ML20353A335
| ML20353A335 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Westinghouse |
| Issue date: | 12/18/2020 |
| From: | Westinghouse |
| To: | Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards |
| Shared Package | |
| ML20353A275 | List:
|
| References | |
| LTR-RAC-20-94, EPID L-201-RNW-0016 | |
| Download: ML20353A335 (29) | |
Text
WESTINGHOUSE NON-PROPRIETARY CLASS 3 8 to LTR-RAC-20-94 Date: December 18, 2020 Enclosure 28 Response to Request for Additional Information Westinghouse Nuclear Fuel Columbia Site Evaluation Report March 1975 Section 6
SECTION 6.0 EFFLUENT AND ENVIRONMENTAL MEASUREMENTS AND MONITORING PROGRAMS The operational radiological, chemical, meteorological, aquatic, terrestrial and related environmental measurement and monitoring programs are discussed in this section. Most of these programs have been in existence since the plant became operational in 1969. All of the monitoring programs have be~n recently reviewed and upgraded to reflect the latest environmental require-ments. As new information becomes available and/or as changes to the op-eration develop, the program will be changed to take advantage of better monitoring procedures. Consequently in some areas of the program, sampling may be intensified while in other areas sampling may be deemphasized.
6.1 RADIOLOGICAL MONITORING 6.1.1 EFFLUENT MONITORING SYSTEMS 6.1.1 .1 LIQUID WASTE SYSTEMS A description of the liquid ~aste system is given in Section 3.3.2. Be~
fore liquid wastes are discharged to the Congaree River, a composite sample of the discharges is analyzed for gross a, 8 and y activity.
6.1.1.2 PROCESS AIR WASTE SYSTEMS Descriptions of the process gas waste systems and flow sheets are provided in Section 3.3.l.2.
- Most of these gaseous waste streams are HEPA filtered before exiting to the environment.
Airborne sources of release which are not presently being filtered with HEPA filters include: calciner combustion gas, air compressor room, boiler room exhaust, Chem Lab exhausts, and Health Physics Lab exhausts. However, all potential sources of radioactive discharge are monitored . Locations of the exhaust air samplers are shown in Figure 3.3-1 .
6.1 -1
6.1.1.3 SOLID WASTES Solid wastes are accumulated in specially designated containers which are placed throughout the work area. Waste consists of paper, wood, plastics, metals, floor sweepings and similar material which is contaminated by, tir contains, radioactive materials.
Contents of filled containers are transferred to the waste processing area.
Compressible solid wastes are baled and loaded into DOT Specification 12B fiberboard boxes for storage prior to disposal. Filled boxes are normally stored in a designated area inside the plant, but they may be stored out-doors if adequately protected from the environment.
Disposal of combustible wastes is accomplished by on-site incineration.
Gaseous effluents from the incinerator are passed through a water scrubber and HEPA filters prior to discharge to the environment. Noncombustible wastes are shipped to an off-site licensed burial facility. Shipments are made in compliance with all applicable AEC and DOT regulations and license requirements.
6.1.2 ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING The purpose of .the environmental radiation surveillance program at the Columbia plant is (1) to assure compliance with state and federal regula-tions and standards, (2) to evaluate possible buildup of radioactivity in the environment and (3) to provide information for public distribution.
The operational surveillance program includes sampling sites considered to be beyond the influence of plant discharges. Areas consi9ered to be beyond the influence of the plant include those areas greater than several miles from the site (air and land effects) and upstream of plant discharges {Congaree River) or not on a body of water directly connected to plant discharges (water route effects). The surveillance program emphasizes sampling and measure-ment of the environmental media with the greatest potential for contributing
exposure to the public. A preoperational survey is currently being conduct-ed for Pu in the environment prior to handling fuel containing plutonium.
This preoperational plutonium monitoring program will be conducted over l full year according to the frequency and locations established for the operational monitoring program described below.
6.1.2.l SAMPLING MEDIA, LOCATIONS AND FREQUENCY The detailed features of the radiological monitoring program were developed on the basis of the following :
- 1. Existing data on background alpha, beta and U concentration levels
- 2. Discussions with knowledgeable radiation monitoring experts from both government and private industry
- 3. Monitoring programs established for similar facilities
- 4. Probable exposure 'p;athways for uranium and plutonium movement through the environment as indicated by semiquantitative esti-mates for probabilities of plant, food, animal and human up -
take of uranium and plutonium (Sections 4.2.1.1 and 4.2.1.2 . 1)
The types of radiological sampling in the environment within the vicinity of the NFCS include air particulates, fallout, sriil, vegetation, well water and surface water in on- site lakes, Mill Creek and the Congaree River.
Analyses on these samples include gross ilpha ahd ~ro~s beta (long-lived),*
total uranium, isotopic uranium and plutonium. The locations of the recom-mended sampling points are shown in_Figures 6.1-1 and 6.1-2. The frequen-cies for each type of measurement are given in Table 6.1-1. The radiologi-cal monitoring program as summarized in Table 6.1-1 will be initiated in 1975. Prior to this, the environmental monitoring prog~am being followed
- A minimum of 24 hours2.777778e-4 days <br />0.00667 hours <br />3.968254e-5 weeks <br />9.132e-6 months <br /> between sample collection and analysis will be utilized to minimize the contribution from naturally occurring isotopes such as radon ~rid thoron.
- 6. 1- 3
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SITE BOUNDARY TO CONGAREE 0 600 1200 RIVER HE-3 Fl A SCA LE OF FEET Figure 6 . 1- l . Locations of Proposed Air, Fallout and Soil Monitoring Stations
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- 6. 1-5
TABLE 6.1-1 COLUMBIA SITE PROPOSED RADIOLOGICAL ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING PROGRAM No. of Type of Total No.
Ty~es of Sam~les Locations* Analysis Frequency Per Year Air Particulate 5 Gross a , f3 Monthly 60 Isotopic U Quarterly 20 Isotopic Pu Annually 5 Fallout 6 Gross a, f3 Monthly 72 Isotopic U Quarterly 24 Isotopic Pu Annually 6 Vegetation 4 Gross a, f3 Semi-annually 8 C)
(Crops) Isotop i c U Semi-annually 8
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TABLE 6. 1-1 (Continued)
No. of Type of Total No.
Types of Samples Locations* Analysis Frequency Per-Year Soil 4 Gross a, B Semi-annually 8 Isotopic U Semi-annually 4 Isotopic Pu Semi-annually 4 Sediment l Gross a , S Annually 2 Isotopic U Annually l TLD 5 Gamma Dose Quarterly 60 Totals - Gross a+ S 248
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- Sampling locations shown on Figures 6.1-1 and 6.1-2.
is described in the environmental impact evaluation (Sections 4.1, 4.2 and 4.3). These data are presented in Section 2.8. Locations of samples required and a brief description of the sampling, instrumentation and analyses to be used follows.
6.1 .2.1.l AIR PARTICULATE SAMPLING AND ANALYSIS Air sampling stations for air particulate monitoring will be located as follows:
- l. Nearest site boundary in prevailing wind direction (3000 feet NE of the center of the manufacturing building)
- 2. Nearest site boundary (1800 feet NNW)
- 3. Near the meteorological tower (1950 feet WNW)
- 4. In the town of Hopkins (2.9 miles NE) (nearest town as well as nearest town located downwind in the prevailing wind direction) 5L ~t employee front parking lot (450 feet NE) where concentra-tion is expected to be maximum Locations are also shown in Figure 6.1-1.
These air monitors will continuously accumulate air particulates by use of an air sampler which pumps air through a filter. The filters will be analyzed with the following frequencies: monthly for gross alpha and gross beta activity, quarterly, a composite will be analyzed for isotopic uranium activity and annual, a composite will be analyzed for isotopic plutonium.
6.1.2.1.2 FALLOUT SAMPLING AND ANALYSIS Monitoring for wet fallout will be performed at six stations (Figure 6.1-1).
Fallout stations l through 5 will be located near the five air monitoring sta-tions as described in Section 6.1 .2.1.l. Fallout station 6 will be located ap-proximately 150 feet SE from the southeast corner of the manufacturing building.
6.1-8
Frequencies of arialysis will be the same as for the air particulates, i.e., monthly for gross a, quarterly for isotopic U, and annually for isotopic Pu. Composite aliquot samples will be utilized for the U and Pu analyses.
6.1.2.1.3 VEGETATION SAMPLING AND ANALYSIS Sampling and analysis of vegetation samples will be performed at four loca-tions as follows:
- 1. Near air monitoring station l (3000 feet NE)
- 2. Near air monitoring station 2 (nearest site boundary)
- 3. Near air monitoring station 3 (meteorological tower)
- 4. Near air monitoring station 4 (nearest town of Hopkins)
Locations are also shown in Figure 6.1-2.
Either grass (hay) or another agricultural crop as appropriate for the growing season will be collected and analyzed on a semiannual basis for gross a~ B, and isotopic U and Pu.
6.1.2.1.4 WELL WATER SAMPLING AND ANALYSIS Well water samples will be taken from the three on-site wells located as follows:
- 1. Directly in front of the manufacturing building (~ 200 feet E of building)
- 2. Behind the manufacturing building (1030 feet WNW of building)
- 3. South of manufacturing building towards the Mill Creek over-flow from the NFCS site (1240 feet S of building)
- 6. 1-9
The well locations are depicted in Figure 6.1-2. Well water samples will be analyzed monthly for gross a and B activity, quarterly for isotopic U, and annually for isotopic Pu.
6.1.2.1.5 SURFACE WATER SAMPLING AND ANALYSIS Surface water samples will be taken monthly by collecting one liter grab samples from each of five locations. These locations are:
- 1. Congaree River, 500 yards upstream from the discharge
- 2. Congaree River, 500 yards downstream from the discharge
- 3. Congaree River, upstream near the Blossom Street bridge
- 4. Sunset Lake, near the causeway
- 5. Mill Creek, near the southwest property boundary Locations are shown in Figure 6.1-2.
Comparison of location 2 with locations l and 3 above will provide a measure-ment of possible river contamination from plant discharges. Locations 4 and 5 will indicate possible contamination from accidental releases of radioac-tivity from holdup pond overflow or leaks.
Analyses should be performed with the following frequencies: monthly for gross a and B, quarterly for isotopic U activity and annually for isotopic Pu activity.
6.1.2.l .6 FISH SAMPLING AND ANALYSIS Samples of fish will be taken on an annual basis and will be analyzed for gross a and B activity, and isotopic U and Pu activity.
The fish samples will be obtained from two locations: (l)~the Congaree River downstream of the plant discharge and (2) in Sunset Lake.
6.1-10
6.1.2.1.7 SOIL SAMPLES AND ANALYSIS Soil samples will be collected semiannually at the following four locations:
- 1. Near air monitoring station 1 (at site boundary in predominant wind direction)
- 2. Near air monitoring ~tation 2 (nearest site boundary)
- 3. Near air monitoring station 3 (near the meteorological tower)
- 4. Near air monitoring station 4 (in the town of Hopkins, the nearest town)
Locations are also shown in Figure 6.1-1.
Analyses will be performed on these samples for gross a and Band isotopic U and Pu activity.
6.1.2.1.8 SEDIMENT Sediment samples will be collected annually in the Congaree River at approx-imately 500 feet downstream of the discharge. These samples will be ana-lyzed for gross n, B, isotopit U and Pu.
6.1.2.
1.9 BACKGROUND
EXPOSURE DOSE RATE*
TLD dosimeters will be placed at designated air monitoring sampling
- sta-tions to monitor exposure dose rate. Although it is expected that these dosimeters would measure only the inherent background from naturally occur-ring radioactivity in the area, in the extremely unlikely event of a criti-cality incident these dosimeters could provide an indication of the exposure dose caused by the accident. Three TLD's will be placed at each designated location and will be collected and read on a quarterly basis.
6.1-11
6.1.2.2 ANALYTICAL SENSITIVITY Table 6.1-2 lists analytical sensitivities for the radiological monitoring program as outlined in Section 6. 2.2.1. Typical sample sizes are given for the requirements for gross alpha, gro~s beta and for uranium and plutonium analyses for the NFCS radiological monitoring program.
6.1.2.3 DATA ANALYSIS AND PRESENTATION Data gathered in accordance with the above outlined program are comptled and maintained on file by the NFCS. These files are periodically audited by AEC inspectors to determine the degree of compliance with all appli-cable AEC regulations. Information contained in these files include: the specific gross alpha and beta activities and the uranium and plutonium con-centrations in each of the samples, where available. Also included is the locations of sample sites, identification of persons or vendors performing the sample analyses, sample collection dates, sampling period duration for continuous collection samples, sample analysis techniques where appropriate, types of analyses performed and any known events that may have affected the results.
6.1.2.4 MONITORING SENSITIVITY The minimum detectable dose to man that can be determined by a radiological monitoring program is a function of the measurement sensitivity and natural background variations. Further, the minimum detectable dose is also af-fected by location of monitoring points, meteorological parameters and major contributing radionuclides.
Table 6.1-2 gives minimum detection limits which show the air particulate sampling to be the most sensitive. Since the inhalation of U-containing air particulates is believed to be one of the most critical exposure path-ways, the overall dose sensitivity is largely determined by this analysis.
As shown in Table 6.1-2, the minimum detectable level of 8 x ,o- 3 pCi/m3
- 6. 1-12
TABLE 6.1-2 TYPICAL ANALYTICAL SENSITIVITIES Typical Minimum Detectable Sample Analysis Sample Size Level (MDL)
Air Gross Alpha 571 m3 8 x l0-l 5 µCi/ml Particulates Gross Beta 571 m3 1.6 x 10-lS µCi/ml Uranium 1700 m3 3.0 x 10 -17 µCi/ml Plutonium 5000 m3 1.0 x 10 -17 µCi/ml Fallout (wet) Gross Alpha l 1iter 1.0 X 10- 8 µCi/ml and water Gross Beta 1 1iter 2.5 X 10- 8 µCi/ml Uranium 1 liter 5.0 X 10- 7 µCi/ml Plutonium 1 1iter 5.0 X 10- 7 µCi /ml Fish Gross Alpha 30 g 1.0 pCi/g Gross Beta 30 g 3.0 pCi/g Uranium l g 0.02 pCi/g Plutonium 1 kg 0.02 pCi/g Soil and Gross Alpha 1000 g 1.0 pCi/g (dry)
Sediment Gross Beta 100 g 3.0 pCi/g (dry)
Uranium 10 g 0.02 pCi/g (dry)
Plutonium 100 g 0.02 pCi/g (dry)
Vegetation Gross Alpha 100 g 1.0 pCi/g (dry)
Gross Beta 100 g 3.0 pCi/g (dry)
Uranium 100 g 0.02 pCi/g (dry)
Plutonium 100 g 0.02 pCi/g (dry)
TLD Gamma Dose 1/4 11 X 1/4" X 0.03~ 11 5 mr 6.1-13
(8 x ,a- 15 µCi/ml) gross alpha activity is well below the MPC for uranium concentration 1 1m1ts
- . tote . popu l ation of 4 x 10 -l 2 µC1/m.
h off-site
- l Thus the minimum detectable level is> 500 times lower than the MPC.
Other pathways to man provide a similar margin of safety between the MPC and the minimum detectable levels.
6.1-14
6.2 CHEMICAL MONITORING In this section, the present monitoring programs of air and water are described.
Modifications introduced by NFCS to detect any unusual occurrences are also de-scribed. These modifications will be introduced to reduce the chances of en-vironmental hazards caused by accidents as described in Section 5.0.
6.2.l MONITORING OF CHEMICALS EMITTED TO THE AIR The conversion process is constantly monitored for radioactivity and fluoride and intermittently for ammonia emissions. Results of this monitoring system are reported in monthly "effluent and environmental monitoring reports." Av-erage and maximum fluoride and ammonia effluent concentrations are listed in Section 2.8.2.1, Background Chemical Characteristics in Air.
Particulate fluoride concentrations are monitored daily in process gas effluent using Gelman glass fiber type filters. Since process scrubbers are operated with excess ammonia, it is assumed that during normal opera-tion this filte~ will trap stack gas particulate as ammonium fluoride.
Periodically, more efficient impinger tests are run in dilute sodium hydroxide to detect both gaseous and particulate fluoride emissions.
Values of fluoride listed in the table in Section 2.8.2.l were determined using the impinger method. Ambient air at the site boundary is monitored periodically using ac~umulated glass fiber filter papers. Routine fluoride ambient air monitoring is performed using CaO fallout papers.
Ammonia in process gas is analyzed on a non-routine basis using impinger testing. At the site boundary, ambient ammonia measurements are taken with a universal sampling pump and detector tube.
6.2.2 MONITORING OF WATER SYSTEMS A monthly composite sample of plant discharges is sent to Control for Environmental Pollution Inc. at Santa Fe, New Mexico to perform a complete 6 .2-1
chemical analysis that incluaes major, minor and trace elements as well as organic compounds, algicides and coliform counts. Table 6.2-1 is a summary of these data.
Three water quality monitoring programs are conducted by the Columbia health physicists: (1) monitoring of the Congaree River, (2) monitoring of surface water on Westinghouse property and (3) monitoring of groundwater on Westinghouse property.
6.2.2 . l CONGAREE RIVER MONITORING PROGRAM Congaree River waters are monitored for fluoride, ammonia, calcium and pH at six stations: (1) Blossom Street Bridge at Columbia, (2) 500 yards up-stream from the discharge point, (3) at -the discharge point, (4) 500 yards downstream of the discharge point, (5) 1000 yards downstream from the dis-charge point and (6) at 601 Bridge, approximately 35 river miles downstream.
The U.S. Geological Survey is monitoring the Congaree River for many chemical parameters at several stations including Blossom Street Bridge and 601 Bridge, and the South Carolina Pollution Control Authority is also monitoring this river as discussed and described in Section 2.5, Hydrology (Table 2.5-1 through.2.5-5).
- As discussed in that section, there are no major differences in the water quality between the upstream and downstream stations nor are there any significant differences with time that can be attributed to the NFCS plant.
6.2.2.2 MONITORING PROGRAM OF WATER BODIES. ON* THE NFCS Fluoride, ammonia and pH are monitored on a weekly basis at five stations:
(1) entrance to the Westinghouse property, (2) exit from the Westinghouse property, (3) causeway station, (4) spillway station and (5) road station.
6.2-2
TABLE 6. 2-1 AVERAGE WATER CHEMICAL EFFLUENT DATA, FOR 400 MTU/YEAR OPERATION Discharged to River Parameter Quantity, (lb/day) (Concentration,. (mg/1)
Silver (Ag) 0.075 0.15 Iron (Fe) 0.52 1.03 Sodium (Na) 30 60 Calcium {Ca) 293 584 Magnesium (Mg) 1.38 2.75 Manganese (Mn) 0.035 0.07 Molybdenum (Mo) 0.095 0. 19 Nickel (Ni) 0.5 l.
Boron (B) 0.22 0. 43 Chloride (Cl) 24 .8 49. 5 Phosphorus as -P 0.75 l. 5 Kjeldahl -N 244 488 Ammonia* (NH 3) 200** 399 Fluoride (F) 122 .8 61.5 Sulfate (S0 4 ) 42.6 85 Sulfite (S0 3 ) 0.63 1.26 Sulfide (S) trace COD 58 116 BOD 5 10. 9 21.5 Phenols trace Surfactants 0.035 0.07 Oil and Grease 4. 3 8.67 Hardness (as CaC0 3 ) 293 583.5 Total Suspended Solids 8.0 15.8 Total Volatile Solids 310 619 Total Solids 281 560.8 Total Dissolved Solids 273 544 pH 8.9 pH units
- Ammonia discharges were for May 1974 .
- This value is believed to be much lower than for other months, but it is in compliance with the May 1, 1974 pennit of an average and maximum discharge of 231 lb/day . WColumbia has applied for a variance to this NPDES permit for an average of 1700 lb/day and a maximum of 4000 lb/day until June 30, 1975.
6.2-3
"French Drains" located beneath the holding lagoons drain any leaks to the road station, and fluoride and anmonia concentrations at this station are generally higher than at any other monitoring station on Westinghouse premises ~ Fluoride concentrations under normal conditions ranged during 1973 (a typical complete 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.
Ammonia concentrations at the road station ranged during 1973 between <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.
To detect any possible entry of process waste materials into upper Sunset Lake, the road-dike environmental station will be manually monitored three times per week.
A continuous pH recording system is planned for installation at the road-dike environmental station . The system will consist of a pH electrode installed at the road-dike. It has to be continuously immersed in a liquid weir-box configuration. The pH signal will be transmitted to a continuous recorder installed in the Health Physics Waste Water Monitoring Building. The recording unit will be monitored daily. In addition, an alarm will be installed in the Process Waste Treatment Building. Should the recorder exceed a preset value and the alarm initiated, the Health Physics Department will be notified immediately. Appropriate actions will be taken to minimize the impact of any releases on the ecosystem.
6.2.2.3 GROUNDWATER MONITORING Three on-site wells are monitored for fluoride, ammonia and pH. The wells were at the site as part of the existing irrigation program before the Columbia facility was constructed. Concentrations of fluoride at 6.2-4
these wells are generally below 0.2 mg/1, ammonia values are generally less than 1.0 mg/1 and pH values generally range between 5.8 and 7.4 .
6.2.2.4 MONITORING OF FLUORIDE Semiannually fish, vegetation and soils are analyzed for their fluoride content.
6.2-5
6.3 METEOROLOGICAL MONITORING An on-site meteorological program is accumulating data during plant opera-tion, as well as obtaining the necessary data to define the diffusion characteristics of the site. This on-site data will provide a data bank for future evaluations, a base-line of data to compare changes against and a source for data in any legal actions that may be taken.
A 50-foot meteorological tower has been installed on the site at a location sufficiently far enough from the building to eliminate any wake effects.
The site is west-northwest of the building in a clearing surrounded on three sides by trees of 40 to 50 feet in height . The tree line is about 400 feet from the tower.
Instrumentation at the 50-foot level of the tower will consist of an MRI
- model 1074 wind set which has a starting speed of 0.75 mph and a distance constant for the direction vane of 8 feet. An MRI Sigma meter will con-tinuously calculate the standard deviation of the horizontal wind direc-tion for use in classifying wind data into the seven Pasquill stability classes.
Data are recorded as pulses on magnetic tape with the capability to re -
cord on strip-chart recorders as backup. Each month the data recorded on the magnetic tape are translated into engineering units and printed out at 15 minute averages of the variables. These data are scrutinized for consistency and accuracy and reprocessed to form the joint frequency dis-tribution of wind speed and wind direction for a sixteen point compass, six wind speed groups and the seven Pasquill stability c-lasses. Addi -
tional data runs generate frequency tables, wind directions and atmos-pheric stability persistence.
A comparison of on-site and off-site data reveals the following features :
on-site data contain more neutral and stable cases and less unstable cases
- 6. 3- 1
compared to off-site data. Consequently, the dilution factors (x/Q) ob-tained using the on-site data are conservative estimates. The differences in the stability criteria of the two sets of data may be due to the following reasons:
- l. On-site data consisted of only l year's duration (August 1972 through July 1973), while the off-site data from the Columbia Airport was over a 3-year period (1967-1971).
- 2. On-site data was collected from a 5O-foot high tower, whereas the data off-site, at Columbia International Airport, was collected at the 2O-foot level which partly explains the large number of unstable cases in the off-site data.
- 3. The criteria used for stability classification of on-site data is based on wind direction fluctuations ae (standard deviation of the wind direction), whereas the classification of off-site data was done according to Pasquill's Stability Criteria.
To make statistically valid comparisons, on-site data will be collected and processed for at least one more year and off-site data for the period August 1972 through July 1973 will be obtained to compare with the on-site data for the same period.
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6.4 AQUATIC BIOTA MONITORING "
A survey of the aquatic biota in the Congaree River in the vicinity of the NFCS waste discharge, Lower Sunset Lake and selected areas of Mill Creek was conducted from September 30 to October 9, 1974. The results of this survey are presented in Section 2.7.2. This survey gave a general indication of the organisms inhabiting these areas in late summer. None of these organisms appeared to be affected by the present facility operation.
A multi-phased facility waste discharge program is being implemented in conjunction with NPDES permit requirements. This program is directed toward nearly complete process wastewater recycling by July l, 1976.
Consequently, chemical and radioactive discharges to the Congaree River will be even less than at present.
Additional monitoring of the aquatic biota is not considered to be nec-essary at this time. However, as presented in Section 6.1.2.1, fish samples will be taken on an annual basis and analyzed for gross a and S activity, and isotopic uranium and plutonium in the Congaree River downstream of the plant discharge and in Sunset Lake. In addition, a fluoride analysis will be performed and the general physical condition of the fish will be ascertained.
6.4-1
6.5 TERRESTRIAL BIOTA MONITORING Field studies were completed in the spring of 1974 to characterize the biota of the plant site and the surrounding property. The results of this survey are reported in Section 2.7.1.
None of these biota appeared affected by the NFCS. However, a program has been established to monitor the extent of pollutants, radiological and chemical, that may enter the food chain. Most of this monitoring program is discussed in Section 6.1.2.1 where sampling and analysis of vegetation samples will be performed semiannually at four site locations.
Gross a and S activity, and uranium and plutonium analysis will be per-formed. In addition, terrestrial biota monitoring will include samples of common browse that will be sampled for leaf and/or twig tissue and fluoride content.
If no significant accumulations are detected during the first year of sampling, the monitoring program will be discontinued until plant capacity reaches l ,600 MTU/year.
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6.6 RELATED ENVIRONMENTAL MEASUREMENT AND MONITORING PROGRAMS 6.6.l METEOROLOGY The National Weather Service maintains a first-order weather station at the Columbia Metropolitan Airport that records meteorological parameters on a 24-hour a day basis. This station is located ~16 miles northwest
- of the NFCS.
As part of the National Weather Service, the National Oceanic and Atmos -
pheric Administration obtains precipitation data through a nationwide network of rainfall .gauges. Within the South Carolina area, there are eighty-six rainfall gauges. The following stations are located near the NFCS :
St. Matthews: 18 miles southeast of the site ,
Recording Precipitation Gauge Tilghman Forest Nursery: l O mil es northeast of the site, Non-Recording Precipitation and Maximum and Minimum Temperature Gauges Columbia University of South Carolina: 8 miles north-west of the site, Non-Recording Precipi-tation Pelion : 12 miles west-southwest of the site, Non-Recording Precipitation and Maximum and Minimum Temperature Gauges.
6.6.2 HYDROLOGY There are several agencies that monitor water in the vic1nity of the NFCS. These include: the U.S . Department of the Interior. Geological Survey, South Carolina State Pollution Control Authority, the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control and the Environ-mental Protection Agency.
- 6. 6-1
6.6.3 BIOTA There is no known monitoring of terrestrial biota in the vicinity of the NFCS. The South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control does, however, routinely monitor aquatic biota at selected stations throughout the state. One of these stations is located at the Route 601 Bridge downstream of the NFCS on the Congaree River.
6.6.4 RADIATION The Division of Radiological Healt~ of the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control conducts a comprehensive radiation surveillance and monitoring program for the State of South Carolina.
Included in this monitoring program is the Westinghouse Nuclear Fuel Division Plant at Columbia, South Carolina. The monitoring program for the Westinghouse Columbia Plant includes surveillance of: ambient air sampling, surface water, groundwater, potable water, soil, fish, vegeta -
tion, milk and direct exposure TLD.
6.6.5 UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) maintains a liaison with many states, whereby data are periodically transferred from the states to certain regional offices of the agency. Once collected, these data are filed with an automated data processing system called STORET (acronym for Storage and Retrieval System) of the federal EPA. As a result of the STORET System, data are available in a convenient and flexible manner upon request.
Some of the routine sampling data obtained by ' the EPA includes the Radia-tion Alert Network which provides data on air particulate, gross alpha, beta and plutonium activity at stations located throughout the United 6.6-2
States. The RAN stations located closest 'to the NFCS are at Columbia, South Carolina and Gastonia, North Carolina.
6.6.6 EXCHANGE OF INFORMATION The Westinghouse Nuclear Fuel Division has committed itself to work with local, state and federal agencies in the development and exchange of environmental monitoring data.
6.6.7 RELEVANCE OF RELATED ENVIRONMENTAL MEASUREMENT AND MONITORING PROGRAMS Data collected by the various agencies mentioned above can be obtained for comparison with data obtained from the environmental monitoring pro- .
grams carried on by the NFCS. This comparison will lend insight to the general ecological condition of the area both within and beyond the sphere of influence of the NFCS and will help determine whether any changes in environmental parameters measured in the irrnnediate vicinity of the NFCS have also occurred beyond the sphere of influence of the NFCS.
6.6-3