ML20247E996

NPDES Noncompliance Notification:On 890715,fish Kill Discovered at Plant Circulating Water Discharge Canal.Caused by Thermal Shock

ML20247E996
Person / Time
Site:	Summer
Issue date:	07/20/1989
From:	Bradham O SOUTH CAROLINA ELECTRIC & GAS CO.
To:	Krecker W SOUTH CAROLINA, STATE OF
References
NUDOCS 8907270062
Download: ML20247E996 (5)

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S ih Carolina Electric & Gas Company 01 e S. Bradham .

' Jenkrnsvdle. SC 29065 Nuclear Operanons

y. (803) 345 4040 SCE&G ac- +,

July'20, 1989 l

L Mr. William R. Krecker.

Environmental Quality Manager Water Quality Assessments & Enforcement L . Division South Carolina Department of Health

& Environmental Control 2600 Bull Street Columbia,' South-Carolina 29201

Subject:

. Virgil C. Summer Nuclear Station Docket No. 50-395 Fish Kill July 15, 1989

Dear Mr. Krecker:

South Carolina Electric & Gas Company (SCE&G) herein submits a report concerning a fish kill in the Virgil C. Summer Nuclear Station (VCSNS) discharge canal which occurred on July 15, 1989. The enclosed report i describes the current event and probable cause. '

In accordance with the VCSNS Operating License NPF-12, Appendix B, a copy of this report is.being provided to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

Additionally, a. copy of this report will also be provided to the South.

Carolina Department of Wildlife & Marine Resources per the request of Mr. H.

J. Logan, Chief of Fisheries.

Should you require any further information, please contact Mr. Charles McKinney of my staff at your convenience.

Very truly yours k '

fit O. S. Bradham CJM/OSB: led c: M. B. Williams W. R. Baehr S. E. Summer W. R. Higgins W. F. Bacon W. M.-Lide, Jr.

Document; Control (NRC)

R. L. Prevatte NPCF RTS (ON0 890062)  ;

File (818.05) rl 8907270062 8907'20 PDR ADOCK 05000395 ,

Fish Kill Investigation Report h July 15,1989 L

l Introduction On the afternoon of July 15, 1989, a fish kill was discovered in the V. C.

Summer Nuclear Station circulating water discharge canal. The subsequent investigation revealed 354 dead fish with the following species composition:

l 22 white catfish ( 6-11 inches total length) l 2 channel catfish ( 7 and 14 inches tctal length) 4 bluegill (2-6 inches total length) 2 black crappie (both 6 inches total length) 323 threadfin shad (1-2 inches totallength) 1 threadfin shad (5 inches total length)

All of the dead fish were found floating in the discharge bay (Figure 1). No dead fish were found in the discharge canal or in the open water of Monticello Reservoir. No l distressed or moribund fish were observed.

Several of the fish examined-catfish and bluegill---were relatively fresh, with firm flesh and good gill color. Most of the catfish and all of the shad were in a more advanced state of decomposition. None of the fish examined showed any evidence of trauma, disease,or poisoning.

Discussion Summer Station, which had been operating near 100% power, experienced an unplanned reactor " trip" at 1433 hours0.0166 days <br />0.398 hours <br />0.00237 weeks <br />5.452565e-4 months <br /> (DST) on 7/11/89. The circulating water i discharge temperature, which had been 106.0 F at 1400 hours0.0162 days <br />0.389 hours <br />0.00231 weeks <br />5.327e-4 months <br />, dropped to 81.7*F at 1500 hours0.0174 days <br />0.417 hours <br />0.00248 weeks <br />5.7075e-4 months <br /> on 7/11/89. On the 12th of June the reactor achieved criticality, and slowly began increasing power on the 13th of July. The plant operated at 30%  ;

power from 0900 hours0.0104 days <br />0.25 hours <br />0.00149 weeks <br />3.4245e-4 months <br /> 7/13/89 until 0900 hours0.0104 days <br />0.25 hours <br />0.00149 weeks <br />3.4245e-4 months <br /> 7/14/89. Power levels increased steadily from 0900 hours0.0104 days <br />0.25 hours <br />0.00149 weeks <br />3.4245e-4 months <br /> 7/14/89 until midnight, when full power was reached.

Circulating water temperatures increased from 91.5 F to 107.1 F over this 15-hour j period.

Figure 2 shows how temperatures in the bottom of the discharge bay were affected by plant start-up and increasing circulating water discharge temperatures.

The average hourly temperature at the bottom of the eddy area dropped to 82 F after the plant trip, increased to approximately 90*F while the plant operated at 30%

power, and rose to 104 F at 0300 hours0.00347 days <br />0.0833 hours <br />4.960317e-4 weeks <br />1.1415e-4 months <br /> on 7/15/89. Instantaneous temperatures as high as 108 F were measured early in the morning (0100 - 0400) of 7/15/89.

Dissolved oxygen levels at all depths at three locations (Figure 1) ranged from ,

5.3 to 5.9 mg/l, sufficient to support fish. Given the high water temperatures in the l I

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4 discharge bay and the fact that fish exhibited no symptoms of disease or poisoning, i thermal shock is the most likely cause of the 7/15/89 fish kill. '

The condition of the fish examined and the water temperature data suggest that the fish kill began some time during the evening of July 14 and was over by mid-day on July 15.

This evaluation also considered the addition of the copper-containing algicide (

K-TeaC to the Plant Surge Basin (NPDES Discharge 0068) at 0945 hours0.0109 days <br />0.263 hours <br />0.00156 weeks <br />3.595725e-4 months <br /> on 7-12-89. '

Outflow was secured at this time. Flow out of the pond to the combined wastewater line resumed at 0700 hours0.0081 days <br />0.194 hours <br />0.00116 weeks <br />2.6635e-4 months <br /> on 7-13-89. Because this combined wastewater pipe ultimately flows into Monticello Reservoir via the Summer Station discharge canal, water samples were obtained at the terminus of the pipe and in the middle of the discharge bay at 0900 hours0.0104 days <br />0.25 hours <br />0.00149 weeks <br />3.4245e-4 months <br /> on 7-13 89. Water samples from the pipe showed 0.30 ppm total copper and those taken from the discharge bay showed <0.005 ppm total copper, below detectable levels. The application of the algicide K-Teae does not appear to have been a factor in the 7-15-89 fish kill.

Mrot Phil R. Moore Environmental Specialist July 19,1989

MONTlCELLO RESERVOIR SERVICE WATER POND

/

/x Discharge Canal

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00 Temperature Monitor Location 8 Discharge Bay J

. D Tene/p.o. PAsnos5 CIRCULATING WATER DISCHARGE

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Figure 1 July 15,1989 Fish Kill V. C. Summer Nuclear Station

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