ML19263E860
| ML19263E860 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | FitzPatrick  |
| Issue date: | 05/17/1979 |
| From: | Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation |
| To: | |
| Shared Package | |
| ML19263E859 | List: |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 7906250384 | |
| Download: ML19263E860 (17) | |
Text
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UNITED STATES NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
.3 4
5 kM) h WASHINGTON, D. C. 20555 D
./,]
s, ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT APPRAISAL BY THE OFFICE OF NUCLEAR REACTOR REGULATION SUPPORTING AMENDMENT NO. 46 TO LICENSE NO. OPR-59 POWER AUTHORITY OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK JAMES A. FITZPATRICK NUCLEAR POWER PLANT DOCKET N0. 50-333 1.0 Introduction 1.1 Chemical Protection Limits By letters dated January 10, 1977 and January 17, 1979, the Power Authority of the State of New York (the licensee) requested an amendment to the Appendix B Non-Radiological Environmental Technical Specifi-cations (ETS) for the James A. FitzPatrick Nuclear Power Plant. The licensee proposes to modify the limiting conditions for operation (LCO's) in ETS Section 2, " Protection Limits," for biocides, corro-sion inhibitors, suspended and dissolved solids, and pH and conductivity.
The proposed modifications to Section 2 include:
A.
Subsection 2.2.1.
The licensee proposes to include service water in its prohibition of the use of biocides.
B.
Subsection 2.2.2.
The licensee proposes to reword the specifica-tion prohibiting discharge of corrosion inhibitors (chromates);
C.
Subsection 2.2.3.
The licensee proposes rewording of LC0's for suspended and dissolved solids. The staff has deleted these requirements; and D.
Subsection 2.2.4.
The licensee proposes to monitor conductivity and to discharge effluents with a pH between 4.0 and 9.0 when the conductivity of the waste tank is below 10 umho/cm.
The evaluation of this portion of the ETS revision is discussed in Section 2.1.
1.2 Environmental Surveillance and Soecial Study Procrams By letter dated January 17, 1979, the Power Authority of the State of New York (the licensee) renewed their request for an amendment to the Appendix B Non-Radiological Environmental Technical Specifications 2215 151 noen o sst'
, (ETS) for the James A. FitzPatrick Nuclear Power Plant. The licensee proposes to delete all portions of the environmental non-radiological aquatic biological monitoring program in Section 4 with the exception of impingement sampling, which they propose to reduce in sampling intensity, and a low-level fish sampling program in the lake to com-plement the impingement monitoring.
This appraisal reviews the results of, and provides a basis for, deleting Specifications 4.1.1.a (except for a low-intensity fish sampling program to com-plement the impingement monitoring), 4.1.1.c, 4.1.2, 4.1.3, and 4.2.1, and reducing the intensity of sampling required by Specification 4.1.1.b.
The evaluation of this portion of the ETS revision is discussed in Section 2.2.
2.0 Evaluation / Environmental Imoacts of Proposed Action 2.1 Chemical Protection Limits The following is a discussion of the environmental impact for each change proposed by the licensee.
a) The licensee proposes to prohibit the use of biocides in the service water system as well as in the main condenser cooling water. This would result in a 1cwer level of environmental impact than if biocides were allowed to be used in the service water system. Therefore, impact would be less than that pemitted by the existing ETS and the proposed change is acceptable.
b) The licensee proposes to reword the specification prohibiting discharge of corrosion inhibitors. The specification has been changed to read that corrosion inhibitors shall not normally be discharged to the lake.
This change is in recognition that although there is no intentional discharge of corrosion inhibitors, some chromate could appear in the discharge due to leakage from the diesel generator closed loop cooling system where chromate is used as a corrosion inhibitor.
If leakage from this system-should occur, the chromate would be collected in floor drains and routed to the waste tanks, where its release to the circulat-ing water system could be controlled. A requirement has been added that the licensee monitor the Diesel Generator Closed Loop Cooling System at least monthly to determine if leakage from the system occurred and to detemine the amount of leakage. An eval-uation of environmental impact shall be made and prompt action will be taken to prevent any further leakage. The staff finds these changes to be acceptable.
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. c) Specification 2.2.3 limits the concentration of solutes released from the makeup water system to Lake Ontario.
Each of two makeup demineralizer waste neutralizer tanks, with a capacity of 25,000 gallons, s typically discharged at a maximum rate of 50 gpm over a pcriod of 8 to 10 hours1.157407e-4 days <br />0.00278 hours <br />1.653439e-5 weeks <br />3.805e-6 months <br /> once a week. T1e Comissior.'s Final Environmental Statement (FES) for the James A. FitzPatrick Nuclear Power Plant predicted that with a 7200-fold dilution of the makeup demineralizer waste neutralizer tank discharge into the circulating water system and an additional 10-fold dilution at the boundary of 3-acre area on the lake surface, the chemical concentration of solutes during discharge will be close to lake water concentrations.
The FES also gives estimates for daily discharges of solutes from the plant as a result of operation of the makeup water system.
Results of 4 years of monitoring makeup demineralizer waste tank releases indicate that the FES predictions were conservative for all solutes measured. Thus, with respect to yearly pounds of solutes dis-charged, it is apparent that the licensee is operating the facility in a manner consistent with what was assessed in the FES.
In the current ETS the licensee is required to provide for additional dilution when the concentration of any solute in the station dis-charge exceeds the lake ambient concentration of that solute by more than 5% or when total dissolved solids in the station dis-charge exceeds lake ambient by more than 1%.
In order to deter-mine compliance with the specifications, the licensee must take grab samples from the intake and from the discharge and compare them with each other. Because of the difficulty of taking a representative sample, and because of relatively low precision of analytical techniques, coupled with the stringent limit, the licensee is frequently found to be out of compliance. This occurs even though measurements of the waste tank concentrations and subsequent calculations of the dilution provided oy release into the circulating water flow indicate that actual releases are within the specified limits. Examination of operating data taken by the licensee over the past 4 years reveals that tN chemical discharge concentrations in the plant discharge due io demineralizer regeneration wastes are very much below those levels which have been shown to be acutely toxic to aquatic organisms in Lake Ontario.1,2 d) The licensee proposes to increase the pH range of discharge effluents to between 4.0 and 9.0 when the conductivity of the waste tank is below 10 a mho/cm and to monitor the conductivity.
The pH is still restricted to a range of 6.0 to 9.0 when the conductivity exceeds 10 a mho/cm. A condition of low conductivity could occur when increased usage of the waste concentrator increases the pure water inventory, with only CO2 as a ccntaminant, or when a small 2215 153
_4 amount of acid occurs in a poorly buffered solution It is cal-culated that less than 2 mg/l of sulfuric acid in distilled water would produce a conductivity in excess of 10 a mho/cm. The pre-sence of any additional salts beyond this biologically insignifi-cant amount wou;d increase conductivity, and the discharge would have to be neutralized to bring the pH within the 6.0 to 9.0 range. The low pH waste would be discharged at a maximum rate of 100 gpm into the circulating water discharge of 350,000 gpm.
Thus, a dilution of 3500 to 1 occurs before the station dis-charge enters the lake. After such dilution, the discharge is at essentially the same pH as the ambient lake water; and no adverse impact on biota in the lake is expected. As indicated in the FES, the impact on the lake due to losses ef biota within the circulat-ing water system would be small even assuming 100% mortality of entrained organisms; thus, minor impacts during dilution within the station piping are acceptable as well.
2.2 Environmental Surveillance and Special Study Programs Specification 4.1.1.a required a general ecological survey consisting of monitoring programs for phytoplankton, microzooplankton, macro-zooplankton, ichthyoplankton, periphyton, benthos, and fish. The specific objectives of the general ecological survey are as follows:
(1) Determination of distribution and relative abundance of species in space and time in the biotic groups (phytoplankton, zooplankton, periphyton, benthos, and fish);
(2) Determination of changes in biological parameters and their significance within and out of the area influenced by the thermal plume; (3) Determination of the relationship of changes within and among biotic groups and with the physical and chemical characteristics of the environment; and (4) Determination of the relationship of changes to the operation of the plant and significance of the effects of such changes on the ecosystem.
This survey, described in the FES and designed to be descriptive in nature, was to span at least a two-year period, ending approximately in Movember 1976 and was to be used to:
(1) identi fy which of the biological parameters require continual monitoring throughout the life of the plant and establish liciting conditions and report levels for these biological parameters; or 2215 154
. (2) establish that measurement of such parameters is unnecessary due to insignificant impact.
Data collected during more than four years of plant operation, combined with the preoperational data, have documented cyclic short-term seasonal variations in the lake, but have failed to indicate that operation of FitzPatrick is causing a significant adverse impact on any segment of the biota as described below.
Phytoolankton Surface (50". iight transmittance level) whole water phytoplankton samples have been collected monthly at stations along four transects (two thermally influenced and two control) at four depths (10, 20, 40 and 60-ft. contours) since 1973. Also samples have been taken at the 25", and 1". light transmit-tance levels at five of these statinns since 1975. Abundance, species composition, and chlorophyll were measured during all y' ears; biovolume and primary productivity (uptake of lC) were measured during some, but not all yea rs. With this comprehensive data base, encompassing both potentially impacted and non-impacted areas in the Nine Mile Point vicinity *, any signi ficant changes in phytoplankton ccmmunity composition or productivity due to plant operation would be evident.
9e seasonal patterns of phytoplankton abundance and species composition observed in the vicinity of Nine Mile Point since 1973 reflect seasonal patterns typical of Lake Ontario.
There is some phytoplankton growth throughout the year, with species identified from all phytoplankton groups (diatoms, green algae, 51ue-green algae and flagelldes).
The annual cycle is usually characterized by two periods of rapid and intense phytoplankton growth, termed " pulses" or " blooms". One pulse during the spring, is dominated by diatoms, while the fall pulse is usually dominated by blue-green algae. Maximum chlorophyll "a" generally occurs during the summer, although peaks also occur in the spring and sometimes during the fall.
The seasonal patterns are correlated closely with natural changes in physical conditions, i.e., water tamperature and light intensity, and with the supply of dissolved inorganic nutrients.
The species composition of the phytoplankton community in the Nine Mile Point vicinity has been relatively consistent throughout the years despite considerable natural variation.
Green algae tends to be the dominant component of the phytoplankton in the late summer, with a large increase in abundance during July being dominated by the same species reported to exist throughout the' lake. The spatial differences in abundance, s:ecies Botn tne Fit: Patrick and the Nine Mile Point Unit 1, nuclear power plants are located on a geographical feature on Lake Ontario called Nine Mile Point.
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. composition and product!vity in the site vicinity appear to be related to natural phenomena such as lake circulation patterns and the Oswego River.
West to east trends (Oswego River influence) of decreasing standing crop have been noted.
Trends of decreasing abundance and chlorophyll "a" at offshore stations compared to nearshore ones have also been noted. No consistent trend of increased or decreased species abundance or chlorophyll "a' was detected in the near field. Although primary productivity was occasionally enhanced in the discharge area, the effect was not noted out-side of a localized area, nor was it present during each year or consistent throughout the year.
The phytoplankton species in the vicinity of Nine Mile Point conform closely to the inventory of species recorded for shoal waters in Lake Ontario, The taxonomy, distribution and abundance of phytoplankton in the area are essentially the 3ame as have been determined for the lake as a whole.
It can be concluded that the impact of the James A. FitzPatrick Nuclear Power Plant is not detectable above natural variations and is not sign,ificant since no large-scale shifts in the composition of the phytoplankton community have occurred over the last five years.
The phytoplankton community is expected to continue to display similar seasonal and spatial trends in standing crop and species composition in the future. This fact plus the lack of any significant plant impacts make further monitoring o.f -the phytoplankton community unnecessary.
Zooolankton For the purposes of the studies undertaken at Nine Mile Point, the zooplankton were separated by size into two categories: microzooplankton and macrozoo-plankton.
"Macrozooplankton" are those invertebrate zooplankton retained in a 571-micron mesh zooplankton net, while "microzooplankton" are functionally defined as the zooplankton ranging in size from 76 to 571 microns.
Micro-zooplankton were collected at least monthly from 1973 and 1977 Samples were collected by oblique or vertical tows through the entire water colu n along four transects (two potentially thermally influenced and two controls) at four depth contours (10, 20, 40, and 60-ft depth contours) and species composition and abundance were measured.
Microzacolankton The microzooplankton fraction of the total zooplankton community in the vicinity of Nine Mile Point was composed of four ma.jor taxonomic groups; roti fers, cladocerans, copepods and protozoans.
Strong seasonal trends were evident in all years, with maximum microzooplankton i undance occurring during the summer, and a secondary peak often occurring i the fall.
Rotifers contributed the greatest percentage of micrazoop..nkton abundance in the vicinity of Nine Mile Point, exhibiting a bimodal pattern, peaking once during the summer with a second smaller pulse in the early fall.
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. Statistical analysis performed by the licensee indicated that the abundance at the transec':s were not significantly di fferent. A three-way ANOVA indicated that the greatest variance in the data was attributable to differences among dates followed by contour depths at the stations and finally by transects. The only consistent trend was one of decreasing microplankton densities recorded offshore at all transects and was unrelated to plant operation.
Some changes have been documented in the microzooplank-ton community between years, but no consistent or unidirectional change has been noted over the past five years.
The same species,have dominated the community during each year, and no long-term increases or decreases in the standing crop of any group have been observed.
The seasonal patterns are similar to those reported by other researchers. Variations in the temporal and spatial patterns appear to be primarily the result of natural fluctuations.
Macrozocolankton Macrozooplankton samples were collected concurrently with the ichthyoplankton sampici since the same sampling gear was used for both. Samples were collected during 5 minute tows with a 571 micron plankton net from surface, mid anc bottom depths at 15 station's distributed in three concentric arcs (0.5,1.0 and 3.0 mile radii from the FitzPatrick Nuclear Power Plant) on five depth contours (20, 40, 60, 80, and 100-ft contours).
Sampling was conducted weekly and collections were made both day and night and were analyzed for species composition and abundance.
The dominant macrozoo-plankton groups were cladocerans, copepods and amphipods (many of the same species collected in the microzooplankton samples due to the wide range of sizes encompassed by the developmental stages of these organisms), with the macrozooplankton corruni ty frequently dominated by the cladoceran Leotodora and the anphipod Gammarus. The species conposition of the macrozooplankton community remainec relatively stable over the years studied, with the same species occurring each year.
Some macrozooplankton, such as Ga marus typically exhibited diel vertical migrations, moving into the water column during the night and remaining on the bottom during the day. Highest abundances for the dominant organisms occurred during the summer when seasonally warm water temperatures and abundant food supplies (both of which affect reproduction and growth) are prevalent.
pontecoreia and Mysis, both cold-water species (glacial relects) were observed primarily during periods of cold water upwellings. Pattern <. of spatial distribution have been variable over the years, but it appears that there is an increase in the abundance of Gammarus and Diptera toward the eastern stations where more sand and silt are found in the substrate beyond the 20-ft contour.
In addition, a trend of decreasing Gammarus_ abundance with increasing depth has been noted.
These trends are similar to those found in the benthic collections.
No significant or consistent changes acpear to have occurred in the macrozooplankton community that can be attributed to plant operation.
Rather, most of the variability noted seems to be related to natural environ-mental fluctuations.
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. Pe ri chyton The artificial substrate periphyton program conducted near Nine Mile Point since 1973 consists of bottom and buoy (suspended) periphyton samplers.
Sottom periphyton was collected by placing artificial substrates on the lake bottom along two experimental and two control transects at five depth contours (5,10, 20, 30, and 40-foot depth contours).
Buoy periphyton was collected by suspending substrates at defined depths (2, 7,12, and 17 ft) in the water column at three transects (one experimental and two control) along the 40-ft depth contour.
Samplers were placed in the water after the spring thaw, and the substrates were retrieved and replaced by clean ones every 2-4 weeks until the end of the year.
Species composition, numerical abundance, biomass (dry weight and ash-free dry weight), and photosysthetic pigments (chlorophyll a and phaeophyten) were measured.
The periphyton community on the artificial substrates was composed primarily of diatoms in the spring, green and/or blue-green algae during the warm months, and diatoms again in the fall.
Protozoa, primarily ciliates r.nd suctorians, were common particularly at the deeper depth where light intensity was lower.
The presence of a relatively large blue-green algal component is consistent with recent reports of increas-ing eutrophication of Lake Ontario, particularly in the nearshore waters.
Numerical densities were greater on buoy than bottom substrates probably due to lower siltation and higher light intensity on the suspended s ample rs.
Biomass on buoy periphyton was generally higher at the experi-mental station than at either of the controls, and the difference was statistically significant.
(However, ratios of biomass to chlor: phyll did not differ between control and experimental transects, indicating no change in the ratio of primary to secondary production.) Similar results were not observed for biomass of bottom periphyton, for which statistical analysis indicated no difference associated with the experimental versus the control station.
This observation demonstrates that if increased production is a plume effect, it is not reflected in the periphytic cor.munity on the lake bottom, which is the natural habitat for these o rgani sms.
(Thus, the results of the buoy study are not directly appli-cable, since the periphytic community does not naturally inhabit the upper regions of the water column in 40 feet of water).
The species composition and standing crop, of the bottom periphyton have remained relatively constant over the five-year study period.
No consistent trends attributable to plant operation were observed among years or among transects for bottom periphyton, which is the more realistic indication of the local periphyton cc:munity, as periphyton is present only on the lake bottom.
Benthos Replicate quantitative benthic samples have been collected from 20 stations (10, 20, 40 and 60-ft depth contours on each of four transects) during alternate months between April and December from 1973 througn 1977.
These benthic studies have spanned a sufficient length of time to allow comparisons 2215 158
9 between pre and post-operational years and the number pf stations were sufficient to provide data frcm plume and non-plums areas over a range of depths.
Thus, the benthic program was adequate to detect signi ficant plant-induced effects as well as to describe natural cycles in the benthic community. All organisms were enunterated and identified to the lowest possible taxon (over 120 taxa comprising seven different phyla,have been i denti fie d).
Visual observation of the type of substrate in the area of Nine Mile Point established a gradient of increasing sedimentation eastwards, with the two westernmost transects dominated more by bedrock than by sand and silt.
The two easternmost transects were characterized as having bed-rock and rubble in the inshore areas with sand and silt prevalent beyond the 20-ft contour.
Benthic invertebrates in the Nine Mile Point area have a seasonal growth and reproduction pattern similar to that expected for +emperate latitudes.
Benthic organisms were most abundant in the June-August months.
The trend of greater benthic invertebrate abundance during the summer is mainly due to the presence of actively growing Cladochora, a filamentous gree.n algae which provides food and refuge for many inverxebrate populations.
Seasonally, the distribution of macroinvertebrates was as follows: polychaetes and gastropods were dominant in April, the oligochaetes and ostracods in June, the amphipod Gammarus and polychaetes in August, Gammarus and oligochaetes in October and Gamnarus in December. Differences observed in the distribu-tion and species abundance of benthic invertebrates between stations and transects are attributed to animal-substrate relationships.
For example, Gammarus and the polychaete fianayunkia were dominant and associated with beorock substrate while the nematode Dorylaimus, tubificids and the dipteran Cryotochirenomus were abundant where the suostrate was mostly sand and silt.
In general, more organisms were found in deep areas where silt content was high and in shallow water in association with Cladochora beds, while fewest u ganisms were found at intermediate depths.
Abundance and biomass also showed an increasing trend from west to east similar to the trend of increasing silt content.
Gammarus was the single dominant organism in the benthic samples.
The U.S. EPA identified it as a representative important species for the purposes of the "316(a) and (b) demonstrations"* at FitzPatrick and Nine Mile Point because of its importance as a food source for fish in the area.
Therefore, particular emphasis was placed on Gammarus throughout the study.
The analysis of long-term abundance data showed no significant differences in Gammarus abundance between pre and post-operational years.
In addition, analysis of seasonal data indicate that the organism is Federal Water Pollution Control Act,1972.
PL 92-500, Sections 316(a) and (b).
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. successfully completing annual reproductive cycles in the area.
Typical seasonal fluctuations in mean density of Gammarus in the study area were between 100 and 6,000 organisms / meter 2, with less than* 2% of the animals suspended in the water column above the bottom (as shown by the macrozco-plankton tows).
Spatial distribution of Gammarus was shown to be the result of substrate sariation and seasonal growth patterns.
Comparison of observed abundance between plume and non-plume stations with similar substrates showed no significant differences on Gamarus or other benthic macroinvertebrates, indicating that the heated discharge has had no discern-able effect on the benthic comunity.
Although scouring has been observed in th9 immediate vicinity of the high velocity (15 fps) FitzPatrick' discharge, this is a v&ry localized effect which will not have a significant impact on the benthic community outside of the immediate discharge vicinity. None of the spatial, seasonal or annual fluctuations in the benthic community were found to be related to plant operation.
The benthic comunity has exhibited normal population dynamics in response to the natural spatial and temporal variations in habitat and environment.
Because there have been no significant adverse impacts on the benthic comunity as a result of plant operation and because the FES predictions of no impact have been verified, this study may be terminated.
Fis h Fishes have been collected from four transects twice monthly from April through December in the vicinity of Nine Mile point with gill nets, trawls, beach seines and trap nets since 1973.
Fish collected in trap nets were identi fied, counted, tagged and released.
Fish collected from gill nets, trawls and seines were identified to species, weighed and measured.
Detailed secondary analysis, including coefficient of maturity, age, and growth and food habit studies were conducted for yellcw perch, smallmouth bass and white perch; Detailed analysis of abundance data comparing catch-per-effort between control and experimental transects were made yearly for the above three species and for the alewife and rainbow smelt.
The fish species identified as representative and important by the EPA for the purposes of the 316(a) and (b) demonstrations of FitzPatrick and Nine Mile point were the alewife, brown trout, coho salmon, rainbow smelt, smallmouth bass, three spine stickleback, and yellow perch. The range of fishery gear types, and the spatial distribution and frequency of fish collections, were adequate to collect data that would indicate the presence of any significant plant-induced impacts on the fish populations -n the area of Nine Mile Point.
A total of 72 species have been identified in fish saccles collected near Nine Mile Point. Approximately 75% of the fish collected were alewives.
Rainbow smelt, spottail shiner, yellow perch, and white perch comprised approximately 18% of the total fish collected, indicating the small numbers 2215 160
. of the other species reported in the taxonomic listing of the fish community.
On a seasonal basis, the greatest abundance of fish was observed during the spring months, corresponding to the shoreward aigration of rainbow smelt and alewives.
Fish diversity (Shannon-Weaver index) was-high during the spring due to the onshore migration of a number of lake fishes. Diversity was lowest during the warm-water months when alewives reached their greatest abundance, and increased during the fall when the offshore movement of the alewife resulted in a more even distribution of fishes among the species.
The greatest fish concentrations were four.d at the two eastern transects, which is consistent with findings for other trophic levels.
The shoreline community, evaluated through the use of beach seines, was found to be low in abundance and dominated by young alewife.
Cyprinids (mainly the important forage species, spottail shiner), centrarchids, and white perch, were the other major cor=1 unity members in the nearshore environment.
There were few changes in the fish comunity between pre and post-operational years as determined by gill net collections. Gi:zard shad abundance has been reported to be increasing in Lake Ontario and data collected on gizzard shad indicate an increasing shad population in the Nine Mile Point vicinity, with the greatest concentrations occurring during the fall. Yearly catch-per-effort data for rainbow smelt, white perch and smallmouth bass collected by gill nets show no significant difference among years from 1969 to 1974.
Alewives have increased in abundance, with significantly greater numbers collected in 1974 compared to earlier years (alewives have been shown to undergo large year-to-year fluctuations in population si:e in other land-locked situations).
Yellow perch exhibited a general decline in abundance over the six years with significantly fewer collected in 1974 The follow-ing year, however, the abundancre of yellow peren collected in gill nets increased by three-fold.
These seem to be normal fluctuations in population dynamics, unrelated to plant cperation.
The alewi fe, rainbow smelt, white perch, yellow perch, and smallmouth bass were collected in sufficient quantity and at all stages of development to demonstrate completion of the normal life cycle in the vicinity of Nine Mile Point.
The s31monids (brown trout and coho salmon) were collected infrequently, but year-to-year changes in abundance of these species in gill net collections reflected the stocking intensity as reported by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation.
The licensee's statistical analyses of monthly species diversity using a three-way ANOVA indicated that there were no significant differences between transects for any temporal comparison.
In addition, there was no significant difference in mean annual species diversity.
These results indicate that thermal discharges from Fitzpatrick are not causing significant adverse impacts On the fish populations in the area.
The licensee's 316(a) demonstration examined the indirect effects of the FitzPatrick discharge.
These factors included effects of current shear, pressure change, and dissolved oxygen.
The changes found to occur in each of these parameters were all well within the tolerance limits of the species 2215 161
. present or similar species. As a result of. the extensive field sampling program conducted in the vicinity of Nine Mile Point, personnel have been present during several plant shutm
, which included shutdowns during colder water periods.
To date no observations of cold shocA mortality on fish have been made as a result of shutdown by FitzPatrick.
The summer maximum upper incipient lethal temperature thresholds, corresponding to the most critical temperature period for the representative important species, were evaluated to determine the potential of thermal kill occurr-ing during the warmer months. Ocly three species (brown trout, coho salmon, and rhinbow smelt) have lethal threshold temperatures that may be exceeded in the thermal plume downstream of the initial mixing of the discharge.
However, these species are normally found in cecier offshore water during the' summer months when the discharge would represent a potential lethal factor.
The preference for colder water would normally limit the number of these fish in the warmer nearshore zone during the surm:er months.
The results of these studies have shown that:
the thermal discharge from FitzPatrick is not causing a significant adverse impact on fish populations in the area; the predictions of no harm presented in the FES have been validated; and the potential for damage to fish populations in the future is considered small if the. plant continues operation in its present mode.
For these reasons the present fish sampling study may be terminated, except for a reduce gill netting program which is to complement the impingement sampling.
Ichthycolankton Ichthyoplankton samples collected concurrently with the macrozooplankton samples for the five years from 1973 through 1977 were comprised of eggs and larvae of several fish :pecies.
Seasonal patterns of egg and larval abundance indicated two periods of larval presence.
The fir:t was comprised of the late fall, winter and early spring-spawning fish. Rainbow smelt and yellow perch were the most abundant species collected during this period, with occasional occurrences of'burbot and cisco in low numbers.
The second period included summer-spawning fish species dominated by the alewife.
Rainbow smelt were generally the second most abuhdant larvae and were present in more collections over a longer period (but in lower numbers) than the alewi fe. Larvae of other species were collected in low numbers or not at all.
The egg collections (as might be expected from the larvae fish collectionsl were dominated by alewi fe and rainbow smelt.
Eggs of the other species were collected in extremely low numbers and on only ten sampling dates.
Eggs and larvae of all species were collected in greater concentrations in all years at the 20-ft depth controur than at the deeper contours throughout the study area. As the larvae mature, they emigrate to the deeper water, creating an onshore-offshore distribution.
Diel catterns, in which alewife eggs and, larvae and rainbpw smelt larvae were more abundant in night collections than day' collections, suggest greater spawning activity at night for alewives and grea'ter larval aceivity at night for both alewives and rainbow smelt.
Furthermore, the licensee's 2215 162
. data indicate that the Nine Mile point area is not a major spawning area for most Lake Ontario fishes.
However, for those species t' hat do utilize the area (principally alewife and rainbow smelt) no consistent' patterns in distribution of eggs and larvae between plume and non-plume areas have been found.
These conclusions confirm the FES predictions that plant operation would have a minimal effect en ichthyoplankton and would not adversely affect fish populations in the area.
Lake Water Chemistry Survey Sixteen water quality parameters have been collected at six stations twice per month for more than four years. These surveys are intended to complement the sampling for biotic groups.
(See analysis under Specification 4.1.2.)
Imoinnement and Entrainment Specification 4.1.1.b requires collection of fish impinged on the intake travelling screens during a 24-hour period at a frequency of three times weekly. One of these weekly collections consists of 24 one-hour samples to determine day-night di fferences in the rate of impingenent.
Additi' 9 ally, o
when daily collections result in 20,000 or more fish, 24-hour samples are conducted on subsequent days until the total number impinged drops below 20,000 fish / day.
The power Authority of the State of New York has requested that they be allowed to redesign the impingement program.
The licensee proposes a stratified random sampling program which the licensee indicates will provide the same degree of statistical precision with half the sampling effort, coccared to the present program.
(This is the approach advocated by staff at Argonne National Lab after analysis of years of impingement data at several different nuclear power plants throughout the U.S.* ) The reporting requirements and the requirement to continue sampling on successive days if impingement exceeds 20,000 fish in a 24-hour period are not being changed. The staff finds the licensee's proposati acceptable, particularly if the licensee maintains the requirement that whenever impingement levels reach 20,000 fish / day, the licensee will continue sampling until the number of fish impinged drops below 20,000 in a 24-hour period.
Impingement levels (both high and low) based on five years of impingement data have been proposed that will trigger the licensee to perform an environmental impact assessment and a report to the NRC when impingement levels are significantly differeat than those recorded in the past.
The environmental impact assessment shall be conducted to determine what caused the impinge-ment anomaly, whether or not it was plant-related, and the significance of the impact.
I. p. Murarka, and D. J. Bodeau.
1977. Sampling Designs and Methods for Estimating Fish Impingement losses at Cooling Water Intakes. Argonne-National Laboratory. ANL/ES-60. 277 p.
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_._ Specification 4.1.1.c requires entrainment sampling of plankton, and fish eggs and larvae twice each month from April througn October. Only alewi fe and rainbow smelt eggs or larvae were collected in sufficient numbers to allow evaluation of impact.
Because larval fish and eggs which are entrained are exposed to a ai of 32cF for over three minates,100% mortality of entrained ichthyoplankton was assumed.
Due to the lakewide nature of spawning populations of both alewife and rainbcw smelt, a lakewide assess-ment of larvae cropping by both FitzPatrick and nearby Nine Mile Point was done.
This analysis by the licensee yielded cropping estimates of 0.26'; for both species assuming that both plants were operating at full flow through-out the larval season.
The estimated total numbe' of eggs of both the ale-wife and rainbow smelt entrained at Fitz?atrick v ere evaluated in terms of the number of spawning females required to produce the eggs, Based on average fecundity data and local standing st%x estimates for adult fish, the required number of females represented 0.006 and 0.004". of the mature females in the local standing stocks of alewife and smelt.
(The eggs losses due to entrainment at Nine Mile Point, Unit 1, are expected to be slightly smaller due to a slightly smaller plant capacity and intake flow.)
These cropping estimates for eggs and larvae are sufficiently low to preclude any significant effect on the populations.
Laboratory studies indicate that mortality to the amphipod Gammarus (the most important macrozooplankter) is expected to be around 40*,.
ine 316(b) demonstration for FitzPatrick indicates that less than 1% of the Gammarus standing stock is entrained.
Losses of Gammarus due to e*ntrainment at Nine liile Point Unit 1, are expected to be slightly smaller due to lower intake flow, and these losses are not considered to be significant either.
The FES predicts that even with 100% mortality of zoo and phytoplankton the entrainment effects will be diffused over a wide area, and are not expected to be measurable. Results of the general ecological survey (discussed earlier) substantiate this prediction, as no changes beyond natural fluctuations have been detected.
Because the FES predictions have been verified and no significant entrainment effects have been detected, this program may be deleted.
Water Ouality Specification 4.1.2 requires monthly sampling of 48 water quality parameters at two stations in the vicinity of the plant.
The objective of this program is to measure and document water quality conditions in the vicinity of the site and to supplement data collected during previous surveys.
The' ETS also requires that the water quality surveys be conducted to complement the biological sampling program.
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- Comparison of annual averages for each parameter sampled in tnis program as well as those itsted in the Lake Water Chemistry Survey (Specification 4.1.1.a) indicates that no cumulative changes in any of the parameters have occurred over the four years of plant operation.
In addition, analyses of the data from the annual reports have not indicated either short or long-term effects of plant operation on water quality in the Nine Mile Point area.
The major influences on water quality identified by our review were effects of the nearby Oswego River and naturally occurring seasonal fluctua-tions and short-term variations due to lake upwellings.
The lack of any identifiable effect on water quality as a result of plant cperation indicates that no significant adverse impacts are likely in the future (assuming that the plant operating mode does not change).
Therefore, the water quality program in the lake is not needed to follow plant-induced changes.
Further-more, the deletion of the biological sampling program in the lake eliminates the need for water quality data for interpretation of biological data.
However, the low-intensity fish sampling program in the lake will be accompanied by measurements of temperature and dissolved oxygen.
Thermal Monitoring Specification 4.1.3 requires weekly surveys to determine the verticas temperature structure off-shore of the site.
Temperature measurements were taken in 100 feet of water from surface to bottom in 1 meter increments at 3 stations during more than two years of operation.
These surveys have resulted in an extensive data base concerning lake temperature structure and provide the basis'for determining any changes in natural stratification due to plant operation.
Results indicate that Lake Ontario is a dimictic lake with turnovers in the late spring and late fall.
In the summer, the lake becomes highly stratified with surface-to-bottom temperature gradients 0
of 30 F, or more.
In the winter, the temperature gradient remains small, usually less than 50F, and the vertical temperature profile is isothermal.
In general, the annual temperature cycle of the lake at the 100-foot depth has remained unchanged and is a result of natural seasonal processes unrelated to plant operation. The staff concluces that deletion of this study is acceptable.
Specification 4.2.1 requires two years of triaxial thermal plume mapping and dye studies during normal plant operation.
The studies were conducted during several different sets of anticipated critical lake conditions (e.g., high temperature, maximum lake current and low lake level) at least four times a year.
These surveys have resulted in a data base with which to assess changes in lake hydrology due to mration of Fit: Patrick.
These temperature measurements and dye studies indicate that the FES predictions of thermal plume characteristics were accurate.
The plume sinks when the 2215 165
_ ambient water temperature falls below 39.20F and the direction and velocity of lake currents determine the length and shape of the plume.
Hi gher 0
surface aT's (3-4 F) attributable to FitzPatrick are confined to the imediate vicinity of the diffuser and biological studies have shown that the thermal discharge is not causing a significant adverse impact on lake biota.
Because these studies verify the predictions in the FES and because the licensee has concleted the requirec two years of monitoring, the staff concludes that deletion of this program is acceptable.
3.0 Conclusion and Basis for Negative Declaration On the basis of the foregoing analysis, the staff concludes that there will be no environmental impact attributable to the proposed action.
The changes assessed herein are to the environmental monitoring programs and do not involve any change in plant design or operation or involve an increase in effluent types or quantities.
The impact of the overall plant has already been predicted and described in the Commission's FES for the James A. FitzPatrick Nuclear Power Plant. On this basis and in accordance with 10 CFR Part 51.5, the Comission concludes that no environmental impact statement for the proposed action need be prepared and a negative declaration to this effect is appropriate.
Dated:
May 17,1979 2215 166
. References 1.
Quality Criteria for Water, U. S. Environmental Protection Agency EPA-440/9-76-023; July 1974.
2.
Toxicity of Power Plant Chemicals to Aouatic Life; United States Atomic Energy Comission, WASH-1249; June 1973.
2215 167 Amendment No. 46
7590-01 UNITED STATES NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION DOCKET NO. 50-333 POWER AUTHORITY OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK NOTICE OF ISSUANCE OF AMEtlDMENT TO FACILITY OPERATING LICENSE AND NEGATIVE DECLARATION The U. S. Nuclear Regulatory Comissica (the. omission) has issued Amendment No. 46 to Facility Operating License No. DPR-59, issued to Power Authority of the State of New York (the licensee), which revised Technical Specifications for operation of the James A. Fit: Patrick Nuclear Power Plant (the facility) located in Oswego County, New York. The amendment is effective as of its date of issuance.
This amendment revises the Technical Specifications to establish Limiting Conditions for Operation pertaining to chemical concentrations in cooling water systems discharges; The application for the amendment complies with the standards and requirements of the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, as amended (the Act), and the Comission's rules and regulations. The Commission has made aporo-priate findings as required by the Act and the Comission's rules and regu-lations in 10 CFR Chapter I, which are set forth in the license amendment.
Prior public notice of this amendment was not required since the amendment does not involve a significant hazards consideraticit.
The Commission ias prepared an environmental impact appraisal for this action and has concluded that an environmental impact statement for this particular action is not warranted because there will be no significant environmental impact attributable to the action other than that which has 2215 168 7906250388,,
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already been predicted and described in the Comission's Final Environmental Statement for the facility.
For further details with respect to this action, see (1) the applica.
tion for amendment submitted by letter dated September 1, 1978, (2) Amend-ment No. 46 to License No. DPR-59, and (3) the Comission's related Environmental Impact Appraisal. All of these items are available for public inspection at the Commission's Public Document Room,1717 H Street, N. W., Washirigton, D. C. and at the Oswego County Office Building, 46 East Bridge Street, Oswego, New York. A copy of items (2) and (3) may be obtained upon request addressed to the U. S. Nuclear Regulatory Comission, Washington, D. C.
20555, Attention: Director, Division of Operating Reactors.
Dated at Bethesda, Maryland, this 17th day of May 1979, FOR THE CLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION Vernon L. Rooney, Acting Chief Operating Reacto Branch #3 Division of Operating Reactors fd!S 169
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