Information Notice 1989-76, Biofouling Agent: Zebra Mussel

Biofouling Agent: Zebra Mussel

ML031190118
Person / Time
Site:	Beaver Valley, Millstone, Hatch, Monticello, Calvert Cliffs, Dresden, Davis Besse, Peach Bottom, Browns Ferry, Salem, Oconee, Mcguire, Nine Mile Point, Palisades, Palo Verde, Perry, Indian Point, Fermi, Kewaunee, Catawba, Harris, Wolf Creek, Saint Lucie, Point Beach, Oyster Creek, Watts Bar, Hope Creek, Grand Gulf, Cooper, Sequoyah, Byron, Pilgrim, Arkansas Nuclear, Braidwood, Susquehanna, Summer, Prairie Island, Columbia, Seabrook, Brunswick, Surry, Limerick, North Anna, Turkey Point, River Bend, Vermont Yankee, Crystal River, Haddam Neck, Ginna, Diablo Canyon, Callaway, Vogtle, Waterford, Duane Arnold, Farley, Robinson, Clinton, South Texas, San Onofre, Cook, Comanche Peak, Yankee Rowe, Maine Yankee, Quad Cities, Humboldt Bay, La Crosse, Big Rock Point, Rancho Seco, Zion, Midland, Bellefonte, Fort Calhoun, FitzPatrick, McGuire, LaSalle, 05000000, Zimmer, Fort Saint Vrain, Shoreham, Satsop, Trojan, Atlantic Nuclear Power Plant, Crane
Issue date:	11/21/1989
From:	Rossi C Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
To:
References
IN-89-076, NUDOCS 8911150012
Download: ML031190118 (6)

UNITED STATES

NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

OFFICE OF NUCLEAR REACTOR REGULATION

WASHINGTON* D.C. 20555

'November 21, 1989, NRC INFORMATION NOTICE NO. 89-76: BIOFOULING AGENT: ZEBRA MUSSEL

Addressees

All holders'of operating licenses or construction permits for nuclear power

reactors.

Purpose

This information notice is intended to alert addressees to potential problems

related to biofouling of service water and cooling water systems that may

result from a recently identified biofouling agent, Dreissena polymompha

(zebra mussel). It is expected that recipients will review the ifnformation

for applicability to their facilities and consider actions, as appropriate, to avoid similar problems. However, suggestions contained in this information

notice do not constitute NRC requirements; therefore, no specific action or

written-response is required.-

Discussion:

The potential for biofouling has been of concern to the NRC since 1980 because

biofouling can compromise the vital transfer of heat to the ultimate heat sink.

The NRC issued Generic Letter (GL) 89-13, "Service Water System Problems Af- fecting Safety-Related Equipment," on July 18, 1989, requesting licensees to

adopt either the specific recommended surveillance and control procedures

delineated in the generic letter or an equally effective alternative course

of action for preventing biofouling of their nuclear service water systems.

This aspect of the generic letter presents the results and recommendations

from an NRC research program initiated in 1982 when biofouling agents were

noted to clog service water systems. The principal biofouling agents noted

in the generic letter were Corbicula fluminea (Asiatic clam) Crassostrea

virginica (American oyster)', and 14ytius edulis (blue mussel5.lIn 1986,Tthe

'nmbr fT nuclear power plants directly

affected by these agents was small, but by 1984 the infestation by these aquatic bivalves had spread to a large

portion of the United States.

The following information about the zebra mussel is taken from the abstract of a

paper given at the Electric Power Research Institute Service Water System Relia- bility Improvement Seminar at Charlotte, North Carolina, on November 6-8, 1989.

The paper is entitled, "The Zebra Mussel, Dreissena Polymorpha (Pallas, 1771),

in North America:

Impact on Raw Water Users." The authors are R. W. Griffiths, Ontario Ministry of the Environment, Ontario, Canada; W. P. Kovalak, Detroit

Ed

a

ayimnd

D. W. Schloesser, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

911150012 ZXP

IN 89-76 November 21, 1989 "The zebra mussel, Dreissena pokmorpha (Pallas), is a small mollusc native

to the Black, Caspin, and Azov Seas that was discovered in Lake Erie of the

Laurentian Great Lakes of North America in 1988. The mussel raises immediate

concerns for raw water users because it can obstruct the flow of water through

pipes, hoses, screens, and condensers when it occurs in substantial numbers.

Biofouling attributed to this mussel was observed at several power plants, water treatment plants, and processing and industrial facilities along Lake

Erie in 1989. At one power plant, densities as high as 700,000 per m2 were

observed in the intake canal in August.

In addition, large numbers were found

in main steam condensers and in the service water system threatening operation

of cooling, fire protection, and dust suppression systems.

Intakes of munici- pal water supplies along the Canadian and the United States shorelines have

also been impaired. In one southeast Michigan city, drinking water withdrawal

from Lake Erie was reduced 45% by the mussel."

The geographical area of immediate concern for this source of potential bio- fouling is along the Great Lakes and major tributaries and canals.

This

potential is the subject of an international conference at Rochester, New York, on November 28 and 29, 1989.

Additional information on the meeting may be

obtained from Charles R. O'Neill, Jr., of New York SeaGrant at (716) 395-2638 or Don W. Schloesser of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service at (313) 994-3331.

This information notice requires no specific action or written response. If

you have any questions about the information tn-this nottce,--please contact--

the technical contact listed below or the appropriate NRR project manager.

Charles E. Rossi, Director

Division of Operational Events Assessment

C. Vernon Hodge, NRR

(301) 492-1169 Attachment: List of Recently Issued NRC Information Notices

I

4 -

Attachment

IN 89-76 November 21, 1989 -

S

LIST OF RECENTLY ISSUED

NRC INFORMATION NOTICES

,.

.

Information

Date of

Notice No.

Subject

Issuance

Issued to

89-75

89-74

89-73

Falsification of Welder

Qualifications for

Contractor Employees

Clarification of Trans-

-portation Requirements

Applicable to Return of

Spent Radiopharmacy Dosages

from Users to Suppliers

Potential Overpressurization

of Low Pressure Systems

-11/20/89

11/7/89

11/1/89

All holders of OLs

or CPs for nuclear

power reactors.

All manufacturers

and distributors of

radiopharmaceuticals

for medical use, nuclear pharmacies, and medical licensees.

All holders of OLs

or CPs for nuclear

power reactors.

89-72

-

4*..a

a

_

-.

Failure of Licensed Senior

Operators to Classify

-Emergency-Events Properly

10/24/89

All holders of OLs

or CPs for nuclear

power reactors.

89-71

89-70

89-69

89-68

89-67

Diversion of the Residual

Heat Removal Pump Seal

Cooling Water Flow During

Recirculation Operation

Following a Loss-of-

Coolant Accident

Possible Indications of

Misrepresented Vendor

Products

Loss of Thermal Margin

Caused by Channel Box

Bow

Evaluation of Instrument

Setpoints During

Modifications

Loss of Residual Heat

Removal Caused by

Accumulator Nitrogen

Injection

10/19/89

10/11/89

9/29/89

9/25/89

9/13/89

All holders of OLs

or CPs for nuclear

power reactors.

All holders of OLs

or CPs for nuclear

power reactors.

All holders of OLs

or CPs for BWRS.

All holders of OLs

or CPs for nuclear

power reactors.

All holders of OLs

or CPs for PWRs.

OL = Operating License

CP = Construction Permit

, ,

- 'WN

k , %

IN 89-76 November 21, 1989 "The zebra mussel, Dreissena polymorpha (Pallas), is a small mollusc native

to the Black, Caspian, and Azov Seas that was discovered in Lake Erie of the

Laurentian Great Lakes of North America in 1988. The mussel raises immediate

concerns for raw water users because it can obstruct the flow of water through

pipes, hoses, screens, and condensers when it occurs in substantial numbers.

Biofouling attributed to this mussel was observed at several power plants, water treatment plants, and processing and industrial facilities along Lake

Erie in 1989.

At one power plant, densities as high as 700,000 per m2 were

observed in the intake canal in August.

In addition, large numbers were found

in main steam condensers and in the service water system threatening operation

of cooling, fire protection, and dust suppression systems.

Intakes of munici- pal water supplies along the Canadian and the United States shorelines have

also been impaired.

In one southeast Michigan city, drinking water withdrawal

from Lake Erie was reduced 45% by the mussel."

The geographical area of immediate concern for this source of potential bio- fouling is along the Great Lakes and major tributaries and canals.

This

potential is the subject of an international conference at Rochester, New York, on November 28 and 29, 1989. Additional information on the meeting may be

obtained from Charles R. O'Neill, Jr., of New York Sea Grant at (716) 395-2638 or Don W. Schloesser of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service at (313) 994-3331.

This information notice requires no specific action or written response. If

you have any questions about the information in this notice, please contact

the technical contact listed below or the appropriate NRR project manager.

Charles E. Rossi, Director

Division of Operational Events Assessment

C. Vernon Hodge, NRR

(301) 492-1169 Attachment:

List of Recently Issued NRC Information Notices

• SEE PREVIOUS PAGE FOR CONCURRENCE

• OGCB: DOEA:NRR

CVHodge

11/09/89

• RPB:ARM

TechEd

11/09/89

• C/OGCB:DOEA:NRR

CHBerlinger

11/09/89

• SPLB:NRR .

<

JWermeit o -0

11/14/89 11/j5789

-

IN 89-XX

November xx, 1989 plants, and processing and industrial facilities along Lake Erie in 1989. At

one power plant, densities as high as 700,000 per m2 were observed in the intake

canal in August. In addition, large numbers were found in main steam condensers

and in the service water system threatening operation of cooling, fire protection, and dust suppression systems.

Intakes of municipal water supplies along the

Canadian and the United States shorelines have also been impaired. In one south- east Michigan city, drinking water withdrawal from Lake Erie was reduced 45% by

the mussel (Griffiths, R. W., Kovalak, W. P., and Schloesser, D. W., "The Zebra

Mussel, Dreissena Polymorpha (Pallas, 1771), in North America:

Impact on Raw

Water Users," Electric Power Research Institute Service Water System Reliability

Improvement Seminar, November 6-8, 1989).

Of major immediate concern is the potential fouling of water intake structures

in municipal, industrial, and power generation facilities.

Fouling can result

in major flow restrictions. The geographical area of immediate concern is along

the Great Lakes and major tributaries and canals. This potential is the subject

of an international conference at Rochester, New York, on November 28 and 29, 1989.

Additional information on the meeting may be obtained from Charles R. O'Neill, Jr.,

of New York Sea Grant at (716) 395-2638 or Don W. Schloesser of the U.S. Fish

and Wildlife Service at (313) 994-3331.

The NRC issued GL 89-13 to resolve service water system problems affecting

safety-related equipment. GL 89-13 includes resolution of Generic Issue 51, Improving the Reliability of Open-Cycle Service Water Systems." Modes of

failure of the service water system addressed in the generic letter include

flow blockage from biofouling, sedimentation, and corrosion agents. To deter- mine appropriate surveillance and control measures for biofouling agents, all

species that may potentially cause flow blockage problems were included in the

scope of GL 89-13, which was not restricted to certain biospecies. The surveil- lance and control programs established in response to GL 89-13 are expected to

be sufficient to keep any blofouling agent, including Dreissena polymorpha, from

becoming a safety concern.

This information notice requires no specific action or written response. If

you have any questions about the information in this notice, please contact the

technical contact listed below or the appropriate NRR project manager.

Charles E. Rossi, Director

Division of Operational Events Assessment

C. Vernon Hodge, NRR

(301) 492-1169 Attachment:

List of Recently Issued NRC Information Notices

• SEE PREVIOUS PAGE FOR CONCURRENCE

• OGCB:DOEA:NRR

• RPB:ARM

• C/OGCB:DOEA:NRR

SPLB:NRR

D/DOEA:NRR

CVHodge

TechEd

CHBerlinger

JWermeil

CERossi

11/

/89

11/

/89

11/

/89

11/14/89 I1/

/89

IN 89-XX

November xx, 1989 industrial, and power generation facilities. Fouling can result in major flow

restrictions.

The geographical area of immediate concern is along the Great

Lakes and major tributaries and canals. This potential is the subject of an

international conference at Rochester, New York, on November 28 and 29, 1989.

Additional information on the meeting may be obtained from Charles R. O'Neill, Jr.,

of New York Sea Grant at (716) 395-2638 or Don W. Schloesser of the U.S. Fish

and Wildlife Service at (313) 994-3331.

The NRC issued GL 89-13 to resolve service water system problems affecting

safety-related equipment. GL 89-13 includes resolution of Generic Issue 51,

"Improving the Reliability of Open-Cycle Service Water Systems." Modes of

failure of the service water system addressed in the generic letter include

flow blockage from biofouling, sedimentation, and corrosion agents. To deter- mine appropriate surveillance and control measures for biofouling agents, all

Mollusca species that may potentially cause flow blockage problems were includ- ed in the scope of GL 89-13, which was not restricted to certain biospecies.

The surveillance and control programs established in response to GL 89-13 are

expected to be sufficient to keep any biofouling agent, including Dreissena

polymorpha, from becoming a safety concern.

This information notice requires no specific action or written response. If

you have any questions about the information in this notice, please contact the

technical contact listed below or the appropriate NRR project manager.

Charles E. Rossi, Director

Division of Operational Events Assessment

C. Vernon Hodge, NRR

(301) 492-1169 Attachment: List of Recently Issued NRC Information Notices

OGCB:DOEA:NRR

RPB:ARMfmv

C/O

'B:DOE

R

D/DOEA:NRR

CVHodge

TechEd

CHBerlinger

CERossi

11/Oi/89

11/01/89

11// /89

11/

/89