ML18100A381

NPDES Noncompliance Notification:On 930513,less than One Gallon of Oil Discharged to Delaware River from Salem Generating Station.Absorbant Boom Being Maintained in Min of Three Manholes.Root Cause Investigation to Be Conducted

ML18100A381
Person / Time
Site:	Salem
Issue date:	05/18/1993
From:	Thomson F Public Service Enterprise Group
To:	Mathis S NEW JERSEY, STATE OF
References
NLR-E93154, NUDOCS 9305250105
Download: ML18100A381 (2)

Text

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Public Service Electric and Gas Company P.O. Box 236 Hancocks Bridge, New Jersey 08038 Nuclear Department CERTIFIED MAIL MAY 18 1993 RETURN RECEIPT REQUESTED ARTICLE NUMBER: P 346 404 463 NLR-E93154 Mr. Steve Mathis NJ Department of Environmental Protection and Energy Off ice of Enforcement Policy Southern Bureau of Water and Hazardous Waste Enforcement 20 East Clementon Road Gibbsboro, NJ 08.026

Dear Mr. Mathis:

SALEM GENERATING STATION NJPDES PERMIT NO. NJ0005622 OIL DISCHARGE TO RIVER CASE NO. 93-05-13-0938-21 Public Service Electric and Gas Company (PSE&G) reported a discharge of oil to the Delaware River. from the Salem Generating Station on May 13, 1993. The oil sheen entered the River from the West Yard Drain, DSN 488, and extended along the shoreline for approximately 40 feet before dissipating at the service water intake structure. The sheen was also reported to the National Response Center which assigned Case No. 173-364. The U.S. Coast Guard dispatched Petty Off ic'ers Kilgore and Cummings to inspect the discharge and cleanup activities. Less than one (1) gallon of oil was estimated to have been discharged.

The oil sheen was discovered by Operations personnel at approximately 0930 hours0.0108 days <br />0.258 hours <br />0.00154 weeks <br />3.53865e-4 months <br /> and reported to the Senior Nuclear Shift Supervisor. Site Protection personnel immediately took action to install absorbant boom in several upstream manholes to collect any residual oil. A containment boom had already been installed in the River at the outfall due to an ongoing yard drain cleaning project. Site Protection personnel took additional steps to anchor the containment boom to prevent oil from escaping.

PSE&G is evaluating several potential causes for the incident:

a. Minor oil leaks from equipment located on the turbine deck.

During precipitation events, oil is washed through roof drains to the West Yard Drain system.

95-2168 REV. 11/91

s. Mathis 2 MAY 18 1993 NLR-E93154

b. A collection of oily sediment in an elbow upstream of Manhole No. 9 in the yard drain system. During the recent cleaning of the system, this area could not be cleaned or inspected.

c. Failure of an oil-saturated absorbant boom in Manhole No. 9.

PSE&G shall conduct a root cause investigation and provide the Department and Coast Guard with a report on the cause and corrective actions by June 18, 1993.

In the interim, PSE&G is doing the following actions to reduce the potential for additional violations:

1. Maintain absorbant boom in a minimum of three manholes prior to the* outfall to collect any residual oil. This boom shall be inspected and replaced periodically.

2. Maintain containment boom in the River at the outfall of the West Yard Drain.

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

Sincerely,

-P7~L,_,/

F. x. Thomson, Jr.

Manager -

Licensing and Regulation C Assistant Director of Enforcement NJ Department of Environmental Protection and Energy 401 East State Street CN 029 Trenton, NJ 08625-0029 Petty Officer Glen H. Kilgore U. s. Coast Guard 1 Washington, Avenue Philadelphia, PA 19147-4395 U. S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Document Control Desk Washington, D.C. 20555