HomeMy WebLinkAboutDRC-2021-006932 - 0901a06880e93b7eINSPECTION REPORT DU — Inspection Module: RADMOD-RPP: Respiratory Protection Program ( P) 2oZi
Inspection Location: Energy Fuels - White Mesa Uranium Mill, Blanding Utah.
Inspection Items: Respiratory Protection
Inspection Dates: February 23, 2021
Inspectors: Ryan Johnson, Utah Division Waste Management and Radiation Control
(DWMRC)
Personnel Contacted: Logan Shumway, Mill Manager
Terry Slade, Radiation Safety Officer (RSO)
Garrin Palmer, Radiation Safety Technician (RST)
Abel Mendoza Jr., Safety Technician
Governing Documents:
• UAC R313-15
• Radioactive Materials License (RML) UT1900479
• Applicable Mill procedures and manuals
• NRC Regulatory Guide 8.15
Opening Meeting
Energy Fuels Resources:
Terry Slade, RSO
Garrin Palmer, RST
Utah DWMRC:
Ryan Johnson (Health Physics Inspector)
During the opening meeting, the inspector discussed the inspection items and documentation to be
reviewed during the inspection. The Mill staff reminded the inspectors of the safety requirements
for the Mill.
DRC Meters Used Model Serial Number Calibration Due Date
Dose Rate Ludlum 19 101673 4/27/2021
Inspection Summary
The inspection consisted of a RSO interview, reviewing applicable documentation and a mill tour.
The following discussion provides more detail of the specific items reviewed.
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Item 1. Documentation Review: The Inspector reviewed applicable documentation.
Observations: The DWMRC inspector reviewed the following documents:
• The current Respiratory Protection Manual and confirmed all required respirator protection
procedures from R313-15-703 and NRC Reg. Guide 8.15 are covered in the manual;
• The respirator issuance log;
• Respirator Damage Sheet;
• Fit testing and respirator training documentation;
• Respirator survey forms; and
• The Medical Clearance form.
The Inspector followed up on the documentation of Medical Clearance requirement from 2019s
inspection on the RPP. The Mill has developed a new form in which a medical doctor declares if
an employee is:
• Cleared to wear a respirator without medical restrictions;
• Cleared to wear a respirator with minor medical restrictions; or
• Cannot wear a respirator.
Deficiencies: None
Item 2. Mill Tour: The Inspector walked through the restricted area on a general site tour. The
tour included ore pad, the mill, the solvent extraction building, the alternate feed circuit, the tailing
impoundments, and the respirator room.
Observations: The DWMRC inspector also observed:
• OSL badges were appropriately being used by all observed employees at the Mill;
• Respirator room was clean and well organized;
• Respirators were clean and in good repair; and
• Meters used to survey respirators were calibrated and in good repair.
The Inspector spoke with the Safety Technician that performs the fit testing at the Mill. The Mill
is using the same equipment and procedures as they have in previous years. Due to COVID-19,
the Mill is taking more precautions this year by using more respirators for fit testing and cleaning
them better after each fit test.
Deficiencies: None
Item 3. Other:
Observations: Supplemental Seed Area #2
While traveling to Blanding on 2/22/2021, Phil Goble called and asked the inspector to check on a
new test pad for the vegetation cover design. The new pad is directly South of the first test pad
near BHV-1. (See photograph below) The Mill has brought in 12 to 18 inches of local topsoil from
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the Mill's burrow pile. It has not been seeded yet but the plan is to wait a few weeks when it is
planting season. The Inspector spoke with Terry Slade, Garrin Palmer and Logan Shumway about
it. The Mill personnel feel that the first test pad was planted at the wrong time of the year and they
wanted to do the second test pad to get better data.
Deficiencies: None
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Prepared By: Ryan Johnson
(Print Name)
Phil Goble
(Print Name)
(Signature)
(Signature)
Reviewed By:
Radiolo ical readin s observed durin Mill tour
Location Dose Rate (uR/hr)
Mill 50
Product Storage Yard 50
Solvent Extraction Building 50
Ore Pad 100-600
Alternate Feed Circuit 50
Respirator room 15
Deficiencies: None
Closeout Meeting
Energy Fuels:
Terry Slade, RSO
Utah DWMRC:
Ryan Johnson (Health Physics Inspector)
Findino
None
Recommendations
None
Recommendation for Next Inspection
The annual respirator protection refresher training had not been done for the year 2021 at the time
of the inspection and will be a follow-up item for the next inspection in 2021.
2/26/2021
(Date)
(Date)
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