ML20206K689

Forwards Approved Amends to NPDES Permits CA0108073,Order 94-49 & CA0108181,Order 94-50 & State Water Resources Board Resolution

ML20206K689
Person / Time
Site:	San Onofre
Issue date:	05/11/1999
From:	Scherer A SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA EDISON CO.
To:	NRC OFFICE OF INFORMATION RESOURCES MANAGEMENT (IRM)
References
NUDOCS 9905130242
Download: ML20206K689 (7)

Text

k SOUlHE RN CAlIFORN1 A A. Edward Scherer R EDISON L26 ,, u An LDISON IN1LRNATIONAL* Company i

May 11,1999  !

l U. S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Attention: Document Control Desk Washington, D.C. 20555

Subject:

Docket Nos. 50-361 and 50-362 Approved Changes to the NPDES Permits for San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station Units 2 and 3 d

Reference:

Letter to the NRC Document Control Desk, " Proposed Changes for SONGS Units 2 and 3 NPDES Permits," from E. Scott Medling, Southern California Edison, dated April 27,1998 )

This letter provides approved changes to the NPDES Permits CA0108073, Order 94-49, and CA0108181, Order 94-50 for SONGS Units 2 and 3 respectively. This letter is submitted in accordance with Appendix B of the Units 2 and 3 Facility Operating Licenses, No. NPF-10 and NPF-15, respectively, Section 3.2, Environmental Protection Plan.

The referenced letter notified the NRC that a request had been made to the State Water Resources Control Board for an approval of an exception to the California State ,

Thermal Plan limit regarding the discharge temperature from Units 2 and 3. That  !

request was approved on April 14,1999. The approved amendments to the permits and the State Water Resources Control Board's Resolution as downloaded from their Internet site are attached for your information.

This letter duplicates an identical letter dated May 10,1999, which may, or may not, have been misdirected. If you have any questions, please contact me or Mr. E. Scott Medling at (949) 368-7492.

Sincerely, 9905130242 990511 PDR ADOCK 05000361 I PDR

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.P.o.Ikm 128-San Clemente, CA 92674 0128 949 368-750t '

Fax 944-368-7575

Document Control Desk May 11,1999 cc: E. W. Merschoff, Regional Administrator, NRC Region IV J. . A. Sloan, NRC Senior Resident inspector, San Onofre Units 2 and 3 L. Raghavan, NRC Project Manager, San Onofre Units 2 and 3 S. Hsu, Department of Health Services, Sacramento c..

' san bnotre Thermal 1%n Exceptkm Apprmal http: zwwwswreb.ca gm redtn IP 9 rM19-028 htm s ~

STATE WATER RESOURCES CONTROL BOARD RESOLUTION NO. 99 - 028 APPROVAL OF THE S AN DIEGO REGIONAL WATER QUALITY CONTROL BOARD'S ADOPTION OF AN EXCEPTION TO THE CALIFORNIA STATE THERMAL PLAN (THERNLAL PLAN) FOR SAN ONOFRE NUCLEAR GENERATING STATION (SONGS)

WHEREAS:

1. Southern California Edison Company (SCE) owns and operates the SONGS power plant located on the Pacific Coast in northern San Diego County. SONGS consists of two active units, each discharging approximately 1,200 million gallons per day of heated sea water to the Pacific Ocean. The two active units employ once-through cooling water systems, withdrawing cooling water from the Pacific Ocean and discharging it to the ocean through separate underwater dinsers situated on the ocean bottom approximately % to 1% miles offshore. Each underwater diEser is 762 meters long, with 63 diEser ports. The Unit 2 diEser ends 2500 meters from shore in approximately 15 meters of water. The Unit 3 diEser ends 1800 meters from shore in approximately 12 meters of water. The diEsers are placed such that sensitive near shore marine habitat. epecially intertidal and shallow subtidal habitat, will not be affected by heat from the discharge.

2. The SONGS discharges operate under separate discharge permits issued by the San Diego Regional Water Quality Control Board (SDRWQCB) and are subject to the Thermal Plan with respect to the thermal component of the discharges. SONGS has complied with the thermal limitations of its discharge permits.

3.The Thermal Plan and the SONGS discharge permits require that the effluent from SONGS Units 2 and 3 may not exceed the receiving water temperature by more than 20 F.

4. The Thermal Plan and the Federal Clean Water Act (CWA) specify that a Regional Water Quality Control Board may grant an exception to specific water quality objectives of the Thermal Plan with concurrence from the State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) and in compliance with Section 316(a) of the CWA and associated federal regulations.

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5. In May 1997, SCE applied to SDRWQCB for exceptions to the limitation in No. 3 above, so as to allow discharges from Units 2 and 3 to exceed the receiving water temperature by no more than 25' F.

6. CWA Section 316(a) requires an applicant for an exception to thermal discharge limitations to demonstrate that the existing limitations are more stringent than necessary to protect and maintain balanced indigenous communities in the affected water body, taking into account the interaction of such thermal component with other pollutants. Title 40 Federal Code of Regulations section 125.73 requires the applicant for the exception to demonstrate either "that no appreciable harm has resulted" from the discharge, or that "despite the occurrence of such previous harm, the desired alternative effluent limitations will nevertheless assure the protection and propagation of a balanced, indigenous community of shellfish, fish and wildlife in and on the body of water into which the discharge is made."

7. SCE has provided information which demonstrates that the proposed limitation will protect and maintain balanced indigenous communities in the vicinity of the SONGS discharges based on a number of -

considerations:

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.Nm r> notre lhermal th laceptum Apprmal httprwww nreb.ca gorreshn 1999 rxW421htm e -

a. While there is evidence ofimpacts caused by entrainment and discharge-induced turbidity. there is no evidence of adverse impacts caused by the thermal component of the discharge.

b. EtTects due to the proposed increase in temperature will be minimal because the discharge structures are designed and placed such that sensitive near shore marine habitat, especially intertidal and shallow subtidal habitat, will not be afTected by heat from the discharge. Funher, thermal plume modeling of the new discharge conditions as reported in SDRWQCB's Initial Study shows clearly that permit requirements will not be violated as a result of the requested permit modification, and that thermal impacts on the sensitive kelp bed environment will be insignificant.

c. Previous impacts to the marine ecosystem caused by other components of the discharge will be addressed by the mitigation measures mandated by the California Coastal Commission.

8. On February 11,1998, after conducting and publishing a California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Initial Study of the requested exception and following a public hearing, SDRWQCB approved the exceptions for the two SONGS permits as requested by SCE. SDRWQCB found that SCE had adequately demonstrated that balanced indigenous communities would be maintained in the vicinity of SONGS if the requested amendment were granted. SDRWQCB adopted a CEQA Negative Declaration on its action.

9. SWRCB staff has reviewed the SDRWQCB action and found that the action complies with State and federal criteria for granting an exception to the Thermal Plan's discharge limitation.

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT:

The SWRCB concurs in and approves the SDRWQCB action granting amended discharge limitations to SONGS Units 2 and 3. These limitations must be reviewed by SDRWQCB at the time of renewal of the SONGS Units 2 and 3 discharge permits with a view to assuring that balanced indigenous communities of marine life are being maintained in the vicinity of the SONGS discharges.

CERTIFICATION The undersigned, Administrative Assistant to the Board, does hereby certify that the foregoing is a full, true, and correct copy of a resolution duly and regularly adopted at a meeting of the State Water Resources Control Board held on April 14,1999.

/s/

Maureen Marche Administrative Assistant to the Board 5,73910:42 AM 2 of 2

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4 CALIFORNIA REGIONAL WATER QUALITY CONTROL BOARD j SAN DIEGO REGION l

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ADDENDUM No. 2 j TO. .i ORDER NO. 94-49 NPDES PERMIT NO. CA0108073 AND ORDER NO. 94-50 NPDES PERMIT NO. CA0108181 WASTE DISCEARGE REQUIREMENTS FOR.

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA EDISON COMPANT SAN ONOFRZ NUCLEAR GENERATING STATION UNIT 2 AND UNIT 3 SAN DIEGO COUNTY The California Regional Water Quality Control Board, San Diego -

Region (hereinafter Regional Board), finds that:

1. On August 11, 1994, this Regional Scard adcoted Order No.

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94-49,, NPDES No. CA0108073, Waste Discharge Recuireme.it$"f0:

Southern California Edisen Ccmpany, San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station,... Unit 2.

2. On August 11, 1994, this Regional Board, adopted Order No.

'94-50, NPDES No. CA0108181, Waste Discharge Recuirements for Southern California Edison Company, San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station, Unit 3.

3. On May 5, 1997, Southern California Edison Company (Edisen) submitted an application for a modification of its National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit for Units 2 and 3 at the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station (SONGS) to allow an increase in the temperature of the cooling (sea) water discharged to the Pacific Ocean.

4. By cover letter dated August 6, 1997, and September,8,'

1997, Edison submitted additional information for the application for a modification of the NPDES permits.

5. The process for modifying the NPDES permits for thg proposed temperature increase in the cooling (sea)watqr-re(kited this Regional Board to consider granting an~eiception'to the Wa cer Quality Control Plan for Control of Temperature in the Coastal and Interstate Waters and Enclosed Bays and Escuaries of California (Thermal Plan) .

Tentative Addendum'No. 2 2 c:da: No. 94-43 January 6, 1999

.. -c der No. 94-50

6. On-February 11, 1998, Regional Board'adepted Resolution No.

98-03 which approved a Negative Declaration for an exception to the Thermal Plan to allow the temperature of the cooling (sea) water to be increased by a maximum of 25*T before being discharge,d.

8. Resolution No. 98-03 was adopted in accordance with the provisions of the California Envircamental Quality Act (Chapter 3, Section 21000 et. seq of Division 13 of the_ -

Public Rescurces Ccde). .

7. On February 11, 1993,.this Regional Ecard, after appropriate notice, conducted a public hearing and did grant an exception to the Thermal Plan to allow the temperature of the cooling (sea) water to be increased by .a maximum of 25*T before being discharged.

9. The exceptien to the Thermal Plan complies with Section 316(a) of the Federal Clean Water Act.

10. The issuance of this Addendum is exempt from the previsiens of the. California Envircamental Quality Act (Chapter 3'g~ _.

Sectioni21000 et. seq. of Division-13 of the Public .

Rescurces Code) in accordance with Water Ccde Secticn 13339. j

11. This Regignal'Ecard has nctified Edisen and all kncwn 1 interested parties of its intent to mcdify Order No. 94-49 and Order'No. 94-50.

12. ihis" Regional Scard in a public hearing heard and censidered 1 all ccmments pertaining to the modification of Order No, 94- I 49 and Order No. 94-50.

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IT IS EERE3Y ORDERED TEAT:

1. Discharge Scecification B.8 of Order No. 94-49 shall be replaced as follows:

8. At all ti=es except during heat treat =ent operations, the maximum ta=perature of the discharge frem SCNGS Unit 2 to the ocean. shall not exceed the nataral temperature of the receiving waters by more than 25'F.

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.b Toncatiic Addenduin No. 2 3 Crda January 6, 1998 No. 94-49 0 d8: No. 94-50

2. Discharge Specificacion B.8 of order No. 94-50 shaLL be  ;

replaced as follows: '

8. At all times except during heat treatment operations, the maximum temperature of the discharge frem SONGS ,,

Unit 3 to the ocean shall not exceed the natural temperature of the receiving waters by more than 25*F. '

I, John H. Robe:cus, E;<ecutive O!!icer, do hereby cercify chac the foregaing is a ful1, crue, and cc::ect copy af Addendum No. 2 co Orde: No. 94-49. NPDES Pe=ic No. CA0108073, and Orde: No. 94-50, NPDES Penic No. CA0108181 adopted by the California Regional Wa ce: Qua1 icy Control Boarda San Diego Region, on February 11, 1998.

, tentative 1 John H. Robertus l Executive Officer  !

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