ML23115A498

2022 Annual Environmental Operating Report

ML23115A498
Person / Time
Site:	Palo Verde
Issue date:	04/25/2023
From:	Cox M Arizona Public Service Co
To:	Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation, Document Control Desk
References
102-08604-MSC/SMK
Download: ML23115A498 (1)

Text

Palo Verde Nuclear Generating Station P.O. Box 52034 Phoenix, AZ 85072 Mail Station 7636 Tel: (623) 393-5753

102-08604-MSC/SMK April 25, 2023

ATTN: Document Control Desk U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Washington, DC 20555-0001

Subject:

Palo Verde Nuclear Generating Station Units 1, 2, and 3 Renewed Operating License Nos. NPF-41, NPF-51, and NPF-74 Docket Nos. STN 50-528, STN 50-529, and STN 50-530 2022 Annual Environmental Operating Report

Enclosed please find the Palo Verde Nuclear Generating Station (PVNGS) Units 1, 2, and 3 Annual Environmental Operating Report for 2022. Arizona Public Service Company is submitting this report pursuant to the PVNGS Renewed Operating License, Appendix B, Section 5.4.1.

No new commitments are being made to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission by this letter.

Should you need further information regarding this submittal, please contact me at (623) 393-5753.

Sincerely, Cox, Matthew Digitally signed by Cox, Matthew S(Z05628)

S(Z05628) Date: 2023.04.25 17:22:23 -07'00'

Matthew S. Cox Licensing Department Leader, Nuclear Regulatory Affairs

MSC/SMK/cr

Enclosure:

2022 Annual Environmental Operating Report

cc: R. J. Lewis Acting NRC Region IV Regional Administrator S. P. Lingam NRC NRR Project Manager for PVNGS L. N. Merker NRC Senior Resident Inspector for PVNGS B. D. Goretzki Arizona Department of Health Services - Bureau of Radiation Controls

A member of the STARS Alliance LLC Callaway

• Diablo Canyon

• Palo Verde

• Wolf Creek Enclosure

2022 Annual Environmental Operating Report Enclosure 2022 Annual Environmental Operating Report

I. INTRODUCTION

Palo Verde Nuclear Generating Station (PVNGS) is located in Maricopa County, Arizona, approximately 50 miles west of the Phoenix metropolitan area. The PVNGS site comprises approximately 4,280 acres. Site elevations range from 890 feet above mean sea level at the southern boundary to 1,030 feet above mean sea level at the northern boundary. The station consists of three pressurized water reactor electrical generating units. Units 1, 2, and 3 have a rated thermal power of 3,990 MW.

Arizona Public Service (APS) was issued low power operating licenses NPF-34, NPF-46 and NPF-65 for Units 1, 2, and 3 by the United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) on December 31, 1984, December 9, 1985, and March 25, 1987, respectively. APS was issued full power operating licenses NPF-41, NPF-51 and NPF-74 for Units 1, 2, and 3 on June 1, 1985, April 24, 1986, and November 25, 1987, respectively. These licenses were renewed on April 21, 2011.

Appendix B to these operating licenses is entitled the Environmental Protection Plan (Non-Radiological). The environmental protection plans (EPP) for each of the current operating licenses are identical.

The purpose of the EPP is to provide for the protection of environmental values during the construction and operation of the nuclear facility. The principal objectives of the EPP are as follows:

(1) Verify that the station is operated in an environmentally acceptable manner, as established by the final environmental statement (FES) and other NRC environmental impact assessments.

(2) Coordinate NRC requirements and maintain consistency with other federal, state and local requirements for environmental protection.

(3) Keep the NRC informed of the environmental effects of facility construction and operation and actions taken to control those effects.

This Annual Environmental Operating Report is required by Section 5.4.1 of the EPP which is Appendix B of the respective renewed operating licenses.

This report describes the activities related to the PVNGS EPP during the 2022 calendar year. For purposes of this report, references to the EPP are considered to be the EPP of NPF-41, NPF-51, and NPF-74.

1 Enclosure 2022 Annual Environmental Operating Report

II. ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING SUMMARIES AND ANALYSIS

A. Cultural Resources

Section 4.2.1 of the EPP requires that an archaeological survey be performed when final alignment of the PVNGS-to-Saguaro transmission line is completed. As of the date of this report, plans for this transmission line have been indefinitely suspended. Therefore, there has been no activity with regard to this requirement of the EPP.

B. Terrestrial Ecology Monitoring

Section 4.2.2 of the EPP states that APS will implement a salt deposition and impact monitoring program. As communicated in a letter to the NRC dated December 30, 1991 (Reference 1), the program was terminated at the end of 1991.

III. PLANT DESIGN AND OPERATION CHANGES

Section 3.1 of the EPP allows changes in station design, operation, or the performance of tests or experiments affecting the environment provided that such changes, tests, or experiments do not involve an unreviewed environmental question and do not involve a change to the EPP. Changes, tests, or experiments in which all measurable non-radiological effects are confined to the onsite areas previously disturbed during site preparation and plant construction or in which the environment is not affected are exempt from the evaluation and reporting requirements of Section 3.1.

Section 3.2 of the EPP also exempts changes, tests, or experiments which are required to comply with other federal, state, or local environmental regulations.

No design and operational changes were initiated in 2022 that required an evaluation to determine if they involved either an unreviewed environmental question or constituted a change in the EPP.

IV. EPP NON-COMPLIANCES

There were no instances of non-compliance with the EPP identified during 2022.

2 Enclosure 2022 Annual Environmental Operating Report

V. NON-ROUTINE REPORTS

There were no non-routine reports required by Section 5.4.2 of the EPP during 2022.

VI. REFERENCES

1. Letter from W.F. Conway (APS) to U.S. NRC, Palo Verde Nuclear Generating Station (PVNGS) Units 1, 2, and 3, Salt Deposition and Impact Monitoring Plan, dated December 30, 1991 [NRC Agencywide Documents Access and Management System (ADAMS) Accession Number 9201070077]

3