DRC-2013-003505 - 0901a068803d5ed4

,»\, OF
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State of Utah
GARY R HERBERT
Governor
GREG BELL
Lieutenant Governor
TO:
FROM:
DATE:
SUBJECT:
Department of
Environmental Quality
Amanda Smith
Executive Director
DIVISION OF RADIATION CONTROL
Rusty Lundberg
Director
Phil Gobie / °/l »/ze> f 5
Dean Henderson j /fl//3
October 24, 2013
Split Sampling of Nitrate Monitoring Wells Energy Fuels
White Mesa Uranium Mill, near Blanding, Utah
"DRC-2013-003505"
PRC?
On October 16, 2013 Utah Division of Radiation Control ("DRC") staff Dean Henderson ("Staff)
split sampled seven nitrate monitoring wells at Energy Fuels Recourses ("EFR") near Blanding
Utah during the 4th quarter 2013 nitrate groundwater monitoring event ("Event"). Tanner Holiday
and Garrin Palmer were the EFR staff performing the monitoring and sampling for this event. A
report on DRC sample results and comparison with EFR sample result will be completed after the
4 quarter 2013 groundwater monitoring report is submitted to DRC on March 1, 2014.
The seven monitoring wells sampled were TWN-1, TWN-2, TWN-4, TWN-7, Piezometer-1,
Piezometer-2, and Piezometer-3. A duplicate sample of TWN-1 was collected and is identified as
TWN-40. After observing the EFR staff perform the sampling and monitoring it appears they
appropriately followed the White Mesa Uranium Mill Ground Water Monitoring Quality
Assurance Plan ("QAP").
In a closeout meeting held with EER staff after the split sampling event the DRC conducted on
October 2 and 3,2012 for the 4th quarter 2012 chloroform monitoring event the DRC documented
in a October 13, 2012 memorandum of two items that were brought to EFR staffs attention that
would improve groundwater monitoring procedures.
The two items were:
1. After the mobile pumping system was decontaminated between purging each well the
pump was left in the open air and sometimes was laid on the bed of the truck. We told
the EFR staff that the best management practice would be to put the pump in a plastic
bag or some other container that would keep the pump clean between decontamination
and transportation to the next well to be purged.
2. During the sampling of pumping wells TW4-4, TW4-19, and TW4-20 one to two
gallons of well water was allowed to spill on the ground. We told the EFR staff that
although one to two gallons is not significant in this case, the best management
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practice would be to containerize all water removedfrom monitoring wells.
After observing EFR staff conducted the sampling Event the above two items appear to be
resolved.
A closeout meeting was held with Dan Hillsten, Tanner Holiday and Garrin Palmer. It was
suggested by DRC Staff to attach a stainless steel rod like weight to the 3/4" diameter bailers,
would aid in the bailer sliding down the 1" diameter PVC casing smother and easer.