DRC-2012-001716 - 0901a068802f977c

State ofUtah
GARY R HERBERT
Govemor
GREG BELL
Lieutenant Governor
Department of
Environmental Quality
Amanda Smith
Executive Director
DIVISION OF RADIATION CONTROL
Rusty Lundberg
Director
July 26, 2012
Jo Ann Tischler
Director, Compliance and Permitting
Denison Mmes (USA) Corp (DUSA)
1050 Seventeenth Street, Suite 950
Denver, CO 80265
SUBJECT Tailings Cell, Leak Detection System and Shmes Drain Sampling and Analysis
Plan, Revision 2, Demson Mines (USA) Corp , White Mesa Uramum Mill, near
Blanding, Utah, Request for Additional Information
Dear Ms Tischler
On June 28, 2012 the Division of Radiation Control (hereafter "DRC") received by email an
electromc copy of Tailings Cell, Leak Detection System and Slimes Dram Sampling and Analysis
Plan (hereafter "Plan"), Revision 2, Demson Mines (USA) Corp, (hereafter "DUSA") The DRC
accepts the modifications made in the Plan and feels the following two additional modifications
are warranted
1 It is not necessary to purge the Cell 2 shmes drain system in order to have a representative
wastewater sample, therefore, the last paragraph of Section 3 3 of the Plan should be modified
to read (removed wording shown in stnkethrough)
The Cell 2 olimes drain will be sampled such that representative fluids are collected
Accordingly, samples will only bo collected firom this location when the pump has been
operating in accordance with tho approved oporatmg plan for a minimum of 48 hours pnor to
sampling in order to assure that tho system is purged and is producing representative fluids
The sampling personnel must tolce care not to disturb the sediment m the bottom of the drain
A disposable bailer will be used to collect Cell 2 slimes drain samples and will be used to fill
clean sample containers The bailer will be disposed of and not reused, thereby eliminating the
need for decontamination of equipment or nnsate blanks
2 The tailings wastewater solutions have pH measurements between 1 and 3 These solutions
corrode the field meters dunng the collection of field measurements (pH, specific
conductivity, and temperature) To prevent equipment damage, loss of measurements, and to
protect health and safety of mill personnel fi*om the corrosive tailings wastewater solutions,
195 North 1950 West • Salt Uke City, UT
Mailing Address P O Box 144850 • Salt Uke City, UT 84114-4850
Telephone [phone] • Fax [phone] -TDD [phone]
www deq Utah gov
Pnnted on 100% recycled paper
Page 2
measurements of field parameters are not necessary The parameter pH will still be analyzed
by the analytical laboratory The DRC already knows that pH in the tailing wells are very
low, we don't need a field measurement to prove it to us Therefore, DRC recommends that
Section 3 4 of the Plan be removed
Minor Modification to DUSA Ground Water Discharge Permit UGW370004 (hereafter
"Permit")
Part IE 10(d)(1) ofthe DUSA Ground Water Discharge Pennit UGW370004 (hereafter "Pennit")
requires the following for tailing cell wastewater sampling
"Field Measurements - includingpH, temperature, and specific conductivity "
Because ofthe reasons to remove Section 3 4 of the Plan descnbed in Item 2 above. Part
IE 10(d)(1) of the Permit is not necessary and will be removed This is considered a minor
modification to the Permit and no public comment penod is necessary DUSA will be notified of
the Permit change when the modification to the Permit is final
Please provide a revised final version of the Plan showing the modifications requested for
Executive Secretary review Thank you for your cooperation m this matter If you have any
questions or comments regarding this letter, please contact Dean Henderson at [phone]
Sincerely,
Rusty Limdberg
Director
RL/DH