ML19207A760

Forwards 790629 Ltrs from Util to SW Harvey & Jc White of EPA Re Aquatic Monitoring Programs Including Proposed Amend to EPA License

ML19207A760
Person / Time
Site:	Sequoyah, Phipps Bend
Issue date:	08/14/1979
From:	Zeller H ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
To:	Moore V Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
References
4E-WE, NUDOCS 7908220268
Download: ML19207A760 (8)

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t ,J UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

% m3/ REGION IV 345 CouRTLAND STREC ATLANTA GEORGI A 30308 AUG f 41979 REF: 4E-WE Director, Division of Site Safety and Environmental Analysis Nuclear Regulatory Commission Washington, D.C. 20555 Attention: Voss Moore Director of Environmental Projects Re: TVA Sequoyah Nuclear Plant NPDES Permit No. TN0026450, Operational Aquatic Manitoring Program TVA Phippa Bend Nuclear Plant NPDES Permit No. TN0029301, Intske System - Fish Mitigation Devic -

Dear Sir:

Enclosed for your review are several pieces of correspondence we have received from TVA which concern their Aquatic Monitoring Programs at the two referenced facilities. Please provide any comments you may have to me.

We would appreciate receiving your comments within the next 30 days.

Sincerely yours,

.ioward D. Zeller Deputy Director Enforcement Division ec: Tennessee Department of Public Health Enclosures

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TENNESSEE VALLEY AUTHORITY

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[/ *Q,c.,Dj Mr. Sanford W. Harvey, Jr. , [], 'l,

. fb I Director, Enforce =ent Division !r i' U.S. Environ = ental Frotection Agency //ff.,"ryb20197g~ ;f Region IV I!- CQ , -

3h5 Courtland Street, NE. F 9,.! ; / ,

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• Mr. Harvey:

SEQUOYAH UUCLEAR PLANT - NPDES PERMIT NO. TN0026h50 - OPPATIONAL AQUATIC MONITORING PROGRAM In accordance with Part I.B.l.f. and Part III.G. of the subject permit, enclosed is an amendment to the operational aquatic monitoring program.

The emendment describes additional data collection to docu=ent possible effects in i=pinge=ent due to change in operational code at the Sequoyah Nuclear PlaE.- "'

If you have any questions concerning this c=end=ent, please let te know.

S'ncerely, ,

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Harry G. Moo e, Jr., Ph.D.

Acting Direc or cf Enviren= ental Quality Enclorare cc (Enclosure):

Tennessee Department of Public Health Mr. Charles H. Kaplan Division of Water Quality Control Coordinator, Them al Analysis Unit 621 Cordell Hull Building Enforcement Divisien Nashville, Tecnessee 37219 U.S. Environmental Protection Agency 3h5 Court h a Street, NE.

Mr. Jack McCormick, Regional Engineer Atlante., Georgia 30308 Division of Water Quality Centrol Tennessee Department of Public Health 2501 Milne Street Chattanocga, Tennessee 37hC6 50$0 An Eaual Opportunity Employer

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/4!EICME';T OPERATIC!IAL MOIIITCRII!G P90GR/?:

SEQUOYAH I!UCLEAR PLAITT June 28, 1979 The potential for change in impingement due to change in operational.

ode, resulting from elevated te=peratures of intake water, possibly containing chlorine in detectable a=ounts, vill be examined. Sampling

=ethodology for baseline i=pingement reference vill consist of three samples, each of eight hours duration, i==ediately prior to closed cycle operation. Upon initiation of closed cycle operation, sa=ples vill be taken at two-hour intervals until intake te=peratures have stabilized. This procedure vill be re; ,ited at least twice-in spring during rising water te=peratures, and in su==er during peak vater te=peratures. If possible, the reverse procedure of going fro = closed cycle to so=e other operating = ode vill be examined using similar sa=-

pling =ethodology. Sa=pling methodology and intervals =ay be revised so=evhat as dictated by operating constraints, persennel availability, and the analysis of early results of the invest fstion.

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TENNESSEE VALLEY AUTHORITY CHATrANOOGA. TENNESSEE 374ot 4

W 5' e JUN 2 91979 E.

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!?jl UUL Mr. John C. White

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Administrator, Region IV .j g ,W-(p' ~

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Environmental Protection Agency 345 Courtland Street, NE. -pRg h Atlanta, Georgia 30308  % 1. CA*

Dear Mr. White:

PHIPPS BEND NUCLEAR PLANT - INTAKE SYSTEM - FISH MITIGATION DEVICE Enclosed is TVA's conceptual program for monitoring the biological effects of the plant intake fish mitigation system for the Phipps Bend Nuclear Plant.

Included in the program are conditions for which the fish mitigation device will be bypassed.

TVA has recently announced slowdowns in the construction schedules at three nuclear plants (including Phipps Bend) pending a reexamination of projected power demands, schedules for completion of plants under construction, and other factors. It is expected that Phipps Bend's schedule may be adjusted such that unit 2 would begin commercial operatica several years later than unit 1. However, schedule delay options are still being analyzed and firm schedules are uncertain at this time. We intend to conduct the monitoring for the enclosed conceptual plan in ore continuous period beginning at com-mercial operation of unit 1 and extending until one year after commercial operation of unit 2. However, delay of unit 2 may make this impractical, and separate monitoring periods may be necessary. The enclosed conceptual monitoring program reflects this approach.

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l W Harry G. Mo re, Jr., Ph.D.

Acting Dire}ctor of Environmentar Quality Enclosure cc: See page 2

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Mr. John C. White JUN 2 g 1979 cc (Enclosure):

Mr. Kenneth E. Black, Regional Director U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 17 Executive Park Drive, NE.

Atlanta, Georgia 30329 Mr. Sanf d W. Harvey, ., Director Enforcemen Division, egion IV Environment 1 Prote - ion Agency 345 Courtlan St et, NE.

Atlanta, Geor 30308 Mr. Charle ap an, Coordinator Thermal alysis Unit Enfore ent Divis on Envir nmental Prot tion Agency 345 ourtland Street NE.

anta, Georgia 303 Mr. Earl Leming, Chief Knoxville Regional Office Environmental Health Services Dd g'*e33 1522 Cherokee Trail d Knoxville, Tennessee 37920 #

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2q Pr. Elmo Lunn, Director Division of Water Quality Control p Department of Public Health g.f,}

q 621 Cordell Hull Building g&,

Nashville, Tennessee 37219 ,

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\ / 6' Mr. Lee Tebo, Chief

%t Pollution Surveillance Branch U. S. Enviro'nmen'tal Protection Agency ['*n -1 College Sta' tion .ad Athens , , Georgia 30601 (N( T

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Director, Division of Site Safety and gW ~g Environmental Analysis Attention: Voss Moore, Director of (.

Environmental Projects Nuclear Regulatory Commission Washington, D.C. 20555 784C

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Phipps Bend Nuclear Plant Conceptual Program for Monitoring the Biological Effects Of the Plant Intake System

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Described herein is the conceptual biological monitoring program for assessing the effects of the plant intake system nd for evaluating the effectiveness of the fish mitigation device at the Phipps Bend Nuclear Plant. This program will be impJ emented on or before the date of commercial operation for unit 1 and remain in effect for two years. Additional monitoring will be conducted to assess effects related to the addition of a second unit to this plant. During and after this monitoring, data will be analyzed and reviewed ta determine the need to modify the screen operating procedures and the need to continue the monitoring program. Program modifications and supporting rationale will be submitted to EPA at least 30 days prior to implementation.

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Fish Mitigation Device TVA plans to operate the fish mitigation screen facilities only during the period when significant numbers of larval fish are present in the Holston River in the vicinity of the plant. The beginning and end of this period will be determined by icth /oplankton occurrence data obtained during preoperational monitoring.

During periods when larval fish are not present in significant numbers, the mitigation device may be bypassed. In addition, any operating screen will

.utomat.4 ally be bypassed to prevent its collapse when a head loss of 18 inches occurs through the screen. In this event, a warning device in the control room will automatically be activated and measures will be taken to activate the redundent screen as soon as possible. The period of time the screen was bypassed and the volume of water drawn into the plant during this period will be documented. The screens will also be bypassed to provide cooling water to the plant on an emergency basis if some portion of the mitigation device should become inoperable during a natural disaster.

When the mitigation screens are in operation, larval fish samples will be collected weekly. The number of ichthyoplankters in the river _ 2 passing the plant will be estimated from samples collected at a transect upstream of the plant intake. Numbers impinged on the screens, surviving impingemenc on the screens, and en'. rained through the screens will be similarly estimated frca samples concoaitantly collected off the screens, from the return sluice, and from the intake channel, respectively, or at other appropriate locations.

Upon initial startup of the mitigation screens, the monitoring results are expected to provide the basis for " tuning" the screen operation (e.g., adjusting screen travel rates, screen washwater pressures, etc.).

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Plant Intake When larval fish are not present in signific.2nt numbers, the intake water will bypass the mitigation screens and flow to the plant intake pumping station via an intake channel. Conventional through-flow vertical traveling screens with 3/8-inch mesh are contained in the intake pumping station. Fish impingement counts will be made biweekly to determine the need to operate the mitigation screen device during periods other than when larval fish are present.

Entrainment of drift macroinvertebrate will be monitored by collecting monthly samples at transects in the intake channel and in the Holston River upstrear from the intake. The types of macroinvertebrates most susceptible to entrain-ment will be determined and macroinvertebrate loss due to the plant will be estimated. Zooplankton and phytoplankton will not be monitored. These communities do not constitute a major part of the food chain in free-flowing streams, and their loss will not result in an alteration of the indigenous fauna and flora of the Holston River.

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