill at 7:40 AM on August 24, 2016, in company with two other inspectors
from the DWMRC who were there for other purposes, and asked to see David Turk, Site Manager for
Environmental Health and Safety. Mr. Turk assigned Garrin Palmer to oversee the disposal operation.
At approximately 8:30 AM the crew assembled at the disposal area with the requisite equipment (a loader).
The load of waste was disposed in one excavation. The field crew used the appropriate paperwork, i.e.
Revision 3.3 of Procedure PBL-10, to guide the operation.
Material disposed consisted of tote bags filled with miscellaneous decommissioning debris, along with
loose and bagged soil received at the plant during the inspection from URI, Kingsville Dome, near
Kingsville, Texas, shipped by Environmental Evolutions, bearing Shipper Numbers 16KVD-002.
The bill of lading for this load appears in the attachments to this report.
Mr. Palmer, with assistance from Tanner Holiday, surveyed the level at the bottom of the excavation prior
File C-2016-36
Phil Goble, Section Manager
Russell J. Topham,
September 21,2016
i, P E
Engineering Module 73. Inspection of Disposal of Bulk Byproduct Material August 24,
2016 and Review of Disposal Operation Files for 2015 and 2016 to Date. Radioactive
Materials License UT1900479 (License) - Energy Fuels Resources (USA) Inc. (EFR)
White Mesa Mill, Standing, Utah
195 North 1950 Wesi • Salt Lake City, UT
Mailing Address. P O Box 144880 • Salt Lake City, UT 84114-4880
Telephone (801) 536-0200 • Fax (801) 536-0222 • T D D (801) 903-3978
umni’.deq.utali.gov
Printed on 100% recycled paper
C-2015-54
Memorandum: Inspection of August 24, 2016
Page 2
to waste placement. Using a front-end loader, the crew placed the waste in the excavations and tamped it
down. Mr. Palmer then surveyed the elevation of the top of the waste, and the crew filled the excavation to
the top with soil. As Photos 5 and 6 from the photo log shows, the excavation was only filled on one side
and covered, leaving the remaining portion of the hole open for receipt of a future load.
The crew wheel-walked the cover soil to provide compaction.
EFR appears compliant with Part 10.5.E.(2) of the RML with respect to the elevation of burial. It appeared
that all provisions of the approved disposal SOP were followed during placement and burial of the bulk
waste.
Finding: EFR appears to have followed applicable provisions of the RML and of the SOP for the burial
operation.
Recommendation: I recommend closing out the inspection of August 24, 2016.
Following completion of the burial activity, 1 requested to see the records of all waste loads received and
disposed during 2015 and the portion of 2016 to date. Review of those files revealed no failure to follow
appropriate procedures or to complete the appropriate paperwork during receipt and disposal operations. A
total of 19 packets were reviewed for 2016 and 37 for 2015. Each packet included the following, except as
noted:
• Pages 11 through 13 of SOP PBL-13 properly completed for that load,
• The weigh-in ticket generated on receipt of the load,
• The shipper’s bill of lading,
• Documentation of the radiological survey taken at the point of origin of the load,
• Photos of the waste as received,
• Incoming radiological survey (recorded on the last page of the SOP PBL-10 excerpt),
• Field survey of the depth of burial, and
• A copy of the notice provided to the DWMRC of the expected burial date of the waste (missing in
the packet for load 3/15-14).
All packets were uniquely labeled on each sheet of paper in the packet pertaining to that load with the
unique shipper number for that load. The only anomaly noted in the files was that Load 4/15-17 was
incorrectly labelled with the burial date rather than the shipper’s bill of lading number.
Finding: EFR appears to have followed applicable provisions of the RML and of the SOP for the burial
operations represented in the 20-month record examined. Anomalies noted were communicated to Mill
management. The anomalies do not reflect a violation of any Rule or license provision.
Recommendation: I recommend closing out the paperwork inspection of August 24, 2016.
C-2015-54
Memorandum: Inspection of August 24, 2016
Page 3
1 discussed both inspections with Logan Shumway, the Mill Manager, prior to departing.
Attachments: Receipt Notification dated February 23, 2016, Bill of Lading and Disposal Documentation
for the load disposed on August 24, 2016, photos of the disposal operation.
Energy Fuels Resources (USA) Inc.
6425 South Highway 191, PO Box 809
Standing, UT. US, 84511
435 678 2221, fax 435 678 2224
www.energyfuels.com
Jt'
-oO'Z-
VIA Electronic Mail (PDF) and UPS
Mr. Scott Anderson
Director of Waste Management and Radiation Control
State of Utah Department of Environmental Quality
195 North 1950 West
POBox 144880
Salt Lake City, UT 84114-4880
Dear Mr. Anderson,
June 10, 2016
A 9c5 ^
Re: 1 le.(2) Byproduct Receipt Notification
Pursuant to Radioactive Materials License (RML) UT 1900479 condition 10.5.F, Energy Fuels Resources
(USA) Inc. is hereby notifying the Division of Waste Management and Radiation Control that the White
Mesa Uranium Mill will be receiving and disposing of five loads of 1 le.(2) byproduct material by July 1,
2016.
If there are any questions regarding these shipments or the scheduling of the disposal activities feel free to
contact me at the White Mesa Mill at 435.678.4113.
Regards,
David Turk
Environmental Health & Safety Manager
Energy Fuels Resources (USA) Inc.
cc: Denver Central Files
No.: PBL-10 ENERGY FUELS RESOURCES (USA) INC.
Rev. No.: R-3.3 STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES Page 11 of 13
Date: November 13,
2014
Title: 1 le.(2) Byproduct Disposal
ATTACHMENT 2
Ue.(2) BYPRODUCT MATERIAL DISPOSAL DOCUMENTATION FORM
Date; g/2-H j j£
Name of employee receiving the load: T^r 1C________
Generator of the Byproduct Material: L> |ZX-
Shipper’s Manifest or Bill of Lading number: I A KV & — OC>~<L
Was the State of Utah given notice to the receipt/disposal activities associated with this loac^
No ^Ye^ or
Who gave and when was the notification given?
__T~ur l^-i._____________^ /lO /1 4_______________
Description of byproduct material disposal area/activities:
_Dtr-V _b^g. See- ck
Has each drum been inspected to identify the presence of any void spaces? fiJA:
Have all drums with void spaces been filled with tailings sands or soil?_____A/A__________
Which tailings cell was the material placed in?___U TS
Was the material placed on a tailings beach area of the cell or on an area of the cell that was underlain
by tailings sands?
/AtK.1 o<- . c?-l—laJj-feS—pAux.uk.—Li-—fe, .LrcACrU—V__ulisi_________in__V-Ue-
Was the material segregated from any Mill material or equipment disposed of in the cell?
Yc/
Was the material segregated from byproduct material from other ISL sources disposed of in the cell?
_______la_________ _________ ____________
No.: PBL-10 ENERGY FUELS RESOURCES (USA) INC.
Rev. No.: R-3.3 STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES Page 12 of 13
Date: November 13,
2014
Title: lle.(2) Byproduct Disposal
Manifest or BOL #: tMO/ft
Have the thickness and placement measurements been verified and documented for the disposal area
by the engineer, specifically:
Engineer’s or
Environmental
Coordinator’s
Initials
Was the material placed in a cell approved by the executive Secretary
for ISL waste disposal?
Documentation of approval # ut a-*.~ 7 <gr
Was the ISL material segregated from disposed Mill material and other
ISL material?
Refer to plat(s) used to confirm. yr//3 Hr-l jO<&>evs(
Was the maximum lift thickness above tailings less than 4 feet thick?
Was the maximum lift thickness of subsequent lifts less than 2 feet
thick?&
Has 4 foot of tailings sands been maintained under each disposal
area?
Refer to drawings used to confirm /%// ?
L--J--------------------
&
Is the bottom of each disposal area at least 12 feet from the sides or
dikes of the tailings cell? /ex
Refer to drawings used to confirm. ^// ? Co^st,&
Will the elevation of the material exceed the plane or grade of the
elevation of the uppermost flexible membrane liner of the cell?
Mn
How was this confirmed (e.g., survey or review)
____________
How was the area compacted? Was each lift compacted by heavy equipment (such as a Cat D-6) at
least 4 times prior to placement of subsequent lifts?
l^f.
Were void spaces filled with tailings?
_________YcJ__________________
Was the shipment properly covered?
_____Vt-j,
No.: PBL-10 ENERGY FUELS RESOURCES (USA) INC.
Rev. No.: R-3.3 STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES Page 13 of 13
Date: November 13,
2014
Title: 1 le.(2) B>product Disposal
Manifest or BOL#: l£Hi>fc>'OQ"7-
Are additional settlement monitors required to be placed for this generator?
_________/t/A-------------------------------------------------------------------------
If required, where were settlement markers were placed?
______a/A ___________________________
Radiological receipt survey measurements:
P.** +-D O--?-/I-*' .
Breathing Zone:
1. Was a Breathing Zone Sample collected'^Yes^pr No
2. If yes, what were the results of the sampling?
______Sc-c ________________________
Was a photograph taken during the unloading activities?(Yes or No
Breathing Zone Sampling Field Sheet
Energy Fuels Resources (USA) Inc. White Mesa Mill
Month:August-16 Sampled By:Radiation Department
Filter Location Date Run Time Flow Rate Volume Sampled
CommentsID(Min.)(LPM)(mL)By
BZ11 YCPkg 08/21/16 83 40 3.32E+06 KR Weekly YC Pkg - PAPR worn
BZ12 YC Slacks 08/24/16 360 4 I.44E+06 DT Collected on roof as (he South YC stack was being tested.
BZ13 I le.(2)08/24/16 39 4 1.56E+05 DT Collected during the dumping and burial of 1 le.(2) Byproduct material.
BZ14 YC Area 08/24/16 106 4 4.24E+05 HL RWP 1373 - Respirators wom
BZ15 40 0.00E+00
Reviewed by:
Air Particulate Calculations Summary Sheet
Count
Dale/Time Filter ID
Instrument
Serial No.Efficiency
Total
Count/Time CPM
Bkg.
Count/Time
Net Count
(Tot.-Bkg.)
LLD
(uCi/mL)
Concentration
uCi/ mL
Percent of
DAC
Sample
Counted By
08/22/16 BZ11 2929 11.44%3147 314.7 11.10 303.60 6.I5E-12 3.60E-10 1636.67%HL
08/25/16 BZ12 2200 12.50%161 16.1 13.90 2.20 1.44E-11 5.5 IE-12 0.00% DT
08/25/16 BZ13 2929 11.44%67 6.7 11.10 0.00 1.3 IE-10 0.00E+00 0.00%DT
08/25/16 BZ14 2929 11.44%1388 138.8 11.10 127.70 4.82E-11 1.19E-09 5390.43%DT
BZ15 11.79%0 11.60 0.00 #DIV/0!#DFV/0!#DIV/0!
Time of Sample
Concentration ( nCi/cc)= _______(Net CPM)_______ Ts= Background Count Time in Minutes
(2.22 E6)(V)(Eff.d) Tb= Detector efficiency in Counts per Disintegration
Eff. d= Filter Efficeincy
________________ Eff. f = Total Volume in millilitres of Cubic centimeters
LLD or MDA= 2,71+3.29 Bkg.*Ts(l+Ts/Tb)______ V= Factor to convert DPM to uCi ^
(Ts)(Eff. d)(Eff. 0(V)(2.22E6) 2.22E6 = Total Counts - Background Count
Net CPM =
Percent of DAC= Actual Concentration
DAC
\(^c>
Controled Elevation used (Cell 3)
Area Elevation
5613.04
Transit Shot
Initial shot for trench 4.88
Top of trench 5608.44 9.48
Bottom of trench 5603.42 14.5
Initial shot used for material 4.88
Tod of material in trench 5606.33 11.59
Top of cell 3 Liner 5608.5
Feet below liner 2.17
(USA) Corp.
. DO
Energy Fuels Resource
UJh i t e Mesa M i J 1
£425 S. Highway 191
Blanding LIT 64511
U e hic1e ID;
Trai1er ID;
Account ID;
Order JD:
Owner ID;
Material ID:
Destin. IDs
UP I-HUD UR I-KINGSVILLE DOME
life) Mat 1 1 ( e ) 2 Mat er i a 1 Race i pt
BLONDIMG
i ransection Wo»
52BD3
Dat n Time Sea 1e
0S/E‘4/£01& 07;h£ 1
06/24/2016 08:18 1
Gross: 70300 lb (M)
Tare; 3173® lb
Net: 365£® lb
C o in in e n t s ;
Operator:
Signature
TRAILER tf T0®5
4 Charge by Weight
52833
3031
URI-KYD
11 (e)£ Mat
0Q/£4/£®16 07:46 703®0 lb <M>
08/£4/£016 08:18 31780 lb
365£0 lb
0 Tot Chg;Net Chg:0
URI, INC.STRAIGHT BILL OF LADING FOR BYPRODUCT
MATERIAL
RM License No. R03653 Shipment No. 16KVD-002 Trailer# 'TopS'
Date: 8/22/2016 A Seal # fl/a^
NAME OF CARRIER: Environmental Evolutions DRIVER: Xl\\i\K
SHIPPER (from) URI, Inc.
STREET 641 E. FM 1118
city Kingsville state Texas zip 78363
COUNTRY USA phone 361-595-5731
cosignee (to) Energy Fuels- White Mesa Mill
DESTINATION STREET 6425 S. Hwy 191
city Blanding state UT zip 84511
COUNTRY U.S.A.phone 435-678-2221
CONTENTS
EXCLUSIVE USE SHIPMENT
**These contents are contaminated with natural uranium and its daughters 226Ra and 230Th
IDENTIFICATION NUMBER: UN 2912
PROPER SHIPPING NAME: RADIOACTIVE MATERIAL, low specific activity (LSA-P.
HAZARD CLASS: _7 FORM: Solid Oxide ACTIVITY: 0.0008 TBo
SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS: Do not remove contents without authorization
WEIGHT: Tare'MHSO lbs. NET 38^0° lbs. GROSS lbs.
EMERGENCY CONTACTS 24 HOUR
CHEMTREC: 800-424-9300 password: URI
URI DISTRICT: 361-331-5585 (Joshua Holland)
SHIPPER’S CERTIFICATION
This is to certify that the abovi
proper condition for transporta
CONSIDERED A PACKAGE
s materials are properly classified, described, packaged, marked, placarded and labeled, and are in
ition according to the applicable regulations of the Department of Transportation. THIS VEHICLE IS
IN'COhQPLIANCE WITH 49 CFR 173.427 (c)
Shipper's Signature Date /fc/JZ
// CARRIER’S CERTIFICATION
Carrier acknowledges receijH'bf packages and required placards. Carrier certifies emergency response information was made
available and has th^appropriate emergency response document in the vehicle. Department of Transportation.
\w Date Receivedz/jl/zoit.Date Relinquished
Carrier Signature 2 Date Received Date Relinquished
Carrier Signature 3 Date Received Date Relinquished
^ CONSIGNEE’S RECIEPT of S.HIPMENT
Cosignee's Signature / /
_____________'i Lm/l.______________________________________________
Date
_____*kyltk.
SHIPPER’S
RELEASE AUTHORIZATIGN P0R BYPRODUCT MATERIAL
DESTINATION: Energy Fuel’s - White Mesa Mill
6425 S. Hwy 191
____________Blending, UT 84511_________
SHIPMENT NUMBER:
NAME OF DRIVER:
16KVD-002
description of material: Byproduct material from an in situ uranium mining operation consiting
of Process Material, Soil and Bulk Material with gamma readings no higher
than 50mR/hr. Bulk material may contain items such as submersible well pumps.
polyethylene pipe, PVC pipe, PPE, pond liner, visqueen plastic sheeting, cartridge or
bag filters, equipment parts and pieces, lab trash, crushed contaminated drums, pallets, etc
DRIVER: X
Signature
By execution below, it is represented that the byproduct material being transported Is
properly classified, described, loaded and labeled; and, that the byproduct material is
completely contained and in proper condition for transportation, according to the appli
cable regulations for the state and federal transportation departments.
The shipper certifies the byproduct material is not listed hazardous waste as defined in the
Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, as amended, 40 CFR 261 et. seg. or comparable
state laws. The byproduct material has not been mixed or commingled with hazardous
waste as defined in 40 CFR 261 eL seq.. No process are operated on the site which are
RCRA- listed process as defined in 40 CFR 261 eL seq. All of the Byproduct Material is
byproduct material defined under the Atomic Energy Act of 1954 as amended, 42 U. S. C.
§ 2014(e)(2) and 10 CFR § 40.4 (a-l)
77
0 URI, INC.11.e.2 Byproduct SUPER SACK AND TRANSPORT
SURVEY
Date: 8/22/2016 Lot No. 16KVD-002
Meter Model Serial Number Probe Model Serial Number Check Source
(cpm)
Eff
(cpm/d
pm)
Bkg
a 2241-3 228154 43-9 PR243270 3084 0.31 1
p/y 2241-3 228154 44-7 PR241506 305 0.07 31
y 19 101727 N/A
Front
Surface Survey
Back Left Side Right Side
CPM DPM/IOOcm1 CPM DPM/IOOcm1 CPM DPM/IOOcm1 CPM DPM/IOOcm1
a*0 0 0 0 0 0 1 4
p/y**0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Limits Per 100 cm1, *2200 dpm/ 100cm1 (22 dpm/ cm1), ** 22,000 dpm/ 100cm1 (2200 dpm/ cm1)
Externa! Exposure Rate*
Back'** Left Side*’*Right Side*
Surface O-a'6jeciJ.hr..*■70,jX.o-
Driver's Cab*
Two
Meters C>-02r~altr 09~/n
200 mrem/hr)
O.IJT*
mSi/t
0- 13 **/>-
Limits per mSi/hr (mrem/hr), ***2 mSi/hr (200 mi
****.02 mSi/hr. (2 mrem/hr.)
) surface; 1 mSi/hr. (10 mrem/hr) 2m
„ 1 riti -------LSurvyeys conducted by:
Photo 1: Excavation prepared for burial of soil and decommissioning debris
from URI, Kingsville, Texas. Photo taken August 24, 2016.
Photo 3: Off-loading soil and decommissioning debris preparatory to burial.
Photo taken August 24, 2016.
Photo 2: Excavation prepared for burial of soil and decommissioning debris
from URI, Kingsville, Texas. Photo taken August 24, 2016.
Photo 4: soil and decommissioning debris awaiting disposal. Photo taken
August 24, 2016.
Photo 7: Wheel-walking capping fill in place to increase fill density. Photo
taken August 24, 2016.
Photo 6: Placing capping fill over waste.. The crew part of left the excavation
open to receive a future load of waste. Photo taken August 24, 2016.
Photo 8: Final condition of burial site. Photo taken August 24, 2016.