ML033000575
| ML033000575 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Summer  |
| Issue date: | 10/22/2003 |
| From: | Kuo P NRC/NRR/DRIP/RLEP |
| To: | Stroup R State of SC, Dept of Archives and History |
| Davis J, NRR/DRIP/RLEP, 415-3835 | |
| Shared Package | |
| ml033000579 | List: |
| References | |
| Download: ML033000575 (18) | |
Text
October 22, 2003 Dr. Rodger E. Stroup, Director South Carolina Department of Archives and History Archives and History Center 8301 Parklane Road Columbia, SC 29223
SUBJECT:
V. C. SUMMER NUCLEAR STATION LICENSE RENEWAL REVIEW AND NATIONAL HISTORIC PRESERVATION ACT, SECTION 106 REVIEW PROCESS
Dear Dr. Stroup:
This letter serves to follow up your July 9, 2003, request for additional information regarding the V. C. Summer Nuclear Station (V. C. Summer). Based on a teleconference between Mr. Chad Long of your office and the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) staff, all requested items are satisfied. The results indicate that renewing the license at V. C. Summer will have no effect on historic properties.
On June 13, 2003, in accordance with Title 36 of the Code of Federal Regulations, Part 800 (36 CFR 800), the NRC sought concurrence from the South Carolina State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) regarding license renewal at V. C. Summer that the proposed undertaking will have no effect on historic properties. Enclosed with our letter was our Cultural Resources Narrative. Your office responded on July 9, 2003, and recommended that additional information be provided in a revised report in order to make an assessment of effect. The SHPOs recommendations were as follows:
1.
The revised report should include a topographic map (USGS 7.5 minute quadrangle) that clearly shows the location of all known and recorded sites within the Area of Potential Effects (APE).
2.
The report needs to discuss seasonal and daily lake level fluctuations that are directly and indirectly related to the generation of power at the V.C. Summer Nuclear Station.
3.
The report should include representative photographs of the shoreline that substantiate the claims that no environmental impacts associated with erosion were observed or are actively taking place.
R. Stroup 2
4.
We are concerned about potential adverse effects to archaeological sites 38FA33, 38FA37, and 38FA298. These sites are located along the reservoir shoreline and have not been evaluated for the National Register. Potential effects include erosion and artifact collecting. Were these sites visited during your inspections? (See page 6). Can you provide photographs of these three sites? Provide more justification that these sites are not being impacted by power generation on Lake Monticello.
NRC staff and the staff from Pacific Northwest National Laboratory participated in a conference call with Mr. Chad C. Long, Staff Archaeologist of the South Carolina State Historic Preservation Office on August 15, 2003, to discuss the SHPO information requests listed above. Due to the sensitivity of the information, it was agreed by all parties that the topographic map depicting the known sites and APE (Item 1 above) would not be submitted to the SHPOs office with the revised report.
The other information requests and additional technical comments were incorporated into the revised Cultural Resources Review Report (Enclosure 1). The results indicate that this undertaking will have no effect on historic properties. Pursuant to 36 CFR 800.4(d)(1), we are providing documentation to support these findings, and we request your concurrence with our determination.
The Draft SEIS for the V. C. Summer license renewal action was published for public comment in July 2003; it reflects our interactions to date. If you have any questions or require additional information, please contact Bill Dam, the NRC Environmental Project Manager for the V. C. Summer license renewal project, at 301-415-4014 or WLD@nrc.gov.
Sincerely,
/RA/
Pao-Tsin Kuo, Program Director License Renewal and Environmental Impacts Division of Regulatory Improvement Programs Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation Docket No.: 50-395
Enclosures:
As stated cc w/o encl. 5: See next page
R. Stroup 3
5.
We are concerned about potential adverse effects to archaeological sites 38FA33, 38FA37, and 38FA298. These sites are located along the reservoir shoreline and have not been evaluated for the National Register. Potential effects include erosion and artifact collecting. Were these sites visited during your inspections? (See page 6). Can you provide photographs of these three sites? Provide more justification that these sites are not being impacted by power generation on Lake Monticello.
NRC staff and the staff from Pacific Northwest National Laboratory participated in a conference call with Mr. Chad C. Long, Staff Archaeologist of the South Carolina State Historic Preservation Office on August 15, 2003, to discuss the SHPO information requests listed above. Due to the sensitivity of the information, it was agreed by all parties that the topographic map depicting the known sites and APE (Item 1 above) would not be submitted to the SHPOs office with the revised report.
The other information requests and additional technical comments were incorporated into the revised Cultural Resources Review Report (Enclosure 1). The results indicate that this undertaking will have no effect on historic properties. Pursuant to 36 CFR 800.4(d)(1), we are providing documentation to support these findings, and we request your concurrence with our determination.
The Draft SEIS for the V. C. Summer license renewal action was published for public comment in July 2003; it reflects our interactions to date. If you have any questions or require additional information, please contact Bill Dam, the NRC Environmental Project Manager for the V. C. Summer license renewal project, at 301-415-4014 or WLD@nrc.gov.
Sincerely,
/RA/
Pao-Tsin Kuo, Program Director License Renewal and Environmental Impacts Division of Regulatory Improvement Programs Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation Docket No.: 50-395
Enclosures:
As stated Cvr. Letter w/Amended Cultural Resources Rpt.
Narrative & Svc. List: ML033000575 cc w/o encl. 5: See next page Ltr: Dated January 19, 2001: ML031690234 Ltr Dated January 29, 2001: ML031690126 DISTRIBUTION: See next page Ltr Dated November 27, 2002: ML023380701 Ltr Dated October 20, 1972: ML031690121
- See previous concurrence PKG: ML033000579 C:\\ORPCheckout\\FileNET\\ML033000575.wpd OFFICE LA:RLEP GS:RLEP PM:RLEP SC:RLEP OGC PD:RLEP NAME YEdmonds*
JDavis*
BDam JTappert AHodgdon PTKuo DATE 10/1/03 09/26/03 10/2/03 10/2/03 10/9/03 10/22/03 OFFICIAL RECORD COPY
DISTRIBUTION: V.C.Summer Nuclear Sta. Renewal Review Dated: October 22, 2003 D. Matthews/F. Gillespie P. T. Kuo G. Suber K. Cotton M. King, RII R. Hannah, RII J. Davis S. Fox M. Widman, RII J. Tappert B. Zalcman R. Auluck OGC T. Doerr (LANL)
RLEP R/F
Mr. Stephen A. Byrne VIRGIL C. SUMMER NUCLEAR STATION South Carolina Electric & Gas Company cc:
Ms. Kathryn M. Sutton, Esquire Winston & Strawn Law Firm 1400 L Street, NW.
Washington, DC 20005-3502 Mr. R. J. White Nuclear Coordinator S.C. Public Service Authority c/o Virgil C. Summer Nuclear Station P.O. Box 88, Mail Code 802 Jenkinsville, SC 29065 Resident Inspector/Summer NPS c/o U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission 576 Stairway Road Jenkinsville, SC 29065 Chairman, Fairfield County Council Drawer 60 Winnsboro, SC 29180 Mr. Henry Porter, Assistant Director Division of Waste Management Bureau of Land & Waste Management Department of Health & Environmental Control 2600 Bull Street Columbia, SC 29201 Mr. Gregory H. Halnon, General Manager Nuclear Plant Operations South Carolina Electric & Gas Company Virgil C. Summer Nuclear Station, Mail Code 303 P.O. Box 88 Jenkinsville, SC 29065 Mr. Melvin N. Browne, Manager Nuclear Licensing & Operating Experience South Carolina Electric & Gas Company Virgil C. Summer Nuclear Station, Mail Code 830 P.O. Box 88 Jenkinsville, SC 29065 Ronald B. Clary Manager, Plant Life Extension South Carolina Electric & Gas Company Virgil C. Summer Nuclear Station P.O. Box 88 Jenkinsville, SC 29065 Mr. Fred Emerson Nuclear Energy Institute 1776 I Street, NW., Suite 400 Washington, DC 20006-3708 Mr. William Suddeth Government Information Librarian Thomas Cooper Library University of South Carolina 1322 Greene St.
Columbia, SC 29208 Ms. Sarah McMaster Director Fairfield County Library 300 Washington St.
Winnsboro, SC 29180 Heinz Mueller US EPA, Region 4 Sam Nunn Atlanta Federal Center 61 Forsyth Street, SW Atlanta, GA 30303
U.S. NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION (NRC)
OFFICE OF NUCLEAR REACTOR REGULATION DIVISION OF REGULATORY IMPROVEMENT PROGRAMS CULTURAL RESOURCES REPORT NARRATIVE VIRGIL C. SUMMER NUCLEAR STATION LICENSE RENEWAL AMENDED REPORT September 2003
l l
l l
U.S. NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION (NRC) l OFFICE OF NUCLEAR REACTOR REGULATION DIVISION OF REGULATORY IMPROVEMENT PROGRAMS CULTURAL RESOURCES REPORT NARRATIVE VIRGIL C. SUMMER NUCLEAR STATION LICENSE RENEWAL AMENDED REPORT l
September 2003 l
CULTURAL RESOURCES REPORT NARRATIVE VIRGIL C. SUMMER NUCLEAR STATION LICENSE RENEWAL PROJECT DESCRIPTION l
The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) licenses the operation of domestic nuclear power plants in accordance with the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, as amended and NRC implementing regulations. The proposed Federal action is the renewal of the Operating License for the Virgil C. Summer Nuclear Station (V. C. Summer), which is operated by South Carolina Electric & Gas Company (SCE&G). The current operating license will expire August 6, 2022.
The renewed license would subsume the remaining time of the current license and permit an additional 20 years of plant operation beyond the expiration of the current operating license.
This report presents the findings of the Section 106 review conducted to establish whether any historic properties will be affected by the license renewal of V. C. Summer.
AREA OF POTENTIAL EFFECT V. C. Summer is located in Fairfield County, South Carolina, approximately 15 miles west of Winnsboro and 26 miles northwest of Columbia. The site is in a sparsely-populated, largely rural area, with forests and small farms comprising the dominant land use. The Broad River flows in a northwest-to-southeast direction approximately one mile west of the site.
An exclusion area must be defined by the applicant wherein it can control access in the event of an emergency situation. In this case, the exclusion area is owner controlled (i.e., not subject to an alternative routine use such as leased farming) and encompasses the area within approximately one mile of the reactor building; the exclusion area is posted and access to land portions of this area is controlled at all times. The V. C. Summer property covers approximately 2245 acres, and includes the southern portion of Monticello Reservoir and parts of the Fairfield Pumped Storage Facility.
In conjunction with this license renewal action, SCE&G does not plan to undertake a major refurbishment activity in the site vicinity or along the transmission lines expressly constructed to connect the plant to the electrical grid when the plant was initially licensed. Therefore, the area of potential effect (APE) for this license renewal action is the area at the power plant site and its immediate environs which may be impacted. Specifically, this area consists of the exclusion area boundary (1-mile radius) and the Monticello reservoir shoreline.
NOTIFICATIONS AND PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT On January 19, 2001, SCE&G wrote the South Carolina State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) regarding license renewal at V. C. Summer. On January 29, 2001, the South Carolina SHPO responded to the SCE&G letter and stated that license renewal for the continued l
operation of plants, such as this one, typically has no effect on historic properties. The SHPO encouraged that the SHPO Geographical Information System (GIS) database be searched for a more accurate, up-to-date source of information.
2 On December 12, 2002, NRC staff met with Marta Matthews and Chad Long at the South Carolina SHPOs office, and Keith Derting and Diane Boyd at the South Carolina Institute of l
Archaeology and Anthropology (SCIAA). Archaeological site file searches were conducted at SCIAA. The GIS database and files at the South Carolina SHPOs office were searched for cultural resource information that might pertain to the proposed action. At the time of this visit, l
Ms. Matthews and Mr. Long raised the issue of potential impacts to cultural resources caused l
by erosion on the Monticello shoreline. This report addresses those concerns that were raised during the site visit in the section called Identification of Historic Properties.
l Four Native American Tribes were sent letters on November 27, 2002, providing them an opportunity to have input regarding cultural resource issues in the vicinity of V. C. Summer and inviting them to participate in the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) scoping process.
The Tribes were the Catawba Indian Nation, Eastern Band of the Cherokee, Cherokee Nation (Western Cherokee in Oklahoma), and the United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee (Attachment 4 contains an example of this letter).
The NRC public involvement process is conducted in accordance with NEPA principles; in general, the NRC actively pursues stakeholder engagement in excess of the minimum requirements. The Commission has determined that the NRC will prepare an environmental impact statement (EIS) as that discussed in Section 102 of NEPA (42 USC 4332) to assess whether the license renewal action would significantly affect the quality of the human environment. The NRC staff will prepare an EIS and, in the case of license renewal, it is a site-specific supplement (SEIS) to the NRC Generic EIS for License Renewal of Nuclear Power Plants (GEIS), NUREG-1437, for the renewal of a reactor Operating License (OL). NUREG-1437 considered almost 100 environmental issues across all nuclear power plants to determine whether issues could be resolved generically. The potential impact to cultural resources cannot be resolved generically and, therefore, must be addressed on a site-specific basis in each SEIS.
On October 24, 2002, the NRC published a Notice of Intent in the Federal Register to notify the public of the staffs intent to prepare a site-specific supplement to the GEIS to assess the environmental impacts of the proposed action (renewal of the OL for the V. C. Summer plant) and to conduct scoping. The NRC invited the applicant, Federal, State, and local government agencies; Tribes; local organizations; and individuals to participate in the scoping process by providing oral comments at the scheduled public meetings and/or submitting written suggestions and comments to the NRC no later than January 6, 2003. Two public scoping meetings were held on December 11, 2002, at the Fellowship Hall at the Whitehall A.M.E.
Church in Jenkinsville, South Carolina, to afford the public yet another opportunity to provide comments.
The draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS) regarding license renewal at V. C. Summer was published in July of 2003. The NRC staff conducted two public meetings on l
August 26, 2003, to present an overview of the draft V. C. Summer site-specific supplement to l
the GEIS, and to accept public comments on the document. The public comment period ended on October 3, 2003. The Final SEIS will be issued in February 2004.
l
3 Information regarding license renewal and documents associated with license renewal at V. C.
Summer can be viewed at the NRCs website www.nrc.gov.
IDENTIFICATION OF HISTORIC PROPERTIES Historic and archaeological site file searches were conducted at the South Carolina Department l
of Archives and History and the Institute of Archaeology and Anthropology to identify cultural l
resources that might be present at V. C. Summer. In addition, record searches were conducted for nearby locations to gain perspective on the types of historic resources that may be present in the previously undeveloped and unsurveyed portions of V. C. Summer.
The Final Environmental Statement (FES) (AEC 1973) for the construction of V. C. Summer listed three historic sites in the vicinity of the station. At that time, it was determined that none of the sites were endangered by the construction and operation of the proposed V. C. Summer plant. Four archaeological sites were discovered within or near the site boundary and Dr. Robert L. Stephenson, State Archaeologist, recommended that the area be surveyed and that two of the known sites be excavated (AEC 1973).
In 1972, SCE&G supported an archaeological survey that was conducted by a team from the University of South Carolina Institute of Archaeology and Anthropology (Teague 1979). The archaeological survey was conducted to assess the nature and distribution of the sites present and to assess the effect of the Parr Hydroelectric Project on historic and archaeological resources. The Parr Hydroelectric Project included: raising the level of the Parr Reservoir by elevating the Parr Reservoir Dam; construction of a series of dams on Frees Creek to create the upper reservoir for a new pumped-storage facility and supply cooling water for V. C.
Summer; and construction of the Fairfield Pumped Storage Facility and V. C. Summer.
The Institute of Archaeology and Anthropology team identified 27 additional sites and excavated two others. Four of the five sites were inundated by water when Monticello Reservoir was filled in 1978 and are now inaccessible. The remaining sites lie along the banks of Monticello and Parr Reservoirs. Periods represented included the Early Archaic, Middle Archaic, Woodland, Mississippian, and Early Historic (SCE&G 2002).
Since the publication of the 1973 FES, 41 sites have been added to the National Register of Historic Places for Fairfield County. Ten of these sites fall within a 6-mile radius of V. C. Summer. Twenty-eight sites have been added to the National Register for Newberry County. Four of these sites fall within a 6-mile radius of V. C. Summer. No sites listed on the National Register of Historic Places fall within a 1-mile radius of V. C. Summer.
Two other historic sites exist within a 6-mile radius of V. C. Summer that are not listed on the National Register of Historic Places but are protected by SCE&G. One is the Mayo family cemetery, which is in a wooded area approximately 2.5 miles south of V. C. Summer on land that is owned by SCE&G, but is not within the exclusion area boundary of the V.C. Summer site. This small family plot contains headstones dating back to 1895. The other historic site, approximately 1.5 miles southwest of V. C. Summer, is a large monument erected in 1943 by the Daughters of the American Revolution marking the grave of General John Pearson, a Fairfield County native who served with distinction in the Revolutionary War. This monument is in a wooded area on land that is not within the exclusion area of the V. C. Summer site, but is
4 maintained as a buffer zone around the site. SCE&Gs Forestry Operations group is familiar with these two other historic sites, which are marked on its timber inventory and land cover maps, and takes appropriate measures to protect them when conducting forest management activities in the vicinity of either historic site (SCE&G 2002).
Properties within the APE The following table provides a summary of sites within the APE. No sites listed on the National Register fall within a 1-mile radius of V. C. Summer.
Site Number Description National Register Status Location 38-FA-33 Savannah River and Morrow Mountain projectile points, several pottery shards - all materials were collected Not Evaluated Monticello Lake east shoreline - outside 1 mile radius of V. C. Summer 38-FA-37 1 Guilford midsection and 3 Qtzte l
flakes were collected when l
recorded in 1972. West Fork l
Mound. Described in 1972 as l
125ft in diameter at the base and l
about 12 to 15 feet high and l
having a flat top. In 1979 site l
described as 50 pieces of l
quartzite chipping debris dispersed over 500 square meters. 3 flakes and 1 probable l
Guilford projectile point l
midsection were collected.
l Not Evaluated Monticello Lake l
west shoreline -
l outside 1 mile l
radius of l
V. C. Summer. Site l
is located l
approximately 20 -
l 30 meters from lake l
shoreline.
l l
l l
l 38-FA-41 McMeekin Rock Shelter -
excavated. This site is currently under water.
Nominated for the National Register of Historic Places in 1974 Site
- 74001854 Underwater - Lake Monticello 38-FA-42 Located along a road cut through a plowed field. 25 quartzite flakes, 1 biface, 1 Guilford projectile point base were found. The biface and projectile point were collected.
Not Evaluated North of Monticello -
outside 1 mile radius of V. C. Summer 38-FA-43 1 Savannah River projectile point base, 1 biface fragment, and 25 quartzite flakes were collected.
This site is currently under water.
Not Evaluated Underwater - Lake Monticello
5 38-FA-46 25 flakes and broken stone tools.
3 flakes and 2 Savannah River projectile points were collected.
This site is currently under water.
Not Evaluated Underwater - Lake Monticello 38-FA-47 12 quartzite flakes (5 were collected). The site has been disturbed by a road cut and no intact archaeological deposits remain.
Not Evaluated Within 1 mile of V. C. Summer 38-FA-51 5 quartzite flakes were collected.
This site is currently under water.
Not Evaluated Underwater - Lake Monticello 38-FA-53 50 quartzite flakes and 2 projectile points were seen. The projectile points were collected. This site is currently under water.
Not Evaluated Underwater - Lake Monticello 38-FA-56 l
SHPO Site l
- 39-0009 l
Davis Plantation - two story house l
built about 1840-50 Nominated for the National Register of Historic Places in 1971 Site
- 74000776 South of Monticello on SC 215 - outside l
1 mile radius of l
V. C. Summer 38-FA-125 Guilford projectile points of quartz, 1 Kirk point, 1 Savannah River point, 1 finely shaped flint blade.
This site is currently under water.
Not Evaluated Underwater - Lake Monticello 38-FA-298 2 steatite bowl fragments.
Artifacts were collected. Site form suggests if associated with an archaeological site it would be under water.
Not Evaluated Boat Ramp - north end of Lake Monticello - outside 1 mile radius of V. C. Summer Only one archaeological site (38-FA-47) is located within a 1-mile radius of V. C. Summer. This site has not been evaluated for inclusion on the National Register of Historic Places. At the time of recording, the site consisted of 12 quartzite flakes (5 were collected). Upon reviewing the National Register Criteria for Evaluation, site 38-FA-47 is not likely to be eligible for the National Register.
Several of the archaeological sites were flooded by the impoundment of Monticello Lake. The majority of these sites have not been evaluated for inclusion on the National Register of Historic Places. These sites are not likely to be eligible for inclusion when applying the criteria for evaluation.
The McMeekin Rock Shelter (38-FA-41) was evaluated and nominated to the National Register in 1974. The site was recorded, excavated and evaluated. Results are documented in the 1972
6 archaeological survey that was conducted by a team from the University of South Carolina Institute of Archaeology and Anthropology (Teague 1979). The McMeekin Rock Shelter is currently underwater and is located outside of the 1-mile radius of V. C. Summer.
The Davis Plantation (38-FA-56) was evaluated and nominated to the National Register in 1971. The site is a two-story house built in approximately 1845, and is located south of the town of Monticello on SC 215. The Davis Plantation is located outside the 1-mile radius of V. C.
Summer. The Davis Plantation is not located on the shoreline of Monticello Lake.
l SCE&G has established a land use and shoreline management plan (SCE&G 2002). The purpose of this plan is to help maintain and conserve the areas natural and man-made resources as well as assist in providing a balance between recreational use, development, environmental preservation, and control. This management plan addresses environmental policies including the exclusion area and public access for fishing, boating, hunting, and other shoreline activities. Erosion control measures are identified, as are restrictions on the removal of underbrush.
In response to the SHPOs comments in a letter dated July 9, 2003 to the NRC, NRC staff l
visited archaeological sites 38FA33, 38FA37, and 38FA298 on Wednesday, August 27, 2003.
l contains photographs of sites and Lake Monticello shoreline.
l l
Field notes taken on August 27, 2003 l
ll Site l
Number l
Land l
Owner l
Public Access l
Description of Site l
Erosion l
38FA37 l
SCE&G l
Within security l
controlled area -
l public not permitted l
Rise in ground l
observable (mound).
l High point about 20-l 30 meters from l
shoreline. Ground l
cover dominated by l
grasses, native l
shrubs and planted l
lezpedeza. Loblolly l
pines planted about l
20 years ago.
l No signs of erosion l
on the site itself.
l Erosion at shoreline l
about 20 - 30 meters l
from site.
l l
l l
l l
l
7 38FA33 l
Privately l
owned l
Public not permitted l
Assumed site is next l
to shoreline based l
on topography of l
area and location l
identified on the site l
description map.
l Could not determine l
exact location of site.
l Ground cover l
dominated by l
grasses and sedges.
l An old (currently l
unused) SCE&G l
dosimetry sampling l
location was about l
100 - 200 meters l
south of location. No l
visible cultural l
resources.
l Erosion not evident, l
however 200 meters l
south parts of l
shoreline were l
eroded. Parts of l
shoreline closer to l
the site appeared to l
have soil deposit l
buildup occuring.
l l
l l
l l
l l
l l
l 38FA298 l
Public l
access -
l boat l
launch l
Public access - boat l
launch l
Riprap, no l
vegetation, no visible l
cultural resources l
No erosion.
l l
l l
Water-use at Lake Monticello l
l This section was added in response to the SHPOs comments in a letter dated July 9, 2003, l
regarding seasonal and daily lake level fluctuations that are directly and indirectly related to the l
generation of power at V.C. Summer. The following information is from the draft Supplemental l
Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS) regarding License Renewal at V. C. Summer published l
in July of 2003.
l l
Water use conflicts have been determined to be a site-specific issue (Category 2 issue) l because consultations with regulatory agencies indicate that water use conflicts may be a l
problem at some plants because consumptive water loss associated with closed-cycle cooling l
systems may represent a substantial proportion of the flows in small rivers.
l l
V.C. Summer operates as a once-through cooling plant that withdraws from and discharges to l
a cooling pond, Monticello Reservoir. Monticello Reservoir receives its make-up water from the l
Broad River, which has an annual mean flow of approximately 6 x 109 m3/yr (2.1 x 1011 ft3/yr) l (185 m3/s [6,535 cfs]). Monticello Reservoir was built to supply cooling water to the station and l
to provide an upper reservoir for the Fairfield Pumped Storage Facility (FPSF), located on Parr l
Reservoir. Parr Reservoir was created (1913-1914) by impounding the Broad River l
approximately 42 km (26 mi) upstream of the confluence of the Broad and Saluda Rivers.
l l
The Federal Power Commission (Federal Energy Regulatory Commissions predecessor l
agency) licensed the Parr Hydroelectric Project in 1974, contingent upon a minimum l
8 instantaneous release at the Parr Powerhouse of 4.2 m3/s (150 cfs) during most months of the l
year and a minimum instantaneous release of 28 m3/s (1000 cfs) during the March-April-May l
striped bass (Morone saxatilis) spawning period. For the periods 1896 to 1907 and 1980 to l
2000, the lowest daily mean flow of the Broad River at the Alston, South Carolina, gauging l
station was 6.6 m3/s (235 cfs). The lowest recorded daily mean flow of 4.2 m3/s (149 cfs) was l
measured at the Richtex Station, approximately 11.3 km (7.0 mi) downstream of Parr Reservoir.
l l
The 1981 Final Environmental Statement indicated that approximately 0.37 m3/s (13 cfs) of the l
33 m3/s (1180 cfs) of water withdrawn from Monticello Reservoir for condenser cooling would l
be lost to evaporation. This water loss was to be made up by pumping back from Parr l
Reservoir. The projected evaporative loss of 0.37 m3/s (13 cfs) from condenser cooling l
represented approximately 9 percent of the minimum allowable instantaneous flow of 4.2 m3/s l
(150 cfs), 5.5 percent of the lowest daily mean flow (6.6 m3/s [235 cfs]), and approximately l
0.2 percent of the annual mean flow (185 m3/s [6535 cfs]) of the Broad River at Alston, South l
Carolina. The daily cycle of operation at the FSPF transfers up to 11,736 ha-ft (29,000 ac-ft) of l
water (equivalent to 416 m3/s [14,700 cfs]) from Parr Reservoir to Monticello Reservoir and l
back on a daily basis.
l l
Based on a higher (theoretical maximum) cooling water withdrawal rate of 37 m3/s (1308 cfs),
l V.C. Summer Quarterly Water Use Reports indicate that 0.62 m3/s (22 cfs) is lost to l
evaporation. This loss represents 14.7 percent of the minimum allowable instantaneous flow of l
4.2 m3/s (150 cfs), 9.4 percent of the lowest daily mean flow (6.6 m3/s [235 cfs]), and l
approximately 0.3 percent of the annual mean flow (185 m3/s [6535 cfs]) of the Broad River at l
Alston, South Carolina. Under normal circumstances, evaporative losses from Monticello l
Reservoir represents less than one percent reduction in Broad River flows. Any impacts to l
cutural resources or riparian ecological communities in the Monticello Reservoir and Parr l
Reservoir would be small.
l l
Severe drought conditions were experienced throughout the summer of 2002. However, no l
situations were encountered where make-up water for the evaporative losses due to l
V.C. Summer operations affected the flow conditions in the Broad River so as to impinge upon l
any of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission- (FERC-) mandated flow restrictions. A l
discussion with the FERC oversight staff member of the Parr Hydropower facility confirmed that l
the operation of V.C. Summer causes no discernable impacts to maintaining minimum flow l
conditions in the Broad River. There is no concern on the part of the FERC concerning this l
issue. The water level changes in Monticello Reservoir are primarily driven by the hydropower l
requirements on the hydroelectric plant (Parr Hydro) and their FERC license for requiring l
minimum flows in the Broad River and Parr Reservoir. The hydroelectric plant is not part of the l
V.C. Summer license renewal action.
l l
FINDINGS In October 1972, upon reviewing the cultural resources literature associated with the construction of V. C. Summer, the South Carolina SHPO (Attachment 3) determined that no adverse effects to historic properties would result from SCE&G Construction Project #1894.
9 Major refurbishment of V. C. Summer is not anticipated for continued operation during the license renewal period; therefore, there is no expectation that land in the undeveloped portions of the site will be disturbed for operations during the renewal period. Operation of V. C.
Summer, as planned under the application for license renewal, would protect undiscovered historic or archaeological resources on the site because the undeveloped natural landscape and vegetation would remain undisturbed, and access to the site would remain restricted.
In January 2001, SCE&G wrote the South Carolina SHPO (Attachment 1), requesting their comments on the V. C. Summer license renewal process. In its letter, SCE&G suggested that the continued operation of V. C. Summer will have no effect on historic properties (SCE&G 2001). In a response dated January 29, 2001, the South Carolina SHPO (Attachment 2) stated that license renewal for the continuing operation of plants such as this one typically has no effect on historic properties (SHPO 2001).
Operating procedures of SCE&G consider actions upon the inadvertent discovery of historic and archaeological remains at V.C. Summer. Based on the cultural resources analysis, the representation by SCE&G that it does not plan to undertake major refurbishment activities related to the renewal of V. C. Summer, and the expectation that operations will continue within the bounds of previously analyzed conditions, as evaluated in the FES (AEC 1973) and subsequent environmental assessments, the NRC staff concludes that there will be no effect on historic properties within the APE and no additional mitigation is warranted.
10 ENCLOSURES l
1.
Letter - January 19, 2001 SCE&G wrote the South Carolina SHPO regarding license renewal at V. C. Summer. Includes Maps of V.C. Summer and surrounding environment.
2.
Letter - January 29, 2001 South Carolina SHPO responded to SCE&G letter - agreed that license renewal for the continuing operation of plants such as this one typically has no effect on historic properties.
3.
Letter - November 27, 2002 the NRC wrote letters to the four Tribes - example of the l
letter that was sent to the Catawba Indian Nation.
4.
Letter - October 20, 1972 SHPO wrote letter to Federal Power Commission regarding l
the SCE&G construction Project 1894 - determined that no adverse effects to historic properties would result from this project.
l 5.
CD containing photographs of 38FA33, 38FA37, and 38FA298 and Monticello shoreline.
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11 REFERENCES l
South Carolina Electric and Gas (SCE&G), 2002. Virgil C. Summer Nuclear Station Application for Renewed Operating License, Appendix E - Environmental Report. Docket No. 50-395, Columbia, South Carolina.
South Carolina Electric and Gas Company, 2002. FERC Project 1894 Land Use and Shoreline Management Plan Monticello and Parr Reservoirs - Effective April 1, 2002. Columbia, South Carolina.
Teague, G.A., 1979. An Assessment of Archeological Resources in the Parr Project Area, South Carolina. Institute of Archeology and Anthropology. University of South Carolina.
Columbia, South Carolina.
U.S. Atomic Energy Commission (AEC), 1973. Final Environmental Statement Related to the Virgil C. Summer Nuclear Station Unit 1; South Carolina Electric & Gas Company. Docket No.
50-395, Washington, D.C.
U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), 1999. Generic Environmental Impact Statement for License Renewal of Nuclear Plants: Main Report. NUREG-1437, Volume 1, Addendum 1, Washington, D.C.
l U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), 2003. Draft Generic Environmental Impact l
Statement for License Renewal of Nuclear Plants. NUREG-1437, Supplement 15, l
Washington, D.C.
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