ML19282C202
| ML19282C202 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Calvert Cliffs  |
| Issue date: | 02/23/1979 |
| From: | Reid R Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation |
| To: | |
| Shared Package | |
| ML19282C201 | List: |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 7903210264 | |
| Download: ML19282C202 (2) | |
Text
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UNITED STATES f
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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMisslON w
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3 WASHINGTCN. D. C. 20555
....3 ENVIR0flMENTAL IMPACT APPRAISAL BY THE OFFICE OF NUCLEAR REACTOR REGULATION SUPPORTING AMENDMENTS N05.36 AND 19 TO FACILITY OPERATING LICENSES NOS. DPR-53 AND DPR-69 BALTIM0RE GAS & ELECTRIC COMPANY CALVERT CLIFFS NUCLEAR POWER PLANT UNITS NOS. 1 AND 2 00CKETS NOS. 50-317 AND 50-318 Descriotion of Proposed Action By letter dated January 15, 1979, Baltimore Gas and Electric Company (BG&E or the licensee) requested revision of the Appendix B Environnental Technical Specifications (ETS) for Calvert Cliffs Nuclear Power Plant Units Nos. 1 and 2.
The proposal is to amend Specification 4.2 to allow an environmental study to be conducted for 24 months with the plant uperating with an increase in the condenser cooling water delta temperature (AT). Specification 4.2 allows special studies to be conducted at higher AT's but only for a maximum of 100 hours0.00116 days <br />0.0278 hours <br />1.653439e-4 weeks <br />3.805e-5 months <br /> per year.
EG&E has requested and received approval for this study from the State of Maryland which is the permitting authority for the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) pemit. The change is required to make the ETS consistent with the NPDES permit limitations approved by the State of itaryland in their letter dated January 16, 1979, to Mr. A. E. Lundvall of 8G&E.
Evaluation of Potential Impacts The Comission issued Amendment No.16 to the license for Calvert Cliffs Unit No.1 on August 5,1976, which modified the conditions for special studies associated with main condenser cooling water discharge tenperature for about a four month period. Our Environmen al I... pact Apprais,al (EIA) supporting that amendment reviewed the licensee's semi-annual monitoring reports and concluded that the increased aT of 12 to la F, with discharge temperature not to exceed 93 F maximum, would not affect the populations of phytoplankton, zooolankton and ichthyoplankton in the Chesapeake Bay by being entrained through the plant.
The conclusion of negligible biological impact was supported primarily by the short duration of the increase in
- .T above 10 F, the short exoosure time (5 min-1 9 0'37_l O $ k
. utes), short generation time for phytoplankton and zooplankton, the low abundance of ichthyoplankton representing "important" species in the site vicinity, and the insignificant amount of water withdrawn by Unit 1 compared to the flow past the site.
On July 29, 1977, the Commission issued Amendments Nos. 23 and 7 for Calvert Cliffs Units Nos.1 and 2 which deleted the maximum discharge temperature limit of 90 F.
We determined that the 90 F limit was based on long exposure time (>24 hours) whereas the exposure time through the plant is approximately 4 minutes. The EIA concluded that this short period of exposure provides a " safety margin" for protecting the biota.
Moreover, it was determined that the withdrawal of water, with two unit operation, is caly about 2% of the non-tidal surface flow by the plant or about 0.5% of the tidal flow. On this basis, we concluded that no significant changes in the biotic community were predicted outside of the immediate plume.
Our review of the licensee's proposal indicates that it should be granted for a 24 month period. The same factors that were assessed before are pertinent to the current evaluation. These factors are: the still relatively low aT, the short exposure time through the plant, the short generation time for phytoplankton and zooplankton, and the insignificant amount of water withdrawn by both units. These factors, coupled with the study requirements of the State of Maryland to determine entrainment effects at the higher AT, ensure that no significant impacts should occur during the study period. A determination of the most suitable AT for the plant will be made by the State of Maryland after the results of this study are available.
Conclusion and Basis for Necative Declaration On the basis of the foregoing analysis, it is concluded that there will be no environmental impact attributable to the proposed action other than has already been predicted and described in the Commission's FES for Calvert Cliffs Units Nos. I and 2.
Having made this conclusion, the Commission has further concluded that no environmental impact statement for the proposed action need be prepared and that a negative declaration to this effect is appropriate.
Dated: February 23, 1979 9
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