ML091600043

EPA Id No. TN5 64-002-0504/NPDES, Permit No. TN0026450 - Report Request for Condenser Circulating Water (CCW) Intake Forebay Spill

ML091600043
Person / Time
Site:	Sequoyah
Issue date:	06/03/2009
From:	Clearly T Tennessee Valley Authority
To:	Hartman J Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation, State of TN, Dept of Environment & Conservation, Div of Solid Waste Mgmt
References
TN0026450, TN5 64-002-0504/NPDES
Download: ML091600043 (2)

Text

Tennessee Valley Authority, Post Office Box 2000, Soddy Daisy, Tennessee 37384-2000 June 03, 2009 Joe Hartman Environmental Protection Specialist State of Tennessee Department of Environment & Conservation Division of Solid Waste Management Chattanooga Environmental Field Office 540 McCallie Avenue, Suite 550 Chattanooga, Tennessee 37402

Dear Mr. Hartman:

SEQUOYAH NUCLEAR PLANT (SQN) EPA ID NO. TN5 64-002-0504/NPDES PERMIT NO. TN0026450 - REPORT REQUEST FOR CONDENSER CIRCULATING WATER (CCW) INTAKE FOREBAY SPILL Enclosed for your review is a summary of the incident and corrective actions involving the reportable spill in the CCW intake forebay per your request to Stephanie Howard on May 13, 2009.

If you have any questions or need additional information, please contact Stephanie Howard at (423) 843-6700 or Ann Hurt at (423) 843-6714 of Sequoyah's Environmental staff.

Sincerely, Timothy P. Cearyl Site Vice President Sequoyah Nuclear Plant Enclosure cc (Enclosure):

U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission ATTN: Document Control Desk Washington, D.C. 20555

ENCLOSURE SEQUOYAH NUCLEAR PLANT REPORT REQUEST FOR CONDENSER CIRCULATING WATER (CCW)

INTAKE FOREBAY SPILL Incident Description On Wednesday May 13, 2009, at approximately 1410 Eastern daylight time (EDT), a track excavator performing work on a steep bank adjacent to the CCW intake forebay (intake) slid into the intake at the discharge of the cold water return channel.

The SQN Spill Prevention Control and Countermeasures Plan was immediately initiated. At 1505, SQN Environmental discovered a slight sheen in the water. It is estimated that less than one gallon of oil was spilled, the source being primarily grease and other lubricants used on the exterior of the equipment. At 1535 EDT, SQN Environmental personnel notified the National Response Center of the oil spill.

Report No. 905504 was initiated by the National Response Center. Additional external notifications were made to the Environmental Protection Agency Region IV, Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation Chattanooga Field Office, Tennessee Emergency Response Agency, and the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

Corrective Actions An absorbent boom and skirted boom were placed in the water around the track excavator to contain the sheen by approximately 1600 EDT. Because the spill occurred in a low flow area (outside the main channel of the intake) and favorable meteorological conditions (lightwinds, no rain), the water was fairly stagnant and the sheen easily contained. At 2259 EDT, the track excavator was removed from the water. Absorbent pads and sphagsorb were used to absorb the sheen. Also, boom-like "eels" have been placed along the bank to minimize any soil runoff into the intake from where vegetation was disturbed during the track excavator removal.

As of May 19, 2009, no sheen was observed in the water. However, the booms are currently still in place as a precautionary measure.

Documentation of the incident, the follow up investigation, and corrective actions will be performed in accordance with the site's Corrective Action Program.