ML20004D580

Responds to IE Bulletin 81-03, Flow Blockage of Cooling Water to Safety Sys Components by Corbicula Sp (Asiatic Clam) & Mytilus Sp (Mussel). Investigation Indicates No Specimens in Hudson River in Vicinity of Facility

ML20004D580
Person / Time
Site:	Indian Point
Issue date:	05/29/1981
From:	Bayne J POWER AUTHORITY OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK (NEW YORK
To:	Grier B NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION I)
References
IEB-81-03, IEB-81-3, IPN-81-36, NUDOCS 8106090550
Download: ML20004D580 (7)

Text

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POWER. AUTHORITY OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK to CoLuusus CincLt NEW Yomx. N. Y. too19 (212) 397.6200 G Eo",0,8, 7,,e_t,m m y ,,p

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TwoM.S 4. FR EY Mr. Boyce H. Grier, Director ""'*","c!",','.'.*s'"'

Office of Inspection and Enforcemenc Region I

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U. S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission 631 Park Avenue jf 7

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Subject:

Indian Point 3 Nuclear Power Plant Docket No. 50-286

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Response to I.E. Bulletin No. 81-03

Dear Sir:

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This letter responds to I.E. Bulletin No. 81-03 entitled,

" Flow Blockage of Cooling Water to Safety System Components by CORBICULA SP. (Asiatic Clam) and MYTILUS SP. (Mussel) , "

dated April 10, 1981.

Attachment I details the specific actions taken by the Authority in addressing the subject bulletin requirements.

Approximately 80 manhours have been expended to prepare this response.

Very truly yours, J . Bayne enior Vice President cc: attached Nuclear Generation State of New York County of New York  ;

Subscribed and Sworn to before me this f/ day of % -

1981.

R. : 4%f N t*3 $@C.'

u Notary Public. State of New York 6 NO. 00 MMS \

Ouaufied in Nase:u County CcmmisM:n Eycir:s March 30.1

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8106090

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i cc: Mr. T. Rebelowski i Resident Inspector l U. S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission P. O. Box 38 Buchanan, New York 10511 .

Mr. Ron Barton r United Engineers & Constructors, Inc. i 30 S. 17th Street Philadelphia, Pa. 19101 Director, Office of Inspection and Enforcement i U. S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission i Washington, D. C. 20555  ;

Consolidated Edison Co.

of New York, Inc.

4 Irving Place New York,.New York 10003 Attention: Mr. R. Remshaw l

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ATTACHMENT I RESPONSE TO I. E. BULLETIN NO. 81-03 1

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POWER' AUTHORITY OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK INDIAN POINT 3 NUCLEAR POWER PLANT DOCKET NO. 50-286 MAY 29, 1981 1

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Sulletin Action Item 1 Determine whether Corbicula sp. or Mytilus sp. is present in -

the vicinity of the station (local environment) in either the ,

source or receiving water body. If the results of current field monitoring programs provide reasonable evidence that neither of these species is present in the local environment, no further action is necessary except for item 4 and 5 in this section for holders of operating li:enses.

RESPONSE

The' Authority has concluded that neither Corbicula sp. nor Mytilus sp. is present in the Hudson River in the vicinity of the Indian Point Station. This conclusion is based upon the following '

considerations: I

a. Neither genera has been collected in prior sampling efforts in the vicinity of Indian Point (river mile 43) ,

Bowline Point Station (river mile 38), Ossinging (river mile 34), Cornwall (river mile 57) and Roseton/

Danskammer Stations (river mile 65). The Authority, Consolidated Edison, Orange and Rockland Utilities and Central Hudson Gas and Electric Corp. have independently or jointly financed several studies which have examined 4

the composition of the Hudson River benthic community.

, Collectively, these efforts represent a comprehensive analysis of benthos in the vicinities of the river's generating stations, and to a lesser extent, characterize

, th.e benthic composition of the middle estuary (from the

Tappan Zee Bridge to Albany). The earliest study con-tains data from 1971; the most recent includes sampling performed during 1977. Each study was generally restricted to a small geographical region, e.g., in the vicinity of an existing or proposed generation station. Neither Corbicula sp. nor Mytilus sp. were found in any of these studies.

b. No evidence of either genera has been found during recent inspections of the condenser inlet water boxes.

All six of these inlet water boxes were inspected for i

signs of either genera during the. months of April and May 1981.

c. No evidence of either genera was found during the Fall 1980 inspection of the containment fan cooler units.

This inspection consisted of a boroscope inspection of the tubes in fan c oler units 33 and 34 and a visual inspection of 3 or 4 of the removed fan cooler unit motor coolers,

d. There is no evidence,that any benthic macroninvertebrate i blockage problems has ever occurred at the Indian Point l Units.

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e. The spread of Corbicula sp. is closely monitored by several scientific groups, including utility biologists.

Information recently obtained from individuals and groups extremely knowledgeable on the subjects of Corbicula sp. distribution and/or Hudson River benthos indicates that this clam is not found in the Hudson River, and Mytilus sp. although found in the most saline reaches of the estuary, has not extended its range to include the Indian Point Station.

Based on the above the Authority believes that reasonable evidence exists to indicate that neither of these genera is present in '

the local environment. Therefore, as provided in bulletin action item 1, no response to actions items 2 and 3 of the bulletin is required.

Bulletin Action Item 4 Describe mett.ods either in use or planned (including implementation date) for preventing and detecting future flow blockage or de-gradation due to clams and mussels or shell debris. ~'clude the

, following information in this description:

a. Evaluation of the potential for intrusion of the organisms-into these systems due to low water level and high velocities in the intake structure expected during worst case conditions.

b. Evaluation of effectiveness of prevention and detection methods used in the past or present or planned.for future use.

RESPONSE

a. Based on the conclusion that neither genera are present in the local environment (see response to item 1), no potential exists for the in-trusion of Corbicula sp. or Mytilus sp. into the service or circulating water systems due to worst case conditions of low water level and high intake velocities within the intake structure.

b. The Authority believes that the following actions pro-vide effective prevention and detection of future flow blockage or degradation due to infestation by these genera :

1. Inspection of various circulating water system in-let water boxes has been performed on the average of once per month during routine maintenance.

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Access to these water boxes is expected to continue at least during plant refueling outages.

Inspection personnel have been requested to report

. any evidence of clams or mussels including shell debris.

2. The operations dept. monitors the fluid temperature in each of the coolers supplied the service water system and records the temperature measurement on a log sheet at least daily. These log sheets indicate the normal temperature range and maximum temperature range for each cooler, for comparison with the maarured temperaturns, such that degradation due

- to flow blockage can be readily detected by an increased outlet fluid temperature. These log sheets are reviewed by the shift.superv!.or during each watch and are subsequently. reviewed by the operations department prior to filing.

In addition, the very low water temperature during the winter months and-the Indian Point region's variable salinity regime would prevent any future colonization from reaching nuisance

, proportions within a short period of time. Therefore, it is felt that the periodic condenser inspections wfll adequately

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-serve to forewarn us of infestation by this organism. The inspections would also determine the presence of Mytilus sp. , but it is highly , unlikely that this prolific and well-esrablished marine genus would suddenly emerge as a biofouler at the Station.= Mytilus sp. has been found in the Hudson River as far North as.the George Washington Bridge but its absenca in the Indian Point area is almost certainly attributable to the fresh-water and low salinity conditions which prevail there for much of the year (e.g., conductivity generally remains below ins /cm

'except from June through September) .Mytilus sp. larvae are especially intolerant of such conditions.

Bulletin Action Item 5 Describe the actions taken in items 1 through 3 above and include the following information:

a. Applicable protions of the environmental monitoring program including last sample data and results.

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b. Components and systems affected.

c. Extent of fouling if any expected.

d. How and when fouling was discovered.

e. Corrective and preventive actions.

RESPONSE

a. Environmental sampling studies and their results are thoroughly discussed in the response to item 1.

b. through e.

To date, there has been no fouling of Indian Point Unit 3 systems utilizing river water due to the subject genera.

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