DRC-2023-004765 - 0901a068812073c4

May 23, 2023
Sent VIA E-MAIL AND EXPEDITED DELIVERY
Mr. Doug Hansen Director Division of Waste Management and Radiation Control Utah Department of Environmental Quality 195 North 1950 West Salt Lake City, UT 84116
Energy Fuels Resources (USA) Inc. 225 Union Blvd. Suite 600
Lakewood, CO, US, 80228
303 974 2140 www .energyfuels.com
Div o< Waste �1anagement and Rad:ation Coritrol
MAY 2 6 2023
Re: State of Utah Ground Water Discharge Permit No. UGW370004 White Mesa Uranium Mill-Notice Pursuant to Part I.D.3.b.1 of the Permit
Dear Mr. Hansen:
Pursuant to the White Mesa Mill's (the "Mill's") White Mesa Mill's (the "Mill's") State of Utah
Groundwater Discharge Permit No. UGW370004 (the "Permit"), Energy Fuels Resources (USA)
Inc. ("EFRI"), as operator of the Mill, is providing written notice to the Division of Waste
Management and Radiation Control ("DWMRC") of a temporary outage of the Cell 2 slimes
drain pump, as described in more detail below.
The Permit states that EFRI will notify DWMRC of system failures that cannot be made
operational within 24 hours of discovery. The outage was noted on Sunday May 21, 2023 at
approximately 2:00 pm. It was determined on Monday May 22, 2023 that the failure would
require more than 24 hours to be repaired. Initial notice of this outage was given by telephone to
Mr. Phil Goble of the DWMRC at approximately 1 :40 pm on May 22, 2023 (within 24 hours of
the discovery).
1.Description of the Pumping System Failure
a)The Permit dated March 8, 2021 states that "in the event that the Permittee fails tomaintain DMT or BAT or otherwise fails to meet DMT or BAT standards as required bythe Permit, the Permittee shall submit to the Director a notification and description of thefailure ..... "
b) During the daily comprehensive tailings inspections on Sunday May 21, 2023, specifiedin the Tailings Management Plan, Revision 2.5, dated March 2017, EnvironmentalPersonnel noted that the Cell 2 slimes drain pump was not operating.
c)Mill Environmental Personnel noted that due to weekend hours, Mill MaintenancePersonnel were unavailable. This outage did not constitute an emergency situation that
DRC-2023-004765
Letter To Doug Hansen May 23, 2023 Page 2 of3
triggered immediate response. Mill Maintenance Personnel addressed the outage, on Monday May 22, 2023 during the first day of regular business hours after the failure was noted.
2.Root Cause
The root cause of the Cell 2 slimes drain pump failure was likely the acidic nature of the slimes fluid, which corrodes the pump.
3.Steps Taken to Repair and Have the System Full Operational
Upon observing that the Cell 2 slimes pump was not operating, Mill Environmental Personnel did the following:
a)The Mill Maintenance Department was contacted.
b)Mill Environmental Personnel completed an assessment to assure that no other systemswere affected.
c)Mill Environmental Personnel contacted EFRI corporate personnel to report the outageof the Cell 2 slimes pump.
d)Mill Environmental Personnel extracted the Cell 2 slimes pump from the Cell 2 slimesdrain and began replacement activities with the Mill Maintenance Department.
4.Period of Time the System Was Not in Operation
The Cell 2 slimes pump was operating during the daily check on Saturday, May 20, 2023. The Cell 2 slimes pump was noted as not operating during the daily check on Sunday May 21, 2023. The Cell 2 slimes pump was not operating from sometime after the check on May 20, 2023 until approximately 8:20 am Tuesday May 23, 2023 when the pump and wiring were replaced and the system was returned to fully operational.
5.Date by Which the Pumping System Will be Repaired and Operational
The system was made fully operational at 8:20 am Tuesday May 23, 2023.
6.Steps Taken to Prevent a Recurrence of System Failure
EFRI has previously addressed all options for prevention of recurrence. Spare parts, pumps and wiring are stocked in the Mill warehouse. The Cell 2 slimes drain system is inspected daily and any issues noted and addressed immediately with Mill Maintenance Personnel during regular business hours. It is important to note that the system was repaired in less than 24 hours from the start of regular business hours. No issues were noted during routine inspections that would have indicated a pump failure was imminent. Failure of this pump did not trigger the need for
. Letter To Doug Hansen May 23, 2023 Page 3 of 3
immediate corrective action and emergency recall of Mill Maintenance Personnel. No additional actions are needed at this time to prevent recurrence.
If you should have any questions regarding this notice, please contact me.
Yours very truly,
��Jv� ENERGY FUELS RESOURCES (USA) INC.Kathy W einel Director, Regulatory Compliance
CC: David Frydenlund Logan Shumway
Scon Bakken Garrin Palmer Tanner Holliday Jordan App