ML18057A611
| ML18057A611 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Palisades  |
| Issue date: | 11/30/1990 |
| From: | Slade G CONSUMERS ENERGY CO. (FORMERLY CONSUMERS POWER CO.) |
| To: | NRC OFFICE OF INFORMATION RESOURCES MANAGEMENT (IRM) |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 9012110176 | |
| Download: ML18057A611 (3) | |
Text
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t consumers Power POW ERi Nii MICHlliAN'S PRDliRESS Palisades Nuclear Plant:
27780 Blue Star Memorial Highway, Coven, Ml 49043 November 30, 1990 Nuclear Regulatory Commission Document Control Desk Washington, DC 20555 DOCKET 50-255 - LICENSE DPR PALISADES PLANT -
- NON-RADIOLOGICAL NPDES PERMIT VIOLATION REPORT GB Slade General Manager Section 3.2 of.Appendix B, Environmental Protection Plan (Non-Radiological) to Provisional Operating License No. DPR-20, entitled, "Reporting Related to NPDES Permits and State Certifications", states that copies of reports to the State of Michigan indicating violations of NPDES permits are to be sent to the NRC.
Our April 17, 1985 letter to the NRC states that we will comply with Sections 3.2 and 5.4.2 of Appendix B of the Palisades Technical Specifications by submitting all NPDES permit violations and reports of oil, salt or polluting material loss on a semi annual basis within 30 days from April 30 and October 31.
Du.ring th~. period from May through October 1990, no NPDES notifications were required. There were, however, several instances where the Michigan Department of Natural Resources was notified of several small overflows from the plant septic system. Attached is a summary of the information provided to the State of Michigan.
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Gerald B Slade General Manager CC Administrator, Region III, USNRC NRC Resident Inspector - Palisades Attachment A CMS' ENERGY COMPANY
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ATTACHMENT Consumers Power Company Palisades Plant Docket 50-255 NON-RADIOLOGICAL NPDES PERMIT VIOLATION REPORT
SUMMARY
OF INFORMATION ON SEPTIC TANK OVERFLOWS Pages I
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e v
- rhe Palisades Plant has experienced six different incidents of sewage overflows to the storm drain system with five of these incidents occurring during the period of May 1 through October 31, 1990.
The storm drain systems are permitted only for discharge of rainwater runoff.
Because a discharge of a different substance occurred, notification was made to the appropriate agency, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (MDNR).
There are four different septic systems currently in use at Palisades. During the period of May 1, 1990 and October 31, 1990 there have been problems with two of the four septic systems.
The north septic system had sewage overflow problems on April 15, August 30 and September 4, 1990.
On April 15, 1990 during the spring maintenance outage, an increase in the number of contractors on site using the facilities contributed to the first sewage tank overflow incident.
Following the incident the plant started daily pumping of the north septic tank to prevent the tank from overflowing and discharging to the storm drain.
Following the spring maintenance outage, with a decrease in the number of contractors on site, pumping of the septic tank was decreased.
On August 30, 1990 near the beginning of the refueling and steam generator replacement outage, the second occurrence of sewage overflow from the north septic tank occurred. This occurrence was again attributable to the increased number of
. contractors on site using the facilities. Daily pumping of the north tank was resumed.
The September 4, 1990 overflow was attributable to a poor clean out fixture design which was subsequently modified.
The plant also initiated twice daily pumping of the tank and no more overflows have occurred.
The south septic system had sewage overflow occurrences on May 29 and 30, September 20 and October 15, 1990.
On May 29 and 30, 1990, the level controllers on the south tank failed to operate properly, causing a backup of sewage.
The level controllers were scheduled for repair and the plant began twice daily pumping of the south tank. This frequency of pumping continued until another overflow occurrence on September 20, 1990.
Again because of the increased number of contractors on site for the refueling and steam generator re~lacement outage, this pumping frequency was not enough.
At this time, a manual pumping fr_equency of once every four hours was initiated until. the sewage lift pumps were working reliably in the automatic mode.
The sewage overflow i IJ~ i dent of October. 15, 1990 w_as c.aused by a blockage of the sewage line to the south septic tank.
The plugged line and continued use of the system caused an overflow from a manhole which discharged into a storm drain.
Following this incident all sewer lines and manways were inspected and cleaned as necessary.
-A 11 of the sewa*ge discharged "into the stor*m drains was cl ear effluent liquid.
There were no solids discharged.
The Lake Michigan beach and surface water area where the storm drains discharge, were inspected following the occurrences and verified that no sewage was present. Most of the discharge volumes were less than 25 gallons.
The most volume discharged at one time was estimated at 700 gallons which occurred on October 15, 1990.
These events have been discussed thoroughly with plant personnel and a representative from the Michigan Department of Natural resources.