ML13116A348

2012 Annual Environmental Protection Plan Operating Report

ML13116A348
Person / Time
Site:	Millstone
Issue date:	04/17/2013
From:	Macmanus R Dominion Nuclear Connecticut
To:	Document Control Desk, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
References
13-213
Download: ML13116A348 (11)

Text

Dominion Nuclear Connecticut, Inc.

Rope Ferry Road, Waterford, CT 06385 . D'om lnloin Web Address: wwwdom.com APR 1 7 2013 U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Serial No.13-213 Attention: Document Control Desk MPS Lic/GJC RO Washington, DC 20555-0001 Docket No. 50-423 License No. NPF-49 DOMINION NUCLEAR CONNECTICUT, INC.

MILLSTONE POWER STATION UNIT 3 2012 ANNUAL ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION PLAN OPERATING REPORT In accordance with Section 5.4.1 of the Environmental Protection Plan (EPP), Appendix B to the Millstone Power Station Unit 3 Operating License, Dominion Nuclear Connecticut, Inc. hereby submits the Annual Environmental Protection Plan Operating Report (AEPPOR), describing implementation of the EPP for the previous year. transmits information for the period of January 1, 2012 to December 31, 2012.

Should you have any questions regarding this report, please contact Mr. William Bartron, at (860) 444-4301.

Sincerely, R. K. MacManus Director, Nuclear Station Safety and Licensing

Serial No.13-213 2012 Annual Environmental Protection Plan Operating Report Page 2 of 2

Enclosures:

1 Commitments made in this letter: None.

cc: U. S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Region I 2100 Renaissance Blvd, Suite 100 King of Prussia, PA 19406-2713 J. S. Kim NRC Project Manager - Millstone Power Station Units 2 and 3 U. S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission One White Flint North 11555 Rockville Pike Mail Stop 08 C2A Rockville, Maryland 20852-2738 NRC Senior Resident Inspector Millstone Power Station

Serial No.13-213 Docket No. 50-423 License No. NPF-49 Enclosure 1 MILLSTONE POWER STATION UNIT 3 2011 ANNUAL ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION PLAN OPERATING REPORT JANUARY 1 - DECEMBER 31, 2012 MILLSTONE POWER STATION UNIT 3 DOMINION NUCLEAR CONNECTICUT, INC. (DNC)

2012 Annual Environmental Protection Plan Operating Report (AEPPOR) 1.

Introduction:

This report covers the period January 1, 2012 through December 31, 2012. During 2012, Millstone Power Station Unit 3 (MPS3) operated at a capacity factor of 100.5%,

with only short, partial downpowers (e.g., to backflush condensers due to storm debris); from the end of refueling outage 3R14 in November 2011 through the end of 2012, MPS3 has operated at an overall capacity of 100.2%.

As required by the MPS3 Environmental Protection Plan (EPP), Appendix B to the MPS3 Operating License, this AEPPOR includes:

" summaries and analyses of the results of environmental protection activities,

• a list of EPP noncompliances,

" a list of all changes in station design or operation which involved a potentially significant unreviewed environmental question, and

" a list of non-routine reports, describing events that could have resulted in significant environmental impact.

2. Environmental Protection Activities:

2.1 Annual National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Report of Ecological Monitoring (EPP Section 4.2).

Section 10(A) of Millstone Power Station's (MPS) NPDES permit, as issued to Dominion Nuclear Connecticut, Inc. (DNC) by the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection (now the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, or DEEP) on September 1, 2010 (the Permit), requires continuation of biological studies of supplying and receiving waters, entrainment, and intake impingement monitoring. These studies include analyses of intertidal and subtidal benthic communities, finfish communities, entrained plankton, lobster populations, and winter flounder populations. Section 10(A)(2) of the Permit requires an annual report of these studies to be sent to the DEEP Commissioner on or before July 31 of each year. The latest report that fulfills these requirements, "Annual Report 2011 - Monitoring the Marine Environment of Long Island Sound at Millstone Power Station, Waterford, Connecticut" (Annual Report), dated July 2012, presents results from studies performed during construction and operation of MPS, emphasizing those of the latest sampling year. Changes to the biological communities noted in these studies are summarized in the Executive Summary section of the Annual Report, which is attached as part of this report.

2.2 Effluent Water Quality Monitoring:

Sections 1 and 5 of the Permit require monitoring and recording of various water quality parameters at MPS intakes and at multiple monitoring points within the plant, including outfalls of each unit to the effluent quarry, and outfall of the quarry to Long Island Sound. Section 8 of the Permit requires that a monthly report of this monitoring be submitted to the DEEP. The report that fulfills these requirements, the "Monthly Discharge Monitoring Report" (DMR),

includes discharge data from all MPS units. Consistent with prior annual 2012 AEPPOR Page 1 of 3

AEPPOR submissions, water flow, temperature, pH, and chlorine data pertaining to MPS3 are summarized in Table 1.

Each monthly DMR identifies NPDES permit exceedances (i.e., events where a parameter value was beyond permitted limits) or exceptions (i.e., events where Permit conditions were not met) for the month. During 2012, there were no MPS3 events that were reported as NPDES exceedances. However, one event, although not originating at MPS3, involved an oil sheen to navigable water via a discharge point that is shared by MPS3 (discharge serial number (DSN) 006), and is included for information; the description below is summarized from the September DMR.

a) Oil Sheen to Navigable Water On September 5, 2012, at 1535 hours0.0178 days <br />0.426 hours <br />0.00254 weeks <br />5.840675e-4 months <br />, a verbal notification to the DEEP Oil and Chemical Spill Section (DEEP Report Number 2012-4848) was made regarding a hydraulic oil spill at MPS which resulted in observed oil sheens in Niantic Bay and Jordan Cove. The total amount of oil spilled was less than one quart.

The oil spill was discovered on September 5, 2012 at 1325 hours0.0153 days <br />0.368 hours <br />0.00219 weeks <br />5.041625e-4 months <br />, when station personnel found small oil sheens on the roadway and traced them to a forklift truck. Upon further investigation, it was discovered that the forklift truck experienced a mechanical malfunction (steering system hydraulic oil leak) during transit, resulting in the deposition of small droplets of oil along the roadway. Station spill response personnel were called to place sorbent pads to the areas where the oil was observed. Because it was raining, some of the oil moved from the roadway to station stormwater drains that discharge to Niantic Bay and Jordan Cove. Small oil sheens were discovered at the discharges of DSN 006, DSN 009, and DSN 012.

Written follow-up to the Oil and Chemical Spill Section of the DEEP, including a discussion of the corrective actions performed, was forwarded on September 7, 2012.

3. Environmental Protection Plan (EPP) Noncompliances:

No EPP noncompliances were identified for MPS3 in 2012.

4. Environmentally Significant Changes to Station Design or Operation:

No MPS3 design change records or system operating procedure changes met the criteria for inclusion in this report, i.e.,

• No changes were initiated during the report year, or

" No changes included a determination that a significant unreviewed environmental impact could occur.

5. Non-Routine Reports of Environmentally Significant Events:

No MPS3 events met the criteria for inclusion in this year's report, i.e.,

" No events required the submittal of a Licensee Event Report (LER), or

" No events involved a situation that could result in a significant environmental impact.

2012 AEPPOR Page 2 of 3

Table 1. MPS3 NPDES data summary, Jan 1-Dec 31, 2012. Selected water quality parameters for MPS3(1 ).

Maximum Discharge Dichr pHvig empH Ra mAeaeMaximum Average Maximum Maximum Mxm m Tep magDischargemswFA 2012 Discharge Flow Range em p SWS FAC (10- gpd) M ) Temp. (OF) Delta T (°F) FAC (ppm) TRC (ppm) (ppm)

January 1352.3 7.8 8.0 60.3 76.6 65.8 20.4 0.11 <0.02 0.18 February 1362.7 7.8 8.2 57.9 67.1 63.6 20.1 0.09 0.03 0.18 March 1362.6 7.6 8.1 60.9 69.9 63.9 17.9 0.15 0.03 0.19 April 1360.5 7.6 8.2 64.2 90.5 77.1 26.5 0.10 <0.02 0.22 May 1360.4 7.7 8.2 69.4 88.4 79.1 23.3 0.11 0.03 0.18 June 1360.9 7.9 8.2 75.5 86.6 80.7 16.6 0.11 0.05 0.18 July 1360.8 7.9 8.2 82.8 90.2 86.5 16.1 0.10 0.05 0.18 August -1361.1 6.8 8.2 86.2 94.2 89.7 16.5 0.14 0.05 0.18 September 1361.1 7.7 8.1 83.4 93.2 88.3 17.8 0.12 0.03 0.22 October 1360.8 7.8 8.1 71.0 87.0 81.3 17.3 0.09 <0.02 0.19 November 1360.8 7.8 8.0 65.7 78.2 71.9 17.8 0.11 0.02 0.19 December 1360.5 7.8 7.9 61.5 74.1 67.4 19.1 0.13 0.04 0.19 Notes:

(1) Parameters are measured at MPS3 discharge (DSN 001C), except for TRC (total residual chlorine), which is measured at MPS discharge (quarry cuts; DSN 001-1), and SWS FAC (service water system free available chlorine; DSN 001C-5).

2012 AEPPOR Page 3 of 3

Attachment to the 2012 Annual Environmental Protection Plan Operating Report January 1 - December 31, 2012 Executive Summary Section of "Annual Report 2011 - Monitoring the Marine Environment of Long Island Sound at Millstone Power Station, Waterford, Connecticut" dated July 2012

Executive Summary - 2011 Environmental Monitoring Annual Report Rocky Intertidal Studies Eelgrass Studies Rocky intertidal monitoring studies during 2011 Eelgrass (Zostera marina L.) populations were continued to document ecological changes to the monitored from 1985 to 2011 at three locations in the shore community near, and associated with, the vicinity of MPS. Data from 2011 surveys indicated Millstone Power Station (MPS) thermal discharge. that at all three study sites supported healthy and These changes are not widespread, and remain expansive eelgrass populations, consistent with restricted to approximately 150 m of shore-line on results from the past 8-9 years. These populations the east side of the power station discharge to Long have also exhibited variability in population Island Sound (LIS). parameters (e.g., shoot density, shoot length, and Seasonal shifts in occurrence of annual algal standing stock biomass) and distribution over the species were noted at Fox Island-Exposed (FE) entire study period, but this variability was not during 2011. These shifts included abbreviated related to MPS operation. Eelgrass populations at season for cold-water species (e.g., Monostroma two monitoring sites to the east of MPS (Jordan Cove grevillei, Spongomorpha arcta, and Dumontia and White Point) near the fringes of the thermal contorta) and extended season for warm-water plume (< 1.5 km from the MPS discharge to LIS) species (e.g., Grinnellia americana, Dasya have exhibited moderate variability and subtle baillouviana,and Bryopsis hypnoides). Similar shifts declines in some population parameters since 1985.

have been observed in most years since Unit 3 began However, both predicted and measured thermal input operation (1986), with the exception of the extended from the cooling water discharge to these sites is at shutdown of all MPS Units from March 1996 to June most minimal (< V0C above ambient conditions) and 1998 when seasonality of these species at FE was well below levels considered stressful to eelgrass.

more typical of other sites. By comparison, high eelgrass population variability Thermal effects on dominant species abundance has been observed in the Niantic River, where and distribution patterns were also evident at FE in complete and often sudden eelgrass bed losses were 2011 and most apparent in the low intertidal zone. documented on five separate occasions prior to 2000.

Seasonally high abundance of Hypnea musciformis, a This estuary is located well beyond (> 2 kin) the species observed for the first time in 2001, and influence of the MPS discharge. With the exception expanded populations of Sargassum filipendula, of a moderate, short-term decline in 2010, eelgrass Corallina officinalis, and Gelidium pusillum now distribution in the Niantic River has expanded, with a characterize the lower shore community at FE. gradual increase in shoot density through 2011.

Neosiphonia (formerly Polysiphonia) harveyi Ongoing extensions of municipal sewerage lines in maintained a perennial population at FE in 2011, but the Niantic River watershed, possibly coupled with occurred mainly as a summer annual at sites depletion of nutrient inputs from old septic systems unaffected by MPS. no longer in use, may be contributing to population Ascophvllum nodosum growth monitoring during recovery during the last decade, as US Geological 2011-12 continued to demonstrate no clear Survey studies have noted a general decline in relationships among monitoring stations, or correlation nitrogen loading.

with station operating conditions, indicating that the thermal plume from MPS has had little effect on local Lobster Studies populations. Natural influences of other factors, such as ambient temperature conditions, storms and wave Impacts associated with recent MPS operations on action, nutrients and light, play the dominant role in the local lobster population were assessed by determining Ascophyllum growing conditions in the comparing results of the 2011 study year to data Millstone area. collected from 1978 through 2010. Emphasis has been The rocky intertidal monitoring program has also placed on assessing long-term trends in the abundance documented regional patterns and modifications to and population characteristics of lobsters collected in shore communities unrelated to MPS operation. the Millstone Point area.

These include the introduction to the region of three Throughout LIS, the lobster population was stable or exotic red algae (Antithamnion pectinatun in 1986, increasing from 1978 through 1999. The abundance of Grateloupia turuturu in 2004, and Heterosiphonia lobsters in LIS was lower from 2000 to 2011. This japonica in 2010), decreases in barnacle abundance decline was unrelated to MPS operations. Rather, the in recent years, and long-term increases in abundance lobster abundance declines were attributed to a of the common seaweeds Fucus vesiculosus and significant mortality event in western LIS from which Chondruscrispus.

the lobster population has still not recovered, and to an undergone long-term successional development in outbreak of shell disease affecting lobster populations response to more stable sedimentary environments.

from eastern LIS to the Gulf of Maine. In the MPS Surface deposit-feeding oligochaetes and polychaetes area, significant long-term declines were identified in continued to be dominant organisms at all sites in the annual catch-per-unit-effort (CPUE) of lobsters 2011. Burrowing deposit-feeders and suspension (combined over all sizes and stations) collected both in feeders showed increased relative abundance in 2011 pots and by trawl. Annual CPUE of legal-size lobster compared to previous years at EF. Multi-has exhibited significant declining trends at all three dimensional-scaling showed distinct separation of sampling stations. Significant declines in the communities affected by construction (IN) and initial abundance of legal-size lobsters were attributed in part operation of Unit 3 (JC and EF). Changes in to shell disease and to a 4.7 mm increase in the community structure and functional group dominance minimum legal size since 1978. at subtidal benthic infaunal stations during the period Long-term trends observed in lobster population 1980-2011 reflect not only effects related to characteristics over the past three decades (growth, construction and initial operation of NIPS Unit 3, but female maturity and egg-bearing lobsters) appear other regional and/or local biotic and abiotic factors.

related to warmer ambient seawater temperatures Community changes at GN during the period 1980-and/or the recent outbreak of shell disease, and not 2011 were attributed solely to these latter factors, and MPS operation. Increased ambient water temperature not to operation of NIPS.

may be responsible for the increased susceptibility and transmission of diseases affecting lobsters in LIS, Winter Flounder Studies which is at the southern boundary of their range of distribution in nearshore waters. Various life history stages of winter flounder have The number of lobster larvae entrained through the been monitored since 1976 to determine what effect, NPS cooling water systems was highly variable and if any, MPS may have on the local Niantic River low in recent years due to low adult lobster abundance population, particularly through the entrainment of throughout LIS. Impacts associated with entrainment larvae. During the past 30 years, annual Niantic and impingement of lobsters at MPS have been greatly River adult winter flounder abundance represented an reduced by the shutdown of Unit 1, which eliminated estimated 0.2 to 3.3% of the total LIS winter 23% of the cooling water used, and the installation of flounder resource (mean = 1.23%). Over the past 17 aquatic organism return systems at Units 2 and 3, years, low winter flounder abundance levels have which return impinged lobsters to Niantic Bay. been found throughout LIS by the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection Benthic Infauna Studies (CTDEEP). During the same time period, adult winter flounder abundance in the Niantic River has Benthic infaunal monitoring documented long-term remained low. A total of 22 adult flounder were trends in sediment characteristics at all the subtidal captured in the 2011 winter flounder spawning sites in the vicinity of MPS. At the effluent station survey, including one recapture from 2010.

(EF), the sedimentary environment remains coarse, Reflecting these trends of record low abundances, with low silt/clay which is related to discharge of CPUE in 2011 was 0.2 fish per trawl tow, the cooling water into LIS at the Quarry cuts. Sediments smallest value of the time-series.

at the intake station (IN) were consistent with Niantic River female spawner abundance in 2011 sediment characteristics prior to dredging during was estimated at only 462 fish that produced about MPS Unit 3 construction. Sediments at Jordan Cove 372 million eggs. Previous annual standardized catch (JC) continue to show stabilization following an estimates ranged from approximately 323 females in earlier siltation event when increased water flow 2009 to 77 thousand in 1982 and corresponding total from the discharge after startup of MPS Unit 3 egg production estimates were 0.2 to 44.8 billion.

scoured fine sediments surrounding EF and deposited In 2011, larval abundance in Niantic Bay (Stations them at JC. Sedimentary characteristics at the EN and NB combined) and Niantic River (Stations A, reference site at Giants Neck (GN) were similar to B, and C) was moderate and the highest at both sites previous years' observations and continued to reflect since 2006. Relative to the Niantic River, larval natural variability unrelated to MPS. abundance in Niantic Bay has increased in recent The 2011 infaunal communities at all sampling years, suggesting higher production in LIS rather sites continued to respond to sedimentary than in estuaries such as the Niantic River. In most environments. Dominant taxa at all sites were years since 1995, more Stage I larvae were found reflective of climax communities that have than expected from low adult spawner abundance,

suggesting a density-dependent compensatory in regional seawater temperature, and interactions mechanism during the egg stage that enhanced with other species (e.g., predation), especially during survival. An analysis suggested that mortality early life history, are also important processes decreases with decreasing egg production (a measure affecting winter flounder population dynamics.

of early larval abundance). Larval mortality is also Results from winter flounder studies through 2011 influenced by prevailing water temperatures, with suggest that MPS operations have had minimal warmer springs allowing for faster development and effects on winter flounder biomass in the Niantic lower mortality. As expected from low larval River. Declines in stock size have been greatly abundance in 2011, initial settled juvenile abundance evident on a regional basis, including Long Island from the juvenile beam trawl survey was low. Sound, Rhode Island and all other Southern New The number of larvae entrained at MPS is a England waters. Entrainment during the larval life measure of potential impact to winter flounder. stages of winter flounder occurs, however there has Annual estimates of entrainment are related to both been large variation in the amount of larval mortality larval densities in Niantic Bay and MPS cooling- and recruitment in recent years, both occurring water volume. Avoided entrainment in 2011 can be independently of MPS operations.

attributed to the Unit 2 spring refueling outage, as well as from use of the variable frequency drives Fish Ecology Studies (VFDs) during the "Interval" (defined in the MPS NPDES permit as the period "from April 4 to May 14 Monitoring during 2011 indicated that no long-term or the first day after May 14 when the intake water abundance trends in various life stages of seven temperature reaches 52 'F, whichever is later, but no selected taxa could be directly related to the later than June 5"). The 2011 entrainment estimate operation of MPS. No long-term trend was identified of 177.6 million reflected moderate Niantic Bay in larval abundance of American sand lance. Since larval densities. Annual entrainment density the late 1970s the densities of anchovy eggs and (abundance index divided by total seawater volume) larvae collected in entrainment samples showed has varied without trend since 1976, indicating that significant negative trends. Atlantic menhaden larvae larval production and availability in Niantic Bay showed a significantly increasing trend in abundance, remained relatively stable despite increased water use as did juveniles taken by seine and trawl. No during the 1986-95 period of three-unit operation and significant long-term trends were detected in reduced cooling-water use in 1995-97. Correlations populations of juvenile or adult silversides collected between entrainment estimates and abundance by trawl or seine. Grubby larval abundance is indices of post-entrainment age-0 juveniles were increasing and a significant decreasing trend was positive. This implies no entrainment effect, as the exhibited for grubby at the Intake trawl station.

more larvae that were available for entrainment, the Although no significant trend was found for the more larvae metamorphosed and settled in Niantic abundance of cunner eggs and larvae, juveniles and River and Bay. This was also demonstrated by a adults have become less abundant at the Intake comparison of annual entrainment and juvenile year- station since the late 1970s and early 1980s.

class abundance, which suggested that entrainment Following the removal of the Unit 3 rock cofferdam, estimates were simply a measure of emerging year- a preferred habitat for cunner, no significant trend class strength. Thus, entrainment is not an important was detected in their abundance at Intake. Significant factor in determining juvenile abundance. decreasing trends in cunner abundance were also Despite a small adult spawning stock in the river, noted in Jordan Cove lobster pot and trawl catches.

there have nonetheless been relatively large numbers However, cunner abundance has increased at the of larvae in several recent years, probably from Niantic River trawl station. No significant trend was population compensatory mechanisms and possibly found for tautog eggs but tautog larval abundance has greater contributions from spawners outside of the significantly increased over the past 36 years.

Niantic River. Processes that are unrelated to MPS Juvenile tautog are increasing in abundance at the operation and which occur after juvenile winter Niantic River trawl station, but are decreasing at the flounder leave shallow nursery waters during the fall Intake trawl station, and adults are increasing in of their first year of life seem to be operating to Jordan Cove lobster pot catches.

account for fewer adults. A bottleneck in recruitment Changes in the species composition and temporal may occur during the late juvenile life stage (ages-I and spatial abundance of fishes and shellfishes and 2), probably from predation. Environmental collected by trawl over the past 36 years were effects, including changes to the Niantic River habitat unrelated to MPS operation. Shifts in the dominance (e.g., increased eelgrass abundance), a warming trend of individual taxa were attributed to changes in

habitat, range extensions or contractions, and a warming trend in ambient seawater temperature that has occurred over the past three decades.

Cooling-water use at MPS was reduced 23%

because of the shutdown of Unit I in November 1995, resulting in less entrainment and impingement.

Fish return systems at Units 2 (2000) and 3 (1986) further reduce impingement mortality at MPS.

Further reductions in cooling-water flows during the peak period of winter spawning taxa have been implemented with the use of VFDs during spring refueling outages in accordance with the NPDES permit issued on September 1, 2010. The overall proportion of increasing and unchanging long-term trends suggests that MPS has had minimal, if any, effect on local fish and shellfish assemblages.