DRC-2019-004761 - 0901a06880a53967

DRC-2019-004761 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
Alan Matheson Executive Director DIVISION OF WASTE MANAGEMENT AND RADIATION CONTROL Ty L. Howard Director
May 22, 2019
Kathy Weinel
Energy Fuels Resources (USA) Inc. (EFR) 225 Union Blvd., Suite 600 Lakewood, CO 80228
RE: Dam Safety Visual Inspection
Radioactive Material License Number UT1900479 (RML): Findings and Closeout Dear Ms. Weinel:
On March 14, 2019, an inspection of the embankments retaining Impoundments 4A and 4B at the White
Mesa Uranium Mill was conducted by Russ Topham, a representative of the Division of Waste Management and Radiation Control. The timing of initiating this inspection responds to a magnitude 4.6 temblor that occurred in the Paradox Basin of Colorado on March 4, 2019. KSL News reported that residents of Blanding, Utah felt the quake. While we did not expect to witness any damage from the
quake, opportunities to review the performance of a structure following a quake are rare.
Wet conditions prevented detailed inspection of the embankment crest and spillway on March 14, 2019, so a follow-up inspection was conducted on April 24, 2019.
Results of the inspection were discussed with Logan Shumway and Steve Snyder at the conclusion of
the inspection. Based on the findings documented during the inspection, the items reviewed were found to be in compliance with the Utah Radiation Control Rules and requirements for this license.
In addition to the routine components of the dam safety inspection, we were interested in assessing the embankments’ and the plant’s response to the earthquake mentioned above. The quake did not appear to affect the embankments, process vessel foundations or masonry walls of structures. (Over)
We asked plant personnel about any inspections or observations they may have conducted following the
quake. Apparently, the quake did not trigger any additional review of facility health. While it is not covered in the Radiation Control Rules, we recommend making visual observations of the plant facilities following unusual events. Doing so provides a means of early detection and correction of defects that these events may cause.

If you have any questions, please call Russ Topham at [phone]. Sincerely,

Phil Goble, Uranium Mills and Radioactive Materials Manager Division of Waste Management and Radiation Control
PRG/RJT/kb
c: Kirk Benge, Health Officer/Environmental Health Director, San Juan County Health Department Rick Meyer, Environmental Health Director, San Juan County Health Department Scott Hacking, P.E., DEQ District Engineer
David K. Marble, PE Assistant State Engineer (DRC-2019-004802)
Logan Shumway, Energy Fuels Resources