DRC-2011-005749 - 0901a068802319a9

State of Utah
GARY R. HERBERT
Governor
GREG BELL
Lieulenant Governor
May 18, 2011
Department of
Environmental Quality
Amanda Smith
Executive Director
DIVISION OF RADIATION CONTROL
Rusty Lundberg
Director
Billy Ray, Project Engineer
Rio Algom Mining L.L.C.
RO. Box 218
Grants, NM 87020
Subject: 2010 Annual Land Use Survey, Rio Algom Mining LLC, Lisbon Facility,
Radioactive Materials License No. UTI900481, Received by DRC on January 3,
2011: DRC Closeout and Advisory
Dear Mr. Ray:
DRC has completed review of the 2010 Annual Land Use Survey, Dated December 31, 2010 and
received by DRC on January 3, 2011. The Survey was submitted to comply with Condition 21 of
the Utah Radioactive Materials License Number UT1900481, Amendments, Issued January 2,
2010 (License).
Per DRC review it appears that the Land Use Survey submission complies with License Condition
21. Therefore, this matter is hereby closed.
Advisor^!
As you recall, DRC provided an advisory in last year's (2009) annual land use survey close out
letter (DRC letter dated February 16, 2010), which was conceming a pipeline project for stock
watering in the Lisbon Valley located in the area of the Rio Algom Property and LTSM. Redd
Ranches made the application for approval of the stock watering project, including ground water
withdrawal and pipeline installation forthe project.
Per more recent communication between DRC and BLM Moab during January and February
2011, DRC leamed that no ground water wells have been drilled in Lisbon for the stock watering
project, however, an additional proposal was made recently by Redd Ranches to utilize 2 existing
water rights for the project, which are different than those included in last year's advisory. These
recently proposed well rights (ground water wells) are approximately 5,000 feet southeast of the
Rio Algom Mill Site LTSM boundary and are listed by the Utah Department of Natural Resources
as rights 0605003M00 and 0605008M00. We noted these locations of the well rights on the 2010 '
annual survey map. These ground water wells are completed in the shallow Burro Canyon aquifer
(same aquifer as the uranium contaminant plume), and it is estimated that they will be pumped at a
rate of approximately 15-30 gallons per minute.
195 North 1950 West • Salt LakeCity. UT
Mailing Address: P.O. Box 144850 • Salt Lake City. I'T 84114-4850 -, •
Telephone (801 I 536-4250 • Fax [phone] •T.D.D. (801)5-^6-4414
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Printed on I OCji'recycled piifwr
Billy Ray, Rio Algom Mining
2010 Annual Land Use Survey, Lisbon Valley
DRC Close-out Letter
Page 2
Per communication between BLM and DRC, it is unknown whether the drawdown due to
pumping these wells will impact regional groundwater flow direction and potentially draw
contamination from the plume. DRC has noted a lack of hydrogeologic study regarding the Redd
Ranches proposal (e.g. pump tests etc.). DRC also re-recommended to the BLM that at minimum.
Redd Ranches should be required to sample the groundwater drawn from the wells annually &
have it analyzed for appropriate laboratory parameters to ensure protection of public health.
Ultimately, approval or denial of the application is under the control of the BLM.
If you have questions conceming the DRC review or this letter please do' not hesitate to contact
Tom Rushing at [phone]. Thank you.
Sincerely,
UTAH RADIATION CONTROL BOARD
Rusty Lundberg, Executive Secretary
RL:TR:tr
cc: Chuck Wentz, Rio Algom Mining L.L.C.
Richard Bush, U.S; Department of Energy. Office of Legacy Management. 2597 B VA Road. Grand Junction, CO 81503
F:\RioAlgom\LandUseSurvey2010\Rio2010LandUseSurveyClose-outLtr.doc