ML19353A961

Annual Environ Operating Rept (Nonradiological) for 880829-890828. W/891127 Ltr

ML19353A961
Person / Time
Site:	River Bend
Issue date:	08/28/1989
From:	Booker J, Conner J, Odell W, Schippert J GULF STATES UTILITIES CO.
To:	NRC OFFICE OF INFORMATION RESOURCES MANAGEMENT (IRM)
References
RBG-31807, NUDOCS 8912080160
Download: ML19353A961 (14)

Text

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GULF ^ STATES

UTILITfES COMPANY

' aute erNo starrow Post orFict Box 220 si rnAmosvitti, Louis #ANA 70775 ARE A CCOE bod 636 60M 346 E651 2  :

November 27,1989 RBG- 31807 File Nos. G9.5, G9.25.1.5 U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission' Document Control Desk Washington, D.C. 20555-Gentlemen: _

River Bend Station - Unit 1 Docket No. 50-458 Enclosed. .is- the Annual Environmental' . Operating Report.

=(Nonradiological).for'the period August 29, 1988 to August 28, 1989.

This report .is submitted in' accordance with Subsection 5.4.1 of Appendix B'(Environmental Protection Plan) to River Bend Station License Number NPF-47.

. Sincerely, Vh J. E. Booker Manager-River Bend Oversight l u' River Bend Nuclear Group JEB/ L pg Enclosure ,

cc: Mr.- Robert D. Martin, Regional Administrator U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission 611- Ryan~ Plaza Drive, Suite 1000 e

' Arlington, TX 76011 ,

-NRC' Resident Inspector s P. O. Box 1051 St. Francisville, LA 70775 f

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• 4 GULP STATES UTILITES COMPANY RIVER BEND STATION '

<, ANNUAL ENVIRONMENTAL OPERATING REPORT (NONRADIOLOGICAL) .

For the Period August 29, 1988 - August 28, 1989 r.

t Prepared by:-

hAk J hn V. Conner k3r lll2l 89 I +

Su vr. - Environ. Serv.

Rev N e y:

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W W. H. Odel Y

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Manager - Administration

= Reviewed by: Approved by: -

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Thomas F. P1unkett

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J. P. Schi,pppt' Assistant' Plant Manager - Plant Manager Operations & Radwaste

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i RIVER BEND STATION.

UJ ENVIRONMENTAL OPERATING REPORT FOR 1988/89

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TABLE OF CONTENTS ,

Page

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1.0 ~ INTRODUCTION /0BJECTIVES ......................................... 1- 'l

-2.0- ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION ISSUES .................................- 1 [

, 4 2.1 Aquatic Issues ............................................. 1 2 . 2 ' Te rr e s t r ial Is s u e s . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 l-2.3- Noise Issues ............................................... 2

/3.0. CONSISTENCY REQUIREMENTS ........................................ 2-f 3.1 Plant De sign and Ope ra tinn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 3.2 ^ Reporting Related to NPDES Permit and State Certification . . 3 i

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-3.'3- Changes. Required for Compliance with Other Environmental j

Re gul a t i on s . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

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4.0 ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS......................................... 6 '

'4.1 Unusual or Important Environmental Events .................. 6 3, 4.2 Environmental Monitoring ................................... 6 4.2.1 Aquatic Monitoring ...................................... 6 4.2.2 Terrestrial Monitoring.................................. 6 I

4.2.3 Noise. Monitoring ....................................... 6 Y

'5.0 ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURES ...........,........................... 6 5.1 Review and Audit ........................................... 6

~ 5. 2 Records Retention .......................................... 7 i

5.3 Changes in Environmental Protection Plan ................... 7 3 L 5.4 Plant Reporting Requirements ............................... 7 l 5.4.1 Routine Reports ........................................ 7 5.4.2 Nonroutine Reports ..................................... 7 i

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U<  : RIVER-BEND STATION.

ENVIRONMENTAL OPERATING-REPORT FOR: 1988/891 na., ;s f r p

• LIST'0F TABLES-p Page e .. Table:l.. Nonroutine Reports.to'Federa lan'd State Environmental

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Re gul a t o ry Age nc ie s ' . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

LIST 0F EXHIBITS'-

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< ' Exhibit.1.- Color-: Infrared Aerial Photographs of River Bend. Station-

• - and Vicinity.Taken on October 4', 1988*

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• ' Exhibit' I fis 'only: included with'the original copy of the report submitted /to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

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RIVER BEND STATION-ENVIRONMENTAL OPERATING REPORT FOR 1988/89

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1.0 INTRODUCTION

/0BJECTIVES The Annual Environmental Operating Report for the period of August 29,

.1988 (anniversary of license issuance) through August 28, 1989, is submit-ted in accordance - with Subsection _5.4.1 of Appendix B to River Bend Station -

Facility Operating License Number NPF-47.  ;

River Bend Station (RBS) consists of a 936 MWe General Electric boil -

ing water reactor located on-a 3,342-acre site in West Feliciana Parish, Louisiana, 4.1 km (2.5 mi): southeast of St. Francisville. Waste heat from RBS is dissipated _via a closed-cycle system using four mechanical draft 1 I

cooling towers which draw makeup water from the Mississippi River, 3.3 E (air) km (2.0 mi) to: the southwest. Blowdown from the normal cooling. tower system is-discharged to the Mississippi River through a submerged pipe about 200 meters (660 f t) downstream from the makeup _ water intake.

Appendix B to the RBS operating license is the Environmental Protec-tion Plan (Nonradiological), or EPP, which has the following principal objectives:

1. To verify that the facility is operated in an environmentally acceptable manner, as established in the Final Environmental Statement Related to the Operation of River Bend Station (NUREG- '

1073, commonly referred to as the FES-OL) and other Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) impact assessments, s

2. To coordinate NRC requirements and maintain consistency with other Federal, State, and local requirements for environmental protection.

3. To keep- the NRC informed of the environmental ef fects of facility construction and operation and of actions taken to control these effects.

2.0 ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION ISSUES In the FES-OL dated January 1985, the NRC staff considered the envi-ronmental impacts associated with the operation of River Bend Station Unit

1. Certain environmental issues were identified which required study or license conditions to resolve environmental concerns and to assure adequate protection of the environment.

2.1 Aquatic Issues No specific aquatic issues were identified by the NRC staf f in the FES-OL. Environmental concerns which relate to water quality are regulated by way of the facility's National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Permit and Louisiana Water Discharge Permit.

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RIVER BEND STATION ENVIRONMENTAL OPERATING REPORT FOR 1988/89 2.2 -Terrestrial Issues Salt drift deposition'from the normal cooling towers may cause changes in, or-damage to, nearby vegetation on RBS property (FES-OL Section 5.5.1).  :

A monitoring program to identify the extent of impacts and the mitigative actions necessary, if any, is specified in EPP Section 4.2.2.

2.3 Noise Issues Operation of the normal cooling towers and main. station transformers at RBS may increase noise levels at nearby residences (FES-OL Section 5.12). A monitoring program to identify the extent of impacts and the mi-tigative actions necessary, if any, is specified .:ht EPP Section 4.2.3.

3.0 CONSISTENCY REQUIREMENTS 3.1 Plant Design and Operation in accordance with the EPP, RBS personnel prepare and record an envi-ronmental evaluation of any proposed change in plant design or operation or performance of any test or experiment which may significantly affect the s environment. Such evaluations are not performed on activities which: (a) do not affect the environment; or (b) are required for compliance with non-NRC environmental regulations.

The environmental evaluation process is administered through programs.

governing design modification and the development / revision of written pro-cedures. Before engaging in additional construction or operational activi-ties which may significantly affect the environment a determination is made and recorded as to whether any proposed change involves an unreviewed envi-l . ronmental question (UEQ). A proposed activity involves a UEQ if it con-cerns:

a) a matter which may result in a significant increase in any adverse environmental impact previously evaluated in the FES-OL, environmental impact appraisals, or in any decisions l

of the Atomic Safety and Licensing Board; b) a significant change in effluents or power levels; or c) a matter, not previously reviewed and evaluated in the docu-ments specified in (a) above, which may have a significant adverse environmental impact.

If the acu ivity meets any of these criteria it must either not be performed as proposed cr a written evaluation must be prepared and submitted for prior NRC appt9 val.

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RIVER BEND STATION ENVIRONMENTAL OPERATING REPORT FOR 1988/89 During the period covered by this report no changes at RBS were deter-mined to involve unreviewed environmental questions. Records of environ-mental determinations are maintained in the station Permanent Plant File as part of documentation associated with the Modification Request program and/or the procedure development system.

3.2 Reporting Related to NPDES Permit and State Certification L

Violations of NPDES and Louisiana Water Discharge permits have been ,

reported to the NRC via copies.of the nonroutine reports sent to the other )

agencies pursuant to permit requirements (see Table 1). Revisions to the  !

permits were proposed by RBS during the period covered by this report, and I copies of.the respective applications.were transmitted to the NRC. The Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality (LA-DEQ) issued minor permit modifications addressing these requests on'0ctober 6 and December. 19, 1988,  ;

respectively. The U. S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) issued.a l revised NPDES Permit addressing one request on September 30, 1988. Copies of these documents were transmitted to the NRC in accordance with EPP  ;

Section 3.2. As of August 28, 1989, federal action was still pending on one of the requests.

l 3.3 Changes Required for Compliance with Other Environmental '!

Regulations During the period covered by this report the only changes in plant I design or operation and performance of tests or experiments required to I achieve compliance with non-NRC environmental regulations ware:

a) suspension of monitoring for total phosphorus in NPDES 3 Outfall 001 (normal cooling tower blowdown) due to LA-DEQ withdrawal of the requirement; b) establishment of two " satellite" accumulation areas for certain types of solid waste, bringing to three (3) the 3 number of such areas; and c) revision of the site nonradiological Spill Prevention, Control, and Countermeasure (SPCC) Plan to addrees certain ,

regulatory changes and storage facilities for newly-adopted  !

water treatment chemicals.

Such changes are not subject to the EPP requirement for environmental eval-uation described in Section 3.1. y

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ENVIRONMENTAL 0PERATING REPORT FOR 1988/89 I L, TABLE 1 l

.NONROUTINE REPORTS.TO FEDERAL AND STATE

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ENVIRONMENTAL REGULATORY AGENCIES p <

( DATE TYPE" RECIPIENT (S)* DOCUMENT.

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s p ._ 9-22-88 -Letter USEPA. RBG-28,874

"'tE LA-DEQ l', .i 14-88 _ Letter USEPA RBG-29,028 LA-DEQ I([ 11-15-88 Letter- LA-DEQ- RBG-29,359  ;

11-17-88 Letter USEPA RBG-29,375 [

LA-DEQ 12-9 Letter. LA-DEQ RBG-29564 1-16-89 -Letter LA-DEQ RBG-29,770 j 6-89 Letter. LA-DEQ RBG-31,121 3'-3-89 Letter USEPA'  :

RBG-30,244

, 3-14-89 Letter USEPA ' RBG-30,321-  !

LA-DEQ 3-21-89 Letter USEPA RBG-30,384 LA-DEQ 4-11-89 Letter USEPA RBG-30,513 LA-DEQ

, 4-14-89 Letter USEPA RBG-30,536 LA-DEQ 6-6-89 Letter LA-DEQ RBG-31,040 -

6-26-89 - Letter USEPA RBG-31,154 LA-DEQ ,

7-3-89 Letter LA-DEQ RBG-31,205 '

7-3-89 Letter USEPA RBG-31,206 4

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RIVER BEND STATION

," ENVIRONMENTAL OPERATING' REPORT FOR.1988/89 TABLE 1- (cont.).

? .NONROUTINE REPORTS TO~ FEDERAL AND-STATE-

[ (,:; ENVIRONMENTAL REGULATORY AGENCIES I. DATE TYPE RECIPIENT (S)* DOCUMENT-I .

-l 5-89' Letter. .USEPA -RBG-31,212

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~7-24 Letter USEPA RBG-31,280 s

-LA-DEQ:

8-2-89 Letter USEPA RBG-31,319' LA-DEQ o

8-15-89 Letter USEPA RBG-31,359~

.LA-DEQ

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• Agency abbreviations:

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USEPA = U. S. Environmental Protection-  :

Agency (Region VI) .,

.LA-DEQ = . Louisiana Department of j L Environmental Quality. ~l d1 h  !

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RIVER BEND STATION ENVIRONMENTAL OPERATING REPORT FOR 1988/89 4.0. ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS  !

4.1 Unusual or 1mportant Environmental Events During the period covered by _this report there were no unusual or l important events, causally related to RBS operatfor., which resulted in i significant environmental impacts.

4.2 Environmental Monitoring 4.2.1 .Aguatic Monitoring. - Water quality monitoring was per- '

formed in accordance with the requirements established in the station's t NPDES and Louisiana Water Discharge permits. Results'were documented in monthly Discharge Monitoring Reports and nonroutine reports (Table 1), as required, submitted to the USEPA and LA-DEO.

4.2.2 Terrestrial Monitoring. - Vegetative communities of the RBS site and vicinity were aerially photographed on October 4, 1988, in accordance .with Subsection 4.2.2 of the EPP. A resultant set of stereo )

color' infrared transparencies is hereby submitted as Exhibit 1.  ;

No change in vegetative communities or individual trees, attributable to salt-drift impacts, is evident in comparisons of the area within a 1-km (0.6 mi) radius of the RBS cooling towers depicted in 1988 photos (Frames 2 l through 5 of Flight Lines 1 - 3, Exhibit 1) with corresponding portions of ,

preoperational photographs. RBS Environmental Services personnel also per-  !

formed ground inspections of several 100-square meter plots (recognizable i on the aerial photos) in the autumn of 1988 and noted no significant changes since the preceding year.

4.2.3 Noise Monitoring. - The requirement (EPP Subsection  !

4.2.3) to conduct an environmental noise monitoring program was completed i during 1986/87 and the results were included in the second Annual Environ-mental Operating Report. in general, the acoustic environment in the vi- l cinity- of RBS proved to be substantially more complex than anticipated, but neither the magnitude of 1ncreases attributable to plant operation nor com- ,

munity reaction exceeded FES-OL predictions, i 5.0 ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURES 5.1 Review and Audit GSU has provided for independent review and audit of compliance with the EPP. The main group responsible for audits of EPP-related activities, the RBS Quality Assurance Department, reported directly to the Manager -

Oversight during the period covered in this report. Audits of compliance with non-NRC regulatory requirements (e.g., NPDES monitoring) are also per-formed by the corporate Environmental Engineering Group.

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4 RIVER BEND STATION ENVIRONMENTAL OPERATING REPORT FOR 1988/89

" All findings identified during the reporting period were satisfac- e torily resolved and did not indicate a significant deterioration of the activities being audited.

5.2 Records Retention Records and logs relative to environmental aspects of plant operation These and audit activities are retained in the TBS Permanent Plant File.

records and logs are. available to the NRL on request. Records of modifica-tions to station structures, systems, and components determined to potenti-ally affect the continued protection of the environment will be retained for the life of the plant. Other records, data, and logs relating to the EPP will be retained for five years or, where applicable, in accordance

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with the requirements of the USEPA and LA-DEQ.

5.3 Changes in Environmental Protection Plan There were no requests for changes in the EPP during the period covered by this report.

5.4 Plant Reporting Requirements 5.4.1 Routine Reports. - This Annual Environmental Operating Report was prepared to meet the reporting requirements of EPP Subsection 5.4.1 for the period from August 29, 1988, through August 28, 1989. Sum-maries and analyses of the results of monitoring programs, including com-parisons with related preoperational studies, operational controls, and 1 previous reports are presented in Section 4.2 (above) and Exhibit 1. Du-ring the period of this report there were no indications of significant harmful effects or evidence of trends toward irreversible damage to the environment causally related to the operation of River Bend Station. _

5.4.2 Nonroutine Reports. - All nonroutine events from August 1

29, 1988, through August 28, 1989, that were reportable were identified to i other federal, state, or local agencies in accordance with their reporting requirements in lieu of requirements of EPP Subsection 5.4.2 (see Table 1).

The NRC was provided with a copy of each written nonroutine report to l j

another agency.

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RIVER BEND STATION

' ENVIRONMENTAL OPERATING REPORT FOR 1988/89 .

9 EXHIBIT 1 COLOR INFRARED AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHS OF RIVER BEND STATION AND.VICINIIT -

TAKEN ON OCTOBER 4,1988 This exhibit consists of two (2) plastic print files each containing three strips of film transparencies.. Each strip depicts a series of frames i which are segments of overlapping. northeast-southwest Flight Lines from an aerial photography mission flown on October 4, 1988. The photos were taken

.from an altitude of 1,970 meters (6,300 f t) above terrain using a gyro-scope-mounted camera with a 70-millimeter lens and color infrared film.

The scale reproduced on the transparencies is 25.4 mm (1 in) = 1,016 m (about 3,333 f t), and each of the overlapping frames (exposures) represents

-and ar ea about 2.3- km (7,500 f t) on a side. The frames are mounted as stereo pairs to produce a three-dimensional effect when viewed through a ,

stercoscope. ,

The area within a 1 km (0.6 mi) radius of the RBS normal cooling towers is included in Frames 2 - 5 of Flight Lines 1 - 3.

NOTE: The plastic print files are open-ended to facilitate removal'

.of the transparency stripa. Flight Line and Frame numbers are marked on-

-the plastic files only. To avoid replacing the transparencies in the wrong file slot, only one film strip should be removed at a time. 't 1.

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