DRC-2016-005826 - 0901a0688061f4a4

ENERGYFUELS
Energy Fuels Resources (USA) Inc.
225 Union Blvd. Suite 600
Lakewood, CO, US, 80228
303 974 2140
www.energyfuels.com
April 4,2016
Sent VIA E-MAIL AND EXPRESS DELIVERY
Mr. Scott Anderson
Director
Division of Waste Management and Radiation Control
Utah Department of Environmental Quality
195 North 1950 West
P.O. Box 144880
Salt Lake City, UT 84114-4820
Re: Transmittal of Documentation for Follow-up to Notifications Provided to the Division of Waste
Management and Radiation Control (“DWMRC”) for White Mesa Uranium Mill
Dear Mr. Anderson:
Attachment 1 to this letter provides Energy Fuels Resources USA Inc.’s (“EFRI’s”) follow-up documentation to
previous notifications to DWMRC Personnel by David Turk on March 29, 2016 regarding Cameco lle.(2)
shipping issues.
Department of Transportation (“DOT’) regulations in 49 CFR 171.15 require that persons in physical
possession of a material during an incident provide notifications to DOT after the occurrence of any incident.
Pursuant to this requirement, Greenfield Logistics made the appropriate notifications to U.S. DOT National
Response Center on March 29, 2016.
If you should have any questions regarding this submittal please contact me at 303-389-4134.
Div of Waste Management
and Radiation Control
APR -5 2016
WL-ZO\ltr005&2b
Yours very truly, <■
Energy Fuels Resources (USA) Inc.
Kathy Weinel
Quality Assurance Manager
CC: David Frydenlund
Harold Roberts
David Turk
Logan Shumway
Scott Bakken
ATTACHMENT 1
DOCUMENTATION FOR INCIDENT OF MARCH 29,2016
Name of Reporter to DWMRC
Verbal Notification was provided to the Division of Waste Management and Radiation Control
(“DWMRC”) by David Turk White Mesa Mill Radiation Safety Officer (“RSO”)
Initial written notification via e-mail was provided by David Turk White Mesa Mill RSO
This follow-up notification is provided by Kathy Weinel, EFRI Quality Assurance Manager (“QAM”)
Notifications were provided to Mr. Phil Goble and Mr. Ryan Johnson of DWMRC on March 29, 2016.
Name and Address of Person Represented by Reporters
Energy Fuels Resources USA Inc.
225 Union Boulevard, Suite 600
Lakewood, Colorado 80228
For an incident located near:
White Mesa Mill
6425 South Highway 191
Blanding Utah, 84511
Phone Numbers Where Reporters Can Be Contacted
David Turk 435-678-4113
Kathy Weinel 303-389-4134
Date. Time, and Location of Incident
At approximately 0730 hours on Tuesday March 29, 2016, the staff at the White Mesa Mill (the “Mill”)
noted that an incoming Intermodal Container (“IMC”) from Cameco - Smith Ranch was leaking a white
paste like material. The IMC had traveled from the Cameco Smith-Ranch Facility in Glenrock, Wyoming
overland to the Mill entrance in Blanding, Utah.
The incident involved a leaking 1 le.(2) disposal shipment from Cameco - Smith Ranch in the Mill entry
way. In addition, some material had spilled out of the container onto US Highway 191.
The Extent of the Injury
No injuries resulted from this incident.
Class or Division. Proper Shipping Name and Quantity of Hazardous Materials Involved
The leaked material is Class 7, UN2912, Radioactive Material, Low Specific Activity (LSA-1).
It is estimated that less than 5 gallons was present at the entrance to the Mill and on the truck and IMC.
Type of Incident and Nature of Hazardous Material Involvement and Whether a Continuing Danger to
Life Exists at the Scene
The incident involved an IMC that was leaking a small amount of material. Some material had dripped
from the truck and contacted the highway. The majority of the leaked material remained affixed to the
IMC and transport truck. The leaking material was identified as Class 7, UN2912, Radioactive Material,
Low Specific Activity (LSA-1).
At no time during the incident was there a danger to life.
The materials which were noted on the Highway 191 surfaces, as well as those on Mill property, were
cleaned up following the incident by Mill Personnel.
Chronology of the Incident
• At approximately 0730 hours on Tuesday March 29, 2016, the staff at the Mill noted that an
incoming IMC from Cameco - Smith Ranch was leaking a white paste like material. The IMC
and truck were denied entry to the Mill facility pending investigation and approval from
DWMRC.
• The RSO was notified. The RSO immediately examined the container and truck and took
photographs.
• The RSO contacted Mr. Phil Goble with the State of Utah Division Of Waste Management and
Radiation Control at approximately 0800 hours. The notification to Mr. Goble, included notice
that a leaking 1 le.(2) disposal shipment from Cameco - Smith Ranch arrived at the Mill and was
sitting in the Mill entry way. Mr. Goble was also notified that there was white material that had
spilled out of the container onto US Highway 191 near the entrance to the Mill property.
• After notification was given to the DWMRC, the RSO made contact with EFRI Corporate Staff.
Ms. Kathy Weinel was notified via phone at approximately 0830 hours. Photographs were sent to
EFRI Corporate Staff via text messaging.
• Ms. Weinel phoned the site RSO for Cameco Smith Ranch, a Mr. Travis Coleman. Mr. Coleman
was not in the office and a voicemail was left.
• Ms. Weinel then contacted the Mine Manager, Mr. Craig Hiser to report the spill. This was the
first notice to Mr. Hiser of an issue with the shipment as Greenfield Logistics, the shipping
company, had not yet notified Smith Ranch Personnel of the incident.
• The RSO returned to the inbound shipment and took multiple photographs of the tractor, trailer
and IMC and began a radiological survey of the material that was visible on US Highway 191 and
EFRI entrance road.
• The white material on the asphalt highway and roadway ranged from 5,850 to 9,360 dpm/100cm2
for alpha and 0.04 to 0.08 mrem/hr beta/gamma.
• There were four removable alpha swipes taken on the asphalt roadways. Those readings came
back at 383 to 492.5 dpm/100cm2.
• During the radiological survey, the RSO was contacted by the Greenfield Logistics dispatcher,
Mr. Chris Hartley, to make sure that we were aware of the leaking container. He was told that
EFRI was aware of the situation and that EFRI was in the process of gathering information and
data for the report to DWMRC. Mr. Hartley was also notified that the container would not be
released, because the container would need to be fully cleaned before allowing it to leave the
facility. Due to the deteriorating weather conditions the cleaning process for that container was
not possible at that time.
• The Mill Personnel went to the conveyance and performed a radiological survey on all
components where there was visible material. The material came back with a total alpha
measurement of between 35,100 to 58,500 dpm/100cm2. The beta/gamma survey on the same
material was 5.0 mrem/hr. A series of removable alpha swipes were collected. Those readings
ranged from the lowest on the tires at 438.8 dpm/100cm2 to the highest on the beam under the
potential source at 2,551.3 dpm/100cm2.
• The RSO spoke with the Greenfield driver, Mr. Doug Angell. He stated that he noticed the
leaking container when he pulled onto our entrance way at 2330 hours on Monday March 28,
2016. He stated he then texted his dispatcher at that time about the leak. He also stated that on
Monday March 28, 2016, while traveling near Meeker, Colorado, a deer ran in front of the truck
and he had to hit the brakes hard. That was the only time during the trip that there was any
sudden jarring of the load. He stated that he had filled up with fuel in Rawlins, Wyoming and, at
that time, there was no leakage. It should be noted that all seals were still intact that Cameco
installed prior to the container leaving their site.
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• At approximately 0945 hours on Tuesday March 29, 2016, the RSO allowed the load onto the
property pursuant to approval from DWMRC Personnel. The main reason for the allowing the
truck and IMC onto the Mill property was that rain was starting to fall and washing some of the
material off of the container and onto the ground. In order to prevent a larger cleanup, the
decision was made to move the truck and IMC to the Mill Restricted Area.
• The area on US Highway 191 and the EFRI entrance way was washed and any contaminated soil
(approximately 5 to 6 cubic yards) was excavated and taken into the Mill Restricted Area and
then out to Cell 3 for disposal. The cleanup area extended approximately lA of a mile north on
US Highway 191. The area was surveyed after the rain/snow storm stopped. Data from these
scans is summarized below.
Summary of Scan Results
Location Background
Units
Pre-Cleanup Results
Units
Post-Cleanup Results
Units
EFRI Entrance Road 212 dpm/100cm" and 10
_______ pR/hr_______
5,850 dpm/lOOcm and
0.04 mrem/hr
< Bkg and 23 pR/hr
US Highway 191
turnout
212dpm/100cm and 10
_______pR/hr_______
9,360 dpm/100cm" and
0.08 mrem/hr
< Bkg and 20 pR/hr
US Highway 191 212 dpm/100cm and 10
_______pR/hr_______
5,850 dpm/lOOcm" and
0.04 mrem/hr
< Bkg and 10 pR/hr
Greenfield Truck 212 dpm/100cm and
0.04 mrem/hr
35,100 dpm/lOOcm and
5.0 mrem/hr
< Bkg and < 0.04
mrem/hr
Greenfield IMC 212 dpm/100cm" and
0.04 mrem/hr
58,500 dpm/lOOcm and
5.0 mrem/hr
Is still in the process of
being cleaned
• The inbound IMC was dumped on Cell 3 and the then moved to the vicinity of the Old
Decontamination pad in order for EFRI to perform a detailed decontamination of the unit once
conditions improve. The truck was taken through the Old Decontamination wash station. The
truck was released from the site at 1130 hours. All release surveys on the truck met applicable
standards.
• At approximately 1830 hours on March 29, 2016, Greenfield Logistics reported the incident to
DOT National Response Center. Kevin Williams at the National Response Center took the call
and issued Case # 1144028. Shane Johnson of Greenfield Logistics received a call from DOT to
review the details of the report. Per e-mail communications from Greenfield Logistics, DOT
considers the incident report closed.
• At approximately 0900 hours on March 30, 2016, Ms. Weinel spoke with Mr. Travis Coleman.
Mr. Coleman was notified that this was the second incident of this type involving this material.
EFRI recommended Smith-Ranch Personnel conduct an internal investigation into this incident to
prevent recurrence.
• The US. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (“NRC”) requested that Cameco retrace the route of the
shipment to investigate the potential for additional released material. The Cameco team obtained
a detailed account of the route. In the event that additional released material was identified,
Cameco’s Emergency Response contractor was standing by to respond.
• On April 1, 2016 a Cameco team comprised of the Smith Ranch RSO, Mr. Travis Coleman, a
Smith Ranch Health Physics Technician (“HPT”), Mr. Chris Pendleton, and Mr. Ken Vaughn, the
Cameco Director of Communications traveled to the Mill in Blanding Utah. They arrived at 1830
on Friday, April 1, 2016.
• The Cameco team surveyed Highway 191 from the Mill entrance to the 4-way intersection in
Blanding in lA mile increments. No readings above background were noted.
• On April 2, 2016, the Cameco team retraced the shipping route and surveyed at points along the
road. Additional data were collected in and around Meeker, Colorado due to the Greenfield
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driver stating he had to stop quickly to avoid a deer in that area. Due to the potential for
additional spillage, this area was surveyed at a higher frequency.
• Photographs are included on the CD attached to the hardcopy of this notice.
Conclusion
After final decontamination of the IMC to appropriate release standards, the IMC will be released. No
further cleanup activities at the Mill, on Highway 191, or the travel way are required. EFRI has requested
that Cameco Smith-Ranch personnel complete an investigation of the cause of this incident and take
appropriate actions to prevent recurrence in the future. Cameco Resources has suspended all waste
shipments from Smith Ranch-Highland and Crow Butte until the issue(s) that resulted in the incident are
fully addressed. Cameco’s investigation will address both the type of material and method of shipment
(regarding no free liquid).
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