DRC-2019-004082 - 0901a06880a341d9

INSPECTIoN REPoRT
InspectionModule: RADMOD-IM:lntemalMonitoring
lnspection Location: Energy Fuels - White Mesa Uranium Mill, Blanding Utah.
lnspection ltems: Occupational Air Sampling and Bioassay Monitoring
Inspection Dates: April 29 & 30,2019
Inspectors: Ryan Johnson, Utah Division Waste Management and Radiation Control
(DWMRC)
Personnel Contacted:
Terry Slade, Energy Fuels Resources Radiation Safety Officer (RSO)
Garrin Palmer, Radiation Safety Technician (RST)
Justin Perkins, RST
David Lacv. Laboratorv Technician
Goveming Documents:o UAC R3 l3- 15o Radioactive Materials License (RML) UT1900479. Applicable Mill procedures and manuals
Ooenins Meetins
Energy Fuels Resources:
Terry Slade (RSO)
Ganin Palmer (RST)
Utah DWMRC:
Ryan Johnson (Health Physics lnspector)
During the opening meeting, the inspector discussed the inspection items and documentation to be reviewed
during the inspection. The Mill is not producing uranium at this time. The Mill is currently recovering
vanadium from the process fluids in the Mill's tailing impoundments. The Mill staffreminded the inspector
of the safew reauirements for the Mill.
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DRC Meters Used Model Serial Number Calibration Due Date
Dose Rate Ludlum l9 101673 6t15t20t9
Insoection Sunmarv
The inspection consisted ofa RSO interview, reviewing applicable documentation and a mill tour. The
following discussion provides more detail ofthe specific items reviewed.
Item l. Documentation Review: The Inspector reviewed applicable documentation.
Observations: The DWMRC inspector reviewed the following documents:
. Calibration sheets for general area and breathing zone sample pumps;
. General area air sampling worksheets;
o Breathing zone sampling worksheets; ando Bioassay analytical results and chain ofcustody forms.
While reviewing the paperwork for breathing zone sampling, the inspector noticed that there were some
very high derived air concentration (DAC) values being recorded during the last year. The DAC values
observed ].lpto 13,195.27Vo DAC. The lnspector and the RSO discussed the high DAC valuesthat are
observed in areas like the yellowcake dryers and packaging area. The RSO told the inspector that they limit
exposure in these yellowcake areas by limiting the time Mill personnel are working in those areas.
The work at the Mill has been done under Radiation Work Permits (RWPs) or according to Standard
Operating Procedures (SOPs). The inspector verified that:
o Respirator protection was being used by the mill personnel performing the work;o Bioassay samples were being collected from the mill personnel performing the work:o Bioassay results indicated that the mill personnel were not inhaling uranium; ando Bioassay sampling and analysis standard operating procedure (SOP) was being followed.
While reviewing the paperwork for the bioassay results the inspector noticed that one sample (#6857)
during the June l, 201 8 event had a result of 30.72 pgll. A rerun of the sample had a result of 32.30 pgll.
A duplicate sample was sent to an off-site laboratory and that result was 3.2 pglL. This discrepancy was
investigated and it was documented that the difference was a result with the onsite equipment used to
analyze the sample was not working properly. The lnspector interviewed the Laboratory Technician that
performs the bioassay analysis and he confirmed that the Mill had some equipment problems and those
problems had been fixed. Review ofbioassay samples from the months following this incident also indicate
that the problem was identified and solved. A copy ofthe Mill's investigation report can be found in the
inspection folder. Also starting in January 2019,the Mill's Radiation Safety Staff started putting a
summary sheet ofthe month's bioassay results at the beginning offolders. An example ofthese summary
sheets can be found in the inspection folder.
Deficiencies: None
Item 2, Mill Tour: The Inspectors walked through the restricted area on a general site tour. The tour
included the ore pad, the mill, the altemate feed circuit and solvent exraction building.
Obseruations: The DWMRC inspector also observed:o Alternate feed material being stored on the ore pad; and. OSL badges were appropriately being used by all observed employees at the Mill.
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observed Mill tour
Location Dose Rate (pR"/hr)
Ore Pad 300-400
Mill 50
Yellowcake Storaqe Area 45
Solvent Extraction Buildine 50
A ltemate feed Pad 40
Deficiencies: None
Closeout Meetins
Energy Fuels:
Logan Shumway (Mill Manager)
Terry Slade (RSO)
Garrin Palmer (RST)
Utah DWMRC:
Ryan Johnson (Health Physics Inspector)
Findinqs
None
Recommendations
None
Recommendation for Next Inspectionl. Spills (yellowcake and other materials)2. Personnel Exit Monitoring;
Prepared By:
Reviewed By:
(Print Name)
Phil Goble
immediately;
f- z-za,r?
(Date)
(Print Name)
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(Dete)(Signature)