8.0 RECLAMATION AND CLOSURE
8.1
DESCRIPTION
RER is committed to successful closure planning and reclamation of the Upton Plant site. As
required by WDEQ-LQD, RER will arrange for sufficient bond coverage to assure successful
mine reclamation and closure of the Upton Plant site in accordance with WDEQ-LQD Guideline
12, Standardized Reclamation Performance Bond Format and Cost Calculation Methods,
November, 2011 (WDEQ-LQD Guideline 12). Closure will be performed to include: reclamation
of the TSF and associated disturbances, the TSF underdrain pond, the groundwater monitoring
sump, and ancillary facilities including environmental monitoring sites following bond release.
Reclamation of the TSF will be implemented to reestablish a suitable post-mining land use that
is consistent with pre-mining land use conditions such as limited grazing. The TSF will be
reclaimed to match the surrounding general topographic and vegetation conditions that are
similar to the clayey upland site habitat that exists on the nearby Thunder Basin National
Grasslands.
RER proposes an industrial post-mining land use for the building structures and related facilities
(warehouse, maintenance facility, administrative and process buildings, electrical equipment)
within the footprint of the Hydromet facility following cessation of production. Process equipment
including tanks will either be cleaned to U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission decontamination
standards for resale or disposed in an offsite licensed facility. This land use is consistent with
the adjacent land use of the Upton Industrial Park.
8.2
SCHEDULE
Closure of the Upton facilities will begin once the processing and recovery of REE’s has ceased.
The placement of the TSF cover is anticipated to require one year to complete. When TSF drain
down is completed (approximately 30 years after placement of the TSF cover), the closure of
the Underdrain Pond will commence. It is anticipated to require 6 months to complete. Roads
will be reclaimed at the time of initial physical site closure; however, the main access road will
remain until the Underdrain Pond closure and monitoring have ceased.
Monitoring is described below (Section 8.5) and will continue at least 5 years after physical site
closure.
8.3
GENERAL CLOSURE METHODS
General closure methods described in this section refer to the single-step techniques utilized in
the site-specific closure and reclamation of the affected areas. This section mirrors the
recommended reclamation practices listed in WDEQ/LQD Guideline 12.
8.3.1 Backfill
Backfill activities will include cut to fill, and excavating from borrow areas and stockpiles,
loading, hauling, and compacting random fill and rock material. The compaction of the backfilled
material will occur through placement. The reclamation of the Underdrain Pond will include
excavation of fill from stockpiles. The TSF cover placement will involve excavating from borrow
sources, loading, hauling, and compacting fill and rock material.
19
