ML16120A612

Transmittal of the 2015 Annual Environmental Operating Report

ML16120A612
Person / Time
Site:	Palo Verde
Issue date:	04/29/2016
From:	Weber T Arizona Public Service Co
To:	Document Control Desk, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
References
102-07221-TNW/MDD/TMJ
Download: ML16120A612 (5)

Text

Palo Verde Nuclear Generating Station PO Box 52034 102-07221-TNW/MDD/TMJ Phoenix, Arizona 85072-2034 Mail Station 7636 April 29, 2016 ATTN: Document Control Desk U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Washington, DC 20555-0001

Subject:

Palo Verde Nuclear Generating Station (PVNGS)

Units 1, 2, and 3 Docket Nos. STN 50-528/529/530 2015 Annual Environmental Operating Report Enclosed please find the 2015 Annual Environmental Operating Report for PVNGS Units 1, 2, and 3. Arizona Public Service Company is submitting this report pursuant to Section 5.4.1 of Appendix B to the PVNGS Units 1, 2, and 3 Renewed Operating License Nos. NPF-41, NPF-51, and NPF-74, respectively.

No new commitments are being made to the NRC by this letter. Should you need further information regarding this submittal, please contact Michael DiLorenzo, Licensing Section Leader, at (623) 393-3495.

Sincerely, Weber, Thomas Digitally signed by Weber, Thomas N(Z00499)

DN: cn=Weber, Thomas N(Z00499)

N(Z00499)

Reason: I am approving this document Date: 2016.04.29 13:21:43 -07'00' Thomas N. Weber Department Leader, Regulatory Affairs TNW/MDD/TMJ/akf Enclosure cc: M. L. Dapas NRC Region IV Regional Administrator S. P. Lingam NRC NRR Project Manager for PVNGS M. M. Watford NRC NRR Project Manager C. A. Peabody NRC Senior Resident Inspector for PVNGS A member of the STARS (Strategic Teaming and Resource Sharing) Alliance Callaway

• Diablo Canyon

• Palo Verde

• Wolf Creek

ENCLOSURE Palo Verde Nuclear Generating Station Units 1, 2, and 3 2015 Annual Environmental Operating Report

2015 Annual Environmental Operating Report I. INTRODUCTION The Palo Verde Nuclear Generating Station (PVNGS) is located in Maricopa County, Arizona, approximately 50 miles west of the Phoenix metropolitan area. The PVNGS site comprises approximately 4280 acres. Site elevations range from 890 feet above mean sea level at the southern boundary to 1030 feet above mean sea level at the northern boundary. The station consists of three pressurized water reactor electrical generating units. Units 1, 2, and 3 have a rated thermal power of 3990 MW.

PVNGS was issued low power operating licenses NPF-34, NPF-46 and NPF-65 for Units 1, 2, and 3 by the United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) on December 31, 1984, December 9, 1985, and March 25, 1987, respectively. PVNGS was issued full power operating licenses NPF-41, NPF-51 and NPF-74 for Units 1, 2, and 3 on June 1, 1985, April 24, 1986, and November 25, 1987, respectively. These licenses were renewed on April 21, 2011.

Appendix B to these operating licenses is entitled the "Environmental Protection Plan (Non Radiological)". The Environmental Protection Plans (EPP) for each of the current operating licenses are identical.

The EPP purpose is to provide for protection of environmental values during construction and operation of the nuclear facility. The principal objectives of the EPP are as follows:

(1) Verify that the station is operated in an environmentally acceptable manner, as established by the FES (Final Environmental Statement) and other NRC environmental impact assessments.

(2) Coordinate NRC requirements and maintain consistency with other Federal, State and Local requirements for environmental protection.

(3) Keep NRC informed of the environmental effects of facility construction and operation and actions taken to control those effects.

This Annual Environmental Operating Report is required by Section 5.4.1 of the EPP. This report describes the activities during calendar year 2015 related to the PVNGS EPP. For purposes of this report, references to the EPP are considered to be the EPP of NPF-41, NPF-51, and NPF-74.

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2015 Annual Environmental Operating Report II. ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING SUMMARIES AND ANALYSIS A. Cultural Resources Section 4.2.1 of the EPP requires that an archaeological survey be performed when final alignment of the PVNGS-to-Saguaro transmission line is completed. As of the date of this report, plans for this transmission line have been indefinitely suspended. Therefore, there has been no activity with regard to this requirement of the EPP.

B. Terrestrial Ecology Monitoring As communicated in a letter from William F. Conway, APS, to NRC, dated December 30, 1991, the salt deposition monitoring program was discontinued at the end of 1991.

III. PLANT DESIGN AND OPERATION CHANGES Section 3.1 of the EPP allows changes in station design or operation or the performance of tests or experiments affecting the environment provided that such changes, tests, or experiments do not involve an unreviewed environmental question and do not involve a change to the EPP. Changes, tests, or experiments in which all measurable non-radiological effects are confined to the on-site areas previously disturbed during site preparation and plant construction or in which the environment is not affected are exempt from the evaluation and reporting requirements of Section 3.1.

Section 3.2 of the EPP also exempts changes, tests, or experiments, which are required to comply with other Federal, State, or local environmental regulations.

No design and operational changes were initiated in 2015 that required an evaluation to determine if they involved either an unreviewed environmental question or constituted a change in the EPP.

IV. EPP NON-COMPLIANCES There were no instances of non-compliance with the EPP identified during 2015.

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2015 Annual Environmental Operating Report V. NON-ROUTINE REPORTS There was one occurrence of an unusual or important environmental event that could have resulted in a significant environmental impact causally related to plant operation as described in Section 4.1 of the EPP.

1. On April 14, 2015, approximately 3,500 gallons of 8% sodium hydroxide was released. The quantity exceeded the Reportable Quantity of 1,000 pounds and was, therefore, reported to the National Response Center (Report #1113622) and applicable state and county agencies. An ENS notification (EN # 50984) was made to the NRC. The spill, which did not go offsite, was immediately isolated and subsequently remediated.

As described in Section 5.4.2 of the EPP for a non-routine event, if a report is required by other Federal, State or local agencies, then a 30-day report to the NRC is required. There were no such non-routine reports required by Section 5.4.2 of the EPP during 2015.

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Palo Verde Nuclear Generating Station PO Box 52034 102-07221-TNW/MDD/TMJ Phoenix, Arizona 85072-2034 Mail Station 7636 April 29, 2016 ATTN: Document Control Desk U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Washington, DC 20555-0001

Subject:

Palo Verde Nuclear Generating Station (PVNGS)

Units 1, 2, and 3 Docket Nos. STN 50-528/529/530 2015 Annual Environmental Operating Report Enclosed please find the 2015 Annual Environmental Operating Report for PVNGS Units 1, 2, and 3. Arizona Public Service Company is submitting this report pursuant to Section 5.4.1 of Appendix B to the PVNGS Units 1, 2, and 3 Renewed Operating License Nos. NPF-41, NPF-51, and NPF-74, respectively.

No new commitments are being made to the NRC by this letter. Should you need further information regarding this submittal, please contact Michael DiLorenzo, Licensing Section Leader, at (623) 393-3495.

Sincerely, Weber, Thomas Digitally signed by Weber, Thomas N(Z00499)

DN: cn=Weber, Thomas N(Z00499)

N(Z00499)

Reason: I am approving this document Date: 2016.04.29 13:21:43 -07'00' Thomas N. Weber Department Leader, Regulatory Affairs TNW/MDD/TMJ/akf Enclosure cc: M. L. Dapas NRC Region IV Regional Administrator S. P. Lingam NRC NRR Project Manager for PVNGS M. M. Watford NRC NRR Project Manager C. A. Peabody NRC Senior Resident Inspector for PVNGS A member of the STARS (Strategic Teaming and Resource Sharing) Alliance Callaway

• Diablo Canyon

• Palo Verde

• Wolf Creek

ENCLOSURE Palo Verde Nuclear Generating Station Units 1, 2, and 3 2015 Annual Environmental Operating Report

2015 Annual Environmental Operating Report I. INTRODUCTION The Palo Verde Nuclear Generating Station (PVNGS) is located in Maricopa County, Arizona, approximately 50 miles west of the Phoenix metropolitan area. The PVNGS site comprises approximately 4280 acres. Site elevations range from 890 feet above mean sea level at the southern boundary to 1030 feet above mean sea level at the northern boundary. The station consists of three pressurized water reactor electrical generating units. Units 1, 2, and 3 have a rated thermal power of 3990 MW.

PVNGS was issued low power operating licenses NPF-34, NPF-46 and NPF-65 for Units 1, 2, and 3 by the United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) on December 31, 1984, December 9, 1985, and March 25, 1987, respectively. PVNGS was issued full power operating licenses NPF-41, NPF-51 and NPF-74 for Units 1, 2, and 3 on June 1, 1985, April 24, 1986, and November 25, 1987, respectively. These licenses were renewed on April 21, 2011.

Appendix B to these operating licenses is entitled the "Environmental Protection Plan (Non Radiological)". The Environmental Protection Plans (EPP) for each of the current operating licenses are identical.

The EPP purpose is to provide for protection of environmental values during construction and operation of the nuclear facility. The principal objectives of the EPP are as follows:

(1) Verify that the station is operated in an environmentally acceptable manner, as established by the FES (Final Environmental Statement) and other NRC environmental impact assessments.

(2) Coordinate NRC requirements and maintain consistency with other Federal, State and Local requirements for environmental protection.

(3) Keep NRC informed of the environmental effects of facility construction and operation and actions taken to control those effects.

This Annual Environmental Operating Report is required by Section 5.4.1 of the EPP. This report describes the activities during calendar year 2015 related to the PVNGS EPP. For purposes of this report, references to the EPP are considered to be the EPP of NPF-41, NPF-51, and NPF-74.

1

2015 Annual Environmental Operating Report II. ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING SUMMARIES AND ANALYSIS A. Cultural Resources Section 4.2.1 of the EPP requires that an archaeological survey be performed when final alignment of the PVNGS-to-Saguaro transmission line is completed. As of the date of this report, plans for this transmission line have been indefinitely suspended. Therefore, there has been no activity with regard to this requirement of the EPP.

B. Terrestrial Ecology Monitoring As communicated in a letter from William F. Conway, APS, to NRC, dated December 30, 1991, the salt deposition monitoring program was discontinued at the end of 1991.

III. PLANT DESIGN AND OPERATION CHANGES Section 3.1 of the EPP allows changes in station design or operation or the performance of tests or experiments affecting the environment provided that such changes, tests, or experiments do not involve an unreviewed environmental question and do not involve a change to the EPP. Changes, tests, or experiments in which all measurable non-radiological effects are confined to the on-site areas previously disturbed during site preparation and plant construction or in which the environment is not affected are exempt from the evaluation and reporting requirements of Section 3.1.

Section 3.2 of the EPP also exempts changes, tests, or experiments, which are required to comply with other Federal, State, or local environmental regulations.

No design and operational changes were initiated in 2015 that required an evaluation to determine if they involved either an unreviewed environmental question or constituted a change in the EPP.

IV. EPP NON-COMPLIANCES There were no instances of non-compliance with the EPP identified during 2015.

2

2015 Annual Environmental Operating Report V. NON-ROUTINE REPORTS There was one occurrence of an unusual or important environmental event that could have resulted in a significant environmental impact causally related to plant operation as described in Section 4.1 of the EPP.

1. On April 14, 2015, approximately 3,500 gallons of 8% sodium hydroxide was released. The quantity exceeded the Reportable Quantity of 1,000 pounds and was, therefore, reported to the National Response Center (Report #1113622) and applicable state and county agencies. An ENS notification (EN # 50984) was made to the NRC. The spill, which did not go offsite, was immediately isolated and subsequently remediated.

As described in Section 5.4.2 of the EPP for a non-routine event, if a report is required by other Federal, State or local agencies, then a 30-day report to the NRC is required. There were no such non-routine reports required by Section 5.4.2 of the EPP during 2015.

3