BECO-85-111, Forwards 1986 Environ Monitoring,Thermal Discharge Fish Surveillance & Dissolved Nitrogen Saturation Reduction Program & Plan Per NPDES Permit MA0003557 for Review

Forwards 1986 Environ Monitoring,Thermal Discharge Fish Surveillance & Dissolved Nitrogen Saturation Reduction Program & Plan Per NPDES Permit MA0003557 for Review

ML20138M648
Person / Time
Site:	Pilgrim
Issue date:	12/13/1985
From:	Harrington W BOSTON EDISON CO.
To:	ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY, MASSACHUSETTS, COMMONWEALTH OF
References
BECO-85-111, BECO-85-112, NUDOCS 8512230095
Download: ML20138M648 (11)

Text

_

yv, ..-

+

\

BOSTON EDISON COMPANY S00 BOYLSTON STREET BOSTON, MABBACHUSETTs 02199 WILLIAM D. HARRINGTON seusen wees passeos=v muassan December 13, 1985 BECo 5.85-112 Director Mass. Division of Water. Pollution Control Permits Section - 7th Floor 1 Winter. Street Boston, MA 02108 Ge'ntlemen:

.In accordance witn NPDES Permit MA0003557l (Pii gr m I) for Pilgrim Station, the

' attached 1986 Environmental Monitoring, Thermal Discharge Fish Surveillance, and Dissolved Nitrogen Saturation Reduction programs and plans are submitted by Boston Edison Company for your approval. This submittal is specifically in response to Part I, Paragraph 7d of the above referenced permit, which

~

provides a deadline of Decemoer 31st of each year of the permit's duration to submit. revised programs and plans. These programs and plans have been approved and will continue to be reviewed annually by the. Pilgrim Administrative-Technical Committee. Any recommended revisions will be submitted to the regulators designated in the permit for approval.

If there are any questions concerning the attached programs and plans, please do not hesitate to call either Mr. Lewis Scotton (849-8933) or Mr. Robert Anderson (849-8935) of Boston. Edison Company.

Very truly yours, i

h SM" RDA/ns

Attachment:

1986 Environmental Monitoring, Thermal Discharge Fish Surveillance and Dissolved Nitrogen Saturation Reduction Program and Plan cc: .Mr. John A. Zwolinski, Director BHR Project Directorate #1

, Division of Licensing Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Washington, D. C. 20555 Dr. Thomas E. Murley Regional Administrator Office.of Inspection & Enforcement Region I 631 Park Avenue King of Prussia, PA 19406 fg 8512230095 DR 851213 ADOCK 05000293 PDR

k BOSTON EOtsON COMPANY BOD BOYLETON STREET B OSTON, mas 5ACHUSETTs 0219 9 WILUAM D. HARRINGTON esussaviss ensatosur Mid S LSAE December 13, 1985 BECo 5.85-111 United States Environmental Protection Agency.

Region I Permits Processing Unit - Room 2109

_ Jonn F. Kennedy Federal Building Soston, MA 02203 Gentlemen:

In accordance with NPDES Permit MA0003557 (Pilgrim I) for Pilgrim Station, the

-. attached 1986 Environmental Monitoring, Thermal Discharge Fish Surveillance, and Dissolved Nitrogen Saturation Reduction programs and plans are submitted by Boston Edison Company for_your approval. This submittal is specifically in response to Part I, Paragraph 7d of the above referenced permit, which provides a ' deadline of Dec' ember 31st of _each year of the permit's duration to submit revised programs and plans. These programs and plans have been approved and will continue to be reviewed annually by the Pilgrim Administrative-Technical Committee. Any recommended revisions will be submitted to the regulators designated in the permit for approval.

If.there are any questions concerning the attached programs and plans, please do not hesitate to call either Mr. Lewis Scotton (849-8933) or Mr. Robert

. Anderson (849-8935) of Boston Edison Company.

Very truly yours, RDA/ns F

Attachment:

1986 Environmental Monitoring, Thermal Discharge Fish Surveillance and Dissolved Nitrogen Saturation Reduction Program and Plan cc: Mr. John A. Zwolinski, Director BWR Project Directorate #1 Division'of Licensing Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Washington, D. C. 20555 Dr. Thomas E. Murley Regional Administrator

.0ffice-of Inspection & Enforcement Region I 631 Park Avenue

-King of Prussia, PA 19406

L MARINE ECOLOGY MONITORING

• . RELATED TO OPERATION OF PILGRIM STATION UNIT 1 (NPDES PERMIT PROGRAMS)

In accordance with NPDES Permit requirements for Pilgrim Station.(Permit No.

MA0003557) the.following modified programs are presented for 1986. The 1978 through.1985 programs were submitted to the Regional Administrator, U.S.

Environmental Protection ?.gency and Director, Mass. Division of Water Pollution Control,- in December 1977 through December 1984, respectively.

I: ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING The Environmental Monitoring Program represents a continuation of previous studies. Pre-operational studies for Pilgrim Unit I commenced in 1969, almost four years before initial operation in December 1972.

In accordance with environmental monitoring and reporting requirements of the Unit 1 Operating License, DPR-35, issued by the U.S. Atomic Energy Commission (now the Nuclear Regulatory. Commission) Boston Edison had carried out a post-operational Marine Ecology Program. This program

.was designed to investigate the Cape Cod Bay ecosystem, with emphasis on

~

the Rocky Point area, in order to determine whether the operation of Pilgrim Station resulted in measurable effects on the marine ecology and evaluate the significance of any such effects. The Marine Ecology Program for Unit I continued for five years from initial full power operation - that is, through December 1977 and is now replaced by this NPDES Permit Program (with NRC concurrence). Amendment #67 (1983) to-the PNPS Tech. Specs, deleted Appendix 8 non-radiological water quality requirements as the NRC felt they are covered in the NPDES Permit. The post-operational studies for Pilgrim Unit I and the collected data are incorporated and analyzed in the Marine Ecology Semi-Annual Reports

(#1-26), Marine Ecology Final Report (1978), and the 316 Demonstration Document (1975) and Supplement (1977).

The NPDES Program includes the following elements: '

A. Pilgrim Administrative - Technical Committee The Pilgrim Administrative - Technical Committee (PATC) is an advisory committee that was established to ensure that the Pilgrim marine studies have the benefit of qualified scientific and technical advice and are responsible to regulatory agency concerns.

The PATC recommends improvement to ongoing studies based on the latest results with the approval of the U.S. EPA and Mass. Div. of Water Pollution Control. It has held 64 meetings since July 16, 1969, and will continue to be involved in the Pilgrim future marine studies. The PATC is composed of representatives (technical and administrative) from each interested federal and state regulatory agency, Boston Edison Company and from the University of Mass;chusetts. The present membership is as follows:

Agency National Marine Fisheries Service - (2 members)

Mass. Division of Water Pollution Control - (? members) e ~

w > + -, -

, ,- , .g-

, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency - (2 members)

-Mass. Division of Marine Fisheries - (2 members)

'U.S. Fish and_ Wildlife. Service - (1 member)

University of Massachusetts - (2 members)

~ Boston Edison Company --(2 members)

Each meeting is chaired by a representative of the Mass. Div. of Water Pollution Control. Minutes of PATC meetings appear in the semi-annual-Pilgrim Station marine ecology reports.

8. Marine Fisheries Monitoring (Mass. Division of Marine Fisheries)

The Division of Marine Fisheries (DMF), an agency of the

Commonwealth of Massachusetts, has conducted a number of field studies (modified in 1981) pertinent to Pilgrim Station. Those studies listed below will be continued.

Fish The DMF has monitored the occurrence and distribution of fish around Rocky-Point and at sites around the area of discharge temperature increase. Groundfish will continue to be sampled using a 32-foot Shrimp trawl (1/2 inch mesh liner) bi-weekly. Four stations will be sampled (including two replicates), at 2 reference and 2 surveillan:e locations which include the PNPS intake embayment and discharge thermal effluent areas. Figure 2 shows sampling station locations.

A finfish observational dive survey (Figure 2) will continue in 1986

.for the Pilgrim Station thermal plume area. This monitoring will involve bi-weekly diving from April through October to document fish behavior and condition at selected stations. During mid-August to mid-September, weekly diving will be done to document potential thermal plume-related mortalities.

In May-October 1986, a 150 foot beach seine (3/16 inch mesh bag) survey (Figure 1) will be performed weekly at four stations, including the Pilgrim Station intake embayment (a large seine will be used in the intake). This monitoring will record fishes which are most susceptible to impingement mortalities that have occurred in previous years.

^

Lobster The DMF has collected lobster catch statistics bi-weekly through each fishing season (April to November) by sampling commercial i

' lobstermen's pot hculs. This effort will continue as a measure of l Pilgrim effect on the local lobster population (Figure 3). An- l experimental lobster pot study will be initiated for June-September l

.in reference and surveillance areas to better define Pilgrim l Station's thermal influence on lobster catch rate.

g

-a.

' Gas Saturation v.

In 1986, analyses will be conducted only during periods of potential discharge-related mortalities (as occurred in August 1985). A Weiss saturometer will be used in situ to measure total partial pressure of dissolved gases, and percent saturation of total gas, nitrogen,

and oxygen will be determined.

C. Impingement Monitoring (Marine Research, Inc./BECo)

The main objective of the impingement study is to calculate impingement rates of marine organisms by gathering and analyzing data on numbers and species carried onto the four travelling screens at-Pilgrim Station. In 1986 the weekly collection time will be twenty-four hours (three 8-hour periods). Supplemental fish survival data will also be recorded. BECo will analyze data and

. prepare the report.

O. Benthic Monitoring (Battc'le New England Marine Research Lab)

The benthic flora and fauna are being monitored at three sampling

. stations at, depths of approximately 10 feet (MLW) (Figure 1). The dominant flora and fauna in each plot are recorded, and quantitative samples are collected from rock surfaces. Sampling will continue two times a year to determine power plant related changes, if any.

In _ addition, transect studier to map extent of stunted and denuded areas immediately off the discharge canal will be continued 4 times a year.in 1986.

E. Entrainment Monitoring (Ma.Ine Research,-Inc./BECo Entrainment monitoring studies in.1985 emphasized consideration of ichthyoplankton, as will those in 1986.

The 1986 entrainment studies will consist of routine monitoring of the Pilgrim discharge. This monitoring will be on a weekly basis during the period March-September and twice monthly during the periods January-February and October-December. Samples will be collected in triplicate. If unusually high egg or larvae concentrations are found in'the discharge when compared with previous years, steps will be taken to implement special ichthyoplankton contingency sampling plans to assess the reason for j the high concentrations. The first plan will consist of single tows in the discharge canal. If these numbers are still unusually high, the second plan will consist of single tows at each of 13 bay stations off the plant, and samples will be analyzed immediately (Figure 4). BECo will analyze data and prepare the report.

F. Reporting of Environmental Monitoring A semi-annual and an annual report covering each of the above (Items A-E), will be submitted to the EPA and MCNPC on October 31, 1986, and April 30, 1987, covering the periods January-June and January-December, respectively.

II. THERMAL DISCHARGE FISH SURVEILLANCE The Thermal.01scharge Fish Surveillance Program for Pilgrim Station has the following primary parts:

A. Overflights Periodic aerial overflights of Cape Cod Bay.and the Pilgrim vicinity to alert Boston Edison to the presence of large schools of fish in the area. These overflights will be conducted weekly throughout the year and summarized in each annual report.

B. Observation of-the Discharge Canal Boston Edison personnel will make frequent visual observations of the Pilgrim discharge canal during periods of fisn migration.

C. Dive Surveys Dive inspections of the discharge canal and fish barrier net determine fish presence and condition. and barrier net performance.

BECo will report dive survey findings in each annual report. Also, fish sampling and diver observation in the plume area will be conducted bi-weekly from April through October by Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries personnel as part of the Environmental

. Program.

~The dive. survey and canal observation elements of the Surveillance Program will provide a continuing check on the adequacy of the barrier net preventing the passage of fish into the canal. Stated

^

differently, these elements will monitor compliance with the barrier condition of the permit. If these elements indicate that the barrier is not function'ing adequately and the permit's 115% surface nitrogen limitation is triggered by the RA, the overflights, as well as the canal observations.and dive surveys, will indicate when fish

~ susceptible to gas bubble disease mortality are sufficiently near Pilgrim Station to warrant action to reduce surface nitrogen saturation level to 115%. Boston Edison will notify the EPA Regional Administrator and Massachusetts DNPC Director of the presence of a large school of fish within 1/2 mile of the discharge canal concurrent with water quality conditions potentially harmful to the fish.

. III. DISSOLVED NITROGEN SATURATION REDUCTION The plan for reducing' dissolved nitrogen surface saturation levels to less than 115% in the discharge canal will involve a power reduction or '

outage, should a school of fish susceptible to gas bubble disease mortality be in the immediate vicinity of Pilgrim Station. The procedure for determining the need, feasibility and request for a power reduction or outage is as follows:

1. Responsible regulatory / agency personnel familiar with fishery statistics (e.g., Mass. Division of Marine Fisheries) estimate the

.- -x

4

. .' 6

.

/" magnitude of the fish' school and, based on measured water quality 4 4 -and other pertinent environmental-data, make an initial judgement as-

_to the likelihood and effect of gas bubble disease mortality. They also determine the potential necessity for a nitrogen saturation reduction..and notify Boston Edison of this initial judgement.

2. Boston. Edison notifies Rhode Island, Eastern Massachusetts,-and

. Vermont Energy Control (REMVEC) of the possibility of a power redu'ction and obtains projections through at least the upcoming .

weekend. Boston Edison transmits this11nformation and load information to'the agencies / persons taking action' identified in No.

~1 above.

3. On the basis of.this information, agency personnel formulate a ~

Lspecific recommendation to the EPA Regional Administrator and/or the c, _MDNPC Of rector on- the timing and duration of the power reduction .

that is, in their judgement, appropriate and in the overall public interest.

~

~

4. Respons1'ble regulatory personnel riquest-power. reductions through a telephone call to the Boston Edison, Pilgrim Nuclear Power Station Manager.

Si Boston Edison personnel record the results of periodic. surveillance-

_of the condition and location of the fish prior to and subsequent to any plant changes.

e 4

r 6 b a t

=

a O

I 4

r b

Gurner Pr, CAPE COO BA Y s-s h 0 1/2 1 N 6-emmeha.t.A.t u SCALE IN MILES g,,,, g ,,g PL YMOUTH BA Y e

PL YMOUTH G1 HARBOR Rock y b Poent gG2

,... f,*e i( - " '

S-2 S4 PILGRIM

'+.."'.'b j s ;' .

7..,.- / SITE .

~*ti%%.,\

~ ***

waren co -

j

,, ~~~ ~' Sag _ *n -

,/

'?.R" .'........,-

,,  ! g

. Pronous sanch -

~

, LEGEND -

g .

,, y,,1,, 3 ga

.. g +

' .d.4 '.'%., S-4 8

., ([., POWER P(ANT. .-?:

M,,,,,,,,

BEACH SEINE STATIONS (S)/ @ jf ,',,' Po nr

. A' BENTHIC STA,TIONS (G). <

l 8 1-< a *

.c. -se ...

c. .,

(J +,

. . . . ' G. lLL NET (N),... e , ~ V. .

w. , , , .

_s

~

n +& ,, .

1 -

' 'eyc '

~

n -

.m .,

o

., ,'y.i, , " ;,lp..,j see Po.nt

, a

'.. i, y I'h g 7 3

'Ny,,,.. ,g_ _ s .

'6 . " k.5 I', 4 -

'- {

g;, y y ..q,. ; , ,

a ;_ , :.

g a ,.

~ . ..,. . . . ) , ., .

Figure 1. Location of Beach Seine and Gill Net Sampling Stations for Marine Fisheries Studies, and Benthic Studies Sampling Stations

9 Gurnet Pt.

CAPE COD BAY Ak 0 1/2 l N w* ' ' i SCALE 'N MILES Long Bra h PL YMOUTH BA Y PL vuOUTH HARBOR

$.% Rock y Pourt O

... N ***>

/ *g W8"'" C

SITE RI ',

T-4 f'.- L " ,' .Qheitonnue .

~'

. }  : Prosco!!a 8Wh d i I . 6th,re LEGEND c A, ,, , Horse hh

M POWER PLANT 4 '

.lT ' ,

.% '. Manomer SHRIMP TRAWL STATIONS (T) @ / /,..+ t

• pont

'N:~

o e .. ,

eeeDIVE STATION 3 (D) ,

If ' . 4 ' - ,c .,.s,;w;. t ;; ,*y :

- .v. p ~

.,' e i ^

, L [p

• s ,Qe ll?;-- Stane l' l v- Posnt

,. . y - ;.; ,.

Yfj s, .

'x y_^

'f *'e, f*

• i;st k,_

l \ \

. J.l .

a,

.s. . .

Figure 2. Location of Shrimp Trawl and Dive Sampling Stations for Marine Fisheries Studies

r. .

1. ..

8 e f

h o 1r2 1 N m ~ -~

SCALE IN MILES PLYMOUTHBAY .

RockyPoint ' '

f--- y PILGRIM

'gi '_. gf #. SITE 4

., .d.+

's "

. , ~

w a .n co,.

n@~ +: ~ .$. -,r%, r ,.i . . t!,'

~ .

, /. .. ~ YA <!N ]

• C .'t-

, , grq 'g3 t . .

MED d V

• If

$;W 4 i ' i' 4 e.. / y

).

q r

.. A 3

~

pri.can saaes ..

!?*' ~~,c c ~; - : e, 1 - y . ,-

~ . $l%Q m;Qm&W}M,dlQ f',% p. f.

NhierNorseOnnch e ; ; .c p l T~r p- ~,

\y, 1.%w &Q s.L4 %gn&p%.N %I.$l '2M.g < -

. 8

%;W:w es.w .;

4 gq%: hi$h s.g.. 4 _. m ,,,,,,, .

~

NW1r,- [;.*-;

M, Mkh ha v @.# hv g y Vk3 hQ , .M, r$ yph.

cMM

, : A'*'t '

... f;nW_M..Ik,

,.rm Qp W: - <,

. m,M.bi .._. jpW g., lj e 4@4.yo @ w ~g a9 g gg @A,o g,W q.

by:. y 2;. . m n

. m,. .,.T.,. .e.m .p'l. , w;m;&},,..

m

. f t:gQ. m.:

. :mn.k;q;n w y av a. w$A- wgw w e L^*

• e:

f':h-. ,n-n% .{fy' 1

,1 1 e ggC

.,' .. ,- _4 v .- v-g -

y J.

f. p p *A 4 a v. tapr qs4- 't 1

7. "J iy '</;;

~ ,2,ay .;n

- i: ,Qy;

a+ S.R .. . . r . a . e

.w'ved%, vM;. T w,4.,f,7 i y- - Apint ! #

u gpgeA grom .J-s yw nt.y h -

M ,v" H d.LrJyg;mapp=M;f Q,4Wrgd. ,. _ -

[ ~. g >

geq$.y:.y%s n ,Qv.gn D p.n %ftwz;w

@?.

,  :; l , _;  ;

fM n O

~

..; 9-2.:. A; 4Q.

n.%cc m y% %+Q uy <w_9,,g'{;p..L.{

n. mheM,yl:n:: gw , ..

2 -

ar - R ~ *

~

' [i -

a , n p. ~-p w:a: a t a 1- pp<to $ -sm x <

pr saqq. _g.;;jy,.,.yb

g. >: ,5y< q y,t;J , > y

,V, y;g;q :3.* ,w N.(.f,p's*W:::~"p;.w? q: w.n.w ms -_

• p ~.: w c, n

s u . r s

~t x, ' O m.c,gmx,pp:- mm+ . .a. n,;.nG t w , t >

>, , , , u ~ .- . . . . e .t

.? ya , o*.m. -w:p;q p . = <  ;

' ,4 it y. . . m R <w.. # ,

s . sv tD I h NIP E '

• 4 $ YbQ~'y 3.v ~#'

_ ,u s ? #r,f,c_I,e.,

4 i 2E ; 4 u T*- *# ifOi  ?

c::/ ; i1

_.- r* ff r 3 dfG Vr fs FW% c3'::;> u q- r V~*".

F, m

lf &.,l. ,,5fl,Sm ns:&jk$;&,A,*'fl:$f.

. . ,- m: @Q$ v n..n, w :k. Q n , m- ..n s. .

N

, ,

b' c ,

'. >.e,-t 't c&

, ' [ n,,1.

..t&

m. ,f.'lxla%,r(l m

4 Y~ 'qfp{yd .m l~f ry' f'?

,; Pf f s.fi;a ,

m 'v p e wy ,1s..

s

=

. ~ ,, m m:vcrerm e qm ap n..

7: .,

• ,n' * .~.*  :. m x g;a s s t. p lA : 7 ; m%s'

,.7 - g.% rw pry ~!~2 ,, g=n *4 : ,i r -y'??.q.n.

p+ C;,

-y.,

s 3. f :.. 7 .w; j -

e ; ; & -/ ,. 9 ; . .t 3 Figure 3. Lobster Pot Sampling Grid for Marine Fisheries Studies.

O C 13 O O DUXBVAY

( C 11 cu oy ,,vn y sA ,

O c, m .,

/ .

c.10

-^ -

O ?*

O "

O c7 **

",lME ,

, rg.--

~~

'O

cs FLYMOUTH O

c4

' "#f' 0m,,w* .

/

[g -

_f 4 x,-

7 gs . b

.o

, 7, -- y

',~~ ' %4 )

g~ ,

4 ..

7 1 % ;. ; 4 w .

_:?

.. .. , g* jy q; w.o .ic4

} ';'.._ ,; ' ',. . , ;,i g- s:+.-

~

-s . k*

dll- :'Mik;Hj:.rn. '

i s

2 wa

1. p\ m.

..g f,'! h Figure 4- 1.ocation of Entrainment Contingency Plan Sampling Staticos, C.

i