HomeMy WebLinkAboutDRC-2021-006189 - 0901a06880e7f8c6D:v of Waste Management
and Radiation Control
MAY 0 3 2021 Energy Fuels Resources SA) Inc.
225 Union Blvd. Suite 600
Lakewood, CO, US, 80228
303 974 2140
www.energyfuels.com
ENERGY FUELS
April 21, 2021
Sent VIA E-MAIL AND EXPRESS DELIVERY
Mr. Ty L. Howard
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 84114-4880
Re: Transmittal of Q1-21 Data Quality Report ("DQR") for the White Mesa Cell 2 Cover Test
Section Monitoring
Dear Mr. Howard:
In accordance with the Stipulation and Consent Agreement ("SCA") dated February 23, 2017, between the
Division of Waste Management and Radiation Control ("DWMRC") and Energy Fuels Resource (USA) Inc.
("EFRI"), EFRI constructed a cover performance monitoring test section on Cell 2 in 2016 and initiated
performance monitoring. This letter transmits the data quality report for monitoring data collected during the
first quarter of 2021. Please note that this report is for quality assurance only and does not provide interpretive
information. Interpretive information is provided in annual reports.
For your convenience, two hard copies of the report and two CDs, each containing a word searchable electronic
copy of the files, will be mailed to DWMRC.
If you should have any questions regarding this transmittal please contact me at 303-389-4134.
Yours very truly,
ENERGY FUELS RESOURCES (USA) INC.
Kathy Weinel
Quality Assurance Manager
CC: David Frydenlund
Terry Slade
Garth) Palmer
Logan Shumway
Scott Bakken
April 21, 2021
Sent VIA E-MAIL AND EXPRESS DELIVERY
Mr. Ty L. Howard
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 84114-4880
Energy Fuels Resources (USA) Inc.
225 Union Blvd. Suite 600
Lakewood, CO, US, 80228
303 974 2140
www.energyfuels.com
Re: Transmittal of Ql-21 Data Quality Report ("DQR") for the White Mesa Cell 2 Cover Test
Section Monitoring
Dear Mr. Howard:
In accordance with the Stipulation and Consent Agreement ("SCA") dated February 23, 2017, between the
Division of Waste Management and Radiation Control ("DWMRC") and Energy Fuels Resource (USA) Inc.
("EFRI"), EFRI constructed a cover performance monitoring test section on Cell 2 in 2016 and initiated
performance monitoring. This letter transmits the data quality report for monitoring data collected during the
first quarter of 2021. Please note that this report is for quality assurance only and does not provide interpretive
information. Interpretive information is provided in annual reports.
For your convenience, two hard copies of the report and two CDs, each containing a word searchable electronic
copy of the files, will be mailed to DWMRC.
If you should have any questions regarding this transmittal please contact me at 303-389-4134.
Yours very truly,
-t(au;Jt~
ENERGY FUELS RESOURCES (USA) INC.
Kathy Weinel
Quality Assurance Manager
CC: David Frydenlund
Terry Slade
Garrin Palmer
Logan Shumway
Scott Bakken
Q1-21 DATA QUALITY REPORT FOR THE
PRIMARY TEST SECTION
WHITE MESA MILL – TAILINGS MANAGEMENT
CELL 2
ENERGY FUELS RESOURCES (USA) INC.
SAN JUAN COUNTY, UTAH
21 April 2021
1
1.0 INTRODUCTION
This data quality report (DQR) was prepared to record data quality assurance for the White
Mesa Mill cover performance monitoring test section (Primary Test Section) for first
quarter 2021 (Q1-21). This report is documentary and not interpretative. The annual report
includes interpretation of the monitoring data.
The Primary Test Section was constructed in August – September 2016 over tailings
management Cell 2 at Energy Fuels Resources (USA) Inc.’s White Mesa Mill in San Juan
County, Utah. Hydrological monitoring was initiated on 29 September 2016. A large-scale
“ACAP” drainage lysimeter monitors the test section. The lysimeter is equipped to monitor
water balance components and meteorological data.
Fig. 1 shows a profile of the final cover being evaluated at White Mesa (minimum
thickness). Fig. 2 shows a cross-sectional schematic of the lysimeter. The test section is
instrumented with two nests of vertically stacked and co-located sensors to monitor soil
temperature and soil water content, as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2. The nests are on the
centerline of the test section at the upper and lower third points. Probes in the lower nest
are odd numbered and probes in the upper nest are even numbered. The water content
probes were calibrated with on-site soils collected during construction. Temperature
compensation was incorporated into the calibrations.
Flows from runoff, lateral flow (interflow), and percolation collection points in the test
section are routed via pipe (Fig. 2) to collection basins in a subsurface vault downslope
from the test section. Flow into each basin is monitored by tipping buckets and a pressure
transducer. Flows reported by the tipping bucket are described in terms of “tips,” whereas
water elevations reported by the transducers are reported as “stage.” Flows are reported
in mm of water per unit area. The tipping buckets and pressure transducers were
calibrated initially in September 2016, and re-calibrated on 10 May 2017, 14 November
2017, 27 June 2018, 11 September 2019, and 14 July 2020.
2.0 WATER BALANCE DATA
Data in this DQR were collected during Q1-21 from 21 December 2020 to 24 March 2021.
These dates align with automated data downloads and do not correspond precisely to the
start and end of Q1-21. Data for 25 March 2021 and onward will be included in the Q2-21
report.
Fig. 3 shows the water balance graph for the test sections and Table 1 summarizes the
water balance quantities. Fig. 4 shows cumulative percolation and daily precipitation for
both test sections. Figs. 5-31 show data from each sensor collected during Q1-21. The
quality assurance summary is on pg. 7.
Approximately 50 mm of precipitation was recorded in Q1-21, most of which occurred in
later January and early February (Fig. 7). A small amount of runoff was transmitted during
both periods of precipitation (Fig. 23). Precipitation that infiltrated was stored at shallow
depths within the cover profile. Increases in water content were recorded only at the
shallowest water content sensors (457 mm, Fig. 13). At all other depths, the water content
remained nearly constant (Figs. 14-19). The soil water storage increased as a result of
infiltration (Fig. 3), but the increase was small and soil water storage remains near the all-
time low recorded at the end of 2020. No lateral flow was transmitted (Fig. 26). Percolation
2
was practically nil during all of Q1-21, with only one 70-mL tip recorded in mid-February
(Fig. 27).
3.0 CONCERNS
• Significant differences in water content exist between Probes 1 and 2 and between
Probes 3 and 4. These differences have existed since 2017 and are a response to
lateral water movement above the compacted layer associated with infiltration of
snowmelt in 2017. These differences are not a substantive concern. Comparison of
water contents reported by these probes will continue during future quality control
activities.
4.0 ACTION ITEMS
• Continue comparing water content Probes 1 and 2 and Probes 3 and 4.
• Continue monitoring reed switches on lateral flow tipper to confirm both are
functioning.
• Observe modem to confirm data downloads occur regularly. The daily modem re-boot
resolved the accessibility problem observed in Fall 2020, but is an interim measure.
The modem will be replaced when calibration and maintenance are conducted in
summer 2021.
3
Fig. 1. Schematic of cover profile evaluated at White Mesa.
4
Fig. 2. Schematic of lysimeter used for the White Mesa Primary Test Section.
5
Table 1. Water balance quantities for the final cover test section at White Mesa from 09/29/16 to
03/24/21.
Calendar
Year
Water Balance Quantities (mm)
Precipitation Runoff Lateral
Flow ET D
Storage Percolation
2016 59.9 0.03 0.00 34.6 16.9 0.00
2017 222.7 0.06 0.00 324.8 39.4 0.65
2018 163.4 0.09 0.00 124.6 37.9 0.90
2019 308.1 0.28 0.00 325.1 3.0 1.01
2020 130.4 0.04 0.00 175.6 -64.5 0.89
2021 48.9 0.02 0.00 28.8 21.3 0.00
*damage from vault flooding precluded measuring flows from 7 February 2017 – 25 March
2017.
6
Fig. 3. Water balance quantities for the final cover test section at White Mesa from
09/29/16 to 03/24/21.
0
200
400
600
800
1000
0
1
2
3
4
5
9/20/16 6/22/17 3/25/18 12/25/18 9/27/19 6/28/20 3/31/21
Soil Water
Storage
On-Site ET
Surface
Runoff
Percolation
NWS
Precipitation
Lateral Flow
So
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(
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On-Site
Precipitation
White Mesa, UT
7
DATA QUALITY REPORT SUMMARY: Q1-21
White Mesa Primary Test Section
12/21/20 through 03/24/21
Water Balance Summary
• Table 1 summarizes the water balance of the test section since inception.
• Fig. 3 presents the water balance graph for the test section since inception.
• Fig. 4 shows graphs of daily precipitation and cumulative percolation for the test section
since inception.
Meteorology
• The battery and solar panel are working properly (Fig. 5).
• All meteorological sensors are working properly (Figs. 6-12).
• The on-site precipitation data are generally consistent with the NWS data recorded at
the Blanding station (KBDG, 37.62° N, 109.47° W, Elev.: 6001 ft) (Fig.7). Independent
precipitation measurements recorded by the Geonor gage and the tipping bucket are
also in good agreement (Fig. 8).
• Solar radiation data are consistent with data recorded at the NWS Blanding station
(Fig. 12).
Test Section
• The WCR probes to measure water content are functioning properly (Figs. 13-19).
Differences in water content of approximately 0.12 are reported by Probes 3 and 4 in
the compacted layer at 2134 mm bgs (Fig. 18). Differences in water content of
approximately 0.10 are reported by Probes 1 and 2 in the interim layer at 2743 mm
bgs (Fig. 19). These differences in water content are real and reflect spatial variations
in water content that remain from the deep penetration of a wetting front in Q1-17.
These differences are diminishing slowly over time.
• The thermocouples used to measure soil temperature are functioning properly (Fig. 20).
• Flows reported by the transducer and tippers for runoff, lateral flow, and percolation
are reasonably consistent (Figs. 21-29).
• The vault stage has been negative, indicating no accumulating water (Fig. 30).
• The voltage sensor that monitors the power supply in the vault is functioning properly
(Fig. 31).
8
Fig. 4. Daily precipitation (blue) and cumulative percolation (red) for the final cover test
section at White Mesa from 09/29/16 to 03/24/21.
Fig. 5. Battery voltage for the datalogger at the final cover test section at White Mesa
from 12/21/20 to 03/24/21.
0
10
20
30
40
50
0.0
1.0
2.0
3.0
4.0
5.0
9/20/16 6/22/17 3/25/18 12/25/18 9/27/19 6/28/20 3/31/21
Da
i
l
y
P
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c
i
p
i
t
a
t
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n
(
m
m
)
Cu
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l
a
t
i
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e
P
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c
o
l
a
t
i
o
n
(
m
m
)
White Mesa, UT
PercolationPrecipitation
10
11
12
13
14
12/15/20 1/1/21 1/19/21 2/6/21 2/23/21 3/13/21 3/31/21
Ba
t
t
e
r
y
(
V
o
l
t
s
)
9
Fig. 6. Daily precipitation at the final cover test section at White Mesa from 12/21/20 to
03/24/21
Fig. 7. Cumulative precipitation at the final cover test section at White Mesa (blue) and
NWS Blanding station (red) from 12/21/20 to 03/24/21.
12/15/20 1/1/21 1/19/21 2/6/21 2/23/21 3/13/21 3/31/21-1
5
10
15
20
Da
i
l
y
P
r
e
c
i
p
i
t
a
t
i
o
n
(
m
m
)
0
12/15/20 1/2/21 1/19/21 2/6/21 2/24/21 3/13/21 3/31/21
0
20
40
60
80
100
Cu
m
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a
t
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P
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c
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p
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a
t
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(
m
m
)
White Mesa
NWS Blanding
10
Fig. 8. Precipitation from tipper and Geonor precipitation gauge at the final cover test
section at White Mesa from 06/24/19 to 03/24/21.
Fig. 9. Daily air temperature at the final cover test section at White Mesa from 12/21/20
to 03/24/21.
0
10
20
30
40
0 10 20 30 40
White Mesa, UT
Ti
p
p
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r
P
r
e
c
i
p
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t
a
t
i
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n
(
m
m
)
Geonor Precipitation (mm)
12/15/20 1/1/21 1/19/21 2/6/21 2/23/21 3/13/21 3/31/21
Min Air Temp
Avg. Air Temp
Max Air Temp
-20
-10
0
10
20
30
Da
i
l
y
A
i
r
T
e
m
p
e
r
a
t
u
r
e
(
oC)
11
Fig. 10. Daily relative humidity at the final cover test section at White Mesa from 12/21/20
to 03/24/21.
Fig. 11. Daily mean wind speed at the final cover test section at White Mesa from
12/21/20 to 03/24/21.
12/15/20 1/1/21 1/19/21 2/6/21 2/23/21 3/13/21 3/31/21
Min RH
Avg. RH
Max RH
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
Da
i
l
y
R
e
l
a
t
i
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H
u
m
i
d
i
t
y
(
%
)
0
2
4
6
8
10
12/15/20 1/1/21 1/19/21 2/6/21 2/23/21 3/13/21 3/31/21
Da
i
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y
M
e
a
n
W
i
n
d
S
p
e
e
d
(
m
/
s
)
12
Fig. 12 Total daily solar radiation at the final cover test section at White Mesa (blue) and
NWS Blanding station (red) from 12/21/20 to 03/24/21.
Fig. 13. Volumetric water content in the growth medium layer (457 mm bgs) of the final
cover test section at White Mesa from 12/21/20 to 03/24/21. Odd numbered
probe is downslope and even is upslope.
0
2000
4000
6000
8000
10000
12/15/20 1/1/21 1/19/21 2/6/21 2/23/21 3/13/21 3/31/21
So
l
a
r
R
a
d
i
a
t
i
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n
(
W
-
h
r
/
m
2
)
White Mesa
Blanding
0.0
0.1
0.2
0.3
0.4
0.5
12/15/20 1/5/21 1/26/21 2/16/21 3/9/21 3/31/21
White Mesa, UT
(457-mm Depth Topsoil Layer)
Vo
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W
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C
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t
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Probe 13
Probe 14
13
Fig. 14. Volumetric water content in the growth medium layer (685 mm bgs) of the final
cover test section at White Mesa from 12/21/20 to 03/24/21. Odd numbered
probe is downslope and even is upslope.
Fig.15. Volumetric water content in the growth medium layer (914 mm bgs) of the final
cover test section at White Mesa from 12/21/20 to 03/24/21. Odd numbered
probe is downslope and even is upslope.
0.0
0.1
0.2
0.3
0.4
0.5
12/15/20 1/1/21 1/19/21 2/6/21 2/23/21 3/13/21 3/31/21
White Mesa, UT
(685-mm Depth Growth Medium Layer)
Vo
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W
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C
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Probe 11
Probe 12
0.0
0.1
0.2
0.3
0.4
0.5
12/15/20 1/1/21 1/19/21 2/6/21 2/23/21 3/13/21 3/31/21
White Mesa, UT
(914-mm Depth Growth Medium Layer)
Vo
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W
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C
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t
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Probe 9
Probe 10
14
Fig. 16. Volumetric water content in the compacted layer (1524 mm bgs) of the final cover
test section at White Mesa from 12/21/20 to 03/24/21. Odd numbered probe is
downslope and even is upslope.
Fig. 17. Volumetric water content in the compacted layer (1829 mm bgs) of the final cover
test section at White Mesa from 12/21/20 to 03/24/21. Odd numbered probe is
downslope and even is upslope.
0.0
0.1
0.2
0.3
0.4
0.5
12/15/20 1/1/21 1/19/21 2/6/21 2/23/21 3/13/21 3/31/21
White Mesa, UT
(1524-mm Depth Compacted Layer)
Vo
l
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m
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t
r
i
c
W
a
t
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C
o
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t
e
n
t
Probe 8
Probe 7
0.0
0.1
0.2
0.3
0.4
0.5
12/15/20 1/1/21 1/19/21 2/6/21 2/23/21 3/13/21 3/31/21
White Mesa, UT
(1829-mm Depth Compacted Layer)
Vo
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t
r
i
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W
a
t
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C
o
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t
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Probe 6
Probe 5
15
Fig. 18. Volumetric water content in the compacted layer (2134 mm bgs) of the final cover
test section at White Mesa from 12/21/20 to 03/24/21. Odd numbered probe is
downslope and even is upslope.
Fig. 19. Volumetric water content in the interim layer (2743 mm bgs) of the final cover
test section at White Mesa from 12/21/20 to 03/24/21. Odd numbered probe is
downslope and even is upslope.
0.0
0.1
0.2
0.3
0.4
0.5
12/15/20 1/1/21 1/19/21 2/6/21 2/23/21 3/13/21 3/31/21
White Mesa, UT
(2134-mm Depth Compacted Layer)
Vo
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W
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Probe 4
Probe 3
0.0
0.1
0.2
0.3
0.4
0.5
12/15/20 1/1/21 1/19/21 2/6/21 2/23/21 3/13/21 3/31/21
White Mesa, UT
(2743-mm Depth Interim Layer)
Vo
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Probe 2
Probe 1
16
Fig. 20. Soil temperature in the final cover test section at White Mesa from 12/21/20 to
03/24/21 (sensor depths in mm bgs in legend, D = downslope; U = upslope).
Fig. 21. Cumulative tips from tipper in the runoff basin for the final cover test section at
White Mesa from 12/21/20 to 03/24/21.
-10
0
10
20
30
12/15/20 1/1/21 1/19/21 2/6/21 2/23/21 3/13/21 3/31/21
White Mesa, UT 2743 mm D
2743 mm U
2134 mm D
2134 mm U
1829 mm D
1829 mm U
1524 mm D
1524 mm U
914 mm D
914 mm U
685 mm D
685 mm U
457 mm D
457 mm U
So
i
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T
e
m
p
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r
a
t
u
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(
oC)
2743 mm (D)
457 mm (U)
0
2
4
6
8
10
12/15/20 1/1/21 1/19/21 2/6/21 2/23/21 3/13/21 3/31/21
White Mesa, UT
Cu
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T
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f
f
Tipper (1 L)
17
Fig. 22. Pressure transducer stage in the runoff basin for the final cover test section at
White Mesa from 12/21/20 to 03/24/21.
Fig. 23. Cumulative flow from pressure transducer stage and from the tipper in the runoff
basin for the final cover test section at White Mesa from 12/21/20 to 03/24/21.
0
100
200
300
400
500
12/15/20 1/1/21 1/19/21 2/6/21 2/23/21 3/13/21 3/31/21
White Mesa, UT
Ru
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B
a
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S
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a
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R
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(
m
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)
0.0
0.1
0.2
0.3
0.4
0.5
12/15/20 1/1/21 1/19/21 2/6/21 2/23/21 3/13/21 3/31/21
White Mesa, UT
Cu
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F
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f
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B
a
s
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(
m
m
)
Tipper (1 L)
Pressure Transducer
18
Fig. 24. Cumulative tips from tipper in the lateral flow basin for the final cover test section
at White Mesa from 12/21/20 to 03/24/21.
Fig. 25. Pressure transducer stage in lateral flow basin for the final cover test section at
White Mesa from 12/21/20 to 03/24/21.
0
2
4
6
8
10
12/15/20 1/1/21 1/19/21 2/6/21 2/23/21 3/13/21 3/31/21
White Mesa, UT
Cu
m
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a
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T
i
p
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f
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L
a
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a
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F
l
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w
Tipper (1 L)
0
100
200
300
400
500
12/15/20 1/1/21 1/19/21 2/6/21 2/23/21 3/13/21 3/31/21
White Mesa, UT
Pr
e
s
s
u
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T
r
a
n
s
d
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S
t
a
g
e
f
o
r
L
a
t
e
r
a
l
F
l
o
w
(
m
m
)
19
Fig. 26. Cumulative flow from pressure transducer stage and from tipper in lateral flow
basin for the final cover test section at White Mesa from 12/21/20 to 03/24/21.
Fig. 27. Cumulative tips from the tipper in the drainage basin for the final cover test
section at White Mesa from 12/21/20 to 03/24/21.
0.0
0.1
0.2
0.3
0.4
0.5
12/15/20 1/1/21 1/19/21 2/6/21 2/23/21 3/13/21 3/31/21
White Mesa, UT
Cu
m
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a
t
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F
l
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L
a
t
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r
a
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F
l
o
w
B
a
s
i
n
(
m
m
)
Tipper (1 L)Pressure Transducer
0
2
4
6
8
10
12/15/20 1/1/21 1/19/21 2/6/21 2/23/21 3/13/21 3/31/21
White Mesa, UT
Cu
m
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l
a
t
i
v
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T
i
p
s
f
o
r
D
r
a
i
n
a
g
e
Tipper (1 L)
Tipper (70 mL)
20
Fig. 28. Pressure transducer stage in drainage basin for the final cover test section at
White Mesa from 12/21/20 to 03/24/21.
Fig. 29. Cumulative flow from pressure transducer stage and from tippers in drainage
basin for the final cover test section at White Mesa from 12/21/20 to 03/24/21.
0
100
200
300
400
500
12/15/20 1/1/21 1/19/21 2/6/21 2/23/21 3/13/21 3/31/21
White Mesa, UTPr
e
s
s
u
r
e
T
r
a
n
s
d
u
c
e
r
S
t
a
g
e
f
o
r
D
r
a
i
n
a
g
e
(
m
m
)
0.0
0.2
0.4
0.6
0.8
1.0
12/15/20 1/1/21 1/19/21 2/6/21 2/23/21 3/13/21 3/31/21
White Mesa, UT
Cu
m
u
l
a
t
i
v
e
F
l
o
w
i
n
D
r
a
i
n
a
g
e
B
a
s
i
n
(
m
m
)
Tipper (70 mL)
Pressure TransducerTipper (1 L)
21
Fig. 30. Vault stage in the basin for the final cover test section at White Mesa from
12/21/20 to 03/24/21.
Fig. 31. Vault voltage in the basin for the final cover test section at White Mesa from
12/21/20 to 03/24/21.
-6.0
-4.0
-2.0
0.0
12/15/20 1/1/21 1/19/21 2/6/21 2/23/21 3/13/21 3/31/21
White Mesa, UT
Va
u
l
t
S
t
a
g
e
(
m
m
)
100
120
140
160
180
200
12/15/20 1/1/21 1/19/21 2/6/21 2/23/21 3/13/21 3/31/21
White Mesa, UT
Va
u
l
t
V
o
l
t
a
g
e
(
v
o
l
t
)