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HomeMy WebLinkAboutDRC-2021-000509 - 0901a06880dd4970January 11, 2021 ENERGY FUELS Div of Wasce and Radiation Control JAN 1 3 2020 Energy Fuels Resources (USA) Inc. 225 Union Blvd. Suite 600 Lakewood, CO, US, 80228 303 974 2140 D13C-2021-60oso9 www.energyfuels.com 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 Q4-20 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 fourth quarter of 2020. 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, 4ruly, ENERGY FUELS RESOURCES (USA) INC. Kathy Weinel Quality Assurance Manager CC: David Frydenlund Terry Slade Garrin Palmer Logan Shumway Scott Bakken 'RGYFUELS January 11, 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. nergyfuels.com Re: Transmittal of Q4-20 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 fourth quarter of 2020. 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 veryJruly, ���v.,u} ENERGY FUELS RESOURCES (USA) INC.Kathy Weinel Quality Assurance Manager CC: David Frydenlund Terry Slade Garrin Palmer Logan Shumway Scott Bakken Q4-20 DATA QUALITY REPORT FOR THE PRIMARY TEST SECTION WHITE MESA MILL – TAILINGS MANAGEMENT CELL 2 ENERGY FUELS RESOURCES (USA) INC. SAN JUAN COUNTY, UTAH 3 January 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 fourth quarter 2020 (Q4-20). 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 Q4-20 from 18 September 2020 to 21 December 2020. These dates align with automated data downloads and do not correspond precisely to the start and end of Q4-20. Data for 22 December 2020 and onward will be included in the Q1-21 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 Q4-20. The quality assurance summary is on pp. 7-8. Approximately 15 mm of precipitation was recorded in Q4-20, most of which was received during two storm events, one in early November and the other in early December (Fig. 7). A trace of runoff was transmitted (one tip of 1-L tipper, Fig. 23). No lateral flow was transmitted (Fig. 26). Precipitation was stored at very shallow depths within the cover profile, and released by evapotranspiration (Fig. 3). Water contents at the depths being monitored (³ 457 mm) diminished slightly or remained essentially constant (Figs. 13-19). Percolation tailed throughout most of the quarter, and ceased in early December (Fig. 29). 2 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 and are diminishing slowly. Comparison of water contents reported by these probes will continue during future quality control activities. • The modem has been inoperative intermittently. Re-booting the modem resolves the issue temporarily (days to a few weeks), but the source of the problem appears to be a hardware failure in the modem. A temporary software fix has been deployed with daily data downloads. The modem will be replaced during the summer 2021 calibration and maintenance. 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. 3 Fig. 1. Schematic of cover profile evaluated at White Mesa. 0 0 0 0 0.5 ft Erosion Layer 3.5 ft Growth Medium 3.0 ft Compacted Cover 2.5 ft Interim Layer 0 = WCR or thermocouple 4 Fig. 2. Schematic of lysimeter used for the White Mesa Primary Test Section. rosion layer (0.5 ft} ____________________________ Growth Medium (3.5 ft) ____________________ _ Root Barrier Sump Percolation Pipe Compacted Subgrade Compacted Cover (3.0 ft) ......................... Interim Cover (2.S_ft). 60 mil LLDPE GM Geocomposite Drain Compacted Subgrade 60mil LLDPE GM 5 Table 1. Water balance quantities for the final cover test section at White Mesa from 09/29/16 to 12/21/20. 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 307.9 0.28 0.00 324.8 3.3 1.01 2020 127.8 0.04 0.00 171.1 -63.0 0.89 *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 12/21/20. 0 200 400 600 800 1000 0 1 2 3 4 5 9/20/16 6/6/17 2/21/18 11/7/18 7/25/19 4/9/20 12/25/20 Soil Water Storage On-Site ET Surface Runoff Percolation NWS Precipitation Lateral Flow So i l W a t e r S t o r a g e , C u m u l a t i v e P r e c i p i t a t i o n , an d C u m u l a t i v e E v a p o t r a n s p i r a t i o n ( m m ) Cu m u l a t i v e R u n o f f , L a t e r a l F l o w , a n d P e r c o l a t i o n ( m m ) On-Site Precipitation White Mesa, UT 7 DATA QUALITY REPORT SUMMARY: Q4-20 White Mesa Primary Test Section 09/18/20 through 12/21/20 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 consistent (Figs. 21-29). A slight decreasing trend in stage in the runoff and lateral flow basins was recorded by the pressure transducer (approximately 0.05 mm/month) (Figs. 22 and 25). This trend is likely due to thermal effects or evaporation. • The vault stage has been negative, indicating no accumulating water (Fig. 30). 8 • The voltage sensor that monitors the power supply in the vault is functioning properly (Fig. 31). 9 Fig. 4. Daily precipitation (blue) and cumulative percolation (red) for the final cover test section at White Mesa from 09/29/16 to 12/21/20. Fig. 5. Battery voltage for the datalogger at the final cover test section at White Mesa from 09/18/20 to 12/21/20. 0 10 20 30 40 50 0.0 1.0 2.0 3.0 4.0 5.0 9/20/16 6/6/17 2/21/18 11/7/18 7/25/19 4/9/20 12/25/20 Da i l y P r e c i p i t a t i o n ( m m ) Cu m u l a t i v e P e r c o l a t i o n ( m m ) White Mesa, UT PercolationPrecipitation 10 11 12 13 14 9/15/20 10/1/20 10/18/20 11/4/20 11/21/20 12/8/20 12/25/20 Ba t t e r y ( V o l t s ) 10 Fig. 6. Daily precipitation at the final cover test section at White Mesa from 09/18/20 to 12/21/20 Fig. 7. Cumulative precipitation at the final cover test section at White Mesa (blue) and NWS Blanding station (red) from 09/18/20 to 12/21/20. 9/15/20 10/1/20 10/18/20 11/4/20 11/21/20 12/8/20 12/25/20-0. 2 4 6 8 10 Da i l y P r e c i p i t a t i o n ( m m ) 0 9/15/20 10/2/20 10/19/20 11/5/20 11/21/20 12/8/20 12/25/200 5 10 15 20 Cu m u l a t i v e P r e c i p i t a t i o n ( m m ) White Mesa NWS Blanding 11 Fig. 8. Precipitation from tipper and Geonor precipitation gauge at the final cover test section at White Mesa from 12/29/19 to 12/21/20. Fig. 9. Daily air temperature at the final cover test section at White Mesa from 09/18/20 to 12/21/20. 0 10 20 30 40 0 10 20 30 40 White Mesa, UT Ti p p e r P r e c i p i t a t i o n ( m m ) Geonor Precipitation (mm) 9/15/20 10/1/20 10/18/20 11/4/20 11/21/20 12/8/20 12/25/20 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) // / // , ..... •·/ .... ·········· ... ··········• ~, ... / . .. · 12 Fig. 10. Daily relative humidity at the final cover test section at White Mesa from 09/18/20 to 12/21/20. Fig. 11. Daily mean wind speed at the final cover test section at White Mesa from 09/18/20 to 12/21/20. 9/15/20 10/1/20 10/18/20 11/4/20 11/21/20 12/8/20 12/25/20 Min RH Avg. RH Max RH 0 20 40 60 80 100 120 Da i l y R e l a t i v e H u m i d i t y ( % ) 0 2 4 6 8 10 9/15/20 10/1/20 10/18/20 11/4/20 11/21/20 12/8/20 12/25/20 Da i l y M e a n W i n d S p e e d ( m / s ) 13 Fig. 12 Total daily solar radiation at the final cover test section at White Mesa (blue) and NWS Blanding station (red) from 09/18/20 to 12/21/20. Fig. 13. Volumetric water content in the growth medium layer (457 mm bgs) of the final cover test section at White Mesa from 09/18/20 to 12/21/20. Odd numbered probe is downslope and even is upslope. 0 2000 4000 6000 8000 10000 9/15/20 10/1/20 10/18/20 11/4/20 11/21/20 12/8/20 12/25/20 So l a r R a d i a t i o n ( W - h r / m 2) White Mesa Blanding 0.0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 9/15/20 10/5/20 10/25/20 11/14/20 12/4/20 12/25/20 White Mesa, UT (457-mm Depth Topsoil Layer) Vo l u m e t r i c W a t e r C o n t e n t Probe 13 Probe 14 14 Fig. 14. Volumetric water content in the growth medium layer (685 mm bgs) of the final cover test section at White Mesa from 09/18/20 to 12/21/20. 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 09/18/20 to 12/21/20. Odd numbered probe is downslope and even is upslope. 0.0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 9/15/20 10/1/20 10/18/20 11/4/20 11/21/20 12/8/20 12/25/20 White Mesa, UT (685-mm Depth Growth Medium Layer) Vo l u m e t r i c W a t e r C o n t e n t Probe 11 Probe 12 0.0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 9/15/20 10/1/20 10/18/20 11/4/20 11/21/20 12/8/20 12/25/20 White Mesa, UT (914-mm Depth Growth Medium Layer) Vo l u m e t r i c W a t e r C o n t e n t Probe 9 Probe 10 I I .. 15 Fig. 16. Volumetric water content in the compacted layer (1524 mm bgs) of the final cover test section at White Mesa from 09/18/20 to 12/21/20. 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 09/18/20 to 12/21/20. Odd numbered probe is downslope and even is upslope. 0.0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 9/15/20 10/1/20 10/18/20 11/4/20 11/21/20 12/8/20 12/25/20 White Mesa, UT (1524-mm Depth Compacted Layer) Vo l u m e t r i c W a t e r C o n t e n t Probe 8 Probe 7 0.0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 9/15/20 10/1/20 10/18/20 11/4/20 11/21/20 12/8/20 12/25/20 White Mesa, UT (1829-mm Depth Compacted Layer) Vo l u m e t r i c W a t e r C o n t e n t Probe 6 Probe 5 16 Fig. 18. Volumetric water content in the compacted layer (2134 mm bgs) of the final cover test section at White Mesa from 09/18/20 to 12/21/20. 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 09/18/20 to 12/21/20. Odd numbered probe is downslope and even is upslope. 0.0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 9/15/20 10/1/20 10/18/20 11/4/20 11/21/20 12/8/20 12/25/20 White Mesa, UT (2134-mm Depth Compacted Layer) Vo l u m e t r i c W a t e r C o n t e n t Probe 4 Probe 3 0.0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 9/15/20 10/1/20 10/18/20 11/4/20 11/21/20 12/8/20 12/25/20 White Mesa, UT (2743-mm Depth Interim Layer) Vo l u m e t r i c W a t e r C o n t e n t Probe 2 Probe 1 17 Fig. 20. Soil temperature in the final cover test section at White Mesa from 09/18/20 to 12/21/20 (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 09/18/20 to 12/21/20. 0 10 20 30 40 9/15/20 10/1/20 10/18/20 11/4/20 11/21/20 12/8/20 12/25/20 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 l T e m p e r a t u e ( oC) 2743 mm (D) 457 mm (U) 0 2 4 6 8 10 9/15/20 10/1/20 10/18/20 11/4/20 11/21/20 12/8/20 12/25/20 White Mesa, UT Cu m u l a t i v e T i p s f o r R u n o f f Tipper (1 L) 18 Fig. 22. Pressure transducer stage in the runoff basin for the final cover test section at White Mesa from 09/18/20 to 12/21/20. 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 09/18/20 to 12/21/20. 0 100 200 300 400 500 9/15/20 10/1/20 10/18/20 11/4/20 11/21/20 12/8/20 12/25/20 White Mesa, UT Ru n o f f B a s i n S t a g e f o r R u n o f f ( m m ) 0.0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 9/15/20 10/1/20 10/18/20 11/4/20 11/21/20 12/8/20 12/25/20 White Mesa, UT Cu m u l a t i v e F l o w i n R u n o f f B a s i n ( m m ) Tipper (1 L) Pressure Transducer 19 Fig. 24. Cumulative tips from tipper in the lateral flow basin for the final cover test section at White Mesa from 09/18/20 to 12/21/20. Fig. 25. Pressure transducer stage in lateral flow basin for the final cover test section at White Mesa from 09/18/20 to 12/21/20. 0 2 4 6 8 10 9/15/20 10/1/20 10/18/20 11/4/20 11/21/20 12/8/20 12/25/20 White Mesa, UT Cu m u l a t i v e T i p s f o r L a t e r a l F l o w Tipper (1 L) 0 100 200 300 400 500 9/15/20 10/1/20 10/18/20 11/4/20 11/21/20 12/8/20 12/25/20 White Mesa, UT Pr e s s u r e T r a n s d u c e r S t a g e f o r L a t e r a l F l o w ( m m ) 20 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 09/18/20 to 12/21/20. Fig. 27. Cumulative tips from the tipper in the drainage basin for the final cover test section at White Mesa from 09/18/20 to 12/21/20. 0.0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 9/15/20 10/1/20 10/18/20 11/4/20 11/21/20 12/8/20 12/25/20 White Mesa, UT Cu m u l a t i v e F l o w i n L a t e r a l F l o w B a s i n ( m m ) Tipper (1 L)Pressure Transducer 0 100 200 300 400 500 9/15/20 10/1/20 10/18/20 11/4/20 11/21/20 12/8/20 12/25/20 White Mesa, UT Cu m u l a t i v e T i p s f o r D r a i n a g e Tipper (1 L) Tipper (70 mL) 21 Fig. 28. Pressure transducer stage in drainage basin for the final cover test section at White Mesa from 09/18/20 to 12/21/20. Fig. 29. Cumulative flow from pressure transducer stage and from tippers in drainage basin for the final cover test section at White Mesa from 09/18/20 to 12/21/20. 0 100 200 300 400 500 9/15/20 10/1/20 10/18/20 11/4/20 11/21/20 12/8/20 12/25/20 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 9/15/20 10/1/20 10/18/20 11/4/20 11/21/20 12/8/20 12/25/20 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 Transducer Tipper (1 L) \ 22 Fig. 30. Vault stage in the basin for the final cover test section at White Mesa from 09/18/20 to 12/21/20. Fig. 31. Vault voltage in the basin for the final cover test section at White Mesa from 09/18/20 to 12/21/20. -6.0 -4.0 -2.0 0.0 9/15/20 10/1/20 10/18/20 11/4/20 11/21/20 12/8/20 12/25/20 White Mesa, UT Va u l t S t a g e ( m m ) 100 120 140 160 180 200 9/15/20 10/1/20 10/18/20 11/4/20 11/21/20 12/8/20 12/25/20 White Mesa, UT Va u l t V o l t a g e ( v o l t )