ML20065L753

NPDES Noncompliance Notification:On 940404,discovered Elevated Ph in Sample Collected at Discharge Point 001B. Caused by Algal Activity in Raw Water make-up Ponds.Added Addl make-up Water to Ponds to Lower Ph

ML20065L753
Person / Time
Site:	Fort Saint Vrain
Issue date:	04/06/1994
From:	Meyerkord L PUBLIC SERVICE CO. OF COLORADO
To:	NRC OFFICE OF INFORMATION RESOURCES MANAGEMENT (IRM)
References
P-94039, NUDOCS 9404210266
Download: ML20065L753 (5)

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P.O. Box 840 16805 WCR 191/2; Platteville, Colorado 80651 conver.co Bo201.os40 April 13,1994 Fort St. Vrain

Unit No.1 P-94039 U. S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission A'ITN: Document Control Desk Washington, D. C. 20555 Attention: Mr. John H. Austin, Chief Decommissioning and Regulatory Issucs Branch Docket No. 50-267

SUBJECT:

NPDES Permit Non-Compliance Report

Dear. Mr. Austin:

Attached for your information is a non-compliance report related to the Fort St. Vrain (FSV) National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Permit. This '-

information is provided in accordance with the - FSV Non-Radiological Technical Specifications, Section 3.2.a of Appendix B to Facility Operating License No. DPR-34.

If you have any questions regarding this information, please contact Mr. M. H. Holmes at (303) 620-1701.

Sincerely, Ah- V WMssd Don W. Warembourg Y Decommissioning Program Director -

DWW/SWC Attachment cc: Regional Administrator, Region IV <

Mr. Robert M. Quillin, Director Radiation Control Division Colorado Department of Health 9404210266 940406 PLR ADOCK 05000267 S PDR g%g 11..

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P.O. Box 840 Denver. CO 80201- 0840 April 8,1994 Ms. Kathy Kalamen Industrial Enforcement Engineer Permits and Enforcement Section Water Quality Control Division Colorado Department of Health 4300 Cherry Creek Drive South Denver, Colorado 80222-1530 ,

RE: Public Service Company of Colorado - Fort St. Vrain Station CDPS Permit No.

CO-0001121

Dear Kathy:

Enclosed please find a non-compliance report for the Public Service Company of Colorado Fort St. Vrain (FSV) Station. The non-compliance report details the pH exceedances L reported to you on April 5 and 6,1994.

As discussed with Mr. Don Holmer of the Water Quality Control Division,it appears that the factors affecting the pH of the raw water ponds are biological in origin, as the pH is similarly affected in the farmpond and has been affected previously in the raw water ponds .

during June 1993. Therefore, PSC requests that the FSV wastewater discharge permit be amended to address these biological effects by including the raw water ponds (and therefore outfall 001B) in the provisions established under Arnendment #2. That is, please modify the maximum pH limitation for this outfall as well as at the farmpond (outfall 001 A) during the course of the biological / chemical study, which can be expanded to include the raw ' water ponds.

The maximum farmpond pH limitation in effect through September 30,1994 is 11.0 s.u. At that.

time, the information gathered during the study will be utilized for both outfalls to establish the maximum pH limitations for these effluents.

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If you have any questions regarding this report, please feel free to contact me at 294-2814.

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Louise C. Meyerkord Unit Manager Environmental Programs Attachment 1 cc: U.S. EPA, Region VIII Don Holmer .

Pat Nelson George Vonesh ,

Don Warembourg Mike Holmes Dave Fetterolf Terry Staley Mike Niehoff Jesse Brungardt Glen Reigel Ken Shafer Steve Miller Becky Sheridan Dael Clarkson J

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,~ i' NPDES DISCHARGE PERMIT NONCOMPLIANCE REPORTING FORM Date: 4/6/94 Applicable Permit No.: _CO-0001121 Discharge No.: 001B I. GENERAL Company: Public Service Comoany of Colorado Mailing Address: P.O. Box 840 Denver. CO 80201 Plant Name: Fort St. Vrain Station Plant Location: Near Platteville. Colorado County: Weld H. NONCOMPLIANCE REPORT A. Description and Cause of Noncompliance: A sample collected at discharge point 001B at 5:40 pm on 4/4/94 showed a pH of 9.12 s.u. (Noncompliance period 1) A sample collected at discharge point 001B at 12:00 pm on 4/5/94 showed a pH of 9.15 s.u. (Noncompliance period

2) The cause of the elevated pH is believed to be related to algal activity in the raw water make-up ponds, as was similarly experienced on 6/4/93 and in the FSV farmpond, which is the subject of a biological / chemical study to define the factors influencing pH in the pond. pH of the east pond is 9.12 s.u. and of the west pond is 9.6-9.7 s.u. The west pond has been isolated and not utilized for the past week and one-half due to the high pH.

B. Noncompliance Period 1:

Started: A.M. 5:40 P.M. 4/4/94 Date Ended: 124Q A.M. P.M. 4/5/94 Date Noncompliance Period 2:

Started: A.M. 12:00 P.M. 4/5/94 Date Ended: A.M. 4:00 P.M. 4/5/94 Date C. Action Taken to Reduce, Eliminate, Prevent: Additional sampling was performed prior to and upon discovery of the elevating pH levels. Since it appears that the pH elevation is due to biological activity in the raw water ponds, additional make-up water has been and is being added to the ponds to lower the pH in the ponds by neutralization and causing turnover of the pond.

The pH was back into compliance at 12:30 am 4/5/94, when the pH was measured at 9.00 s.u.

(Noncompliance period 1) The pH was back into compliance at 4:00 pm 4/5/94, when the pH was measured at 9.00 s.u. (Noncompliance period 2)

D. Person Initiatinjdp: port: Louise,Meyerkord / M Signature: /A 8/L[AL 7/IS &J ##7zt -

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E. Water Quality Control Division Notification Requirements:

Telephone (24 hrs.): 4/5/94 Date Ms. Kathy Kalame1 Notified 1:50 p.m.

4/6/94 Date Ms. Kathy Kalamen Notified 12:40 p.m.

Written (5 days): 4/6/94 Date Ms. Kathy Kalamen Notified

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SUBMIT REPORT TO:

Ms. Kathy Kalamen Regional Administrator Colorado Department of licalth U.S. EPA Water Quality Control Diviskm One Denver Place, Suite 500 Monitoring & Enforcement Section 999 INth Street 8WM-C 4300 Cherry Creek Drive South Denver, CO 80202-2405 '

Denver, CO 80222 1530 Attn.: Enforcement Permit Program la the event of non<ompliance for the FSV Station, a verbal report must he made to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission by the FSV shift supervisor (620-1090) within four hours after verbally notifying the Water Quality Control Diviskm.

Dave Fetterolf notified the FSV shiA supervisor at 1:30 p.m. on 4/5/94 regarding the Grst period of noncompliance; the FSV shiA supervisor was notined at 12:50 pm on 4/6/94 regarding the second period of noncompliance.

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