DRC-2021-017921 - 0901a06880f93fff

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State of Utah
SPENCER J. COX
Governor
DEIDRE HENDERSON
Lieutenant Governor
Department of
Environmental Quality
Kimberly D. Shelley
Executive Director
DIVISION OF WASTE MANAGEMENT
AND RADIATION CONTROL
Douglas J. Hansen
Director
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MEMORANDUM
TO:
FROM:
DATE:
SUBJECT:
Phil Goble PR6 (t/t_z>2- I
Dean Henderson 7/2-e/A°217
September 24, 2021
2021 Annual Tailings System Wastewater Monitoring Event
Groundwater Discharge Permit No. UGW370004
For the Energy Fuels Resources (EFR)
White Mesa Uranium Mill, near Blanding, Utah
This is a Utah Division of Waste Management and Radiation Control ("Division") staff summary on the
inspection of the 2021 Annual Tailings System Wastewater Monitoring event ("2021 Event") that was
completed on September 1, 2021 for the Energy Fuels Resources (USA), Inc. ("EFR") White Mesa
Uranium Mill, near Blanding, Utah ("Mill"). EFR is required to submit a written report of this 2021
monitoring event by December 1, 2020. The 2021 Event was inspected against the following
enforcement documents:
• White Mesa Uranium Mill Ground Water Quality Assurance Plan ("QAP").
Revision 7.3, dated August 18, 2017.
• Groundwater Discharge Permit No. UGW370004 ("Permit"). Permit version that was signed on
January 19, 2018.
• Tailings and slimes Drain Sampling Program ("Sampling Plan") Revision 3.0 dated July 8, 2016.
Summary of Inspection
EFR informed the Division in a letter dated July 27, 2021, that EFR would be sampling the tailings cell
wastewater on August 31, 2021 and if necessary September 1, 2021. The letter from EFR provided
notice prior to sampling as required in Part I.E.10(d)(6) of the Permit. Part I.E.10(d) of the Permit
requires EFR to sample the tailings cells wastewater in August of each year. Because of the Division
staff scheduling conflicts the tailing cell wastewater were sampled on September 1, 2021.
EFR collected tailings cell wastewater samples from Tailings Cells 1, 3, 4A, and 4B, and Tailings Cell 2
Slimes Drain, and Tailings Cells 4B and 4B Leak Detection Systems ("LDS"). See the photographs in
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. (801) 5364284
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Page 2
figures 1-6 in Attachment 1 below. The LDS for Tailings Cells 1, 2, and 3 were dry and not sampled.
Division staff Dean Henderson and Phil Goble collected a split sample of Tailings Cell 2 Slimes Drain
and witnessed EFR staff sample all the other wastewater sample locations. EFR sampled all available
tailing cell wastewater sample locations as required in Part I.E.10 of the Permit and Section 2.0 of the
Sampling Plan.
It appeared that EFR staff met the field requirements in the Permit, Part I.E.10, in the QAP, Field
Sampling Quality Assurance Methodology in Section 4.0 and Sample Documentation Tracking and
Record Keeping in section 7.0, and in the Sampling Plan, Field Sampling Procedures in section 3.0.
After the 2021 Event was completed a close out meeting was held with the following attendees: Division
staff: Dean Henderson and Phil Goble and EFR staff: Deen Lyman, Tanner Holliday and Garin Palmer.
In the meeting the Division staff discussed where the sample were collected and that no problems had be
observed.
Conclusion
Based on Division staff observation of EFR staff performing the sampling and monitoring on September
1, 2021, it appears that EFR appropriately followed the field requirements in the Permit, QAP and
Sampling Plan. As stated above, EFR will submit a written report of this 2021 Event by December 1,
2021. The Division will also review this report that will include sample analysis for this 2021 Event as
part of that review to complete the inspection on the 2021 Annual Tailings System Wastewater
Monitoring event.
Page 3
References
Energy Fuels, White Mesa Uranium Mill Ground Water Quality Assurance Plan, Revision 7.3, August
18, 2017.
Energy Fuels, White Mesa Uranium Mill Sampling and Analysis Plan for Tailings Management System,
Leak Detection Systems and Slimes Drain, Revision 3.0, July 8, 2016.
Utah Department of Environmental Quality, Groundwater Discharge Permit No. UGW370004 Permit
version that was signed on January 19, 2018.
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Attachment 1
Figures 1 - 6
Page 5
Figure 1. EFR staff collecting wastewater samples in tailing cell 1.
Figure 1. EFR staff collecting wastewater samples from the tailing cell 2 slimes drain.
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Figure 3. EFR staff collecting wastewater from tailing cell 3.
Figure 4. EFR staff collecting wastewater samples from tailing cell 4A.
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Figure 5. EFR staff collecting wastewater in a stainless steel bucket from the tailing cell4B LDS.
Figure 6. EFR staff collecting wastewater sample from out of a stainless steel bucket from the tailing
cell 4B LDS.