DRC-2020-000802 - 0901a06880bbccac

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
January 13, 2020
Kathy Weinel, Quality Assurance Manager
Energy Fuels Resources (USA) Inc. 225 Union Blvd., Suite 600 Lakewood, CO 80228
RE: Energy Fuels Resources, White Mesa Uranium Mill November 13, 2019,
3rd Quarter 2019 Groundwater Monitoring Report, and; November 7, 2019 Notice Pursuant to Part I.G.1(a). Utah Groundwater Discharge Permit No. UGW370004
Dear Ms. Weinel:
The Utah Division of Waste Management and Radiation Control (DWMRC) has completed review of the following Energy Fuels Resources (USA) Inc. (EFR) documents:
1.EFR, November 13, 2019, Transmittal of 3rd Quarter 2019 Groundwater Monitoring Report
Groundwater Quality Discharge Permit UGW370004 White Mesa Uranium Mill.2. EFR, November 7, 2019, State of Utah Ground Water Discharge Permit No. UGW370004White Mesa Uranium Mill – Notice Pursuant to Part I.G.1(a).
The review was conducted to ensure compliance with all applicable parts of Utah Groundwater
Discharge Permit No. UGW370004 (Permit) issued for the White Mesa Uranium Mill located in Blanding, Utah.
Field Dissolved Oxygen Measurements – Confirmatory Action
Based on review of the EFR November 13, 2019, 3rd Quarter 2019 Groundwater Monitoring Report, it was noted that this is the first quarter that EFR has provided field readings for dissolved oxygen (DO). The measurements have been included due to incorporation of a requirement in the March 19, 2019 Modified Permit. Per review of the DO reported readings, it was noted that several monitoring well
readings were above 100% oxygen saturation and that most readings were greater than would be
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DRC-2020-000802
expected in area groundwater. DWMRC arranged a conference call with EFR on December 11, 2019 to discuss the high DO measurements. Initial evaluation by the EFR consultant (Hydro Geo Chem) discussed that oxygen was likely introduced into the samples due to the low permeability and small saturated thickness of the perched aquifer combined with agitation during purging and sampling. Per
discussion, it was agreed that additional evaluation would be conducted by EFR to determine potential
effects of the sample oxygenation, and evaluation of alternate micro-purge/low-flow sample collection to evaluate the impact of DO in the groundwater samples. EFR will submit a plan and time schedule for the evaluation, including a planned date for a final report submission to DWMRC for review and approval, on or before April 9, 2020.
EFR 3rd Quarter 2019 Groundwater Monitoring Report – Close-out:
Based on review of the EFR November 13, 2019 3rd Quarter 2019 Groundwater Monitoring Report, it appears that all applicable requirements of the Permit were met, and that the submitted groundwater
monitoring data is reliable. Therefore, the review is hereby closed out.
EFR Notice Pursuant to Part I.G.1(a) – Close-out:
Based on review of the EFR November 7, 2019 Notice, it appears that all requirements of the Permit
were met. Therefore, the review is hereby closed out.
If you have any questions please call Tom Rushing at [phone].
Sincerely,
Phil Goble, Uranium Mills and Radioactive Materials Manager Division of Waste Management and Radiation Control
PRG/TR/al
c: Kirk Benge, Health Officer, San Juan Public Health Department
Rick Meyer, Environmental Health Director, San Juan Public Health Department Scott Hacking, P.E., DEQ District Engineer