PLA-7926, 2020 Annual Environmental Operating Report (Nonradiological) PLA-7926
| ML21099A316 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Susquehanna  |
| Issue date: | 04/09/2021 |
| From: | Cimorelli K Susquehanna, Talen Energy |
| To: | Document Control Desk, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation |
| References | |
| PLA-7926 | |
| Download: ML21099A316 (20) | |
Text
TALEN~
Kevin Cimorelli Susquehanna Nuclear, LLC Site Vice President 769 Salem Boulevard Berwick, PA 18603 Tel. 570.542.3795 Fax 570.542.1504 Kevin.Cimorelli@TalenEnergy.com ENERGY U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission 10 CFR 50.4 Attn: Document Control Desk Washington, DC 20555-0001 4/9/2021 SUSQUEHANNA STEAM ELECTRIC STATION 2020 ANNUAL ENVIRONMENTAL OPERATING REPORT (NONRADIOLOGICAL) Docket No. 50-387 PLA-7926 and No. 50-388 The Susquehanna Steam Electric Station (SSES) Annual Environmental Operating Report (Nomadiological) is hereby submitted for the calendar year 2020 in accordance with the SSES Environmental Protection Plan, Section 5.4.1.
There are no new or revised regulatory commitments contained in this submittal.
Should you have any questions regarding this submittal, please contact Ms. Melisa Krick, Manager-Nuclear Regulatory Affairs, at (570) 542-1818.
Kevin Cimorelli
Attachment:
2020 Annual Environmental Operating Report (Nomadiological)
Copy: NRC Region I Ms. S. Goetz, NRC Project Manager Mr. Clu*is Highley, NRC Senior Resident Inspector Mr. M. Shields, PA DEP/BRP Mr. Mark Roberts, US Department of Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service
Attachment to PLA-7926 2020 Annual Environmental Operating Report (Nonradiological)
SUSQUEHANNA STEAM ELECTRIC STATION ANNUAL ENVIRONMENTAL OPERATING REPORT (NON RADIOLOGICAL) 2020 Prepared by: Date:
Jerrold L. McCormick Sr. Environmental Scientist - Nuclear Reviewed by: Date:
Jef~risewood Manager - Plant Chemistry/ Environmental Approved by:
era I Manager - Nuclear
TEAM SUSQUEHANNA
~-------~.,, . e,i n,till Ex ell 1tc Susquehanna Steam Electric Station Units 1 & 2 2020 ANNUAL ENVIRONMENTAL OPERATING REPORT (NONRADIOLOGICAL)
Facility Operating License Nos. NPF-14 & NPF-22 Docket Nos. 50-387 & 50-388 Prepared by Chemistry - Environmental Services Susquehanna Nuclear, LLC Berwick, PA March 2021
FOREWORD The Susquehanna Steam Electric Station is a nuclear electrical generating facility with two boiling-water reactors and generators located just west of the Susquehanna River, approximately 5 miles northeast of Berwick, in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania. The station was constructed in the 1970s, with Unit 1 beginning commercial operation on June 8, 1983, and Unit 2 beginning commercial operation on February 12, 1985. Units 1 and 2 each generate a net 1,350 megawatts (MWe), for a total station output of 2,700 MWe.
In total Susquehanna Nuclear, LLC presently owns 2,347 acres of land on both sides of the Susquehanna River. Generally, this land is characterized by open deciduous woodlands interspersed with grasslands and orchards.
On the west side of the river, 1,605 (1670 minus 65 acre Gould Island) acres of land is jointly owned between Susquehanna Nuclear, LLC (90%) and Allegheny Electric Cooperative (10%). The land uses on the west side of the river include generation &
associated maintenance facilities, laydown areas, parking lots, roads, a nature preserve (the Susquehanna Riverlands), and agricultural leases to local farmers.
To the north of the station along the river, Susquehanna Nuclear, LLC owns 100% of the 65-acre Gould Island. On the east side of the river, and across the river from the station, Susquehanna Nuclear, LLC is the 100% owner of 677 acres that are maintained as undeveloped land, natural recreational areas, wildlife areas, and leases to local farmers.
This report discusses environmental commitments and impacts from January 1, 2020 through December 31, 2020. In summary, the report documents that Susquehanna Nuclears environmental commitments were met and that there was no significant adverse environmental impact from station operation.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS SECTION PAGE NO.
Foreword i Table of Contents ii 1.0 OBJECTIVE 1-1 2.0 ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES 2-1 2.1 Aquatic Issues 2-1 2.2 Terrestrial Issues 2-3 2.2.1 Studies Previously Completed 2-3 2.2.2 Sound Level Survey 2-3 2.2.3 Maintenance of Transmission Line Corridors 2-3 2.3 Cultural Resources Issues 2-3 3.0 CONSISTENCY REQUIREMENTS 3-1 3.1 Plant Design and Operation 3-1 3.2 Reporting Related to NPDES Permits and State Certifications 3-2 3.3 Changes Required for Compliance with other Environmental 3-2 Regulations 4.0 ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS 4-1 4.1 Unusual or Important Environmental Events 4-1 4.2 Environmental Monitoring 4-2 4.2.1 General Monitoring 4-2 4.2.2 Maintenance of Transmission Line Corridors 4-2 ii
SECTION PAGE NO.
5.0 ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION PLAN REPORTING REQUIREMENTS 5-1 5.1 Review and Audit 5-1 5.2 Records Retention 5-1 5.3 Changes in Environmental Protection Plan 5-2 5.4 Plant Reporting Requirements 5-2 5.4.1 Routine Reports 5-2 5.4.2 Non-routine Reports 5-2 6.0 ATTACHMENTS 6-1 Table 2.1-1 American Shad Impingement Monitoring (2020) 6-2 Figure 5.1-1 Auditing Organization Chart (2020) 6-6 iii
1.0 OBJECTIVE The Licensee has developed procedures and guidelines to ensure that operation of Susquehanna Steam Electric Station (SES) does not adversely affect the environment in the vicinity of the station. Also, these procedures allocate responsibilities and define interfaces necessary to monitor environmental impacts. They include coordination of U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) requirements with other federal, state, and local requirements for environmental protection.
The objective of this 2020 Annual Environmental Operating Report (Nonradiological) is to provide a summary of both environmental programs and procedures. This report is required by the Final Environmental Statement (FES) for the operation of the Susquehanna SES, Unit 1 and 2, NUREG-0564 June 1981, and Appendix B - Environmental Protection Plan (EPP) to Operating Licenses No. NPF-14 and No. NPF-22. The 2020 report is the 38th Annual Environmental Operating Report (Nonradiological) submitted to meet EPP requirements.
The Licensee submitted an Environmental Report-Operating License Stage for Susquehanna SES to the NRC in May 1978. This report reviewed the results of the preoperational environmental programs and described the preoperational and proposed operational environmental monitoring programs. The NRC and other agencies reviewed this report and made recommendations for operational environmental monitoring programs which were listed in the FES.
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2.0 ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES 2.1 Aquatic Issues The aquatic monitoring program for operation of the Susquehanna SES is divided into two parts.
Part 1 includes effluent monitoring required by a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit issued by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (PaDEP).
The PaDEP is responsible for regulating the water quality permit for the Susquehanna SES. The stations operational NPDES Permit No. PA-0047325 deals with discharge parameters for the Susquehanna SES Sewage Treatment Plant, Cooling Tower blowdown, and miscellaneous low volume waste discharges. The Cooling Tower blowdown also includes in-plant process streams which discharge to the Susquehanna River.
Various low volume waste sumps discharge to the stations stormwater system, which flows into Lake Took-a-while, and eventually into the Susquehanna River. The permit requires the station to submit monthly Discharge Monitoring Reports for these outfalls to the PaDEP.
Susquehanna SESs NPDES Permit was reissued on September 1, 2011, and expired on August 31, 2016. The station submitted its NPDES Permit renewal application (PLE-025782) to PaDEP on February 9, 2016. PaDEP has since confirmed that the submitted renewal application was administratively complete, but has not yet provided the station a new NPDES Permit. Until a new permit is issued to the station, the conditions of the most recently expired NPDES Permit will apply.
NOTE: A copy of the NPDES Permit renewal application (PLE-025782) was provided to the NRC in 2016 as part of the submittal process.
Part 2 of the aquatic monitoring program deals with programs listed in the FES, or recommended by the PaDEP or U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
American Shad Environmental lab personnel sampled wash-water from the trash bars and traveling screens at the intake building during August, September, and October to see if American shad were impinged by the Susquehanna SES.
Fish sampling containers, made from aluminum-framed boxes sided with wire mesh, were suspended by jib cranes at the ends of each of the wash-water canals from the trash bars and traveling screens. The sampling containers were deployed from 24 August through 29 September and 12-25 October 2020, and checked daily. No American shad were collected 2-1
during this period or during any previous sampling year. However, 59 fish of 10 other species were collected (Table 2.1-1). Most of these fish were juvenile channel catfish, bluegills, and spotfin shiners (Ictalurus punctatus, 19 specimens, Lepomis macrochirus, 12 specimens, and Cyprinella spiloptera, 12 specimens, respectively).
Biofouling Mollusk Monitoring The biofouling mollusk monitoring program continued at the Susquehanna SES in 2020. The purpose of this monitoring is to survey the Susquehanna River and the Emergency Service Water (ESW) Spray Pond for the presence of live Asian clams (Corbicula fluminea) and zebra mussels (Dreissena polymorpha) that could affect the operation of Susquehanna Nuclear LLC. This monitoring is generally performed through a combination of scuba diving, wading, and examination of natural or artificial substrates in the river and the ESW Spray Pond.
Asian clams are now abundant in the Susquehanna River near the Susquehanna SES, and zebra mussels are also abundant in Lake Took-a-while, a 24-acre recreational lake owned by Talen Energy. The lake drains to the Susquehanna River through a remnant of the North Branch Canal and presents a pathway for zebra mussel introduction to the river.
As a result, this area has been monitored closely since zebra mussels were discovered in Lake Took-a-while in 2016. Three adult mussels were observed in the outfall area of the river in 2017, but no specimens were found in 2020. At this time there is no evidence of a reproductive population of zebra mussels in the Susquehanna River near Susquehanna Nuclear LLC.
Inspections during 2019 of ESSW Spray Pond substrates by scuba and the ponds intake screens during an annual cleaning cycle, revealed the presence of 320 live zebra mussels and 15 Asian clams. As a result, the spray pond was treated with a non-oxidizing biocide on 31 August 2020.
A subsequent scuba inspection for biofoulers on 14 September 2020 by divers from the environmental laboratory indicated that there were no living clams or mussels in the pond. No spray pond pump house screens were removed for cleaning or inspection of biofoulers in 2020.
2.2 Terrestrial Issues 2.2.1 Studies Previously Completed Terrestrial environmental studies, including Cooling Tower Bird Impaction, were completed prior to 1989.
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2.2.2 Sound Level Survey Sound level surveys were conducted during pre-operation and operational periods and are completed. No noise complaints due to station operation received during 2020.
2.2.3 Maintenance of Transmission Line Corridors Transmission line corridor vegetation maintenance and inspection records are maintained by PPL-Electric Utilities Vegetation Management and are available upon request. PPL-Electric Utilities reported that they did not conduct any herbicide treatments of the SSES bulk transmission corridors during 2020. There were no adverse environmental impacts to transmission corridors reported in 2020. Records will be maintained for five years.
2.3 Cultural Resources Issues Environmental Protection Plan actions required to satisfy Title 36, Code of Federal Regulations Part 800, relating to archeological sites were completed in 1987. The Advisory Council on Historic Preservation (ACHP), in accordance with 36 CFR 800.6 (a)(1), approved the NRC's determination of "no adverse effect" for archeological sites SES-3 (36LU15), SES-6 (36LU16), SES-8 (36LU49), and SES-11 (36LU51) located on the Licensee's property (NRC letter dated October 28, 1987, to ACHP).
As part of the determination-of-effect process, the Licensee committed to and is taking appropriate measures to mitigate impacts from station maintenance and operation to sites 36LU15, 36LU16, 36LU49, 36LU51, 36LU43, and 36LU105. There was no impact to these sites from station maintenance and operation in 2020. Furthermore, station activities did not impact any previously unknown cultural resources in 2020.
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3.0 CONSISTENCY REQUIREMENTS 3.1 Plant Design and Operation In accordance with the Environmental Protection Plan (EPP), the Licensee shall prepare and record an environmental evaluation of proposed changes in plant design, operation, or performance of any test or experiment which may significantly affect the environment. Before initiating such activities, the Licensee shall provide a written evaluation and obtain prior approval from the Director, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation.
Criteria for the need to perform an environmental evaluation include:
(1) A significant increase in any adverse environmental impact previously evaluated by the NRC or Atomic Safety and Licensing Board; (2) A significant change in effluent or power level; or (3) A matter not previously evaluated which may have a significant adverse environmental impact.
The EPP requires that an environmental evaluation be completed and the NRC be notified if an activity meets any of the criteria. If the change, test, or experiment does not meet any of these criteria, the Licensee will document the evaluation and allow the activity to occur.
During operation of the Susquehanna SES in 2020, there were proposed activities that the Licensee reviewed as part of the Unreviewed Environmental Question program. None of these activities were determined to involve an Unreviewed Environmental Question or require prior NRC notification. The following activities were reviewed:
- 1. Relocate 12 kV Pole along Main Access Road
- 2. Excavate & replace HRC 105/102 (EC 1958923)
- 3. PPL Excavation Activity At 500 kV Yard
- 4. Excavation & Replacement of U2 ESW Supply and Return (EC 2052409)
- 5. Replacement of 1X105 & 2X105 Aux Transformers (EC 2313822 and EC 2313823)
- 6. 2019 Danger Tree Removals
- 7. Tree Removals at River Intake
- 8. Excavation, Repair & Replacement of STP Sludge Tank Overflow Lines
- 9. Replacement of 2D and 8D Construction Transformers
- 10. Excavate & Repair Well Water Supply Piping
- 12. Excavations to support Wetland Delineations in OCA
- 13. Bore Holes to support EC 2380975
- 14. Excavation & Replacement of Degraded U2 CT Biocide Piping 3-1
3.2 Reporting Related to NPDES Permits and State Certifications On June 24, June 27, July 13, and July 17 SSES exceeded the NPDES Instantaneous Maximum (IMax) Free Available Chlorine (FAC) limit for Outfall 071 (Cooling Tower Blowdown Line) while adding biocide to a Cooling Tower basin. These events did not endanger the public or the environment; therefore, neither an immediate or 24 hour2.777778e-4 days <br />0.00667 hours <br />3.968254e-5 weeks <br />9.132e-6 months <br /> notification to PaDEP was required; therefore, a Significant Environmental Event Evaluation was also not required. PaDEP was notified of all 4 NPDES violations as part of the June and July Discharge Monitoring Reports.
The common cause for all 4 NPDES violations was a blockage discovered in SSESs biocide injection piping, which was causing chlorine to be injected directly into the stations blow down line during basin biocide treatments. Prior to July 17, the initial suspected cause for these violations was an analytical interference thought to be originating from the river and causing erroneously high chlorine results. The actual cause (i.e. the blockage in the biocide injection piping) was definitively identified after the July 17 violation.
There were no other significant non-compliances or special reporting requirements associated with implementation of NPDES Permit No.
PA0047325.
Since Susquehanna SES has an NPDES permit, state certification pursuant to Section 401 of the Clean Water Act is not required.
3.3 Changes Required for Compliance with Other Environmental Regulations The following regulatory changes were incorporated into Susquehanna SESs nonradiologoical environmental compliance program in 2020:
On March 2, 2020 PaDEP issued Request For Determination (RFD) #8288 authorizing the operation of temporary non-road engines needed to support the stations repairs to the 1X101 and 1X102 transformers, thereby exempting these gen sets from GP-11 permitting.
On April 28, 2020 PaDEP issued State Only Operating Permit 40-00027 to Susquehanna SES, which authorizes air emissions associated with emergency generator, cooling tower, and spray pond operations. Specifically, this was a permit renewal, and it expires August 14, 2025.
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4.0 ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS 4.1 Unusual or Important Environmental Events On October 21, 2020 a Significant Environmental Event review was initiated regarding the removal of four Danger Trees qualifying as Indiana bat habitat in the vicinity of the PZ1, PZ-2, and PZ-3 Test Wells.
These danger trees were removed because they posed a potential safety risk to station personnel. The evaluation ultimately determined that emergency removal of the trees did not harm any Indiana bats; hence, no immediate notification of the danger tree removals was necessary to the US Fish and Wildlife Service.
In summary, there were no significant or adverse environmental effects related to station operation, and there were no EPP noncompliances.
4.2 Environmental Monitoring 4.2.1 General Monitoring With the exception of ongoing water quality monitoring required for compliance with the NPDES permit, all monitoring of station operational impacts on aquatic and terrestrial biota listed in the FES and Appendix B of the operating license have been completed.
4.2.2 Maintenance of Transmission Line Corridors In 2020, PPL Electric Utilities Vegetation Management maintained transmission line vegetation maintenance and inspection records.
NOTE: PPL-Electric Utilities reported that they did not conduct any herbicide treatments of the SSES bulk transmission corridors during 2020.
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5.0 ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION PLAN REPORTING REQUIREMENTS 5.1 Review and Audit The Licensee has established procedures for an independent group to review and audit compliance with the EPP. Audits of EPP compliance are conducted by Nuclear Oversight. The Manager-Nuclear Oversight is responsible for verifying compliance with the EPP. The Site VP -
Susquehanna is responsible for environmental monitoring and for providing any related support concerning licensing. The Manager - Plant Chemistry / Environmental is responsible for day-to-day environmental monitoring.
The Auditing Organization Chart (Fig. 5.1-1) lists the groups utilized in reviewing and auditing of the Susquehanna SES environmental programs as well as those responsible for managing these programs.
An audit of compliance with the EPP program was conducted during 2020 as part of a regularly scheduled Chemistry Program Audit. The next Chemistry Program Audit is currently scheduled to be conducted in 2022.
5.2 Records Retention Records and logs relative to environmental aspects of plant operation and audit activities are retained in the Nuclear Records System. This system provides for review and inspection of environmental documents, which are available to the NRC upon request.
All records concerning modifications of plant structures, systems, and components which are determined to potentially affect the continued protection of the environment are retained for the life of the plant. All other records, data, and logs relating to the environmental programs and monitoring are retained for at least five years or, where applicable, in accordance with the requirements of other agencies. Transmission line corridor vegetation maintenance records are maintained by PPL Electrical Utilities per section 2.2.3 of this report.
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5.3 Changes in Environmental Protection Plan No changes were made to the EPP during 2020.
5.4 Plant Reporting Requirements 5.4.1 Routine Reports This Annual Environmental Operating Report (Nonradiological) was prepared to meet routine reporting requirements of the EPP for 2020. It provides summaries and analyses of environmental protection activities required in Subsection 4.2 of the EPP for the reporting period.
5.4.2 Non-routine Reports There were no Unusual or Important Environmental Events as defined by the Environmental Protection Plan that required reporting in 2020.
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6.0 ATTACHMENTS Table 2.1-1 American Shad Impingement Monitoring (2020)
Figure 5.1-1 Auditing Organization Chart (2020) 6-1
TABLE 2.1-1 SUSQUEHANNA STEAM ELECTRIC STATION 2020 AMERICAN SHAD IMPINGEMENT PROGRAM 24 August - 25 October 2020 Date Time Items Found on Trash Bar/Traveling Screen 2020 Shad Fish Crayfish Other Comments Fish baskets were deployed on 24 Aug @ 1215.
24 Aug 2130 0 1 walleye 0 0 Light leaves/debris 1 channel catfish 25 Aug 1515 0 1 0 Light leaves/debris 1 smallmouth bass 26 Aug 1600 0 0 1 0 Light leaves/debris 27 Aug 1545 0 1 bluegill 3 1 snapping Moderate 1 channel catfish turtle leaves/debris 0 2 channel catfish 0 0 Moderate 28 Aug 2230 leaves/debris 01 Sep 1600 0 3 bluegills 0 0 Light leaves/debris 02 Sep 1600 0 0 2 0 Light leaves Heavy debris 03 Sep 2145 0 1 bluegill 0 0 Light leaves/debris 04 Sep 1700 0 1 smallmouth bass 0 0 Light leaves/debris 08 Sep 1530 0 0 2 0 Light leaves/debris 1 margined madtom 09 Sep 1415 0 1 0 Light leaves/debris 1 smallmouth bass 1 channel catfish 10 Sep 1645 0 2 0 Light leaves/debris 1 smallmouth bass 11 Sep 2000 0 3 spotfin shiners 0 0 Light leaves/debris Light leaves 14 Sep 2100 0 0 0 0 Heavy debris 3 channel catfish 15 Sep 1645 0 1 smallmouth bass 0 0 Light leaves/debris 1 spottail shiner 16 Sep 1600 0 3 channel catfish 2 0 Light leaves/debris 4 channel catfish 1 bluegill 17 Sep 2000 0 1 0 Light leaves/debris 1 gizzard shad 1 spotfin shiner 1 American 18 Sep 2045 0 1 channel catfish 1 Light leaves/debris bullfrog 6-2
TABLE 2.1-1 (cont.)
Date Time Items Found on Trash Bar/Traveling Screen 2020 Shad Fish Crayfish Other Comments 21 Sep 1600 0 2 bluntnose minnows 0 0 Light leaves/debris 1 bluegill 22 Sep 1615 0 2 0 Light leaves/debris 1 spottail shiner 23 Sep 2015 0 2 channel catfish 2 0 Light leaves/debris 24 Sep 2215 0 1 spottail shiner 3 0 Light leaves/debris 5 spotfin shiners 2 0 Light leaves/debris 25 Sep 1300 0 1 bluegill Moderate 28 Sep 1345 0 0 0 0 leaves/debris 1 bluegill Very Heavy 29 Sep 2320 0 1 0 1 channel catfish leaves/debris River Intake muck-out occurred this week, causing an extreme amount of debris to compromise sampling gear. Gear pulled for repairs and will be deployed once muck-out is complete.
12 Oct 2200 0 3 bluegills 3 0 Moderate 13 Oct 1815 0 0 0 0 Heavy leaves/debris 14 Oct 2015 0 3 spotfin shiners 0 0 Moderate 15 Oct 1530 0 0 0 Moderate 0 leaves/debris 16 Oct 1915 0 0 0 0 Moderate 0 0 Moderate 17 Oct 1630 0 0 leaves/debris 0 0 Moderate 18 Oct 1515 0 3 rockbass leaves/debris 19 Oct 1330 0 0 0 0 Moderate 20 Oct 1715 0 0 0 0 Moderate Heavy 21 Oct 1630 0 0 0 0 leaves/debris 22 Oct 1700 0 0 3 0 Heavy 23 Oct 1715 0 0 3 1 Heavy 24 Oct 1745 0 0 0 0 Heavy 25 Oct 1900 0 0 0 0 Moderate 12 Oct 2200 0 3 bluegills 3 0 Moderate TOTALS 0 59 fish - 10 species 35* 3 19 channel catfish 1 American 12 bluegills bullfrog 12 spotfin shiners 5 smallmouth bass 1 3 rockbass hellgrammite 3 spottail shiners 2 bluntnose minnow 1 snapping 1 gizzard shad turtle 1 margined madtom 1 walleye
- All crayfish collected were Faxonius obscurus.
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FIGURE 5.1-1 AUDITING ORGANIZATIONAL CHART (2020)
Sr. Vice-President & Chief Nuclear Officer I I Manager - Quality Assurance I I I Site VP - Susquehanna Plant Manager - Nuclear Manager - Plant Chemistry I I Chemistry - Environmental Services I I 6-4