cameco resources, crow butte operation

CAMECO RESOURCES,CROW BUTTE OPERATION

86 Crow Butte RoadP.O. Box 169 (308) 665-2215Crawford, Nebraska 69339-0169 (308) 665-2341 - FAX

June 28, 2011

CERTIFIED MAILRETURN RECEIPT REQUESTED

ATTN: Document Control Desk, Deputy DirectorDecommissioning and Uranium Recovery Licensing DirectorateDivision of Waste Management and Environmental ProtectionOffice of Federal and State Materials and Environmental Management ProgramsMailstop T8-F5U.S. Nuclear Regulatory CommissionWashington, DC 20555-0001

Re: Source Materials License SUA-1534Docket No. 40-8943Commercial Evaporation Pond #1 Liner Leak

Dear Deputy Director:

On June 1, 2011, routine evaporation pond monitoring results of Cameco Resources, Crow Butte Operation (CBO)Commercial Evaporation Pond # 1, water level readings from the north middle underdrain indicated a potentialpond liner leak. A sample was collected from the underdrain and analyzed for alkalinity, chloride, conductivity,sodium, and sulfate. The results of this sample indicated that the concentration of the indicator analytes in theunderdrain were similar to the pond contents. Based upon these results, it was determined that a liner leakpotentially existed in Commercial Evaporation Pond # 1.

Mr. Ronald Burrows was notified by voicemail and email of the liner leak on June 1, 2011. As required byLicense Condition 12.3, this report provides analytical data, monitoring results, mitigative actions, and theresults of those actions as required in the permit.

Upon confirmation of the liner leak, CBO began weekly sampling of the north middle underdrain. Thesesamples were analyzed for alkalinity, chloride, conductivity, sodium, and sulfate. Attachment #1 containscopies of the Weekly Evaporation Pond Underdrain Analysis Forms and the analytical results from the CBOlaboratory. Samples were obtained on June 1, 8, 15, and 22, 2011.

In addition to weekly analysis of the underdrain, CBO obtained non-routine samples from pond monitor wellsCPM-1 and CPM-2. CPM-1 and CPM-2 are completed in the first aquifer and are located down gradient ofCommercial Evaporation Pond #1 at the fenced restricted area boundary. The samples were obtained andanalyzed for the indicator analytes on June 1, 8, 15, and 22, 2011, to ensure that there was no indication of

CAMECO RESOURCES,CROW BUTTE OPERATION

Deputy DirectorJune 28, 2011 of 2

leakage in the secondary liner. Analytical results were consistent with historical sampling results and arecontained in Attachment #2.

Upon confirmation of the potential liner leak, CBO began lowering the level of Commercial Evaporation Pond# 1 by pumping water to Commercial Evaporation Pond #4. Concurrently, an immediate visual inspection ofthe pond liner was performed. Initial efforts to locate the potential leak were unsuccessful. The level of thepond was lowered .6 feet from a level of 2' to a level of 1.4' in the first week of transfer. The level in thenorth middle underdrain rose only. 1' during this week, indicating that the leak may be above the water line.Subsequent visual inspection of the liner revealed a small abrasion at approximately 1.7' was causing the leak.CBO placed a fusion weld bead over the abrasion to temporarily patch the hole. On June 22, 2011, ColoradoLinings placed a permanent patch over the temporary repair. Since the pond level was lowered, the northmiddle underdrain readings have remained steady at 1.3'.

CBO is currently pursuing a plan of action to clean up several Commercial Pond underdrains. The procedureincludes pumping the affected underdrain until it is dry. The underdrain is then purged with clean water tolower the concentration of the indicator parameters. The Pond # 1 north middle underdrain will be included inthis action plan.

Attachment #3 contains copies of the Commercial Pond Inspection Forms for the period of June 1-June 22,2011. Weekly analysis of the underdrain contents will continue until CBO is confident that all leaks have beenlocated and repaired.

If you have any questions or require any further information, please do not hesitate to call me at (308) 665-2215 ext114,

Sincerely,CAMECO RESOURCESCROW BUTITE OPERATION

Larry TeahonSHEQ Manager

Enclosures: As Stated

cc: Mr. Ronald Burrows - Program ManagerCBO - File

ec: CR - Cheyenne

Attachment 01

Commercial Evaporation Pond #1 Underdrain Analysis

1-Jun- 1ISM/LT/MO

Alkmg/b

Clm&/b

Condpmhos mg/L

Na

mg/b

Pond 1 NM 3250 66,652 147,700 6493 45,066

8-Jun- 1ISM/LTIMO

Alkmg/L

C!mrg/L

Condpimhos

s20 4mg/L

Namg/L

Pond 1 NM 3100 68,779 146,500 6273 46,460

15-Jun-I1SM/LT/MO

Alkmg/L

CImg/L

Cond•mhos

Es_ 4rng/L

Namg/L

Pond 1 NM 3300 71,615 148,300 6534 46,776

24-Jun- 1ISM/LT/MO

Alkmg/L

clmg/L

Condpmhos

1s_ 4mg/L

Namg/L

Pond 1 NM 4020 72,324 150,100 6863 47,717

Attachment #2

Pond Monitor Well CPM-1 and CPM-2 Analysis

2-Jun-11SM(LT/MO

Alk Cl Cond SO 4 Na

mg/L mg/L umhos mg/L mg/L

Commercial Pond 202 8.0 460 14 16Monitor #1Commercial Pond 187 5.8 430 14 14Monitor #2

8-Jun-11SM/LTIMO

Alk C/ Cond S0 4 Na

mg/L mg/L umhos mg/L mg/L

Commercial Pond 200 8.8 460 14 16Monitor #1Commercial Pond 186 5.9 430 14 14Monitor #2

15-Jun-11SMI/LT/MO

Commercial PondMonitor #1Commercial PondMonitor #2

AlkmnL

202

186

Clmg/L

8.3

5.8

Condumhos

460

430

mg/L

15

15

Namg/L

16

15

24-June-1ISMILT/

Alkmg/L

202

187

Clmg/L

8.6

5.9

Condumhos

sO_4mg/L

Namg/L

Commercial PondMonitor #1Commercial PondMonitor #2

460

430

15 16

15 14

Attachment #3

Commercial Pond Inspection Forms

CAMECO RESOURCES/CROW BUTTE OPERATIONWEEKLY EVAPORATION POND UNDERDRAIN ANALYSIS 60)

COMMERCL PONDS UNDERDRAIN WATER METER TEMP CONDUCTIVITY LAB RESULTSDEPTH / INCHES READING C tmhos/cm J ftmhos/cm

POND LEVEL AAA- 2,L _0

*FREEBOARD /S-Io

• NE UNDERDRAIN 04NMUNDERDRAIN HJt. .~______

. NW UNDERDRAIN

SE UNDERDRAIN __

SM UNDERDRAIN __

SW UNDERDRAIN 3 ps 5 , l___

POND LEVEL ,_*FREEBOARD _ _ _ _

. NE UNDERDRAIN _

NM UNDERDRAIN

NW UNDERDRAIN ms_SE UNDERDRAIN L3SM IJNDERDRAIN q_______ _____ ______

SW UNDERDRAIN 1 6vs _ _ _ __,_ _

POND LEVEL _ 5,,*FREEBOARD [I,

NE UNDERDRAIN 17 ___,_____I_,

" NMUNDERDRAIN I'w JI) a2

- NW UNDERDRAIN Ct

SE UNDERDRAIN 27 13,5ý rni 13__•SM UNDERDRAIN /3 ID-5 ID,_SW UNDERDRAIN I__.__)__ 1,, ,4 1

[ R & D POND LEVELS (Depth =15 ft) j REMARKS: O), e- ,,A l 4- 4e .Jhs

EAST LEVEL: _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _-_ _

**EAST FREEBOARD: "__

EAST UNDERDRAIN: ) "COMMERCIAL POND FREEBOARD =5 FT MAXWEST LEVEL: g•g 1** R&D POND FREEBOARD = 3 FT MAX

**WEST FREEBOARD: _? 2 ISAMPLER:

WEST UNDERDRAIN: [ ATE: 1!.4/,,

WEEKLY POND INSPECTION4= r) r-_

Jul07Dm,,o 0 A

Rev I

CAMECO RESOURCES/CROW BUTTE OPERATIONWEEKLY EVAPORATION POND UNDERDRAIN ANALYSIS

LU4

COMMERCIAL PONDS I UNDERDRAIN WATER METER TEMP CONDUCTIVITY LAB RESULTSDEPTH / INCHES READING 0 C FLmhos/cm ,pmhos/cm

POND LEVEL 1. __

*FREEBOARD G•- (o

i NE UNDERDRAIN

z NM UNDERDRAIN /I q ,I _ 5NW UNDERDRAIN _

SE UNDERDRAIN

SM UNDERDRAIN T5 __

SW UNDERDRAIN 1 , • 5

POND LEVEL , __

*FREEBOARD (o.3

t NE UNDERDRAIN 9/NM UNDERDRAIN

--4 NW UNDERDRAIN ]q ,• I i/) 9SE UNDERDRAIN 3SM UNDERDRAIN 3sw UNDERDRAIN ,_

POND LEVEL •t 7*FREEBOARD ____

• NE UNDERDRAIN /7 ,,.,0 NM UNDERDRAIN / /r, ,

* NW UNDERDRAIN // j ,SE UNDERDRAIN , , ;_ _ _ __ _ _

SM UNDERDRAIN ]3 I___,-_____ 1_,7SW UNDERDRAIN _ _ _ I k3. • _,___._,,_

R & D POND LEVELS (Depth 15 ft) ] REMARKS:

EAST LEVEL: [___ _**EAST FREEBOARD: _

EAST UNDERDRAIN: *) COMMERCIAL POND FREEBOARD =5 FT MAX

WEST LEVEL: ** R&D POND FREEBOARD = 3 FT MAX

**WEST FREEBOARD: _. SAMPLER: 4)b 6 / g,

WEST UNDERDRAIN: e DATE: /_&// t f

WEEKLY POND INSPECTION0.IppnA -o

Jul 07 Rev I


COMMERCIAL PONDS JUNDERI)RAIN WATER J METER TEPCONDUCTIVITY LAIR RESULTSDEPTH / INCHES READING °C imhos/cm I tmhos/cm

POND LEVEL 1, _€

*FREEBOARD Ig.

NE UNDERDRAIN0 NMUNDERDRAIN /6

__,____!_

NW UNDERDRAIN ,

SE UNDERDRAIN _

SM UNDERDRAIN

SW UNDERDRAIN C , ____. _

POND LEVEL 11" _

*FREEBOARD &,.NE UNDERDRAIN __

NM UNDERDRAIN

SE~, NW UNDERDRAIN __ _

SE UNDERDRALN __ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ _ _ _ _ _ __ _ _ _ _ __ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

SM UNDERDRAIN 4_sw UNDERDRAIN /__ ___ ___ _ __ _,

POND LEVEL __

*FREEBOARD fl

NE MJNDERDRAIN _____, ______

0 NM UNDERDRAIN 7,1 , )I -* ENW UNDERDRAJIN _____- ____ /_

SE UNDERDRAIN _____ __ _ _ ___,_ _ __,

SM UNDERDRAIN 4__ _ _ _ _ _ __ _ _ _ _ __ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

sw UNDERDRAIN I q/ q r• __,_

R & D POND LEVELS (Depth=15 ft) REMARKS:

EAST LEVEL: ] ___

**EASTFREEBOARD: 14.2EAST UNDERDRAIN: C, *COMMERCIAL POND FREEBOARD =5 FT MAX

WEST LEVEL: q/7 ** R&D POND FREEBOARD = 3 FT MAX

"WEST FREEBOARD: .. S SAM /PLER:

WESTUNDERDRAIN: ___ SDATE: /

WEEKLY POND INSPECTIONSým.0 6-9

Jul 07 Rev 1


COMMERCIAL PONDS UNDERDRAIN WATER METER TEMP CONDUCTIVITY LAB RESULTSI DEPTH / INCHES READING °C ETmhos/cm ttmhos/cm

POND LEVEL __ _ _ _

*FREEBOARD j •.- '

, NE UNDERDRAIN 0 _

S NM UNDERDRAIN __

. NW UNDERDRAIN __

SE UNDERDRAIN ____

SM UNDERDRAIN ___

SW UNDERDRAIN ________._____-_,_

POND LEVEL*FREEBOARD _ ___

SNE UNDERDRAIN ______

NM UNDERDRAIN t____

* NW UNDERDRAIN Mf qSE UNDERDRAIN 3 _

SM UNDERDRAIN _

SW UNDERDRAIN 696 • __ __,

POND LEVEL 6l __ _

*FREEBOARD it.NE UNDERDRAIN _ .1 _______,_

NM UNDERDRAIN _T) Iola_ _,_____

* vNW UNDERDRAIJN 11 , _ _ __,_ _

SE UNDERDRAIN ItrI , 1_,_

SM UNDERDRAIN I , J ,• !1,_

SW UNDERDRAIN 1 7 I 7,'7 05, ___,_

R & D POND LEVELS (Depth = 15 ft) J REMARKS: 1,t',d j

EAST LEVEL: I?)/"EAST FREEBOARD:

EAST UNDERDRAIN: *) COMMERCIAL POND FREEBOARD =5 FT MAXWEST LEVEL: ( ,' ** R&D POND FREEBOARD = 3 FT MAX*"WEST FREEBOARD: . - SAMPLER: -Z 0 .5,

WEST UNDERDRAIN: J DATE:

WEEKLY POND INSPECTION.qT-m CI.A

Jul107 Rev I

cameco resources, crow butte operation

Documents