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HomeMy WebLinkAboutDRC-2021-020822 - 0901a06880fbfecc DRC-2021-020822 195 North 1950 West • Salt Lake City, UT Mailing Address: P.O. Box 144880 • Salt Lake City, UT 84114-4880 Telephone (801) 536-0200 • Fax (801) 536-0222 • T.D.D. (801) 536-4414 www.deq.utah.gov Printed on 100% recycled paper State of Utah SPENCER J. COX Governor DEIDRE HENDERSON Lieutenant Governor Department of Environmental Quality Kimberly D. Shelley Executive Director DIVISION OF WASTE MANAGEMENT AND RADIATION CONTROL Douglas J. Hansen Director February 16, 2022 Colin Larrick Ute Mountain Ute Tribe Environmental Programs Department P.O. Box 448 Towaoc, CO 81334-0448 RE: Response to Ute Mountain Ute Tribe (UMUT) Letter Dated October 28, 2021 Regarding the Energy Fuels Resources (USA) Inc. (EFRI) White Mesa Uranium Mill Radioactive Materials License No. UT 1900479 (License) Groundwater Discharge Permit No. UGW370004 (Permit) Dear Mr. Larrick: The Division of Waste Management and Radiation Control (Division) is writing in response to your letter dated October 28, 2021 (Letter) regarding the White Mesa Uranium Mill (Mill). The Division does recognize that the UMUT and its members living in the White Mesa Community have vital, long-term interests at stake to protect water resources at and around the White Mesa community, and in particular, the seeps and springs in and around White Mesa and the deep Navajo aquifer which is a source of drinking water for the White Mesa Community. The protection of groundwater resources is of primary importance to the Division. In fact, protection of groundwater resources associated with the Mill was a primary reason the State of Utah became an Agreement State for the NRC’s Uranium Mill program in August of 2004. With that understanding the Division has considered the concerns/comments presented in the Letter and is providing this response accordingly. To provide procedural context for this response, note that the matters addressed in this Letter do not relate to any open administrative action currently pending before the Division where there would be an open public comment period. Therefore, the Division has decided to treat the Letter in the same way it would treat a request for consultation, consistent with Executive Order EO/2014/005: Executive Agency Consultation with Federally Recognized Indian Tribes. This response is offered to facilitate government-to-government consultation and collaboration between the UMUT and the Division. (Over) Page 2 of 9 The Division notes several general concerns brought up by the UMUT in the Letter. The Division has previously addressed these restated concerns in multiple references. Most recently, the Division provided responses in the March 2020 public participation summary (PPS) (DRC-2021-002082) for the Modified Groundwater Discharge Permit No. UGW370004 (DRC-2021-002102). A copy of the PPS is available online on the Division website: https://documents.deq.utah.gov/waste-management-and- radiation-control/facilities/energy-fuels-white-mesa/DRC-2021-002082.pdf. Quoted language (shown in italics) from the PPS that specifically addresses the UMUT’s general concerns is also provided in this response letter. The permit modification was signed by the Director on March 8, 2021, and was not appealed by anyone; therefore, the Permit is considered final. The Letter presents no new facts that would alter the Division’s analysis and determinations. In addition to the UMUT general comments, the Letter also describes specific concerns regarding: (1) groundwater compliance limit (GWCL) exceedances in compliance monitoring wells MW-30 and MW-31, and (2) elevations in the (non-compliance) groundwater monitoring well TW4-24. Regarding GWCL exceedances, the Division’s review is summarized in memoranda which are available online as follows: (1) MW-30 Division Review Memorandum (7/8/2019), https://documents.deq.utah.gov/waste-management-and-radiation-control/facilities/energy-fuels-white- mesa/DRC-2019-006502.pdf, (2) MW-31 Division Review Memorandum (7/1/2021), https://documents.deq.utah.gov/waste-management-and-radiation-control/facilities/energy-fuels-white- mesa/DRC-2021-010482.pdf. The proposed changes to the GWCL’s will undergo public comment as part of the Permit modification process. The UMUT will have standing to provide comments as to any such future agency action. For the present time, however, the Permit is unchanged and EFRI is required to comply with it. As usual, EFRI is also required to monitor for exceedances to ensure that any potential groundwater contamination is quickly identified and investigated to determine whether the Mill is the cause and implement any necessary corrective actions. Overview of Compliance Monitoring Well Exceedance Response Process To provide additional information about groundwater monitoring permit requirements and GWCL exceedances, the following is an overview of the compliance monitoring well exceedance response process. EFRI (the Permittee) is currently required to monitor for 38 different contaminants in 21 different compliance monitoring wells. The Division places each well into one of two categories, depending on the local groundwater average linear velocity, which determines the applicable monitoring schedule that must be followed: 1. Wells with a local ground water average linear velocity greater than or equal to (≥) 10 feet/year a. Monitored quarterly (4 times annually). b. When accelerated sampling is required, monitored monthly. 2. Wells with a local ground water average linear velocity less than (<) 10 feet/year a. Monitored semi-annually (2 times annually). b. When accelerated sampling is required, monitored quarterly. If a contaminant concentration exceeds the applicable GWCL’s defined in Table 2 of the current Groundwater Discharge Permit for the first time following a contaminant measure that was below the GWCL, the facility goes into Probable Out-of-Compliance (POOC) status and the following steps are triggered: Page 3 of 9 “1. Accelerated Monitoring Status - is required if the concentration of a pollutant in any compliance monitoring sample exceeds a GWCL in Table 2 of the Permit; the facility shall then: a) Notify the Director in writing (the Exceedance Notice) within 30 calendar days of receipt of the last analytical data report for samples collected within a quarter, including quarterly and monthly samples, but no later than 60 days after the end of the quarter, and b) Initiate accelerated sampling of the pollutant as follows: 1) Quarterly Baseline Monitoring Wells - for wells defined by Part I.E.1(b) the Permittee shall initiate monthly monitoring. Monthly monitoring shall begin the month following the month in which the Exceedance Notice is provided to the Director. 2) Semi-annual Baseline Monitoring Wells - for wells defined by Part I.E.1(c) the Permittee shall initiate quarterly monitoring. Quarterly monitoring shall begin the quarter following the quarter in which the Exceedance Notice is provided to the Director. 3) Said accelerated monitoring shall continue at the frequencies defined above until the compliance status of the facility can be determined by the Director.” If two sequential contaminant concentrations exceed the applicable GWCL, the facility goes into Out-of-Compliance (OOC) status and the following steps are triggered: “4. Facility Out of Compliance Status - if the facility is out of compliance, the following is required: a) The Permittee shall notify the Director of the out of compliance status within 24-hours after detection of that status, followed by a written notice within 5 calendar days of the detection. b) The Permittee shall continue accelerated sampling pursuant to Part I.G.1, unless the Director determines that other periodic sampling is appropriate, until the facility is brought into compliance. c) The Permittee shall prepare and submit to the Director within 30 calendar days following the date the Exceedance Notice is submitted to the Director, a plan and a time schedule for assessment of the sources, extent and potential dispersion of the contamination, and an evaluation of potential remedial action to restore and maintain groundwater quality to insure that Permit limits will not be exceeded at the compliance monitoring point and that DMT or BAT will be reestablished. d) The Director may require immediate implementation of the currently approved contingency plan in order to regain and maintain compliance with the Permit limit standards at the compliance monitoring point or to reestablish DMT or BAT as defined in the Permit. e) Where it is infeasible to reestablish DMT or BAT as defined in the Permit, the Permittee may propose an alternative DMT or BAT for approval by the Director.” In first providing an overview of the exceedance response process, the Division hopes to provide further clarity and an indication of goodwill and transparency to the UMUT in addition to helping address some of the concerns provided in the Letter. UMUT General Concern 1 – Protection of the Navajo Aquifer and the Groundwater Seeps and Springs As stated above, the protection of groundwater resources is of primary importance to the Division. A thorough discussion of how the Navajo aquifer is protected from contamination was described in the most recent March 2020 Permit Modification Public Participation Summary. That same discussion is also included here for convenience: “Contamination of the perched Dakota/Burro Canyon Aquifer by the Mill is limited to the Nitrate/Chloride and Chloroform Plumes, located many miles away from—and cross-gradient from the Page 4 of 9 White Mesa community. Also, as studied and documented in the November 7, 2012 EFR “Southwest Investigation,” (1), the contamination is not affecting any seeps or springs along the margins of the mesa and would not be expected to impact any of the seeps or springs based on extremely low hydraulic permeability of the perched aquifer and potential groundwater contaminant travel time on the order of thousands of years. Additionally, this contamination is rigorously defined and monitored to ensure that the area of contamination is well defined, and that progress is made to remove the contamination from the perched aquifer. Therefore, these plumes are contained and under appropriate corrective action. Based on the Administrative Record, these sources of contaminants do not affect use of the perched groundwater by any parties, including the Ute Mountain Ute Community. In response to the comment that the Ute Mountain Ute Community is “downgradient” from the Chloride and Chloroform plumes, the Division disagrees with this comment. It is not supported by technical evidence. The gradient of the perched Dakota/Burro Canyon aquifer was addressed in detail during the 2017 renewal process. See 2017 Permit Renewal PPS. Additional data received since the 2017 renewal, including groundwater gradient information from three new monitoring wells (MW-38, 39, and 40), corroborates the Division’s longstanding findings that the gradient in the perched Dakota/Burro Canyon aquifer is cross-gradient from the Ute Mountain Ute White Mesa Community. There is no “preferential” groundwater gradient or pathway from the Mill operational area to the Ute Mountain Ute Community, as the UMUT contends. See, e.g., the figure attached to UMUT Comment 28.e. In addition to the gradient, these contaminants are hydraulically isolated according to the corrective action plans (groundwater pumping) and are contained within the boundary of land owned and/or operated by the Mill. The perched Dakota/Burro Canyon aquifer is hydraulically isolated from the deeper Navajo Aquifer. Any potential discharges from the Mill to groundwater would be isolated in a perched aquifer system defined as the Burro Canyon Aquifer. The perched Dakota/Burro Canyon aquifer is classified as “perched” due to the presence of significant, naturally low-permeability formation materials underneath it. The perched Burro Canyon Aquifer is separated from the deep Navajo Aquifer (which is locally used as a primary drinking water source), by approximately 1,100 feet of Morrison and Summerville Formation materials. These formations have unusually low average vertical permeability. For example, the underlying formation includes more than 200 feet of Brushy Basin Member bentonitic clay, a material with extremely low vertical permeability. Located directly below the Burro Canyon Aquifer, the Brushy Basin Member bentonitic clay perches the Burrow Canyon groundwater so well that it forces lateral flow from the perched aquifer to the margins of the mesa. This stratigraphy effectively isolates the perched Burro Canyon Aquifer from the Navajo Aquifer, prohibiting the discharge of potential contaminants from the perched aquifer to the deep aquifer. These natural conditions were a significant consideration in the siting of the White Mesa Mill in the 1970s. This topic is addressed in more detail in the 2017 Permit Renewal PPS.” UMUT General Concern 2 – Comments Regarding the Division’s Regulatory Response to GWCL Exceedances All Division reviews of source assessment reports (SAR) that result in proposed changes to GWCLs will be within the scope of any following Permit Modification, which will be subject to public comment in due course. The UMUT is welcome to provide formal comment regarding the findings of the source assessments in connection with any future Permit Modifications. Currently, EFRI is meeting the requirements of the Permit and conducting accelerated monitoring of constituents in out-of-compliance status per the Permit and will continue to do so until incorporation of revised limits in the Permit. Page 5 of 9 In the event of two consecutive exceedances, the Permit requires EFRI to prepare a plan and time schedule to investigate the OOC status, followed by submission of an SAR. If EFRI provides evidence that demonstrates that Mill operations are the source of the exceedance then corrective actions would be required through an administrative order. The specific methodology used by the Division to evaluate and calculate GWCL’s was discussed in detail in the March 2020 Permit Modification Public Participation Summary and is included below. Also, note that the specific Permit requirements associated with groundwater compliance are included in this letter above: “The administrative record regarding geological site conditions, groundwater beneficial use, and groundwater quality and conditions at the Mill and surrounding properties is extensive and growing. This is due to compliance oversight of the Permit and agreed upon groundwater studies and actions with EFR and consideration of public concerns and comments. The focus of the March 2020 Permit GWCL Modifications relate to the use of intrawell statistical evaluation. Since this is the primary topic of the received public comments, following are general comments on this topic. The method used by the Division to evaluate and calculate GWCL’s (Intrawell Basis and Statistical Methods) follows EPA Statistical Guidance. GWCL’s listed in the Permit are in conformance with State Groundwater Rules (Utah Administrative Code “UAC” R317-6). This general comment/response summarizes the purpose and guidance used to develop and update background concentrations and GWCL’s in the Permit and is applicable to the comments received, and responded to below, regarding the Permit modification. Permit GWCL’s included in the Permit are based on intrawell statistics and are performed per a process outlined in the approved flow chart for the White Mesa Uranium Mill (Mill). The flow chart was originally based on the EPA Interim RCRA Statistical Guidance which was finalized in March 2009 and titled Statistical Analysis of Groundwater Monitoring Data at RCRA Facilities Unified Guidance. EPA 530/R-09-007 (Unified Guidance). A copy of the approved flowchart is included with this public participation summary as Attachment 1. Chapter 5 of the Unified Guidance discusses the importance of background data, use of data to develop compliance limits (Maximum Contaminant Levels) in Permits, ongoing evaluation of monitoring data and appropriate revisions to the background data set, and revised statistical analysis of compliance limits. The groundwater monitoring required by the Permit for the Mill is extensive. The Permit is highly protective of groundwater and requires compliance monitoring for 38 compliance constituents at a comprehensive groundwater monitoring network (designed for 95% + monitoring efficiency) designed for early detection of potential discharges from the Mill processing and tailings impoundments. Compliance monitoring wells are sampled monthly or quarterly per groundwater velocity measurements, to ensure that data is not affected by auto correlation. Additionally, extensive study of the aquifer hydraulic and geological characteristics has been conducted and is ongoing (e.g., aquifer spatial permeability differences). The studies are included in the EFR White Mesa Mill Hydrogeological Report which is required to be updated as part of the Permit renewal application (every 5 years). The Unified Guidance Chapter 5.2.4 discusses spatial variability in groundwater data and states, “Evidence of spatial variation should drive the selection of an intrawell statistical approach if observed among wells known to be uncontaminated (e.g., among a group of upgradient background locations).” Page 6 of 9 In the case of the Mill, spatial variability is observed in the groundwater data sitewide, including at upgradient background wells and far downgradient wells from the Mill (1,000 years plus groundwater travel time from the Mill). Based on these findings and review of the Mill background reports, intrawell statistics are appropriate and recommended by the Unified Guidance. The Unified Guidance Chapter 5 also discusses the identification of concentration trends and evaluation of groundwater data. As well as the need to continue monitoring and re-evaluate compliance limits based on expanded data sets. This guidance is reflected in the approved statistical flow chart used for the Mill and is the basis for Permit requirements related to accelerated monitoring plan, and time schedules for studying out-of-compliance (OOC) parameters, source assessment reports and statistical evaluation of OOC data sets. The Division regularly reviews the monitoring well data (submitted in quarterly reports) and compares those measured concentrations against their corresponding GWCLs. The GWCLs have been established with consideration of background monitoring concentrations on an intrawell basis. Again, this is in recognition of the anisotropic and heterogeneity of the perched aquifer. The Division additionally recognizes that several of the parameters, in monitoring wells, were identified as having natural pre- existing upward or downward data trends, not caused by the Mill, in background reviews and formally documented in EFR background reports. It is expected that these parameters will exceed their Permit GWCL but that does not necessarily mean Mill activities are now the cause of the increasing trends. The GWCL’s are based on statistical analysis using an evaluation of historical groundwater monitoring data for each well and EPA statistical guidance and methods as discussed above. If any of the monitoring concentrations exceeds the GWCL then the Permit requires EFR to report the exceedance and commence accelerated monitoring for that well and parameter. If the concentration of a parameter exceeds the GWCL in two consecutive samples then EFR is required to notify the Director of the “out of compliance” status, continue accelerated monitoring, and submit a plan and time schedule for assessment of the source of GWCL exceedances. EFR submits the plan and time schedules and source assessment reports to the Director according to the requirements of the Permit for review and approval. Source assessments generally include the following types of evaluation which serve as lines of evidence when determining whether the GWCL exceedance was or was not due to Mill activities: • Evaluation of Tailings Solution Discharge Indicator Parameters (Cl, Fl, SO4, U) concentration and trends. These indicators are used in comparison to other compliance parameters since, based on distribution coefficients, retardation factors and high concentrations in the tailings solution they would be expected to arrive at the groundwater earlier than other parameters. • Mass Analysis – Volumes of tailings wastewater which would be required to cause the concentration increase. • Contaminant transport time of arrival to the point of exposure with consideration of unsaturated transport through the vadose zone and measured groundwater velocity. • Pre-identified background concentrations and pre-identified concentration trends per the groundwater background reports. Page 7 of 9 • Groundwater age dating and evaluation of isotopic fingerprint analysis per the University of Utah Groundwater Study1 at the Mill. Numerous studies and field measurements have been conducted by EFR for the Mill, including slug testing and/or pump testing to provide location specific permeability and groundwater velocities in the perched aquifer. An overview of these studies can be found in the EFR Hydrogeologic Report which is available on the Division website. Based on the Permit requirements and stringent methods to calculate and evaluate GWCL’s in the Permit, and perched aquifer heterogeneity, it is expected that parameters in monitoring wells will exceed GWCL’s and need to be re-evaluated and adjusted. Particularly in situations where a pre-identified rising trend was noted in background reports. The Division enforces these stringent Permit requirements in order to provide a high level of protection in the perched aquifer.” UMUT General Concern 3 – Comments Regarding the Chloroform and Nitrate/Chloride Groundwater Plumes, Corrective Action Plans and Contamination Removal Progress The chloroform and nitrate/chloride plumes in groundwater beneath the Mill are being monitored and remediated per approved corrective action plans to address the contamination. To date, the groundwater pumping program has been effective in removing substantial amounts of contamination from groundwater as measured by EFRI and included in routine monitoring reports as mass removed. Specifically regarding TW4-24 for example, pumping began at the well during January 2013. Since that time, through the 3rd Quarter of 2021, a total mass of 1,071.2 lbs. of nitrate has been removed. This is a substantial amount of contaminant mass to remove during that amount of time. It is an ongoing process but there has been marked improvement shown in that well as demonstrated through decreased detections in area monitoring wells. UMUT Specific Concern 1 – Elevated Constituents in Compliance Monitoring Wells MW-30 and MW-31 Monitoring wells MW-30 and MW-31 are located on the southern berm of the Mill Tailings Cell 2 and north of Tailings Cell 3. MW-30 and MW-31 wells are hydraulically downgradient from portions of Cell 2 and from the Mill processing areas. In addition, both wells are within the defined nitrate/chloride plume, and non-compliance for nitrate and chloride are regulated through a separate consent order (UGW12-04) issued by the Director. As discussed above, copies of the source assessment reports for monitoring wells MW-30 and MW-31 are available on the Division website. The source assessment reports detail the results of data review and studies which show that the Mill is not the source of GWCL exceedances studied in these reports. The reviews discuss relative concentrations of monitoring constituents at these wells, comparison of expected mass of contaminants that would be expected if the source were from tailings wastewater, as well as indications of impacts from the nitrate/chloride plume. The Division notes that studies to eliminate the Mill tailings as the source of groundwater contaminant elevations were rigorous and 1 Hurst, T.G. and Solomon, D.K., 2008, Summary of Work Completed, Data Results, Interpretations and Recommendations for the July 2007 Sampling Event at the Denison Mines, USA, White Mesa Uranium Mill Located Near Blanding Utah, Prepared by University of Utah Department of Geology and Geophysics. Page 8 of 9 provide multiple lines of evidence to support review findings. The Permit process regarding constituent monitoring and compliance is clearly defined in the Permit and is discussed in this letter above. EFRI has complied with the Permit requirements and provided required information and data to support all review findings. UMUT Specific Concern 2 – Elevated Constituents in Monitoring Well TW4-24 Monitoring well TW4-24 is currently used as a pumping well as part of the approved remediation program for the nitrate/chloride plume. Because it is a pumping well and it is located in the middle of the nitrate/chloride plume, it is expected to have highly variable monitoring results. It is also expected that concentrations of some constituents will be above groundwater quality standards. As stated in the October 28, 2021, UMUT letter, the Division agreed with the UMUT that TW4-24 should be sampled for all 38 constituents. In the Permit renewal, monitoring well TW4-24 was added as a general monitoring well and it was clearly stated that the results from this well would not be used for compliance purposes. The rational for the designation of TW4-24 being a general monitoring well by the Division can be found in the Permit Renewal Statement of Basis and is also included here: “As part of the approved chloroform corrective action plan, EFR is required to analyze the groundwater flow directions and chloroform capture zones on a quarterly basis. This analysis is intended, in a large part, to ensure full hydraulic capture of the chloroform plume, but also serves to analyze impacts to the local groundwater flow directions. DWMRC notes that in the event that a tailings cell were to breach and discharge solution into the groundwater and if the discharged solution were then transported eastward toward the chloroform extraction project (due to the extraction wells), then any contamination potentially diverted in that direction would be captured by the chloroform extraction wells then be discharged either into the milling process or tailings cells. Per DWMRC review of the current Facility groundwater contour map, quarterly chloroform reports, and the Ute Mountain Ute request it was noted that: • It is understood that the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe requests that all monitoring wells installed for the GCAP within 500 feet of the Facility boundary be sampled and analyzed for all compliance parameters; however, monitoring wells should be selected for compliance monitoring which will provide early detection of potential contamination from the tailings cells. Requiring that all monitoring wells be required for sampling within a certain distance of the property boundary is not reasonable in the case of tailings cell discharge. The purpose of those monitoring wells and current required parameters is appropriate, since the objective is to determine migration of the chloroform plume. • Likewise, it is not reasonable to require that any GCAP monitoring wells which have had two consecutive exceedances of GCAP concentrations be sampled for the entire list of compliance parameters. The GCAP monitoring wells have been installed to monitor the chloroform plume and therefore it is likely that several of the wells will have multiple consecutive exceedances of the parameters for that objective. This does not necessitate a full suite of monitoring to detect potential discharges from the tailings cells. As per the bullet above, any wells selected should be those that will provide early detection of potential contamination. Page 9 of 9 • Per Director review of the groundwater elevation contours, capture zones (chloroform and nitrate) and monitoring well locations, it does seem reasonable to require that monitoring well TW4-24 be included in the permit as a general monitoring well and sampled on a semi-annual frequency for all parameters listed under Table 2 of the Permit. It is noted that monitoring well TW4-24 is currently being used as a pumping well for the nitrate corrective action plan, is located within the chloroform plume, and will exceed GWQS’s for parameters associated with those projects. Therefore, although the Director agrees that including monitoring well TW4-24 as a general monitoring well is reasonable based on groundwater contours during pumping, it is also expected that the monitoring results will be highly variable and should not be used for direct compliance purposes.” Conclusion Based on the Division’s review and evaluation of the Letter, the Division has concluded that EFRI is currently in compliance with the groundwater monitoring and compliance requirements of the Permit as well as the applicable Corrective Action Plans, State and Federal rules and regulations. There is no known groundwater contamination related to a tailing’s solution source. Groundwater contamination associated with the chloroform and nitrate/chloride plumes are related to legacy sources and are not related to a tailings source. The contamination related to those plumes is being appropriately monitored and remediated according to approved Corrective Action Plans, including removal of significant contaminant mass. This legacy shallow groundwater contamination is confined to the Mill’s operational footprint and property boundary, and there are no offsite environmental receptors being impacted by the contamination. Finally, the Division monitors the financial assurance EFRI has posted with respect to the shallow groundwater contamination under the approved Corrective Action Plans and has determined that the financial assurance is adequate to ensure remediation of this contamination. The Division considers that the matters raised in the Letter have been addressed. If there are future modifications to the Permit, the UMUT will have the opportunity to provide comments and pursue any legal rights and remedies as to any future agency actions. The Division does not consider this response letter to constitute as an agency action. Rather, it is the Division’s attempt to provide consultation by providing specific, detailed responses to the technical and regulatory issues raised in the Letter. If you have questions regarding this letter, please call Tom Rushing at (801) 536-0080. Sincerely, Douglas J. Hansen, Director Division of Waste Management and Radiation Control DJH/TR/wa c: Grant Sunada, Health Director, San Juan Public Health Department Ronnie Nieves, Environmental Health Director, San Juan Public Health Department Russell Seeley, UDEQ District Engineer