ML080640656
| ML080640656 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Cook  |
| Issue date: | 02/20/2008 |
| From: | Petro J Indiana Michigan Power Co |
| To: | Document Control Desk, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation |
| References | |
| AEP-NRC-8401 | |
| Download: ML080640656 (5) | |
Text
INDIANA MICHIGAN POWERO A unit of American Electric Power February 20, 2008 Indiana Michigan Power Cook Nuclear Plant One Cook Place Bridgman, MI 49106 AERcom AEP:NRC:8401 Docket Nos.: 50-315 50-316 U. S. Nuclear RegulatoryCommission ATTN:- Document Control Desk Mail Stop O-PI-17 Washington, DC 20555-0001 Donald C. Cook Nuclear Plant Units I and 2 SUBMITTAL OF NON-ROUTINE ENVIRONMENTAL REPORT In a letter dated February 19, 2008, Indiana Michigan Power Company, the licensee for Donald C. Cook Nuclear Plant (CNP) Units 1 and 2, submitted a non-routine environmental report to the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service regarding waterfowl entrainment in the intake cribs of CNP.
In accordance with Section 5.4.2 of Part II of Appendix B of the. Environmental Technical Specifications for CNP, a copy of the n6n-routine report is being provided to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission as an attachment to this letter.
There are no new or revised commitments in this letter.
Should you have any questions or concerns regarding this notification, please contact Jon H. Hamer, Environmental Manager, at (269) 465-5901, extension 2102.
Siucer1l2 James M. Petro, Jr.
Regulatory Affairs RSP/rdw Attachment
U. S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission AEP:NRC:8401 Page 2 c:
J.L. Caldwell - NRC Region III K. D. Curry - AEP Ft. Wayne, w/o attachment J. T. King - MPSC, w/o attachment MDEQ - WHMD/RPMWS, w/o attachment NRC Resident Inspector P. S. Tam, NRC Washington, DC
ATTACHMENT TO AEP:NRC:8401 NON-ROUTINE ENVIRONMENTAL REPORT WATERFOWL REPORT
Indiana Michigan Power INDIANA Cook Nuclear Plant MICHIGAN One Cook Place IERO Bridgman, Ml 49106 AEPcom A unit of American Electric Power February 19, 2008 CC 2008-67 Mr. Craig Tabor U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service - Resident Agent in Charge 317 Merry Drive, Suite 1 Ann Arbor, MI 48103
Subject:
Cook Nuclear Plant Waterfowl Report
Dear Mr. Tabor,
The purpose of this letter is to notify you that we have noted duck entrainment in the intake cribs of the Cook Nuclear Plant (CNP) in Bridgman, Michigan.
This is similar to an event previously reported to your office and the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) on January 21, 2005.
Wild ducks were entrained in the intake cribs of the CNP starting on January 7, 2008. The species are believed to be primarily lesser scaup, with some bufflehead, scoter, and red head. Beginning December 27, 2004, we have been performing annual observations from October through April to determine the approximate number of ducks rafting in the area of CNP's intake cribs. This number has been between approximately 100 and 1000 ducks. It is believed these ducks have congregated in the area due to the open water and abundant food supply of zebra mussels on the limestone riprap covering our intake pipes.
Through January 23, 2008, 134 ducks have been entrained in CNP's intake cribs and collected on the intake screens within the screenhouse. The number of ducks that have been :entrained in the intake cribs has increased over the previous year's total of 48. CNP collects, identifies, stores entrained ducks, and performs daily observations of the duck population rafting in the vicinity of the intakes to maintain awareness and remain sensitive to the plant's impact on the waterfowl.
Mr. Anthony Duffiney and Mr. Gregory Rigney of the U. S. Department of Agriculture - Wildlife Service arrived on January 18, 2005 with laser testing equipment to attempt to reduce the number of ducks rafting in the vicinity of CNP's intake structures. This process was effective in low light conditions (dusk and dawn), but had minimal effect in daylight hours and dark hours.
Weather permitting; a duck deterrent program was used to scatter the rafting ducks around the intakes. A flare gun type launcher (CAPA) that fires a charge up to 300 yards was used in the program to scatter the rafting ducks. This device has had limited success in discouraging ducks from rafting in the intake crib vicinity.
This device was used on January 16, 2008, through
U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service CC 2008-67 Page 2 January 18, 2008, and on January 21, 2008. The use of this device was suspended due to the result of driving the rafts of ducks further out over the intake structures.
The intake cribs are cleaned of zebra mussels each Fall.
The cleaning was last completed in December of 2007. The collapsible rack system was also repaired and upgraded to further prevent ducks from entering the intake cribs in December of 2007.
Total expenditures for 2007 were approximately $ 117,000. This cleaning has proven effective in previous years in preventing duck entraimnent. In the Spring, when the shore ice recedes, allowing safe access to the intake cribs, CNP will conduct an underwater camera inspection, or visual dive, to determine if any other factors may have contributed to the entrainment of these animals.
History
- Zebra mussels were first identified at the CNP in 1990.
" Ducks were first entrained in 1991.
- The CNP worked with the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Michigan DNR in 1991-1992 to attempt to keep ducks from feeding in the vicinity of the intake cribs. The tactics used by CNP environmental personnel included installation of a bird cannon, personnel using a shotgun with blanks, installation of "predator eye" balloons, installation of owl decoys, harassing ducks by boat, and harassing ducks with a helicopter. The tactics were only temporarily effective.
" Ms. Christine Custer of the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service and Mr. John Carlson of CNP worked together to perform duck necropsy and wrote a paper on the first confirmed change in migratory behavior due to a zebra mussel infestation in 1993.
" The most effective tactic to minimize the number of ducks feeding at the intake crib structure has been the cleaning of the intake crib. This cleaning has been performed each year since 1992.
" Notification provided to your office on January 25, 2005, regarding duck entrainment.
Should you have any questions, please contact me at (269) 465-5901, extension 2102.
Sincerely, Jon H. Harner Environmental Manager RSP/rdw