ML19347D382

Discusses Reinstatement of Temporary Relief from 5 F Reservoir Temp Rise Limit at Facilities.Requests Mod of Variance to Allow Full Operation of Facilities w/8.5 F River Temp Rise Limitation

ML19347D382
Person / Time
Site:	Browns Ferry
Issue date:	03/12/1981
From:	Elashry M TENNESSEE VALLEY AUTHORITY
To:	Zeller H ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
References
NUDOCS 8103170520
Download: ML19347D382 (2)

Text

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• TENNESSEE VALLEY AUTHORITY Nonnte. TsNNesset 37820 MAR 121981 Mr. Howard D. Zeller, Act.ing Director Enforcement Division h' k,x U.S En ronmental Protection Agency v g

345 Courtland Streu, NE o '07 u Atlanta, Georgia 30308

A% g2 &#8/gg Ir Mr. James W. Warr, Director O  %

Alabama Water Improvement Commission ' , J Public Health Service Building Montgomery, Alabama 36130 i Gentlemen:

REINSTATEMENT OF THE TEMPORARY RELIEF FROM THE 5 F PISERVOIR TEMPERATURE RISE LIMIT AT BROWNS FERRY NUCLEAR PLANT On January 14, 1981, TVA requested and received relief from the 5 F reservoir temperature rise limit at Browns Ferry Nuclear Plant (BENP).

The drought conditions which were previously outlined have continued through January with cne rainfall above Chattanooga being only 1.3 inches, which is the lowest January rainfall on record. The average natural flow for January at Chickamauga Dam was the second lowest on record. The precipitation for February averaged 4.47 inches above Chattanooga, which is slightly below normal and rainfall in March has also been below normal. The February rainfall brought temporary relief for the cooling water problem at BFNP and the 5 F reservoir rise criteria has not been exceeded since February 1. During the variance period, the temperature rise in Wheeler Reservoir exceeded 5 F less than four percent of the total hours. The maximum temperature rise measured during the period was 6.0 F on January 25, 1981. Although recent rainfall has allowed us to operate the plant below the 5 F temperature rise limitation, low river flows make it necessary for us to request reinstatement of the temporary _ relief of 8.5 F maximum change in the reser.oir temperature as previously granted by the l

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Alabama Water Improvement Commission (AWIC).

l TVA has investigated the effect of an increased temperature rise limit j

on the fishery resource of Wheeler Reservoir. Although theoretically continued exposure to temperature elevated above ambient may induce

! earlier than normal spawning, there is no evidence that the current

{ ' thermal regime at BFNP has caused or is likely to cause a response.

The previous relief granted to TVA contained a list of five permit l conditions including the operation of cooling towers to the maximum I

extent practicable, and production of power from BFNP to be limited to the minimum practicable to meet system demand exclusive of the use of combustion turbines. -

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s h 8108170520 An Ecual Opportunity Errployer

9" Mr. Howard D. Zeller USN 12 l90t Mr. James W. Warr TVA vill operate the cooling towers to the maximum extent practicable during the period of temporary relief from the 5 F temperature rise limit. However, as indicated in my January 27, 1981 letter to EPA on the proposed cooling tower modifications at Browns Ferry, TVA has scheduled several modifications for the towers to be performed prior to the summer of 1981. Towers must be taken out of service in order for the modifications to b.e completed by this summer. Four of the six towers should be available for use until the beginning of the summer.

During the granted relief period from Januarg 15 through February 14, 1981, actions taken to limit exceeding the 5 F increase in river temperature have included increasing reservoir flows and reducing BFNP generation. In addition to increasing production costs, reductict. of nuclear plant generation causes operational problems. Nuclear plants are built to provide base load power and are designed to maintain a

' fairly constant power output. When taking daily load swings at BFNP, the reactor response time will not allow complete recovery to full generation for peak demand. In addition to this problem, there is an increased probability of emergency shutdowns of BFNP units when operating in this fashion. Thus, varying power levels on a frequent basis in response to temperature variation is not practicable. Therefore, we request that you modify the variance to allow full operation of BFNP with an 8.5 F river temperature rise limitation.

If you have any questions or require additional information regarding this matter, please contact Wally Carpenter at (615) 632-6450 or FTS i 856-6450 in Norris, Tennessee.

Sincerely,

(.dk c--

! C Q' 1 .c.

% ->Hohamed T. LE1 Ashry,- Ph.D.

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Director of Environmental Quality l

l cc: Mr. William J. Taylor i Enforcement Division i

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region IV 345 Courtland Street, NE Atlanta, Georgia 30308 Director of Nuclear Reactor Regulation Attention: Mr. Darrel G. Eisenhut, Director Division of Licensing U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission i

Washington, DC 20555 - -