ML20353A334

Enclosure 27 - Response to Request for Additional Information, Westinghouse Nuclear Fuel Columbia Site Evaluation Report, March 1975 Section 2

ML20353A334
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LTR-RAC-20-94, EPID L-201-RNW-0016
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WESTINGHOUSE NON-PROPRIETARY CLASS 3 7 to LTR-RAC-20-94 Date: December 18, 2020 Enclosure 27 Response to Request for Additional Information Westinghouse Nuclear Fuel Columbia Site Evaluation Report March 1975 Section 2

SECTION 2.0 THE SITE This section presents the basic information concerning the physical, biological and human characteristics of the regional environment that might be affected by the operation of the Westinghouse Nuclear Fuel Divi-sion manufacturing plant near Columbia, South Carolina .

2.1 SITE LOCATION AND LAYOUT The Nuclear Fuel Columbia Site (NFCS) is located in the central part of South Carolina in Richland County. It is approximately 8 mi l es southeast of the Columbia city limits and is easi ly reached by South Carolina High-way 48. Nearby towns, industrial plants, public facilities, the Congaree River and transportation links are shown in Figure 2.1-1 .

The site is bounded by Route 48 to the north, the Vestal Lumber Manufac-turing Company property to the east, the Liberty Life Insurance Company property to the south and the Burrel Manning property to the west.

The manufacturing plant facilities are located in the center of approx-imately 1158 acres of already disturbed agricultural land. The fuel fabrication faci l ities, holding ponds, parking lot and l andscaped grounds occupy approximately 60 acres. Figure 2.1-2 shows the plant boundary and adjacent properties.

Figure 2.1-2 also depicts the elevations of the site. The plant floor is located at 142 feet above mean sea level. Plant site drainage flow follows original drainage patterns to Sunset Lake, Mill Creek and the Congaree River .

The area around the site is primarily flat and semi-rural to the north and flat, rural and swampy in the other directions . Intentions are to l eave most of the unused site (approximately 1098 acres) in its natural state .

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2.2 REGIONAL DEMOGRAPHY AND LAND AND WATER USES 2.2 .l REGIONAL DEMOGRAPHY Figure 2.2-1 indicates the location of all population centers within a 5-mi l e radius of the Westi nghouse Nuclear Fuel Columbia Site . A detai l ed breakdown of the 1960, 1970 and projected 1980 and 1990 population densities within this 5-mi l e radius is provided in Figures 2.2- 2, 2. 2-3, 2.2-4 and 2.2-5, respectively . Also, an assessment of the impact of the transient population on the res ident population within the 78 . 5 square mi les under consideration is presented and discussed.

2.2.1.1 RESIDENT POPULATION WITHIN 5 MILES Figure 2.2-1 shows the population centers within a 5-mi le radius of the plant where a detailed analysis of the resident population distribution was performed . The area of 78. 5 square miles under consideration was divided into sixteen 22 .5 degree azimuthal sectors centered on the 16 car-dinal compass points with outer radial increments of 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 miles as shown in Figure 2.2-2. The 1960 and 1970 populati on densities wi thin each of the sectors formed by these concentri c circles and radial lines were estimated from census data(l, 2 , 3) and United States Geological Survey (USGS) topograph ic maps . The resu l ts of these analyses are presented in Figures 2.2-2 and 2.2- 3.

The total 1960 and 1970 populations within a 5-mile radius of the plant are 4116 and 5310, respectively . Figures 2.2-2 and 2.2-3 show that the maximum population densities occur in the sectors NW t hrough ESE .

Population densities within this area were also projected for 1980 and 1990. These projections which are based on data published by the Central Midlands Regional Planning Council( 4 ) are presented in Figures 2.2-4 and 2.2-5. The total projected popul ations for the area under study are 6953 for 1980 and 16,501 for 1990. These projections indicate an estimated 2.2-1

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+30.9 percent change in population from 1970 to 1980 and a +21 1 percent change from 1970 to 1990 for the 78.5-square-mile area under consideration.

2.2.1.2 TRANSIENT POPULATION An analysis of the size of the transient population within a 5-mile radius of the plant was performed to deten11ine the impact of the transient popu-lation on the total population within the study area. This transient population analysis was based on the avai l able population and visitor statistics of neighboring schools, hospitals, plants and recreational facilities within the 78.5-square-mil e study area. Results of this analysis are summarized in Table 2.2-1 and the sources of transient population are discussed in Sections 2.2.1.3 through 2.2.1 .5.

The public and private schools within the study area are listed in Table 2.2-2. The total enrollment of these schools is 2466 and the total resident population within the considered area is 5310 based on 1970 census data. (l , 2)

Since the expected student-to-resident ratio is approximately one-third, it is assumed that two out of three students are pen11anent residents of the area. Thus the total student population of the three schools listed in Table 2.2-2 represents a 15.5 percent increase in the total population of the study area each day that the schools are in session.

The total professional staff of these schools i s 114 which represents a 1.4 percent increase in the total population each day that the schools are in session, assuming that one out of three teachers is a resident of the area .

There are no hospitals within a 5-mile radius of the plant:

For all industrial and business facilities with more than five employees within a 5-mile radius of the plant, the total number of employees is 2026 (Table 2.2-3). If all these employees reside outside the study area, a con-servative assumption, the total work force represents a 38.2 percent increase 2.2-7

TABLE 2.2-1 ESTIMATED CHANGE IN TOTAL POPULATION CAUSED BY TRANSIENTS WITHIN A 5-MILE RADIUS OF THE PLANT Source of Transient Es ti mated Resident Estimated %

Population Numbers Population* Increase School students and 822** 5310 15.5 professional staff 76** 5310 1.4 Industrial workers 2026t 5310 38.2 Totals 2924 55.1

• Based on 1970 census data

• • Assumes that two out of three students and one out of three teachers are permanent residents of the area tAssumes total work force resides outside the area 2.2-8

TABLE 2.2-2 SCHOOLS WITHIN 5 MILES OF THE WESTINGHOUSE NUCLEAR FUEL COLUMBIA SITE Distance and Professional Name Direction From Plant Grade

- - Staff Students Hopkins Junior High 3-4/5 miles E 8-9 70 1350 Hopkins Elementary 3-1/3 miles ENE Kindergarten 27 996 through 5 Hopkins Head Start 3-1/4 miles ENE Pre-School 17 120 Totals: 3 Schools 114 2466 2.2-9

TABLE 2.2-3 INDUSTRIES AND BUSINESSES WITHIN 5 MILES OF THE WESTINGHOUSE NUCLEAR FUE L COLUMBIA SITE*

Distance and Direction Name Type of Business Employees From Pl ant Columbia Container Co. Garbage containers 20 4 -3/ 4 mi 1es NW Columbia Plastering Co. Plastering 70 4-1/2 miles NW Dan Dee Specialties Picture frames 30 4-1/5 miles NW South co Supp 1i es for gift shops 10 4-1/5 miles NW Roadway Express Inc. General freight handling 24 4-1 / 5 mil es NW Power's Dairy Milk 10 2-1/4 miles NNW Richman &Associates Construction of (field office) EHV lines 100 3-miles NE Columbia Eggs Division Egg grading and 35 3-miles ENE of Fanners Cooperative packaging Exchange Square D Company Manufacture heavy 930 4-2/3 miles NNE industrial motor controls Palmetto Metal Steeldoor frames, 15 4-4/5 miles NNW Products, Inc. window walls, 1ouvers Wallace Concrete Manholes 12 4-4/5 miles NNW Products, Manhole Division McGregor's Dairy Milk 7 4-4/5 mil es NNE Caro 1i na Eastman Man-made fibers 763 4-3/4 miles W Totals: 13 Facilities 2026

• Only industries and businesses with more than five employees are included,

2. 2-10

in the total population within the study area. It was assumed that all facilities employing five or ~ewer employees would tend to employ local re-sidents and therefore would not create a significant transient population.

There are two local county parks within the study area with a combined annual attendance of 109,592 persons (Table 2.2-4) . Because of both the favorable year-round climate of the area and the indoor facilities at both of these community parks, it was assumed that this annual attendance of 109,592 would result in an average daily attendance of 300 persons . It was further assumed that all persons using these parks lived within the l ocal community due to the size and community nature of the parks and therefore produced no increase i n the total population of the area.

This analysis indicates that the transient population could effectively increase the total population of the area within a 5-mile radius of the plant by 55 . l percent. The future increase in total population by the transient population through 1990 is expected to decrease since the in-crease in employment, the major source of transi ents in the study area, based on stati stics for Richland County,( 5) is not projected to increase at as great a rate as the increase in resident population .

2.2 . 1.3 SCHOOLS AND HOSPITALS All schools within a 5-mile radius of the plant are listed in Table 2.2-2.

These three schools have a combined enrollment of 2466 pupils and a total professional staff of 114.

A thorough investigation of the 78.5-square-mi l e study area indicated that there are no hospital s within 5 miles of the plant .

2.2. 1.4 INDUSTRIES AND BUSINESSES The major industries and businesses within a 5-mile radius of the pl ant are concentrated in the sectors Wthrough ENE. Table 2.2-3 l i sts al l faci l ities 2.2-11

TABLE 2.2-4 RECREATIONAL PARKS AND SPORTS FACILITIES WITHIN A 5-MILE RADIUS OF THE PLANT Distance and Total Annual*

Name Direction From Plant Attendance Bluff Rd. 3-4/5 mil es NW 63,380**

County Park Hopkins County Park 1-3/4 miles E 46,212 Totals: 2 parks 109,592

• For the period 7/1/73 to 6/30/74

• • Bluff Rd. County Park did not open until 1/1/74. Therefore attendance figures for 1/1/74 to 6/30/74 were dou~led to give an estimate of total annual attendance.

2.2-12

within the study area that employ more than five persons. The combined work force of these 13 facil i ties is 2026. Industries with five or less employees were not included since it was assumed that these facilities would tend to employ mostly local residents living within the study area and therefore not add to the total population of the area.

There are no other users of li censed nuclear materials within the 78 .5-square-mile study area .

2.2.1 .5 RECREATIONAL AND SPORTS FACILITIES The recreational parks and sports facilities within the study area are listed in Table 2.2-4. There are no state parks or commercial sports stadiums with-in the 5-mile radius of the plant .

2.2. 2 LANO USE Virtually all of the land within 5 mi l es of the NFCS is in Richland County.

Less than 10 percent of the 78.5 square miles within this 5-mile reach is in Calhoun County and except for the Carolina Eastman Plant and some scat-tered farms under cultivation, this land is largely uninhabited forest and forested swamp. Therefore, the thrust of this description will be toward land use in Richland County.

An examination of aerial photograp~s and topographic maps of the land within 5 miles of the NFCS (the study area) makes it clear that approximately 70 percent of the land is forest or forested swampland . The forest cover varies throughout the study area, being densest in the southern portions and thin-ning out to cleared fiel ds in the northern portions, There are essentially three forest community types in *the study area. The first of these, the Water Tupelo-Sweet Gum type, is associated with areas of poor drainage and is generally found in the flats along the Congaree 2.2- 13

River and throughout the swamps to the north and south of it. Where the drainage is somewhat improved and soils trend toward sandy loams, the Swamp Chestnut-Cherrybark Oak type may be found. This type is commonly observed in the area from the northern swamp reaches of t he Congaree in-to the northern portions of the study area across Route 48. Finally, where relief and soil characteri stics present drier sites, the Loblolly Pine-Hardwood type is evidenced. This type is found most often in the northern portions of the study area . It should be noted that despite the extent of forest cover found in the study area, there is no significant ongoing lumbering activity present.

Agricul tural land occupies approximately 20 percent of the study area and most of it is in the northern and eastern porti ons. The primary crops grown here are soybeans, corn, hay, cotton and to a lesser degree, wheat and oats .

A number of pecan orchards exist near the eastern border of the study area.

In general, the farmers here are full-time farmers . South Carolina as a whole has followed the national trend toward fewer but larger, more ef-ficient farms. (5 ) This requires the farmer to put more time as well as more capital (in the form of renting or purchasing mechanized equipment) into his efforts to compete effectively. Thus, the part-time corrmerci al farmer is, to an increasing degree becoming a thing of the past in thi s area.

Livestock production in the study area is not especially significant .

Egg production was noted to be important locally as evidenced by the presence of the Columbia Egg Division of FCX, Inc . in Hopkins. Beef cattle were observed at a number of farms, though not in any great quantity.

Other li vestock such as broilers, hogs and sheep were not observed.

The number of dairy producers as well as the total number of cows milked in Richland County continue to decl i ne. (5 ) At present, there are onl y four active dairy farms in the entire county, two of which are within the study area . Leon Powers ' Dairy is l ocated 2.2 miles northwest of the NFCS 2.2-14

on the north side of Route 48. Powers presently milks approximately 400 cows, but has a capacity for 700. Sam McGregor's Dairy is located at the north-northeast extremity of the study area along the east side of a small county road that connects with U.S. Routes 76 and 378, south of Lower Rich-land High School. McGregor presently mi l ks approximately 150 cows .

Approximately 5 percent of the study area is estimated to be residential land. Much of this land is occupied by single-family dwellings and mobile homes on individual lots which are not part of any particular housing de-velopment. There are, however, a number of relatively recent housing de-velopments in the study area occupied by single-story brick homes. Three of these are in the northwest portion of the study area along Route 48, while two others are in the area north and east of Hopkins. Despi~e the quality of the homes in these developments, there is an abnonnally high vacancy rate. (In one, almost 50 percent of the homes are boarded up.) These va-cant homes are now owned by the U.S. Government, as their original purchase was financed through the Federal Housing Administration guaranteed 2.35 Program housing loans which were later defaulted. The 235 Program is no longer in operation, and at present the Federal Housi ng Administration is attempting to resell these homes but has met with little success.

The amount of industrial land within the study area is less than 1 percent of the total land area. Excluding the NFCS, there are only two major in-dustrial faciliti es which occupy an extensive amount of land. The first is Square D Corporation, a builder of controls for heavy industrial electrical motors , which is located on the south side of U.S . Routes 76 and 378. The second is the Carolina Eastman Division of Eastman Kodak, Inc ., a manufac-turer of polyester fibers, which is located on the east side of U.S. Route 21 in Calhoun County. The fonner facility employs approximately 925 persons and the latter 422 persons .

Other facilities within the study area are considered light industrial --

warehousing, shipping, packjng, metal fabrication , etc . -- and generally

2. 2-15

employ less than 40. persons. There are , however, two industrial activities which could be considered medium in size. One is the field office of Rich-man and Associates which employs approximately 100 persons and is concerned with the construction of extra high voltage (EHV) el ectric transmission lines. The second is Wallace Concrete Products, Manhole Division which employs approximately 40 persons and is a producer of reinforced concrete pipe and precast concrete bridges.

There are at present only two public recreational areas wi thin the study area: Hopkins Park and Bluff Road Park. These parks were created by the Richland County Recreation Commission. Hopkins Park has an indoor commun-ity center for various activiti es and a softball field. Bluff Road Park is the more developed of the two, having a community center which includes a full i ndoor basketball court, weight-exercise room, ceramics room and other rooms for more general use along with two outdoor tennis courts, a softball field and a footbal l f ield (under construction).

There are also two private country clubs in the study area. One is the Sherwood Country Club located 0.2 mile northwest of Hopkins Junior High School along State Route 55. The only faci.lity is a clubhouse. Pinewood Country Club is located on the south shore of Pinewood Lake which is just south of U.S. Routes 76 and 378. This club has some l and adjoining its clubhouse as well as private lake frontage.

An area of 17,000 to 21,000 acres located primarily along the north bank of the Congaree River is being considered by the National Park Service for designation as a national monument . It should be noted that a porti on of the study area (approximately 570 acres at the very southeastern extremity) would be within the boundaries of the proposed Congaree Swamp National Monument. A study done by the National Park Service in 1963 concluded that: 11

• *

• the forest within the study area exists in near virgin state .

This magnificent forest of 11 specimen 11 trees is a rare remnant of what was once typical of southern river bottom lands. (7) 11 2.2-16

The National Park Service plans a restudy of the area in the near future to update its knowledge, and until this study is completed , the status of the designated lands will remain undecided.

2.2.3 WATER USE Surface and groundwater uses are discussed in this section. The information was provided by a group of geohydrologists from the University of South Carolina at Columbia headed by Dr. D. Colquhoun. (8 )

2.2 .3.1 SURFACE WATER The city of Columbia uses 42 cfs (815 milli on gallons per month) of the Broad River waters for municipal uses. There are no industrial or municipal water users of the Congaree River along its course from its confluence with the Saluda and Broad Rivers to i ts joining with the Wateree River to form the Santee River. Projected water consumption by the NFCS facility at the expanded capacity of 1600 metric tons of uranium per year (MTU/yr) is 10.6 million gallons per month, which will be obtained from the city of Columbia .

The Congaree River (average flow of 9166 cfs) receives untreated municipal discharges from the city of Columbia, the city of Cayce and industrial dis-charges currently less than 0.2 cfs from the NFCS plant. Approximately l milli on gallons per day of untreated municipal discharges enter the Congaree River at the junction with Congaree Creek. (9 ) The city of Cayce obtains its waters from Congaree Creek.

Impact from these municipal discharges is reflected in high concentrations of bacteria in the waters of t he Congaree River (see Tables 2.5-1 through 2.5-4). Thus, both the city of Columbia and the city of Cayce are presently constructing treatment facilities for their munici pal liqu i d discharges.

Discharges from the NFCS will increase to approximately 0.30 cfs (5 .76 million gallons per month) at ultimate capacity . Such an increase i s not 2.2-17

anticipated to affect the quality of the waters of this river (Section 4.2.2).

In addition, the NFCS is planning to improve the existing sanitary system (Section 4.2.4) which will also reduce discharges of bacteria to the river.

2.2.3.2 GROUNDWATER A well survey was conducted in April 1974 by the South Carolina Health Department, at the request of the NFCS plant. The results of this survey reveal that more than 700 wells used for domestic and agricultural purposes are located within 5 mi les of the NFCS plant. (lO) Within this area there are approximately eleven "public wells". A "public well" is defined as a well used by more than two families. (ll)

As discussed in Section 2.5.2, Groundwater Hydrology , all wells are located updip from the NFCS facility and there are no wells that draw groundwater downdip towards the Congaree River from this plant.

2.2-18

2,2 .4 REFERENCES

1. U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of Census , Census Tracts, 1970 Census of Housing and Population, Columbia, South Carolina, SMSA, PHC(l)-48, April 1972.

2. U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of Census, Block Statistics, 1970 Census of Housing, Columbia, South Carolina, Urbanized Area , 1970 Census of Housing, HC(3)-213 , September 1971.

3. U.S . Department of ColTITierce, Bureau of Census, Number of Inhabitants, 1970 Census of Population, South Carol ina , PC(l )-A42 S. C. , June 1971.

4. Central Midlands Regional Planning Council, Population Projections of the Central Midland Region (Fairfield, Lexington, Newberry, Richland),

Columbia, South Carol ina, August 1 , 1974.

5. Economy and Population Central Midlands Region of South Carolina, Volume II - Techni cal Appendix, Harrmer , Greene, Siler Associates, June 1972.

6. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Statistical Reporting Service , South Carolina Crop and Livestock Reporting Service, South Carolina Crop Statistics, State and County Data, Col umbi a, Sout~ Carol ina, 1974.

7. U.S. Department of the Interior , National Park Service, Southeast Region, Specific Area Report: Proposed Congaree Swamp National Monument, South Carol ina, Ri chmond, Virginia, 1963.

8. Colquhoun, D. J. , "Regional and Local Physiography, Ecol ogy, Seismology, Soi ls and Hydrology of the Westinghouse Pl ant Site, Richland County, South Carolina, Report to Westinghouse Envi ronmenta 1 Systems Department, 11 November 1974.

9. Colquhoun, D. J ., Letter to Roffman, H., Westinghouse Environmental Systems Department, November 27 , 1974.

10. Mattox, W. A. , Field Technician, III, Environmental Health Division, Health Department, Richland County, South Carolina, Columbia, South Carolina, letter to Bibbs , R., Health Physicist , Westinghouse Nucl ear Fuel Division, Columbia, South Carolina, April 30, 1974.

11. Sadler, M., South Carol ina Department of Sanitation,- Col umbia, South Carolina, letter to Bibbs, R., Health Physi cist, Westinghouse Nuclear Fuel Di vi sion, Col umbia, South Carolina, April 1974.

2.2-1 9

2.3 REGIONAL HISTORIC, SCENIC, CULTURAL AND NATURAL LANDMARKS An examination of information acquired from federal and state sources relating to regional historic, scenic, cultural and natural landmarks led to the conclusion that the only adverse effects of NFCS construction and operation on such landmarks within a 5-mile radius of the pl ant site may have been to subsurface archaeological relics or remains on the plant site itself. The extent of any damage to these resources will, of course, re-main unknown. There have been no known adverse effects to other landmarks in the vicinity of the plant since it began operation in 1969 and on that basis, none are anticipated as a result of future operation.

2.3.l HISTORIC AND CULTURAL LANDMARKS Considering the area encompassed by a 5-mile radius from the NFCS, the number of officially recognized historic sites is relatively small. A search of the National Register of Historic Places yielded no nationally recognized sites in this area. (l) However, the South Carolina Department of Archives and History considers five sites within 5 miles of the plant to have historic import. These sites are:

l. Raiford's Mill Creek (Mill Creek) - 18th Century

2. Cabin Branch (John Hopkins, Jr. Plantation House) - circa 1796

3. Claytor House - 1887

4. Chappell Cabin' Branch (Hicks Plantation House and Garden) - 1781

5. Hopkins Overseers' Dwellings - 19th Century( 2)

A more detailed description of each of these sites is contained in Appendix 2.A.

The archaeological resources within the study area are believed to be abundant, as prehistoric settlements in the lands around Mill Creek and the Congaree River were numerous . The following is a list of those 2.3-1

archaeol ogical sites known to the Institute of Archaeol ogy and Anthropology at the Uni versity of South Carolina:

l. Greenhill Mound . Lamar site in the Congaree Swamp, below Columbia on the Congaree River. Mound 1/4 of a mile l ong and 200 yards wide, 20 feet high, in three layers. Sherds, daub, bone, glass, historic ceramics, bri ck, points, gorget, beads, flakes, axe, shell r i ng, nails , vessel s, cel ts, spade, knives, pestl e, dipper found . This site has not been investigated by the Institute so its exact location is uncertain.

2. Duffies Pond. Woodland site located on east side of Duffi es Mill Pond north of Pine Bluff Road.

3. Adams Cemetery. Black cemetery l ocated on east side of Cedar Creek north of Mt. Moriah Church and south of South Carolina Route 48 bridge over Cedar Creek.

4. Archaic and Early Woodland site south of Col umbia on Congaree River .

5. Early Woodland site located east of Bl uff Road near Columbia.

6. Pole Bridge Creek . Field southwest of dirt road crossing Pole Bridge Creek between South Carol i na Route 48 and South Carolina Route 46 near Hopkins. This site has not been i nvesti gated by the Institute so its exact l ocation is uncertain.

7. Site on northwest bank of Cedar Creek and northeast bank of Congaree River, near their confluence near Adams Pond. This site has not been investigated by the Institute so its exact location is uncertain.

8. Zion Pilgrim Church . Site northeast of Zion Pilgrim Church between South Carolina Route 48 and Pole Bri dge Creek near Hopkins. This site has not been inye$tigated by*the Insti tute so its exact l ocation is uncertain . l3J Unlike historical si tes (which are most often read ily apparent), archaeological resources are generally removed from notice by overlaying .soils. Thus, except for the activities of plowing and excavation, the extent of archaeological resources in a given area can never be fu l ly known . However, an appraisal of such resources can usually be made by a professional archaeologist and measures can be taken to insure their preservation before construction of a faci l ity. In the case of the NFCS, the facility is already in existence and operating, and it is most probable that any archaeological rel ics or remains 2.3-2

were disturbed or destroyed during the processes of subsurface excavation and construction . The likelihood of adverse impact on extant archaeological resources by the planned 50,000 square foot expansion at NFCS is small con-sidering the earlier disruption of this land by the construction of the main plant.

The facility poses no threat to the historic sites listed earlier. However, close monitoring of plant discharges is essential to the preservation of the abundant archaeological resources of .the Congaree Swamp and Mil l Creek.

2.3 .2 NATURAL AND SCENIC LANDMARKS There are no areas listed in the National Registry of Natural Landmarks( 4 )

within 5 miles of the NfCS. However, a large part of the Congaree Swamp is being considered for designation as a national monument by the National Park Service, as mentioned in Section 2. 2, and will be considered as a natural and scenic landmark herein.

The Congaree Swamp possesses a great variety of river bottom hardwoods and relatively unspoiled fauna. Although the swamp is by most standards relatively inaccessible, there are a few narrow unpaved roads whi ch lead back into it.

The present opportunities for recreation other than hunting or boating within the confines of the swamp are minimal, and the area is most valuable for its unique natural beauty and its scientific worth. As mentioned earlier, close monitoring of effluents from the NFCS is essential to the preservation of the intrinsic natural val ue of the Congaree Swamp.

2.3-3

2.

3.3 REFERENCES

1. U.S . Department of the Interior, National Park Service, National 11 Regi ster of Histori c Pl aces," Federal Register, Vol ume 39, Number 34, U.S . Government Printi ng Office, Washi ngton, D. C., February 19, 1974.

2. Personal communicati on, Lee, C. E., State Hi storic Preservation Officer, South Carolina Department of Archi ves and History, 1430 Senate Street, Columbia, South Carol ina to Pangburn , G. C., Westinghouse Envi ronmental Systems Department, Pittsburgh, Pennsyl vania, October 2, 1974.

3. University of South Carolina, Institute of Archaeology and Anthropol ogy, Archaeol ogical Site Listi ng: Ri chland County, 1973.

4. U. S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service. National Regi stry of Natural Landmarks, U. S. Government Pri nti ng Office, Washington, D. c.~ 1973 .

2.3-4

2.4 GEOLOGY Major emphasis was placed on the geol ogy and the geohydrology because the NFCS facility employs on-site lagoons for liquid and sanitary treat-ment . Accurate knowledge of the geologic conditions can provide the ability to eva l uate the impact of these holding ponds . A group of highly qualified geologists and geohydrologists from the Uni versity of South Carolina headed by Dr. D. Colquhoun have provided most of the information found in this section as well as Section 2.5, Hydrology. (l)

Physiography, geology, seismology and soils are discussed in thi s section.

2.4.l PHYSIOGRAPHY South Carolina is divided into two major physiographic provinces: the Piedmont and the Coastal Plain. The Fall Line separates the igneous and metamorphic Piedmont rocks from the unconsolidated to semi-conso l idated Coastal Plain sediments. Major physiographic features of both provinces as well as the subprovinces are shown i n Figure 2.4-1.

The NFCS plant is located within the Coastal Plain physiographic province which is characterized by gently to steeply rolling hil ls and general ly well drained mature val l eys emptying through the middle Middle Coastal Plain subprovince into the Congaree River . Rejuvenation of valleys resulting in headward migrating youthful incisements is occurring today in nearly all of the local vall ey systems. The boundaries between the headward lying mature valley floors and the zones of youthful incisements are usually quite sharp . Small earthen dams are generally constructed above the juncture to form broad shallow ponds or lakes in the. headward regions.

Five or six of these dams have been constructed across Mill Creek and on its tributaries. Mill Creek flows approximately 0.5 mile northwest of the plant site .

2.4-1

KINGS MOUNT~

BELT N

0 40 m iles

",0 33°00'-----"'\:------- - -- 'i?"~

<v

'i?"

Figure 2.4-l. Physiographic Provinces and tome Subprovtnces of tfie State of South Carolina. (l)

Drainage patterns can be characterized as being dendritic for the smaller tributaries which feed into the major creeks dra ining i nto the Congaree River. The major creeks, however, have apparently developed as a response to former geomorphology in an adverted fashion. Many of these valleys are undergoing recent rejuvenation within the Upper Coastal Plain sub-province.

The Orangeburg Scarp marks the topographic boundary between the Upper Coastal Plain and the Middle Coastal Plain subprovince. In divided areas in the vicinity of the plant site, relief on the Orangeburg Scarp is quite abrupt, on the order of 200 feet, with a grad ient of up to 50 feet per mile. Middle Coastal Plain subprovince topography occurs between the Orangeburg Scarp and the Recent floodplain of the Congaree River, a belt of land 4 to 5 miles in width along which three Middle Coastal Plain terraces and two Lower Coastal Plain terr aces are clearly expressed . The Middle Coastal Plain terraces are: (1) the Hazelhurst terrace lying immediately adjacent to the Orangeburg Scarp at elevations of u~ to 270 feet above mean sea level (MSL), (2) the Coharie terrace, riverward of the Hazelhurst with a maximum elevation of 215 to 220 feet above MSL and (3) the Sunderland terrace with maximum elevation of 170 to 190 feet above MSL. The two Lower Coastal Plain terraces are: (1) the Okefenokee terrace lying adjacent to the Sunderland, and on which the plant is sited, with a maximum elevation of 140 to 150 feet above MSL, and (2) the Wicomico terrace lying riverward of it with a maximum elevation of 100 to 120 feet above MSL. The latter terraces, toward the east, are separated from one another by the Surry Scarp.

All of these terraces decrease very gently in elevation proceeding from the Orangeburg Scarp toward the Congaree River. The lower terraces decrease in elevation parallel to the river in a downstream direction on the order of 1 to 2 feet per mile. The terraces are separated by a scarp where the regional gradient of the land surface increases from l to 2 feet per mile to 20 to 30 feet per mile.

2.4-3

Drainage within the Middle and Lower Coastal Plain subprovinces stands in marked contrast to the Upper Coastal Plain. Valleys penetrating these subprovinces lie at only a few feet below their adjacent divide areas. In general, the streams that occupy these valleys have a very low gradient, and broad dense swamps are frequently present. Flooding within these valleys as well as the associated Congaree River flood-plain can be a major problem and is not unco1T111on.

The divide areas are also poorly drained, with regional relief of only a few feet per mile. Incipient drainage patterns, reflecting ancient meander scars or other deltaic-fluvial environments, as well as the frequent occurrence of broad oval-shaped depressions of a few feet relief called "Carolina Bays", create standing water bodies during periods of high rainfall and for several days thereafter.

2.4.2 GEOLOGY OF THE AREA The Coastal Plain Province at which the NFCS Plant is located is underlain by a wedge of sediments thickening in a seaward direction ~ Beginning at the Fall Line, these strata attain thicknesses of over 1100 feet at the coast adjacent to North Carolina and over 3700 feet at the coast ad-jacent to Georgia. The oldest rocks, at the base, are of Late Cretaceous age (approximately 100 million years). The youngest, at the surface include recent river and shoreline facies. A sull111ary of regional inves-tigations indicates that the Late Cretaceous sediments dip seaward at rates of up to 36 feet per mile, Early Tertiary (approximately 70 million years old) at 6 to 8 feet per mile and Late Miocene to Recent (approxi-mately 50 million years to present age) strata appear to be essentially stable, and are not appreciably inclined.

2.4.2.l SITE SURFACE GEOLOGY AND STRATIGRAPHY Detailed geologic description of the NFCS based on new field mapping, records of holes drilled in 1965, 1968 and 1972 and applicable published data( 2, 3 , 4 , 5) is given in Appendix 2.8.

2.4-4

New mappi ng wi thin the NFCS area is il lustrated in Figure 2.8- 1 in Appen-dix 2.8 , a geologic map which comprises approximatel y 60 square mi l es.

This area is divided by the Upper, Middl e and Lower Coastal Plain and con-tai ns nine major stratigraphic units. Figure 2.8-2 in Appendix 2.8 gi ves

. a stratigraphic cross section of the area. These maps are the result of thorough field investigations and the subsurface conditions were explored by dri lli ng and compiling test borings. Appendix 2.8 descri bes in detai l the formati ons fou nd in the area.

Results of these studies indicate that the Piedmont surface lies close to 25 feet be)ow MSL at the NFCS and the Tuscal oosa Formation, which is a tough semi -consolidated kaolinitic compl ex, i s over 150 feet in thickness.

The foregoing Upper Coasta l Plain stratigraphic unit is then succeeded by the Middl e Coastal Plain Hazelhurst Formation , consisting of basal cobbl ey gravel , overl ain by fine to medium- grai ned angular cl ayey sand , with a max-imum t hickness of 20 feet. The basal gravel i s overlain by t he Orangeburg red or brown sandy soi l or clay .

Farther riverward, the Coharie, Sunderl and and the Okefenokee Formations were encountered, lying on the Tuscaloosa subcrop. Each of* these forma-t ions is not more than 25 feet in thickness .

Local water tabl es lie within 25 feet of the ground surface. Only within the mari ne-phase of the Tuscaloosa Formation and undifferentiated Tertiary units that occur near the top of the divide area does the water tabl e l i e at sign i f icantly l ower depths. Such areas are recharge units for downd i p aqui fers, but they do not occur at the NFCS. The closest area to the site at which they would be found i s about 1 mil e south under the Congaree f l oodpl ai n_{ l )

Water-beari ng formations within the Tuscal oosa Formation described to be found about 14 miles east of the NFCS , {5 ) have been removed by erosion at the site itself. Based on that lithologic description, (5 ) the two units correspondi ng to the Tuscal oosa all uv i al un i t are general ly of very low 2.4-5

permeability because of the presence of kaolinitic clayey matrix within the associated sands and occasional gravels.

The aquifer mostly yielding wel ls used by private dwel l ings within the NFCS area are the terrace formations deposited upon the Tuscal oosa. Such wel l s are shal low in depth, up to 50 feet, and actua lly draw from shal lower hori-zons . The Okefenokee Formation on which the NFCS occurs has been examined at three localities where it has been used to provide fi l l material . In general , each of these cuts showed an upper por tion in which clays had been accumul ated through soi l forming and weathering processes and a less clayey l ower portion of sands and f i ne gravels with a relatively hi gher permeabi l ity .

In summary , predictable high permeabi l ity at the NFCS would be confi ned to the Okefenokee Formation at depths above approximately 110 feet above MSL.

Holes drilled bel ow this depth would encounter the al luvfal phase of the Tuscaloosa Formation, which i n outcrop is generally of l ow permeabil-ity. Local zones of hi gher permeabi l i ty are possible, but not predictabl e.

Such zones, should they occur, would be between the above depth and ap-proximately 25 feet bel ow MSL where Piedmont rocks are encountered . Whi l e fracture porosity is possible in the Piedmont lithol ogies, which are unknown at this site, actual production of water from these lithologies would be fortuitous.

The NFCS is not connected hydrologically wi th l and areas toward t he north-east, or east in Ri chland County, since it lies in a different hydrol ogic area and does not possess the aquifers genera~ly encountered in those areas. At the NFCS area, those aquifers have been eroded. The principal aquife r used in these other areas would be found in the subsurface approx-imately one mile due south of the plant site, under the Congaree floodplain.

2.4.2.2 TECTONICS Major tectonic features are involved in the deposition of the Coastal Plain wedge in the southeastern United States. The Great Caroli na Arch 2.4-6

extending from well out on the continental shelf landward, in the general vicinity of the North Carolina-South Carolina line, was developed subse-quent to Late Cretaceous and prior to Middle Eocene times. Its uplift affects the nature of sediments deposited during this time as well as the thickness of the Coastal Plain wedge within its area of occurrence.

Within the southeastern region of South Carolina, and within the eastern portion of Georgia, tectonic activity which is probably associated with tensional faulting is apparent and affects the strata of Oligocene, Early and possibly Middle Miocene age (approximately 50 million years). Within South Carolina, the surface of carbonate shelf deposits of that age have been shown to be distorted. A northeast-southwest high , or anticline, from which sediments of this age were stripped is found in Beaufort and Jasper Counties, while toward the northwest and southeast sediments of this age are present in excessive thickness. Presently there is *no

• evidence at the surface expressing the subsurface distortion of these sediments except from solution topography at the crest of this anti-cline. Apparently whatever activity was present ceased prior to the Late Pleistocene (approximately 2 million years ago} when the surface of these older sediments was scoured by wave action.

Between the northeasterly lying Great Carolina Arch and the southeasterly occurring East Georgia embayment, there occurs a region, the Marion shelf, in which the Coastal Plain sedimentary wedge generally thickens in a sea-ward direction without distortion, and in which the older sediments are relatively steeply inclined (up to 36 feet per mile) and the younger sediments tilt at lesser angles; The NFCS lies within this region.

2. 4.3 SEISMOLOGY More than 700 earthquakes have occurred between 1754 and 1970 in a region located between latitude 30° and 40° north and longitude 75° to 88° west.

Included are the states of Alabama, Georgia, Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, West Virginia and eastern portions of Kentucky 2.4-7

and Tennessee. ( 6) Over two-thirds of these earthquakes are associated with the great Charleston earthquake of August 1886. ( 7)

Earthquake epicenters in the southeastern United States are shown plotted in Figure 2.4-2. Based on spatial patterning of these epicenters along with geodetic information and tide gage data the activity is interpreted to occur in four seismic zones both parallel and transverse to the re-gional Appalachian structures: (1) Southern Appalachian, (2) Northern Virginia-Maryland, .(3) Central Virginia and (4) South Carolina-Georgia.

Three significant earthquakes were recorded in 1971 : two in the Bowman area southeast of Orangeburg and one near Seneca on the northwestern corner of South Carolina. The Bowman earthquakes were assigned modified Mercalli (MM) intensity values of III and IV, while the Seneca earthquake was assigned an intensity value of IV. (3 ) The Mercalli Intensity Scale and expected damage from each intensity as well as the Richter Magnitude Scale and the approximate Mercalli Intensity Scale equivalent are given in Appendix 2.C. Further evidence of seismic activity in theI Bowman area was provided by a magnitude 4.6 earthquake on the Richter Scale in February 1972( 9 ) and microearthquake activity in 1973. (lO) The most re-cent event in the Bowman area occurred on May 28, 1974.

The Summerville - Charleston area has been the most seismically active re-gion in the state, accounting for over 90 percent of all earthquakes. In 3 months of microearthquake monitoring in the Charleston area during the summer of 1971, sixty-one earthquakes were recorded. (B)

The USGS established a five station microearthquake net in the Summerville-Charleston area and during 7 months of operation in 1973,- twenty-two local earthquakes were detected . (ll) Epicenters of eight well-recorded earth-quakes with magnitudes ranging from l to 2 were located within a radius of 20 km from the epicenter of the Charleston 1886 shock.

2.4-8

...~:.....: ...:..... **.:: .....*:*=--;.,::f~~j=****===ff

. ., _.,. . ._.,,,Jia.$1 P lant Site

~:::co* Zones N

Fe ll Report s O 11-111 0 IV-V 0 V I VI 1 0 0

X Twa or more 0

eort .. quoke.s 0

SO 100 Mi les SCALE ' o 0 0 50 I 00 Kilometer s Figure 2.4- 2. Seismicity of Southeastern United States, 1754-1 970.(G)

During the past two decades, there has been an apparent shift of seismic activity away from the coastal Charleston-Surrmerville area to the interior parts of the state. The central part of the Coastal Plain region, near Orangeburg has a record of at least one earthquake per year since 1971.

Another earthquake was felt in the Pelion-Gaston area, to the south of Columbia on March 28, 1973. These together with the continuing activity in the Summerville-Charleston area seem to support a NW-SE trending seis-mically active zone.( 6 , 8 )

The magnitude 4.3 earthquake on August 2, 1974 seems to have triggered intense seismic activi ty in the central and western sections of the Piedmont. (l 2 ) This early morning earthquake was followed by nearly 1000 aftershocks, while there was no seismic activity in the 3 months preceding the earthquake . (l 3) Two recent earthqua kes in this area occurred in Edge-field County on October 28, 1974 and in McCormick County on November 4, 1974.

Due to the devastating earthquake of 1886, the southeastern part of South Carolina has been classified as earthquake risk zone 3. (l 4) This classi -

fication is based on the fact that the region withi n this zone suffered i ntensity Modifi ed Mercall i VII-X damage*. No other earthquake in South Carolina has caused such damage . Figure 2. 4-3 shows zone 3 and all South Carolina earthquakes. This figure indicates that no earthquakes have occurred within 10 km of the NFCS.

Intensity of damage at the site associated with the 1886 earthquake which is the maximum known to have occurred at the site is Modified Mercalli VII.

Such a magnitude corresponds approximately to an epicentral acceleration of O. 15 g. ( 16)

Other known earthquakes to have caused an effect characterized as being I-IV MM (corresponding to less than O.Olg) at the site are li sted i n Tabl e 2.4-1 .

2. 4-10

ez 0 1911

- *~--------.._*10

• ~ ~ 1914 ,1 924 L~

i' ' + +'L* -t +

Gr eenv i I le 1971 ° '* 1963 1912 1913

,* 19 14,1965 1942 1930 /_

/

,,,,,. 1959

. - 1929, 1930 1945 * / ',

._ * ~ 191 4 '-.

1931 1 1956 / 1799 ~ Florence "-,

1879 1968

+ '; ;*

• 34*+ 1974

• _.,/" ~* 91 - Columblo 1945, I 6 WESTINGHOUSE N NUCLEAR FUEL Orongeb uro COLUMBIA SITE

.+:>, *

• 1972 I

...... *

• 1974 ~

_, 1973.

• 1971 ~

1974 ~

19. 68 1,, 0

• 191 4 CHARLESTON - SUMMER VILLE AREA 402 Eorthquakes 1754-1 9 70

()JO

~o I'll i les Km . 1 N

.,+. +

I 3,E

• 32 *

• o

• Figure 2.4-3 . Seismicity Map of South Carolina. Year is Given by Each Epicenter. (G) Map is Updated to Include Earthquakes through 1974. (l) Map Also Includes Seismic Risk Zone 3. (lS)

TABLE 2.4-1 EARTHQUAKES CAUSING AN INTENSITY I-IV EFFECT AT SITE Location Date Union County January l , 1913 Charleston area August 3, 1959 Charles ton area March 12, 1960 Bowman area May 19, 1971 Bowman area February 3, 1972 S. of Columbia March 28, 1973 Summerville November 22, 1974 2.4.4 SOILS Soils within 5 miles of the NFCS trend in a southeasterly direction from their contact with Piedmont cl ayey soils near the confluence of the

-** Broad and Saluda Rivers at Columbia, along the nort h side of the Congaree River Valley. Highest in elevation and oldest in age is the Magnolia-Marlboro Association consisting of gently sloping to sloping, wel l drained soils with fine textured subsoils that usually occur between approxi-mately 230 and 300 feet above MSL. Next occurs the Norfolk-Orangeburg Association of nearly level to gently sloping well drained soils wi th medium textured subsoils generally found between altitudes of 230 and 160 feet above MSL . The Craven-Leaf-Johns Association , on which the NFCS is located occurs next, is a relatively narrow 1- to 2-mile-wide band adjacent to the Congaree River floodplain. This association is characterized by nearly level , well to poorly drained soils. The Congaree-Chewacla Association of well drained a~d somewhat poorly drained soils occurs between the latter associati on and the Congaree River.

Figure 2.4-4 shows the location of the soils found at and in the vicinity of the NFCS. A summary of these soil associations indicating the type of 2.4-12

N SCALE IN MILES 0 I 2 3 4 5 N

I w

• 4 LEGEND Westinghouse Nuclear Fuel - Columbia Site Lakeland- Wagram - Fuquay Assoc i al ion n 0

5 Gilead- Blaney Association C z

6 Voucluse-Gileod- Blaney Assoc 1at1on t U) -<

US60I o 7 Norfolk -01 angeburg Associat io "  ::)

8 Magnol i a- Mar-lboro A5sociot1on 9 Wagram - Lucy- Orangeburg Assoc i o11on :n (I) 10 Craven - Leaf- Johns Assoc 1oi1on 1I Wehadkee - Chewoclo Assoc i at i on <

0 1 2. Congaree - Chewaclo Association Figure 2.4-4. Generalized Soils Associations of Southern Richland County, South Carolina. (l)

soil, type of location, range in characteristics, drainage and permeability, use and typical vegetation distribution and extent, chemical and physi cal properties, suitability of soil as a resource material and degree of limita-tion for selected uses fol l ows.

The NFCS is established on the Orangeburg Seri es, a deep, well drained soil type, consisting typically of a dark grayish-brown loamy sand surface layer about 7 inches t hick, and a red, friabl e, sandy clay loam, thick subsoil.

• such soil types have several degrees of limitations affecting their use:

corrosivity to both uncoated steel and concrete construction is moderate be-cause of acidity . Slight limitations are present with respect to dwellings, septic tank absorption fields, sewage lagoons, local roads and streets, light industry and sanitary land fields because slopes present within the area are less than 8 percent. Moderate limitation exists with respect to pond reservoir areas because of moderate permeability and the fact that the depth to the seasonal high water table is greater than 60 inches.

The NFCS is surrounded by soi l series which impose even further degrees of limitations. The Leaf Series which lies north and east of the site, is a poorly drained soil type, consisting of a very dark gray silt loam surface layer and a gray mottled silty clay subsoil. Such soi l types have three limitations: (1) very high corrosivity to uncoated steel and high tQ mod-erate corrosivity to concrete, (2) severe wetness and flooding potential to dwell~ngs because of the seasonal high water table, shrink- swell potential and (3) severe limitation to septic tank field absorption because of the permeabil ity class and depth to seasonal high water table.

To the west of the site Craven Series soils occur which are moderately well drained, having nearly level to sloping Coastal Plain soils. They bave a grayish-brown loam surface layer and a l i ght olive-brown and yel l owish-brown clay subsoil that is very firm and slowly permeable. Gray mottles occur below about 18 inches. Subhorizons are gray clayey sediments with lenses of sandy material. This series has severe limitations for use as 2.4-14

septic tank absorption fields because of low permeability; sewage lagoons because of wetness; sanitary landfills because of wetness; steel and con-crete emplacement because of high corrosivity; small commercial buildings because of wetness and drainage because of l ow permeability.

To the south of the plant site on the Congaree River floodplain and adjacent to incised meanders of Mill Creek, occur the Congaree, Chastain and Chewacla Series. These are all alluvial or bottomland soil types, the Congaree being well drained; the Chastain poorly drained, and the Chewacla somewhat poorly drained. All types have severe limitations toward use for dwellings, septic tank filter fields, sewage lagoons, local roads and streets, sanitary landfills of either area or trench type or light industry, all because of flooding. All are moderately corrosive to concrete emplacement, while corrosion to uncoated steel is very high for the Chastai n, high for the Chewacla and low for the Congaree Series.

With respect to soil type, it appears that the NFCS is well located for construction purposes. There exist, however, moderate limitations for pond reservoirs because of moderate permeability and because the depth to seasonal high water table is greater than 60 inches. The Orange-burg Series is developed on the Okefenokee Formation, which is the prin-cipal aquifer of this section of Richland County (Section 2.5) . Ground-water within this aquifer is expected to pond on top of the Tuscaloosa alluvial phase beds lying below the aquifer at approximately 110 feet above MSL and discharge into Mill Creek or onto the Congaree River floodplain to the southwest. Because of the gradient of the surface water table, migration within this aquifer will not occur toward the northeast, or north, nor is it likely to penetrate into the Sunder-land Formation.

2 . 4-15

2.4 .5 REFERENCES l . Co1quhoun, D. J. , et a1. , "The Regiona 1 and Loe a1 Ptiys i ography, Geo1ogy, Sei smicity , Soi l s and Hydrology at the Westinghouse Plant Site, Richland County,_South Carolina," Report to Westinghouse Environmental Systems Department, November 1974.

2. Taylor , V. A., "Geology of the Columbia North Quadrangle, University 11 of South Carolina, Department of Geology, Columbia, South Carolina, 1949.

3. Pooser, W. K., "Geol ogy of the Fort Jackson North Quadrangl e, " Uni ver-sity of South Carol ina, Department of Geology, Columbia, South Carolina, 1958.

4. Col quhoun, D. J., "Terrace Sediment Complex in Centra l South Carolina ,"

Atl antic Coastal Plain Geological Association Fiel d Conference, 1965.

5. Getzen , R. T., "Cretaceous Stratigraphy of the Upper Coastal Plain in Central South Carol i na," University of South Caroli na, Department of Geology, Columbia, South Carolina, 1969.

6. Bolli nger, G. A. , "Seismicity of the Southeastern United States,"

Bull etin of Seismol ogical Society of America, Vol. 63, October 1973, pp. 1785-1808.

7. Taber, S., "Seismi c Activity in the Atlantic Coastal Plai n near Charleston, South Caroli na," Bulletin of Sei smological Society of America, Vol. 4, 1914, pp. 108-160.

8. Boll inger, G. A., "Hi storical and Recent Seismic Activity in South Carolina," Bulletin of Sei smological Society of America, Vol. 62, June 1972, pp. 851-854 .

9. Long, L. T., "The South Carol ina Earthqua ke of February 3, 1973, 11 Earthquake Notes, Vol . 43 , 1972, pp. 13-17.

10. Long, L. T. and McKee, J. H., "A Microearthquake Survey near Bowman, South Carolina," tal k presented May 18, 1973, at 44th Annual Eastern Section Meeting and 68th Annual Meeting of the Sei smologi cal Society of American, Golden, Colorado, March 1973 .

11. Tar , A. C. and Ki ng, K. W. , "Preliminary Results from an Earthquake Monitoring Survey at the Charleston-Summervile Area of South Carolina,"

Geo logi cal Society of America, Vol . 6, February 1973, p. 407.

12. Bollinger, G. A., "Seismicity and Coastal Uplift in the Southeastern United States," American Journal of Sci ences, 1973.

2.4-16

2.

4.5 REFERENCES

(Continued)

13. Talwani, P., Secor, D. T. , Montenyohl, V., Scheffler, P. and Bridges, S. R.,

"Af:tershock Studies following the August 2, 1974, South Carolina Earth-quake," Eastern Section Seismological Society of America, 46th Annual Meeting, October 1974, p. 48 .

14. Long, L. T. and Denman, H. E., 11 The Georgia-South Carolina Earthquake of August 2, 1974, Foreshock Survey and Macroseismic Effects, 11 Eastern Section Seismological Society of America, 46th Annual Meeting, October 1974.

15 . Algermissen, S. T., "Seismic Risk Studies in the United States," Fourth World Conference on Earthquake Engineering, Santiago, Chile, January 4, 1969.

16. U. S. Atomic Energy Commission, Division of Technical Information, "Nuclear Reactors and Earthquakes," TID-7O24, August 1963.

2.4-17

2.5 HYDROLOGY Local surface and groundwater systems are described in this section . As with Section 2.4, the information found in this section is based on the comprehensive study conducted by the geologists and geohydrolo)ists of the University of South Carolina headed by Or. D. Colquhoun. (l 2.5.l SURFACE WATER The Congaree River Val l ey extends seaward from the confluence of the Saluda and Broad Rivers at Columbia, about 10 miles upstream from the NFCS area, to its confluence with the Wateree River approximately 10 miles below. For approximately l mile below the confluence at Columbia, the r i ver flows over Piedmont granites and schists before entering the Coastal Plain Province of sands, silts and muds. The river valley within the Coastal Plain Province i s exceptionally wide, extending over 8 miles from the terraced northeastern to the scarped southwestern valley walls. The northeastern terraced wall is approximately 4 miles wide from the Orangeburg Scarp to the present f l ood-plain. The floodplain extends approximately 4 miles to the southwestern valley wall which is, in general, not terraced but expresses frequent scarps or cliffs and land gradients of 400 to 500 feet per mile. Figure 2.5-l shows the surface water features in the close vicinity of the NFCS.

The Congaree River generally occupies the southwestern portion of the floodplain , flowing in a meandering pattern. At no place does the river occupy the northeast half of the floodplain, and it is probably for this reason that the terraces on the northeast valley wall have remained so wel l preserved over such a long period of geologic time.

Principle tributaries to the Congaree include Gills Creek at Columbia, Mill Creek which flows in the vicinity of the NFCS and Beaver Creek which flows to the southeast in the vicinity of Hopkins, South Carolina.

2.5-1

N u,

I N

SCALE IN MILES

)

\

\

\

Figure 2.5-1. General Surface Water Features in the Vicinity of the NFCS(l)

Al l of these streams arise on the northeast valley wal l several miles above the Orangeburg Scarp, within the Upper Coastal Plain subprovince. Dendritic in pattern near their headwaters, they flow in a south-southwesterly direc-tion to become meandering in the vicinity of and within the present Congaree River floodplain . All of these small streams show evidence of cutting into a former more mature drainage pattern . Near their headwaters this is 11 expressed as a narrow somewhat deeper "V"-shaped valley cutting into a broader, flatter floodplain, where recreational and stocked fish ponds are often constructed to take advantage of the wider stream valleys .

2.5.1 .1 CONGAREE RIVER GRADIENT AND FLOW Figure 2.0-1 in Appendix 2.0 shows the gradient of the Congaree River be-tween Columbia and Gaston as reported by the U. S. Geological Survey, Water Resources Division at Columbia, South Carolina. ( 2 ) Discharges and gage heights for this river at Columbia during the period between 1892 and 1973 are l i sted in Table 2. 0-1, Appendix 2. D. ( 3) Since 1892, the highest stage attained at Col umbia was the flood of August 27, 1908 when the stage reached 35.8 feet and the discharge was 364 ,000 cfs. Constraining factors on the flow include total regulation of flow in the Saluda River at Lake Murray and Lake Greenwood and to some extent by power plants on the Broad River.

The city of Columbia diverts about 42 cfs of water for its municipal supply .

Since construction of regulating hydroelectric sites on the Saluda River the maximum flow was 231,000 cfs on April 10, 1964, at which time the gage height attained was 33.34 feet.

The flood history of the Congaree River can be studied by means of the peak data listed in Tabl e 2. D-1 and Figure 2.D-1. The earliest peak was noted in September 1852, at which time a gage height of 34.4 feet was noted but not the discharge . Maximum peak and discharge for the entire period occurred on August 27, 1908, when the gage height stood at 35.8 feet and discharge was 364,000 cfs. Comparing the Congaree River slope with the stage at Columbia curve indicates a slope of approx imately 1.3 feet per mile. The NFCS is approximately 12 miles below the Columbia

2. 5- 3

gaging station which indicates a 15.6 foot difference in elevation between that station and the plant site portion of the Congaree River Vall ey, or a water stand of 128.6 feet above MSL. Since the plant site is l ocated at an elevati on of approximately 140 feet, it can be concluded that no flooding of the plant site has occurred in the last 73 years and possibly in the l ast 123 years .

This is further substantiated by the 100-year flood line maps of the Congaree River Valley constructed by the U. S. Army Corps of Engineers as shown in Figure 2.5-2. In this map, the l ine separating flood prone and approximate areas occasionally fl ooded from higher land areas is drawn at 130 feet in the vicinity of the NFCS.

2.5.1.2 WATER QUALITY Water quality *records for the years 1969 through 1974 were obtained from the South Carolina Polluti on Control Authority . (4 ) Yearly means for years with availabl e data were computed from the computer printouts for five stations:

four al ong the Congaree River and one on Mill Creek above the site at Adams Pond. Two of the Congaree River stations are above the NFCS and two are below it. Locations are indicated in Tables 2.5-1 through 2.5-5, which list concentrations of analyzed chemical parameters .

Comparison of these records indicates no unusual trends in concentrations of chemicals between stations above and below the site for the twenty-two chem-ical parameters, nor are there any significant differences with time .

Effects of muni cipal discharges discussed in Section 2.8.3.1 are reflected in high bacteria counts. Both coliform and fecal col iform counts exceeded the South Carolina water qual ity standards for Class B, which applies to these surface water bodies . As a result, both the city of Col umbia and the city of Cayce are presently constructing treatment facilities for their municipal liquid discharges.

2. 5-4

141 133 I 1/6 l 14 /

N APPROX IMATE AREA OCCASIONALLY FLOOOE

( E ST I MAT E D FROM REGIONAL STAGE-FREQUENCV RELATIONS)

-£. Flood limit SCALE IN MILES I t 0 I Figure 2.5-2. Map of Flood-Prone Areas in the Vicinity of the NFCS(l) 2.5- 5

TABLE 2.5-1 YEARLY MEANS OF WATER QUALITY OF CONGAREE RIVER JUST ABOVE LEXINGTON-CALHOUN COUNTY LINE( 4)

(APPROXIMATELY 6 RIVER MILES UPSTREAM FROM THE NFCS DISCHARGE POINT)

Concentration 1n mg/1 Or As Ind icated Parameter 1971 1972 1973 Water temp. °C 23 . 5 17 .4 22.5 Turbidity, Jackson Units 90.6 29.0 X Turbidity as Si0 2 13.75 9.0 23.0 Color PT-CO Units 120.0 69.2 50.0 00 Probe X X* 8.0 DO 7.4 8.86 X DD3/4 of saturation 86.6 89.3 X BOD 1. 23 2. 10 7.0 pH (pH Uni ts) X X 6.8 Lab pH (pH Units) 6.84 6.05 6.10 Tota1 Caco 3 23 .5 21. 7 22 Total N 0.04 X X N0 3 - N 0.05 o. 346 X NO~ and N0 2- N, total 0.05 0.32 0.4 Ortho P0 4 0.043 0. 063 0.15 Total Hardness as Caco 3 27.0 X X:

Chloride 6.0 X X Cadmium X X 0.030 Chromium X X 0.100 Copper X X 0.050 Iron, Total X X 0.484 Lead X X 0.100 Total Coliform MFI M-EN00/100 ml* 60333 X X Fecal Coliform MPN-EC-MED/100 ml 16475 1030 X Fecal Coliform MPN-MFCBR/100 ml 16475 2398 1000 Total Coliform MPN-PRES/100 ml 60333 X X Ammonia 13 X X Mercury µg/1 X 0. 05 0.05

• Mrl M-ENDO = Membrane filter 1ncubat1on procedure using M-ENDO medium MPN-EC-MED = Most probable number using EC medium MPN-MFCBR ~ Most probable number using M-FC broth MPN-PRES = Most probable number, presumptive test 2.5-6

TABLE 2.5-2 YEARLY MEANS OF WATER QUALITY OF CONGAREE RIVER 2-1/4 MILES BELOW LEXINGTON-CALHOUN COUNTY LINE( 4 )

(APPROXIMATELY 3.75 RIVER MILES UPSTREAM FROM THE NFCS DISCHARGE POINT)

Cone en t rat ion in m9/l Or As Indicated P.<!!_a_!Jletec 1971 1972 197 3 Water temp. "C 22.75 23 .66 21. 0 Turbidity, Jackson Units 69.0 26.0 X Turbid i ty (as Si0 2) 19 . 0 10. 5 15.0 Color PT-CO Units 160 .0 56.0 50.0 DO Probe X X 7. 9 00 7.23 8.68 X DO ~ of saturat ion 83.66 86.0 X BOD 0.9 l. 62 2.8 pH (pH Units) X X 6.5 Lab pH (pH Units) 6.9!:i 6.38 6.2 Total CaC0 3 24 .0 21 .1 26 . 0 Tota 1 N 0.06 X X N0 3 - N 0.05 0, 32 X NOz and N0 3 - N, total 0.05 0.34 0. 4 Ortho P0 4 0.06 o. 15 0. 06 Total Hardness as Caco 3 24. 5 X Chloride 5.6 X X Cadmium X X 0.030 Chromium, total X X 0. 100 Copper X X 0.050 Iron, total X X 0.870 Lead X X o. 100 Total Coliform MFI M-ENDO/ 100 m1* 106333 X X Fecal Col i form MPN-EC-MED/100 ml 49250 946.6 X Fecal Coliform MPN-MFCBR/100 ml 49250 3088 lOOOL Total Coliform MPN-PRES/100 ml 109666 X X A1m1onia 0.66 X X Mercury µg/ 1 X 0.04 0.5K

• MF! M-ENOO = Membrane filter incubation procedure using M-ENOO medium MPN-EC 7 MED = Most probable number using EC medium MPN-MFCBR

• Most probable number using M-FC broth MPN-PRES = Most probable number, presumpt i ve test

2. 5-7

TABLE 2.5-3 YEARLY MEANS OF WATER QUALITY OF CONGAREE RIVER AT MQUTH OF MILL CREEK( 4)

(APPROXIW\TELY 2.6 RIVER MILES DOWNSTREAM FROM NFCS DISCHARGE POINT)

Concentration 1n mg/1 Or As Indicated Parameter 1971 1972 1973 Water temp. °C 22.0 16 . 25 21.0 Turbidity. Jackson Units 72.5 33.0 X Turbidity (as Si0 2} 17 .0 11. 25 11. 0 Color PT-CO Un its 152.5 56.0 50.0 DO 7.2 8.61 X DO% of saturation 82. l 84.8 X BOO 0.95 1. 7 2.4 pH (pH Units} X X 6.5 Lab pH (pH Units) 6.85 6. 45 6. l Total CaC0 3 24.0 20.13 20.0 Total N 0. 04 X X N0 3 - N 0.05 0.41 X N0 2 and N0 3 - N, total 0.05 0.38 0.4

?rtho P0 4 0.04 0.096 0.10 Total Hardness as Caco 3 22 X X Chloride 6.0 X X Cadmium X X 0.030 Chromium, total X X 0.100 Copper X X 0.050 Iron X X 232 Lead X X 0.100 Total Coliform MF! M-END0/100 ml* 43000 X X Fecal Co li form MPN-EC-ME0/100 ml 40250 1650 X Feca l Coliform MPN-MFCBR/100 ml 40250 6473. 0 1000 Total Coliform MPN-PRE~/100 ml 43000 X Ammonia o. 11 0.36 X Mercury ug/1 X 0.03 0.5

• MFJ M-ENOO = Membrane filter incubation procedure us ing M-ENDO medium MPN-EC -MED = Most probable number using EC medium MPN-MFCBR z Most probable number using M-FC broth MPN-PRES = Most probable number, presumptive test 2.5-8

TABLE 2.5-4 YEARLY MEANS OF WATER QUALITY OF CONGAREE RIVER AT MOUTH OF BEAVER CREEK( 4)

(APPROXIMATELY 9.7 RIVER MILES DOWNSTREAM FROM THE DISCHARGE POINT)

Concentration in mg/1 Or As Indicated Parameter 1971 1972 1973 Water temp. °C 21. 25 15.83 20.0 Turbidity, Jackson Units 74.5 33. 0 )(

Turbidity (as Si0 2) 15.0 9.0 11.0 Color PT-CO Units 132.5 55. 0 50.0 DO Probe X X 8.1 DO 7.6 8. 7 X DO% of saturation 83.66 84 . 83 X BOD o. 725 1. 64 2. 2 pH (pH Units) X X 6.2 Lab pH (pH Units) 6.875 6. 316 6.1 Total CaC0 3 23.5 21. 83 20 Total N 0.035 X X N0 3 - N 0.060 0.396 X N0 2 and N0 3 - N, total 0.01 0.38 Q.4 Ortho P0 4 0.035 0. l 03 0.0 Total Hardness as caco 3 40. 5 X X Chloride 6.0 X X Cadmium X X 0.030 Chromium, total X X 0.100 Coppe1* X X 0.050 Iron X X 0.374 Lead X X o. 100 Total Coliform MFl M-EN00/100 ml* 118666 X X Fecal Coliform MPN-EC-ME0/100 ml 24050 2193 X Fecal Coliform MPN-MFCBR/100 ml 24050 3596 1000 Total Coliform MPN-PRES/100 ml 118666 X X AITIT1on1a X X X Mercury \J9/1 X 0, 03 0.05K

• MFI M-ENDO = Membrane filter incubation procedure using M-ENOO medium MPN-EC-MED = Most probable number using EC medium MPN-MFCBR = Most probable number using M-FC broth MPN-PRES = Most probable number, presumptive test 2.5-9

TABLE 2.5-5 YEARLY MEANS OF WATER QUALITY OF MILL CREEK AT ADAMS POND (BLUFF ROAD){ 4)

(APPROXIMATELY 9 RIVER MILES UPSTREAM FROM SUNSET LAKE)

Concentration in mg/1 Or As lndicated Parameter 1969 1971 1972 1973 1974 Water temp. °C X 25.75 23.81 25 . 33 24 .0 Turbidity, Jackson Units X 28.QQ X 28 .00 X Turbidity (as s10 2) X 11.0 4.0 14 . 75 X Color PT-CO Units X 317.5 67 . 5 69.0 120 DO Probe X X X 7. 91 6.1 DO X 6. 5 7. 22 X X DO %of saturation X 77 .58 85. 17 X X BOD X 5.05 2.32 5.36 5.10 pH (pH Units) X X X 6. 52 6.20 Lab pH (pH Units) X 6.05 5.92 6.24 6.20 Total Caco3 X 8.5 6.83 10 .D 8.0 Total N X X X X X N0 3 - N X X 0. l 20 x X N02 and N03 - N, total X X 0. 22 0.184 X Ortho P0 4 X 0. 01 0.15 0.45 X Total Hardness as CaC0 3 X 15 X X X Ch,loride X 9 x D.03 X Cadmium X X X 0. 100 X Chromium, total x x X 0.100 X Copper x x X 0.050 X Iron x x X 0.845 X Lead x x X 0.200 X Total Coliform MFI M-END0/100 ml* x 1445 X X X Fecal Coliform MPN-EC-MED/100 ml 52 60 60 X X Feca 1 Co 1iform MPN-MFCBR/ 100 ml 52 60 23 43.6 90 Total Coliform MPN-PRES/100 ml x 1445 X X )(

Almlonia X 0.05 X X X Mercury JJg/l X X X .0. 366 X

• MFI M-ENOO = Membrane filter incubation procedure using M-ENDO medium MPN-EC-MED = Most probable number using EC medium MPN-MFCBR = Most probable number using M-FC broth MPN-PRES = Most probable number, presumptive test 2.5-10

2.5.2 GROUNDWATER Groundwater production from the portion of the Coastal Pl ain of Richland County withi n which the NFCS is located is indicated in Figure 2.5-3 . The princi pal aquifers include several terrace formations: the Okefenokee, Sunderland, Coharie and the Tuscaloosa Formation . Geographically, produc-tion from shall ow holes is possible within any of the terrace formations.

Predictable production within the Tuscaloosa, however, is confined to the area east of the subcrop of the Ktm aquifer illustrated in Figure 2.5-3.

2.5.2.1 OKEFENOKEE AND OTHER TERRACE FORMATION AQUIFERS Most wells drilled. or dug within the region produce water at shallow depths of up to 30 to 40 feet from within the various terrace formations. The cross-sectional shape of the various terrace formations i s illustrated in Figure 2.8-2 in Appendix 2.8.

In the higher terraces, the Tuscaloosa Formati on i s scoured bel ow those sedi -

ments, such that the Tuscaloosa surface dips with decrea~ing gradient away from the landward scarp boundary of the terrace and toward the river, flat-tening within a short distance at a depth some 20 to 30 feet below the ter-race surface . Depressions in the form of channels carved by streams prior to the deposition of the terrace sediments occur within the Tuscaloosa surface, and in these areas depth from the surface to the Tuscaloosa sub-crop may be up to 50 feet. The Tuscaloosa subcrop may lie very close to the surface in certain areas, particularly in the vicinity of the various scarps separating t he terraces where it may be exposed or lie only a few feet below ground surface. In such areas, production of water from the surficial aquifers is unlikely, although natural spri ngs during rainy periods are not uncommon .

In the lower terraces, the Sunderland and the Okefenokee,*the actual shape of the Tuscaloosa subcrop is not known precisely because of a general lack of exposure. However, limited drill holes in the area indicate that this

2. 5-11

Columbia Elon Church A 0 0

0 I 0

\ 0 o.

\

0 A!los Rood \ @) 0 School) \ 0

\ CROSS SECTION 0 0

.:,REPORT) 0 f, 0 I, 0

~"' 0

< ., 0

~L 'I- 0

'V..,_ ' 0

--0 0 '0

-i. ,,

0

....<SI, .,

,'v 0 N 'V "'

u, I.SI~/' GETZEN I

~ CROSS N / SECTrON US601 Gods den

@) Deep holes di scussed

• i n repoft

_,..,// Approximole base o1 ~tm ~

-"k-+-+-- ...,.. i n feet above Meo~ Seo Le.el

',f>o ~Appro~,,.,,~te I im i l of subcrop of

', kfm ogu i ler bose

., '-, ', £

_Approx i mate l i mit of subcrop of 2 3 4

~ * ~ ogu i ler base SCALE IN MILES Figure 2.5-3. Principl~ Deep Aquifer in the Vicini~y of the NFCS(l)

formation i s not at variance with the more detailed picture noted above for t he hi gher terraces .

In summary, the lower boundary to the surficial aquifers i s a generally planar surface in a riverward direction at a depth of 20 to 30 feet below the surface of the ground . Irregularities in the form of scoured channel s may occur on this surface suc h that thicknesses of up to 50 feet are pos-sible between the surface of the terrace and the Tuscaloosa subc rop . (l )

Static water level in nearly all holes drilled into the surficial aquifers lies wi t hin 10 or at the most 15 feet of the ground surface . This was the case for all holes dri l led through terrace sediments il l ustrated i n Figure 2.8-1, Appendix 2.B, and the t wenty holes drilled to shallow depths (19 feet) within the NFCS property by Froehling and Robertson , Inc. Such water l evels were also fou nd in holes located within the NFCS property .such as the hol es constructed for a farm i rri gation system which existed before plant construc-tion and the original well which served the old Burnside property.

2.5.2.2 LOWER TUSCALOOSA FORMATION AQUIFERS The basal units of the Tuscal oosa Formation al l uvi al phase are generally of low permeability or impermeabl e. Deep holes producing from the Tusca loosa alluvial phase incl ude two wells drilled on the NFCS property. Both en-countered beds of no or low pe'.meability below the ge nerall y producti ve terrace formation aquifer present to 30 feet below ground surface . The first wel l was drilled in 1963 to supplant the 30 foot deep hole supplying the old Burnside property. Gray clay, which was cased off, occurred below the surface aqui fer to 105 feet below the ground surface . Production from below 105 feet came from packed sand . The well produced 107 gallons per minute with a drawdown of 15 feet. The stati c water level was 22 feet be-l ow ground surface. The second deep well on the NFCS property was drill ed during construction of t he pl ant. It encountered gray clay to 71 feet below ground surface and packed sand from that depth to 140 feet. The top 71 feet were cased off and unmeasured production was obtained from below.

2. 5-13

A third deep well was constructed l mile northwest of the NFCS on private prop-erty at a point along Route 48 . The terrace aquifer at this hole produced only black mud and black water at a depth of 15 to 20 feet. From 20 feet to 200 feet below the ground surface only impermeable clays were encountered, but at 200 feet a porous sand was found. Water from this level filled the hole and finally rested about 10 feet below the ground surface .

A fourth deep well was attempted about 5 miles northwest of the plant site at Atlas School to supplement a 22 foot deep well which had been drilled previously, producing from the terrace units. This well encountered gen-erally impermeable to low permeability clays below 25 feet to 115 feet and little water was produced. The well was abandoned .

To the north-northwest of the plant site a hole 136 feet deep was drilled near the intersection of Routes 88 and 76. This hole encountered 10 feet of perme-able sand underlying clays and produced 30 gallons of water per minute.

The number of deep wells penetrating the Tuscaloosa alluvial phase is limi-ted. The wells are confined to that portion of Richland County lying west of the Ktm aquifer illustrated in Figure 2. 5-3. Since good water production to the east of the Ktm line on Figure 2.5-3 would be encounte~ed above the alluvial phase, there would be little point in deepening the holes. In all cases, production from the alluvial phase occurred very low in the strati-graphic sequence, and in all cases there was no production from the higher beds because of the general occurrence of impermeable to low permeability clay. The amount of water obtainable from the alluvial phase of the Tuscaloosa is not predictable. At least one hole did not yield water and was abandoned.

There is general reason to believe that the upper beds of the alluvial phase of the Tuscaloosa may be regarded as an aquiclude with r~spect to the lower aquifers and the overlying Okefenokee and Sunderland Aquifers. This reasoning is based on two facts: (1) the upper portion of the alluvial phase exists as an impermeable to low permeability section composed of clays and clayey sands within the five wells quoted above, as well as in other published data( 3 )

and (2) within the NFCS the static water level of the Tuscaloosa alluvial 2.5-14

phase aquifer stood at 22 feet below ground surface, while several holes utilizing the Okefenokee Aquifer had static water level surfaces of less than 15 feet. Since ground elevations of the dril l sites were almost the same, approximately 140 feet above MSL, this would indicate that two aqui-fers separated by an aquiclude were encountered.

2.5.2.3 UPPER TUSCALOOSA FORMATION AQUIFERS Production of groundwater from deep wells, as opposed to surficial aquifers, to the northeast and east of the NFCS occurs from the Tuscaloosa marine phase. These aquifers dip in the same direction as the underlying aquifers and they flow in a southeastward direction. (l) 2.5.2.4 ON-SITE WELLS The three NFCS monitoring wells draw their water from the Okefenokee Terrace.

Section 2.4.2.l, Site Surface Geology and Stratigraphy, describes the relation of the water-bearing formations at the NFCS and the rest of Richland County. The exact location of the monitoring wells which were on-site as part of the existing irrigation project before the NFCS facility was constructed is illustrated in Figure 6.1-2. Water levels are given*in Table 2.5-6. These wells are monitored for their radiological content as well as for fluorides, ammonia and pH.

TABLE 2.5-6 WATER LEVELS OF MONITORING WELLS ON NFCS PROPERTY*

Depth to Depth to Well No.** Bottom of Well (ft) Water Level (ft}

l Could not be obtainedt 2 26.6 13.3 3 24 7

• Data was supplied by NFCS Health Physicists

• • Locations of wells are illustrated in Figure 6.1 - 2 t Probably less than 35 feet 2.5-15

2.5 . 2.5 GROUNDWATER QUALITY Groundwater qua l ity records have been obtained from the offices of the U. S.

Geological Survey and the South Carolina Pol l ution Control Authority for a number of wells in the area between Col umbia and Eastover along Bl uff Road and between that area and Route 76 which lies to the north. No attempt was made by these sources to identify either the top or the base of t he producing horizons, the positioning of screens or casing, nor the name of the dri ll er who constructed t he well in the first place. Thus, although the water qual-ity was monitored rather frequently, assigning the analysis to a particular aquifer is not possible. None of the core holes discussed in Sections 2.4 and 2.5 have been monitored for their water quality.

Tabl e 2.5-7 l ists groundwater qual ity withi n 5 mil es of the NFCS for aqui fers Kti, Ktm and the surface aquifer.

2.5.2.6

SUMMARY

This surrmary indicates the following important facts.

1. The NFCS is underlain by the Okefenokee surficial aqui fer. The base of this aqui fer lies at approximately 110 feet above MSL and ti l ts at a very l ow angle toward t he Congaree River fl oodpl ai n.

The upper surface of this aquifer lies at about 132 feet above MSL and because of incision of Mill Creek to depths bel ow 110 feet tilts more steeply toward the Congaree River floodplain .

2. The surficial aquifer i s separated from deeper aquifers by an aquiclude of relatively impermeabl e sandy cl ay at least 40 feet in thickness .

3. A deep aqu ifer, or aquifers, of unknown reg i onal . nature and unpredictable production is present below 70 feet above MSL.

This aquifer dips southeast in a downriver direction with groundwater flowing in that direction.

2.5-16

TABLE 2.5-7 GROUNDWATER QUALITY( 4 )

Concentrations in mg/1 Or As Indicated Kti* Ktm*

Surface Aquifer Aquifer Aquifer (Probable) (Probable)

Station No. 335815081002500 335425080475000 335410080473500 Date Dec. 12, 1962 Jan. 18, 1968 Jan. 18, 1967 Depth to top of Sample, (ft) 65 119 Depth to bottom of Samp 1e, (ft) 70 127 Color, (platinum cobalt units) 33 4 5 Specific Conductance

(µ n/cm) 399 39 42 pH, pH Units 4.4 5.5 6.7 CO2 15 6. l HC03 3 19 Al ka 1i nity (as CaC03) 2 16 Hardness(Ca, Mg) 112 5 6 Non-Carbonate Hardness 112 2 o Ca 20 l.O 1.4 Mg 12 0.6 0.4 Na 21 5 .1 2 .1 K 6.6 0.3 0.2 Ce 36 2.5 2.5 S04 118 0.4 0.6 F 2.6 0.2 0.2 P04 o.1 Dissolved N03-N 1.8 2.7 0.38 Dissolved N0 3 8.0 12 1. 7 Total N03 8.0 Si02 18 4.6 3.8 Dissolved Fe 1. 1 Dissolved Mn 0.5 Tota 1 Mn 0.01 0. l Al 1.9 0.1 Total Dissolved Solids, (TDS) 258 34 27

• For location of these aquifers see Figure 2.5-3.

2.5-17

4. The principal deep aquifers of this region of Richland County lie to the east of the NFCS and dip in the same direction as the underlying aquifers. The piezometric surface of these aquifers also indicates flow in a southeastward direction.

5. As a result of these facts, accidental discharge of industrial wastes into the surfi cial aquifer underlying the NFCS holding ponds would be confined to the aquifer and would not migrate to the lower aquifer as long as present casings in the deep holes remain effective to migra-tion of fluid (static level of surface aquifer about 130 feet above MSL-static level of lower aquifer 122 feet above sea level).

6. Most logically, discharges of the groundwater in the surficial aquifer would occur toward the river itself, probably discharging into the waters of Mill Creek, and the configuration of the surficial aquifer would contraindicate groundwater flow in any other direction.

}

2.5-18

2.

5.3 REFERENCES

1. Colquhoun, D. J., et al., "The Regional and Local Physiography, Geology, Seismicity, Soils and Hydrology at the Westinghouse Plant Site, Richland County, South Carolina," Report to Westinghouse Environmental Systems Department, November 1974.

2. U. S. Department of the Interior, Geological Survey, Water Resources Division, Peak Stages and Discharges, Congaree River, South Carolina, U. S. Government Printing Office, 1974.

3. U.S. Geological Survey, Water Resources Division, 1974.

4. South Carolina Poll ution Control Au t hority, Water Quality Data, 1969 Throu gh 1973.

2.5-19

2.6 METEOROLOGY AND CLIMATOLOGY This section describes the climatological features and the severe weather potential for the NFCS and evaluates the atmospheric dispersion character-istics relevant to the' transport of gaseous effluents from the facility.

A summary of local climatological features for the U.S. Weather Bureau Station at Columbia Metropolitan Airport(l) located about 16 miles north-east of the site is given in Table 2.6-1 which includes temperature, re-lative humidity, wind, precipitation and mean annual number of days of cl imatol ogi cal events. ,

This weather station provides data that approximately represents the site's meteorologjcal features because of the prox imity of this station to the site. One year's diffusion climatology data is also available from on-site measurements.

Detailed climatological and diffusion meteorology data are presented in Appendix 2.E .

2.6. 1 REGIONAL CLIMATOLOGY Columbia is located on the Congaree River near the confluence of the Broad and Saluda Rivers in central South Carolina. The Fall Line between the Piedmont and Coastal Plain is near Columbia and as a result, the soi l in the vicinity ranges from sand to clay loams. The terrain varies in elevation from about 350 feet above mean sea level in northern Columbia to about 200 feet in the southeastern part of the city .

The weather in the region of the Columbia site reflects a temperate climate with high relative humidity, moderate rainfall throughout the year, moderate winds and normal diurnal temperature changes. Winters are mild with rare cold waves accompanied by temperatures of zero or below. Freezing temperatures(< 32°F) occur on an average of 65 days per year, generally during the months of November through March.

2 .6-1

TABLE 2.6-1 CLIMATOLOGICAL DATA FROM COLUMBIA METROPOLITAN AIRPORT(l)*

Parameter Temperature, ° F Annual average 63.5 Maximum 75.4 Minimum 51. 5 Record high l 07 Record low -2 Degree days 2598 Relative Humidity, %

Annual average 73 Wind Annual average speed, mph 7. 0 Prevailing Direction SW Fastest mile:

speed, mph 60 direction w Precipitation, in.

Annual average 46.36 Monthly maximum 16. 72 Monthly minimum Trace 24-hr maximum 7.66 Snowfa11 , in.

Annual average 1. 9 Monthly maximum 16.0 24-hr maximum 15.7 Mean Annual - No. of Days Precipitation > 0.1 in. 110 Snow, sleet, hail > 1.0 in. 1 Thunderstorms - 53 Heavy fog 27 Maximum temperature > 90°F 65 Minimum temperature ~ 32°P 65

• Data based on 7 to 30 years of record 2.6-2

However, long summers are prevalent with the warm weather usually l asting from sometime in May into September. A typical sunmer has about 6 days of 100°F or more . Temperatures of above 90°F occur on an average of 65 days each year, mostly duri ng June through August. Fal l is the most pleasant time of the year. Rainfall during late fal l is at an annual minimum while the sunshine is at a rel ative maximum. About 20 percent of the annual rainfall is recorded duri ng the fall . Spring is the most changeable season of the year . The temperature varies from an occasional col d snap in March to generally warm and pleasant in May.

Total annual precipi tati on averages nearly 46 inches. Precipi tation is well di stributed throughout the year with summer being the rainiest sea-son, contributing about 33 percent of the annual total. In summer ,

the southwesterly flow around the offshore Bennuda high pressure area suppl i es the necessary moisture for the many thunderstorms occurring duri ng this season . Thundershower activity shows an increase during summer, decreasing about the first week of September . The wettest re-corded month for Columbia was August 1949, with a total of 16. 72 inches of rainfall . The most rainfall in a 24-hour period (7.66 inches) occurred in August 7949 . Annual precipitation of snow and ice pel lets for the Co-lumbia area .averages about 2 inches . Calculated maximum rainfal l values for a period of 24 hours2.777778e-4 days <br />0.00667 hours <br />3.968254e-5 weeks <br />9.132e-6 months <br /> are 6.61 inches for a 25-year return period and 7.42 inches for a 50-year return period. ( 2 ) Winds are general ly moderate (7.0 mph) wi th prevailing direction from the southwest . In spring, winds may bri efly become strong enough to cause damage to trees and buildings.

Average relative humidity varies slightly throughout the year with an annual average of about 73 percent. The diurnal variation shows that it is lowest in the afternoons and highest at night. The incidence of heavy fog (1/4 mile or less visibi l ity) varies sli ghtly around South Carol ina.

Typi cal values are 27 days at Col umbia, 31 days in Greenville-Spartanburg and 29 days in Charleston . Four months have an average fog frequency of 3 or more days.

2.6- 3

2.6.2 SEVERE WEATHER Severe weather considerations are discussed in the subsequent sections.

Under discussion are snow and glaze storms, thunderstorms and hail and tornadoes and hurricanes.

2.6 . 2.1 SNOW AND GLAZE STORMS The winter weather in the central part of South Carolina is largely made up of polar air outbreaks that reach this area in a modified form . Only on rare occasions do arctic air masses push southward as far as Columbia and cause some of the coldest temperatures. During a 10-year period, 10 to 30 days of freezing rain or drizzle were reported in central South Carolina.

The site can expect a day of more than one inch of snowfal l in one out of five winters. Disruption of activities from snowfall is unusual. Varia-tions over a period of 26 years show that February 1973 experienced a to-tal of 16 inches of snow with 15 .7 inches falling in a single day. Normal snowfall for February is 0.9 inch.

In the Columbia area, three to six glaze storms have been reported in 28 years. In central South Carolina, glaze ice of 0.25 inch or more occurred three to five times and 0.5 inch or more, occurred one to two times in a period of 9 years . (3 ) However, the river gorge area near Columbia is known to receive thick glaze more frequently than the surroundings. Based on 20 years of data, it is known that one medium sleet storm occurred in the area at least every 3 years .

2.6 . 2.2 THUNDERSTORMS AND HAIL In the Columbia area, thunderstorms occur on an average of 53 days per year with the majority, an average of 32, occurring in summer months of June, July and August . The months of October through February each show 2.6-4

only one day of thunderstorms. Damaging hail infrequently falls during thunderstonns. Hail of up to 1/2 inch in diameter has been observed on rare occasions. The hail damage index in central South Carolina is less than 5 whereas this index is 50 near Denver, Colorado. ( 4 ) Therefore, geographically, the site is situated in a region where hail is not a significant damaging factor.

2.6.2 . 3 TORNADOES AND HURRICANES In South Carolina severe tornadoes occur almost every year, most often in the spring. During the interval 1956 through 1973, 172 tornadoes were reported in this state. Data from Richland County , where the site is located, shows that over the past 24 years (1950-73) nine tornadoes have been reported. Thom( 5) developed an empirical formula to compute the mean recurrence interval for a tornado striking any location by approxi-mating the location with a geometrical point. Based on the mean path area of a tornado, the number of tornadoes per year and the area over whi ch tornadoes may occur (Richland County), the probability of a tornado striking any location within Richland County, which includes the site, is once in more than 700 years .

Hurricanes or tropical storms affect the State of South Carolina about one year out of two. Most of the hurricanes affect only the outer Coastal Plains. A few of them do come far inland but they decrease in intensity partly because of greater frictional effects on land compared to water, but mainly due to the loss of their source of moisture which supplies the energy in the fonn of latent heat of condensation which acts as a driving force. Consequently these hurricanes usually lose their destructive winds by the time they reach the central part of the state. It ,is reported that hurricanes inflicting major damage to the state have occured at the rate of one every 10 years based on a record dating back to 1886. (5 ) More recent information indicates that over a period of 30 years (1941 - 1970) 4 to 5 North Atlantic hurricanes penetrated into Central-South Carolina out of a 2.6-5

total of 31. There was no severe damage due to winds but flash f l oods caused damage to farml ands and public utilities in the Columbia region from all these storms. (6 , 7 ) The fastest wind recorded in the Columbia region is 60 mph and the cal culated fastest mile of wind expected to occur in a 100-year period i s 100 mph . (3 )

2.6.3 ATMOSPHERIC DISPERSION High air pollution potential is caused by low mixing heights and light winds. (9) Holzworth s data on the frequency of high air pollution po-1 tential (designated by HAPP) indicated that from 1960 to 1965 the Co-l umbia region experienced no HAPP cases of low mixing heights and light winds. Mixing heights of less than 1000 meters coupl ed with winds of less than 4 meters/second lasting 2 days or more occurred only once in autumn in the 5-year period. Similar conditions lasting 5 days or more did not occur at all. These data indicate that central South Carolina is in a region of extremely favorable dispersion .

2.6.3.l DIFFUSION CLIMATOLOGY The annual and seasonal summary of the joint wind stability frequency is obtained from on-site meteorological data collected at NFCS from August l, 1972 through July 31, 1973 using the STAR program. (l O) The re-sults are presented in Table 2.E-18 in Appendix 2.E. The stabi lity data indicates that stable conditions (E, F, G) exist 47 percent of the time,

• neutral conditions *(D) occur about 43 percent of the time and unstable at-mospheric conditions (A, B, C) prevail only about 10 percent of the time.

Seasonal stability distribution for the various stabi li ty classes indi-cates that spring experiences the greatest number of hours (310) of unstable conditions as well as slightly stable conditions (412 hours0.00477 days <br />0.114 hours <br />6.812169e-4 weeks <br />1.56766e-4 months <br />);

winter, the greatest number of hours (1047) of neutral conditions and summer, the greatest number of hours (984) of stable conditions.

2.6-6

2.6.3.2 SHORT-TERM (ACCIDENT) DIFFUSION ESTIMATES Estimates of atmospheric dilution factors (x/Q) representative of post-accident time periods up to 8 hours9.259259e-5 days <br />0.00222 hours <br />1.322751e-5 weeks <br />3.044e-6 months <br /> for the 50 percent and 95 percent confidence levels are presented in Table 2. 6-2 for downwind distances as far as 20 miles from the proposed site, assuming a ground- level release.

Estimates of x/Q representative of post-accident time periods up to 30 days are presented in Appendix 2.E.

2.6.3 . 3 LONG-TERM (ROUTINE} DIFFUSION ESTIMATES Estimates of atmospheric dilution factors (x/Q) on an annual basis at downwind distances up to 50 miles in 16 compass directi ons at the 50 foot level are provided in Table 2.6-3 assuming ground-level release.

The basis for estimating these dilution factors is presented in Appendix 2.E, Basis for Estimates. The highest x/Q values occur in the northeast sector and lowest values in the southern sector.

2.6-7

TABLE 2.6-2 ATMOSPHERIC DILUTION FACTORS FOR 95 AND 50 PERCENT WESTHER*

x/Q (Sec/m 3 )

(0 TO 8 HOUR PERIOD)

Distance 95% Confidence Level** 59% Confidence Level**

In Miles 11 G11 ; u = 0. l mLsec

• 11 F11 ; u = 1.5 mLsec o.ont 3.949 X 10-l 6.733 X 10 -3 0.1 l .087 x 10- l 3. 269 X 10 -3 0.2 3.263 X 10- 2 9.974 X 10- 4

0. 3 l. 661 x 10 -2 5.239 X 10- 4

-4 0.34tt l .444 X 10 -2 4.786 X 10 0.5 7. 280 X 10 -3 2.973 X 10 -4 0.7 4. 977 X 10 -3 2. 188 x* 10- 4 1.0 3.666 X 10 -3 1. 454 X 10 -4 2.0 l. 792 x 10 -3 6. 392 X 10- 5 5.0 6.477 X 10- 4 2.066 X 10 -5 10.0 2.841 X 10 -4 8.674 X 10 -6 20.0 1. 306 x l 0-4 . 3.874 X 10

-6

• Data taken from August l, 1972 through July 31, 1973

• • Includes correction for building wake effects as given in Table 2.E-23 t Exclusion distance (114m = 374 ft) tt Nearest site boundary 1800 feet or 0.34 mile 2.6-8

TABLE 2.6-3 ESTIMATES OF ATMOSPHERIC DILUTION FACTORS FOR NFCS ANNUAL AVERAGE X/Q VALUES Oau 1~ Sec/~ 3 Distance 01rect1 on frc,,, Plant locatton 0o..,wlnd filill._ NE HE EKE [S E SE SS[ s ss w

.01

• l,6\E-4 0.1 I. 11 E-~** 1.21 [-4 2, 62E-4 2. l8E-4 1.90(-4 1, 46E-4 1.11 £-4 9.83[*5 8.99[-S t.1SE-4 1.57E-4 1, 72[-4 1.86[ - 4 1. 49[-4 1. 46[-4 l , 17E -4 0.2 3. l SE-5 3,44E-5 7.51£-5 6,27[-5 5.47[-5 4.21E-5 l.19E-5 2.&&E-S 2.60E*S 3. llE-5 4 .54E- 5 5 ,00[ -S 5. 39[-5 4. 32[-5 *.ZlE-S J . J6E-S

~.l 1 . S4E-5 1.66£-5 3. 62[-5 3. 03E-5 2. 6SE*5 2.04[ -5 l. 55E-S l. J8E*S l. 26£-5 1. 6U'-5 2. 20£- 5 2.0E-5 2. 62E-S 2. lOE-5 2 . OSE -5 ) . 6JE-S 0.5 6. 22[-6 6. 71E*6 1. &7[-5 1.2 3[-5 1, 08[-5 8.nE-6 6J2E-6 5. 63£-6 S,1SE*6 6. S9E-6 8. 97E-6 9.90[-6 ). DIE*S 8.58[-6 8. JSE-6 6. 64[-6 0.8 2,76£-6 2. 97E-6 6.52£-6 S. 46E-6 4.80[*6 J. 70£-6 2.BlE-6 Z.Sll-6 2.29£*6 2. 9JE-6 3.99[-6 4.0 E-6 4.77,-6 3.83(-6 3.72[-6 z. 95£ -6 1.0 1,89[-6 2. 04f-6 4. 49£-1 J.78 E-6 3. l1E*6 2.SSE -6 ). 94£-6 1. 7JE-6 1. S8E-6 2. D2E*6 2. 15[*6 J,04[ -6 l. 29E-6 2. 64[-6 Z.56E-6 2.03[-6 1.5 9.SOE-7 1.05E*6 2. J4E-6 1. 97r.5 1.72(-6 1. JJE-7 1. 01£-6 9 .ODE-7 B.24£-7 l .OSE*6 1. 43E-6 1,59E-6 1.12 £- 6 1. 38[-6 1. JJE-6 I .06E - 6 2.5 4,42[-7 4. 76[-7 1,0IE-6 9.0JE-7 7 .87E*7 6.03[-7 4, 56£-7 4 , lOE-7 l. 76E - 7 4, 79E-7 6. S3E-7 7 . Z8E -1 7,87[- 7 6.JOE*7 6 .07E-7 *.SOE-7 N

3.5 2.65£-7 2.d5E*7 6 . 49E-7 S.47E-7 4.76£-1 3.64E-7 2.76E-7 2.47E-1 2.27£-7 2,89[ - 7 3.94E-7 4 ,41(-1 4.77£-7 3, BZE-7 3. 67£-7 2. 90E*7 O'I 4.5 1.82£-7 l .96E- 7 4.49(-7 3. 79E-7 3.29£-7 2.51£ -7 I. 90E-7 1. 11£-7 1.57£-7 1. 99£-7 2,72£-7 3.06£-7 J,llE- 7 2. 64[- 7 2. 53£-7 I, 99£-7 I

\0 1. 5 8.69£-8 9.lSE-8 Z.19£-7 1.64[- 7 1.59£-7 1.21[-7 9.12[* 7 8.21£-! 7 .SSE-8 9.59[-8 1,31£-7 1.48£- 7 1.61 £- 7 1. 28(-7 U2E*1 9. S5£-8 10.0 5. 78[-8 5. ZSE -B 1.41(- 7 1 . 24E-7 1 .07£-7 8.07£ -8 6.08E-B 5.48£*8 5.0SE-8 6,41[-8 8, 77(-8 9. 97(-8 1, 08(-7 8.60[-8 e. ur.a 6. 36£ -8 lS.O 3. 16(-8 3.4,1£-8 a.on-a 6,BOE-8 S. BSE 8 0 4. 44[-8 3. 34£-8 3. 01£*8 2. 78[-8 3. 52£-8 4.8ZE -8 s . *9E-B S, 95(-8 4. 74E-8 4. 49£-8 3.50£- 8 20 .0 2.20£*8 2. 39£ -8 5. 79£-8 4.86£-8 4. UE-8 3. lOE-8 2.32£-8 2. lE -8 1. 9SE-B 2.47£-8 3. lSE-8 3 .98£-8 4.21£ -8 3.34£-8 3. llE *B 2 ,43£ - B 25 .0 1.66(-8 1.82[-8 4 . 48£-8 l. 7S E-8 J.17£-B 2. 36£-8 1. 76£-8 1, 60E-8 1,f9[-8 1.88£-8 2.58£-8 2. 99£-B J, 23E*8 2. 55£-8 2. 37£-8 1. 84E-8 JO.O I. 32E-8 1. 46E-B l .64E-B J .04£-B 2.56E*8 1.89£-6 1.40E-8 1.28E*8 1, 19£-8 ). SOE - 8 2. 0/E*B 2 , 41[-8 2. 60£-8 2. OSE-8 1,90E-8 I , 47E -8 35.0 1.09£-8 1.21(-1! 3.06(-8 Z, S4E-8 2.m:-s 1.56E*8 1.16£-8 1.06£-8 9. 91E-9 1.ZSE - 8 . 72E-6 2 .0IE-8 Z. 17E-8 1. 71[-8 I. 57E-6 \.? 1£-8 40.0 9. ZBE-9 I ,OJE-8 2.6JE-8 Z. 18E-8 1.BZE*B 1.33£*8 9.82E -9 9.0ZE-9 8.UE-9 1. 06E-8 1. 47£-8 1. 72[ -8 1.85[-8 l .46E*8 1.13(-8 1.03E-8 45.0 '8.0JE* 9 8.93£*9 2. JOE- 8 1. 91 E-8 1 .59£-8 1.1 5[-8 8, SOE-9 7 .82E*9 7. l*E-9 9. 22E-9 ] , 27E-8 1 . SOE -8 1. 61£-8 1 . 27-8 1. 1SE-8 8,89 (-9 50.0 1 . 06E 9 0 7 .88£-9 2 .CM E-8 1.69£ -8 1.41£-8 1.0U-B 7 . 47(-9 6.88£-9 6 .47E-9 8, 13E-9 1. 12£-8 1.llE-8 I. 4lE-8 1.12[*8 1.0l E-8 7 ,82[-9

.568 1 1 .21E -5

• [ic luston DtsUnce. 11, fee.t

• • 1.11E *4

• 1.1 x 10* 4 (TYJ>ical )

r 3000 roer

2.

6.4 REFERENCES

1. U.S. Department of Commerce, ESSA, 11 Climatological Summary, Columbia, South .Carolina," Climatography of the United States, No. 60-38, 1973.

2. U. S. Department of Commerce, Weather Bureau, "Maximum Recorded United States Point Rainfall for 5-Minutes to 24-Hours at 296-First Order Stations, 11 Technical Paper No. 2, Revised 1963.

3. Quartermaster Research and Engineering Center, Environmental Protection Research Division, "Glaze, Its Meteorology and Climatology, Geographical Distribution and Economic Effects," Natick, Mass., March 1959.

4. Changnon, S. A., Jr., "Examples of Economic Losses From Hail in the

• United States," Journal of Applied Meteorology, Vol. 11, No. 7, 1972, pp. 1128-1137.

5. Thom, H.C.S . , Tornado Probabilities, Monthly Weather Review, 11 11 Vol. 91, No. 4, October-December 1973, pp. 730-736.

6. Purvis, J.C., "South Carolina Hurricanes," South Carolina Civil Defense Agency, 1964.

7. U. S. Department of Commerce, NOAA, "Some Devastating North Atlantic Hurricanes of the Twentieth Century," 1971.

8. Thom, H.C.S., "New Distribution of Extreme Winds in the U. S. , 11 Journal of the Structural Division, Proceedings of the American Society of Civil Engineers, July 1968, pp. 1787-1789.

9. Holzworth, G. C., "Mixing Heights, Wind Speed and Potential for Urban Air Pollution Throughout the Contiguous United States," Environmental Protection Agency, May 1971 .

10. STAR Program for On-Site Data Diffusion Climatology, _\iESD, Monroeville, Pennsylvania, 1972.

2.6-10

2.7 ECOLOGY 2.7.1 TERRESTRIAL ECOLOGY The biotic components of the Westinghouse nuclear fuel fabrication faci lity site are influenced principally by the presence of the nearby Congaree River and the associated woodlands of its floodplain. Species diversity around the site is extremely complex due to favorable climate, location and limited commercial development. Wooded areas surrounding the site are interrupted by limited agricultural development.

The consideration of the terrestrial impacts resulting from utilization of the facility is based on the following general description of soils, vegetation and wildlife. Soils are described in Section 2.4.4. The undisturbed soils are nearly level , moderately well to poorly drained soils. ( l )

2.7.l .1 VEGETATION A vegetation survey was completed for the site and adjacent areas during the late April and early May 1974 period. Observations were made in each of the four ma"jor cover types to determine the approximate density and species com-position of each. The survey revealed the presence of diverse flora through-out much of the site and adjacent areas with the exceptions being cultivated fields and land disturbed by plant construction (Tabl e 2.F-1, Appendix 2.F).

The forest cover type that illustrated the greatest diversity was the Swamp Chestnut Oak-- Cherrybark Oak type . This cover type was perhaps the most commonly observed i n the area and is a common association throughout southern alluvial forests.( 2 ) Predominant species within this cover type included: swamp chestnut, cherrybark and white oak (Quercus michauxii, Quercus falcata and Quercus alba) with associate species including: white 2.7-1

ash (Fraxinus americana), shagbark, mockernut, shellbark and bitternut hickory (Carya ovata, Carya tomentosa, Carya laciniosa, Carya cordiformis),

sweet gum (Liguidambar styraciflua), American and winged elm (Ulmus americana, Ulmus alata), red maple (Acer rubrum), yellow poplar, (Liriodendron tuli-pifera), American beech (Fagus grandifolia), southern red, white and willow oak (Quercus falcata, Quercus alba and Quercus phellos).

Of all cover types surveyed, this type illustrated the greates:t density of woody plant species. In many areas the canopy was closed, thereby limiting light penetration and restricting herbaceous ground cover. Woody ground cover did persist in some areas with common species including poison ivy (Rhus radicans), Japanese honeysuckle (Lonicera japonica), greenbrier (Smilax sp), trumpet vine (Campsis radicans) and Virginia creeper (Par-thenocissus guinguefolia).

In areas of drier sites, the Swamp Chestnut Oak--Cherrybark Oak type was replaced by the Loblolly Pine-Hardwood type. Although the major component here was loblolly pine (Pinus taeda), the species itself was seldom abundant.

Loblolly pine was general ly scattered throughout the cover comprising ap-proximately 25 to *30 percent of the total stand.

Associate species commonly observed within this cover type included American elm, yellow poplar, black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia), red maple, white and scarlet oak (Quercus alba and Quercus coccinea). Shrubby species and woody ground cover included poison ivy, Japanese honeysuckle, Virginia creeper, cross vine (Bignonia capreolata), smooth sumac (Rhus glabra), blackberry (Rubus sp), lead bush (Amorpha fruticosa), redbud (Cercis canadensis) and greenbrier.

A third major cover type abundant throughout much of the lake area was the .

Water Tupelo--Swe-et Gum type. The most dominant tree species i ncluded water tupelo (Nyssa aquatica), sweet gum, red maple and Carolina ash (Fraxinus carol iniana) . This cover is characteristic of poorly drained 2.7-2

soils and deep swamp areas throughout the south. The DBH (diameter at breast height) of many of the trees range from 24 to 36 inches. Much of the canopy was closed, however occasional openings permitted sun fl ecks.

The surface of the water was nearly covered with an extensive growth of water meal (Spilodella sp) and duckweed (Lemna sp). Much of the lake area was found to be typical of many southern swamps .

Old fields and cultivated fields comprised a fouth major community type.

These areas showed signs of secondary succession with woody invaders species including black locust, black cherry (Prunus serotina), poison ivy and Japanese honeysuckle. Herbaceous speci es reached their greatest development here with common species includi'ng: wild onion (Allium sp), smartweed (Polygonum pennsylvanicum), broom sedge (Andropogon virginicus), great mullen (Verbascum thapsus), sheep sorrel (Rumex hastatulus) and Queen Anne 's lace (Daucus carota). Cultivated fields adjacent to the site also show evidence of secondary succession; however , most of these fields are planted yearly in soybeans and thereby limit invasion of herbaceous species.

2.7.l .2 WILDLIFE 2.7. 1.2.1 AVIFAUNA Bird observations were made on s ite and throughout adjacent areas during late April and early May 1974. Identification was primarily based on three cri-teria: call, song and actual sightings. Popula tion densities appeared rela-tively high in all areas surveyed . Passerine (perching) species were observed in woodlots, fields and swamp areas with most warblers occurring throughout the tree tops. Bobwhite quai) (Colinus virginianus) and several species of sparrows were commonly found in fields and brushy areas . *Raptors (hawks, owls and vultures) were observed in flight over many open areas of the site. The red-tailed hawk (Buteo jamaicensis) and red-shouldered hawk (Buteo lineatus) appeared to be the most colll11on raptors.

2.7-3

It was found that a home range preference exists for most species found within the site area. The greatest population density and species diversity appeared to be along the borders of old fields and woodlots (Table 2.F-2, Appendix 2.F) . Most commonly observed species in these areas included indigo bunting (Passerina cyanea), cardinal (Richmondena cardinalis),

Carolina wren (Thryothorus ludovicianus) and catbird (Dumetella carolinensis).

The second most preferred home range appeared to be swamp edge areas (Table 2.F-3, Appendix 2.F) . Avifauna most abundant in these areas included red-winged blackbird (Agelaius phoeni ceus), red and white eyed vireos (Vireo olivaceus) and Vireo griseus) northern parula warbler (Parula americana),

Carolina wren and prothonotary warbler (Protonotaria citrea).

The third most preferred habitat area appeared to be cultivated and old fields (Table 2.F-4, Appendix 2.F). Commonly observed species in these areas inclu-ded chipping, song and savannah sparrows (Spizella passerina, Melospiza melodia and Passerculus sandwichensis) and red-winged blackbirds .

Lists of observed avifauna species endemic to their particular habitats are included in Appendix 2.F, Tables 2.F-2, 2.F-3 and 2.F-4. A total of 67 spe-cies were recorded during all avifauna observations and appear in Appendix 2. F, Table 2.F-5.

2.7 .1 . 2.2 MAMMALS A mammalian survey was also performed during the spring of 1973 to determine species diversity and habitat utilization. Critical survey work was performed on the site while general observations were made throughout adjacent areas.

Species identification was determined by track, scat analysis and visual observations . A literature review was then conducted to support all finds and to provide a list of additional species suspected to occur in the area.

Habitat preferences were shown to exist for most mammalian species. Shore-lines of lakes and rivers were most preferred while secondary preference

2. 7- 4

was given to edge areas of old fi elds and woodlots. Grassy areas and open fields were least preferred by mammalian species. These latter areas pro-vided only limited escape and resting cover accounting for the restricted utilization.

Appendix 2.F, Table 2.F-6 lists all mammals actually observed on site with additional listings of species possibly occurring there . Tables 2. F-7 through 2.F-9 in the appendix also list mammalian spec i es endemic to each major habitat mentioned above .

The most important game mammals observed on site were the white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus), gray squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis), red squirrel (Tamiasciurus hudsonicus) and the eastern cottontail (Sylvilagus floridanus). The white-tailed deer and cottontail are found throughout the site while the red and gray squirrel are limited to forested areas.

Other important mammals include the opossum (Oidelphi s marsupialis), rac-coon (Procyon lotor), gray fox (Urocyon cinereoargenteus), bobcat (Lynx rufus) , golden mouse (Peromyscus nuttalli) and white- footed mouse (Peromys-cus leucapus) . Other species may be relatively abundant on site but were not identified during the 1974 survey .

2.7.1.2.3 HERPETOFAUNA General observati ons for herpetofauna were conducted concurrently with the avifaunal and mammalian surveys . Identification was determined by calls and visual observation. When possible, animals were captured, aged, sexed and later released. Evening surveys were conducted for calling males with spec i al attention given to frog and toad species.

The greatest population density and species diversity appeared to occur in aqueous habitats. Dai ly observations revealed that the most commonly observed speci es included the yellow-bellied turtle (Pseudoemys scripta scripta) and the red-bellied water snake (Natrix erythrogaster erythrogaster).

2.7-5

Many of the female turtles were preparing nest sites or actually engaged in egg laying . Snake speci es were abundant throughout the lake area canal s.

Evening surveys revealed that the tree frog (Rana cl amitans) and southern cricket frog (Acris gryllus gryll us) were heard most commonly. Cal l analysis, actual sightings and a literature review indi cate a diverse herpetofaunal community . A list of all observed herpetofauna appears in Appendix 2.F, Table 2.F-1 0.

2. 7.1.2.4 FOOD WEB RELATIONSHIPS A food web was constructed to show the relati onships between some of the common species on the site . The web illustrates possible pathways for uptake and concentration of pollutants in the food chain . This food web i~cludes man as a consumer of several speci es which could be harvested primari ly by hunting (see Figure 2.7-1) .

2.7 . l .2.5 THREATENED AND ENDANGERED SPECIES Although several threatened or endangered species are known to occur in South Carolina {Appendix 2.F, Table 2. F- 11), few, if any, are likely to be found in the immediate site area. (3 ) Of the endangered species the Southern bald eagle (Haliaeltus leucocephalus leucocephal us) and American peregrine falcon (Falco peregrinus anatum) may occasionally vi sit the si te but such occurrences woul d be rare. The endangered red-cockaded woodpecker (Dendrocopus borealis) and threatened Eastern brown pelican (Pel i canus occi dentalis) , both present in South Carol ina, are birds of restricted habitats and their occur-rence on site is doubtful . (4) The endangered Bachman's warbler (Vermivora bachmanii) may occur in the swampy-ri verbottom habitat on the site; however, their presence was not detected. No Eastern cougars (Felis concolor), either resident or transient , are expected on site . American all i gators {Alligator mississippiensis) may have occurred on site at one time but i t is beli eved they have been exterminated in recent years.

2.7-6

MAN'"

PREDATORS RED- BELLIED ~ATER SNAKE ANO COTTONMOUTH OMNIVORES HERBIVORES N

-..J I

-..J PHOIJUCEtlS SOI L ORGANISMS ALGAE SOIL NUTIUENTS

• All animals within doubl e line ma,y be consumed by man.

Figure 2.7-1 . Generalized Food Web of Col umbia Site

2.7.2 AQUATIC ECOLOGY 2.7.

2.1 INTRODUCTION

Aquatic ecosystems occurring in the vicinity of the NFCS facility include the Congaree River, Mill Creek and Sunset Lake (Figure 2.7-2).

The Congaree River is a typical South Atlantic Piedmont stream characterized by high levels of suspended solids, sandy bottom and sand beaches. (S) The Congaree is formed by the confluence of the Broad and Saluda Rivers at Colum-bia, South Carolina and flows in a general southeast direction for approximately 60 miles until its confluence with the Wateree River and ultimate discharge into Lake Marion near Fort Motte, South Carolina. The .flow of the Congaree River averages 9166 cubic feet per second and is regulated by Lake Murray and Lake Greenwood on the Saluda River and to some extent by power plants on the Broad River. ( 5)

Presently, the NFCS facility continuously discharges a _small amount (less than 0.2 cfs) of treated waste effluent into the Congaree River at a point 3.4 miles southwest of the plant. At this discharge point the Congaree

• River is approximately 900 feet wide and 9 feet or less deep . Physical and chemical characteristics during the sampling of two river transects in this area are shown in Appendix 2.G, Table 2. G-1. Chemical characteristics of the Congaree River and the NFCS discharge are discussed in Sections 2.5.1.2 and 6.2.2.

Sunset Lake is a shallow (6 feet maximum depth), artificial impoundment on Mill Creek (Appendix 2.G, Figure 2.G-2) 1/4 mile south of the NFCS facility.

The lake originally consisted of two open water areas, (7)* an Upper Lake (surface area of 44 acres) and a Lower Lake (surface area of 8 acres).

Mill Creek entered the Upper Lake from the north and exited the Lower Lake by passing over a small dam located at the south end of the lake. Mill Creek then meandered through swamplands until discharging into the Congaree River 2.5 miles downstream from the NFCS waste discharge. Flow from Upper 2.7-8

~1) /. _::.-

• . (f' j

N I

0 1/2 SCALE OF MILES Figure 2.7-2. Surface Waters in the Vicinity of the NFCS Facility 2.7-9

Sunset Lake to Lower Sunset Lake was by way of a narrow channel passing under a causeway.

Presently, the area which originally constituted the Upper Lake is a swamp area {Appendix 2.G, Figure 2.G-2) supporting a mixed stand of swamp tupelo (Nyssa aguatica) and Carolina ash (Fraxinus caroliniana). The water surface is covered by a dense duckweed mat (Spirodela polyrihiza and Lemna minor).

Lower Sunset Lake still maintains an open water area although the encroach-ment of swamp tupelo and macrophyte growth is evident. This small lake exhibits a brown coloration probably due to the presence of humic substances.

Both Sunset Lake and Mill Creek are of interest in that they may receive accidental spillage from the holding ponds at the NFCS facility. These spills enter the swampy region of the former Upper Lake and subsequently enter the Lower Lake and Mill Creek. A historical discussion of these spills and their effects are discussed in Section 5. 1. 1.2.3.

2.7.2.2 PREVIOUS ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES A review of available information on the Congaree River indicates that very little biological survey work had been done in the area. Contacts with state and federal agencies and the University of South Carolina provided minimal information.

2.7.2.3 WESTINGHOUSE ENVIRONMENTAL SYSTEMS DEPARTMENT AQUATIC SURVEY As a result of the limited biological data on the Congaree River, !'{_ESD con-ducted an aquatic survey of the Congaree River in the vicinity of the NFCS discharge. In addition, Lower Sunset Lake and select areas of Mill Creek were also sampled. This survey was conducted from September 30 to October 4, 1974 and was designed to generally characterize the aquatic biota present in these waters. Parameters sampled included fish, benthic macroinvertebrates, zooplankton, algae and other aquatic plants. Ancillary physical and chemical determinations were recorded during the biological collections.

2.7-10

2.7 . 2.4 GENERAL DISCUSSION OF AQUATIC BIOTA 2.7 .2.4. l CONGAREE RIVER FISH Fifty-two fish species (Appendix 2.G, Table 2.G-3) were collected in the Congaree River prainage area during a study conducted by the University of South Carolina in 1952 and 1953 . (S) Most of these specimens, however, were collected in smaller streams and ponds within the drainage basin with relat i vely few fish being collected in the Congaree River proper .

Development of the drainage area since 1953 has probably affected the abundance and distribution of many of these species.

More recent compilations (Appendix 2.G, Tables 2.G-4, 2.G-5 and 2.G-6) of fish species occurring in the counti es bordering the Congaree River {Rich-land, Lexington and Calhoun counties) consist of similar numbers of species although their composition shows some differences. (9 ) These lists were also accumulated from a variety of waters in each of these counties rather than solely from the Congaree River .

According to the South Carolina Fish and Wildlife Department,(lO) major fish speci es presently inhabiting the Congaree River include striped bass, largemouth bass , smallmouth bass , white bass , bluegill, white crappie, black crappie, bowfin, carp , gar, gizzard shad, bullheads and channel cat-fish . They also indicate that the Congaree River was considered to be an important area for spawning of striped bass in the early 196O's. Whether the Congaree River is still an important spawning area for striped bass is not known.

Electroshocking (for 3 hours3.472222e-5 days <br />8.333333e-4 hours <br />4.960317e-6 weeks <br />1.1415e-6 months <br />) and gill netting (for 23 hours2.662037e-4 days <br />0.00639 hours <br />3.80291e-5 weeks <br />8.7515e-6 months <br />) of the Congaree River near the NFCS discharge (Appendix 2.G , Figure 2. G-1) on October 2, 1974, yielded only one channel catfish. High flows observed during the collection period (approximately 3.6 ft/sec) may have been responsible for the small catch.

2.7-11

BENTHIC MACROINVERTEBRATES Ponar dredge samples from the Congaree River above and below the NFCS discharge were collected during October 1974. The bivalve mollusk Sphaerium sp was the predominant organism collected (Appendix 2.G, Ta-ble 2.G-8). Chironomids (Chironomini sp), annelid worms (Limnodrilus udekemianus and Naididae sp) and corbiculoid clams (Corbicula fluminea) were also frequently encountered .

ZOOPLANKTON Zooplankton in tow samples collected from the Congaree River near the NFCS discharge ' during October 1974 were very sparse . The larval stage of bi valve mollusks (glochidia), nematode worms and the protozoan , Epistilis plicatilis, were the most frequently encountered organisms in the samples (Appendix 2.G, Table 2.G-9). A variety of other protozoans, rotifers, nematodes, oligo-chaetes, copepods, cladocerans, ostracods, arachnids and a numbe ~ of aquatic insects (including mayflies, caddis flies, midge flies and beetles) were also present.

PHYTOPLANKTON Congaree River phytoplankton species observed by the state in 1973 near Fort Motte, South Carolina (Appendix 2.G, Table 2.G-10) were predominately dia-toms. (ll) Dominant phytoplankton forms were not noted , however, total phyto-plankton densities ranged from approximately 700 to 2000 cells per milliliter.

Phytoplankton collected in the Congaree River in the vicinity of the NFCS discharge in October 1974 were predominately the colonial green algae Eudorina elegans (Appendix 2.G, Table 2.G-11). Diatoms, blue-greens and euglenoids were also present. Average cell numbers in the river were approxi-mately 500 cells per milliliter.

2.7-12

PERIPHYTON Periphyton obtained from a variety of substrates (logs , leaves and rocks) available in the Congaree River during October 1974 were predominately diatoms (Appendix 2.G, Table 2. G-12). Green algae (Ul othrix sp and an unidentified coccoid green) and blue-green (Microcoleus vaginatus and Oscillatoria sp) were infrequently observed. Some of the more abundant diatom forms observed in these qualitative collections were Achnanthes deflexa, Navicula minima, l!_. mutica v. stigma, l!_. mutica v. undulata and Ji. cryptocephala v. veneta.

2.7.2 . 4.2 SUNSET LAKE FISH Twelve fish species were collected by gill netting and electroshocking in Lower Sunset Lake and areas adjacent to the lake (Appendix 2.G, Figures 2.G-2 and 2.G-3) during October 1974. Fish collected in the l ake proper included warmouth, flier, golden shiners, black crappie, spotted suckers, bluegil l and longnose gar . A total of twenty fish were collected during 23 hours2.662037e-4 days <br />0.00639 hours <br />3.80291e-5 weeks <br />8.7515e-6 months <br /> of gil l netting with the golden shiners being the species most frequently en-countered . Only two fish (a flier and wannouth) were col l ected i n one hour of electroshocking* in Lower Sunset lake. Low dissolved oxygen level s (4.0 ppm or l ess) observed in the lake woul d constitute an unfavorable conditi on for fish in the lake. High temperature, l ow flow and the decomposition of organi c matter in the l ake were probably responsible for the low oxygen l evels observed.

In the small pool in Mill Creek just bel ow the outflow of. Lower Sunset Lake ,

94 fish were collected in 4 hours4.62963e-5 days <br />0.00111 hours <br />6.613757e-6 weeks <br />1.522e-6 months <br /> of gi l l netting. These fish were predomi-nately bluegill but other f i sh present included golden shiners, black crap-pie, wannouth catfish, yellow and brown bullheads, flier and spotted suckers.

Habitat differences attributable to a stream situation as opposed to a lake were probably respons i ble for the i ncreased abundance of f i sh i n this small 2.7-13

area. Only two fish , a bluegill and bowfin, were collected in 4 hours4.62963e-5 days <br />0.00111 hours <br />6.613757e-6 weeks <br />1.522e-6 months <br /> of gill netting in a small canal fed by Mill Creek.

Although the swampy region of the former Upper Lake was not sampled, it is probable that fish from the Lower Lake and Mill Creek move into this area under suitable environmental conditions. However, the large amounts of organic matter (duckweed and leaf litter) in the Upper Lake region in conjunction with low flow and high temperature would be expected to depress dissolved oxygen levels during warmer months of the year and produce con-ditions generally unsuitable for fish.

BENTHIC MACROINVERTEBRATES The only benthic macroinvertebrate collected in Lower Sunset Lake was the phantom-midge, Chaoborus punctipennis. Larval stages were most prominent in the October 1974 collect ions but pupal stages were also observed. This invertebrate is well suited to exist in waters containing low levels of dissolved oxygen. (l 2)

ZOOPLANKTON Zooplankton species in Lower Sunset Lake during October 1974 were quite numerous (Appendix 2.G, Table 2.G-14) and predominated by protozoans (Difflugia lobostoma and Difflugia oblonga) and the rotifer Asplahchna priodonta. Notice-ably higher zooplankton numbers were observed at the inflow end of the Lower Lake as opposed to the outflow end. Increased numbers of Difflugia spp at the inflow end may be the result of the stirring up of the bottom by the in-flowing of swamp water from the regions of. Upper Sunset Lake .

PHYTOPLANKTON Phytoplankton in the Lower Lake (Appendix 2.G, Table 2.G-15) were quite numerous with densities of approximately 60,000 plankters per millili ter. Predominant phytoplankters in the lake were the colonial green algae Eudorina elegans and 2..7-14

an unidentified coccoid green algae. In general, green al gae constituted the majority of the phytoplankton corrmunity although diatoms, euglenoids, blue-greens and dinoflagel l ates were also represented.

MACR0PHYTES Aquatic macrophyte growth (Appendix 2. G, Table 2.G-16 and Figure 2.G-5) was also noted in Lower Sunset Lake during the October sampling. A smal l bed of the yel l ow water lily (Nuphar advena) was located near the outflow end of the lake. Swamp tupelo (Nyssa aguatica) occurred all around the periphery of the Lower Lake and mixed beds of a variety of species occurred in the immediate areas of the Upper Lake area inflow and outflow of Mill Creek .

Macrophyte growth in the Upper Lake area consisted largely of a mixed stand of swamp tupelo (Nyssa aguatica) and Carol ina ash (Fraxinus caroliniana) and dense mat of duckweed (Spirodela polyrihiza and Lemna mi nor) .

2.7-15

2.

7.3 REFERENCES

1. Craddock, G. R. and Ellerbe, C. M. , "General Soil Map, Richland County South Carolina," Clemson University Department of Agronomy and Soils and u*. S. Department of Agriculture Soil Conservation Service , 1968.

2. Society of American Foresters, "Forest Cover Types of North America (Exclusive of Mexico)," Washington, D.C., 1967.

3. U.S. Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service, "Threatened Wildlife of the United States," Resource Publication 114, Washington, D. C., 1973.

4. Culler, J., "Our Endangered Species , 11 South Carolina Wildlife, Vol. 18, No . 4, 1971, pp. 12-17.

5. Dr. Thompson, University of South Carolina, telephone communication with Blatt, P. J., Jr., !i_ESD, October 17, 1974.

6. U.S. Geological Survey, "-Water Resources Data for South Carolina," 1973.

7. Shannon, T. , Nuclear Fuel Columbia Site (NFCS), telephone communication with Blatt, P. J., Jr . , liESD, November 27, 1974.

8. Anderson, W. D. and Freeman, H. W., "Fishes of the Congaree River Drain-age," University of South Carolina Publ. Biology, Vol. 2, No. 2, Series III, 1957 .

9. Joyner, B., Federal Aid Coordinator, Game and Freshwater Fisheries Division, Columbia, S. C., telephone communication with Bandi , R.,

!'.!_ESD, October 23, 1974.

10. Fuller, J . , South Carolina Fish and Wildlife Department , Columbia, S. C. ,

telephone communication with Eggers, J. M. WESD, April 20, 1974.

11. South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control, Unpublished Data, 1973.

12 . Hutchinson, G. E., A Treatise on Limnology" Volume II, Introduction to 11 Lake Biology and the Limnoplankton, John Wiley &Sons, Inc., New York, 1115 pp. , 1967.

2.7-16

2.8 BACKGROUND

CHARACTERISTICS 2.

8.1 BACKGROUND

RADIOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS 2.8.1.1 GENERAL To evaluate the significance of future releases of radioactive materials to the environment from expanded operations at the Westinghouse Nuclear Fuel C~lumbia Site (NFCS), present background radiological characteristics of the plant environs must be determined. The background radiological characteristics presented in this section were developed from selected data obtained from numerous published reports and from the plant s environmental 1

monitoring program. These data include uranium, gross alpha and gross beta levels, where available, as measured in air, water, fallout deposition, soil and vegetation.

An environmental program is presently being initiated to obtain background plutonium levels in the plant environs (Section 6.2). This program will be completed prior to introduction of plutonium fuel rod assembly operations at NFCS presently planned to begin in January 1976.

2.8 .1.2 GROSS ALPHA AND GROSS BETA ACTIVITY IN AIR Table 2.8-1 lists measurements of gross alpha activity in airborne particu-lates (MDL*= 8.0 x 10- 15 µCi/ml) at five on-site air monitoring stations for the period January 3, 1973 to January 2, 1974. The l ocat ions of these sta-tions are illustrated in Figure 2.8-1. These data show that for stations l and 2 which are both at the site boundary, 3000 feet NE and 2400 feet E, res-pectively, the average gross alpha activities for 1973 were< (8.4 + l .6) x ,o- 15 and 2- (8.8 +/-. 3.5) x 10- 15 µCi/ml , respectively, while for* st;tions 3, 4 and .5, which are closer to the plant, 1050 feet SW of the plant, 1950 feet WNW of the plant and 75 feet from the SE corner of the plant, respectively, the average 1973 gross alpha activities were 2- (1.4 +/-_ 2.0) x 10- 14 , 2- (1.4 +/-_ 1.9) x ,o- 14

• Minimum detectable level 2.8-1

TABLE 2.8-1 AVERAGE GROSS ALPHA AIR CONCENTRATION MEASUREMENTS FOR YEAR 1973 (UNITS - ,0- 15 µCi/ml)

Air Monitoring Station No.**

1 2 3 4 5 Annual Average:!:_ Std. Dev.* < 8. 4 + 1. 6 < 8.8 + 3.5

-< 14 + 20 -< 14 + 19 -< 11 + 4.7 Maximum Permissible Concentrationt 4000 4000 100,000 l 00 ,000 l 00 ,000 N

(X)

N I

• MOL (Minimum Detectable Level) = 8.0 X 10- ,. 5 µCi/ml.

• • See Figure 2.8-1 for location of stations.

t See Appendix 4.8.

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2. 8-3

and:::_ (1.1 +/-.. 4.7) x ,o- 14 µCi/ml, respectively. Measurements of gross alpha activity taken by the state for the period of June 18, 1973 to December 17, 1973 at four locations in the vicinity of the plant (2250 feet E, 2250 feet NW, 3000 feet NE and 6.5 miles NE of the plant) all show gross alpha activity in airborne particulates to be less than the MDL of 1.0 x 10- 15 µCi/ml. (l)

These values can be compared with the maximum permissible concentrations (MPC) for uranium in air of 4 x 10- 12 µC i/~l at or beyond site boundary (stations l and 2) and 1.0 x 10- lO µCi/m l in restricted areas.

Gross beta activity in airborne particulates has not been routinely measured in the past as part of tne plant's environmental monitoring program but will be in the future (Section 6. 2.1). However, gross beta activity in airborne par-ticulates (MDL = 4.0 x 10-15 µCi/ml) for 1973 measured by the state at the four locations listed above is given in Table 2.8-2. (l) Average gross beta activities of 3.5 x ,o-14 µCi/ml at 2250 feet E of the plant, 1.6 x ,o- 14 µCi/ml at 3000 feet NE, 3. 5 x 10- 14 µCi/ml at 2250 feet NW and 2.3 x ,o- 14 µCi/ml at 6.5 miles NE of the plant are reported . These data can be compared wi th gross beta activity measured in air at Columbia, South Carolina for the period July 1973 through January 1974, given in Table 2.8-3( 2 ) which show an average gross beta activity of 6.4 x ,o- 14 µCi/ml . No published data could be found concern-ing uranium concentrations in air in the vicinity of the Columbia plant.

2.8.1.3 GROSS ALPHA, GROSS BETA AND URANIUM CONCENTRATIONS IN SURFACE AND GROUNDWATER 2.8.l .3 .1 SURFACE WATER Table 2.8-4 summarizes weekly water samples from the Congaree River for the period April 25 to December 26, 1973 that were analyzed for total uranium activity as part of the NFCS environmental monitoring program. These data show average total uranium activity to range from (0.06 + 0. 29 to 0.40 + 0.31) x 10-9 µCi/ml. An extensive literature search revealed ;o additional m~nitor-ing of uranium in the surface waters in the vicinity of the NFCS.

2.8-4

TABLE 2.8-2 GROSS BETA ACTIVITY IN AIRBORNE PARTICULATES FOR 1973(l)

Un its 14 µCi/ml Location of Sa!!!!!ling Stations Date 2250 Feet 3000 Feet 2250 Feet Date 6.5 Miles Collected E of Plant NE of Plant NW of Pl ant Collected NE of Plant 1/73 - 6/73 3 2 3 1/7 3 - 6/73 2 (22 sa mples) (19 samples) (23 sa""les) (24 samples) 6/18/73 2 1 3 6/22/73 1 6/26/73 2 2 6/28/73 1 7/9/73 2 <0,4 3 7/5/73 7/16/73 4 1 4 7/1 2/73 I 7 /23/73 2 3 7/19/73 3 7 /31/73 4 3 8/9/73 2 8/7/73 2 2 8/23/73 3 8/15/73 3 2 8/30/73 8/21/73 3 3 9/6/73 2 8/27 /73 3 2 3 9/13/73 2 9/10/73 3 1 3 9/20/73 2 9/17/73 3 4 12/7 /73 3 9/25/73 2 4 12/14/73 7 10/1/73 4 4 12/21/73 9 10/8/73 6 6 10/15/73 7 <0.4 7 10/23/73 5 2 6 10/29/73 4 1 4 ll/5/73 5 4 11/12/73 4 2 4 11/19/73 6 5 4 11 /26/73 6 5 12/3/73 6 6 12/10/73 4 4 12/17 /73 6 5 Annual Average 3.5 1.6 3.5 2.3 2.8-5

TABLE 2.8-3 MEASURED GROSS BETA ACTIVITY IN AIR AT COLUMBIA, SOUTH CAROLINA( 2)

JULY 1973 TO JANUARY 1974 (Units - ,o- 14 µCi/ml)

Month July 10 August 4 September 8 October 3 November 3 December 8 January 9 2 .8-15

TABLE 2.8-4 AVERAGE TOTAL URANIUM ACTIVITY IN CONGAREE RIVER WATER SAMPLES (APRIL THROUGH DECEMBER, 1973)

(Units 9 µCi/ml)

Sameling Locations 500 yd 1000 _yd Blossom St. 500 yd At Plant Downriver Downriver Bridge Upriver From Discharge From Plant From Plant Rte. 601 Bridge (Ueriver) Plant Discharge Point Discharge Discharge (Downriver) 0.10 + 0. 27 0.19 + 0.30 0.13 + 0. 29 0.40 + 0.31 0.06 + 0.29 <0.29 N

o:>

I

'-.I

Gross alpha and gross beta activity l evel s in the Congaree River for 1972 and 1973 are given in Table 2.8-5. (l ) These yearly average gross beta 9

activi ties range from (5.1 to 5.4) x 10- µCi/ml upstream of t he plant dis-charges and from (4.4 to 5.6) x ,o- 9 µCi/ml downstream while the yearly aver-9 age gross alpha activities range from (0.6 to 1.1 ) x 10- µCi/ml upstream of 9

the pl ant discharges and from (0.5 to 2.0) x 10- µC i /ml downstream.

Average and maximum measurements of gross al pha and gross beta activi ty in water samples from Sunset Lake for the period December 1972 to November 1973 are given in Table 2. 8-6 . These average alpha and beta acti vity values range 9

from (7.6 to 55.1) x 10-9 µCi/ml and from (18.3 to 108) x ,o- µCi/ml, res-pectively. These val ues can be compared with the MPC ' s for uranium and uran-

-5 -5 ium daughters in plant discharge water of 3.1 x 10 µCi/ml and 2.1 x 10

µCi/ml for alpha and beta activities, respectively (Appendix 4.8).

2.8 ;1.3.2 WELL WATER Table 2.8-7 lists average annual gross al pha and gross beta concentrations in three on-site wells for the period March 21, 1972 to March 13, 1974. The locations of these wel l s which are 27 to 33 feet deep are i ll ustrated i n 9

Figure 6. 1-2. These average gross alpha val ues range from (8 . 2 to 26) x 10-9

µCi/ml whi le the average gross beta val ues range from (23.9 to 103) x ,o-

µCi/ml. These values can be compared with an off-site wel l, located ~ 9. 5 miles ESE of the NFCS, monitored by the state which showed gross al pha and beta acti vity l evels of (0. 6 and 2.8) x 10- 9 µCi/ml, respecti vely for the period November 15, 1972 to March 14, 1974. (l )

2.8.1 .3.3 DRINKING WATER Gross al pha and gross beta activiti es in drinking water from Col umbia, South Carol ina are listed in Table 2.8-8. (l) These data show average gross alpha 9

and gross beta activiti es of (<0.5 and 3.4) x 10- µCi/m l respectively for the period of record (November 30, 1971 to June 8, 1973) .

2.8-8

TABLE 2.B-5 GROSS ALPHA AND GROSS BETA ACTIVITY IN THE CONGAREE RIVER(l)

(Units - ,o- 9 ~Ci/ml)

Locations U. S. Route #601 Bridge, Downstream of Blossom St. Bridge, Upstream of Year Plant Discharge Plant Discharges Gross Alpha Gross Beta Gross Alpha Gross Beta 1972 2.0 5 .6 0.6 5. l N

-:.:> 1973 0.5 4.4 l. l 5.4 I

\,0

TABLE 2.8-6 GROSS ALPHA AND BETA ACTIVITY IN SUNSET LAKE (December 1972 - rlovember 1973)

(Units - l0- 9 µCi/ml}

Location of Sampling Point*

Road Entrance Exit Causeway Spi*llway Average Gross Alpha Activity 46.0 :- 8.9 7.6 :- 3.4 8.8 :t 3. 5 55. 1 +- 13.6 22.0: 4.9 Maximum Gross Alpha Activity 152. 7 ~ 16.2 23.8 ! 6.9 22.8 :t 6.8 545.0 +- 48.7 48.2 ! 9.0 Average Gross Beta

.co N

Activity 108.0 ! 10.0 18.3 ! 7.7 29.*9 ! 6. 9 31. 9 ! 6.5 23. 1 +

- 5. l I

' O Maximum Gross Beta Activity 812.0 '+/-° 14.9 195.0 ! 9. 3 79.7 ! 6.3 177.0 :- 17.l 78.4 ! 6.3

• Road - Drainage culvert from plant storm sewer that enters Sunset Lake Entrance - Point where Mill Creek enters Sunset Lake Exit - Point where water from Sunset Lake mixes with water diverted through the canal Causeway - At dam that separates upper and lower portions of Sunset Lake Spillway - Point where Sunset Lake enters Mill Creek

TABLE 2.8-7 ANNUAL AVERAGE GROSS ALPHA AND BETA CONCENTRATION IN THREE ON-SITE WELLS (Units - ,o- 9 iiCi/ml)

Well No. l Well No. 2 ~Je 11 No . 3 Year Alpha Beta Alpha Beta Alpha Beta 1972 (March 21 to December 6) 25.2 +/- 8.0 51.6+/-6.7 8.6 +/- 4.0 23.9 +/- 3.5 8.2 +/- 3.8 103.0 +- 8.5 1973 {January 17 to December 28) 22.8 +/- 4.4 53.7 +/- 9.3 24.3 +/- 5.9 83.0 +/- 11. 0 20.0 +/- 3.9 56.2 :t 9.4

.N 1974 (January 9 to 0::,

I November) 16.0 ! 5.0 33.0 +

- 8.0 26.0 +

- 5.0 55.0 +/- 9.0 12.0 +/- 4.0 62.0 ! 10.0

TABLE 2.8-8 GROSS ALPHA AND BETA ACTIVITY IN DRINKING WATER COLUMBIA, SOUTH CAROLINA(l)

(Units - ,o- 9 µCi/ml)

Date of Sampling Gross Alpha Gross Beta 11-30-71 N.D. 2.4 6-14-71 0.7 3.7 2-14-72 N.D. 3.4 8-16-72 N.D. 5.3 9-11-72 N.D. 3.0 1-12-73 1.4 2.2 5-23-73 N.D. 4.4 6- 8-73 0.5 3.4 Maximum 1.4 5.3 Minimum <0.5 2.2 Average <0.5 3.4 N.D. - Not Detectable 2.8-12

2.8.1.4 GROSS ALPHA AND BETA ACTIVITY IN FALLOUT DEPOSITION AND PRECIPITATION Average annual gross alpha and gross beta activity in precipitation at the radiation alert network station in Columbia, South Carolina is given in Table 2.8- 9(l) for 1971, 1972 and part of 1973. Average annual gross alpha activity for all three years is consistent (1.5 to 2.1) x ,o- 9 µCi/ml. How-ever, for average annual gross beta activity, 1971 and 1972 (42.5 and 49.5) 9 x 10- µCi/ml, respectively are in reasonable agreement while 1973 activity is much less (9.0) x ,o- 9 µCi/ml.

Measurements of monthly gross alpha and beta activity in fallout deposition for 1973 taken as part of the NFCS environmental monitoring program are listed in Table 2.8-10. The locations of these fallout stations are shown in Figure 2. 8-2. The 1973 annual average gross alpha activity at the eight stations ranges from 0.54 ~ 0.28 to 2.0 ~ 1.7 nCi/m 2/month while the 1973

• annual average gross beta activity ranges from 1 .2 ~ 1.3 to 5.3 ~ 12.5 2

nCi/m /month. Using the average rainfall for 1973 of 5.63 inches per month, these values are equivalent to (3.78 to 13.6) x 10- 9 µCi/ml annual average alpha activity and (8.74 to 36 .9) x 10-9 µCi/ml annual average beta activity.

These gross beta data can be compared with measurements of gross beta ac-tivity in fallout deposition at Columbia, South Carolina for the period August 1973 to December 1973( 4 ) which show an average gross beta activity of 0.35 nCi/m2/month .

2.8. 1.5 TOTAL URANIUM ACTIVITY IN VEGETATION Table 2.8-11 lists total uranium activity in eight vegetation samples (five grass and three soybean) analyzed in September 1974 . The 1otal uranium ac-tivity in these samples ranges from 0.000 ~ 0.036 to 0. 743 ~ 0.032 pCi/gm (dry).

2.8-13

TABLE 2.8-9 ANNUAL AVERAGE GROSS ALPHA AND BETA ACTIVITY IN PRECIPITATION AT COLUMBIA, SOUTH CAROLINA(l)

(Units 9 µCi/ml)

Year Gross Alpha Gross Beta 1971 2. 1 42.5 1972 l. 7 44.5 1973 (First 6 months) 1.5 9. 0 2.8-14

TABLE 2.8-10 1973 ANNUAL AVERAGE GROSS ALPHA AND BETA ACTIVITY IN FALLOUT DEPOSITION (Units - n*Ci/m 2/month)

Fa 11 out Station Gross Alpha *Gross Beta l 1. 7 +- l. 5 l. 8 +/- 1. 5 2 2.0 +

- 1. 7 2. 0 +/- l. 5 3 0. 78 +/- l. l 2. 7 +/- 3.8 4 l .2 +/- 1. 2 1. 7 +/- l. 4 5 0.54 +/- 0.28 5.3 +/- 12.5 6 0.83 +/- 0.35 1. 2 +/- 1. 3 7 l. 6 +/- l. l 2. 6 +/- 2.8 8 0.86 +/- 0.57 l. 3 +/- 0.79

-9

• n = nano = 10 2.8-15

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TABLE 2. 8-11 TOTAL URANIUM ACTIVITY IN ON-SITE VEGETATION SAMPLES TAKEN IN SEPTEMBER 1974 Units - pCi/gm (dry)

Location T.z::pe of Sample Total Uranium Air Monitoring Station No . l

• Grass 0.085: 0.027 Air Monitoring Station No. 2 Grass 0.050 ~ 0.032 Air Monitoring Station No. 3 Grass 0.000 ~ 0.036 Air Monitoring Station No . 4 Grass 0.000 ~ 0.036 Air Monitoring Station No. 5 Grass 0.743 ~ 0.032 N

0:)

I Weather Tower Soybeans 0. 091 : 0.032

~

-...J North of Crossroads (400 feet S of Sunset Lake ) Soybeans 0.036 :!" 0.032 South of Crossroads (400 feet S of Sunset La ke) Soybeans 0 .396 ~ 0.040

• See Figure 2.8-1 for location of sampling stations

2.8.1 .6 GROSS ALPHA, GROSS BETA AND URANIUM ACTIVITY IN SOIL Gross alpha, gross beta ~nd total uranium activity in on-site soil samples collected in June and September 1974 are listed ,in Table 2.8-12. These data show a range in gross alpha activity of 1 .09 .:!:_ 0.36 to. 3.99 .:!:_ 1.16 pCi/gm (dry) and in gross beta activity of 0.75 .:!:_ 0.30 to 4.14 ::_ 0.42 pCi/gm (dry).

Total uranium activity ranged from .::_0.022 to 0.793 ::_ 0.036 pCi/gm (dry). This range in total uranium activity can be compared with an average content of uranium in the earth's crust of 1.4 pCi/gm. ( 5) 2.8.1.7 WHOLE-BODY DOSE RATES Based on "Estimates of Ionizing Radiation Doses in the U. S. 1960-2000, 6) 11

(

the whole-body dose rate from natural background radiation in the vicinity of Columbia is expected to be on the same order as that for South Carolina in general; that is~ 135 mrem/yr (70 mrem/yr from external terrestrial radiation, 40 mrem/yr from cosmic rays _and 25 mrem/yr from internal emitters from terrestrial radiation). This value agrees well with an average of 0.32 mrem/day (or 117 mrem/yr) reported by the state(l) for areas in South Carolina where there are no nuclear facilities.

The above dose rates can be compared with those measured at six locations(l) in the vicinity of the plant. These data which are l isted in Table 2.8-13 indi cate an average dose rate of 0.31 to 0.45 mrem/day or 113 to 164 mrem/yi.

2.8. 1.8

SUMMARY

Based on the data presented in the preceding sections (2.8.1.1 through 2.8.1.7) a summary of present background radiologica l characteristics typical of the NFCS environs i s presented in Table 2. 8-14. Because of the variations in reported data, typical ranges rather than specific values are given for some of the parameters discussed.

2.8-18

TABLE 2.8-12 GROSS ALPHA, BETA AND URANIUM ACTIVITY IN SOIL Un it s - [:!Ci/gm {dr~)

Date Location Collected Gross Aleha Gross Beta Total Uran ium Air Monitoring Station No . 1* 9/18/74 3.33 +

- 0.86 1 .68 +

- 0.34 0.100: 0.033 Air Monitoring Station No. 2 3. 99 +

- 1 . 16 1.54 +

- 0.34 0.058: 0.032 9/18/74

+ + 0.040 ! 0.036 Air Monitoring Station No. 3 9/18/74 l . 94 - 0. 71 1.19 - 0.32 Air Monitoring Station No . 4 +

0.75 +

- 0.30 0.000: 0.040 9/18/74 1. 09 - 0.36

+ + 0.000: 0.040 Air Monitoring Station No . 5 9/18/74 1 .14 - 0.50 4. 14 - 0. 42 N Fallout M~nitoring Station No. l ** 6/14/74 ---------- - ------ ----- 0.784 : 0.036 CX>

I

~

Fallout Monitoring Station No . 2 6/14/74 ----------- -- --------- 0.793: 0.036 Fallout Monitoring Station No. 3 6/14/74 ----------- ----------- 0.324:

+

0.036 Fallout Monitoring Station No . 4 6/14/74 *----------- ----------- 0.491 - 0.040 Fallout Monitoring Station No. 5 6/14/74 ----------- ----------- 0.279 : 0.032 Fallout Monitoring Station No. 6 6/14/74 ----------- ----------- 0.243: 0.027 Fallout Monitoring Station No. 7 6/14/74 ----- ------ ----------- 0.000- +- 0.022 Fallout Monitoring Station No. 8 6/14/74 ----------- ----------- 0.000: 0.022

• See Figure 2.8-1 fo r location of air monitoring stations

• • See Figure 2.8-2 for location of fallout monitoring stations

TABLE 2.8-13 AVERAGE DIRECT RADIATION MEASUREMENTS WITH TLD'S(1)

(Uni ts - r:,rem/ day)

Location of Stations 10 Miles 3000 ft 2250 ft 2250 ft 7 Miles 9 Miles NW of NE of E of NW of NE of NNW of Sample Period Pl ant Pl ant Sample Period Plant Plant Pl ant Pl ant l /7 /71 to 4/ 4/71 0. 51 3/4/71 to 6/8/71 0.37 9/22/72 to 12/11/72 0.60 0.49 0.51 0.55 6/8/71 to 8/16/71 0.64 12/11/72 to 3/2/73 0.27 0.28 0.25 0.40 N 8/16/71 to 12/22/71 0.42 3/2/73 to 6/6/73 0.26 0.25 0.21 0.23 co N

r 12/22/71 to 3/21/72 0. 16 0.20 0

3/21/72 to 6/26/72 0.25 0.34 Average mrem/day 0.37 0.34 0. 32 0.39 6/26/72 to 9/19/72 0.25 0.33 Average mrem/yr 135 124 117 142 9/19/72 to 12/7/72 o. 14 1.11 12/7/72 to 3/1/73 0.24 0.23 3/1/73 to 6/16/73 0. 18 0. 18 Average mrem/day 0. 31 0.45 Average mrem/yr 113 164

TABLE 2.8-14

SUMMARY

OF BACKGROUND RADIOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS TYPICAL OF THE NFCS ENVIRONS Typical Values and Ranges*

Measured Parameter Gross Alpha Gross Beta Total Uranium Air ~l.OxlO -15 to 5.8xl0 -14* µCi/ml (1.6 to 6.5)xlo- 14 µCi/ml Surface Water - Congaree River (0 . 5 to 2)xlO_g µCi/ml (4.4 to 5.6)xlO_g µCi/ml +

(0.06+/-0.29 to 0.40-0.3l)x10 -9 µCi/ml

- Sunset Lake (7.6 to 55)xlO_g µCi/ml (18.J to 108)xlO_g µCi/ml Well Water - On-site (8.2 to 26)xlo- 9 µCi/ml (24 to 103)xlo- 9 µCi/ml

- Off-site 'l,().6xlO_g µCi/ml ,,.z.SxlO_g µCi/ml Drinking Water (<0.5 to 1.4)x10- 9 µCi/ml (2.2 to 5.3)xl0- 9 µCi/ml N

co Precipitation (1.5 to 2.l)xlO_g µCi/ml (9.0 to SO)xlO_g µCi/ml I

N Fallout Deposition 0. 5 to 2.0 nCi/m 2/month 0.35 to 18 nCi/m2/month Vegetation <l pCi /gm Soil to 5 pCi/gm to 4.5 pCi/gm <1 pCi /gm TLD'S Whole Body Dose 110 to 160 ~rem/yr

• Based on data presented in Sections 2.8.l to 2.8 . 1.7.

2.

8.2 BACKGROUND

CHEMICAL CHARACTERISTICS Background concentrations of applicable chemicals found in the air and in water bodies are described in this section.

2.8. 2.1 AIR Fluorides and ammonia are the main chemical discharges of the NFCS plant.

These chemicals are monitored within the plant property as described in Section 6.2, Chemical Monitoring. Average effluents of these chemicals at the present maximum load operation of 400 MTU per year are listed in Table 2.8-15.

TABLE 2.8-15 AVERAGE AMMONIA AND FLUORIDE EFFLUENT FOR 400 MTU/YEAR OPERATION Effluent Concentration Per Stack (mg/m3)

Chemical Average Maximum Ammonia 390 585 Fluorides 0.36 0.54 2.8.2.2 WATER In this section background characteristics of surface and groundwater sys-tems in the vicinity of the NFCS facility are discussed.

2.8.2.

2.1 BACKGROUND

CHARACTERISTICS OF THE CONGAREE RIVER

• Water quality of the Congaree River upstream and downstream of the NFCS plant discharge point is discussed in Section 2.5.1 . 2, Water Quality. The biological characteristics are discussed in Section 2. 7.2, Aquatic Ecology.

2.8-22

Water quality of the Congaree River upstream and downstream of the discharge point is also monitored for relevant chemical parameters by the NFCS. The monitoring system is described in Section 6. 2, Chemical Monitoring.

2.8.2.

2.2 BACKGROUND

CHARACTERISTICS OF SURFACE WATER ON THE NFCS PROPERTY In addition to the Congaree River, water quality of water bodies located on the NFCS property are monitored for relevant chemical parameters. F,l uoride, .

ammonia and pH are monitored on a weekly basis at five stations: (1) entrance to the Westinghouse property at the point where Mill Creek enters Sunset Lake, (2) exit from the Westinghouse property at the point where water from Sunset Lake mixes with water diverted through the canal, (3) causeway sta-tion at the dam that separates the upper and lower portions of Sunset Lake, (4) spillway station at the point where Sunset Lake enters Mill Creek and (5) road station, at the drainage culvert from plant storm sewer that enters Sunset Lake. Sunset lake is described in Section 2.7.2, Aquatic Ecology.

"French drains" located beneath the holding lagoons drain any leaks to the

• road station, and fluoride and ammonia concentrations at this station are generally higher than at any other monitoring station on Westinghouse premi-ses. Fluoride concentrations under normal conditions ranged during 1973 (a typical full year) between <0 .2 to 19.2 mg/1 at the road station (average:

4.7 mg/1) while at the entrance station concentrations were usually below 0.2 mg/1 and at the other stations they were generally below 1 mg/1 . Am-monia concentrations at the road station ranged during 1973 between less than l to 60 mg/1 (average: 22.4 mg/1) and at the other stations generally less than 1 mg/1 except some values that reached up to 18 mg/1. During 1973, pH values at the road station were generally close to 9 (average:

8.6 + 0.9 pH units) while at the other stations they were generally close to 7.

2.8-23

2.8.2.

2.3 BACKGROUND

CHARACTERISTICS OF LOCAL GROUNDWATER Water-bearing formations at the NFCS are described in Section 2.4.2.1, Site Surface Geology and Stratigraphy, and the groundwater characteristics are discussed in Section 2.5.2, Groundwater. Three wells located on the NFCS are monitored for fluoride, ammonia and pH. These wells were at the site as part of the existing irrigation program before the Columbia facility was constructed. Concentrations of fluoride at these wells are generally below 0.2 mg/1, a!TlTloni~ values are generally below 1.0 mg/1 and pH values generally range between 5.8 and 7.4.

2.8.3 EXISTING BACKGROUND CONCENTRATIONS OF POLLUTANTS AROUND THE SITE To assess the air quality impact of the proposed facility near Columbia on the surrounding area, the background concentrations of existing pollut-ants must be determined. The usual approach is to identify major existing sources of pollution around the proposed facility and calculate their contri-butions by using available numerical models. The calculated contributions from the proposed plant are then superimposed -on the contributions of the existing sources to determine the additional increase in pollutant levels which will be caused by the proposed facility.

The approach taken in this study utilizes the background concentrations of pollutants obtained by the Air Quality Control Division of the State of South Carolina, Department of Public Health. A summary of background levels of air pollutants obtained away from the site at various places which only approximately represents the background information near the site, is shown in Table 2.8-16. Short-term measurements are available only for so 2 and fluorides. Highest short-term concentrations of so2 recorded are 100 µg/m3 for a 1-hour period and 32 µg/m 3 for a 24-hour period. Por fluor1des, the highest moothly value recorded is 0.30 µg/cm 2. Long-term measurements show 3

an annual average of 3.0 µg/m for so2 and a geometric mean of 60 µg/m 3 for particulates .

2.8-24

A comparison of these background measurements with the calculated ground level concentratiqns from the proposed facility provides the information to estimate the projected increases in the concentrations of air pollutants from the proposed plant.

TABLE 2.8-16 S0 2, FLUORIDE AND PARTICULATE MATTER BACKGROUND CONCENTRATIONS AROUND THE PROPOSED FACILITY(?)

1-hr 24-hr Monthly Geometric max 3 max 3 mean 2 mean 3 Pollutant (119/m *) (119/m} {µg/cm) (µg/m) so 2 l 00 32 3 Fluorides 0.3 Particulates 60 2.8-25

2.

8.4 REFERENCES

1. Wil l iams, E. F., Radiation Survei l lance Supervisor , South Carolina De-partment of Health and Environmental Control, Division of Radiol ogical Heal th, l etter to Woodsum, H. C., b'_ESD, October 19, 1973.

2. Radi ation Data and Reports, Volume 14 (1973), No . 11 and 12 and Volume 15 (1974), No. l, 2, 4, 5 and 6.

3. U.S. Department of Commerce, NOAA, Envi ronmental Data Service, "Local Climatology Data, Col umbia, South Carol ina," 1973.

4. Radi ation Data and Reports, Vol ume 14 (1973) , No . 12 and Vol ume 15 (1974), No. 1, 2, 4 and 5.

5. Russel l, R. S. , Radioactivity and Human Di et, Pergamon Press , Great Brita i n, 1966.

6. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Radiation Programs, Div i sion of Criteria and Standards, "Estimates of Ionizing Radiati on Doses in the United States 1960 - 2000, Rockvil l e, Maryl and , August 1972.

11

7. State of South Carol ina, Department of Publ i c Health, Air Qual i ty Control Division, telephone communication with Rao, R. b'_ESD, December 2, 1974.

2.8- 26