ML19338B991
| ML19338B991 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Midland |
| Issue date: | 03/27/1969 |
| From: | Corothers C INTERIOR, DEPT. OF, GEOLOGICAL SURVEY |
| To: | Price H US ATOMIC ENERGY COMMISSION (AEC) |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 8007291140 | |
| Download: ML19338B991 (4) | |
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United States Department of the Interior OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY WASHINGTON, D.C. 00210 94 z y 1569
Dear Mr. Price:
This will transmit the comments of the Fish and Wildlife Service on the application by Consumers Power Company for a construction pemit and facility license for the proposed Midland Generating Plant, Units 1 and 2, Tittabawassee River, Midland County, Michigan, AEC Dockets Nos. 50-329 and 50-330. These comments are provided in response to Mr. Boyd's letter of November 7,1968.
The project would be located adjacent to the southern boundary of i
Midland, Michigan, on the south bank of the Tittabawassee River and would use two pressurized water reactors, each designed for an initial output of 2,452 megawatts themal and a gross electrical output of 650 megawatts.
i The condensers would be cooled by water recirculated from a 14,000 acre-foot storage pond constructed on the flood plain at the plant site. The applicant proposes to fill the pond during the flood season since pumping at this time requires a maller pumping head and there is less chance of reducing the residual river flow to undesirable' low levels. After initial filling of the pond, makeup e
water would be required at a rate of approximately 70 c.f.s. to maintain a full storage pool. The storage Pond would have the capac-ity to supply the plant for about 100 days without the addition of makeup water. Therefore, no pumping would be undertaken during periods of insufficient river flow.
The water quality in the project area is significantly lowered by the addition of industrial pollutants from nearby plants. However, the river supports a moderate sport fishery for largemouth bass, yellow perch, bluegill, carp, catfishes, and suckers.
i The application indicates that the release of radioactive wastes would not exceed limits prescribed in title 10, part 20, of the Code i
of Federal Regulations. If the concentration in the receiving water l
were the only consideration, maximum permissible limits would be ade-quate criteria for detemining the safe rate of discharge for fish
-l and wildlife. However, radioisotopes of many elements are concentrated and stored by organisms that require these elements for their normal metabolic activities. Some organisms concentrate and store radioiso-topes of elements not normally required but which are chemically
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radionuclides are transferred from one organism to another through various levels of the food chain just as are the nonradioactive elements. These transfers may result in furthei concentration of radionuclides and a wide dispersion from the project area, partic-ularly by migratory fish, mammals, and birds.
It is imperative that every possible effort be made to protect the fish and wildlife resources of the area fr a radioactive contamination.
An environmental radiological monitoring program is needed to deter-mine if the radionuclides released to the environment are affecting
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fish and wildlife resources adversely. This program should be planned i
in cooperation with the Fish and Wildlife Service and the Michigan Department of Natural Resources.
In order to provide for the conservation, development, and protection of the fish and wildlife rescurces, it is recommended that Consumers Power Company be required to:
1.
Cooperate with the Fish and Wildlife Service, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, and other interested State and Federal agencies in developing plans for radiological surveys.
2.
Conduct pre-cperational radiological surveys including but not limited to the following:
a.
Gamma radioactivity analysis of water and e
sediment samples collected within 500 feet of the reactor effluent outfall.
b.
Beta and gamma radioactivity analysis of selected fish and wildlife species and organi:zis important in their food chain collected as near the reactor effluent outfall as possible.
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Prepare a report of the pre-operational radiological surveys and provide 5 copies to the Secretary of the Interior for evaluation prior to project operation.
4 Conduct post-operational radiological surveys similar to those specified in recommendation 2 above, analyze the data, prepare reports every 6 months during reactor operation until it has been conclusively demonstrated that no significant adverse conditions exist, and submit 5 copies of these reports to the Secretary of the Interior for distribution to appropriate State and Federal agencies for evaluation.
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Make such reasonable modifications of project structures and operations as may be ordered by the Atomic Energy Cceanission upon its own motion or upon the recommendation of the Secretary of the Interior or the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, after notice and opportunity for hearing and upon findings that such modifications are necessary and desirable.
We understand that th' regulatory authority of the Atomic Energy Commission is confined to considerations of common defense, security, radiological health, and safety. However, we recommend and urge that before the pemit is issued, the dangers of other potential hazards to fish and wN14fe resources which may result frca plant construction and operation be called to the attention of the applicant. Sufficient numbers of fish may be drawn into the intake to reduce the fishable population in the Tittabawassee River below desirable levels. The release of plant wastes, coupled with the anticipated reduction of the flow of the river, may create further hazards to aquatic life. The applicant should meet with representatives of the Fish and Wildlife Service, the Federal Water Pollution Control Administration, and the Michigan Department of Natural Resources to discuss these and any other hazards and should jointly design means to monitor project effects and to mitigate conditions found adverse to fish and wildlife resources.
In view of the Administration's policy to maintain, protects and improve the quality of our environment, we request that the Conunission urge Consumers Pcwer Company to:
1.
Cooperate with the Fish and Wildlife Service, the Federal Water Pollution Control Administration, and the
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Michigan Department of Natural Resources in designing measures to monitor the-effects of the project on the 4
natural resources of the area.
2.
Take such steps as may be detemined necessary by the above named agencies to mitigate any adverse effects of the project.
The opportunity for presenting our views is appreciated.
Sincerely yours,
,f Deputy Assistm Secretary of the Interior Mr. Harold L. Price Director of Regulations U.S. Atomic Energy Com:sission Washington, D.C. ~20545 1
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