ML18197A087
| ML18197A087 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | 04008905 |
| Issue date: | 07/16/2018 |
| From: | James Webb NRC/NMSS/DDUWP/MDB |
| To: | Ballaine T BHP Billiton |
| Fedors R W | |
| References | |
| Download: ML18197A087 (2) | |
Text
From: Webb, James To: Ballaine, Theresa Cc: Fedors, Randall
- Applegate, Kent
Subject:
RE: Rio Algom Work Plans for Docket No. 040-08905 and License Number SUA-1473 Date: Monday, July 16, 2018 8:46:28 AM Theresa, The original email had the incorrect license number. This email includes the correct license number SUA-1473. Jim From: Webb, James Sent: Wednesday, July 11, 2018 3:54 PM To: 'Ballaine, Theresa' <Theresa.Ballaine@bhpbilliton.com>
Cc: Fedors, Randall <Randall.Fedors@nrc.gov>; Applegate, Kent
<kent.kc.applegate@bhpbilliton.com>
Subject:
Rio Algom Work Plans for Docket No. 040-08905 and License Number SUA-1471
Dear Ms. Ballaine,
Rio Algom Mining LLC (RAML) submitted to the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) two work plans for the Ambrosia Lake tailings site: (i) Rio Algom Mining, LLC's Ambrosia Lake Mill Site Data Collection Work Plan in Support of Additional Alternate Concentration Limits, McKinley County, New Mexico (ML17340A805), November 27, 2017, and (ii) Work Plan for the Rio Algom Mining Ambrosia Lake Mill Site: Disposal Cells 1 and 2 Dams and Tailings Characterization, Radioactive Material License Number SUA-1473, McKinley County, New Mexico (ML18044A096), February 9, 2018. Rio Algom LLC requested the NRC staff review the work plans. The work plans provided proposed locations for new groundwater monitoring wells, plans for hydrological and geochemical characterization of transport pathways, and plans for hydrogeochemical and geotechnical characterization of the tailings piles. The NRC staff provided comments on the work plans, to which Rio Algom responded with additional information on the plans (ML18192C139).
The NRC staff believe that the field and laboratory program described in the work plans will provide useful information pertaining to site characterization that is expected to support a future application for alternate concentration limits, and facilitate a subsequent NRC review. The NRC staff have no more questions at this time on the two work plans. The NRC staff understands that results of the field and laboratory program may lead to changes in current site conceptual models, support for assumptions, or estimates of parameter values, and that this updated information may guide future plans. The NRC staff also expects, particularly for work on the tailings, that supporting plans mentioned in Section 3.3 of the second (tailings) work plan (ML18044A096) have been developed (e.g., the Radiation Work Plan and procedures for safe handling and management of radioactive material).
In addition, the NRC staff expect, as alluded to in a couple locations of the tailings work plan, that plans are developed to address damage to the cover and any necessary repair such that current and future performance would not be reduced. James Webb NRC Project Manager USNRC Washington D.C.