RBG-31280, NPDES Noncompliance Notification:On 890719,estimated 22,250 Gallons Wastewater Released.Cause of Excursion Unknown.Util Continuing Investigation Into Exact Cause of Total Suspended Solids & Will Provide Further Info in Subsequent Ltr

NPDES Noncompliance Notification:On 890719,estimated 22,250 Gallons Wastewater Released.Cause of Excursion Unknown.Util Continuing Investigation Into Exact Cause of Total Suspended Solids & Will Provide Further Info in Subsequent Ltr

ML20247L948
Person / Time
Site:	River Bend
Issue date:	07/24/1989
From:	Deddens J GULF STATES UTILITIES CO.
To:	Oneill M LOUISIANA, STATE OF
References
RBG-31280, NUDOCS 8908010385
Download: ML20247L948 (2)

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July 24, 1989 RBG-31280 File Nos. G1.11.2 Ms. Maureen O'Neill, Assistant Secretary

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Office of Water Resources Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality Post Office Box 44091, Capitol Station Baton Rouge, LA 70804-4091

Dear Ms. O'Neill:

Water Discharge Permit & WP0409 NPDES Permit No. LA0042731 River Bend Station - Unit 1 This is to inform you of a noncompliance with Water Discharge Permit No.

WP0409 for Outfall 002, low-volume waste, which was discovered on July 19, 1989. Whereas the effluent limitation for total suspended solids (TSS) in the'outfall is a daily maximum of 100 mg/1, a sample collected at 4:00 p.m.

on July 18, 1989, contained 129.8 mg/l TSS. An estimated 22,250 gallons of the wastewater was released, after mixing with cooling tower blowdown (0utfall 001), to the Mississippi River. GSU believes it is unlikely that the incident had any deleterious impacts considering the Mgh stage and suspended solids content of the receiving water.

1 The' cause of this excursion is still unknown. Microscopic examination of the glass-fibr filter used in the analysis indicated that the bulk of the j The low-volume waste in this solids involvd was fine rust particles particular discharge was from neutralization of demineralized regeneration wastewater. A leaking flange had recently caused abnormally high sulfuric acid concentrations ir; a neutralization system sump, requiring the use of greater than normal quantities of caustic soda for pH adjustment. This in turn resulted in an exothermic reaction which may have dislodged an unusual amount of corrosion products. However, intermittent blowdown and floor drainage from the plant's auxiliary boiler also enter Outfall 002, and recent increased use of this equipment may somehow have contributed to the problem.

We continue to investigate the exact cause(s) of the TSS excursion, and will provide further information in a subsequent letter. The acid leak is being repaired. Meanwhile, we are performing pre-release analyses on neutralized regeneration wastewaters to ensure that TSS limits will be met.

Increased monitoring of the actual releases will also be performed until the problem is resolved.

i 8908010385 890724 PDR ADOCK 05000458 s pdc >

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.I certify under penalty of law that this document and all attachme nts were l prepared under my direction or supervision in accordance with t system designed to assure that qualified personnel properly gather and evaluate the information submitted. Based on my inquiry of the person or persons l who manage the system, or those persons directly responsible for. gathering L the information submitted, the information submitted is, to the best of my l knowledge and belief, true, accurate and complete. I am aware that there are significant penalties for submitting false information, including the possibility of fine and imprisonment for knowing violations.

S cere y, h=

/J. C. Deddens c Senior Vice President River Bend Nuclear Group JCD/JEB/RJK/JWC/JVC/ch cc: Mr. Myron Knudson, Director Water Management Division (6W)

U. S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region IV Allied Bank Tower 1445 Ross Avenue Dallas, TX 75202-2733 Capitol Regional Office Water Pollution Control Division 11720 Airline Highway Baton Rouge, LA 70817-1720 U. S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Document Control Desk Washington, D.C. 20555 U. S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission 611 Ryan Plaza Drive, Suite 1000 Arlington, TX 76011 NRC Resident Inspector Post Office Box 1051 St. Francisville, LA 70775

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