DRC-2011-007895 - 0901a068802cbd82

State of Utah
GARY R HERBERT
Covenior
GREG BELL
Lieuienanl Governor
Department of
Enviromnental Quality
Amanda Smith
E.xeeuin e Direeior
DIVISION OF RADIATION CONTROL
Rusty Lundberg
Direeior C- 201 1-007 895
MEMOfL^NDUM
TO
FROM
DATE.
SUBJECT
Phil Goble, Section Manager
Russell J Topham, P.E.
December 27, 2011
Inspection of Disposal of Drummed Byproduct Matenal December 23, 2011 Radioactive
Matenals License UTl900479 (License) - Denison Mmes (USA) Corp (DUSA) White
Mesa Mill, Blanding, Utah
On December 23, 2011, I conducted an inspection at the DUSA White Mesa mill on behalf of the DRC.
My pnmapy' task was to obser\'e placement and bunal of drummed b>T:roduct matenal generated at in-situ
leach facilities DUSA is allowed to dispose this byproduct matenal in Tailings Cell 3 only, which is
allowed by License Condition 10 5 ofthe DUSA Radioactive Matenals License WHiile there, I also
checked a spunous data pomt recorded in a daily inspection which indicated a solution pool elevation well
above the Cell 4B dike I also checked the concrete tloor of the altemate feed circuit for unrepaired
cracking
Drummed B>T)roduct Material
On December 16, 2011 DRC received notice that DUSA had would receive drummed byproduct matenal,
and intended to dispose of that waste in Cell 3 on December 23, 2011. Upon checking in at the WTiite Mesa
null on December 23, 2011 I met with Mr. David Turk. Mr Turk shared with me the papenvork associated
with the drummed waste, including the forms specified in the applicable SOP and the mapped disposal
location I reviewed these documents and found the work to meet expectations
Mr Gamn Palmer escorted me to the disposal site, and remained with me tliroughout the disposal process
Mr. David Turk and Mr. Ryan Palmer visited the disposal site penodically to monitor progress Photo 1 in
the attached photo log shows Mr. Gamn Palmer standing at the nm ofthe excavation prepared for receipt
ofthe waste, and two of the tliree pieces of equipment used dunng the bunal At the time ofthe photo, a
truck-mounted crane was en route to the burial site Photo 2 shows the excavation, including exposed
solution coving the pit floor
A team of four worked to place 35 drums of waste m the excavation The team opened drums one at a time,
filling void spaces discovered, and replacing the drum cover pnor to placement (Photo 3) The team then
placed the drums in the excavation (Photos 4 and 6) Bulk waste, including 5 additional partially crushed
drums, came in the load with the drums (Photo 5)
Following placement ofthe drums, the team placed soil to fill voids and cover the drums The bulk waste
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was then placed in the upper zone of the excavation, additional cover soil was placed, and the soul was
wheel-walked to provide a measure of compaction The SOP called for four passes with a piece of heav7
equipment to densify b>T3roduct matenal, and one pass to density cover matenal. The area receiving the
least compactive effort at any point in the backfilling process received four passes
The team elected to each wear a breathing apparatus rather than take the radiological sur\'eys in the
breathing zone Tins was done to reduce the time commitment from start of bunal to completion
It appeared that all provisions ofthe approved SOP were followed dunng placement ofthe drummed and
bulk waste
Cell 4B Solution Pool Elevation - Weekly Taiiings Inspection Report
The Weekly tailings hispection Report dated December 9, 2011 indicated a solution pool elevation in Cell
4B of 5626.96 The maximum solution pool elevation permitted is 5597.40 feet Inspecting other records at
the plant revealed a data transcnption error in completing the Weekly tailings hispection Report. The
actual solution pool elevation on December 9, 2011 was 5578 76, well below the established limit
Repair of Alternate Feed Circuit Floor Cracks
Walking tlirough the Alternate Feed Circuit, I could see several floor cracks that had been repaired. No
crack over 1/16 mch remained unfilled David Turk told me that inspectors who perfonn the routine
surveys ofthe floor have been tasked to fill any cracks they observe as rapidly as is feasible.