ML18051A305
| ML18051A305 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Palisades  |
| Issue date: | 02/02/1983 |
| From: | Vandewalle D CONSUMERS ENERGY CO. (FORMERLY CONSUMERS POWER CO.) |
| To: | Crutchfield D Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 8302070622 | |
| Download: ML18051A305 (3) | |
Text
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consume11 Power company General Offices: 212 West.Michigan Avenue, Jeckson, Ml 49201 * (617) 788-0660 February 2, 1983 Dennis M Crutchfield, Chief Operating Reactor Branch No 5 Nuclear Reactor Regulation US Nuclear Regulatory Commission Washington, DC 20555 DOCKET 50-255 - LICENSE DPR
- PALISADES PLANT - RESULTS OF FINAL ENVIRONMENTAL STATEMENT (FES) REVIEW Your letter dated November 5, 1982 requested that Consumers Power Company review the Palisades Plant Final Environmental Statement (FES) and Final Addendum (1978) for changes to the facility or environs that would effect the conclusions reached in the FES and Final Addendum.
Our De.cember 29, 1982 letter confirmed our antic.ipated January 31, 1983 submittal of our review results.
We have completed our review and have not identified any changes in facility design or environs that substantially affect the conclusions reached in the FES and Addendum regarding the facility's impact on the environment.
In our review, however, we noted several changes, to the facility design and operation that, are not identified in the FES or Final Addendum.
These changes are identified below:
- 1)
The cooling tower drift and meteorological impact studies have been completed and demonstrated that cooling tower effects are very localized resulting in negligible impact on the environment offsite.
Onsite cooling tower drift effects have impacted vegetation within 300 feet of the cooling towers (see Annual Operating Reports for 1977 and 1978).
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- 2)
An operating change was implemented increasing cooling tower blowdown by 50,000 gallons per minute while reducing dilution water to the mixing basin by 60,000 gallons per minute.
The results of a thermal plume study>conducted to assess the environmental impact of this change in cooling tower operation indicated that only a small fraction of the allocated 72 acre mixing zone is affected and that the change has not created any adverse environmental effects (see Environmental Operating Report for 1981).
- 3)
No corrosion inhibitors are utilized in the maintenance of the condenser cooling water routed to the cooling towers.
In addition, total residual chlorine levels have been reduced from a maximum of 0.5 mg/l to 0.3 mg/l.
The average daily total residual chlorine level as established in the Plant's NPDES permit is 0.2 mg/l.
The Plant is currently concluding a chlorine minimization study that will identify the minimum chlorine dosage that provides adequate condenser efficiency.
Through this effort, further reduction may occur in the total chlorine discharge to the receiving body.
- 4)
Since the publication of the 1978 Final Addendum to the Palisades Plant FES, site physical modifications will have, by the end of 1983, cumulatively impacted approximately 20 additional acres of dune habitat.
Environmental assessments for applicable modifications have been completed indicating no significant affect on the Plant site dune habitat. Terrestrial surveys of the Plant site dune community since the issuance of the FES Final Addendum did identify one plant specie on Michigan's threatened species list and proposed for addition to the Federal threatened species list.
Two avifauna species were identified on the site that are designated as rare in Michigan.
None of these vegetative species were believed to be affected by the modifications requiring additional plant site area.
- 5)
The periodic use of herbicides along transmission line corridor right-of-ways continues.
This activity is conducted in accordance with EPA and State regulatory requirements relative to herbicide use and application.
We also noticed in our review that Table 5-4 in Section 5 is for Shorehame Nuclear Power Station and not the appropriate Table for Palisades Plant.
OC0183-0011A-NL02
Based.on out review activities that have taken place since the Final Addendum to the FES was issued, we believe that several staff recommendations within the text of the Final Addendum merit reconsideration.
Specifically, additional Staff precautions and recommendations regarding herbicide use (See FES Final Addendum Sections 5.3.3.4 and 6.3.3) are already covered in State and Federal environmental requirments on herbicide use and the Company's right-of-way maintenance program complies with those requirements.
3 Also, in-as-much-as the Company currently does not use any corrosion inhibitors in the recirculating cooling water system and is no longer considering their use, the Staff recommendation regarding notification before use is no longer pertinent (See FES Final Addendum Summary and Conclusion, Item 6.a(4) and Section 3.2.
Any change in the status of corrision inhibiting chemical use would require NRC notification as a proposed change to the Plant's NPDES Permit.
The NRC would also be notified of final Michigan Department of Natural Resources (MDNR) approval of any NPDES proposed change for use of corrosion inhibiting chemicals.
Furthermore, because the cooling tower meteorological impact study demonstrated that cooling tower effects are localized and result in minimal impact on the off-site environment, Staff recommendations regarding aerial remote sensing and growers survey (FES Final Addendum Section 6.3.2) are no longer appropriate.
In conclusion, the results of our review of the Palisades Plant Final Environmental Statement and Final Addendum are that, of the changes that have occurred at the Plant, none substantially affect the conclusions reached by Staff.
Moreover, some Staff concerns identified in the FES Addendum Text have been adequately addressed such that a number_ of the recommendations contained in the FES are no longer appropriate.
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Nuclear Licensing Administrator CC Administrator, Region III, USNRC NRC Resident Inspector - Palisades OC0183-0011A-NL02