DRC-2016-006848 - 0901a0688062ea10

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State of Utah
GARY R. HERBERT
Governor
SPENCER J. COX
Lieutenant Governor
Department of
Environmental Quality
Alan Matheson
Executive Director
DIVISION OF WASTE MANAGEMENT
AND RADIATION CONTROL
Scott T. Anderson
Director
MEMORANDUM
TO:
THROUGH
FROM:
DATE:
SUBJECT:
On April 27, 2016, in the company of, Garrin Palmer and Tanner Holliday of Energy Fuels Resources (EFR); I
conducted an inspection of the tailings management facilities pertaining to the operation and maintenance of
discharge minimization technology and approved implementation of best available technologies for EFR’s White
Mesa uranium mill. The following details my activities, observations and findings.
I arrived at the mill at 7:40 a.m. April 27, 2016 and checked in, asking for Mr. David Turk. After briefing Mr.
Turk on my intended onsite activity for the day, I was assigned to the company of Mr. Garrin Palmer and Mr.
Tanner Holliday. We proceeded immediately to perform the inspection.
Mr. Palmer provided me copies of the current revision of the field report forms used to perform the daily, weekly,
monthly and quarterly monitoring activities associated with the tailings management system, Revision 12.3.
We prosecuted the inspection by actually performing the daily, weekly, monthly and quarterly inspections
routinely done at the mill. The data gathered during the inspection agreed with data from previous inspections.
During the inspection, Mr. Palmer and Mr. Holliday demonstrated an understanding of the purposes and
principles behind the data collection.
Items evaluated during the inspection include:
1. Tailings slurry transport system (pertains to Cells 1, 2, 3, 4A, 4B)
a. Slurry pipeline - leaks, damage, blockage, sharp mends
b. Pipeline joints - leaks, loose
c. Pipeline supports - damage, loss of support
d. Valves - leaks, blocked, closed
e. Points of discharge - location and orientation
2. Operational systems and interior of cells (pertains to Cells 1, 2, 3, 4A, 4B)
DRC-20 195 North 1950 West • Salt Lake City, UT
Mailing Address: P.O. Box 144880 • Salt Lake City, UT 84114-4880
Telephone [phone] • Fax [phone] • T.D.D. [phone]
unmv.deq.utah.goD
Printed on 100% recycled paper
File C-2016-41
Phil Goble, Section Manager ft*
Russell J. Topham, P.E.
May 5, 2016
Engineering Module 75E, DMT/BAT Field Inspection; Radioactive Materials License Number
UT1900479 (RML) and Ground Water Discharge Permit UG370004 (GWDP). Energy Fuels
Resources, Inc. (EFR) White Mesa Mill, Blanding, Utah
Review Memorandum, Project C-2016-41
May 5, 2016
Page 2
a. Interior cell walls: liner - visible damage
b. Fluid level
i. Elevation — exceeding design/approved operating level, calculate head over FML
ii. Significant change
iii. Highest beach elevation (Cell 4B had no beach visible during inspection)
c. Tailings beach - cracks, severe erosion, subsidence (Cells 3, 4A), estimates of beach and pool
areas
d. Cover - erosion, exposure of liner (Cells 1, 2, 3)
3. Dikes and embankments (pertains to Cells 4A, 4B)
a. Slopes - soughs, sliding, cracks, bulging, subsidence, severe erosion, moist areas, areas of
seepage outbreak
b. Crest - subsidence, severe erosion
4. Flow rates - slurry lines (entire length, discharge point), pond return, solution extraction tailings, spray
system
5. Dust control (Cells 2, 3, 4A, 4B) - dusting, wind movement of tailings, inches of precipitation,
meteorological conditions. No fugitive dust was observed.
6. Leak detection system (Cells 1, 2, 3,4A, 4B) - wet/dry, initial/final level, gallons pumped
7. Slimes drain (Cell 2)
a. Pump function
b. Post- and pre-pump fluid levels
c. Volume pumped
8. New Decontamination Pad (3 portals)
a. Portal wet/dry; if wet, record fluid level. (Dry at time of inspection)
9. In addition to the above, all of which were checked during the inspection, the forms ask about any
construction activities that took place, anything unusual observed, or any other concerns, as well as notes
of items that need attention.
Finding: During inspection we detected no items requiring attention. Field personnel appear to understand the
significance of the data and take care to provide accurate, comprehensive records. Report forms are the correct
revision