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A total of 85,000 gallons of water were treated and discharged in September 2008. This <br />is well below the permitted discharge volume of 930,000 gallons (based on the 0.03 mgd <br />permit limit over 31 days). <br />One exceedance occurred for selenium of the 30-day average effluent limitation. <br />Additional chemical analyses of the raw mine water indicate that the selenium levels in <br />the raw water have recently increased. In addition, much of this selenium is in the <br />selenate (selenium VI) form which is more difficult to treat. Energy Fuels had been using <br />sodium metabisulfite to reduce the selenate to selenite (selenium IV). Chemical analyses <br />for speciated selenium in both the raw and treated mine water indicated that the sodium <br />metabisulfite treatment was ineffective. Energy Fuels consulted with a mine water <br />treatment specialist (Mark Reinsel, Ph.D., P.E.) to explore further explore sodium <br />bisulfite treatment and ion-exchange columns with a cationic resin. Dr. Reinsel's tests <br />indicated both of these methods were ineffective in treating for selenium in the mine <br />water. Energy Fuels hired Lyntek Incorporated located in Denver, Colorado to explore <br />different treatment methods. Lyntek designed the current treatment system at the <br />Whirlwind Mine and has considerable experience in water treatment systems. Lyntek <br />conducted testing of the Whirlwind Mine water with ionic-exchange columns using an <br />anionic resin. Early results from this test indicate that this method is more effective than <br />previously tested methods, but not as effective as anticipated. Currently, Energy Fuels <br />and Lyntek are looking into this treatment method and similar methods in more depth to <br />determine if they are appropriate for the Whirlwind Mine treatment system. <br />Dissolved iron, sulfate, and nitrate levels are being monitored in the discharge samples at <br />the request of WQCD. Dissolved iron in the discharge sample was detected at 0.05 <br />mg/L, sulfate was detected at 74 mg/L, and nitrate was detected at 4.0 mg/L. <br />Please contact me at (303) 974-2151 if you need any additional information. <br />Sincerely, <br />Zach Rogers <br />Cc: Russ Means (DRMS) <br />Scott Gerwe (BLM - Grand Junction Field Office) <br />Jeff Osborn, Frank Filas, Marty Olson (Energy Fuels) <br />Attachment: September 2008 DMR <br />WET Test Report - 3rd Quarter 2008 (WQCD copy only) <br />1?rargy FuJs, inc 44 Union 111%-1- Sufic 6`)0 <br />µ we?;s:r,er?ylucis.???rt? L?,hcawait?rf, E ?!?>ra?k? 2,022`i <br />P{?rst7,:: 0.1-974-2 E zU <br />F v _103-?,?4-2141