ML19347E882
| ML19347E882 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Limerick  |
| Issue date: | 02/18/1981 |
| From: | DELAWARE, STATE OF |
| To: | |
| References | |
| D-79-52CP, NUDOCS 8105140167 | |
| Download: ML19347E882 (10) | |
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DOCKET NO. D-79-52CP 4- u.a. , %
a DELAWARE RIVER BASIN COMMISSION % .
/. s N cs Philadelphia Electric Company Bradshaw Reservoir, Pumping Station and Transmission Main Bucks and Montgomery Counties, Pennsylvania PROCEEDINGS This is an application submitted by the Philadelphia Electric Company (PECO) on August 2, 1979, for review of a reservoir, pumping station and water transmission line project. The applica-tion was reviewed for revision of the project in the Comprehensive Plan and approval under-Yection 3.8 of the Delaware River Basin Compact. Simultaneously, the Delaware River Basin , Commission (DRBC) considered an application [D-65-76CP ( 8)-] submitted by Neshaminy Water Resources Authority (NWRA) to withdraw water from the Delaware River and pump it into the reservoir which is a portion of this project.
The DRBC prepared an envircnmental assessment on the proposal by NWRA and included in the assessment the proposal by PECO for Bradshaw Reservoir, a pumping station and transmission main to East Branch of Perkiomen Creek.
The assessment concluded that an environmental impa'ct statement on the North Branch Water Treatment Plant (NBWTP) and a new environmental impact statement on the Point Pleasant Diversion Plan were not necessary. Accordingly, on February 15, 1980, the Executive Director gave notice of his intention to issue a negative declaration based upon the environmental assessment, in accordance with the Commission's Rules of Practice and Procedure applicable at the time. Numerous comments were received in response to the Executive Director's notice of intent and the Commission responded to the comments in a Final Environmental Assessment issued with the Negative Daclaration on August 25, 1980.
A public hearing on this Comprehensive Plan revision and approval of this project under Section 3.8 of the Compact was held on November 18, 1960. Testimony was received from 77 speakers and written statements were received from 184 parties prior to the close of the hearing on December 12, 1980. Four of
- the five designated alternate Commissioners were present at the hearing and each alternate Commissioner has teceived the complete record of the hearing. .
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D-79-02CP Applications must also be. submitted to the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Resources for permits covering the Bradshaw Reservoir _and waterway facilities, pursuant to the ~
Pennsylvania Dam Safety and Encroachments Act. ,
Applications have been submitted to the U. S. Army Corps of Engineers for the project facilities.
DESCRIPTION Purpose.-- The purpose of this project is to provide an additional source of cooling water for PECO's Limerick Generating Station.
Location.-- The general location of the project facilities is shown on Figure A attached hereto. More specifically, Bradshaw Reservoir will be located southeast of Bradshaw Road and northwest 4
of the Danboro-Point Pleasant Pike in Plumstead Township, Bucks County, Pennsylvania. The transmission main from the reservoir will parallel the Texas Eastern pipeline's right-of-way through Plumstead and Bedminster Townships in Bucks County to a point approximately 0.3 miles west of Route 113, then continue to and enter the East Branch Perkiomen Creek at river mile 92.47-32.3-11.3-23.8.
Service area.-- Bradshaw Reservoir and the transmission main will be used to augment flows in the East Branch Perkiomen Creek for downstream use by PECO's Limerick generating station. The reservoir will also store water for release to the North Branch Neshaminy Creek.
Design criteria.-- PECO is constructing the two-unit Limerick nuclear. generating station on the Schuylkill River in Limerick Township,, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania. During low flow periods, the Schuylkill River cannot supply sufficient water to maintain full plant operations and PECO has requested, and the I
DRBC has approved, by Docket D-69-210CP, withdrawal, under ,
certain conditions, of water from rhe Perkiomen Creek and the Delaware River as supplemental sources of supply.
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l The NWRA has agreed to dgliver water to the proposed Bradshaw Reservoir for use by PECO in accordance with the Comprehensita Plan of DRBC. PECO will construct the Bradshaw Reservoir, booster pumping station and transmission main to East Branch Perkiomen Creek. The capacity of the reservoir has been increased from 35 mg to 70 mg to provide additional reserve capacity. The maximum quantity to be pumped by the bcoster pump station to East Branch Perkiomen Creek is 42 mgd plus 10 percent allowance for losses or a total maximum of 46.2 mgd.
The proposed Bradshaw Reservoir is designed to accommodate differing discharge flow rates, to provide water to allow the Limerick station to operate for one day without additional sources, and to provide for settling of silts and suspended solids. It is not required for the safe shutdown of the reactors. The reservoir may also be used to store water for release by gravity to the
, North Branch Neshaminy Creek.
Facilities.-- Brad'shaw Reservoir wi11 be constructed on a 28-acre field, will have a storage capacity of 70 mg and a surface area of approximately 18 acres. It will consist of four 900' long earthen dikes, varying in height from 5' to 20', depend-ing on ground contour, and have a maximum depth of 13'. The dikes trill be rip-rapped on the inner surface to prevent erosion and will be constructed of Lmpervious soil excavated at the site.
The bottom of the . reservoir will be impervious soil or compacted material brought in from off-site. The reservoir is designed to have an 18 mg operating capacity, 46 mg for emergency storage and 6 mg for silt buildup. NWRA's pumping station at Point Pleasant will transfer up to 95 mgd of water from the Delaware River to the reservoir and/or to a by-pass line te the North Branch Neshaminy Creek. A pump house on the westerly side of the reservoir will withdraw water from the reservoir and pump it through the transmission line to East Branch Perkiomen Creek.
The pump station will have several vertical turbine pumps to accommodate the various pumping demands. The station will be supplied by two separate electric power lines. A gated outlet at the pump house will feed water by gravity to the !! orth Branch transmission nain... Automatic controls will be installed to operate pumps and regulate levels and flows.
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4 The proposed 35,400', 48" diameter transmission main to the East Branch will parallel and Yorm a common corridor with the ;
Texas Eastern Transmission Corporation pipeline and discharge to !
the creek through an impact-type energy dissipator consisting of '
a concrete box and spur channel rip-rapped on the sides and bottom.
The main will not cross any significant streams and the only major I road crossings will be U.S. Route 611 and PA. Route 413. Pipeline grade will generally follow the ground surface with a minimum l cover of 3 feet. The main will be installed in a steel casing or !
enclosec in additional concrete at all road and stream crossings.
- Air relief control and blow-off values will be provided where needed and enclosed in coacrete vaults, r Flow depth and velocity under maximum pumpage rates and median East Branch streamflow conditions will be below that which occurs naturally during flood periods and the higher velocity generated by pumping will be less than the erosion lir.its.
Under average streamflow conditions, it is estimated the '
minimum pumpage from mid-April through mid-November, will be 27 cfs. -
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Cost.-- The cost of the reservoir, pump station and trans- l mission main is estimated to be $8,700,000.
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. Relationship to the Comprehensive Plan.-- The Limerick i _ Nu. clear Genartting Station was incl *2ded in the Comprehensive Plan ;
. by Docket D-69-210 on March 29, 197.1 and by D.ocket D-69-210 (Final) on Noverber 5, 1975. The Point Pleasant Pumping Station, including Bradshaw Reservoir, booster pumping station and transmission main !
to East Branch Perkiomen, was included by Docket D-65-76(3) on !
March 17, 1971.
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FINDING 5
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The proposed modifications to the Bradshaw Reservoir, pumping station and transmission main by PECO do not ale.er the purpose of the project as currently stated in the Comprehensive Plan.
. The only significant change ~is the increase in the storage 1 capacity of the reservoir.
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j, . .D-79-52CP 5 The DRBC prepared an Environmental Assessment, in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, the DRBC Rules of Practico and Procedure, Article IV, and as directed by Resolution 80-11 to determine whether an Environmental Impact Statement should be prepared "or the N3WTP and to review the impacts of its related components described in DRBC's FEIS of 1973 to see if that document needed to be updated.
The assessment also concluded that subsequent documents support the conclusions of the FEIS on the Point Pleasant Diversion Plan, required by the NEPA of 1969 and issued by DRBC in February 1973, that the project is feasible and provides a beneficial use of water resources in the Neshaminy and Perkiomen Watersheds and is not detrimental to the Delaware River, provided that mitigating measures are implemented as listed in the FEIS under
" Conclusions," page 3. Consequently, the assessment recommended
, a " Findings of No Significant Impact" (Negative Declaration) on the NBNTP and recommended no supplementary EIS be prepared on the related components. .m .- > ..
The water quality of the Delaware River is compatible with, that of East Branch Perkiomen Creek and no treatment will be required for the inter-basin transfer.
The conditions of Docket D-69-210CP require that the with-drawal of Delaware River water at Pcint Pleasant for ute at the
- Limerick Generating Station not reduce the flow as measured at the Tren' ton gage below 3,000 cfs (1940 mgd) and tha't such use
. will not be permitted when the flow as measured at the Trenton
. gage is less than 3000 cfs (1940 mgd), provided that annually after pumping from the Delaware River has commenced, the rate of pumping will be maintained at not less than 27 cfs (17.5 mgd)
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throughout the normal low flow season for the protection of aquatic life in Perkiomen Creek and its East Branch regardless of ultimate downstream c6nsumptive use requirements. During periods of high natural flow in East Branch Perkiomen Creek, pumping from Point Pleasant shall be kept at a level so as not to aggravate high water levels.
. _ . The revised project does not conflict with nor adversely affect the Comprehensive Plan.
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In the course of the DRBC proceedings on the pending project, numerous issues have been raised regarding the operation of the Limerick Nuclear Generating Station, including the safety of said facility, evacuation planning in the event of a nuclear accident, i and the need for new generatiny capacity in the PECO system.
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These issues generally lie beyond the statutory jurisdiction of ,
DRBC, and DRDC has no authority or expertise to render a decision on such questions. These issues do, however, fall within the proper jurisdiction and expertise of other Federal and State agencies, particularly the Nuclear Regulatory Commission and the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission. In rendering a decision on the docket, the DRBC in no way intends to prejudice or -
influence the outcome of proceedings in those forums. In particular, ;
, DRBC notes that prior to operation of Limerick, PECO must apply ;
for and obtain an operating permit from the NRC. By letter dated ,
December IC, 1980, the NRC has indicated its intent to prepare '
and complete a new or supplemental Environmental Impact Statement as part of the proceedings on the operating permit. DRSC believes and expects that the NRC will address fully and adequately all of the safety and environmental issues regarding operation of Limerick. In the event that review by other State and Federal
, agencies results in a modification to the operation or the design of this project, DRBC has so conditioned this docket to allow a reopening, reconsideratient and revision of this project-approval as necessary.
The DRBC will coordinate and confer with the Nuclear Regulatory l Commission concerning all issues relevant to provisions of water '
i supply.-
I DECISION I. The description of the proposed project in the compre-hensive Plan is hereby revised to agree vith the project as described above.
- II. The project, as described 'above, with modifications specified hereinafter, is approved pursuant to Section 3.8 of the Compact, subject to the following conditions:
A. All project facilities shall be av,ailable at all times for inspection by the DRBC.
B. The withdrawal of water from the Delaware River at the Point Pleasant Pumping Station for diversion into the East Branch Perkiomen Creek must conform with the' schedule and - - .
conditions listed in DRBC Docket D-69-210CP.
. C. PECO shan maintain a minimum flow of 27 cfs (17.4 mgd) in the East Branch Perkiomen Creek at the proposed Bucks Road stream gage throughout the normal low flow period beginning with the day the booster station commences pumping and ending when pumping is no longer required for the operation of the Limerick Generating Station. The rest of the year PECO shall maintain a minimum flow of 10 cfs (6.5 mgd) .
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/ D-79-52CP - 7 D. All project facilities shall be operated at all times to comply with all requirements of the DRBC.
E. Sound practices of excavation, backfill, and reseeding shall be followed to minimize erosion and deposition of sediment in streams.
F. Upon completion of construction of the approved
- project, the sponsor shall submit a statement to the DRBC, signed ,
by the sponsor's engineer or other responsible agent, advising ;
the Commission that the construction has been completed in compliance with the approved plans, giving the final construction cost of the approved project. ;
G. This approval shall expire three years from date {
below unless prior thereto the sponsor has expended substantial i funds (in relation to the cost of the project) in reliance upon !
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this approval. The project sponsor shall notify the DRBC, in c
writing, the date that '~onstruction of 'the project is started and i the scheduled completion date within 10 days of that starting date. -
1 H. The area served by this project is limited to the l service area as cescribed above. Any expansion be' yond this area
- is subject to. review in accordance with Section 3.8 of the Compact. .
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_ I. The applicant shall develop a program to monitor
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'~ all water supply facilities including storage and distribution systems for leakage. The program must be approved by the Executive Director and the monitoring results shall be submitted within six months of this approval and thereafter as requested by the Commission. The applicant shall. proceed expeditiously to correct leakages identified by the monitoring.
J. All above' ground facilities shall be designed and
. landscaped to complement the surrounding environment.
K. Operating schedules for pumping shall be designed
- to eliminate rapid fluctuations of the streamflows.
L. The applicant shall be responsible for the operation of the project facilities in a manner that will insure compliance -
. with all streamflow and use limitations. The applicant shall arrange for the folicwing items to be recorded, in a manner accept-able to the Executive Director, in the office of the DRBC in the morning of each working day.
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- 1. The recorded daily average streamflow for the previous day in the East Branch Perkiomon Creek. -
- 2. The quantity of water transferred to East Branch Perkiomen Creek on the previous day.
- 3. The estimated quantity of water to be trans-ferred to East Branch Perkiomen on that day.
In addition, the applicant shall submit reports, monthly, indicating all of the above quantities.
M. The applicant shall provide adequate detours during construction affecting local roads. U. S.. Route 611 and PA. Route 413 will be kept open at all times. A temporary road shall be installed when necessary to insure compliance with this requirement.
N. The applicant shall inspect and monitor the portion of East Branch Jerkiomen Creek =.immediately below. the discharge, at river mile' 92.47 - 32.3 - 11.3 - 23.8, on a .
regular basis and following any significant period of flood flo.ws.
If such inspection discloses significant erosion of the bank or bed of the East Branch Perkiomen Creek below the discharge, the
-applicant shall promptly correct such erosion, stabilize and revegetate any exposed portion of the streambank. Reports of such monitoring, and any corrective action taken, shall be filed with the Executive Director within two weeks of each inspection or action.
O. Nothing herein shall be construed to exempt the project sponsor from obtaining all necessary permits and/or approvals from other State, Federal or local government agencies having jurisdiction over this project.
P. The Commission reserves the right to reopen this docket at any time, and to reconsider this decision and any and a13 conditions imposed hereunder in light of further information
~ developed by, or decisions rendered in, pending or future proceedings ccaducted by other State and Federal agencies concern-ing the developm'ent and operation of the Limerick Nuclear Generat-ing Station and related facilities. The Commission may at any time modify existing conditions, or impose additional conditions, .___._.
.. upon the construction and operation of this facility to reflect
. new or changed.information or to conform to requirements imposed 1 on the project by other agencies.
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Q. For the duration of the drought emergency declared by the commission on January 15, 1981, or any subsequent drought emergency, water service or use by the project sponsor pursuant to this approval shall be subject to the prohibition of those nonessential water uses specified in Commission Resolution No.
81-5 to the extent that they may be applicable and to any other emergency resolutions or orders adopted hercafter.
BY THE COMMISSION DATED: February 18, 1981 i
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