NRC-98-0073, 1997 Annual Non-Radiological Environ Operating Rept, for Fermi 2

1997 Annual Non-Radiological Environ Operating Rept, for Fermi 2

ML20217N514
Person / Time
Site:	Fermi
Issue date:	12/31/1997
From:	Gipson D DETROIT EDISON CO.
To:	NRC OFFICE OF INFORMATION RESOURCES MANAGEMENT (IRM)
References
CON-NRC-98-0073, CON-NRC-98-73 NUDOCS 9805050349
Download: ML20217N514 (12)

Text

l Douglas R. Gipson

..-e' Senior Vit e President, Nuclear Generation Fenni 2 6400 North Dixie llwy, Newport, Michigan 48166 Tel: 311586.5201 Fax:313.586.4172 Detroit Edison April 30,1998 NRC-98-0073 U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Attention: Document Control Desk Washington D.C. 20555 f

References:

1)

Fermi 2 NRC Docket No. 50-341 NRC License No. NPF-43

Subject:

Annual Non-Radiological Environmental Operatine Reoort Pursuant to Section 5.4.1 of the Environmental Protection Plan, attached is the 1997 Annual Non-Radiological Environmental Operating Report for Fermi 2.

If you have any questions regarding this report, please contact Lynda Craine, Supervisor Environmental Control, at (734) 586-4970.

Sincerely, s

Enclosure I

cc:

A. B. Beach B. L. Burgess G. A. Harris A. J. Kugler M. V. Yudasz, Jr.

Region Ill

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Wayne County Emergency Management Division 1

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l 1997 Annual Non-Radiological Environmental Operating Report l

l Detroit Edison - Fermi 2 6400 North Dixie Highway Newport, MI 48166 Reporting Period:

January 1,1997 to December 31,1997 Prepared by:

Fermi 2 Environmental Control 1

1997 AnnualNon. Radiological Environmental Operating Repon Detroit Edison Fermi 2 PageI 1997 ANNUAL NON-RADIOLOGICAL ENVIRONMENTAL OPERATING REPORT TABLE OF CONTENTS Section Page Number Number 1.0 EXECUTIVE

SUMMARY

2

2.0 INTRODUCTION

3 2.1 Purpose 3

2.2 Environmental Protection Plan Overview 3

2.3 Annual Report Objectives 4

2.4 Site Description 5

2.5 Plant Operations Summary 5

3.0 TERRESTRIALMONITORING 6

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4.0 HERBICIDEMONITORING 7

5.0 AQUATICMONITORING 7

6.0 EPPNONCOMPLIANCE 8

7.0 DESIGN OR OPERATION CHANGES 8

8.0 UNUSUAL OR IMPORTANT ENVIRONMENTAL EVENTS 9

9.0 CONCLUSION

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l 1-l 1997 Annual Non-Radiological Environmental Operating Repon Detroit Edison Fermi 2 Page 2 1997 ANNUAL NON-RADIOLOGICAL ENVIRONMENTAL OPERATING REPORT 1.0 EXECUTIVE

SUMMARY

In 1997, the Environmental Control Program at the Detroit Edison Enrico Fermi Energy Center (Fenni 2) successfully maintained compliance with the Environmental Protection Plan (EPP) and all applicable environmental regulations.

The following is a brief summary of the 1997 Annual Non-Radiological Environmental Report:

No terrestrial monitoring activities were conducted, or required. Based on the fmdings of the terrestrial monitoring program, which was concluded in 1994, no further aerial photographic evaluations are planned.

Eleven different approved herbicides were utilized on site and no new herbicides were approved for use. All herbicide applications were recorded and maintained, as required by the EPP.

Effluent discharges remained in compliance with the site's National Pollution Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit.

There were no incidents of EPP noncompliance at Fermi 2.

During the period covered by this report, there were no changes to station design that created an unreviewed environmental question, per the requirements and dermitions of the EPP.

No unusual or.important environmental events, as defined by the EPP, occurred.

Accordingly, no non-routine reports were submitted.

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1997 Annual Non-Radiological Environmental Operating Report i

Detroit Edison Fermi 2 Page 3 1997 ANNUAL NON-RADIOLOGICAL ENVIRONMENTAL OPERATING REPORT l

2.0 INTRODUCTION

2.1 Purpose The purpose of this repon is to provide the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), site personnel, and the public with information regarding the implementation of the Non-l Radiological Environmental Protection Program at the Detroit Edison Enrico Fermi Energy Center (Fermi 2). This report is due prior to May 1 of each year and meets the requirements specified in section 5.4.1 of the Fermi 2 Non-Radiological Environmental Protection Plan (EPP), which is included in Appendix B of the Facility Operating License No. NPF-43.

2.2 Environmental Protection Plan Overview As part of Fermi 2's applications for nuclear power plant construction and operating licenses, extensive environmental studies were conducted to evaluate potential radiological and non-radiological environmental risks that could result from the construction and operation of Fermi 2. In August 1981, the NRC published the Final Environmental Statement (FES) for the operation of Fermi 2. The FES was developed pursuant to the guidelines of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA) and Title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), Pan 51.

The EPP was prepared, based on the potential environmental risks and monitoring requirements identified in the FES. The purpose of the EPP is to provide for the protection of environmental values during any additional construction and the continued operation of Fermi 2. The principle objectives of the EPP are as follows:

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1. Verify that Feimi 2 is operated in an environmentally acceptable manner,'as established by the FES and 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 of actions taken to control those effects.

1997 Annual Non-Radiological Environmental Operating Report Detroit Edison Fermi 2 Page 4

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The components of the EPP are as follows:

1. A terrestrial monitoring program to detect long-term or sudden changes in vegetation that may be attributable to the dispersion of Fermi 2 cooling-tower vapor. The terrestrial monitoring program was completed in 1994, after 4 successive monitoring cycles were completed, as required.

2. A program to establish the controlled use of herbicides.

3. A program to ensure that changes to Fermi 2's design or operation and potential tests or experiments are adequately reviewed prior to implementation to avoid adverse environmental impacts not previously evaluated. Changes in plant design, operation, tests or experiments which do not effect the environment or which are required to achieve compliance with other Federal, State or local environmental regulations, are not subject to the requirements of this EPP.

4. Routine monitoring for evidence of unusual or important environmental events.

5. Any changes, renewals or stayed appeals to the Fermi 2 National Pollution Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit, or the State certification, must be reported to the NRC within 30 days.

2.3 Annual Report Objectives According to Section 5.4.1 of the EPP, the required objectives of the Annual Report are as follows:

Provide summaries and analyses of the results of environmental protection activities conducted in the following areas: unusual or important environmental events; and, terrestrial monitoring, which includes aerial remote sensing and herbicide applications. Where applicable, the report should compare these activities to pre-operational studies, operational controls, observed environmental impacts, and previous non-radiological environmental monitoring reports. If harmful effects or evidence of trends towards irreversible damage to the environment are identified, provide detailed data analysis and a proposed course of action to correct the problem.

Describe any changes to Fermi 2's design, operation, tests or experiments that were implemented without adequate review that adversely impacted, or could have l

adversely impacted, the environment,in accordance with Section 3.1 of the EPP.

Describe any noncompliances with the EPP and the corrective actions taken to correct the situation.

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1997 Annual Non-Radiological

' Environrnental Operating Report Detroit Edison Fermi 2 Page 5 s

Describe any nonroutine reports submitted to the_ NRC as the result of an unusual or..

e important environmental event, in accordance with Section 5.4.2 of the EPP.

l 2.4 Site Description _

_ Fermi 2 operates a 1,180 megawatt General Electric Boiling Water Reactor'4 Nuclear

' Power Plant.' The Fermi 2 power block is' situated in the northeast quarter of a 1,120-acre site that is located approximately 8 miles east-northeast of Monroe, Michigan and 20 miles southwest of Detroit, Michigan. The site is fenced with locked or guarded gates.

Also on site is the Enrico Fermi 1 Power Plant (Fermi 1). Fermi 1 was an experimental fast breeder reactor that is presently in a safe storage condition. Subsequent to shut down, an oil-fired boiler was constructed. This boiler. has not been operated since 1980,

. however, the general service water system is still in use. Four oil-fired combustion turbine generators are also periodically operated.

The site is bounded on the north by Swan Creek, on the east by Lake Erie, on the south by Pointe Aux Peaux Road, and on the west by a private road owned by Detroit Edison. The northern and southern areas of the site are dominated by large lagoons. The western side of the site is predominately covered by several wood lots and a series of small quarry

- lakes. Site elevation ranges from approximately_25 feet above lake level on the western edge of the site to lake level on the eastern edge.

2.5 Plant Operations Summary Reactor Refuel Outage 05 ended January 3,1997, when the turbine was synchronized to -

the electrical power grid. However, on January 10, the plant was shutdown to repair the offgas treatment system. On January 13, the plant was started again, and ran until a generator event occurred on January 17. The plant remained shutdown until May 2, when the reactor was again started. Reactor power reached 96 percent on July 1.

On September 29, reactor coast down began for the onset of a two-week mid-cycle shutdown on October 3 to make repairs. On November 17, reactor power was raised to 97 percent for power uprate testing. The following day, power was raised to 98 percent.

At that power level Fermi 2 was generating 1150 net megawatts, which was more power i

than the plant had ever i enerated at one time. On November 20, reactor power reached

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98.6 percent, set a new ;;. ass generation record of 1202 megawatts, and then was returned

- to 96 percent.

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1997 Annual Non+adiological Environmental Operating Repon Detroit Edison Fermi 2 Page 6 3.0 TERRESTRIAL MONITORING Overview Section 4.2.1 of the Fermi 2 EPP requires that a special surveillance program be conducted to evaluate changes to vegetative communities within a 1 kilometer radius of i

the cooling towers. This progrard involves analysis of low altitude overflights prior to harvest utilizing color. infrared photography, backed up by field reconnaissance inspectione to verify areas of vegetative stress and non-stress along with soil sampling and analysis. The first flights and report were required after one year of plant operation and then every alternate year for 3 successive periods.

It should be noted that the above described studies were not conducted to assess radiological impacts to the terrestrial environment, because discharge from the cooling towers is not radiologically active. The discharge consists of water vapor containing calcium, carbonate and sulfate at slightly higher concentrations than typical for lake water.

Activities and Controls The final required aerial photographic events were performed in 1994 and a final terrestrial monitoring report summarizing all collected data was completed in April 1995.

The report concluded the following:

No long-term accumulation of dissolved-solid deposition was detected in any of the soil samples collected within the survey area.

No vegetative stress associated with cooling-tower emission was observed in any of the survey reports.

J No correlation was observed between the distribution of stressed vegetation areas and e

the calculated deposition of dissolved solids and other materials contained within the vaporous cooling-tower discharge.

The absence of observed im' pacts attributable to the cooling towers is consistent with findings in the scientific literature.

No terrestrial monitoring activities were conducted, or required, in 1997. Based on the findings and conclusions of the above-described study, no further aerial-photographic evaluations are planned.

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1997 Annual Non-Radiological'-

Environmental Operating Report Detroit Edison Fermi 2 Page 7 4.0 HERBICIDE MONITORING Overview Section 4.2.2 of the Fermi 2 EPP requires that herbicide use meet the following conditions:

1. Herbicidn used must be registered by the United States Environmental Protection

' Agency (EPA) and utilized in accordance with EPA-approved-use instructions.

2. Herbicides used must be approved by State authorities and applied in accordance with state instructions.

3. Records of on-site herbicide use must be maintained for a period of 5 years and contain the following information: commercial and chemical names of herbicide used; concentration of active material in formulations diluted for field use; diluting substances other than water; rates of application; method and frequency of application; location, and; date of application.

Activities and Controls

. Herbicide use on site is managed according to Section 2.6 of the Chemistry and Environmental Monitoring Conduct Manual, Chapter 6 (MCE06). In accordance with this procedure, all herbicides used on site in 1997 were pre-approved per subsequent submittal of the Herbicide Application Request Form, which meets the requirements of items 1 and 2 listed above. Once a herbicide is approved, the registered pesticide applicator must fill out a Herbicide Application Record for each application which meets the criteria specified in item 3 listed above.

In 1997,11 different approved herbicides were utilized en site and no new herbicides were approved for use. All herbicide applications were recorded and maintained, as required.

5.0 AQUATIC MONITORING Overview According to Section 2.1 of the EPP, the NRC will rely on the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) for the protection of the aquatic environment from non-i radiological operational impacts via the National Pollution Discharge Ellimination j

System (NPDES) permit. NPDES permits are issued in accordance with provisions of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act, as amended,(33 U.S.C.1251 et seq), Michigan Act j

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1997 Annual Non-Radiological Environmental Operating Report Detroit Edison Fermi 2 Page 8 451, P.A. of 1994, as amended, Part 31, and Michigan Executive Orders 1991-31, 1995-4 and 1995-18. The current permit took effect on June 1,1996 and expires on October 1, 1999.

Activities and Controls Fermi 2's Chemistry Department closely monitors effluent characteristics per the NPDES requirements. Effluent discharge data is summarized in monthly Discharge Monitoring Reports, which are then submitted to the MDEQ. In 1997, effluent discharges remained in compliance with the site's NPDES permit.

In July 1997, a 7.6 acre asphalt-paving project was conducted inside the Fermi 2 Protected Area that included installation of additional stormwater catch basins and storm sewers for improved storm drainage. Since more than 5 acres of land were disturbed, an NPDES permit for stormwater discharges from construction activities was obtained. The NRC was notified of this permit, as required.

In compliance with the above-described permit, silt fences were installed around the construction areas and around storm drains (prior to paving) to control erosion. As a conservative measure, an additional oil-sorbent boom was installed at the effected outfall, just beyond the permarantly installed boom, to catch any potential oil sheens that might occur as a result of the asphalt-paving project. No sheens were observed.

No other changes, renewals or stayed appeals to the Fermi 2 NPDES Permit occurred in 1997.

6.0 EPP NONCOMPLIANCE Overview In accordance with Section 5.4.1 of the EPP, all occurrences of noncompliance with the EPP must be reported along with a discussion of actions taken to correct the situation.

i Activities and Ccntrols There were no incidents of EPP noncompliance at Fermi 2 in 1997.

7.0 DESIGN OR OPERATION CIIANGES Overview In accordance with Fermi 2's EPP, before engaging in additional construction or operational activities which might affect the environment, Fermi 2 is required to prepare o

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7 1997 Annual Non-Radiological Environmental Operating Repon Detroit Edison Fermi 2 Page 9 and record an environmental evaluation of such activity. If the evaluation should indicate that the proposed activity involves an unreviewed environmental question, Detroit Edison must provide a written evaluation of the activity and obtain prior approval from the Director, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation. Activities are excluded from this requirement if all measurable, non-radiological effects are confined to the on-site areas previously disturbed during s':e preparation and plant constmetion.

Activities and Controls During the period covered by this report, there were no changes to station design which created an unreviewed environmental question, per the requirements of the EPP, 8.0 UNUSUAL OR IMPORTANT ENVIRONMENTAL EVENTS Overview According to Section 4.1 of the EPP, any unusual occurrence or important event which indicates, or could result in, significant envi:onmental impact causally related to plant-operation must be reported to the NRC within 24 hours2.777778e-4 days <br />0.00667 hours <br />3.968254e-5 weeks <br />9.132e-6 months <br />, followed by a written report.

j The following are considered examples of unusual or important environmental events:

i Excessive bird impacts j

On-site plant or animal disease outbreaks

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e Mortality or unusual occurrence of any species protected by the Endangered Species Act j

Fish kills 1

e Increase in nuisance organisms or conditions e

Activities and Contmis No unusual or imponant environmental events occurred during 1997. Accordingly, no non-routine reports'were submitted.

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9.0 CONCLUSION

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In 1997, the Environmental Control Program at Fermi 2 successfully maintained compliance with the EPP and all applicable environmental regulations.

1997 Annual Non-Radiological Environmental Operating Report Detroit Edison Fermi 2 Page 10 The following is a summary of the 1997 Annual Non-Radiological Environmental Report:

The results of terrestrial monitoring activities concluded in 1994 indicated that no correlation was observed between the distribution of stressed vegetation areas and the calculated deposition of dissolved solids and other materials contained within the vaporous cooling-tower discharge. No terrestrial monitoring activities were conducted, or required,in 1997. Based on the findings and conclusions of the above-described study, no further aerial-photographic evaluations are planned.

Eleven different approved herbicides were utilized on site and no new herbicides were approved for use. All herbicide applications were recorded and maintained, as required by the EPP.

Effluent discharges remained in compliance with the site's NPDES permit.

There were no incidents of EPP noncompliance.

There were no changes to station design that created an unreviewed environmental question, per the requirements and definitions of the EPP.

No unusual or important environmental events, as defined by the EPP, occurred.

1 Accordingly, no nonfroutine reports were submitted.

The asphalt-paving project altered storm-drain connections and stormwater surface e

flows.

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In 1998, Fermi 2 will continue to strive for improvement of the Environmental Control Program, proactive management of environmental issues, and complete compliance with the site's EPP and all applicable environmental regulations.

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