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A total of 90,000 gallons of water were treated and discharged in December 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. As <br />indicated in prior letters, Energy Fuels has employed various treatment processes and <br />continues to research viable selenium treatment alternatives. An ionic-exchange bench <br />test showed some effectiveness, although not as much as expected, and the loading rate of <br />the resin is undetermined. Among other alternatives being studied are an iron <br />cementation process, a passive bioreaction process, alternative ion exchange resins, and a <br />nanofiltration process. There are several challenges that a viable alternative must meet to <br />be practical for use at the Whirlwind Mine Treatment Plant. Some of the requirements <br />for a viable alternative are: 1) treatment at or near the design flow rate of 20 gpm, 2) <br />effective in below freezing temperatures, 3) meets the size restrictions of the site, 4) and <br />will not cause failure of other discharge permit limitations such as pH and WET tests. <br />Energy Fuels is currently evaluating which of these processes can best meet these <br />requirements. Preliminary analytical results for selenium indicate that the sample <br />collected during the January 2009 discharge event is in compliance with the permit for <br />selenium (detected at 20 µg/L). <br />Dissolved iron, sulfate, and nitrate levels are being monitored in the discharge samples at <br />the request of WQCD and the Division of Reclamation, Mining and Safety. Dissolved <br />iron in the discharge sample was less than 0.03 mg/L, sulfate was detected at 54 mg/L, <br />and nitrate was detected at 8.5 mg/L. <br />Please contact me at (303) 974-2151 if you need any additional information. <br />Sincerely, <br />Zach Rogers, EIT <br />Environmental Engineer <br />Cc: Russ Means (DRMS) <br />Scott Gerwe (BLM - Grand Junction Field Office) <br />Jeff Osborn, Frank Filas, Marty Olson (Energy Fuels) <br />Attachment: December 2008 DMR <br />WET Test Report - 4t' Quarter 2008 (WQCD copy only) <br />rr?.ry ucl? ;r.c.