DRC-2020-017062 - 0901a06880d54cb6

INSPECTION REPORT
Inspection Module: RADMOD-PEM: Surveys/Posting/Exit Monitoring D RC-2020-0 tri 062.
Inspection Location: Energy Fuels - White Mesa Uranium Mill, Blanding Utah.
Inspection Items: Radiological Postings, Routine Surveys and Employee Exit Monitoring
Inspection Date: September 14 & 15, 2020
Inspectors: Ryan Johnson, Utah Division of Waste Management and Radiation Control
(DWMRC)
Personnel Contacted: Terry Slade, Radiation Safety Officer (RSO)
Garrin Palmer, Radiation Safety Technician (RST)
Justin Perkins, RST
Governing Documents:
• UAC R313-15
• Radioactive Materials License (RML) UT1900479
• Applicable Mill procedures and manuals
Openin2 Meeting
Energy Fuels Resources:
Terry Slade (RSO)
Garrin Palmer (RST)
Utah DWMRC:
Ryan Johnson (Health Physics Inspector)
Phil Goble (U-Mill/RAM Section Manager)
Russ Topham (DWMRC Engineer)
During the opening meeting, the inspectors discussed the inspection items for the inspection. The Mill staff
reminded the inspector of the safety requirements for the Mill.
DWMRC Meters Used Model Serial Number Calibration Due Date
Dose Rate Ludlum 19 101673 4/27/2021
Contamination Ludlum 3002 25017719 10/1/2020
Inspection Summary
The inspection consisted of:
• Observing radiological postings around the Mill;
• Observing Mill personnel perform exit surveys:
• Reviewing documentation of:
o Weekly Alpha surveys;
o Monthly Gamma surveys; and
• Taking dose rate and contamination measurements around the Mill.
The following discussion provides more detail of each inspection items.
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Item 1. Radiological Postings:
Observations: During the Mill Tour the inspector observed the following posted areas:
Posting Locations Observed Postings Observed Dose Rates
Yellowcake Storage Area Caution Radiation Area 70 µR/hr
Laboratory Caution Radioactive Materials 40-50 µR/hr
Laboratory Sample Storage (aka
Balance) Room
Caution Radiation Area 100 µR/hr
Packaging Area Caution Radiation Area 180 µR/hr
Caution Airborne Area
Bird Centrifuge Area Caution Radiation Area 180 µR/hr
Door to the outside on the North
side of the Administration
building
Any Area within this Mill May
Contain Radioactive Material
Not Measured
Sample Preparation Room Caution Airborne Area 50 µR/hr
Nuclear Gauge in Mill near ball
mill
Caution Radioactive Material 1,200 µR/hr
Perimeter fence Caution Radiation Area Not Measured
Perimeter gates Any Area within this Mill May
Contain Radioactive Material
Not Measured
Ore Pad No Posting 100-400 µR/hr
Mill No Posting 100 µR/hr
Solvent Extraction Building No Posting 50 µR/hr
Alternate feed Circuit No Posting 50-350 µR/hr
Note: Due to no uranium production at the time of the inspection there are fewer posted areas in the Mill.
The Inspector also collected large area swipe samples in three areas within the restricted area.
Location Alpha (dpm/100cm2) Beta (dpm/100cm2)
Scale House 5 Below Background
Lunch Room Below Background Below Background
Lunch Room #2 Below Background Below Background
Deficiencies:
None
Item 2. Exit Surveys: The Inspector observed employees survey themselves out of the restricted area and
checked the alpha meter used.
Observations: The Mill uses Alpha scintillators for exit surveys. The Inspector checked the settings of the
survey instruments and found that they were set properly. Meters are calibrated annually. The Mill
personnel that were observed performing exit surveys, did the surveys appropriately. The Mill's RSTs also
perform random checks on exit surveys.
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Meter Location Model Meter Serial # Probe Serial # Cal. Due Alarm
Setting
West Admin. Door Ludlum 177 489581 19024 June 8, 2021 80
East Admin. Door Ludlum 177 159170 192467 April 10, 2021 80
Lab Admin. Door Ludlum 177 185038 17632 June 4, 2021 80
Lunch Room Ludlum 177 159117 16489-1A Dec 4, 2020 80
Lunch Room #2 Ludlum 177 264740 191566 June 8, 2021 80
East Decon Gate Ludlum 177 322883 342603 April 10, 2021 80
Replacement Meter
for Lab Door
Ludlum 177 322900 359856 Dec 4, 2020 80
Deficiencies: The calibration sticker on the meter by the laboratory door indicated that the meter was out
of calibration. Upon closer examination the meter was calibrated in December of 2019. R313-15-501(3)
states that instruments used in determining quantitative radiological measurements shall be calibrated every
12 months. Energy Fuels procedures also say that meters are to be calibrated every 12 months. So the
meter still met the calibration requirements in Rule and procedure. The RSO switched the meter out during
the inspection until a new calibration sticker could be obtained. The Inspector discussed this finding with
the U-Mill/RAM section manager and decided not to pursue an enforcement action because the meter was
still in calibration even though the calibration sticker indicated it was not. However, both the DWMRC
Inspector and the Section Manager thought that the Mill's radiation safety staff should have identified the
problem with the meter's calibration sticker during the three months that the sticker said that the meter was
out of calibration and the time of the inspection.
Item 3. Radiological Surveys and Monitoring: The Inspector reviewed the weekly surveys done around
the Mill.
Observations: The Inspector reviewed the radiological monitoring documentation performed at the Mill
site. The documentation indicated that:
• All areas of the Mill are being survey for radiological conditions;
• Surveys indicate that the Mill is being maintained within regulatory radiological parameters
• Documentation is legible, complete and using appropriate units; and
• "Clean" areas are being maintained.
The Inspector also looked at dosimeter usage. The inspector observed:
• Mill personnel were properly wearing their dosimeters on the torso of the their bodies;
• Dosimetery was being properly stored in the locker room and administration building; and
• Each employee is assigned a dosimeter.
Meter Type Model Meter Serial # Probe Serial # Cal. Due Meter
Condition
Alpha Scintillator Ludlum 3 337521 376358 June 8, 2021 Good
Side Window G/M Ludlum 3 337622 377298 April 10, 2021 Good
Alpha Scintillator Ludlum 3 337536 378523 June 4, 2021 Good
Side Window G/M Ludlum 3 237483 17694 Dec 4, 2020 Good
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Recommendation for Next Inspection
None
Prepared By:
Reviewed By:
(Date)
?itt es
(Date)
Closeout Meeting
Energy Fuels:
Logan Shumway (Mill Manager)
Terry Slade (RSO)
Garrin Palmer (RST)
Utah DWMRC:
Ryan Johnson (Health Physics Inspector)
Phil Goble (U-Mill/RAM Section Manager)
Russ Topham (DWMRC Engineer)
During the closeout meeting the Inspector discussed the issue with the meter by the laboratory door but that
no enforcement action would come from this inspection.
Recommendations
None
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