ML20136B972

Responds to 851121 Request for Comments on Util Proposed Change to NPDES Permit for Discharge of Boron Into Mississippi River.Operation of Evaporator to Dispose of Boron Is Energy & Labor Intensive

ML20136B972
Person / Time
Site:	Waterford
Issue date:	12/13/1985
From:	Knighton G Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
To:	Knudson M ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
References
NUDOCS 8601030078
Download: ML20136B972 (3)

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Docket No.: 50-382 Mr. Myron 0. Knudson, Director Water Management Division U. S. Environmental Protection Agency Region VI 1201 Elm Street Dallas, Texas 75270

Subject:

NPDES Permit Limit Change for Boron Discharge at Waterford 3 We have received your letter dated November 21, 1985 and, as you requested, are providing you with our comments and observations regarding LP&L's proposed change to the NPDES permit for discharge of boron to the Mississippi River for Waterford 3.

The FES-OL for Waterford 3 (NUREG-0779, September 1981) clearly states that EPA and the State are solely responsible for nonradiological effluent limitations via the NPDES permit and State water quality certification. This is reflected in Appendix B to the Waterford 3 operating license,- which requires that the NRC be notified of NPDES permit and State certification violations. If approved by EPA, the NRC staff does not object to the proposed changes, as LP&L's revised limit of 2,300 mg/l would result in a maximum boron concentration of less than 0.1 mg/l at the final point of discharge to the Mississippi River. This would continue to have a negligible impact on biota in the river, thus the level of impact resulting from the revised discharge limitations for boron remains unchanged from that predicted in the environmental statement. The proposed change does not affect radioactive release limits, treatment or surveillance, and therefore, results in no chance in radiological environmental impact.

Because the impacts of operation with the proposed change in boron discharoe limitation falls within the envelope assessed in the environmental statement, there is no resulting change to the benefit / cost balance as presented in the FES.

Operation of the evaporators to dispose of baron and the extra handling required for soliditication and packaging for shipment are energy and labor intensive and could result in higher occupational exposures, in addition, discharging boron to the environment at -these acceptably low levels also reduces the arount of solid radwaste requiring processing and transportation to licensed offsite burial facilities. Thus, althouch not reflected in the FES, these benefits on balance would tend to favor the proposed action.

8601030078 B51213 PDR ADOCK 05000382 P PDR

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If you have'any questions concerning these coments, contact the project manager, 1 J. H. Wilson, on FTS 492-7702.

I j Sincerely, l

• • "uk.'.sL ;a;gga gy l George W. Knighton, Director l PWR Project Directorate No. 7 l- Division of PWR Licensing-B i

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! Louisiana Power & Light Company Waterford 3-P j cc:

1 W. Malcolm Stevenson, Esq. Regional Administrator, Region IV '

Monroe & Leman U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission 1432 Whitney Building Office of Executive Director New Orleans, Louisiana 70103 for Operations 611 Ryan Plaza Drive, Suite 1000

. Mr. E.-Blake Arlington, Texas 76011

Shaw, Pittman, Potts and Trowbridge 1800 M Street, NW Carole H. Burstein, Esq.

- Washington, D.C. 20036 445 Walnut Street New Orleans, Louisiana 70118 Mr. Gary L. Groesch P. O. Box 791169 Mr. Charles B. Brinkman, Manager

. New Orleans, Louisiana 70179-1169 Washington Nuclear Operations

Combustion Engineering Inc.

I Mr. F. J. Drummond 7910 Woodmont Avenue, Suite 1310 Project Manager - Nuclear Bethesda, Maryland 20814 Louisiana Power and Light Company 4 142 Delaronde Street

New Orleans, Louisiana 70174 Mr. K. W. Cook i Nuclear Support and Licensing Manager

! Louisiana Power and Light Company i 142 Delaronde Street

{ New Orleans, Louisiana 70174 i .

t i Resident Inspector /Waterford NPS I

P. O. E.ox 822 l Killona, Louisiana 70066 l Mr. Jack Fager

. Middle South Services, Inc. '"

{ P. O. Box 61000 i New Orleans, Louisiana 70161 L Chairman Louisiana Public Service Commission

One American Place, Suite 1630

Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70804 I

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