DRC-2017-004690 - 0901a068807233da

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

July 6, 2017

Kathy Weinel, Quality Assurance Manager
Energy Fuels Resources (USA) Inc.
225 Union Blvd., Suite 600
Lakewood, CO 80228
RE: Energy Fuels Resources, White Mesa Uranium Mill May 15, 2017 1st Quarter 2017 Groundwater
Monitoring Report
May 3, 2017 Notice Pursuant to Part I.G.1(a) Utah Groundwater Discharge Permit No. UGW370004 Dear Ms. Weinel:

The Division of Waste Management and Radiation Control has completed its review of the following
Energy Fuels Resources (USA) Inc. (EFR) documents: 1. EFR May 15, 2017, Transmittal of 1st Quarter 2017 Groundwater Monitoring Report
Groundwater Quality Discharge Permit UGW370004 White Mesa Uranium Mill.
2. EFR May 3, 2017, State of Utah Ground Water Discharge Permit No. UGW370004 White Mesa Uranium Mill – Notice Pursuant to Part I.G.1(a).
The review was conducted to ensure compliance with all applicable parts of Utah Groundwater
Discharge Permit No. UGW370004 (Permit) issued for the White Mesa Uranium Mill located in
Blanding, Utah.
Uranium – Monitoring Well MW-05 It was noted that the measured uranium concentration in monitoring well MW-5 was 145 µg/L for the
1st Quarter 2017 sample, which is the highest recorded concentration for uranium to date at the
monitoring well. The second highest uranium concentration was the 4th Quarter 2014 sample, which was 36.2 µg/L.

Uranium concentrations appear to spike during the winter months with concentrations during other
monitoring quarters being much lower. Monitoring well MW-5 has been in quarterly accelerated
DRC-2017-004690 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] www.deq.utah.gov Printed on 100% recycled paper
monitoring since 2011 based on dual exceedances of uranium for the 4th Quarter 2010 and 1st Quarter
2011 samples.

In the June 26, 2017 telephone discussion between the Division and EFR concerning the high 1st Quarter, 2017 uranium concentration, EFR noted that the uranium concentrations were elevated and
appeared to spike during the 4th or 1st quarter monitoring events of each year and monitoring well MW-5
had the top of the casing standpipe at ground level due to a rise in ground level from soil placement for
Tailings Cell 2.
Based on these EFR findings, the casing was extended to above ground level during early May, re-
surveyed on May 11, 2017 and over-pumped on May 19, 2017 (extracted 42.7 gallons of water from the
well). During the June 26, 2017 telephone call, the Division and EFR agreed that a new section should
be included in future Groundwater Reports to provide a summary of findings and actions undertaken by
EFR to address the uranium exceedances at monitoring well MW-5.
EFR 1st Quarter 2017 Groundwater Monitoring Report – Close-out:
Based on review of the EFR May 15, 2017 1st Quarter 2017 Groundwater Monitoring Report, it appears
that all applicable requirements of the Permit were met and that the submitted groundwater monitoring data is reliable. Therefore, the review is hereby closed out.
EFR May 3, 2017 Notice Pursuant to Part I.G.1(a) – Close-out:

Based on review of the EFR May 3, 2017 Notice it appears that all requirements of the Permit were met. Therefore, the review is hereby closed out.

If you have any questions, please call Tom Rushing at [phone].

Sincerely,

Scott T. Anderson, Director
Division of Waste Management and Radiation Control STA/TR/ka

c: Kirk Benge, Health Officer/Environmental Health Director, San Juan County Health Department
Rick Meyer, Environmental Health Director, San Juan County Health Department Scott Hacking, P.E., DEQ District Engineer