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HomeMy WebLinkAboutDRC-2011-007477 - 0901a0688027c646DENISO MINES Denison Mines (USA) Corp. 105017th Street, Suite 950 Denver, CO 80265 USA Tel : 303 628-7798 Fax:303 389-4125 www.denisonmines.com October 3, 2011 VIA E-MAIL AND OVERNIGHT DELIVERY Mr. Rusty Lundberg Utah Department of Environmental Quality 195 North 1950 West P.O. Box 144850 Salt Lake City, UT 84114-4850 Re: State of Utah Groundwater Discharge Permit ("GWDP") No. UGW370004 Notice of Violation and Groundwater Corrective Action Order, Docket No. UGW20-01. Denison Mines ("USA") Corp. Submittal of a Plan and Work Schedule to Drill and Install Well TW4-27 - Conditional Approval Letter. Dear Mr. Lundberg: Attached as Appendix A to this letter, is Denison's Plan of Action and Work Schedule (the "Plan"), Revision 1, for the installation of chloroform monitoring well TW4-27. The Plan, Section 2(c), has been modified as agreed to in correspondence between DRC and Denison, dated August 15, 2011, August 24, 2011 and email communications dated August 31, 2011 and September 13, 2011. Additionally, The Hydro Geo Chem Letter dated June 17, 2011, which recommended the approach for the installation of TW4-27 is enclosed as Attachment 1 to this letter. Please contact me if you have any questions or require any further information. Yours very truly, I)ENisoN MINES (USA) CORP. ^Jo Ann Tischler Director, Compliance and Permitting cc: David C. Frydenlund Harold R. Roberts David E. Turk K. Weinel Central files Attachments N.\Chloroform\New Cfm well SE\9.22.11 UDEQ letter and response\transltr for 10.3.11 Plan and Scfiedule.doc DENISO MINES Denison Mines (USA) Corp. 105017th street. Suite 950 Denver, CO 80265 USA Tel : 303 628-7798 Fax: 303 389-4125 www.denisonmines.com APPENDIX A WHITE MESA MILL Notice of Violation and Groundwater Corrective Action Order, Docket No. UGM20-01 PLAN OF ACTION And WORK SCHEDULE Revision 1 For the Installation of One or More Monitoring Wells Downgradient of TW4-4 and TW4-6 Denison Mines (USA) Corp. 1050 1/^ Street, Suite 950 Denver, CO 80265 October 3, 2011 N:\Chloroform\New Cfm well SE\9.22.11 UDEQ letter and responseM 0.3.11 Rev 1 Plan for DEQ 9.22.11 letter.doc Plan of Action and Work Schedule Revision 1 October 3, 2011 Page 2 Reference is made to the letter from the State of Utah Division of Radiation Control ("DRC") dated May 26, 2011, requesting additional information relating to the chloroform groundwater investigation at the Denison Mines (USA) Corp. ("Denison") White Mesa Mill (the "Mill"), pursuant to Notice of Violation and Groundwater Corrective Action Order, Docket No. UGW20-01. In accordance with the recommendations in Hydro Geo Chem Inc.'s letter report dated June 17, 2011 (the "Hydro Geo Chem Report"), Denison proposes the following plan of action and work schedule the (Plan") to complete the installation of one or more wells in locations hydraulically downgradient of existing chloroform monitoring wells TW4-4 and TW4-6 to demonstrate that the chloroform plume is bounded and to assure that the plume is under hydraulic capture in this vicinity: 1. Work Plan 1.1. Installation of TW4-27 A single new well (TW4-27) will be installed south of TW4-14 and east of TW4-6 and TW4-26 at the location provided on Figure 6 of the Hydro Geo Chem Report. A single well at this location is considered adequate to ensure that chloroform does not move undetected in an unanticipated easterly direction toward the eastern property boundary. TW4-27 will be a monitoring well and will not be a pumping well. The proposed location for TW4-27 would a) extend the current network of easternmost monitoring wells to the south, b) provide additional data to indicate whether the water level at TW4-14 is anomalous, and c) provide additional data to address UDEQ's concerns about potential eastward migration of chloroform. TW4-27 will be permanent and constructed in accordance with UAC R317-6-6.3(l)(6) and will comply with Part 1.F.6 of the Denison Ground Water Discharge Permit No. UGW370004. TW4-27 will be sampled quarterly for the analytical parameters listed in section 4 in Appendix A of the White Mesa Uranium Mill Ground Water Monitoring Quality Assurance Plan. 1.1.1. Aquifer Testing of TW4-27 Provided there is sufficient saturated thickness, Denison will perform a hydraulic test at TW4-27 to: a) Calculate permeabilities and hydraulic conductivities; and b) Calculate local groundwater velocities. Such aquifer testing will be described in a report (the "Hydrogeologic Report") that will be submitted to the Executive Secretary. 1.1.2. Reporting DENISO MINES Plan of Action and Work Schedule Revision 1 October 3, 2011 Page 3 Analytical results for chloroform samples from TW4-27 and water levels will be reported in the Quarterly Chloroform Monitoring Reports that are filed with the Executive Secretary of the State of Utah Radiation Control Board (the "Executive Secretary"). Denison will expand the chloroform capture zone and groundwater contour maps in those reports to include sample results and groundwater head data at TW4-17. 1.2. Collection of Additional Water Level and Chloroform Data to Determine if TW4-27 Satisfies the Stipulated Criteria Water level and chloroform concentration data collected from the existing wells, and upon completion from TW4-27, will be used to determine if: a) the 70 pg/l chloroform isoconcentration line remains hydraulically upgradient of TW4-27; and b) groundwater contour lines show that TW4-27 is hydraulically downgradient of TW4-4 and TW4-6. 1.3. Possible Abandonment of TW4-14 If water level data from TW4-27 indicate that the water level at TW4-14 is anomalous, TW4-14 will be abandoned, with the approval of the Executive Secretary. The water level at TW4-14 will be considered anomalous if the water level at TW4-27 is comparable to the water level at TW4-6. 1.4. Installation of Additional WelKs) if Necessarv It may take some time for the hydraulic system to adjust to the addition of TW4-27. However, if after two quarters of data, the criteria set out in paragraph 1.2 above are not satisfied, then Denison will propose a plan and schedule at that time for the location of one or more additional wells, based on the information gained from monitoring TW4-27. 2. Schedule Denison proposes that the foregoing Plan be performed in accordance with the following schedule: a) TW4-27 will be installed within 30 days after receipt of Executive Secretary approval of this Plan. An as-built report, along with the Hydrogeologic Report, will be submitted to the Executive Secretary within 60 days after the date of such approval. b) Quarterly water level measurements and sampling will commence during the next regularly scheduled chloroform sampling campaign after installation of the well. A determination of whether or not the criteria specified in paragraph 1.2 above have been satisfied with the addition of TW4-27 will be made after receipt of two quarters of water level and chloroform data. A decision whether or not to abandon TW4-14 will also be made by Denison and the Executive Secretary at that time. c) If the Executive Secretary determines, after review of the second Chloroform Monitoring Report that contains the second of two quarters of data, or at any time that the criteria specified in paragraph 1.2 above have not been satisfied with the addition of TW4-27, then Denison will submit within 30 calendar days of written notice from the Executive Secretary, a plan and schedule for installation of one or more additional chloroform monitoring wells. The new well(s) must show that the 70 ng/L chloroform DENISO MINES Plan of Action and Work Schedule Revision 1 October 3, 2011 Page 4 isoconcentration line remains hydraulically up gradient to the new well(s) and the groundwater contour lines must show the new well(s) are hydraulically down gradient to TW4-4 and TW4-6. DENISO MINES Plan of Action and Work Schedule Revision 1 October 3, 2011 Page 5 ATTACHMENT 1 DENISO MINES HYDRO GEO CHEM, INC. Environmental Sctcncc &• Technology June 17,2011 David Frydenlund, Esq. Denison Mines (USA) Coip. 1050 17th Street, Suite 950 bcnver, Colorado 80265 Dear Mr< Frydenlund, This letter provides a recommended approach in response to the Utah Pepartment of Envirorimentai Quality's (UDl^Q's) concerns regard the southern tip of the perched zone chloroform piume at P^mspn Mines (USA) Gorp-*$ (Denison's) White Mes^ Urahiura Mill (the site). in a, Tuesday, May 11 conference call with Denison and in a letter datisd May 26, 2011, UDEQ expressed concerns Over the adequacy of perched monitoring wells TW4-4, TW4-6, TW4-14, and TW4-26 to define the chloroform distribution and hydraulic gradients in the viciriity of these wells, and to establish whether or not chloroform in the vicinity of TW4-6 will be captured by pumping TW4-4. Figure 1 is aniap showing well locations and the boundaries of the ehlorofprm plume based on first quarter, 2010 and first quarter, 2011 chloroform data. Note that the southern portion pf the chloroform plume has been shrinking; UDEQ believes that at least one additional perched monitoring well downgradient of TW4-4 and TW4-6is needed. In.itsMay 26,2011 letter, UDEQ requested that Denison submit to theExecutive Secretary of the State of Utah Radiation Control Board (the Executive Secretary) for approval a pian of action and work, schedule to complete the installation of one or rriore wells in locations hydraulically downgradient df wells TW4-4 and TW4-6 to demonstrate the plume is bounded and to assure that the plume is hydraulically being captured in this vicinity^ The letter also states thati in conjunction with the existing wells, these new well(s) must show on a map: • The 70 pg/l chloroform isoconcentration line rerhains hydraulically upgradient to the neiw well(s); and « Groundwater contour lines must show the new well(s) are hydraulically downgradient to TW4-4 and TW4-6. C ^Sl West VV«nwrc,iuUt 1()J ruL•so^^ Aji/o»^^^ 8o705 I67« ' .=^20193 1500 520:293,l.S.=;0-F3x 8,00.727:6547-Toll i-rcc David Frydenlund, Esq. June 17,2011 Page 2 As described in rhore detail below and as explained in our telephone conference. I believe thiat the existing Wells adequately bound the chloroform plume and that additional wells are not necessary. However, given UDEQ's request that One or more additional wells be installed, 1 propose that one additional non-pumpirig chloroform mpnitoring well be instailed at thi s time and that the water level and chloroform concentration data from that well be used to determine if the criteria referred to above are satisfied. If after the receipt of at least two quarters of data, Denispn cannot deitioiistrate that the criteria stated above have been satisfied, Denison wUl at that time be in a position to propose one or more additional weUs, based on a review of the data generated from^^T^ Overview Perched monitoring wells TW4r4 and TW4-6 were installed in 2000 to monitor ehibrofortii concentralions in the downgradient portion of the plume. Concentrations at TW4-4, located inunediately upgradient (north) of TW4T6, have exceeded 70 jii gyTL since tlie first quarter of2001 and have remained above 1 (KX) |ig/L. Chlbrofprm concentrations at TW4^6 ranged from non-detect to a maximum of 52 pg/L between 2000 and the fourth quarter of 2008. Frotn the first quarter of 2009 thrpugh the fourth quarter of 2010 coricentrations at TW4-6 exceeded 70 ng/L. Gohcentratiohs reached a maximum of 1()00 jig/L in the first quarter of 2010 then began dropping. The cpiicehtratioh at TW4-6 as bf the first quarter of 2011 is again below 70 pg/L. The coiicentration at perched well TW4-26, installed at a location presumably downgradient (south) of TW4-6 in May, 2010, was initially 13 pg/L and has dropped to 2 pg/L. Concentrations at TW4-14 and TW4-23, located east and west, respectively, of TW4-6, have been ridn-deteet since installation ih 2002 and 2007, respectively. Because of the relatively high chloroform concentrations at TW4-4, and tiie increasing concentrations atT\V4-6, pumping of TW4-4 was initiated during the first quarter of 201 D tp attempt to reduce or reverse the increase in Ghlorpform at TW4-6, Pumping at TW4-4 is more practical than pumping at TW4-6 because the permeability of the perched zone at TW4-6 arid TW4^26 is two orders of magnitude lower than at TW4T4 {Hydro Geo Chem, 2010. HydrauUc Testing of tW4-4. TW4r6, and tW4-26, White Mesa Uranium Mill, My 2010), The estiniated sustainable pumping rates at TW4-6 and TW4-26 are less than 0.1 gallons per ininute (gpm) whereas the estimated sustainable pumping rate at TW4-4 is 4 gpm. Furthennore, pumping at TW4-6 would act to draw the higher concentradons detected at TW4-4 downgradient to TW4-6. Since initiation of pumping at TW4-4 in the first quarter pf 2010, chlprpform concentrations at TW4- 6 have decreased from 1000 ^g/L to 47 pg/L. Since installation in the second quarter of 2010,, concentrations at TW4-26 have decreased from 13 pg/L to 2 pg/L. Water levels at TW4^6 have not measurably decreased during this time period, raaking it difficult to assess whether it is within hydraulic capture of TW4-4. The low permeability of the perched zone at TW4-6 and the decrease in permeability between TW4-4 and TW4-6 makes slow development of hydraulic capture likely. Howeyer, it is not necessary to establish hydraulic capture at TW4-6 to reduce concentrations at TW4-6. It is sufficient only to reduce or cut off the spurce of chloroform to TW4-6 which is the apparent result of pumping TW4-4 based on the data collected to date. Ii\7l80()(ftlw27pro[rttw27pr()p_fcv3,dnc David Frydenlund, Esq. June 17,2011 Pagei? With regard to the water levels in the vicinity of TW4-4, there has been a consistently low water level at TW4-14 (located eastof TW4-4) since installation in 2002, This low water level dominates water level contours in the vicinity of TW4-4, TW4-6i and TW4-26. As Of the first quarter pf 2011, the water level in TW4-14 was 12 feet IpWcr than the level in TW4-6, and 19 feet Ipwer than the level in TW4-4 (even though TW4-4 is pumping). Similarly, in the fourth quarter of 2010, the water level in TW4-14 was lower than in TW4-6 arid TW4-4 by 13 feet and 9 feet, respectively. Figures 2 and 3 arekriged site^Wide water level contour and estiniated capture zone maps for the first quarter of 2011 and the fourth quarter of 2010. These figures are identical to those submitted with their respective Quarterly Chlorofonn Monitoring Reports except thatTW4-6, TW4-14, andTW4-26 are specifically labeled. Both figures, show closed contours surrounding TW4^ 14 suggesting that TW4- 14 is dbwngradient of TW4-4, TW4-6, and TW4-26. This is illustrated in the attached Figure 4 which is a detail map of the plume area showing p)erehed Waterlcvei contours and flow directions fpr the first quarter of 2011. The water level at TW4-14 seems anomalous because if this well were indeed dP wngradient of TW4-4, chioroform would be expected to niigrate frpm TW4-4 tp TW4-14 and hot to TW4r6 arid TW4T26 as has been demonstrated. If the water level data arc kriged without the water level at TW4-14, the water level contours indicate a perched hydraulic gradient to the sPuth-southwest, in a directipri ranging frOm sub-parallel to away frOih the eastem property boundary, as shown in Figure 5. The water level data presented in Figures 4 and Sindicatelhatregardless of whether the water level al TW4rl 4 is considered anonialpus, the likelihood that ehlbrofortTi cpuld mpve undetected tpward the eastem property boundary is minimal. The historical chloroform data indicate that the direction of perched water flow is to the south or south-soiilhWest froin TW4-4 towards TW4-6 ahd TW4^26, and not to the southeast tpward TW4-14, For these reasons, I believe that the existing monitorinjg well network adequately bounds the chioroform plume and that additional wells are not necessary tp the scutheast of TW4-4 and TW4-6. At the present time, the data from existing wells in this area seem adequate, especially considefing the shrinkage of the chloroform plunie that has occurred since TW4-4 pumping began. However, I realize that UDEQ disagrees with my position on this, and have therefore set out my recommendations below fpr tlie instailatipn pf pne (pr mpre) additional mpnitoring wells. Recommendations In order to address UDEQ's Concems, I recommend the following: I . Iristallation of TW4-27 One new well (TW4-27) will be installed south of tW4-14 and cast of TW4-6 and TW4-26 (Figure 6). One well at this location is considered adequate to ensure that chldrpform does not move undetected in an unanticipated easterly direetiPn tpwai'd the eastern prpperty bpundary. TW4-27 Will be a monitoring well and will not be a pumping well. HA7 l«IX)0Uw27p™pMw27(>H>p ^S.doi; David Frydenlund, Esq. June 17.2011 Page 4 The proposed location for TW4r27 will a) extend thc current network of easternmost mpnitoring wells to the south, b) provide additional data to indicate whether the water level at TW4-14 is anomalous, and c) , provide additibnal data to address UDEQ's concerns about potential eastward migration bf chloroform. 2. Collection of Additional Water Level and Chloroform Data Water level and chiprofonn concentration data collected frpm the exisdng wells, and uppn ccriipletipri frpih TW4-27, will be used tp determine if the addition pf TW4-27 demonstrates tiiat: d) the 70 pgA ehlorofprm ispcpncentration line remains hydraulically upgradient pf TW4-27; and e) grpundwater elevatipns show that tW4-27 is hydraulically downgradient pf TW4-4 and TW4-6. 3. Possible Abandonment of TW4-14 If the Water level data from TW4-i7 iiidieatc that the water leVel at TW4-14 is anomalous, TW4-14 should be abandohed. The water level at TW4-14 Will be considered miomalous ifthe water level at TW4-27 is comparable to the water level at TW4-6. One the other hand, if the water level at TW4-27 is comparable to the water level atTW4-14 or if TW4-27 is dry, the waterlevel at TW4-14 will not be considered anomalous. 4. Installation of Additional Wcll(s) if Necessary It may take some time fpr the hydraulic system tp adjust to the addi at least two quarters Of data, the criteria set put in paragraph 2 abpve are npt satisfied, then, Denison should be in a position to propose a plan and schedule at that time for the location of one or mpre additional wells, based on the infprmation gained from monitoring TW4-27. Please feci free to contact me if you have any questipns or cpmments. Sincerely, Stewart J. Smith AssociiUe Hydrogeologist Attachments (6) ATTACHMENTS FIGURES 1 Site Plan and Perched Well Location Map Showing Ql, 2011 and Ql, 2010 Chloroform Plurnes as Defined by 70 ug/L Boundaries 2 Kriged 1'^ Quarter, 2011 Water Levels and Estimated Capture Zones. White Mesa Site 3 Kriged 1'^ Quarter, 2010 Water Levels and Estimated Capture Zones, White Mesa ^ite 4 Kriged I** Quarter, 2011 Water Level Detail Map Showing Estirnated FIPW Directions and Ql, 2010 and Ql, 2011 CWpn)form Plume Boundaries 5 Kriged 1'' Quarter, 2011 Water Level Detail Map Generated Exeliidirig TW4-14 and Showing Estimated FIPW DiTectipns and Ql, 2010 and Ql, 2011 Chlorofortn Plume Boundaries. 6 Proposed Lpcation pfTW4-27 Showing Kriged Ql, 2011 Water Levels £md 2011 and Ql> 2010 ChlPrpfonii Plunie Boundaries (Detail Map^^ PROPERTY BOUNDARY PlEZ-1 e- TWN-i 7W4-28 MW-34 EXPLANATION parched monitoring well temporary perched monitoring well perched piezometer temporary perched nitrate monitoring well temporary perched monitoring well installed May, 2010 perched monitori-ig well installed August/September, 2010 { I Ql, 2010 70 ug/L chloroform plume boundary HYDRO GEO CHEM, INC. SITE PLAN AND PERCHED WELL LOCATION SHOWING Ql, 2011 AND Ql, 2010 GHLOROFORM AS DEFINED BY 70 ug/L BOUNDARIES WHITE MESA SITE MAP PLUMES APPROVED SJS OATE' REFERENCE H:/718000/tw27prop/chlJ 0_11 .Srf FIGUBE PROPERTY BOUNDARY MW-22 fi 5450 O 5555 PIEZ-1 O 5593 TWN-4 ^5604 TW4-26 )»5537 MW-34 •^5492 EXPLANATION perched monitoring well showing elevation in feet amsl temporary perched monitoring well showing elevation in feet amsl perched piezometer showing elevation in feet amsl temporary perched nitrate monitoring well showing elevation in feet amsl temporary perched monitoring well installed May, 2010 showing eievation in feet amsl perched monitoring well installed August/September, 2010 showing elevation tn feet amsl * 9 I f estimated capture zone boundary streann tubes resulting from pumping NOTE: MW-26, TW4-4, TW4-19 and TW4-20 are pumping wells HYDRO GEO CHEM, INC. KRIGED 1st QUARTER, 2011 WATER LEVELS AND ESTIMATED CAPTURE ZONES WHITE MESA SITE APPROVED SJS DATE FCFEneNCE HV718000/ tw27prop/wl0211cz2_rev1 .srf FIGURE id •tr I 4- HU/ riC \ A. > 7 / I" 1 11^ A. J ii -4- 1^ tJt' 11 IT?: I \t^4/ J iA f if IK. ; 4 i \ Pi A • 1/ Xi''A/A. ^ ^ T^r\..^\ t / -^irv K Xy ^^-X*^? // / / i I 1 # * \ * If 1 1 l/' if *^ EXPLANATION 7, '/-»/ 01. 2011 70 ug/L chlcroform plume boundary Ql, 2010 70 ug/L chloroform plume boundary ^KKQo^ temporary perched nitrate monitoring 5598 well showing elevation in feet amsl O "^^'^ temporary perched monitoring well 5555 showing elevation in feet amsl 0 MW-32 perched monitoring well showing 5549 elevation in feet amsl 0 150 300 SCALE IN FEET NOTE: MW-4. MW-26, TW4-4, TW4-19, and TW4-20 are pumping wells HYDRO GEO CHEM, INC. KRIGED 1st QUARTER, 2011 WATER LEVEL DETAIL MAP SHOWING ESTIMATED FLOW DIRECTIONS AND Q1,2010 AND Ql, 2011 CHLOROFORM PLUME BOUNDARIES WHITE MESA SITE APPROVED SJS Hy718000/ tw27prpp/f lowql _chl .srf '2 4v A IN 5A V ls/> / Wt4 •A .1^ I' .11- 4- r iL 11 ,4 1^ J f v; i w //I 4 r'ir^l \ y^y/ ly%/ // ^_ y}Ai ^ i i \ . /\ / / i V \ 7/; / / ^ 1 (/ yN&\ /\y\^^ K / iV 5 / V \y>\^ /[ // / / / 7/7 / k<. y ; y^ri/ (y\ • Xy A / / / rf::. / y^ \Wx^ *^ V <X^-^ -dsA/ji-K^ 7 4' Hi* / 4 ^^yym] [y-'rr *^ «^ > ^ EXPLANATION C^^~^ Q1, 2011 70 ug/L chloroform plume bcundary y Ql, 2010 70 ug/L chlorcf orm plume boundary ^IcQo'^ temporary perched nitrale monitoring 5598 well showing elevation in feet amsl O TW4-1 temporary perched monitoring well 5555 showing elevation in feet amsl 0 MW-32 perched monitoring well showing 5549 elevation in feet amsl ---if / ^^>^ty \y-^y 0 150 300 SCALE IN FEET NOTE: MW>4, MW-26. TW4-4. TW4-19. and TW4-20 are pumping wells HYDRO GEO ==i-5r CHEM, INC. KRIGED 1st QUARTER, 2011 WATER LEVEL DETAIL MAP GENERATED EXCLUDING TW4.14 AND SHOWING ESTIMATED FLOW DIRECTIONS AND Q1, 2010 AND Ql, 2011 CHLOROFORM PLUME BOUNDARIES WHITE MESA SITE APPROVED SJS •'^^^ H:/718000/ tw27prppo/flowq1no14_chl.srf f EXPLANATION Q1,2011 70 ug/L chlorofonm plume t)oundary ^ Q1,2010 70 ug/L * chloroform plume txjundary X proposed new ^ well (TW4-27) 0 150 300 SCALE IN FEET ^IKQP"^ temporary perched nitrate monitoring 5598 vvell showing elevation in feet amsl O ^^/^ temporary perched monitoring well 5555 showing elevation in feet amsl H MW-32 perched monitoring well showing 5549 elevation in-eet amsl HYDRO GEO CHEM, INC. NOTE: MW-4, MW-26. TW4-4. TW4-19. and TW4-2G are pumping wells PROPOSED LOCATION OF TW4-27 SHOWING KRIGED 01,2011 WATER LEVELS AND 01, 2011 AND 01,2010 CHLOROFORM PLUME BOUNDARIES (Detail Map) APPROVED SJS H:/7180Q0/tw27prop/tw27prop.srf