DRC-2014-004361 - 0901a0688046a9bb

State of Utah
GARY R. HERBERT
Governor
SPENCER J. COX
Lieutenant Governor
Department of
Environmental Quality
Amanda Smith
Executive Director
DIVISION OF RADIATION CONTROL
Rusty Lundberg
Director
July 15,2014
Kathy Weinel, Quality Assurance Manager
Energy Fuels Resources (USA) Inc.
225 Union Blvd.
Suite600
Lakewood, CO 80228
DRC-2014-004361
Subject: Energy Fuels Resources (USA) Inc., May 1, 2014 Background Report for
Monitoring Wells MW-35, MW-36, and MW-37 White Mesa Uranium Mill: DRC
Findings
Dear Ms. Weinel:
The Utah Division of Radiation Control ("DRC") has reviewed the Energy Fuels Resources
(USA) Inc. ("EFR") May 1, 2014 document titled Background Groundwater Quality Report for
Monitoring Wells MW-35, MW-36, and MW-37 White Mesa Uranium Mill ("Report").
Based on average TDS concentrations, groundwater in monitoring wells MW-35, MW-36 and
MW-37 are defined as the Class III Protection Level. Per Utah Administrative Code ("UAC")
R317-6-4.6, groundwater protection levels shall be based on criteria summarized in the table
below:
Groundwater
Class TDS Limit
Groundwater Protection Levels
Undetectable Contaminant
(greatest of)
Detectable Contaminant
(greatest of)
III 1.25 x BG 0.5 x GWQS MDL 1.5 x
BG
Mean +
2a
0.5 x
GWQS
Groundwater Compliance Limits:
The tables below summarize the approved GWCL's for monitoring wells MW-35, MW-36 and
MW-37. The proposed GWCL's are approved unless otherwise noted in the DRC Adjustment
column. DRC notes that most of the GWCL's were set according to fractions of the Ground
Water Quality Standards ("GWQS's") which are listed in the facility Ground water Discharge
Permit No. UGW370004 ("Permit"). These are based on either GWQS's listed in Utah
Administrative Code R317-6 or as noted in footnotes of the Permit Tables in Part I.C.
195 North 1950 West • Salt Lake City, UT
Mailing Address: P.O.Box 144850 • Salt Lake City, UT 84114-4850
Telephone [phone] • Fax (801) 533^097 • T.D.D [phone]
www.deq.utah.gov
Printed on 100% recycled paper
Kathy Weinel
Page 2
Monitoring Well MW-35
Parameter Proposed GWCL GWQS Method DRC
Adjustment
Ammonia 0.14 mg/L 25 mg/L Mean + 2a
Nitrate/Nitrite 5 mg/L 10 mg/L Fractional
Arsenic 25 ug/L 50 ug/L Fractional
Beryllium 2 Mg/L 4 ug/L Fractional
Cadmium 2.5 pg/L 5 ug/L Fractional
Chromium 50 pg/L 100 ug/L Fractional
Cobalt 365 pg/L 730 pg/L Fractional
Copper 650 pg/L 1,300 ug/L Fractional
Iron 330.08 pg/L 11,000 pg/L Mean + 2a
Lead 7.5 pg/L 15 pg/L Fractional
Manganese 290.68 pg/L 800 pg/L Mean + 2a
Mercury 1 Pg/L 2 pg/L Fractional
Molybdenum 20 pg/L 40 pg/L Fractional
Nickel 5 pg/L 10 pg/L Fractional
Selenium 33.73 pg/L 50 pg/L Modified
HHV+2a
Fraction GWQS
= 25 pg/L
Silver 50 pg/L 100 pg/L Fractional
Thallium 1 Pg/L 2 pg/L Fractional
Tin 8,500 pg/L 17,000 pg/L Fractional
Uranium 26.76 pg/L 30 pg/L
60 pg/L
5,000 pg/L
Mean + 2a
Vanadium 30 pg/L Fractional
Zinc 2,500 pg/L " 7 ~ ~ ~ |— Q
15pCi/L
Fractional
Gross Alpha 12.21 pCi/L Modified
HHV +2a
Fraction GWQS
= 7.5 pCi/L
Acetone 350 pg/L 700 pg/L Fractional
Benzene 2.5 pg/L 5 pg/L Fractional
Methyl Ethyl
Ketone
2,000 pg/L 4,000 pg/L Fractional
Carbon
Tetrachloride
2.5 pg/L 5 pg/L Fractional
Chloroform 35 pg/L 70 ug/L Fractional
Chloromethane 15 pg/L 30 pg/L Fractional
Methylene
Chloride
2.5 pg/L 5 pg/L Fractional
Naphthalene 50 pg/L 100 pg/L Fractional
Tetrahydrofuran 23 pg/L 46 pg/L Fractional
Toluene 500 pg/L 1,000 pg/L Fractional
Xylenes, Total 5,000 pg/L 10,000 pg/L Fractional
Chloride 69.12 mg/L Mean + 2a
Fluoride 0.42 mg/L 4 mg/L Mean + 2a
Kathy Weinel
Page 3
; Monitoring WeU MW-35
Parameter I Proposed GWCL I GWQS Method DRC
4-, :. ' : Adjustment
Field pH 6.15 mg/L Mean + 2a
Sulfate 2,400 mg/L HHV
TDS 5,123.55 mg/L HHV + 2a 1.25 x Bckgnd =
| | 4821.88 mg/L
Monitoring Well MW-36
Parameter Proposed GWCL GWQS Method DRC
Adjustment
Ammonia 12.5 mg/L 25 mg/L Fractional
Nitrate/Nitrite 5 mg/L 10 mg/L Fractional
Arsenic 25 pg/L 50 pg/L Fractional
Beryllium 2 pg/L 4 pg/L Fractional
Cadmium 2.5 pg/L 5 pg/L Fractional
Chromium 50 pg/L 100 pg/L Fractional
Cobalt 365 pg/L 730 pg/L Fractional
Copper 650 pg/L 1,300 pg/L Fractional
Iron 5,500 pg/L 11,000 pg/L Fractional
Lead 7.5 pg/L 15 pg/L Fractional
Manganese 400 pg/L 800 pg/L Fractional
Mercury 1 pg/L 2 pg/L Fractional
Molybdenum 20 pg/L 40 pg/L Fractional
Nickel 50 pg/L 100 pg/L Fractional
Selenium 307.42 pg/L 50 pg/L Mean + 2a
Silver 50 pg/L 100 pg/L Fractional
Thallium 1.35 pg/L 2 pg/L Mean + 2a
Tin 8,500 pg/L 17,000 pg/L Fractional
Uranium 26.42 pg/L 30 pg/L Mean + 2a
Vanadium 30 pg/L 60 pg/L Fractional
Zinc 2,500 pg/L 5,000 pg/L Fractional
Gross Alpha 7.50 pCi/L 15 pCi/L Mean + 2a
Acetone 350 pg/L 700 pg/L Fractional
Benzene 2.5 pg/L 5 pg/L Fractional
Methyl Ethyl
Ketone
2,000 pg/L 4,000 pg/L Fractional
Carbon
Tetrachloride
2.5 pg/L 5 pg/L Fractional
Chloroform 35 pg/L 70 pg/L Fractional
Chloromethane 15 pg/L 30 pg/L Fractional
Methylene
Chloride
2.5 pg/L 5 pg/L Fractional
Kathy Weinel
Page 4
Monitoring WeU MW-36
Parameter Proposed GWCL GWQS Method DRC
Adjustment
Naphthalene 50 pg/L 100 pg/L Fractional
Tetrahydrofuran 23 pg/L 46 pg/L Fractional
Toluene 500 pg/L 1,000 pg/L Fractional
Xylenes, Total 5,000 pg/L 10,000 pg/L Fractional
Chloride 73 mg/L HHV
Fluoride 0.35 mg/L 4 mg/L Mean + 2a
Field pH 6.49 mg/L Mean + 2a
Sulfate 3,146.21 mg/L Mean + 2a
TDS 4,860.50 mg/L Mean + 4a 1.25xBckgnd
5470 mg/L
Monitoring Well MW-37
Parameter Proposed GWCL GWQS Method DRC
Adjustment
Ammonia 12.5 mg/L 25 mg/L Fractional
Nitrate/Nitrite 2.22 mg/L 10 mg/L Mean + 2a
Arsenic 25 pg/L 50 pg/L Fractional
Beryllium 2 pg/L 4 pg/L Fractional
Cadmium 2.5 pg/L 5 pg/L Fractional
Chromium 50 pg/L 100 pg/L Fractional
Cobalt 365 pg/L 730 pg/L Fractional
Copper 650 pg/L
5,500 pg/L
7.5 pg/L
1,300 pg/L Fractional
Iron 11,000 pg/L Fractional
Lead
400 pg/L
15 pg/L Fractional
Manganese 800 pg/L Fractional
Mercury 1 pg/L 2 pg/L Fractional
Molybdenum 20 pg/L 40 pg/L Fractional
Nickel 50 pg/L 100 pg/L Fractional
Selenium 25 pg/L 50 pg/L Fractional
Silver 50 pg/L 100 pg/L Fractional
Thallium 1 Pg/L 2 pg/L Fractional
Tin 8,500 pg/L 17,000 pg/L Fractional
Uranium 18.08 pg/L 30 pg/L Mean + 2a
Vanadium 30 pg/L 60 pg/L Fractional
Zinc 41.25 pg/L 5,000 pg/L Mean + 2a
Gross Alpha 4.20 pCi/L 15pCi/L Mean + 2a
Acetone 350 pg/L 700 pg/L Fractional
Benzene 2.5 pg/L 5 pg/L Fractional
Methyl Ethyl
Ketone
2,000 pg/L 4,000 pg/L Fractional
Carbon 2.5 pg/L 5 pg/L Fractional
Kathy Weinel
Page 5
Monitoring Well MW-37
Parameter Proposed GWCL GWQS Method DRC
Adjustment
Tetrachloride
Chloroform 35 pg/L 70 pg/L Fractional
Chloromethane 15 pg/L 30 pg/L Fractional
Methylene
Chloride
2.5 pg/L 5 pg/L Fractional
Naphthalene 50 pg/L 100 pg/L Fractional
Tetrahydrofuran 23 pg/L 46 pg/L Fractional
Toluene 500 pg/L 1,000 pg/L Fractional
Xylenes, Total 5,000 pg/L 10,000 pg/L Fractional
Chloride 57.3 mg/L Mean + 2a
Fluoride 0.31 mg/L 4 mg/L Mean + 2a
Field pH 6.61 mg/L Mean + 2a
Sulfate 3,311.97 mg/L Modified
Mean + 4a
Mean + 2a =
2927.65 mg/L
TDS 4,126.63 mg/L Mean + 2a 1.25 xBckgnd
4866.25 mg/L
Based on DRC review of the "Draft" Addendum to Ground Water Data Preparation and
Statistical Process Flow for Calculating Groundwater Compliance Limits for Trending
Constituents, it did not appear that the proposed modified approaches were warranted when
compared with data plots and trend lines (mean + 4a and HHV + 2a). GWCL's calculated by
these methods were therefore adjusted per the tables above
DRC additionally noted that several of the modified statistical procedures are currently addressed
in the Utah Groundwater Rules, Facility Permit and/or approved flow chart (e.g. fractional
methods of ground water quality standards and EPA maximum contaminant levels are currently
included in the Utah Rule and Groundwater Permit and consideration to use of statistical outliers
in the data set is allowed on a case-by-case basis when a significant trend in a constituent is
apparent).
Monitoring Frequency:
Groundwater velocities were based on estimations of hydraulic conductivity and specific storage
calculated with the use of the Kansas Geological Survey ("KGS") Model, and field slug testing
measurements (falling head) at each monitoring well. Per review of the slug test results tables for
each of the applicable monitoring wells, it appears that the measured values correspond to the
values submitted with the background monitoring reports listed below.
1. Hydro Geo Chem. Inc., October 11, 2010, Installation and Hydraulic Testing of Perched
Monitoring Wells MW-33, W-34 and MW-35 at the White Mesa Uranium Mill near
Blanding, Utah
Kathy Weinel
Page 6
2. Hydro Geo Chem. Inc., June 28, 2011, Installation and Hydraulic Testing of Perched
Monitoring Wells MW-36 and MW-37 at the White Mesa Uranium Mill near Blanding,
Utah
Based on these calculations and the monitoring frequency criteria for the White Mesa Facility
listed in the Permit Part I.E. (Semi-annual where groundwater velocity is less than 10 feet/year,
and, Quarterly where groundwater velocity is equal to or greater than 10 feet/year), the following
monitoring frequencies are required for monitoring wells MW-35, MW-36 and MW-37.
Monitoring Well No. Monitoring Frequency Groundwater Velocity
ift/yr)
MW-35 Semi-Annual 8
MW-36 Quarterly 13
MW-37 Semi-Annual 0.6
These approved GWCL's and monitoring frequencies will be included in the upcoming Permit
renewal. If you have questions or concerns regarding this letter please contact Tom Rushing at
[phone].
Sincerely,
Pilots T nnnnArn •* Rusty Lundberg
Director
RL:TR:tr
U:\MON_WAST\Trushing\Energy Fuels\Background Review MW-35, MW-36 and MW-37\5-l-14 EFR Background Rpt Ltr.docx