DRC-2020-004285 - 0901a06880c0a903

DRC-2020-004285 195 North 1950 West • Salt Lake City, UT Mailing Address: P.O. Box 144880 • Salt Lake City, UT 84114-4880 Telephone [phone] • Fax [phone] • T.D.D. [phone] www.deq.utah.gov Printed on 100% recycled paper
State of Utah
GARY R. HERBERT Governor
SPENCER J. COX
Lieutenant Governor
Department of
Environmental Quality
L.Scott Baird Executive Director
DIVISION OF WASTE MANAGEMENT AND RADIATION CONTROL Ty L. Howard Director
March 9, 2020
Kathy Weinel Quality Assurance Manager
Energy Fuels Resources (USA) Inc.
225 Union Blvd., Suite 600 Lakewood, CO 80228
RE: Compliance Evaluation Inspection: Radioactive Material License Number UT 1900479
Dear Ms. Weinel:
On February 25, 2020, an inspection was conducted at your facility by Ryan Johnson a representative of the Division of Waste Management and Radiation Control (DWMRC). Observations from the inspection were discussed at the closeout meeting with White Mesa Uranium Mill staff. The inspection
was an examination of the activities conducted at your facility as they relate to compliance with the Utah Radiation Control Rules, the license conditions of the RML No. UT1900479 and Federal Regulations. The inspection consisted of an examination of representative records, interviews of personnel, and observations by the inspector.
Enclosed is the inspection report regarding this inspection for your review. The DWMRC considers this inspection closed. The DWMRC would like to thank the Mill staff for their cooperation regarding this inspection. If you have any questions concerning this letter, please contact Ryan Johnson by email at [e-mail] or by phone at [phone].
Sincerely,
Phil Goble, Manager Division of Waste Management and Radiation Control
PRG/RMJ/al Enclosure: Inspection Report, February 25, 2020
c: Kirk Benge, Health Officer, San Juan County Health Department
Rick Meyer, Environmental Health Director, San Juan County Health Department Scott Hacking, P.E., DEQ District Engineer
INSPECTION REPORT
Inspection Module: RADMOD-Training: Radiation Protection Training, Respiratory Protection
Training, RSO Training, and Rad Tech Training
Inspection Location: Energy Fuels - Whitc Mesa Uranium Mill, Blanding Utah.
Inspection Items: Ar:nual Radiation and Respiratory Protection Training
InspectionDates: February25,2020
Inspectors: Ryan Johnson, Utah Division Waste Management and Radiation Control
(DWMRC)
Personnel Contacted:
Terry Slade, Energy Fuels Resources Radiation Safety Officcr (RSO)
Garrin Palmer, Radiation Safety Tcchnician (RST)
Wayne Palmer, Safety Coordinator
Logan Shumway, Mill Manager
Goveming Documents:o UAC R313-15o Radioactive Materials Liccnse (RML) UT1900479. Applicable Mill procedures and manuals
Ooenins Meetins
Energy Fuels Resources:
Terry Slade, Mill RSO
Garrin Palmer, RST
Utah DWMRC:
Ryan Johnson (Health Physics Inspector)
During thc opening meeting, the inspector discusscd the inspection items and documentation to be reviewed
during the inspection. The main portion of the Mill was not in operation during this inspection. The Mill
staffreminded the inspectors ofthe safety requirements for the Mill.
DRC M€t€rs Used Model Serial Number Calibration Due Date
Dose Rate Ludlum l9 101673 05t13t20
Insnection Summarv
The inspection consisted ofan RSO intervicw, reviewing applicable documentation, observing the Mill's
Annual Radiation Safety/Respiratory Protection refresher training and a mill tour. Thc following discussion
provides more detail ofthe specific items reviewed.
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Item l. Mill Tour: The Inspector walkcd through thc restricted arca on a gencral site tour. The tour
included the ore pad, the mill, thc altemate fecd circuit, and the SX building.
Observations: The DWMRC inspector observed:. Propcr PPE was being wom by Mill employees within all observed areas of the Mill;. Proper Radiological Posting werc being used within all obscrved areas ofthe Mill; ando OSL badges were appropriately being used by all observed cmployees at the Mill;
Deficiencies: None
Item 2. Documentation Review: The Inspector reviewed applicable documentation.
Observations: Thc DWMRC inspcctor rcviewed:
o Training documents for contractor and new hirc training frorn20l9. These documents included:
o Radiation Safety and Respiratory Protcction Exams;
o Initial/Refresher Training as documented on the MSHA form;
o Personnel Monitonng;
o Medical Clearancc; and
o Fit Tests.
. The Inspector also obtaincd copics of:
o Thc 2020 cxams:
o The 2020 radiation safety training outline;
o White Mesa Mill's contractor radiation safety training; and
o The 2020 trainine schedulc.
Deficiencies: None
Item 3. RSO Interview:
Observations: The DWMRC inspector discussed the following with the Mill's RSO:
The Inspector and the RSO discussed the training that the RSO and the Radiation safety techs would be
receiving this year. The Inspector also reviewed the training certificates ofthe RSTs and obtaincd copies of
Garrin Palmers training certificatc because he is the RSO's designee when the RSO is not present. The
RSO and all ofthe RSTs have been appropriately trained and have relevant additional training for their
positions. Examplcs oftraining that thcy have had include:o Radiation Safety Officer Training (RSO and Designce);
. Transportation of Radioactive Material (Radiation Safety Staff);
r Dosimetry (Radiation Safety Staf0; and. Instrumentation (Radiation safety Staffl.
The Inspector determined that the training received by the Radiation Safety Staff is appropriatc for thc jobs
and has been done at the appropriate refieshcr intervals. The lnspcctor also interviewcd the safety
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Radio observed Mltl tour
Location Dose Ratc (uR/hr)
Altemate Feed Circuit 28
Product Yard 60
Ore Pad 100-300
Solvent Extraction 50
Mill 100
coordinator to discuss contractor trainins.
Deficiencies: Nonc
Item 4. Annual Refresher Course: The Inspector observed the annual Radiation Safety and Respiratory
Protection refresher training.
Observations: The DWMRC inspector observed:o The Mill Manager discussed:o President Trumps decision on Uranium; ando Company policies on working hours, lunch times and cell phone use.o One ofthe Mill's Radiation Safety Technician discussed Storm water training:o If a spill occurs:. Clean it up. Using dry methods whenever possible;. Document the spill using pictures and the "orange" cards; andr Preventing spills is the best policy.o The RSO Discussed the following:o Discussed 2019 employee exposure and what that exposure means;o Relevant topics from NRC Reg. Guide 8.31 section 2.5;o How to reduce exposure: Time, Distance and Shielding. Examples were discussed on how
time distance and shielding is used at the Mill;o Posting requirements: What is a radiation area, an airbome area and a contamination area
are and what is required in each area;o Characteristics of Aloha. Beta and Gamma Radiation.
Deficiencies: None
Closeout Meeting
Energy Fuels:
Terry Slade (RSO)
Garrin Palmer (RST)
UtahDWMRC:
Ryan Johnson (Health Physics Inspector)
Findines
None
Recommendations
None
Recommendation for Next Insoection
None
Prepared By:
Reviewed By:
Ryan Johnson
(Print Name)
Phil Goble
3 -(^s"zo
(Print Name)
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(Signature)
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