DRC-2020-013503 - 0901a06880cf6aed

7)12C-2020-01,35.0
INSPECTION REPORT
Inspection Module:
Inspection Location:
Inspection Items:
Inspection Dates:
Inspectors:
Personnel Contacted:
RADMOD-IM: Internal Monitoring ,
Energy Fuels - White Mesa Uranium Mill, Blanding Utah.
Occupational Air Sampling and Bioassay Monitoring
June 9, 2020
Ryan Johnson, Utah Division Waste Management and Radiation Control
(DWMRC)
Terry Slade, Energy Fuels Resources 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
Onenin2 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 is processing calcine alternate feed. The Mill staff reminded the inspector
of the safety requirements for the Mill.
DRC Meters Used Model Serial Number Calibration Due Date
Dose Rate Ludlum 19 101673 4/27/2021
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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.
Item 1. Documentation Review: The Inspector reviewed applicable documentation.
Observations: The DWMRC inspector reviewed the following documents:
• Calibration sheets for general area and breathing zone sample pumps;
• General area air sampling worksheets;
• Breathing zone sampling worksheets; and
• Bioassay analytical results and chain of custody forms.
While reviewing the paperwork for breathing zone sampling, the inspector noticed that the derived air
concentration (DAC) values being recorded were lower than in previous years. The DAC values observed
in 2019 ranged between 0 and 20% DAC and the first half of 2020 ranged between 0 and 4,105.28% DAC.
These low DAC values are a result of the Mill primarily recovering vanadium in 2016 and processing
alternate feeds in first half of 2020. The Inspector and the RST discussed these values and the RST also
informed the Inspector the radiation staff have been observing and evaluating how the alternate feed
material is being dumped. Based off the observations the radiation staff were able to work with the work
crews to find way to lower the dusting inside the drum dumps. Those changes probably accounts for the
lower DAC values in the first half of 2020. The monthly airborne sampling results were also very low due
to the Mill not processing uranium in 2019 and small quantities in 2020.
The work at the Mill has been done under Radiation Work Permits (RWPs) or according to Standard
Operating Procedures (SOPs). The inspector verified that:
• Respirator protection was being used by the mill personnel performing the work;
• Bioassay samples were being collected from the mill personnel performing the work;
• Bioassay results indicated that the mill personnel were not inhaling uranium; and
• Bioassay sampling and analysis standard operating procedure (SOP) was being followed.
While reviewing the paperwork for the bioassay results the inspector noticed that bioassay samples were
above the Mill's action level in 2019 and the first half of 2020. Most samples were non-detect during this
time.
Deficiencies: None
Item 2. Mill Tour: The Inspectors walked through the restricted area on a general site tour. The tour
included the ore pad, the mill, the alternate feed circuit and solvent extraction building.
Observations: The DWMRC inspector also observed:
• Ore and Alternate feed material being stored on the ore pad; and
• OSL badges were appropriately being used by all observed employees at the Mill.
Item 3. Stack Sampling: The Mill was conduct 1/41y stack sampling at the time of the inspection. The
Inspector observed some of the sampling event. While observing the sampling one of the samplers
informed the RST accompanying the Inspector that there are some cracks in one of the stacks. This is
maintenance issue at this time but the Inspector passed on the information to the Division Engineers to
conduct the appropriate follow-up.
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Recommendation for Next Inspection
1. Spills (yellowcake and other materials) being cleaned up in the mill immediately;
2. Personnel Exit Monitoring;
Prepared By: Ryan Johnson
Reviewed By:
"e2C-24--)/7
(Date)
(Signature) (Date)
Radiolo ical readin s observed during Mill tour
Location Dose Rate (µR/hr)
Ore Pad 200-1,000
Mill 200
Yellowcake Storage Area 50
Solvent Extraction Building 50
Packaging Area 200-1,000
Deficiencies: None
Closeout Meeting
Energy Fuels:
Terry Slade (RSO)
Garrin Palmer (RST)
Utah DWMRC:
Ryan Johnson (Health Physics Inspector)
Findino
None
Recommendations
None
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