ML18100A281

NPDES Noncompliance Notification:On 930325,discharge of Hydrazine from Nonradiological Liquid Waste Disposal Sys Occurred & Hydrazine Detected in Final Clarifier.Caused by Failure to Open Valve.Hydrazine Addition Procedure Revised

ML18100A281
Person / Time
Site:	Salem
Issue date:	03/30/1993
From:	Vondra C Public Service Enterprise Group
To:	Mathis S NEW JERSEY, STATE OF
References
NLR-E93107, NUDOCS 9304080018
Download: ML18100A281 (2)

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~ 0 PStitt Public Service Electric and Gas Company P.O. Box 236 Hancocks Bridge, New Jersey 08038 Nuclear Department CERTIFIED MAIL RETURN RECEIPT REQUESTED ARTICLE NUMBER

P 346 404 245 MAR 3 0 1993 NLR-E93107 Mr. Steve Mathis N. J. Department of Environmental Protection and Energy Office of Enforcement Policy Southern Bureau of Water and Hazardous Waste Enforcement 20 East Clementon Road Gibbsboro, NJ 08026

Dear Mr. Mathis:

SALEM GENERATING STATION NJPDES PERMIT NO. NJ0005622 DISCHARGE OF HYDRAZINE CASE NO. 93-03-25-1452-49 On March 25, 1993, Public Service Electric and Gas (PSE&G)

Company reported a discharge of hydrazine from the Non-Radiological Liquid Waste Disposal System (NRLWDS) at the Salem Generating Station. The NRLWDS is an internal monitoring point, DSN 48C, which ultimately discharges to the Delaware River through the circulating-water system outfalls under the terms of NJPDES Permit No. NJ0005622. The discharge was. reported to the NJDEPE Hotline and was issued Case No. 93-03-25-1452-49 by Operator 21.

The NRLWDS provides treatment through clarification, metals precipitation and chlorination for ammonia and hydrazine removal.

The system is currently operated in a batch mode with influent samples analyzed for ammonia and hydrazine to determine treatment requirements. In order to discharge, there may be no detectable hydrazine in the effluent.

on March 25, Chemistry personnel detected 840 ppb of hydrazine in the clearwell of the final clarifier. The clarifier had been discharging during the evening of March 24 between 4:30 p.m. and 11:00 p.m. Prior to discharging, the clarifier had been tested and no hydrazine was detected. However, during a transfer of hydrazine* to a steam generator, hydrazine was inadvertently discharged to the NRLWDS while the clarifier discharge was occurring. Based upon the hydrazine concentrations in the final

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• MAR 3 0 1993 clarifier both before and after the discharge qnd the discharge flowrate, less than one (1) pound of hydrazine was discharged.

All hydrazine remaining in the NRLWDS was treated with sodium hypochlorite prior to discharge.

The hydrazine discharge was caused by the failure to open a valve during the transfer of hydrazine to the steam generator. Instead of the steam generator, the hydrazine was discharged via the pressure relief valve to the' chemical waste tank. The contents of the chemrcal waste tank are automatically pumped to the NRLWDS.

In order to prevent recurrence of this incident, Chemistry is modifying the hydrazine addition procedure to require verification of proper pump discharge pressure* during transfers.

The procedure shall be modified and implemented by May 1, 1993.

An investigation into the cause of the valve misalignment is also being conducted.

If you have any questions or require additional information, please to contact Pat McCabe of my staff at (609') 339-1245.

PP C. A. Vondra General Manager -

Salem Operations c Assistant Director of Enforcement NJ Department of Environmental Protection and Energy 401 East state street Trenton, NJ 08625-0029

u. s. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Document Control Desk Washington, D.C. 20555