ML18025B706

Requests NPDES Aquatic Monitoring Program - Plankton Entrainment Study Be Deleted from Monitoring Program.Based on Extensive Studies at Browns Ferry & Lack of Expected Effects at Sequoyah,Entrainment Should Be Inconsequential

ML18025B706
Person / Time
Site:	Browns Ferry, Sequoyah, 05000000
Issue date:	01/16/1982
From:	Elashry M TENNESSEE VALLEY AUTHORITY
To:	Traina P ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
References
TN0026450, TN26450, NUDOCS 8201250368
Download: ML18025B706 (8)

Text

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SD- a.sg TE lESSEE VALLEY AUTHORITY +GO KNOXVILLE.TENNESSEE 37902 126 Locust Street Building 83 '7 January 16, 1982 III ACCBQ'~D J~~~8)982~ ~

QRIZgggggpg Mr. Paul J. Traina, Director Water Management Division U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region IV 345 Courtland Street, NE.

IIIIII,'EQUOYAH Atlanta, Georgia 30365

Dear Mr. Traina:

NUCLEAR PLANT (SQN) - NATIONAL POLLUTANT DISCHARGE ELIMINATION SYSTEM (NPDES) PERMIT NO. TN0026450-AQUATIC MONITORING PROGRAM - PLANKTON ENTRAINMENT STUDY (M10,065) t Part of the approved operational monitoring program for SQN is a study to deter mine effects of intake losses (i.e., entrainment) on phytoplankton and zooplankton communities in Chickamauga Reservoir.

This monitoring program was designed prior to evaluating plankton entrainment data for Browns Perry Nuclear Plant (BEN). The BEN reports concluded that operation of that intake should not have a serious effect on phytoplankton in Wheeler Reservoir downstream of the plant. These reports concluded that zooplankton might be affected in the immediate vicinity with potential for the community to be affected further downstream. None of these effects were considered to represent an adverse impact on the total plankton community of Wheeler Reservoir.

In terms of expected effects, the intake at SQN should result in smaller plankton losses than the intake at BPN because the BPN intake is located at the downstream end of a very lar ge, highly productive overbank. Studies in the vicinity of BFN show that most water leaving this overbank and the plankton contained therein are entrained by the intake. Plankton losses at SQN ar e not expected to be as great because this intake is located on an inside bend of the river channe);

and the only large overbank immediately upstream of SQN is on the opposite bank. Biological studies on this overbank have not been conducted. However, even if this overbank is highly productive, this water and plankton would not be expected to be entrained because of its remoteness from the SQN intake.

Another design feature at SQN that should ameliorate entrainment of plankton (especially phytoplankton) is the deep'kimmer wall that extends 41 feet down into the water at normal summer pool and leaves a 7-foot opening near the bottom. The small amount of phyloplankton 820i250368 820iih pOi ADOCK 05000259

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Mr. Paul J. Traina January 16, 1982 entrained should consist of mainly dead or senescent cells, and no effect to the phytoplankton community would be expected.

In lentic environments many zooplankton species exhibit diel vertical migration and could, at times, be subjected to entrainment pressures.

However, studies on other mainstream reservoirs (Wheeler Reservoir near BFN and Old Hickory Reservoir near Gallatin Steam Plant) indicate that definite vertical migration patterns are not prevalent, probably owing to periodic turbulence caused by releases from upstream and downstream hydroelectric plants. Chickamauga Reservoir would be expected to be similar to the other reservoirs studied. In the absence of definite vertical migration patterns, especially at an intake with a 7-foot opening at the bottom of a water column 48 feet deep, heavy entrainment pressures would not be expected, and effects to zooplankton should be minimal.

Based on knowledge gained from extensive studies at BFN and lack of expected effects at SQN, TVA believes entrainment of plankton at SQN should be inconsequential. Therefore, we request that this study requirement be deleted from the approved monitoring program. We would appreciate a response on whether or not you agree with this request.

If you have any questions regarding this request, please call Stephen R. Wells at FTS 872-8971 in Muscle Shoals, Alabama.

Assistant Manager of Natural Resources (Environment)

CC: Director Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation Washington, DC 20555 Mr. James R. Patrick, Chief Water Permits Branch Water Management Division 345 Courtland Street, NE.

Atlanta, Georgia 30308 Mr. Jack McCormick, Basin Manager Tennessee Department of Public Health Water Quality Control Division 2501 Milne Street Chat tanoog a, Tennessee 37406 (Continued on Page 3)

Mr. Paul J. Traina January 16, 1982 cc: Mr. James P. O'Reilly, Director Office of Inspection and I.'nforcement U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Region II 101 Marietta Street, Suite 3100 Atlanta, Geor gia 30303 Division'f Water Quality Control Tennessee Department of Public Health 621 Cordell Hull Building Nashville, Tennessee 37219

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