IR 05000528/1980021
| ML17296B261 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Palo Verde  |
| Issue date: | 01/16/1981 |
| From: | Book H, Garcia E, North H, Wenslawski F NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION V) |
| To: | |
| Shared Package | |
| ML17296B260 | List: |
| References | |
| 50-528-80-21, 50-529-80-21, 50-530-80-21, NUDOCS 8103100403 | |
| Download: ML17296B261 (16) | |
Text
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's '.,Y CO,r <ASS IC;f Report No.
50-528/80-21 50-529/80-21 50-530/80-21 G:G.'i'
50 528 p 50 529 s 50 530 'ae
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CPPR 141 p 14 p 143 Arizona Public Service Company P. 0.
Box 21666 Phoenix, Arizona 85036 I
Facility liame'alo Verde Units 1, 2 and
. Phoenix and Buckeye, Arizona D~~~mb~~ 8-10, 1980 H. S.
I rth, diation Special>st E.
M. Garcia, Ra i tion Sp cia est F.
A. H.
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/ J4 D te Signea igloo ate Signea P f Ins ection on December 8-10 1980 Re ort Nos. 50-528/80-21 50-529/80-21 and 50- 30/80-
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protection construction permit requirements; EE Bulletins and Circulars; site, transmission line and water conveyance pipeline tour.
The inspection involved 35 inspector-hours on site by two HRC inspectors.
Results:
ilo items of noncompliance or deviations were identified.
Rv l'orm 219 (2)
V
Persons Contacted
- J. Allen, Manager, Nuclear Engineering
- J. Roedel, Manager, guality Assurance
- J. Mann, Senior Health Physicist W. Ide, Supervisor, Site guality Assurance
- C. Whitten, Environmental Scientist W. guinn, Supervising Engineer, Licensing W. Gerox, Resident Engineer, Bechtel
- Denotes presence at exit interview.
Imolementation of Construction Permit Pe uirement 3.E.
The inspectors discussed, examined documents and observed during an on site inspection, the implementation of'ertain aspects of the Final Environmental Statement (FES), Sections 4.5. 1 and 4.5.2.
The documents examined included weekly reports and monthly su+varies, prepared by the Arizona Public Service Company (APS) Environmental Scientist, of environmental impacts and controls, which are based on field observations, (December 27, 1978-November 21, 1980); monthly reports prepared by Bechtel, Site Advisor General Environment (SAGE) and Monthly Summary Environmental Activity Reports (December 1978 - October 1980)
and Bechtel, Construction Activity Environmental Evaluation Reports (October 1978 - May 1980).
The reports identified three significant instances where positive actions to minimize or redress environmental impacts were accomplished; (1)
a road, constructed without prior approval in the old Eash Wash drainage channel, was removed from service and ihe surface scarified; (2) a proposed road outside the construction area in the Winters Nash drainage area was relocated and constructed within the construction area where drainage is controlled; and (3) a newly opened barrow pit was closed and covered with top soil.
The need for corrective ac'tion was identified and initiated promptly in these cases by the APS Environmental Scientist.
The inspectors made the following observations during a tour of portions of the site, water conveyance pipeline route and Hestwing transmission line corridor.
FES Section 4. 5. 1 Item 8:
Hater trucks are used for dust control on site.
Dust control was good at the time of the inspection.
Item 9:
Temporary roads and unapproved roads have been removed from service and the compacted surface scarified to foster revegatation.
Item 12:
Combustible waste, segregated to remove heavy smoke producers, is burned in four burn pits serviced by two Driall Distructor air blast machines.
Four pits are used to permit pit cool down following use.
The site generally was clean and orderly with a minimum of wind blown trash and debris.
An onsite land fill disposal site has been established for noncombustible waste and ash.
The land fill was orderly and well maintaine Item 14:
Item 15:
A temporary facility for the storage of sanitary waste from portable toilets has been established onsite.
Changes in the accessability to the county landfill disposal site made temporary storage of such waste necessary.
The waste from the portable toilets was found to be incompatible with the operation of the onsite activated sludge sewage treatment facility.
No evidence of failure to properly control petroleum product wastes was observed.
Items 18, 20, 22a, b, f, g, h and 23; with respect to transmission line construction.
The Salt River Project Agricultural Improvement and Power District (SRP),
a participant in the Palo Verde project, constructed the Westwing transmission lin6 and will construct or supervise construction of the Kyrene (start 1981)
and Saguaro (start 1983-1986) lines.
APS personnel reported that Southern California Edison Company (SCE) another participant in the Palo Verde proj ci is presently constructing the Oevers line in California.
The SRP archeologist reportedly performed the preconstruction evaluation of the Westwing route.
The inspectors observed portions of the Westwing line where it left the site and the approach to and crossing of the Hassayampa river.
(Towers 143-149).
Ho evidence of brush clearing, vehicle movements, flora disturbance due to cable stringing or construction debris-was noted.
The river crossing was accomplished in a single span with terminal towers located in a river flood plain agricultural development on one side of the river and on low bluff on the other side.
The tower construction activities were conducted in such a manner that greasewood brush situated under the towers and between the tower legs was undisturbed.
No new roads for line construction and maintenance were observed in the area examined.
lIaximum use was made of existing roads.
SRP incorporated environmental constrains in the contracts let for the Westwing line construction.
The contracts were examined and compared with FES requirements by APS, Items 18, 22a, b, c, k. 23, 24, 26a and 28; with respect to the construction of the water conveyance pipe line.
The construction has been completed.
Some additional work is continuing on the Hassayampa booster pump station.
Field archeological activities are also complete.
The inspectors observed the pipe line crossing at the Hassayampa river.
The crossing was underground in accordance with the Order of the Power Plant and Transmission Line Siting Committee of Arizona, dated January 22, 1976, and the Certificate of Environmental Compatibility which required that the pipe,
"be installed and maintained in a manner to preclude exposure of other than stand pipes and pumping stations."
The path
-3-Item 19:
Item 21:
of the pipe across the dry river bottom was not identifiable.
The approach to the river had been significantly disturbed by the removal of vegetation including palo verde trees however this location and all areas along the pipe line path had been recontoured and graded to approximate the preexcavation condition.
The path of the pipe through desert areas was also essentially devoid of vegetation.
The licensee's ecological consultant Linwood E. Smith and Associates reportedly stated that attempts at revegetation of disturbed areas would probably be unsuccessful because of the arid climate.
It was noted that natural revegetation was'ccuring along the older portions of the pipeline.
It was noted that the pipeline right of way was free from metal or other solid waste or rubbish of construction origin.
No evidence of the use of tracked vehicles was noted.
The use of chemical weed control measures is noted under Item 21.
Ho excessive exhaust noise was noted in connection with vehicles and equipmeni in use on site.
Amendment No.
2 to CPPR 141, 142 and 143 approved the use of chemical weed control measures along portions of the water conveyance pipeline.
Following construction and backfill Karmex (Dupont) Diuron was used to control Russian thistle (tumbleweed) in the City of Buckeye and in a limited area of agricultural land west of Buckeye.
The location of use in Buckeye was observed.
No adverse effects were observed.
FES Section 4.5.2 General Item 7:
Six cases of coccidiooycosis (Valley fever) were reported as required during 1979 and 1980 to the date of the inspection.
Transmission Line and Pi eline Corridors Item I:
Ho spoils were observed adjacent to the Hassayampa river crossing.
Item 2:
The Hassayampa river banks were recontoured to approximate the original condition.
Item 3:
No spoils material was observed in the Hassayampa river bed.
Item 4:
APS employed Linwood E. Smith and Associates as ecological consultants during the river crossing phase of the pipe line construction.
SRP used their own archeological and ecological consultants on the Mingwing line construction projec II t
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4-FES A
endix C Staff Reconmendations to Miti ate Construction Effects General Item 1:
An interchange has been constructed at Interstate 10 and the Hintersburg Road.
Transmission Line and Pi eline Corridors Item 9:
The applicants ecological cons'Ultant advised that revegetation e forts were not effective in desert areas and that natural revegetation was most effective.
No i ems of noncompliance were identified.
Imolementation of Construction Permit Reauirement 3.E.
The applicant has established a control program including written procedures and instructions to control the environmental aspects of construction.
These documents are available to personnel responsible for the environmental control program.
The applicant has maintained sufficient records to furnish evidence of compliance with the environmental conditions of the FES.
The program has not changed significantly from that previously described (IE Inspection Reports60-628, 50-529, 50-530/76-02 and 77-05).
Audits of the environmental program were discussed and records of audits were examined.
Since the last inspection (IE Inspection Reports 50-528/
78-07, 50-529/78-06 and 50-530/78-05)
two joint APS-Bechtel audits of the environmental controls program have been conducted.
Records of the audits were examined.
Ho deficiencies were identified.
In addition two audits were conducted by APS of the. SRP construction of the llestwing transmission line.
No deficiencies were identified.
The audit reports contained sufficient detail to identify the topics examined and stated conclusions concerning the audit.
No items of noncompliance were identified.
Im lementation of Construction Permit Re uirement 3.E.
The applicants mechanism for responding to possible environmental impacts not evaluated by the NRC remains unchanged from that identified in the last inspection (IE Inspection Reports 50-528/78-07, 50-529/78-06 and 50-530/78-05).
One item was identified to the NRC and resulted in the issuance of Amendment No.
2 to construction permits CPPR-141, 142 and 143.
The amendment issued in November 1979 authorized the use of chemical weed control along portions of the water pipe line route from the 91st Avenue Sewage Treatment Plant to the plant site.
No items of noncompliance were identifie Imolementation of Construction Permit Re uirement 3.E.
The applicant has established a procedure which provides for response to identified unexpected harmful environmental effects or evidence of serious damage detected during construction.
The inspector's discussion with applicant personnel, examination of records and tour of the site, pipe line and transmission line did not disclose any unexpected harmful effects or evidence of serious damage.
No items of noncompliance were identified.
Im lementation of Construction Permit Re uirement 3.E.
The applicant has taken the following steps in the implementation of Section 6, Environmental Monitorin Pro rams, of the FES.
FES Section 6.1.1.2.
Groundwater The staff required semiannual sampling program has continued.
The program is presently being conducted by Controls for Environmental Pollution Inc.
(CEP)
and Fugro, Inc. for the applicant.
The most recent report covers the period Duly - December 1979.
FES Section 6. 1. 1.3 Treatment Plant Hater The semiannual sampling and analysis program has been continued by CEP or the applicant.
Letters documented the collection of samples in February and August 19SO.
The most recent annual progress report for CEP, dated October 1, 1979, reports water quality analysis on effluent sewage water.
FES Section 6. 1.2 Preo erational Onsite Meteorolo The onsite meieorological monitoring activity is continuing.
The applicant reported that data recovery is greater than 95/.
FES Section 6.1.3 Ecolo The applicants consultant believed that the staffs suggestion of the inclusion of multispectral aerial photography would not provide additional useful data.
The applicant however has color and black and white aerial photographs of the site taken at intervals.
In addition color and IR photographs of the pipeline were taken.
The applicant has collected baseline data on the preoperational phase ecological monitoring program.
The program is currently expected to begin in 1982.
The applicant has selected 40 sites for offsite radiological monitoring.
No items of noncompliance were identifie Im lementation of Construction Permit Re uirement 3.E.
Approval of the Westwing transmission line was requested in a December 7,
1978 letter from APS to the Environmental Project Manager, Branch No. 3, NRR.
The request was approved in a letter dated Januarv 19, 1979.
No items of noncompliance were identified.
Imolementation of Construction Permit Re uirement 3.F.
a In a letter dated April 18, 1979 the applicant requested notification of the acceptability of the groundwater levels for reservoir and evaporation pond construction.
In a letter dated June 11, 1979 NRR notified the applicant that construction of the reservoir and evaporation ponds could proceed.
Ho items of noncompliance were identified.
IE Bulletins and Circulars The applicants procedure, NS-14, Control of NRC Insnection Enforcement Circulars a Bulletins, was amenaea to inc u e n ormation ot ces an to incorporate certa n administrative changes effective January 21, 1980.
The applicant stated thai response to Circulars differed from Bulletins only with respeci to the response to NRC.
The following Bulletins and Circulars were processed by the applicant=in accordance with that orocedure:
IE Bulletin No. 80-03:
Loss of Charcoal from Standard T
e II 2 inch, Tra Absorber Cells.
In a timely report to the Region V office the applicant reported that the subject Tray Absorbers were not to be used at Palo Verde.
Manufacturer, cell type and construction methods used in cell fabrication were specified.
IE Circular Ho. 79-21:
Prevention of Un lanned Releases of Radioactivit
.
The subject circular was reviewed by the applicants health physics and mechanical engineering groups.
In addition Bechtel responded to the applicant on December 17, 1979 specifying measures to control releases.
IE Circular No. 80-14:
Radioactive Contamination of Plant Demineralized Water S stem and Resultant Interna Contamsnat on of Personne
.
The circular was reviewed by APS and Bechtel.
Bechtel identified possible problem areas which could be covered by administrative procedures.
The use of check valves as a corrective action was postulated by Bechtel and is being considered by AP IE Circular No. 80-18:
10 CFR 60.59 Safet Evaluations for Chan es to Radioactive l(aste Treatment S stems.
The Circular was circulated within APS to the licensing, health physics, mechanical engineering, and quality assurance groups and also to Bechtel.
Ho items of noncompliance were identified.
10.
Exit Interview The inspectors met with the applicant representatives (denoted in paragraph 1)
at the conclusion of the inspection on December 10, 1980.
The inspectors identified the areas included in the inspection and informed the applicant that no items of noncompliance had been identifie I