ML20236E705
| ML20236E705 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Summer  |
| Issue date: | 09/01/1989 |
| From: | Bradham O SOUTH CAROLINA ELECTRIC & GAS CO. |
| To: | Hayes J NRC OFFICE OF INFORMATION RESOURCES MANAGEMENT (IRM) |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 8909080218 | |
| Download: ML20236E705 (5) | |
Text
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- South Caroline Electric & Gas C
- mp:ny Ollie S. Eradhim.
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(803) 345 40440 Jgl MM September 1, 1989 s
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Document Control Desk U. S. Nuclear Regulatory Comission.
Washington,_DC 20555 g
. Attention:.Mr. 1.J. Hayes, Jr.
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Subject:
Virgil C. Sumer Nuclear Station Docket No. 50/395-Operating License No. NPF-12 40-Year Operating License Gentlemen:-
This will respond to the'NRC letter of August 16, 1989, requesting additional
,infomation to support the extension of the operating license for the Virgil C. Summer Nuclear Station to a term of 40 years from the date of the
- operating. license. The attached response addresses each of the Staff's specific requests.
In the covering letter-to the August 16 request for additional information.
- the NRC stated that there are conf 1:cting references in the Staff's Final Environmental Statement (FES)'as to what operating life may have been assumed.. For.'this reason, the Staff requested that South Carolina' Electric
& Gas Company (SCE&G). assume that a 30-year operating life was utilized in
-the FES unless otherwise stated.. Please note that this is consistent with SCE&G's approach in preparing the June 15, 1989. submittal. Except for the discussion of Land Use impacts (where the FES explicitly referred to "the 40-year operating life of the plant") and related topics under Irreversible-and Irretrievable Comitments of Resources. SCE&G assessed the effect of the proposed er. tension without regard to the particular operating life that may have been assumed in the Staff's FES.1 In accordance with the NRC's request,
- SCE&G has specifically addressed the impact in' terms of Irreversible and Irretrievable Comitments of Resources assuming that the FES conclusions in
- this regard were based on a 30-year operating life.
1/ Please note that analyses in SCE&G's own Operating License Environr:: ental
' Op l Report-(OLER),-Amendment 5, dated July 3, 1980, assumed a 40-year operating (g
life.
8909080218 890901 i
POR ADOCK G5000395 P
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"l Document Ccntral D2sk
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- t September -1s.1989
.Page 2~of 2-w,;
Once again SCE&G appreciates.the Staff's' attention to this matter. The
-proposed extension continues to be a high priority matter for SCE&G and we
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urge your expeditious consideration.
Very truly yours, g,
O. S. Bradham DFS/ARR/OSB: led Attachment-c: _
D. A. Nauman/0. W. Dixon, Jr./T. C. Nichols, Jr.
E. C. Roberts
'W.~A. Williams, Jr.
S. D. Ebneter J. J. Hayes, Jr.
General Managers-C. A. Price.
R. B. Clary; K. E. Nodland-J. C. Snelson R. L. Prevatte
'J.
B. Knotts, Jr.
'H. G.'Shealy'
'S. E. Summer JD. F.' Stenger NSRC NPCF RTS. (OL 500)
File-(814.03-2).
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Attachment I to Document Ccntrol D:sk Lctter
~. 5:ptember 1, 1989 Page 1 of 3 RESPONSES TO NRC STAFF ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS REGARDING 40-YEAR OPERATING LICENSE I.
ENVIRONMENTAL. IMPACTS A.
LAND USE SCE&G did make a determination that land use impacts projected in the FES remain accurate. Aerial photography was used from 1978 to 1984 to monitor changes in land use near Monticello Reservoir (Dames & Moore, April 1985). This study revealed that the majority of changes were due to timber harvesting. This use of aerial photography and data cellected during the annual land use census conducted in accordance with Technical Specification 3/4.12.2 indicate that the projections in the FES concerning land use are still valid. These projections should not be affected by license extension.
No transmission lines associated with the Virgil C. Summer Nuclear Station (VCSNS) have been added since the FES was prepared; therefore there have been no changes in transmission line acreage.
Review of aerial photographs also reveals no increase in land acreage cleared for the station.
B.
HYDROLOGICAL IMPACTS OF OPERATION 1.
SURFACE WATER / GROUNDWATER a.
SCE&G has confirmed that evaporative losses associated with operation of the VCSNS are enveloped by the analyses presented in the Operating License Environmental Report and the FES. NUS Corporation, in 1985, performed an analysis of evaporative Water loss from Monticello Reservoir due to VCSNS operation. This study used a mathematical model, date from thermal studies on Monticello Reservoir, data from surface temperature monitors on Monticello Reservoir, long term meteorological data from the National Weather Service at the Columbia, South Carolina airport and site specific meteorological data. This study revealed that, under worst case conditions, the evaporative water loss due to the operation of VCSNS is equal to the estimate found in the FES. Changes in meteorological conditions since the original analyses were accounted for in the NUS study.
b.
The rise in groundwater level due to the filling of Monticello Reservoir was observed at VCSNS through the use of onsite piezometric data from observation wells at a distance up to 600 meters from the unit.
(See FES l
5.2.3 for a description of the groundwater monitoring program.)
It is a reasonable assumption, given similar soils and topography, that groundwater levels have l
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Attachment I to Document C;ntrol Disk Letter 4
September 1, 1989
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q' increased in offsite areas which are adjacent to Monticello Reservoir, including properties not owned by SCE&G. This rise in groundwater level is, however, not dependent on op6 ration of the VCSNS. As the FES noted (in f 4.3.2), the main hydrologic impact of the site is from the presence and operation of the Fairfield Pumped Storage Facility (licensed for operation until June 2020). Thus, irrespective of the extension of the operating license for the VCSNS, reservoir levels necessary to support the operation of Fairfield Pumped Storage Facility would still affect groundwater levels and wells adjacent to the reservoir.
As predicted in FES 4.3.2, operation of the VCSNS has not had a significant impact in terms of ccatamination of groundwater or wells. The general hydrologic monitoring program includes measurements for radioactivity from two onsite and offsite wells. Measurements have not shown any radiological contamination of groundwater. One onsite kiell has shown low level contamination due to surface run-off of rain water containing airborne emissions. SCE&G also monitors the water supply from the Jenkinsville Water Company for contamination. The water supply has chown no contamination from the VCSNS.
2.
INDUSTRIAL CHEMICAL AND SANITARY WASTES There is no reason tn expect that license extension will have any effect on the growth of algae in the waste water treatment lac uns since the license extension should not significant,y modify any components of the waste streams treated in these lagoons. The use of an algicide to control the growth of the algae and the associated pH swings has only recently been implemented, following approval by the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC). Only a few applications have been made thu.s far; therefore, it is too early to evaluate the effectiveness of the treatment program.
However, the use of an algicide should adequately control the growth of algae in the treatment lagoonc, regardless of the operating life of the plant.
It should be noted that SCE&G now has plans to begin using morpholine to improve pH control in the secondary water systam. Any discharges of morpholine to the environmer.t will be in accordance with the site's NPDES permit and South Carulina DHEC restrictions. By letter dateo June 20, 1989, the South Carolina DHEC approved the use of morpholine, provided SCE&G estabihhes appropriate discharge limits and informs DHEC of those limits, a
Attachment I t3 Gocun.ent Control D:sh Letter September 1. 1989
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- Page 3 cf 3 C.
IMPACTS ON BIOTA 1.
TERRE 3 TRIAL The NRC has not required studies of the effects of transmission linec on terrestrial biota for the VCSNS (as noted in Section 5.2.4.2 of the FES), since the probable effects of transmission corridors, including offsite corridors, were found to be minimal or even beneficial for biological resources and wildlife (see Section 4.4.1.2 of the FES). Transmission line corridor maintenance methods have not
. hanged from those stated in the FES except that the use of broadcast herbicides by SCE&G has been restricted to areas where mowing is impractical. The increased use of mechanical clearing shauld result in even fewer impacts en terrestrial biota. Thus neither operation of the station nor the proposed extension of the operating license should alter the FES findings as to the absence of any significant impact of transn.ission lines on terrestrial biota.
D.
IRREVERSIBLE AN9 IRRETRIEVABLE COMMITMENT OF RESOURCES g
As noted in FES 8.4. resources that generally may be irreversibly committed by operation are (2) biological species or species populations destroyed, (2) unrecoverable construction materials, (3) materials rendered rad-loactive that cannot be decontaminated or j
t uranium fuel censumed. (4) air and water resources lost, and (5) land areas renderM permanently unfit for other uses.
For reasons discussed in FES f 8.4, SCE&G's June 15, 1989 submittal, and this respcnse, the proposed extended period of operation will not result in any significant irreversible impact on biotic resources or on air and water resources.
Nor will it require the use of additional construction materials.
In addition, as discussed in the June 15, 1989 submittal (at page 2ti), most of the radioactive contamination of structures; systems and components occurs relatively early in facility life, so that the extended period of operation should not cause significant additional materials to become permanently contaminated. As for land resources, the land used for the site as well as transmission corridors is not generally considered irreversibly and irretrievably committed in the long term (see FES f 8.4.8); in this connecticn, decommissioning of the plant and site restoration will be performed in accordance with NRC decommissioning requirements.
Thus the only irreversible and irretrievable commitment of resources that would result from the extended period of operation is the edditional uranium fuel that would be consumed or reduced to unrecoverab'e waste.
However, recent shdies show that the reasonebly aytilable tupplies of uranium exceed the requirements of the nuclear industry for meny yecrs to come, and thst the l
availability of uranium should not be a limiting f actor in the l
cperation of nuclear power reactors (See NUEXCO, Abgust 1989; I
DOE /EIA-0478 (1987), " Uranium Industry Annual 1987").
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