DRC-2018-000482 - 0901a068807a2189

ENERGYFUELS
Energy Fuels Resources (USA) Inc.
225 Union Blvd. Suite 600
Lakewood, CO, US, 80228
303 974 2140
www.energvfuels.com
January 9, 2018
VIA PDF AND OVERNIGHT DELIVERY
Scott Anderson,
Director of Waste Management and Radiation Control
State of Utah Department of Environmental Quality
195 North 1950 West
P.O. Box 144880
Salt Lake City, UT 84114-4880
Div of Waste Management
and Radiation Control
JAM 11 2018
ORC-2010-OooA-92
Re: State of Utah Stipulation and Consent Order (“SCO”) Docket Number UGW-20-01
White Mesa Uranium Mill - Energy Fuels Resources (USA) Inc. (“EFRI”) Plan and Time
Schedule Pursuant to Part II.H.2 of the Groundwater Corrective Action Plan (“GCAP”)
included as Attachment 1 to the SCO
Dear Mr. Anderson:
Part II.H. 1) of the GCAP states that “At any time EFR[I] submits a quarterly report that demonstrates an
exceedance (second quarter of chloroform exceedance), EFR[I] will provide a written exceedance notice
to the Director (“Exceedance Notice”) for all wells that have demonstrated such an exceedance.” EFRI
provided notice to the Director that the concentrations of chloroform in TW4-26 exceeded the respective
GCAL of 70 ug/L for two or more consecutive quarters by letter dated November 27, 2017.
Part II.H.2) of the GCAP requires that “Within 60 days after the time of submittal of a quarterly report
that demonstrates an exceedance as defined in Part II.G, EFR[I] will provide a plan and schedule for
remedial actions to address and resolve the excursion, for Director approval.”
This is the plan and schedule required under Part II.H.2) of the GCAP for TW4-26 for the third quarter of
2017.
If you should have any questions regarding this submittal please contact me at [phone].
Yours truly,
ENERGY FUELS RESOURCES (USA) INC.
Kathy Weinel
Quality Assurance Manager
cc:David Frydenlund, ark Chalmers, David Turk, Logan Shumway, Scott Bakken. Paul Goranson
WHITE MESA MILL
State of Utah
Stipulation and Consent Order Docket No. UGW-20-01
Plan and Time Schedule
Under Part II.H.2
For
Exceedances in TW4-26 in the Third Quarter of 2017
Energy Fuels Resources (USA) Inc.
225 Union Boulevard, Suite 600
Lakewood, CO 80228
January 9, 2018
1. INTRODUCTION
Energy Fuels Resources (USA) Inc. (“EFRI”) operates the White Mesa Uranium Mill (the
“Mill”), located near Blanding Utah. EFRI performed third quarter 2017 chloroform monitoring
during the period from July 1, to September 30, 2017 under the September 14, 2015
Groundwater Corrective Action Plan (“GCAP”), included as Attachment 1 to the executed
Stipulation and Consent Order (“SCO”).
Part II.H.l) of the GCAP states that “At any time EFR[I] submits a quarterly report that
demonstrates an exceedance (second quarter of chloroform exceedance), EFR[I] will provide a
written exceedance notice to the Director (“Exceedance Notice”) for all wells that have
demonstrated such an exceedance.” EFRI provided notice to the Director that the concentrations
of chloroform in TW4-26 exceeded the respective GCAL of 70 ug/L for two or more consecutive
quarters by letter dated November 27, 2017.
Part II.H.2) of the GCAP requires that “Within 60 days after the time of submittal of a quarterly
report that demonstrates an exceedance as defined in Part II.G, EFR[I] will provide a plan and
schedule for remedial actions to address and resolve the excursion, for Director approval.”
This is the plan and schedule required under Part II.H.2) of the GCAP for TW4-26 for the third
quarter of 2017.
2. WELLS SUBJECT TO THIS PLAN
The following well is covered by this Plan:
Table 1
Chloroform Results in TW4-26
Constituent Monitoring
Event
GCAL
(ug/L)
Results
(ug/L)
Chloroform Q2 2017
Q3 2017
70.0 244
419
3. BACKGROUND
The chloroform plume is currently entirely within the Mill property boundary and is bounded on
all sides by wells having chloroform concentrations that are either non-detect or less than 70
pg/L (Figure 1). The plume is bounded to the north by TW4-25; to the west and southwest by
MW-31, MW-32, TW4-23, and TW4-24; to the east by TW4-3, TW4-5, TW4-13, TW4-14,
TW4-18, TW4-27, TW4-30, TW4-36 and TW4-38; to the south by TW4-34; and to the southeast
by TW4-35. Chloroform pumping as of the third quarter of 2017 (4.8 gpm) exceeds calculated
‘background’ flow through the plume (3.4 gpm) and is therefore considered adequate. In
addition, because of continued reductions in saturated thicknesses and hydraulic gradients
1
resulting from reduced wildlife pond recharge, ‘background’ flow through the plume is expected
to continue to diminish, thereby reducing the pumping needed to control the plume.
Because of the increase in chloroform at TW4-26 from approximately 46 in the first quarter of
2017 to 419 pg/L in the third quarter of 2017, TW4-26 no longer bounds the chloroform plume
to the south-southwest. MW-17 bounds the plume to the far southwest (cross-gradient), and
MW-22 bounds the plume far to the south (cross- to downgradient).
At TW4-26, decreasing water level trends (since about the fourth quarter of 2013), and
increasing concentration trends are also consistent with reduced wildlife pond seepage, in
particular, reduced seepage from the southern wildlife pond. As the groundwater mound
associated with the southern pond decays, groundwater flow directions in the southern extremity
of the plume are likely to become more southerly, and plume migration is likely to turn more to
the south. An increasingly southerly direction of plume migration is consistent with increasing
concentrations at TW4-26.
4. PLAN AND TIME SCHEDULE
This is a plan and schedule for actions to address and resolve the excursion noted in Table 1
above as required by the GCAP. Part II.H.2).i) of the GCAP states that the plan and schedule
may include, but is not limited to the installation of one or more pumping wells in the vicinity of
the well found in exceedance and installation of one or more replacement wells for the
compliance well in exceedance. EFRI plans to address the exceedance through the installation of
two wells (TW4-40 and TW4-41). Figure 2 shows 1) the proposed location of new compliance
monitoring well TW4-40; and 2) the locations of proposed test borings (one of which will be
completed as new chloroform pumping well TW4-41). As shown in Figure 2, the proposed
location of new compliance monitoring well TW4-40 is approximately 200 feet south of TW4-
26, and the proposed test borings are located within the vicinity of existing pumping well TW4-
4.
TW4-40 will be positioned cross-to downgradient of TW4-26. Because of groundwater flow
directions that are increasingly southerly in this area, new well TW4-40 is expected to become
increasingly downgradient rather than cross-gradient with respect to TW4-26.
Pumping well TW4-41 is proposed to augment pumping well TW4-4 by increasing chloroform
mass removal rates in this area. TW4-41 is proposed to be installed near TW4-4 rather than
farther to the south in the toe of the plume because perched zone hydraulic conductivities south
of TW4-4 are too low to allow a pumping rate large enough to result in significant chloroform
mass removal. TW4-4 is located within a generally north-south oriented relatively high
conductivity zone that is interpreted to ‘pinch out’ between TW4-4 and TW4-6. Because the
precise southern extent of the higher conductivity zone is unknown, the test borings shown in
Figure 2 are proposed to be installed in the vicinity of TW4-4 to attempt to intercept this zone.
One of these test borings will be overdrilled and completed as new pumping well TW4-41. The
test boring installation order is indicated by the labels 1 through 5.
2
The rationale for the test boring installation order is to gather the information needed to complete
the new pumping well as far as possible to the south while remaining within the higher
conductivity zone. Therefore, proposed test boring #1 is located approximately halfway between
TW4-4 and TW4-6; and proposed test boring #2 is located approximately halfway between test
boring #1 and TW4-4. Proposed locations #1 or #2 would be the most desirable for a new
pumping well assuming the higher conductivity zone extends to the south of TW4-4 and is
penetrated by one of these borings.
Under conditions where, based on drilling, the higher conductivity zone does not appear to
extend to the south of TW4-4 (is not penetrated by either test boring #1 or #2), test borings #3
and #4 are proposed immediately east and immediately west (within approximately 30 feet) of
TW4-4. Test borings #3 and #4 are an attempt to penetrate the higher conductivity zone near
TW4-4 assuming it has sufficient width.
Under conditions where none of proposed test borings #1 through #4 encounter higher
conductivity materials, test boring #5 will be installed immediately to the north (within
approximately 30 feet) of TW4-4 as shown in Figure 2.
The test boring having the highest productivity, based on water produced during drilling, will be
overdrilled and completed as new pumping well TW4-41. If the higher conductivity zone is
encountered by either test boring #1 or #2, a decision may be made to complete the most
productive as TW4-41 and to terminate the installation of additional test borings. The new well
will be completed within a larger diameter boring (nominal 10-inch diameter) and have a larger
diameter casing (nominal 6-inch diameter) than TW4-4 (nominal 6 % inch diameter boring and
4-inch diameter casing).
4.1. Experts Reports to be Prepared
As required by Part II.H.4) EFRI will submit an as-built report within 60 days of well installation
for the newly installed wells proposed in this plan and time schedule.
Assessment of the plume, hydraulic capture and effectiveness of the remediation strategy will be
discussed in the quarterly chloroform reports submitted as required by the GCAP.
4.2. Time Schedule
The installation of the proposed wells and the completion of the as-built reports will be
completed in accordance with the required timeframes specified in the approved and executed
GCAP. The proposed wells will be installed and operational within 90 days of director approval
of this plan and time schedule and the as-built report will be completed within 60 days of well
completion.
3
5. CONCLUSION
The chloroform plume is currently entirely within the Mill property boundary and is bounded on
all sides by wells having chloroform concentrations that are either non-detect or less than 70
pg/L. Data collected to date indicate there are sufficient chloroform monitoring and pumping
wells to effectively define, control, and monitor the plume. Chloroform pumping as of the third
quarter of 2017 (4.8 gpm) exceeds calculated ‘background’ flow through the plume (3.4 gpm)
and is therefore considered adequate. In addition, because of continued reductions in saturated
thicknesses and hydraulic gradients resulting from reduced wildlife pond recharge, ‘background’
flow through the plume is expected to continue to diminish, thereby reducing the pumping
needed to control the plume.
As previously stated, decreasing water level trends (since about the fourth quarter of 2013), and
increasing concentration trends at TW4-26 are consistent with reduced wildlife pond seepage, in
particular, reduced seepage from the southern wildlife pond. As the groundwater mound
associated with the southern pond decays, groundwater flow directions in the southern extremity
of the plume are likely to become more southerly, and plume migration is likely to turn more to
the south. An increasingly southerly direction of plume migration is consistent with increasing
concentrations at TW4-26.
Proposed new compliance monitoring well TW4-40, located approximately 200 feet south of
TW4-26 as shown in Figure 2, will be positioned cross-to downgradient of TW4-26. Because of
groundwater flow directions that are increasingly southerly in this area, new well TW4-40 is
expected to become increasingly downgradient rather than cross-gradient with respect to TW4-
26.
Additional pumping within higher conductivity portions of the southern portion of the plume in
the vicinity of existing pumping well TW4-4 is expected to result in a substantial increase in
chloroform mass removal rates and to help cut off chloroform transport to more downgradient
portions of the plume. As discussed above, small-diameter pilot holes are proposed to be drilled
as shown in Figure 2 to ensure that new pumping well TW4-41 is located within a relatively high
conductivity zone and will be productive. The most productive of the test borings will be reamed
and completed as the new pumping well, which will have a nominal bore diameter of 10 inches
and a casing diameter of 6 inches. Pumping in this area is expected to enhance mass removal
rates and reduce or halt further plume expansion to the south.
4
samoid
-rT^-U-r-T:tm.
m,
abandoned
TWN-11
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abandoned
TWN-12 ms
TWN-19
m-
mm
asc*''*.--. * •. .® it,
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• • • **.*•■, -s*.
■«:* €
abandoned
TWN-15
NS. ,
TWN-16
abandoned
♦TWN-17
:/ 4
.NS
TWN-14
ND 2Q
MW-01
abandoned
TWN-10
ND 2Q
MW-18
' ‘NS
TWN-06
abandoned
TWN-09 abandoned
TWN-13
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i*1 **'■ : ; J ,i
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abandoned
TWN-05
NS
TWN-07
abandoned
TWN-08
NS
PIEZ-01
ND2Q
MW-19
NS
TWN-18
NSh^IWN^3
ir NS
ND 2Q ° r• TWN-02MW-27
"'-^S TW4-25oJ
>■ • r.'• '•-VJ'-.-''
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;.ND#2Q;
MW-02
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MW-24
4 Cell 1 537. ™N-01 p|
TW4-210 Pi
.TW4-2^TV*449o
Cell 2
/4-18
15000 ,1.30
MW-26o
TW4-38
MW-29
NP:MW-32' T*V4-°1
TW4-04oi 290 TW4-14
06
TW4-06
twa 97 12S ‘270TW4.27TW4.31
TW4-33 ? oND
v TW4.??o ¥^30
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TW4-34
, MW-05
MW-35e|
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MW-3
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-34-^
MW’37 MW-15
f/V4^11s: * b TW4-12
■TOrt-io .Tw^is
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TW4-13oND
aTW4-36
*
- 7;?:
ND 2Q
MW-3A
dry
MW-21
ND2Q
MW-20
EXPLANATIQN
NS = not sampled; ND = not detected;
ND Q2 = not detected in second quarter
-70 kriged chloroform isocon and label
•W.
TW4-38
+ND
PIEZ-3A
#NS
MW-32• ND
TW4-7
O1070
TWN-1^NS
PIEZ-1
ONS
temporary perched monitoring well
installed October, 2016 showing
concentration in pg/L
May, 2016 replacement of perched
piezometer Piez-03 (not sampled)
perched monitoring well showing
concentration in pg/L
temporary perched monitoring well
showing concentration in pg/L
temporary perched nitrate monitoring
well (not sampled)
perched piezometer (not sampled)
*ND2Q
MW-22
1 mile
NOTES: MW-4, MW-26, TW4-1, TW4-2, TW4-4, TW4-11, TW4-19, TW4-20, TW4-21, TW4-37 and TW4-39 are chloroform pumping wells;
TW4-22, TW4-24, TW4-25 and TWN-2 are nitrate pumping wells;
HYDRO
GEO
CHEM, INC.
KRIGED 3rd QUARTER, 2017 CHLOROFORM (pg/L)
WHITE MESA SITE
DATE REFERENCE FIGURE
H:/718000/tw40/Plan/Uchl0917.srf 1
TW4-38+
PIEZ-3A
»
MW-25
TW4-7
o
PIEZ-2
e
temporary perched monitoring well
installed October, 2016
May, 2016 replacement of perched
piezometer Piez-03
perched monitoring well
temporary perched monitoring well
perched piezometer
NOTES: MW-4, MW-26, TW4-1, TW4-2, TW4-4, TW4-11, TW4-19, TW4-20, TW4-21, TW4-37 and TW4-39 are chloroform pumping wells;
TW4-22, TW4-24, TW4-25 and TWN-2 are nitrate pumping wells; TW4-11 water level is below the base of the Burro Canyon Formation
HYDRO
GEO
CHEM, INC.
PROPOSED LOCATIONS OF NEW TEMPORARY
COMPLIANCE WELL TW4-40 AND TEST BORINGS
(one test boring to be completed as new
chloroform pumping well TW4-41)
APPROVED DATE REFERENCE FIGURE
H:/718000/tw40/Plan/propboringtw40.srf 2