ML20196H600

NPDES Noncompliance Notification:On 880301,hydrazine Discovered in Conventional Wastewater Treatment Sys. Discharge Terminated Upon Discovery of Hydrazine in B-pond of Sys.Fish Deaths Due to Natural Conditions

ML20196H600
Person / Time
Site:	Catawba
Issue date:	03/07/1988
From:	Haller W DUKE POWER CO.
To:	SOUTH CAROLINA, STATE OF
References
NUDOCS 8803110156
Download: ML20196H600 (3)

Text

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Duxe Powen COMPANY P.O.140X 33189

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WILLIAM A. HALLER '

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March 7, 1988 South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control 2600 Bull Street Columbia, S.C. 29201 ATTENTION: NPDES Administrative Section

SUBJECT:

Catawba Nuclear Station Conventional Wastewater Treatment System (WC)

Noncompflance Notification File: CN-702.26

Dear Sir:

In accordance with Part II.B.2 of the Catawba Nuclear Station NPDES permit

-(SC0004278) as a follow-up to the telephone notification to the Catawba District Office, Fort Lawn, S.C. , this is to notify you of a noncompliance incident at the Catawba Nuclear Station. Information related to the incident is as follows:

Discharge The discharge was the Conventional Wastewater Treatment System (WC, discharge 002) into Lake Wylie.

Cause of Noncompliance The discharge contained a hydrazine concentration of 8.0 mg/1. Based on the flowrate and duration, the calculated quantity of hydrazine discharged was approximately 68 pounds.

Date and time The WC system discharge began at 2140 hours0.0248 days <br />0.594 hours <br />0.00354 weeks <br />8.1427e-4 months <br /> on February 29, 1988. The discharge was terminated at 0920 hours0.0106 days <br />0.256 hours <br />0.00152 weeks <br />3.5006e-4 months <br /> on March 1,1988 when hydrazine was discovered within the system. j Duration The duration was approximately 11 hours1.273148e-4 days <br />0.00306 hours <br />1.818783e-5 weeks <br />4.1855e-6 months <br /> and 40 minutes.

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once hydrazine was discovered in the B-pond of the WC System, the discharge

_ was terminated. Administrative precautions were imediately taken to alleviate the current. event. Also, internal investigations have been 7 initiated to determine and correct deficiencies that led to this release, When the investigations are complete, additional administrative controls f

will be implemented to prevent future occurrences.

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• The WC system consists of (1) a 300,000 gallon Initial Holdup Pond, (2) two

$ (2) five-million gallen Settling Ponds, and (3) a 1.5 million gallon Final

%; Holdup pond. The A-pond and the Final Holdup pond were at full capacity k and out-of-specification for release.

treatment.

They were being recirculated for DHEC had given approval to discharge hydrazine up to a concentration of 0.43 mg/1. The B-pond was sampled and analyzed on N February 29, 1988 and determined to be within specification for release for the normal NPDES parameters as well as hydrazine. In order to prevent all 2 ponds from filling and thereby leaving no capacity to receive wastewater

- from the station, it was decided to discharge the B-pond as it received

% wastewater f rom the station. In the meantime, a vessel thought to contain only condensate was drained to the WC system. The vessel, however, g contained hydrazine.

On March 1, 1988 a cocposite sample of B-por d was analyzed for hydrazine.

{ The hydrazine concentration was 8.0 mg/1. Immediately, a discharge sample m

was collected and the discharge was stopped at 0920 hrs. The results of

= the analysis of the discharge sample was also 8.0 mg/1. Between 1000 and P

1115, samples were taken in Lake Wylie approximately 2 feet from the WC g discharge and downstream at the radiological sampling point. The results

= of the analyses were 0.108 mg/l and no detectable hydrazine, respectively.

W In the discharge cove, approximately six small bream and several dozen

[ threadfin shad were observed dead. A more complete investigation by Duke r

t Power Biologists revealed that threadfin shad were observed dead in other

- areas of the lake unaffected by the discharge. This would indicate that their deaths were due to natural conditions such as low water temperatures.

5 All appropriate State, County, and Federal officials were notified of this E event. Should you desire additional information or have any questions please contact R.T. Simril [(704) 373-2310] or M.C. Griggs [(704) f 373-7080].

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2 Sincerely, d

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W.A. Haller, Manager Nuclear Technical Services M

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xc: A.L. Williams - Fort Lawn, South Carolina Document Control Desk, NRC l

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