WBL-24-020, Unit 2 - Annual Non-Radiological Environmental Operating Report - 2023

Unit 2 - Annual Non-Radiological Environmental Operating Report - 2023

ML24128A156
Person / Time
Site:	Watts Bar
Issue date:	05/07/2024
From:	Anthony Williams Tennessee Valley Authority
To:	Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation, Document Control Desk
References
WBL-24-020
Download: ML24128A156 (1)

Text

1\\/4 TENNESSEE VALLEY AUTHORITY Post Office Box 2000, Spring City, Tennessee 37381 WBL-24-020 May 7, 2024 ATTN: Document Control Desk U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Washington, D.C. 20555-0001 Watts Bar Nuclear Plant, Unit 1 & Unit 2 Facility Operating License Nos. NPF-90 and NPF-96 NRC Docket Nos. 50-390 and 50-391 10 CFR 50.4

Subject:

Watts Bar Nuclear Plant - Annual Non-Radiological Environmental Operating Report - 2023 In accordance with Section 5.4.1, "Routine Reports," of Appendix B, "Environmental Protection Plan (Non-Radiological)," to the Watts Bar Nuclear Plant (WBN) Units 1 and 2 Operating Licenses, enclosed is the 2023 Annual Non-Radiological Environmental Operating Report for WBN. This report is required to be submitted to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) within 90 days following the anniversary of the issuance of the WBN Unit 1 operating license (i.e., February 7, 1996). This report addresses the period from February 7, 2023 through February 6, 2024.

There are no new regulatory commitments in this letter. If you have any questions concerning this matter, please contact Jonathan Johnson, WBN Licensing Manager, at jtjohnson0@tva.gov.

Anthony L. Williams IV Site Vice President Watts Bar Nuclear Plant

U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission WBL-24-020 Page 2 May 7, 2024

Enclosure:

Tennessee Valley Authority, Watts Bar Nuclear Plant. Annual Non-Radiological Environmental Operating Report February 7, 2023 through February 6, 2024 cc:(w/ Enclosure)

NRC Regional Administrator - Region II NRC Senior Resident Inspector - Watts Bar Nuclear Plant NRC Project Manager - Watts Bar Nuclear Plant U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

WBL-24-020 E-1 of 8 ENCLOSURE TENNESSEE VALLEY AUTHORITY WATTS BAR NUCLEAR PLANT Annual Non-Radiological Environmental Operating Report February 7, 2023 through February 6, 2024

WBL-24-020 E-2 of 8 TENNESSEE VALLEY AUTHORITY WATTS BAR NUCLEAR PLANT ANNUAL NON-RADIOLOGICAL ENVIRONMENTAL OPERATING REPORT FEBRUARY 7, 2023 THROUGH FEBRUARY 6, 2024

WBL-24-020 E-3 of 8 TABLE OF CONTENTS I.

INTRODUCTION......................................................................................................... E-4 II.

REPORTS PREVIOUSLY SUBMITTED AS SPECIFIED IN THE WBN NATIONAL POLLUTANT DISCHARGE ELIMINATION SYSTEM (NPDES) PERMIT.................... E-4 III.

SPECIAL BIOLOGICAL MONITORING REPORTS..................................................... E-5 IV.

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION PLAN NONCOMPLIANCES................................. E-6 V.

CHANGES MADE TO APPLICABLE STATE AND FEDERAL PERMITS AND CERTIFICATIONS............................................................................. E-6 VI.

CHANGES IN FACILITY DESIGN OR OPERATION................................................... E-7 VII.

NON-ROUTINE REPORTS......................................................................................... E-8 VIII.

CHANGES IN APPROVED ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION PLAN SPECIFICATIONS............................................................................................ E-8

WBL-24-020 E-4 of 8 I.

INTRODUCTION The Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) Watts Bar Nuclear Plant (WBN) Annual Non-Radiological Environmental Operating Report is provided for the period of February 7, 2023 through February 6, 2024. This report was prepared in accordance with Appendix B to facility operating licenses NPF-90 and NPF-96, Environmental Protection Plan (EPP), Section 5.4.1, Routine Reports. This report includes a summary of:

A.

Reports previously submitted as specified in the WBN National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Permit Number TN0020168.

B.

All special reports submitted per EPP Sections (Unit 1 (U1)) 4.1 or 3.0 (Unit 2 (U2)), Environmental Monitoring.

C.

All EPP noncompliances and the corrective actions taken to remedy them.

D.

Changes made to applicable state and federal permits and certifications.

E.

Changes in station design or operation that could involve a significant environmental impact or changes to the findings of the Final Environmental Statement (FES).

F.

Non-routine reports submitted per EPP Section 5.4.2 (Both U1 and U2),

Nonroutine Reports G.

Changes in the approved EPP.

II.

REPORTS PREVIOUSLY SUBMITTED AS SPECIFIED IN THE WBN NATIONAL POLLUTANT DISCHARGE ELIMINATION SYSTEM (NPDES) PERMIT The following reports were submitted as specified in the WBN NPDES Permit Number TN0020168 and the Tennessee Storm Water Multi-Sector General Permit (TMSP)

Numbers TNR051343 and TNR050000:

A.

As required by the NPDES permit, Discharge Monitoring Reports (DMRs) were completed and submitted monthly to the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC) no later than 15 days after the completion of the reporting period. Monitoring reports for June through October 2022 were resubmitted for Outfalls 101 and V001 to update discharge flow information (Condition Report (CR) #1824287).

B.

WBN submitted to the TDEC the Compliance Survey for Watts Bar Nuclear Plant Outfall 113 Passive Mixing Zone for Winter 2022. As summarized in the reports, the compliance surveys confirm the adequacy of the passive mixing zone and the adequacy of the thermal model to evaluate the operation of Outfall 113.

C.

The annual Biocide/Corrosion Treatment Report was completed and submitted to TDEC prior to the February 15, 2024 deadline.

WBL-24-020 E-5 of 8 II.

REPORTS PREVIOUSLY SUBMITTED AS SPECIFIED IN THE WBN NATIONAL POLLUTANT DISCHARGE ELIMINATION SYSTEM (NPDES) PERMIT (continued)

D.

The annual sampling and analysis required by the 2022 TMSP for storm water was performed and the annual reports were submitted to the TDEC within 30 days after the sample results were obtained.

E.

DMR Quality Assurance (QA) Laboratory Performance Evaluation Study 43 was completed by and submitted to Environmental Resource Associates, the TDEC, and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on September 26, 2023. The analysis performed and reported by our contract analytical laboratories were Acceptable.

III.

SPECIAL BIOLOGICAL MONITORING REPORTS A.

EPP Sections 4.1.1 (U1) or 3.1 (U2), Aquatic Monitoring

1.

Routine semi-annual Whole Effluent Toxicity, also known as chronic biotoxicity tests, were conducted on plant effluents and the appropriate reports were submitted as part of the DMR for Outfall Serial Numbers (OSNs) 101 and 113 as required by the NPDES permit. Both Outfalls were sampled in August and October 2023. All TVA test results were valid for all sampling outfalls, dates, and for both inhibition concentration twenty-five (IC25) tests (P. promelas and C. dubia).

3.

In accordance with the provisions of Tennessee Code Annotated Section 69-7-301 et seq., the Water Resources Information Act, WBN submitted the Water Withdrawal Registration Form for Calendar Year (CY) 2022 to the TDEC prior to the February 15, 2024 deadline.

B.

EPP Section 4.1.2 (U1 Only), Maintenance of Transmission Line Corridors Listed below are the 500 kV transmission lines associated with WBN and information regarding the maintenance that was performed on each line:

WBL-24-020 E-6 of 8 III.

SPECIAL BIOLOGICAL MONITORING REPORTS (continued) 500 kV Line Identifier Maintenance Performed Bull Run - Watts Bar (Note Below)

No chemical or herbicide was utilized on these lines within the period.

Watts Bar - Roane No chemical or herbicide was utilized on these lines within the period.

Watts Bar - Volunteer No chemical or herbicide was utilized on these lines within the period.

Watts Bar - Sequoyah 1 (Note Below)

No chemical or herbicide utilized on these lines within the period.

Watts Bar - Sequoyah 2 (Note Below)

No chemical or herbicide utilized on these lines within the period.

Note:

The transmission line designated as Bull Run - Sequoyah in previous versions of this report has been split into the following transmission lines: 1) Watts Bar - Sequoyah 1, and 2) Bull Run - Watts Bar.

IV.

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION PLAN NONCOMPLIANCES WBN received zero Notice of Violations (NOVs) from February 2023 to February 2024.

V.

CHANGES MADE TO APPLICABLE STATE AND FEDERAL PERMITS AND CERTIFICATIONS A.

NPDES Permit Number TN0020168 B.

Air Permit Number 463822 Air Permit Number 480496 was issued March 14, 2023.

C. NPDES Stormwater Construction Permit TNR192192 was issued and became effective on February 24, 2023.

WBL-24-020 E-7 of 8 VI.

CHANGES IN FACILITY DESIGN OR OPERATION In accordance with EPP Section 3.1 (U1) or 5.3 (U2), Plant Design and Operation, facility design and operational changes were reviewed for potential effect on the environment as described below. A review of facility design and operational changes proposed from February 7, 2023, through February 6, 2024, was performed. Projects considered as having potential impact on the environment included those that:

Could have caused waste stream generation/alteration.

Required the acquisition/modification of permits.

Involved the use of hazardous material.

Required physical construction.

The review, performed in accordance with the guidelines of TVAs National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) Program, documented that design and operational changes did not involve an unreviewed environmental question. The following criteria were used to identify those projects with a potential for environmental effects:

A.

Waste stream generation/alteration:

Air, Hazardous Waste, Solid Waste, Polychlorinated Biphenyls, Asbestos, or Wastewater.

B.

Permit Acquisition/Modification:

NPDES, Air, Inert Landfill, or Other.

C.

Hazardous Materials:

Hazardous Materials that are environmentally unfriendly and are likely to generate a Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) hazardous or Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) waste.

D.

Physical Construction Involved:

Erosion/Sedimentation Effects, Transportation Effects, Noise Effects, Groundwater Effects, Surface Water Effects, Floodplain Effects, Wetland Effects, Prime Farmland Effects, Unique Natural Features Effects, Aquatic Ecology Effects, Terrestrial Ecology Effects, Protected Species Effects, Sensitive Habitat Effects, Visual Effects, Historical, Cultural and Archeological Effects, Changes in Site Land Use, or Controversy.

E.

Temporary Alterations:

There were no temporary alterations conducted during this period that met the environmental impact criteria.

Design and Operational Changes Most of the design and operational changes conducted during this period did not meet the environmental impact criteria. There were 14 facility design and operational changes made during this reporting period with a potential impact on the environment. The appropriate environmental reviews were completed and all changes were found to be within the scope of existing environmental permits and in compliance with NEPA regulations.

WBL-24-020 E-8 of 8 VI.

CHANGES IN FACILITY DESIGN OR OPERATION (continued)

The following Environmental Reviews were documented for site changes as follows:

Categorical Exclusion Checklists (CECs)

Title (1) 49734 Watts Bar Nuclear Plant (WBN) - Alternate Spoils Disposal in Gravel Parking Area (2) 49942 WBN - Ice Production Equipment Replacement (3) 49953 991 - Project Manager (4) 50208 WBN - Metrological Tower Tree Clearing (5) 50563 WBN Unit 1 Turbine Building Crane Upgrade (6) 50564 WBN Replace Emergency Lights (7) 50737 Vegetation Removal at Yard Holding Pond (YHP) Overflow Weir Embankment (8) 50956 WBN Diverse and Flexible Coping Strategy (Flex) Pump Testing Ramp Installation (9) 51002 WBN Paint & Blast Booths Building (10) 51350 Unit 1 Reactor Coolant Pump (RCP) Cable Replacement Project (11) 51488 WBN Security Range Potable Water Valve Replacement (12) 51539 WBN TVA Parking Lot Sidewalk Lights Install (13) 51835 WBN-23-032 Desilting Basin Drain Security Upgrade (14) 51920 U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Watts Bar Cone Penetration Test (CPT) Project All other facility design and operational changes made during this reporting period with a potential impact on the environment were found to be within the scope of existing environmental permits and in compliance with regulations.

In summary, there were no facility designs or operational changes from February 7, 2023 to February 6, 2024, which resulted in an unreviewed environmental question.

VII.

NON-ROUTINE REPORTS No non-routine reports for EPP Section 5.4.2 (Both U1 and U2) were issued during this reporting period.

VIII.

CHANGES IN APPROVED ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION PLAN SPECIFICATIONS No changes were made to the WBN operating license, Appendix B, EPP during the reporting period.