ML20210Q570

Annual Environ Operating Rept,850311-1231

ML20210Q570
Person / Time
Site:	Wolf Creek
Issue date:	12/31/1985
From:	Koester G KANSAS GAS & ELECTRIC CO.
To:	Martin R NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION IV)
References
KMLNRC-86-077, KMLNRC-86-77, NUDOCS 8605140140
Download: ML20210Q570 (13)

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i ANNUAL ENVIRONMENTAL OPERATING REPORT i

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KANSAS GAS AND ELECTRIC COMPANY WOLF CREEK GENERATING STATION 1985 ANNUAL ENVIRONMENTAL OPERAiING REPORT

1. 0 INTRODUCTION 1

2. 0 ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING 1

2.1 AQUATIC 1

2.1.1 Inpacts of Water Withdrawal on the Neosho River 1

2.1.2 Chlorine Discharges to Wolf Creek Cooling Lake 1

2.1. 3 Cold Shock 2

2.1.4 Impingsnent and Entrainment 2

2.1. 5 Inpacts of Wolf Creek Cooling Lake Discharges to the Neosho River 2

2. 2 TERRESTRIAL 2

2.2.1 Control of' Vegetation in the Exclusion Zone 2

2.2.2 Vegetation Buffer Zone Surrounding Wolf Creek Cooling Lake 3

2.2.3 Herbicide Use for Maintenance of Wolf Creek Generating Station Structures 3

2.2.4 Waterfowl Disease Contingency Plan and Monitoring 3

2.2.5 Fog Monitoring Program 4

2.2.6 Wildlife Monicoring Program 4

2.2.7 Land Managenent Program 4

3. 0 ENVIRONMERTAL PROTECTION PLAN REPORTING REQUIREMENTS 4

3.1 PLANT DESIGN OR OPERATING CHANGES 4

3. 2 NON-ROUTINE ENVIRONMENTAL REPORTS 5

3.2.1 Subnitted Non-Routine Reports 5

3.2.2 Unusual or Important Environmental Event Evaluations 5

3. 3 ENVIRONMENTAL NONCOMPLIANCES 6

ATTACHMENT 1 SUfEARY OF ENVIRONMENTAL INVESTIGATIONS AT WOLF CREEK GENERATING STATION, 1985 l

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1. O INTRODUCTION Kansas Gas and Electric Company (KG&E) has caninitted to minimizing the impact of the Wolf Creek Generating Station (WCGS) facility construction and operation on the environment. The 1985 Annual Environmental Operating Report (AEOR) is being subnitted in accordance with the objectives of the Environmental Protection Plan (EPP) as required by Facility Operating License NPF-42, to demonstrate that the plant is operating in an environmentally acceptable manner.

2. 0 ENVIRONMENTAL MONI'IORING 2.1 AQUATIC

[EPP Section 2.1]

2.1.1 Impacts of Water Withdrawal on the Neosho River WCGS has contracted with the Kansas Water Resources Board to renove 9,692,000,000 gallons per calendar year from the tailwaters of the John Redmond Reservoir.

In 1985, only 571,584,651 gallo7s or 5.9 percent of this allotment was used. Based on munitoring studies completed by Ecological Analysts, no changes attributable to these withdrawals have been witnessed in river water quality or populations of phytoplankton, macroinverteb:ates or fishes.

2.1.2 Chlorine Discharges to Wolf Creek Cooling Lake l

Chlorine concentrations at the circulating water discharge structure to the cooling lake were postulated in the FES/-

OLS (Section 4.2.6.1) to range between 0.68 and 1.08 mg/l total residual chlorine (TRC). These values were expected to result from three 30-minute chlorine doses per day (411 lbs. per dose) and to cause periodic, appreciable mortality among aquatic organisms.

The area in which aquatic biota could be adversely affected by chlorinated effluents was conservatively estimated at 40 acres (FES/OLS Section

5. 5. 2. 2).

Administered by the State of Kansas, the WCGS NPDES permit No. I-NE07-P002 limits circulating water TRC effluent values to a maximum of 0.2 mg/l and chlorination time to 2 hours2.314815e-5 days <br />5.555556e-4 hours <br />3.306878e-6 weeks <br />7.61e-7 months <br /> per day.

In practice, WCGS has fallen well below these allowable limits.

Actual chlorine dosages have averaged about 26 lbs. per dose and daily TRC compliance has been maintained at 100%, while operating time comp-liance has achieved 98%. These compliance figures resulted in an average 0.1 ng/l TRC effluent value and were tabu-lated for the first 310 days of NPDES permit monitoring, beginning on April 24, 1985. This average TRC value equals tMt concentration identified in the ER/OLS (Section 5.1.3) which was expected to have no meaningful effect on the overall biological productivity of the cooling lake.

2.1. 3 Cold Shock In the event of a rapid decline in plant power level in winter, fishes attracted to the NCGS heated discharge could experience morcality due to " cold shock", a quick reduction in body temperature.

In reference to licensing document evaluations, the WCGS EPP Section 2.1 (c)

stated,

" Cold shock effects on fish due to reactor shutdowns could cause siejnificant mortality to aquatic species in the cooling lake".

In 1985, precipitous wintertime power declines were avoided sufficiently to preclude any observable cold shock events.

Re-evaluations of cold shock potential were made in light of elevated condenser delta T's experienced at both sumer and wintertime water temperaturas, and these sumaries appear in Section 3.1 of this report.

2.1. 4 Impingement and Entrainment Impacts of inpingement and entrainment were projected to be significant in the WCGS EPP, with condenser mortality for entrained organisms expected to approach 100% [ER(OLS) S ^

tion 5.1.3.3].

Because of this, sanpling efforts to monitor these impacts were not required by ;he NRC and have not been inplemented by KG&E, 2.1. 5 Impacts of Wolf Creek Cooling Lake Discharges to the Neosho River NOCL discharges into the Neosho River are regulated by WCGS NPDES permit limitations.

Since discharges are sporadic, water is sampled on the first day of each discharge and weekly thereafter.

Effluent parameters measured included a flow rate estimate, temperature, pH, TDS, sulfate, and chloride concentrations.

Wolf Creek additions to the Neosho River are regulated to maintain a zone of passage for aquatic organisms at the confluence. Consequently, the flows allowable from Wolf Creek may range from zero to unrestricted, depending upon the similarity between Wolf Creek and Neosh River water quality and temperature, with O

a maximum of 90 F allowable in the Neosho River downstream of the mixing zone.

In 1985, no NPDES violations at the dam (Outfall 004) were recorded.

Based on monitoring studies by Ecological Analysts, there have been no apparent deleterious effects to Neosho River water quality on phytoplankton, macroinvertebrate or fish populations.

2. 2 TERRESTRIAL

[EPP Sect-lon 2.2]

2.2.1 Centrol of Vegetation in the Exclusion Zone The composition and structure of vegetation in the 453 ha (1120 acre) exclusion zone were selectively controlled to be compatible with the function and security of station

a facilities. Most areas in the imediate vicinity of the power block have been planted and maintained in a lawn-type

c. condition. Landscaping and grass establishment have not been entirely conpleted to date, however all areas have been mowed at least once annually for security and aesthetic purposes. No restoration areas (areas not to be mowed) were established within the exclusion zone.

2.2.2 Vegetation Buffer Zone Surrounding Wolf Creek Cooling Lake To create a buffer zone around NOCL, all agricultural pro-duction activities were curtailed in 1980 below elevation 1095' MSL, eight feet above WOCL normal operating surface water elevation (1087' MSL).

Previously grazed or hayed native tallgrass areas were allowed to return to a natural state. Cultivated lands were allowed to advance through natural successional stages. Land management activites specified in an annual land management plan included controlled burning and native tallgrass seeding to enhance and/or maintain the designated buffer zone with a naturally occurring biotic comunity.

2.2.3 Herbicide Use for Maintenance of Wolf Creek Generating Station Structures No herbicides were applied on WCGS - associated power transmission line corridors in 1985.

Herbicide was applied on the WCGS switchyard facilities on June 17, 1985. A soil sterilant consisting of 8 pounds of Karmex (EPA Reg. No. 352-247 and approved for use in Kansas) and 4 to 6 pounds of Oust (EPA Reg. No. 352-401 and approved for use in Kansas) per 100 gallons of water was applied at a rate of 20-50 gallons per acre. Application was completed by a contractor comercially licensed by the Kansas Department of Agriculture.

No noteworthy applications of herbicides were applied on other WCGS facilities during the period addressed by this report.

2.2.4 Waterfowl Disease Contingency Plan and Monitoring A waterfowl disease contingency plan involving both state and federal personnel has been formulated to provide guid-ance for station biologists in the event of suspected or actual disease outbreaks. During routine wildlife monitor-ing and surveillance activities taking place over this reporting period, no avian mortality attributable to disease pathogens was identified.

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t 2.2.5 Fog Monitoring Program

[EPP Subsection 4.2.1]

l visibility monitoring was initiated in December 1983 and continued through 1985. The purpose of this study has been to evaluate the impact of waste. heat dissipation from WCCL on fog occurrence along U.S. 75 near New Strawn, Kansas.

A samary of the 1984 Visibility Monitoring Report is included in Attachment 1 of this report and the entire report is available for review at the WCGS job-site.

2.2.6 Wildlife Monitoring Program

[EPP Subsection 4.2.2]

A wildlife monitoring program was initiated to monitor and assess wildlife populations or parameters most likely to be l

impacted by the operation of WCGS. Wis included a general survey program for waterfowl collision events. As outlined l

in the 1984/85 annual wildlife study plan, specific objec-i tives of the wildlife monitoring program were to assess waterfowl, waterbird, and Bald Eagle usage of WCCL, to assess transmission line collision mortality of waterfowl using WCCL, to maintain a wildlife species list, and to develop an annual wildlife report.

Wis report is sunmar-ized in Attachnent 1 and is available for review in its entirety at the WCGS job-site. '

2.2.7 Land Management Program

[EPP Subsection 4.2.3]

Land management activities on all conpany-owned lands except the 453 ha (1120 acre) WOGS exclusion area were designed to achieve balances between agricultural produc-l tion and conservation values.

An annual management plan was fornulated to address needs and proposo accepted tech-niques for land maintenance, soil conservation, and wild-life managenent.

Wese included construction or repair of livestock fences and ponds, and construction or establish-ment of terraces, waterways, permanent vegetative cover, and shelterbelts.

The 1985 Land Management report is available for review at the WCGS job-site.

A sa mary appears in Attachment 1 of this report.

3. 0 ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION PLAN REPORTING REQUIREMENTS 1

l 3.1 Plant Design or Operating Changes

[EPP Section 3.11 l

l Proposed plant design and operating changes which have the potential to affect the environment must receive an envirormental evaluation prior to inplementation.

A sunmary of each Plant Modification Request (PMR) or operating change which received an environmental evaluation prior to inplementation in 1985 is presented.

Evaluation 85 WCGS Operation at Elevated Condenser Delta T's Periodic loss of one of the three circulating water intake pumps for maintenance has resulted in increased heating of the reduced cooling water volume. The maximum 3 punp condenser0 delta T postulated in the FES(OLS) Section 4.2.6.3 was 31.5 F and delta T's gt 2 punp,100% power operation are now projected to approach 42 F.

Because licensing documents predicted "significant" discharge cove cold shock mortality in the event of a midwinter plant trip and 100% entrainment mortality during routine operation, an increase in delta T should not fundamentally alter the magnitudes of these impacts.

Additionally, this will not likely inpinge on NPDES limitations for the tanperatures of discharges into the Neosho River.

Therefore, operation at elevated condenser delta T's was approved.

Evaluation 85 Late Spring, Sumer, and Early Fall Operation at Elevated Condenser Delta T's The potential for cold shock in the WCGS discharge cove has been evaluated as problematic during the coldest months

[FES (CP) Section 5. 5. 2. 3]. Hence, this evaluatign approved prolonged operation at elevated delta T's (>31.5 F) from late spring through early fall when WCCL fishes avoid the inmediate discharge area due to higher-than-preferred temperatures.

'Ihere were no changes in station design or operation nor were there tests or experiments which involved a potentially signifi-cant unreviewed environmental question in 1985.

3.2 Non-Routine Envirorrnental Reports

[EPP Subsection 5.4.2]

3.2.1 Submitted Non-Routine Reports No non-routine environmental reports involving significant impact were subnitted to the NRC from March through Decem-ber 1985. The single unusual or important environmental event evaluation conpleted during this period is sunmarized in the following section.

3.2.2 Unusual or Important Environmental Event Evaluations May 20, 1985 Fish Kill in Construction Pond 3A On May 17, hydrazine and anmonia was inadvertently released from the condenser to the Wolf Creek Cooling Lake through NPDES Outfall 032. The hydrazine combined with the free oxygen in the water resulted in a number of fish dying from oxygen starvation in the inmediate vicinity of the outfall. The loss of these fish had little to no inpact on the cooling lake and resulted in no offsite impact.

Therefore it was determined that this event was not reportable pursuant to EPP Sections 4.1 and 5.4.2.

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3. 3 Environmental Nonconpliances

[EPP Subsection 5.4.1]

j At WCGS in 1985, all environmental nonconpliances were recorded along with the events surrounding them. The nonconpliances of.

interest were of two types, either deviations from NPDES permit l

limitations or short-term fog visiometer malfunctions. '!hese nonconpliances were evaluated and determined not to be reportable pursuant to EPP Section 5.4.1.

All 1985 envirornnental nonconpliances are available for review at the WCGS job-site.

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ATTACHMENT 1 i

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i SLM4ARY OF ENVIROtNENTAL INVESTIGATIONS AT WOLF CREEK GENERATING STATION, 1985 t

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Kansas Gas and Electric Ccupany l

Envirornental Management Burlington, Kansas i

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1985 LAND MANAGD4ENT REPORT In keeping with annual land management plan guidelines, an annual progress report was formulated.

Land maintenance items outside the exclusion zone involved stock pond and fence construction or repair.

Improvement activi-ties included native grass seeding and shelterbelt establishment.

Grazing, haying, and cultivation lease control were primary mechanisms used for managing company land resources for both agricultural benefits and enhancenent of wildlife, soil, and native plant resources.

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1985 EA, ENGINEERING, SCIENCE, AND TECHNOLOGY ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING REPORT Environmental monitoring performed by EA, Engineering, Science, and Tech-nology Inc.,

in 1985 included those tasks done in 1984 plus bottom-to-surface dissolved oxygen profiles on NOCL and Neosho River benthic and fish ccumunity sampling.

Seasonal mean concentrations of water quality parameters during 1985 were within previously established ranges for the Neosho River.

Unusually high precipitation resulted in consistently elevated flows, resulting in chlorophyll concentrations and carbon fixation rates near the previously recorded minima. Similarly, highly variable river fishery and macroinvertebrate data show no long-term patterns, differences between upstream and downstream locations, or alterations attributable to plant construction and/or operation.

Cooling lake water quality has been uniform among locations with dissolved and suspended constituents having shown declining trends since lake filling, indicating an inprovement in overall water quality and no adverse impacts from plant operations.

We NOCL macroinvertebrate population is fairly typical of midwestern reservoirs, with locational dissimilarities reflecting primarily depth and substrate differences.

Operation of WCGS has caused no apparent changes in the cooling lake benthos connunity in 1985. Lastly, groundwater monitoring in the WCGS vicinity since 1973 indicated the well water to be very hard and to contain high levels of dissolved constituents.

Wese observations have not altered since the filling of WCCL or since WCGS has been constructed and begun operation.

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1984 1rOLOGICAL ANALYSTS ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING REPORT Environmental monitoring completed by Ecological Analysts in 1984 included studies on the Neosho River, NCCL, and adjacent lands.

Items accomplished by this study were:

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documentation of concentrations of general water quality parameters, aquatic nutrients, organically-derived materials and certain trace metals in the Neosho River and cooling lake 2.

determination of general groundwater quality in the vicinity of the facility 3.

characterization of the cooling lake benthic conmunity

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determination of phytoplankton productivity of the Neosho River and cooling lake 5.

determination of zooplankton biomass in the cooling lake In addition to the above specific objectives, the studies documented nat-urally occurring variations in the aquatic comnunities of the Neosho River and cooling lake.

Study results have shown that ch mical and biological changes in NCCL have followed the trends expected for a newly inpounded reservoir. Water quality and biological parameters in the Neosho River show patterns dependent primarily on John Redmond Reservoir releases.

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1984 PREOPERATIONAL FISHERY MONITORING REPORT Fishery monitoring surveys were conducted on NCCL near NCGS, from April 1984 through October 1984. Collection methods employed included seining, electrofishing, otter trawling, gill and fyke netting. These resulted in the collection of 8,221 fish representing 10 families and 27 species. Data collected and data from the 1983 Fishery Report were used to describe the fishery which was subsequently evaluated based on the goal of increased plant reliability through reduced gizzard shad inpingement.

Plant construction during this period resulted in no observed impacts to the fishery. As in 1983, black bullheads ranked first in numbers caught, with gizzard shad and bluegills /Iepcznis spp. following and black crappie and largenouth bass at fifth and sixth, respectively. Black bu11 heads also dominated biomass measurements, making up 16.3% of the total. 'Ihese were followed by largemouth bass (13.6%), walleye (10.0%), comnon carp (9.5%),

wiper (9.2%) and gizzard shad (5.7%).

Relative biomass values reflected an unusually high ratio of predator fish to roughfish when compared with other midwestern reservoirs. 'Ihis ratio was attributed primarily to pre-inpoundnent renovation and stocking efforts and high predator diversity.

Average growth rates and condition (Wr or KTL) of predators (largemouth bass, wipers, and black crappie) were at or above Kansas and regional averages while walleyes were the only species examined which showed below average condition.

Proportional and Relative Stock Densities (PSD and RSD) were calculated for the most important NOCL species and found to be increasing as initial year classes grow into the larger size categories.

Changing predator / prey interactions were considered along with the effect of subnersed macrophyte (Potamogeton) growth in predicting a decline in initial, rapid predator growth rates with a continuation of the observed predator dominance over gizzard shad. Data for 1985 in this area has not been conpletely compiled but will be reported in a supplement to this re-port.

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1984 ANNUAL VIEIBILITY REPORT Visibility monitoring was initiated in December 1983 to evaluate the impact of waste heat dissipation from NCCL on fog occurrence along U.S. Route 75 in New Strawn, Kansas. 'Ihe site chosen for monitoring was considered conservative due the relatively high frequency of cooling lake-induced fog predicted to occur at this location, as well as the theoretical impact of increased fogging on traffic safety along Route 75.

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Preliminary results based on data collected in 1984 ducing the preopera-tional period indicated that the frequency of natural fog at Wolf Creek was in general agreement with climatological averages of fog occurrence in the region. Fog episodes were more numerous, lasted longer, and were more in-tense during cooler months of the year. On a daily basis, early morning was the most favorable period for fog development. Most fog episodes were of relatively short duration, lasting an average of about 4 hours4.62963e-5 days <br />0.00111 hours <br />6.613757e-6 weeks <br />1.522e-6 months <br />.

Visibility data will be collected through the first year of plant operations in order to quantify changes, if any, in the frequency, intensity, and dura-tion of fog at the monitoring site. These data will be analyzed by c. npari-u son with data from the meteorological tower at Wolf Creek to determine the extent of cooling lake effects on local fogging. Data for 1985 in this area has not been completely compiled but will be reported in a supp1 ment to this report.

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1984-1985 WILDLIFE MONI'IORING REPORT Wildlife monitoring studies were conducted in the vicininty of NCGS from September 1984 through April 1985. Use of NCCL by wildlife was determined especially for waterfowl, waterbirds, and Bald Eagles.

Bird mortality due to collisions with transmission lines traversing NTL was assessed. With special attention to threatened and endangered species, records of all mamals, birds, and herptiles observed were maintained for comparisons to past construction and preoperational studies conducted since 1973.

A total of 145 avian species were observed during the 1984-1985 monitoring program. 'Ihe most abundant species were the mallard and american coot, which comprised 34.2 and 19.2 percent respectively. Ccxrparative use of the cooling lake and John Redmond Reservoir by waterfowl and waterbirds was determined. Of the commonly observed species, only the american coot used NCCL to a greater extent than John Redmond Reservoir. Comparative use between five cooling lake areas was determined with pondweed (Potamogeton) concentrations within NOCL generally being used to a greater degree.

Transmission line collision surveys revealed 30 mortalities representing 10 species.

No mortalities of threatened or endangered species were observed.

Twenty-five percent of those individuals identified were not waterbird species and were considered incidental mortalities not influenced by NCCL attraction. No significant avian mortality due to transmission line impaction was observed.

1 Twenty-three mamal and 16 herptile species were observed in the vicinity of NCGS during the 1984-1985 monitoring. One mamal and two reptiles were not previously documented. No threatened or endangered species were observed.

The Bald Eagle, prairie falcon and interior least tern represented the threatened or endangered bird species observed in the vicinity of NCGS.

Bald Eagles were comon winter residents and fed on fish and weakened waterfowl.

Eagles in the vicinity of NCGS used the cooling lake solely as a feeding and loafing site, however not to the extent observed on John Redmond Reservoir.

No Bald Eagles were observed roosting on WCCL. The prairie falcon and interior least tern are two species which migrate through the area and are expected to be observed occasionally in the future.

Data for 1985 in this area has not been coupletely compiled but will bc. reported in a supplement to this report.

KANSAS GAS AND ELECTRIC COMPANY THE ELECTAC COMf'ANY OLENN L ROESTER vmCE peELDENT muCLE44 May 1, 1986 Mr. R. D. Martin, Regional Administrator U. Nuclear Regulatory Cmmission 7

611 Ryan Plaza Drive, Suite 1000 I

Arlington, Texas 76011

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MAY-61986 KMLNRC 86-077 d

Re:

Docket No. STN 50-482 L

Subj:

Annual Envirorrnental Operating Report

Dear Mr. Martin:

Enclosed is the Annual Environmental Operating Report which is being subnitted pursuant to Wolf Creek Generating Station Facility Operating License NPF-42, Appendix B.

This report covers the operation of Wolf Creek Generating Station for the period of March 11, 1985, to December 31, 1985.

Yours very truly, Glenn L. Koester Vice President - Nuclear GLK:see cc: PO'Connor (2)

JCm mins Document Control Desk (18) s 201 N. Market -Wictuta, Kansas - Wail Address: RO. Box 208 l Wichita, Kansas 67201 - Telephone: Area Code (316) 261-6451