WBL-25-021, Nucear Plant - Annual Non-Radiological Environmental Operating Report - 2024
| ML25113A070 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Watts Bar  |
| Issue date: | 04/23/2025 |
| From: | Reneau W Tennessee Valley Authority |
| To: | Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation, Document Control Desk |
| References | |
| WBL-25-021 | |
| Download: ML25113A070 (1) | |
Text
1\\14 TENNESSEE VALLEY AUTHORITY Post Office Box 2000, Spring City, Tennessee 3738 1 WBL-25-021 April 23, 2025 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 - 2024 In accordance with Section 5.4.1, "Routine Reports," of Appendix B, "Environmental Protection Plan," to the Watts Bar Nuclear Plant (WBN) Units 1 and 2 Operating Licenses, enclosed is the 2024 Annual 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, 2024 through February 6, 2025.
There are no new regulatory commitments in this letter. If you have any questions concerning this matter, please contact Jonathan Johnson, WBN Compliance Manager, at jtjohnson0@tva.gov.
~
William C. Ren Site Vice President Watts Bar Nuclear Plant
U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission WBL-25-021 Page 2 April 23, 2025
Enclosure:
Tennessee Valley Authority, Watts Bar Nuclear Plant. Annual Non-Radiological Environmental Operating Report February 7, 2024 through February 6, 2025 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-25-021 E-1 of 8 ENCLOSURE TENNESSEE VALLEY AUTHORITY WATTS BAR NUCLEAR PLANT Annual Non-Radiological Environmental Operating Report February 7, 2024 through February 6, 2025
WBL-25-021 E-2 of 8 TENNESSEE VALLEY AUTHORITY WATTS BAR NUCLEAR PLANT ANNUAL NON-RADIOLOGICAL ENVIRONMENTAL OPERATING REPORT FEBRUARY 7, 2024 THROUGH FEBRUARY 6, 2025 l\\14 TENNESSEE VALLEY AUTHORITY
WBL-25-021 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-25-021 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, 2024 through February 6, 2025. 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).
B.
WBN submitted to the TDEC the Compliance Survey for Watts Bar Nuclear Plant Outfall 113 Passive Mixing Zone for Summer 2023 and for Winter 2024.
As summarized in the reports, the compliance survey confirms 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-25-021 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 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 44 was completed by and submitted to Environmental Resource Associates, the TDEC, and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on October 23, 2024. The analysis performed and reported by our contract analytical laboratories were Not Acceptable for Total Suspended Solids (TSS). The GEL Laboratory retest Acceptable results and corrective action were submitted to the TDEC on October 30, 2024.
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. OSN 113 was sampled in May and OSN 101 was sampled in September; both Outfalls were sampled in October 2024. 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).
- 2.
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) 2023 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-25-021 E-6 of 8 III.
SPECIAL BIOLOGICAL MONITORING REPORTS (continued) 500 kV Line Identifier Maintenance Performed Bull Run - Watts Bar (Note Below)
Conservation spraying a product of 20 gallons of 10% glyphosate and 90% water was utilized on these lines within the period.
Watts Bar - Roane Conservation spraying a product of 20 gallons of 10% glyphosate and 90% water was utilized on these lines within the period.
Watts Bar - Volunteer Conservation spraying a product of 20 gallons of 10% glyphosate and 90% water was utilized on these lines within the period.
Watts Bar - Sequoyah 1 (Note Below)
Conservation spraying a product of 20 gallons of 10% glyphosate and 90% water was utilized on these lines within the period.
Watts Bar - Sequoyah 2 (Note Below)
Conservation spraying a product of 20 gallons of 10% glyphosate and 90% water was 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.
Conservation spraying is the technique of spot spraying only the vegetation that potentially will grow into the conductor.
IV.
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION PLAN NONCOMPLIANCES WBN received zero Notice of Violations (NOVs) from February 2024 to February 2025.
- 1. An unpermitted discharge of chemically treated high pressure fire protection water occurred on September 5, 2024, and was reported to the TDEC in accordance with Part 2.3.1(b) of the TN0020168 with the September 2024 DMR.
- 2. An unpermitted discharge of untreated sanitary wastewater occurred on February 3, 2025, and reported to the TDEC in accordance with Part 2.3.1(b) of the TN0020168 with the February 2025 DMR.
V.
CHANGES MADE TO APPLICABLE STATE AND FEDERAL PERMITS AND CERTIFICATIONS No change to the applicable Air and NPDES Permits.
WBL-25-021 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, 2024, through February 6, 2025, 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 11 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-25-021 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) 52027 1431-Watts Bar Nuclear Plant New Sallyport Staging Area (2) 52158 Watts Bar Nuclear Plant Warehouse and Administration Building Tree Removals (3) 52310 Watts Bar Nuclear Plant Osprey Nest Platform Relocation (4) 52427 1490 - Watts Bar Nuclear Plant Flex Pump Ramp Additions (5) 52899 Watts Bar Nuclear Plant Non-Safety Related Chiller Installation (6) 53134 1563 - Watts Bar Nuclear Plant Rad Foxtrot Pad Extension (7) 53229 1577 - Watts Bar Nuclear Plant High Pressure Fire Protection Leak Repair (8) 53475 Watts Bar Nuclear Plant Switchyard - Replace Breakers 5034, 5044, 5088, 5118 and Associated Switches (9) 53768 Security risks associated with yard drain catch basins (10) 53835 1640 - New Watts Bar Nuclear Plant Laydown area outside of Protected Area 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, 2024 to February 6, 2025, 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.