Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutDRC-2020-002803 - 0901a06880be203dFebruary 4, 2020 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 Div of Waste Management and Radiation Control FEB - 7 2020 Re: Transmittal of Q4-19 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 2019. This report is being provided to.DWMRC for information only, as submittal of this report is not a requirement of the SCA since the official test section monitoring time period has not yet started. 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. ENERGY FUELS RESOURCES (USA) INC. Kathy Weinel Quality Assurance Manager CC: David C. Frydenlund Terry Slade Logan Shumway Scott Bakken Paul Goranson Energy Fuels Resources (USA) Inc. 225 Union Blvd. Suite 600 Lakewood, CO, US, 80228 303 974 2140 DRC-ZoZo-oo2503 www.energyfuels.com February 4, 2020 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 .energyfuels.com Re: Transmittal of Q4-19 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 2019. This report is being provided to DWMRC for information only, as submittal of this report is not a requirement of the SCA since the official test section monitoring time period has not yet started. 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. Your very truly, i~Jc,~ ENERGY FUELS RESOURCES (USA) INC. Kathy Weinel Quality Assurance Manager CC: David C. Frydenlund Terry Slade Logan Shumway Scott Bakken Paul Goranson Q4-19 DATA QUALITY REPORT FOR THE PRIMARY TEST SECTION WHITE MESA MILL – TAILINGS MANAGEMENT CELL 2 ENERGY FUELS RESOURCES (USA) INC. SAN JUAN COUNTY, UTAH 25 January 2020 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 2019 (Q4-19). 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 all water balance components along with 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 1/3 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 the 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, and 11 September 2019. 2.0 WATER BALANCE DATA Data in this DQR were collected during Q4-19 from 22 September 2019 to 29 December 2019. These dates align with automated data downloads and do not correspond precisely to the start and end of Q4-19. Data for 30 December 2019 and onward will be included in the Q1-20 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. 5-33 show data from each sensor collected during Q4-19. The quality assurance summary is on pp. 7-8. Approximately 70 mm of precipitation was received as rain in Q4-19, primarily in late November and December. Total precipitation in 2019 (308 mm) is the highest annual precipitation recorded since monitoring began in 2016 (Table 1). The Q4-19 precipitation was stored in the cover profile, shed as runoff (less than 0.05 mm, Fig. 24), or released by evapotranspiration (Fig. 3). Water contents increased to a depth of approximately 0.5 m. 2 No lateral flow was recorded (Fig. 28). Percolation tailed through mid-November and then ceased (Fig. 31). 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. Water contents reported by these probes will continue to be compared during future quality control activities. • Line power to the vault was interrupted for two short periods in October, as confirmed with plant personnel. No power loss to the datalogger occurred during that period, as the data acquisition system relies on battery power. Electrical service from the plant is only used as a backup for the datalogger, and to power the pump within the vault if water accumulates. 4.0 ACTION ITEMS • Continue comparing water content Probes 1 and 2 and Probes 3 and 4. • Request periodic surveillance by site personnel to confirm that line power to the vault is maintained as evidenced by light emitted by the red light sentry mounted on the cabinet at the weather station. 3 Fig. 1. Schematic of cover profile evaluated at White Mesa. 4 Fig. 2. Schematic of lysimeter used for the White Mesa Primary Test Section. 5 Table 1. Water balance quantities for the final cover test section at White Mesa from 09/29/16 to 12/29/19. Calendar Year Water Balance Quantities (mm) Precipitation Runoff Lateral Flow ET  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 *damage from vault flooding precluded measuring flows from 7 February 2017 – 25 March 2017. 6 0 200 400 600 800 1000 0 1 2 3 4 5 9/1/16 3/22/17 10/11/17 5/2/18 11/21/18 6/12/19 1/1/20 Soil Water Storage On-Site Precip. On-Site ET Surface Runoff Percolation NWS ET NWS Precip. 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 T ( m m ) Cu m u l a t i v e S u r f a c e R u n o f f , L a t e r a l F l o w , an d P e r c o l a t i o n ( m m ) Fig. 3. Water balance quantities for the final cover test section at White Mesa from 09/29/16 to 12/29/19. 7 4 DATA QUALITY REPORT SUMMARY: Q4-19 White Mesa Primary Test Section 09/22/19 through 12/29/19 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 0.2 are reported by Probes 3 and 4 in the compacted layer at 2134 mm bgs. Differences in water content of approximately 0.1 are reported by Probes 1 and 2 in the interim layer at 2743 mm bgs (Figs 18-19). These differences in water content are real and reflect spatial variations in water content that are remnant from the deep penetration of a wetting front in Q1-17.  The thermocouples used to measure soil temperature are functioning properly (Fig. 20).  Flows reported by the transducers and tippers for runoff, lateral flow, and percolation are reasonably consistent (Figs. 21-31). A decreasing trend in pressure transducer stage was recorded for the runoff and lateral flow basins (Figs.23 and 27), most likely due to temperature change or evaporation. 8  The vault stage has been negative, ranging from -2.0 to -3.0 mm, indicating no water accumulation in the vault (Fig. 32). The pump was tested on 11 September 2019 and functions properly.  The voltage sensor that monitors the power supply in the vault is functioning properly (Fig. 33). Intermittent loss of line power occurred twice in mid-October. White Mesa personnel confirmed that there was a problem with the electrical service during that period. No power loss to the datalogger occurred during that period, as the data acquisition system relies on battery power. Electrical service from the plant is only used as a backup for the datalogger, and to power the pump within the vault if water accumulates. 9 0 10 20 30 40 50 0.0 0.5 1.0 1.5 2.0 2.5 3.0 9/20/16 4/8/17 10/25/17 5/14/18 11/30/18 6/18/19 1/5/20 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 Percolation Precipitation Fig. 4. Daily precipitation (blue) and cumulative percolation (red) for the final cover test section at White Mesa from 09/29/16 to 12/29/19. 10 11 12 13 14 9/15/19 10/3/19 10/22/19 11/10/19 11/28/19 12/17/19 1/5/20 Ba t t e r y ( V o l t s ) Fig. 5. Battery voltage for the datalogger at the final cover test section at White Mesa from 09/22/19 to 12/29/19. 10 9/15/19 10/3/19 10/22/19 11/10/19 11/28/19 12/17/19 1/5/20 -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 Fig. 6. Daily precipitation at the final cover test section at White Mesa from 09/22/19 to 12/29/19 9/15/19 10/4/19 10/22/19 11/10/19 11/29/19 12/17/19 1/5/20 0 20 40 60 80 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 Blanding Fig. 7. Cumulative precipitation measured at the final cover test section at White Mesa (blue) and NWS Blanding station (red) from 09/22/19 to 12/29/19. 11 0 2 4 6 8 10 0246810 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) Fig. 8. Precipitation measured from tipper and Geonor precipitation gauge at the final cover test section at White Mesa from 09/22/19 to 12/29/19. 9/15/19 10/3/19 10/22/19 11/10/19 11/28/19 12/17/19 1/5/20 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) Fig. 9. Daily air temperature at the final cover test section at White Mesa from 09/22/19 to 12/29/19. 12 9/15/19 10/3/19 10/22/19 11/10/19 11/28/19 12/17/19 1/5/20 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 ( % ) Fig. 10. Daily relative humidity at the final cover test section at White Mesa from 09/22/19 to 12/29/19. 0 2 4 6 8 10 9/15/19 10/3/19 10/22/19 11/10/19 11/28/19 12/17/19 1/5/20 Da i l y M e a n W i n d S p e e d ( m / s ) Fig. 11. Daily mean wind speed at the final cover test section at White Mesa from 09/22/19 to 12/29/19. 13 0 2000 4000 6000 8000 10000 9/15/19 10/3/19 10/22/19 11/10/19 11/28/19 12/17/19 1/5/20 So l a r R a d i a t i o n ( W - h r / m 2 ) White Mesa Blanding Fig. 12. Total daily solar radiation at the final cover test section at White Mesa (blue) and NWS Blanding station (red) from 09/22/19 to 12/29/19. 0.0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 9/15/19 10/7/19 10/29/19 11/21/19 12/13/19 1/5/20 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 Fig. 13. Volumetric water content in the growth medium layer (457 mm bgs) of the final cover test section at White Mesa from 09/22/19 to 12/29/19. Odd numbered probe is downslope and even is upslope. 14 0.0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 9/15/19 10/3/19 10/22/19 11/10/19 11/28/19 12/17/19 1/5/20 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 Fig. 14. Volumetric water content in the growth medium layer (685 mm bgs) of the final cover test section at White Mesa from 09/22/19 to 12/29/19. Odd numbered probe is downslope and even is upslope. 0.0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 9/15/19 10/3/19 10/22/19 11/10/19 11/28/19 12/17/19 1/5/20 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 Fig.15. Volumetric water content in the growth medium layer (914 mm bgs) of the final cover test section at White Mesa from 09/22/19 to 12/29/19. Odd numbered probe is downslope and even is upslope. 15 0.0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 9/15/19 10/3/19 10/22/19 11/10/19 11/28/19 12/17/19 1/5/20 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 Fig. 16. Volumetric water content in the compacted layer (1524 mm bgs) of the final cover test section at White Mesa from 09/22/19 to 12/29/19. Odd numbered probe is downslope and even is upslope. 0.0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 9/15/19 10/3/19 10/22/19 11/10/19 11/28/19 12/17/19 1/5/20 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 Fig. 17. Volumetric water content in the compacted layer (1829 mm bgs) of the final cover test section at White Mesa from 09/22/19 to 12/29/19. Odd numbered probe is downslope and even is upslope. 16 0.0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 9/15/19 10/3/19 10/22/19 11/10/19 11/28/19 12/17/19 1/5/20 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 Fig. 18. Volumetric water content in the compacted layer (2134 mm bgs) of the final cover test section at White Mesa from 09/22/19 to 12/29/19. Odd numbered probe is downslope and even is upslope. 0.0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 9/15/19 10/3/19 10/22/19 11/10/19 11/28/19 12/17/19 1/5/20 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 Fig. 19. Volumetric water content in the interim layer (2743 mm bgs) of the final cover test section at White Mesa from 09/22/19 to 12/29/19. Odd numbered probe is downslope and even is upslope. 17 . 0 10 20 30 40 9/15/19 10/3/19 10/22/19 11/10/19 11/28/19 12/17/19 1/5/20 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 (D) Fig. 20. Soil temperature in the final cover test section at White Mesa from 09/22/19 to 12/29/19 (sensor depths in mm bgs in legend, D = downslope; U = upslope). 0 2 4 6 8 10 9/15/19 10/3/19 10/22/19 11/10/19 11/28/19 12/17/19 1/5/20 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) Fig. 21. Cumulative tips from tipper in the runoff basin for the final cover test section at White Mesa from 09/22/19 to 12/29/19. 18 0 100 200 300 400 500 9/15/19 10/3/19 10/22/19 11/10/19 11/28/19 12/17/19 1/5/20 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 ) Fig. 22. Pressure transducer stage in the runoff basin for the final cover test section at White Mesa from 09/22/19 to 12/29/19. 90 95 100 105 110 9/15/19 10/3/19 10/22/19 11/10/19 11/28/19 12/17/19 1/5/20 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 ) Fig. 23. Pressure transducer stage in the runoff basin for the final cover test section at White Mesa from 09/22/19 to 12/29/19. 19 0.0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 9/15/19 10/3/19 10/22/19 11/10/19 11/28/19 12/17/19 1/5/20 White Mesa, UT Cu m u l 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 Fig. 24. Cumulative flow from pressure transducer stage and from the tipper in the runoff basin for the final cover test section at White Mesa from 09/22/19 to 12/29/19. 0 1 2 3 4 5 9/15/19 10/3/19 10/22/19 11/10/19 11/28/19 12/17/19 1/5/20 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) Fig. 25. Cumulative tips from tipper in the lateral flow basin for the final cover test section at White Mesa from 09/22/19 to 12/29/19. 20 0 100 200 300 400 500 9/15/19 10/3/19 10/22/19 11/10/19 11/28/19 12/17/19 1/5/20 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 ) Fig. 26. Pressure transducer stage in lateral flow basin for the final cover test section at White Mesa from 09/22/19 to 12/29/19. 45 46 47 48 49 50 9/15/19 10/3/19 10/22/19 11/10/19 11/28/19 12/17/19 1/5/20 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 ) Fig. 27. Pressure transducer stage in lateral flow basin for the final cover test section at White Mesa from 09/22/19 to 12/29/19. 21 0.0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 9/15/19 10/3/19 10/22/19 11/10/19 11/28/19 12/17/19 1/5/20 White Mesa, UT Cu m u l 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 Fig. 28. Cumulative flow from pressure transducer stage and from tipper in lateral flow basin for the final cover test section at White Mesa from 09/22/19 to 12/29/19. 0 200 400 600 800 1000 9/15/19 10/3/19 10/22/19 11/10/19 11/28/19 12/17/19 1/5/20 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) Fig. 29. Cumulative tips from the tipper in the drainage basin for the final cover test section at White Mesa from 09/22/19 to 12/29/19. 22 0 200 400 600 9/15/19 10/3/19 10/22/19 11/10/19 11/28/19 12/17/19 1/5/20 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 D r a i n a g e ( m m ) Fig. 30. Pressure transducer stage in drainage basin for the final cover test section at White Mesa from 09/22/19 to 12/29/19. 0.0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1.0 9/15/19 10/3/19 10/22/19 11/10/19 11/28/19 12/17/19 1/5/20 White Mesa, UT Cu m u l 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 (1L) Fig. 31. Cumulative flow from pressure transducer stage and from tippers in drainage basin for the final cover test section at White Mesa from 09/22/19 to 12/29/19. 23 -4.0 -3.0 -2.0 -1.0 0.0 9/15/19 10/3/19 10/22/19 11/10/19 11/28/19 12/17/19 1/5/20 White Mesa, UT Va u l t S t a g e ( m m ) Fig. 32. Vault stage in the basin for the final cover test section at White Mesa from 09/22/19 to 12/29/19. 100 120 140 160 180 200 9/15/19 10/3/19 10/22/19 11/10/19 11/28/19 12/17/19 1/5/20 White Mesa, UT Va u l t V o l t a g e ( v o l t ) Fig. 33. Vault voltage in the basin for the final cover test section at White Mesa from 09/22/19 to 12/29/19.