DRC-2010-007673 - 0901a0688025cd76

State of Utah
GARY R. HERBERT
Governor
GREG BELL
Lieutenant Governor
Department of
Environmental Quality
Amanda Smith
Executive Director
DIVISION OF RADIATION CONTROL
Rusty Lundberg
Director
QRC-2010-007673
MEMORANDUM
TO:
FROM:
DATE:
SUBJECT:
File
David Rupp, Geotechnical Services Section
October 14, 2010
Site Inspection September 22-23, 2010 on
DUSA Cell 4B Construction Project and
Miscellaneous White Mesa Mill Observations
Dave Rupp was accompanied by Ryan Johnson of DRC for a site visit at the White Mesa Mill on the
subject dates. Photos were taken during the inspection work. They will be attached to the electronic
Documentum file on this subject.
The primary fmding for me was the thin sandbags installed on the Cell 4B sHmes drain system. : This
observation was conveyed to the mill management personnel, Messrs. R. Bartlett, D. Turk, R. Palmer and
S. Snyder. A letter was sent to Mr. H. Roberts of DUSA on the subject as well. This letter is dated
September 29, 2010. DUSA's response is due approximately October 16, 2010. The subject was Thin
Sandbags Covering the Shmes Strip-Drains: Request for Information [Documentum!No. DRC-2010-
005306].
On Cell 4B, there was some fme clay soil between the geotextile bottom liner. MikelBeaman of the liner
contractor, AEGL, was aware of this and had been power washing the soil off beforeS putting on top-liner,
also noted that AEGL was using vacuum cleaners to clean soil out the slimes drain herring spine trench
bottom, above the bottom liner. Other miscellaneous observations are noted on the pictures. Please refer
to them for additional information. •
I
Part ofthe documentation ofthis inspection includes the inspection closeout of engineering inspection 75E,
i.e. the DMT and BAT Inspection. Some of the pictures pertain to this item. The clciseout forthis
inspection concemed the VPL tank area storm water drainage and other topics. Thisiletter is dated
September 27, 2010 and is hsted as Documentum No. DRC-2010-005243.
It was also noted during the inspection that Utah DNR did a dam safety inspection at the site in September
201O ;
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F:\DUSA\CeM4B\Constr\MEMO9-2010 J
195 North 1950 West • Salt Lake City, UT
Mailing Address: P.O. Box 144850 • Salt Lake City, UT 84114-4850
Telephone [phone] • Fax [phone] • T.D.D. [phone]
www.deq.utah.gov
Printed on 100% recycled paper
Pictures at DUSA White Mesa Mill taken 9-21-2010 by D.A. Rupp

Inlet box with drainage grate between mill and SX building, facing east.
See VPL and water tank at left. Condensate from steam draining into
Inlet box.

Subject as above.
Drop box in catchment around most eastern tank.

Concrete catchments around tanks, looking easterly.

Inlet box, same as pictured in first photo in this group.

Inlet box, same as pictured in first photo in this group.

Cell 4B Photos follow. Double seam welding pictured above.
Extra care was taken on any apparent holidays.

LDS measurement port going up dike. SE corner of Cell 4B.

Subject as above.

Vacuum cleaning soils in LDS trench.

Spillway Cell 3 to 4A . Cell 3 water level about 1.5’ to overflow.

Subject as above.

Cell 4A. See beach in distance, i.e. on north side of cell.

Looking north at Cell 4B east dike. Note depression for spillway.

Full NE corner of Cell 4B is pictured above. Crews on GCL.

Anchor trench about 4’ in full depth shown at northern dike of C4B.

View of SE Corner C4B.

Note black colored geonet on top of “secondary liner.”

Crews laying GCL as the liner base in Cell 4B.

North dike toe trench excavation.

Distance view of Cell 4B. Note strip drains covered with sandbags.

Subject as above.

View of southwest corner of Cell 4B.

Western edge of lining work, Cell 4B.

Perspective view.

NDP full of water 9-21-2010.

195 North 1950 West • Salt Lake City, UT
Mailing Address: P.O. Box 144850 • Salt Lake City, UT 84114-4850
Telephone [phone] • Fax [phone] • T.D.D. [phone]
www.deq.utah.gov
Printed on 100% recycled paper
State of Utah

GARY R. HERBERT
Governor

GREG BELL
Lieutenant Governor
Department of
Environmental Quality

Amanda Smith
Executive Director

DIVISION OF RADIATION CONTROL
Rusty Lundberg
Director

M E M O R A N D U M

TO: File

FROM: David Rupp, Geotechnical Services Section

DATE: October 14, 2010

SUBJECT: Site Inspection September 22-23, 2010 on
DUSA Cell 4B Construction Project and
Miscellaneous White Mesa Mill Observations

Dave Rupp was accompanied by Ryan Johnson of DRC for a site visit at the White Mesa Mill on the
subject dates. Photos were taken during the inspection work. They will be attached to the electronic
Documentum file on this subject.

The primary finding for me was the thin sandbags installed on the Cell 4B slimes drain system. This
observation was conveyed to the mill management personnel, Messrs. R. Bartlett, D. Turk, R. Palmer and
S. Snyder. A letter was sent to Mr. H. Roberts of DUSA on the subject as well. This letter is dated
September 29, 2010. DUSA’s response is due approximately October 16, 2010. The subject was Thin
Sandbags Covering the Slimes Strip-Drains: Request for Information [Documentum No. DRC-2010-
005306].

On Cell 4B, there was some fine clay soil between the geotextile bottom liner. Mike Beaman of the liner
contractor, AEGL, was aware of this and had been power washing the soil off before putting on top-liner. I
also noted that AEGL was using vacuum cleaners to clean soil out the slimes drain herring spine trench
bottom, above the bottom liner. Other miscellaneous observations are noted on the pictures. Please refer
to them for additional information.

Part of the documentation of this inspection includes the inspection closeout of engineering inspection 75E,
i.e. the DMT and BAT Inspection. Some of the pictures pertain to this item. The closeout for this
inspection concerned the VPL tank area storm water drainage and other topics. This letter is dated
September 27, 2010 and is listed as Documentum No. DRC-2010-005243.

It was also noted during the inspection that Utah DNR did a dam safety inspection at the site in September
2010.

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F:\DUSA\Cell 4B\Constr\MEMO 9-2010