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| number = ML13024A012 | | number = ML13024A012 | ||
| issue date = 01/07/2013 | | issue date = 01/07/2013 | ||
| title = | | title = License Renewal Application, Part 2 of 8 | ||
| author name = | | author name = | ||
| author affiliation = Tennessee Valley Authority | | author affiliation = Tennessee Valley Authority | ||
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=Text= | =Text= | ||
{{#Wiki_filter:APPENDIX | {{#Wiki_filter:APPENDIX E Applicants Environmental Report Operating License Renewal Stage Sequoyah Nuclear Plant | ||
Sequoyah | |||
Sequoyah Nuclear Plant Applicants Environmental Report Operating License Renewal Stage INTRODUCTION Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) submits this Environmental Report (ER) in conjunction with the application to the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) to renew the operating licenses for Sequoyah Nuclear Plant Units 1 and 2 (hereafter referred to as SQN or SQN Units 1 and 2) for 20 years beyond the end of the current license terms. In compliance with applicable NRC requirements, this ER analyzes potential environmental impacts associated with renewal of the SQN operating licenses (OLs). This ER is designed to assist the NRC staff with the preparation of the SQN-specific supplemental environmental impact statement (SEIS) required for license renewal. | |||
The SQN ER is provided in accordance with 10 CFR 54.23, which requires license renewal applicants to submit a supplement to the ER that complies with the requirements of Subpart A of 10 CFR Part 51. This report also addresses the more detailed requirements of NRC environmental regulations in 10 CFR 51.45 and 10 CFR 51.53(c), as well as the intent of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), 42 USC 4321 et seq. For major federal actions, NEPA requires federal agencies to prepare a detailed statement that evaluates environmental impacts, alternatives to the proposed action, and irreversible and irretrievable commitments of resources associated with implementation of the proposed action. | |||
Sequoyah Nuclear | TVA used Supplement 1 to Regulatory Guide 4.2, "Preparation of Supplemental Environmental Reports for Applications to Renew Nuclear Power Plant Operating Licenses," as guidance on the format and content of this ER. In addition, TVA utilized the Generic Environmental Impact Statement (GEIS) for License Renewal of Nuclear Plants (NUREG-1437) and Appendix B to 10 CFR Part 51 in preparation of this report. Although not yet regulatory requirements, TVA also considered the proposed amendment to 10 CFR Part 51 during the development of this ER for purposes of completeness but not in order to satisfy governing regulatory requirements. The level of information provided on the various topics and issues in this ER are commensurate with the environmental significance of the particular topic or issue. | ||
Based upon the evaluations discussed in this ER, TVA concludes that the environmental impacts associated with renewal of the SQN OLs are SMALL. No plant refurbishment activities have been identified as necessary to support the continued operation of SQN beyond the end of the existing OLs term. Ongoing plant operational and maintenance activities will be performed during the license renewal period, but no significant environmental impacts associated with such activities are expected because established programs and procedures are in place to ensure that proper environmental monitoring continues to be conducted throughout the renewal term as discussed in Chapter 9. | |||
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Sequoyah Nuclear Plant Applicants Environmental Report Operating License Renewal Stage ACRONYMS, ABBREVIATIONS AND SYMBOLS | |||
Sequoyah Nuclear | § section | ||
ºC degree Celsius | |||
ºF degree Fahrenheit | |||
µm micrometers AADT annual average daily traffic ACHP Advisory Council on Historic Preservation ACRES assessment, cleanup and redevelopment exchange system AFS Air Facility System (EPA) | |||
AFW auxiliary feedwater ALARA as low as reasonably achievable APE area of potential effect B&W Babcock and Wilcox BFN Browns Ferry Nuclear Plant bgs below ground surface BLEU blended low-enriched uranium BMP best management practice BP before present BTA best technology available. | |||
Btu British thermal unit Btu/kWh British thermal unit per kilowatt-hour BWR boiling water reactor CAA Clean Air Act CCS carbon capture and storage CCS/AFW component cooling water system/auxiliary feedwater CCW condenser circulating water CDC U.S. Centers for Disease Control iii | |||
Sequoyah Nuclear Plant Applicants Environmental Report Operating License Renewal Stage ACRONYMS, ABBREVIATIONS AND SYMBOLS (CONTINUED) | |||
CDCT cask decontamination collector tank CECC Central Emergency Control Center CEQ Council on Environmental Quality Ceq/kWh carbon equivalents per kilowatt hour CERCLA Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act CFR Code of Federal Regulations cfs cubic feet per second CHCAPCB Chattanooga-Hamilton County Air Pollution Control Bureau CHCRPA Chattanooga-Hamilton County Regional Planning Agency cm centimeter CO carbon monoxide CO2 carbon dioxide CRP conservation reserve program CSP concentrating solar power CSX CSX Transportation, Inc. | |||
CVCS chemical and volume control system CWA Clean Water Act DAW dry active waste dBa A-weighted decibel DO dissolved oxygen DOE U.S. Department of Energy DSEIS draft supplemental environmental impact statement E east EA environmental assessment EAB exclusion area boundary ED TVA Energy Delivery iv | |||
Sequoyah Nuclear Plant Applicants Environmental Report Operating License Renewal Stage ACRONYMS, ABBREVIATIONS AND SYMBOLS (CONTINUED) | |||
EDR Environmental Data Resources EDS environmental data station EEDR energy efficiency and demand response EERE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (DOE) | |||
EF Enhanced Fujita (tornado scale ranging from 0 to 5) e.g. for example (Latin exempli gratia) | |||
EIS environmental impact statement ENE east-northeast EO Executive Order EPA U.S. Environmental Protection Agency EPCRA Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act EPRI Electric Power Research Institute EPT Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera, and Trichoptera EqA equivalent adult ER environmental report ERCW essential raw cooling water ESA Endangered Species Act ESE east-southeast ESRI Environmental Systems Research Institute et seq. and following (Latin et sequens) | |||
FAA Federal Aviation Administration FDCT floor drain collector tank F Fujita (tornado scale ranging from 0 to 5) | |||
FEIS final environmental impact statement FES final environmental statement FONSI finding of no significant impact v | |||
Sequoyah Nuclear Plant Applicants Environmental Report Operating License Renewal Stage ACRONYMS, ABBREVIATIONS AND SYMBOLS (CONTINUED) fps feet per second FRP flood risk profile FSEIS final supplemental environmental impact statement ft | |||
==SUMMARY== | ==SUMMARY== | ||
OF LICENSE RENEWAL IMPACTS AND MITIGATING ACTIONS . . . . . 6-1 6.1 License Renewal Impacts. . . . . . . | |||
Sequoyah Nuclear Plant Applicants Environmental Report Operating License Renewal Stage 1.0 PURPOSE OF AND NEED FOR THE PROPOSED ACTION For license renewal, the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) has adopted the following definition of purpose and need, stated in Section 1.3 of NUREG-1437, Generic Environmental Impact Statement for License Renewal of Nuclear Power Plants (GEIS): "The purpose and need for the proposed action (renewal of an operating license) is to provide an option that allows for power generation capability beyond the term of a current nuclear power plant operating license to meet future system generating needs, as such needs may be determined by State, utility, and, where authorized, Federal (other than USNRC) decision makers." | |||
The Atomic Energy Act of 1954 authorizes the NRC to issue commercial nuclear power plant operating licenses (OLs) for up to 40 years. The 40-year length of the original license period was imposed for economic and antitrust reasons rather than the technical limitations of the nuclear power plant. NRC regulations [10 CFR 50.51] allow for the renewal of these OLs for periods up to an additional 20 years, depending on the outcome of an assessment determining whether the nuclear power plant can continue to operate safely and protect the environment during the 20-year period of extended operation. Additionally, 10 CFR 54.17(c) states, "[A]n application for a renewed license may not be submitted to the Commission earlier than 20 years before the expiration of the operating license currently in effect." | |||
The proposed action is to renew the OLs for Sequoyah Nuclear Plant (SQN) Units 1 and 2, which would preserve the option for the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) to continue operating SQN to provide base load(1) power throughout the 20-year period of extended operation and to continue use of an existing asset. The OLs expiration dates are September 17, 2020, for Unit 1 (Facility OL DPR-077) and September 15, 2021, for Unit 2 (Facility OL DPR-079). The requested renewals would allow SQN to operate until midnight on September 17, 2040, for Unit 1 and until midnight on September 15, 2041, for Unit 2. | |||
1.1 Environmental Report NRC regulation 10 CFR 51.53(c) requires that an applicant for license renewal submit with its application an environmental report (ER) (Appendix E of the application) entitled, "Applicant's Environmental ReportOperating License Renewal Stage." The requirements governing information to be included in an ER are codified at 10 CFR 51.45 and 51.53(c), and Table B-1 in Part 51 Appendix B lists the specific issues to be addressed in an ER. The GEIS developed by NRC discusses each of the environmental issues of concern for nuclear plant license renewal (NRC 1996). The specifics of each of the regulatory requirements and the concerns documented in the GEIS are presented by environmental issue in Chapter 4. | |||
NRC has proposed amendments to 10 CFR Part 51 regarding what information is to be included in an ER (74 FR 38117; NRC 2012). The proposed amendments include combining related environmental issues, reassignment of issue categories, identification of new Category 1 and 2 | |||
: 1. Base load is the minimum amount of electric power over a given period of time at a steady rate. | |||
The minimum continuous load or demand in a power system over a given period of time is usually not temperature sensitive. | |||
1-1 | |||
Sequoyah Nuclear Plant Applicants Environmental Report Operating License Renewal Stage issues, and the expansion of existing issues. NRC discusses this amended compilation of environmental issues of concern for nuclear plant license renewal in the draft GEIS published in 2009 (NRC 2009a). Although not yet regulatory requirements, TVA has also included in this ER, for purposes of completeness, but not in order to satisfy governing regulatory requirements, those Category 2 issues, either new or with expanded scope, currently in the proposed amendment to 10 CFR Part 51 (74 FR 38117; NRC 2012). TVA developed Table 1.1-1 as a crosswalk matrix showing relationships between the 1996 GEIS issues (those required by current regulations) and the proposed 2009 GEIS issues. The matrix identifies where the issue is addressed within the ER, to provide assurance that each issue is addressed as appropriate and guide the reviewer to the specific location in the ER. | |||
This appendix to the TVA license renewal application (LRA) fulfills the requirements of 10 CFR Part 51 for information to be included and proactively addresses those new or expanded Category 2 issues that NRC included in its proposed amendment to 10 CFR Part 51. Moreover, TVA also addressed the proposed new Category 1 issues set forth in the proposed amendments to the GEIS in its new and significant process as discussed in Chapter 5. | |||
1.2 Licensee and Ownership TVA is a federal agency and the owner and operator of SQN Unit 1 (Facility OL DPR-77) and Unit 2 (Facility OL DPR-79). For the purposes of this ER, TVA is considered the applicant. TVA also owns and operates the transmission lines constructed for purposes of connecting SQN to the electric power grid. | |||
1-2 | |||
Sequoyah Nuclear Plant Applicants Environmental Report Operating License Renewal Stage Table 1.1-1 License Renewal Environmental Issues: | |||
Current 1996 GEIS/Proposed 2009 GEIS Crosswalk (2009 issue expansions in bold text; new 2009 issues underlined) 1996 2009 Applicable Where 1996 GEIS Issue 2009 GEIS Issue Category Category to SQN Considered Surface Water Quality, Hydrology, and Use Impacts of Surface water use 1 1 1996: No ER Section 3.3 refurbishment on and quality (both 2009: Yes surface water quality continuing operations and Impacts of refurbishment) 1 1996: No ER Section 3.3 refurbishment on 2009: Yes surface water use Altered current Altered current 1 1 Yes ER Sections 2.2 patterns at intake and patterns at intake and and 3.2 discharge structures discharge structures Altered salinity Altered salinity 1 1 No ER Section 4.0 gradients gradients and Table 4.0-1 Altered thermal Altered thermal 1 1 Yes ER Section 2.2 stratification of lakes stratification of lakes Temperature effects Temperature effects 1 1 Yes ER Table 4.0-1 on sediment on sediment transport capacity transport capacity Scouring caused by Scouring caused by 1 1 Yes ER Section 2.2 discharged cooling discharged cooling and Table 4.0-1 water water Discharge of chlorine Discharge of 1 1 Yes ER Section 3.2 or other biocides biocides, sanitary wastes, and minor Discharge of sanitary chemical spills 1 Yes ER Section 3.2 wastes and minor chemical spills Discharge of metals Discharge of metals 1 1 Yes ER Sections 2.2 in waste water in cooling system and 3.2 effluent Water use conflicts Water use conflicts 1 1 Yes ER Sections 2.2, (plants with once- (plants with once- 2.10.1, and 3.2 through cooling through cooling systems) systems) 1-3 | |||
Sequoyah Nuclear Plant Applicants Environmental Report Operating License Renewal Stage Table 1.1-1 (Continued) | |||
License Renewal Environmental Issues: | |||
Current 1996 GEIS/Proposed 2009 GEIS Crosswalk (2009 issue expansions in bold text; new 2009 issues underlined) 1996 2009 Applicable Where 1996 GEIS Issue 2009 GEIS Issue Category Category to SQN Considered Water use conflicts Water use conflicts 2 2 Yes ER Sections 2.2, (plants with cooling (plants with cooling 2.10.1, 3.2, and ponds or cooling ponds or cooling 4.1 towers using makeup towers using makeup water from a small water from a river river with low flow) with low flow) | |||
Not specifically Effects of dredging No 1 Yes ER Sections 2.2, identified as a on water quality category 2.5, and 3.2 separate category issueaddressed elsewhere Aquatic Ecology Refurbishment Refurbishment 1 1 No ER Sections 2.2 impacts on aquatic and 3.3 resources Accumulation of Effects of 1 1 Yes ER Sections 2.2 contaminants in nonradiological and 3.2.8.2 sediments or biota contaminants on aquatic organisms Eutrophication Effects of cooling 1 1 Yes ER Section 2.2 water discharge on Gas supersaturation dissolved oxygen, 1 Yes ER Section 2.2 (gas bubble disease) gas supersaturation, Low dissolved and eutrophication 1 Yes ER Section 2.2 oxygen in the discharge Entrainment of fish Impingement and 2 2 Yes ER Section 4.2 and shellfish in early entrainment of life stages aquatic organisms Impingement of fish 2 Yes ER Section 4.3 and shellfish Entrainment of Entrainment of 1 1 Yes ER Sections 2.2 phytoplankton and phytoplankton and and 4.2 zooplankton zooplankton 1-4 | |||
Sequoyah Nuclear Plant Applicants Environmental Report Operating License Renewal Stage Table 1.1-1 (Continued) | |||
License Renewal Environmental Issues: | |||
Current 1996 GEIS/Proposed 2009 GEIS Crosswalk (2009 issue expansions in bold text; new 2009 issues underlined) 1996 2009 Applicable Where 1996 GEIS Issue 2009 GEIS Issue Category Category to SQN Considered Heat shock (for Thermal impacts on 2 2 Yes ER Sections 2.2 plants with once- aquatic organisms and 4.4 for once-through and cooling (plants with once- through cooling pond heat dissipation through cooling discharge systems) systems or cooling ponds) | |||
Cold shock Infrequently reported 1 1 Yes ER Sections 2.2 thermal impacts (all and 4.4 for once-plants) through cooling discharge Thermal plume 1 Yes ER Sections 2.2 barrier to migrating and 4.4 for once-fish through cooling discharge; Distribution of aquatic 1 Yes ER Section 4.4 organisms for once-through cooling discharge Premature 1 Yes ER Section 4.4 emergence of aquatic for once-through insects cooling discharge Stimulation of 1 Yes ER Table 4.0-1 nuisance organisms (e.g., shipworms) | |||
Losses from Losses from 1 1 Yes ER Section 2.2 predation, parasitism, predation, parasitism, and disease among and disease among organisms exposed organisms exposed to sub-lethal stresses to sub-lethal stresses Not specifically Exposure of aquatic No 1 Yes ER Section 3.2.5 identified as a organisms to category separate category radionuclides issueaddressed elsewhere. | |||
1-5 | |||
Sequoyah Nuclear Plant Applicants Environmental Report Operating License Renewal Stage Table 1.1-1 (Continued) | |||
License Renewal Environmental Issues: | |||
Current 1996 GEIS/Proposed 2009 GEIS Crosswalk (2009 issue expansions in bold text; new 2009 issues underlined) 1996 2009 Applicable Where 1996 GEIS Issue 2009 GEIS Issue Category Category to SQN Considered Not specifically Effects of dredging No 1 Yes ER Sections 2.2 identified as a on aquatic organisms category and 9.1 separate category issueaddressed elsewhere. | |||
Not specifically Impacts of No 1 Yes ER Section 3.2 identified as a transmission line category separate category right-of-way (ROW) issueaddressed management on elsewhere. aquatic resources Aquatic Ecology (for plants with cooling tower-based heat dissipation systems) | |||
Entrainment of fish Impingement and 1 1 Yes ER Sections 2.2, and shellfish in early entrainment of 2.5, and 4.2 life stages aquatic organisms (also, incorporates Impingement of fish entrainment of 1 Yes ER Sections 2.2, and shellfish phytoplankton and 2.5, and 4.3 zooplankton, see above) | |||
Heat shock for plants Thermal impacts on 1 1 Yes ER Sections 2.2 with cooling tower- aquatic organisms and 4.4 based heat (incorporates cold dissipation systems shock, thermal plume barrier to migrating fish, distribution of aquatic organisms, and premature emergence of aquatic insects) 1-6 | |||
cooling towers | Sequoyah Nuclear Plant Applicants Environmental Report Operating License Renewal Stage Table 1.1-1 (Continued) | ||
License Renewal Environmental Issues: | |||
Current 1996 GEIS/Proposed 2009 GEIS Crosswalk (2009 issue expansions in bold text; new 2009 issues underlined) 1996 2009 Applicable Where 1996 GEIS Issue 2009 GEIS Issue Category Category to SQN Considered Consumptive water Water use conflicts No 2 Yes ER Sections 2.2, use conflict impacts with aquatic category 3.2, 4.0.5, 4.1, on riparian vegetation resources (plants and 4.10 and associated with cooling ponds or animal communities cooling towers using is combined with makeup water from a water use conflicts for river with low flow). | |||
water resources (plants with cooling towers on river with low flow) | |||
Groundwater Use and Quality Groundwater use Groundwater use 1 1 No ER Sections 2.3, conflicts (potable and conflicts (plants that 3.2, and 4.0 service water; plants withdraw < 100 gpm) that use < 100 gpm) | |||
Groundwater use Groundwater use 2 2 No ER Section 4.5 conflicts (potable, conflicts (plants that service water, and withdraw > 100 gpm dewatering; plants including those using that use > 100 gpm) Ranney wells) | |||
Groundwater use Groundwater use 2 2 Yes ER Section 4.6 conflicts (plants using conflicts (plants with cooling towers closed-cycle cooling withdrawing makeup systems that water from a small withdraw makeup river) water from a river) | |||
Groundwater use See above 2 2 No ER Section 4.7 conflicts (Ranney (Groundwater use wells) conflicts [plants that withdraw > 100 gpm including those using Ranney wells]) | |||
1-7 | |||
Sequoyah Nuclear Plant Applicants Environmental Report Operating License Renewal Stage Table 1.1-1 (Continued) | |||
License Renewal Environmental Issues: | |||
Current 1996 GEIS/Proposed 2009 GEIS Crosswalk (2009 issue expansions in bold text; new 2009 issues underlined) 1996 2009 Applicable Where 1996 GEIS Issue 2009 GEIS Issue Category Category to SQN Considered Groundwater quality Groundwater quality 1 1 No ER Sections 2.3 degradation (Ranney degradation resulting and 3.2 wells) from water withdrawals Groundwater quality 1 No ER Sections 2.3 degradation and 3.2 (saltwater intrusion) | |||
Groundwater quality Groundwater quality 1 1 No ER Sections 2.3 degradation (cooling degradation (cooling and 3.2 ponds in salt ponds in salt marshes) marshes) | |||
Groundwater quality Groundwater quality 2 2 No ER Sections 2.3, degradation (cooling degradation (cooling 3.2, and 4.8 ponds at inland sites) ponds at inland sites) | |||
Impacts of Groundwater 1 1 1996: No ER Sections 2.3, refurbishment on contamination and 2009: Yes 3.2, and 9.1.3 groundwater use and use (non-cooling quality system impacts) | |||
Not specifically Radionuclides No 2 Yes ER Sections 2.3, identified as a released to category 3.2, and 9.1.3 separate category groundwater issueaddressed elsewhere Terrestrial Resources Refurbishment Impacts of 2 2 1996: No ER Sections impacts to terrestrial refurbishment and 2009: Yes 2.4, 3.2, and 4.9 resources continued plant operations on terrestrial ecosystems. | |||
1-8 | |||
Sequoyah Nuclear Plant Applicants Environmental Report Operating License Renewal Stage Table 1.1-1 (Continued) | |||
) | License Renewal Environmental Issues: | ||
Current 1996 GEIS/Proposed 2009 GEIS Crosswalk (2009 issue expansions in bold text; new 2009 issues underlined) 1996 2009 Applicable Where 1996 GEIS Issue 2009 GEIS Issue Category Category to SQN Considered Cooling tower Cooling tower 1 1 Yes ER Sections 2.4, impacts on crops and impacts on 3.2, and 4.0 ornamental vegetation vegetation Cooling tower 1 Yes ER Sections 2.4, impacts on native 3.2, and 4.0 plants Bird collisions with Bird collisions with 1 1 Yes ER Sections 2.4, cooling towers cooling towers and 2.5, 3.2, and 4.0 transmission lines Cooling pond impacts Cooling system 1 1 1996: No ER Sections 2.4, on terrestrial impacts on terrestrial 2009: Yes 3.2, and 4.0 resources resources (plants with once-through cooling systems or cooling ponds) | |||
Power line ROW Transmission line 1 1 Yes ER Sections 2.4, management (cutting ROW management 2.5, 3.2, and 4.0 and herbicide impacts on terrestrial application) resources Bird collisions with See above (Bird 1 1 Yes ER Sections 2.4, power lines collisions with cooling 2.5, 3.2, and 4.0. | |||
towers and transmission lines) | |||
Impacts of Impacts of 1 1 Yes ER Sections 2.4, electromagnetic electromagnetic 2.5, 3.2, and 4.0 fields on flora and fields on flora and fauna (plants, fauna (plants, agricultural crops, agricultural crops, honeybees, wildlife, honeybees, wildlife, and livestock) and livestock) | |||
Floodplains and See above 1 1 Yes ER Sections 2.4, wetlands on power (transmission line 3.2, and 4.0 line ROW ROW management impacts on terrestrial resources) 1-9 | |||
Sequoyah Nuclear Plant Applicants Environmental Report Operating License Renewal Stage Table 1.1-1 (Continued) | |||
License Renewal Environmental Issues: | |||
Current 1996 GEIS/Proposed 2009 GEIS Crosswalk (2009 issue expansions in bold text; new 2009 issues underlined) 1996 2009 Applicable Where 1996 GEIS Issue 2009 GEIS Issue Category Category to SQN Considered Not specifically Exposure of No 1 Yes ER Sections 2.4, identified as a terrestrial organisms category 3.2, 4.0, and separate category to radionuclides 9.1.3 issueaddressed elsewhere Not specifically Water use conflicts No 2 Yes ER Sections identified as a with terrestrial category 2.2.1, 2.4, 4.1, separate category resources (plants and 4.9 issueaddressed with cooling ponds or elsewhere cooling towers using makeup water from a river with low flow) | |||
Threatened or Endangered Species (for all plants) | |||
Threatened or Threatened, 2 2 Yes ER Sections 2.2, endangered species endangered, and 2.5, and 4.10 protected species and essential fish habitat Air Quality Air quality during Air quality impacts 2 1 1996: No ER Sections refurbishment (all plants) 2009: Yes 2.11 and 4.11 (nonattainment and maintenance areas) | |||
Air quality effects of Air quality effects of 1 1 Yes ER Sections 3.2 transmission lines transmission lines and 4.0 Land Use See Socioeconomics Offsite land use 2 1 No ER Sections 3.3 (Offsite land use (refurbishment and and 4.17 | |||
[refurbishment]) continued operations) | |||
See Socioeconomics 2 Yes ER Sections 2.8 (Offsite land use and 4.18 | |||
[license renewal term]) | |||
1-10 | |||
Sequoyah Nuclear Plant Applicants Environmental Report Operating License Renewal Stage Table 1.1-1 (Continued) | |||
License Renewal Environmental Issues: | |||
Current 1996 GEIS/Proposed 2009 GEIS Crosswalk (2009 issue expansions in bold text; new 2009 issues underlined) 1996 2009 Applicable Where 1996 GEIS Issue 2009 GEIS Issue Category Category to SQN Considered Onsite land use Onsite land use 1 1 Yes ER Sections 2.4 (refurbishment and and 4.0 continued operations) | |||
Power line ROW Offsite land use in 1 1 Yes ER Sections 3.2 land-use impacts transmission line and 4.0 ROWs (refurbishment and continued operations) | |||
Human Health Radiation exposures Radiation exposures 1 1 Yes ER Sections 3.2, to the public to the public 3.3, and 4.0 (refurbishment and (refurbishment and continued operations) continued operations) | |||
Occupational Radiation exposures 1 1 Yes ER Sections 3.2, radiation exposures to occupational 3.3, and 4.0 (refurbishment and workers continued operations) (refurbishment and continued operations) | |||
Microbiological Microbiological 1 1 Yes ER Section 4.0 organisms hazards to plant (occupational health) workers Microbiological Microbiological 2 2 Yes ER Section 4.12 organisms (public hazards to the public health) (plants using (plants with cooling lakes or canals, or ponds or canals or cooling towers or cooling towers that cooling ponds that discharge to river) discharge to a small river) | |||
Noise Noise impacts 1 1 Yes ER Sections 2.1 and 9.1 Electromagnetic Electric shock 2 2 Yes ER Section 4.13 fields, acute effects hazards 1-11 | |||
Sequoyah Nuclear Plant Applicants Environmental Report Operating License Renewal Stage Table 1.1-1 (Continued) | |||
License Renewal Environmental Issues: | |||
Current 1996 GEIS/Proposed 2009 GEIS Crosswalk (2009 issue expansions in bold text; new 2009 issues underlined) 1996 2009 Applicable Where 1996 GEIS Issue 2009 GEIS Issue Category Category to SQN Considered Electromagnetic Electromagnetic No No Yes N&S review fields, chronic effects fields, chronic effects category category Not specifically Human health impact No 1 Yes ER Section 3.2 identified as a from chemicals category separate category issueaddressed elsewhere Not specifically Physical occupational No 1 Yes ER Sections 4.0 identified as a hazards category and 9.1 separate category issueaddressed elsewhere Socioeconomics Housing impacts Population and 2 1 Yes ER Sections 2.6, housing 2.9, 3.5, and 4.14 Public services: Employment and 1 1 Yes ER Sections 2.6 public safety, social income, recreation and 2.10 services, and tourism and tourism and recreation Public services: Community services 2 1 Yes ER Sections public utilities and education 2.10 and 4.15 Public services: 2 Yes ER Sections education 2.10 and 4.16 (refurbishment) | |||
Public services: 1 Yes ER Section 2.10 education (license renewal term) | |||
Offsite land use See Land Use 2 1 Yes ER Sections 3.3 (refurbishment) above and 4.17 Offsite land use See Land Use 2 1 Yes ER Sections 2.8 (license renewal above and 4.18 term) 1-12 | |||
Sequoyah Nuclear Plant Applicants Environmental Report Operating License Renewal Stage Table 1.1-1 (Continued) | |||
License Renewal Environmental Issues: | |||
Current 1996 GEIS/Proposed 2009 GEIS Crosswalk (2009 issue expansions in bold text; new 2009 issues underlined) 1996 2009 Applicable Where 1996 GEIS Issue 2009 GEIS Issue Category Category to SQN Considered Public services: Transportation 2 1 Yes ER Sections transportation (refurbishment and 2.10 and 4.19 (refurbishment and continued operations) continued operations) | |||
Historic and Historic and cultural 2 2 Yes ER Sections archaeological resources 2.12 and 4.20 resources Aesthetic impacts Visual resources, 1 1 No ER Sections 2.1, (refurbishment) aesthetic impacts 3.3, and 4.0 Aesthetic impacts 1 Yes ER Sections 2.1 (license renewal and 4.0 term) | |||
Aesthetic impacts of Visual resources, 1 1 Yes ER Sections 2.1 transmission lines aesthetic impacts and 4.0 (license renewal term) | |||
Not specifically Tax revenues No 1 Yes ER Sections 2.7 identified as a category and 4.18 separate category issueaddressed elsewhere Postulated Accidents Design basis Design basis 1 1 Yes ER Sections 3.2 accidents accidents and 4.0 Severe accidents Severe accidents 2 2 Yes ER Section 4.21 Uranium Fuel Cycle and Waste Management Offsite radiological Offsite radiological 1 1 Yes ER Section 4.0 impacts (individual impacts (individual effects from other effects from other than the disposal of than the disposal of spent fuel and high- spent fuel and high-level waste) level waste) 1-13 | |||
Sequoyah Nuclear Plant Applicants Environmental Report Operating License Renewal Stage Table 1.1-1 (Continued) | |||
License Renewal Environmental Issues: | |||
Current 1996 GEIS/Proposed 2009 GEIS Crosswalk (2009 issue expansions in bold text; new 2009 issues underlined) 1996 2009 Applicable Where 1996 GEIS Issue 2009 GEIS Issue Category Category to SQN Considered Offsite radiological Offsite radiological 1 1 Yes ER Section 4.0 impacts (collective impacts (collective effects) effects from other than the disposal of spent fuel and high-level waste) | |||
Offsite radiological Solid waste, offsite 1 1 Yes ER Sections 3.2 impacts (spent fuel radiological impacts and 4.0 and high-level waste of spent fuel and disposal) high-level waste disposal Nonradiological Nonradiological 1 1 Yes ER Section 4.0 impacts of the impacts of the uranium fuel cycle uranium fuel cycle Low-level waste Solid waste, low-level 1 1 Yes ER Sections 3.2 storage and disposal waste storage and and 4.0 disposal Mixed waste storage Solid waste, mixed 1 1 Yes ER Sections 3.2 and disposal waste storage and and 4.0 disposal Onsite spent fuel Solid waste, onsite 1 1 Yes ER Sections 3.2 storage of spent fuel and 4.0 Nonradiological Solid waste, 1 1 Yes ER Sections 3.2, waste nonradiological waste 4.0, and 9.1 storage and disposal Transportation Transportation 1 1 Yes ER Sections 3.1 and 4.0 1-14 | |||
Sequoyah Nuclear Plant Applicants Environmental Report Operating License Renewal Stage Table 1.1-1 (Continued) | |||
License Renewal Environmental Issues: | |||
Current 1996 GEIS/Proposed 2009 GEIS Crosswalk (2009 issue expansions in bold text; new 2009 issues underlined) 1996 2009 Applicable Where 1996 GEIS Issue 2009 GEIS Issue Category Category to SQN Considered Termination of Nuclear Power Plant Operations and Decommissioning Radiation doses Termination of 1 1 Yes ER Sections 4.0 nuclear power plant and 7.1 operations and Waste management decommissioning 1 Yes ER Sections 4.0 and 7.1 Air quality 1 Yes ER Sections 4.0 and 7.1 Water quality 1 Yes ER Sections 4.0 and 7.1 Ecological resources 1 Yes ER Sections 4.0 and 7.1 Socioeconomic 1 Yes ER Sections 4.0 impacts and 7.1 Environmental Justice Environmental justice Minority and low- No 2 Yes ER Sections 2.6 income populations category and 4.22 Geology and Soils (new topic in 2009) | |||
Not specifically Impact of nuclear No 1 Yes ER Sections 2.3 identified as a plants on geology category and 4.0 separate category and soils issueaddressed elsewhere Cumulative Impacts Not specifically Cumulative impacts No 2 Yes ER Section 4.23 identified as a category separate category issueaddressed elsewhere Note: The review in ER Chapter 5 provides an evaluation of any new and significant information which might result in Category 1 impact conclusions different from those of the GEIS. | |||
1-15 | |||
Sequoyah Nuclear Plant Applicants Environmental Report Operating License Renewal Stage 2.0 SITE AND ENVIRONMENTAL INTERFACES This chapter discusses the existing environment and environmental interfaces at the SQN site that would continue if license renewals were approved. The environmental descriptions provide sufficient detail to identify those environmental resources that have the potential to be affected by the continued operation of SQN Units 1 and 2. | |||
This ER draws from the original licensing documents and other documents addressing the regional, local, and site characteristics of the SQN site and its environment. Preparation of this ER included reviews and citations, where needed, of other documents, including the following: | |||
* 1974 Final Environmental Statement, Sequoyah Nuclear Plant Units 1 and 2, and 1978 Update | |||
* 1980 Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact for Low-Level Radwaste Management, Sequoyah Nuclear Plant | |||
* 1988 Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant ImpactChange in Expiration Dates of Facility Operating License Nos. DPR-77 and DPR-79, Tennessee Valley Authority, Sequoyah Nuclear Plant, Units 1 and 2 | |||
* 1999 Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant ImpactLow Level Radioactive Waste Transport and Storage Watts Bar and Sequoyah Nuclear Plants | |||
* 1999 Final Environmental Impact Statement for the Production of Tritium in a Commercial Light Water Reactor (U.S. Department of Energy [DOE]) | |||
* 2000 Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant ImpactReplacement of Steam Generators, Sequoyah Nuclear Plant, Unit 1 | |||
* 2000 Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant ImpactIndependent Spent Fuel Storage Installation Sequoyah Nuclear Plant | |||
* 2001 Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant ImpactLeading Edge Flow Measurements System Installation | |||
* 2002 Supplemental Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact Independent Spent Fuel Storage Installation, Sequoyah Nuclear Plant, Hamilton County, Tennessee | |||
* 2004 Reservoir Operations Study, Final Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement | |||
* 2009 Environmental Assessment for SQN Unit 2 Steam Generator Replacements and Finding of No Significant Impact for SQN Unit 2 Steam Generator Replacements 2-1 | |||
Sequoyah Nuclear Plant Applicants Environmental Report Operating License Renewal Stage | |||
* 2011 Supplemental Environmental Assessment for SQN Unit 2 Steam Generator Replacements and Finding of No Significant Impact for SQN Unit 2 Steam Generator Replacements | |||
* 2011 Environmental Impact Statement for the Tennessee Valley Authority Integrated Resource Plan | |||
* 2011 Final Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement, Sequoyah Nuclear Plant Units 1 and 2 License Renewal, Hamilton County, Tennessee | |||
* 2011 Reevaluation of Finding of No Significant ImpactLow Level Radioactive Waste Transport and Storage Watts Bar and Sequoyah Nuclear Plants 2.1 Location and Features SQN is located near the geographical center of Hamilton County, Tennessee, on a peninsula on the western shore of Chickamauga Reservoir at Tennessee River Mile (TRM) 484.5, approximately 6 miles east of Soddy-Daisy, Tennessee, and approximately 31 miles south-southwest of TVA's Watts Bar Nuclear Plant (WBN) site. The SQN property boundary shown in Figure 2.1-1 encompasses approximately 630 acres: 525 acres are associated with the SQN industrial site and 105 acres, known as the training peninsula, are associated with SQN's training center. The SQN site is owned, including mineral rights, by the United States and is in the custody of TVA. TVA maintains control of entrances and exits from the SQN site property. The coordinates of the plant site, based on the coordinates of the Unit 1 Reactor Building center, are as follows: | |||
* Latitude and Longitude Coordinates: 35° 13' 35.65" N and 85° 05' 28.17" W | |||
* Universal Transverse Mercator Coordinates: Zone 16, N 3,899,640.62 and E 673,718.24 2.1.1 Vicinity and Regional Features The site is bounded by the Tennessee River on the south and east, and by land not owned by TVA on the north and west. The vicinity of the SQN site is defined as a 6-mile radius from the site center of the power block location and includes portions of Hamilton and Bradley counties in Tennessee. The nearest incorporated city is Soddy-Daisy, Tennessee, approximately 6 miles west of the site. | |||
The Tennessee River bisects Hamilton County from northeast to southwest and accounts for 6 percent of the total county area (CHCRPA 2005a). The SQN site is situated along the Tennessee River, and there are no residences, commercial operations, or public recreational areas within the SQN exclusion area boundary (EAB), as shown in Figure 2.1-2. No public railroads or major highways cross the EAB. Two rural county roads, Igou Ferry and Stone Sage, cross the western boundary of SQN's property and run adjacent to it for a short distance before leaving the site (Figure 2.1-1). Igou Ferry Road connects with Hixson Pike, which follows the 2-2 | |||
Sequoyah Nuclear Plant Applicants Environmental Report Operating License Renewal Stage western shore of Chickamauga Reservoir and joins State Road 153 (SR 153) just north of Chickamauga Dam. The plant access road crosses Igou Ferry Road at the EAB (Figure 2.1-1) and eventually connects with U.S. Highway 27 (US 27) near Soddy-Daisy, Tennessee. | |||
The SQN site is accessible by both river and road. SQN personnel access the site from either US 27 or State Road 319 (SR 319, also known as Hixson Pike), via the Sequoyah Access Road, as illustrated in Figure 2.1-3. The Sequoyah Access Road runs eastward from US 27 and intersects with SR 319 near the site. Chickamauga Reservoir, on the Tennessee River, is a navigable waterway that is also used by commercial and recreational traffic. Through a series of locks and dams, commercial traffic can travel from Knoxville, Tennessee, more than 100 miles northeast of the site, to the mouth of the Tennessee River at the Ohio River. (TVA 2011a, Section 3.13.10.1) | |||
SQN has a private-use helipad, and the nearest airport is the Dallas Bay Sky Park, a general aviation airport approximately 5.5 miles west-southwest of the plant (Figure 2.1-3). The Chattanooga Airport is a full-service commercial airport about 14.5 miles south-southwest of the plant. (TVA 2011a, Section 3.13.10.1) | |||
Two of the nation's largest rail networks serve the region: CSX Transportation, Inc. (CSX) and Norfolk Southern Corporation. CSX operates a rail line from Chattanooga to the Tyner area, where it serves several industries. The largest railroad presence in the region is Norfolk Southern Corporation, which is also the operator of the southwest to northeast line running near the SQN site through Soddy-Daisy (Figure 2.1-3). (CHCRPA 2005a; Norfolk Southern Corporation 2010) A railroad spur runs from the Norfolk Southern line to SQN just outside the EAB. Amtrak does not serve Chattanooga, and there is no local intercity passenger rail service (CHCRPA 2005a). | |||
The major Hamilton County east-west road network on the east side of the river is anchored by Interstate 75 (I-75) and I-24, both of which pass through Chattanooga, as illustrated in Figure 2.1-4. On the west side of the river, running north-south, US 27 becomes a major expressway in Hamilton County, feeding traffic from Chattanooga to Soddy-Daisy and northward into Rhea County. | |||
The 50-mile region from the site center encompasses all of, or portions of, the following counties in Alabama, Georgia, North Carolina, and Tennessee (Figure 2.1-4). | |||
* Alabama: DeKalb and Jackson | |||
* Georgia: Catoosa, Chattooga, Dade, Fannin, Floyd, Gilmer, Gordon, Murray, Walker, and Whitfield | |||
* North Carolina: Cherokee | |||
* Tennessee: Bledsoe, Bradley, Coffee, Cumberland, Franklin, Grundy, Hamilton, Loudon, Marion, McMinn, Meigs, Monroe, Polk, Rhea, Roane, Sequatchie, Van Buren, Warren, and White 2-3 | |||
Sequoyah Nuclear Plant Applicants Environmental Report Operating License Renewal Stage The 2010 census data showing that all of the counties within the region have increased in population since the 2000 census, with the exception of one county in Alabama (Jackson) and one county in Tennessee (Grundy), are provided in Table 2.6-2. As shown in Table 2.6-1, three cities within a 50-mile radius of SQN have a population greater than 25,000: Chattanooga, Tennessee (18 miles), with a population of 167,674 in 2010; Cleveland, Tennessee (13 miles), | |||
with a population of 41,285 in 2010; and Dalton, Georgia (32 miles), with a population of 33,128 in 2010. One of the largest cities near SQN, Soddy-Daisy (6 miles) (Figure 2.1-3), had a 2010 population of 12,714 residents. (USDOT 2008; USCB 2010a) The 2010 population counts for cities within the 50-mile region are listed in Table 2.6-1. Most of the cities and towns serve as small retail or service centers for the surrounding farms, although a number are developing an industrial base (TVA 2011p, Section 2.1.3.2; USCB 2010a). | |||
The region consists mainly of forest and agricultural lands, with clusters of developed areas. | |||
(MRLC 2006) Hamilton County, where SQN is located, has a well-developed land-use and zoning plan, with every parcel of land carrying a zoning designation (CHCRPA 2005a). Hamilton County is one of Tennessee's largest counties, with a 2010 estimated population of 336,463 residents (USCB 2010b). Based upon the number and size of parcels, zoning within the county is primarily agricultural (59.64 percent), followed by residential (30.51 percent), manufacturing/ | |||
industrial (6.58 percent), commercial (2.20 percent), special zoning (0.64 percent), and office (0.12 percent). (CHCRPA 2009) Land use is discussed in greater detail in Section 2.8. | |||
2.1.2 Station Features The principal structures of SQN consist of two reactor buildings, a turbine building, an auxiliary building, a control building, a service and office building, a diesel generator building, an intake pumping station, essential raw cooling water (ERCW) pumping station, two natural draft cooling towers, 161-kilovolt (kV) and 500-kV switchyards, a condensing water discharge and diffuser system, and an independent spent fuel storage installation (ISFSI). (TVA 2011p, Section 1.2.3; TVA 1974a, Section 1.1) Figure 2.1-1 shows the general features of the facility, the EAB, and protected area. Section 3.2 describes key features of the station, including reactor and containment systems, cooling and auxiliary water systems, radwaste systems, and transmission facilities. | |||
The protected area is completely enclosed by a security fence, with access to the area controlled at a security gate. A plant security system monitors the protected area, as well as the buildings within the station. Access to the site is by paved entrance roads from either US 27 or SR 319 (Hixson Pike), via the Sequoyah Access Road. The exclusion area, as defined by 10 CFR 100.3, surrounds the site, as shown in Figures 2.1-1 and 2.1-2. The nearest occupied residence lies 0.5 miles beyond the site boundary to the north-northwest (SQN 2010a, Table G-1). | |||
The tallest structures on site are the two cooling towers at approximately 459 feet in height (TVA 1974b). Predominant visual features of SQN include the reactor containment buildings, powerhouse, cooling towers, and transmission lines and associated structures that can be seen at distances of 1 to 4 miles along the Tennessee River to the north and south. The towers are visible from Harrison Bay State Park located south of the plant. Motorists have broad horizontal 2-4 | |||
Sequoyah Nuclear Plant Applicants Environmental Report Operating License Renewal Stage views of the plant site from the east along State Road 312 (SR 312, also known as Birchwood Pike), which includes Skull Island Campground (Figure 2.1-5). Recreationists on the water have similar views from the eastern side of the Tennessee River. However, these views become less dominant closer to the west side of the river near the plant site. Normally, at a range of 1 to 4 miles, an observer may find plant features distinguishable; however, the details are obscure and tend to merge into larger patterns. Topography along the bank becomes very steep, and views are obscured by dense, mature hardwood and evergreen trees (Figures 2.1-1 and 2.1-2). Scenic resources and views are common, including both unique natural features and scenic variety (TVA 2009a). | |||
There are no noise ordinances imposed by federal, state, or local statutes that limit allowable sound levels at SQN. Given the industrial nature of the station, noise emissions from SQN are generally nothing more than an intermittent minor nuisance. Although the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) uses 55 A-weighted decibels (dBA) as a threshold level to protect against excess noise during outdoor activities, this threshold does "not constitute a standard, specification, or regulation," but was intended to provide a basis for state and local governments establishing noise standards. Although surveys have not been conducted since the construction of SQN, when the greatest sources of noise would have occurred, current noise levels are considered minor and are not expected to change during the license renewal period, because no new sources of noise are being introduced (TVA 2011a). | |||
2.1.3 Federal, Native American, State, and Local Lands The SQN site is located on a peninsula on the western shore of Chickamauga Reservoir (Figure 2.1-5). The reservoir is one of a series of highly controlled multiple-use reservoirs located on the Tennessee River whose primary uses are flood control, navigation, and the generation of electric power. Secondary uses include industrial and public water supply and waste disposal, commercial fishing, and recreation. (SQN 2009a) | |||
Within a 6-mile radius of SQN, there are four federal, one state, and 16 locally managed lands (Figure 2.1-5 and Table 2.1-1). The federal lands within a 6-mile radius are all TVA-managed habitat protection areas (HPAs) and their approximate distances from SQN are as follows: | |||
Chigger Point (1 mile east), Soddy Creek (2 miles north-northwest), Ware Branch Bend (3 miles north), and Murphy Hill (5 miles north-northeast). These areas are located generally north and east of the site, adjacent to Chickamauga Reservoir. | |||
Harrison Bay State Recreation Park is the only state-managed land within a 6-mile radius of the site. It is located approximately 1.4 miles south of SQN and comprises 1,200 acres with approximately 40 miles of shoreline on Chickamauga Reservoir. Renowned for its boat docking facilities, this park also offers biking and hiking trails, recreational vehicle and tent campsites, lake fishing, an Olympic-sized swimming pool, meeting and picnic facilities, and ballparks. | |||
Originally developed as a TVA recreation demonstration area in the 1930s, the park is now part of the Tennessee State Parks system and is managed by the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC). (TVA 2009a) 2-5 | |||
Sequoyah Nuclear Plant Applicants Environmental Report Operating License Renewal Stage The majority of dedicated lands within a 6-mile radius are locally managed. These areas, 16 in total, are a collection of parks, campgrounds, marinas and piers, harbors, and one forest. Most of these lands are located near the town of Soddy-Daisy. The others are near the towns of Lakesite, Sale Creek, and Middle Valley (Table 2.1-1) (Figure 2.1-5). | |||
Within the 50-mi region, there is also a mixture of federal, state, and locally managed lands (Figure 2.1-6). State and federal lands comprise approximately 88 and 37 areas, respectively (Table 2.1-1). Two federally controlled areas not listed on the table are the Trail of Tears National Historic Trail, and the Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park. Located within 30 miles of the site, these expansive areas are located in multiple states. Numerous local lands lie within the 50-mile region. They are a collection of small, locally and county-maintained parks and recreational areas. Additionally, there are no Indian reservations or Native American controlled areas within the 50-mile region. (Figure 2.1-6) There was one military installation, the Volunteer Army Ammunition Plant. However, this facility, located in Hamilton County approximately 8 miles from the plant, is currently inactive and being used for recreation and industrial development. (American Trails 2010; TVA 2011p, Section 2.2) 2-6 | |||
Sequoyah Nuclear Plant Applicants Environmental Report Operating License Renewal Stage Table 2.1-1 (a) | |||
Federal, State, and Local Lands Within a 50-Mile Radius of SQN Nearest Name Management Distance(b) Direction Town County Alabama Russell Cave National Federal 45 WSW Bridgeport Jackson Monument Raccoon Creek State State 48 WSW, SW Stevenson Jackson Wildlife Management Area Crow Creek State Wildlife State 50 SW, WSW Stevenson Jackson Management Area Georgia Sand Mountain Federal 20 S Ringold Catoosa Georgia Department of State 26 SE Cisco Murray Transportation Area 105-001 Chattanooga Lula Lake Land Trust State 29 SW, SSW Walker Valley Conasauga River Natural State 30 SSE Sumac Murray Area Georgia Department of State 31 SSE Spring Place Whitfield Transportation Area 155-001 Cloudland Canyon State Dade and State 34 SSE Trenton Park Walker Chief Vann House Historic State 35 SSE Spring Place Murray Site Fort Mountain State Park State 38 SE Chattsworth Murray Cohutta Wildlife Murray and Federal 40 SE Eton Management Area Gilmer Crockford-Pigeon Mountain Mount State 42 SSW Walker Wildlife Management Area Carmel Zahnd Natural Area State 44 SSW Rising Fawn Walker Resaca Battlefield State State 44 S Resaca Gordon Historic Site Coosawattee Wildlife State 44 SSE Ramhurst Murray Management Area 2-7 | |||
Sequoyah Nuclear Plant Applicants Environmental Report Operating License Renewal Stage Table 2.1-1 (Continued) | |||
Federal, State, and Local(a) Lands Within a 50-Mile Radius of SQN Nearest Name Management Distance(b) Direction Town County John's Mountain Wildlife Floyd and State 45 S Sugar Valley Management Area Walker Walker, Johns Mountain Wildlife Whitfield, Federal 47 S Sugar Valley Management Area Floyd, and Gordon New Echota State Historic State 49 SSE Resaca Gordon Site Coosawattee Wildlife Murray, Management Area (Caters Federal 49 SE, SSE Oakman Gilmer, and Lake Site) Gordon Murray, Carters Lake Federal 49 SE,SSE Oakman Gilmer, and Gordon Chattooga, Floyd, Gordon, Walker, Whitfield, Chatahoochee National Murray, Federal 51 S to ESE Cherry Log Forest Gilmer, Dawson, Fannin, Towns, Union, and Lumpkin North Carolina Cherokee, Graham, Nantahala National Forest Federal 87 E, ESE Topton Clay, and Macon Tennessee Chigger Point TVA Habitat Federal (TVA) 1 E, ESE Lakesite Hamilton Protection Area University of Tennessee ENE, NE, Federal (TVA) 1 Soddy-Daisy Hamilton Friendship Forest NNE, N 2-8 | |||
Sequoyah Nuclear Plant Applicants Environmental Report Operating License Renewal Stage Table 2.1-1 (Continued) | |||
Federal, State, and Local(a) Lands Within a 50-Mile Radius of SQN Nearest Name Management Distance(b) Direction Town County Skull Island Campground Local 1 NE Soddy-Daisy Hamilton Harbor Lights Marina Local 2 SW Lakesite Hamilton Lakesite Marina Local 2 WSW Lakesite Hamilton Lakesite Park Local 2 SW Lakesite Hamilton Soddy Creek TVA Habitat Federal (TVA) 2 NNW Soddy-Daisy Hamilton Protection Area Shady Grove Harbor Local 3 NNW Soddy-Daisy Hamilton Ware Branch Bend TVA Federal (TVA) 3 N Soddy-Daisy Hamilton Habitat Protection Area S, SSW, Harrison Bay State Park State 4 Lakesite Hamilton SW Pine Harbor Marina Local 4 N Soddy-Daisy Hamilton Chester Frost Park Local 4 SW Middle Valley Hamilton Holly Park Local 5 NW Soddy-Daisy Hamilton Possum Creek Campground Local 5 N Soddy-Daisy Hamilton Murphy Hill TVA Habitat Federal (TVA) 5 NNE Sale Creek Hamilton Protection Area Middle Valley Recreation Local 5 WSW Middle Valley Hamilton Park Soddy-Daisy Lake Fishing Local 5 NW Soddy-Daisy Hamilton Pier Scramble Alley Park Local 6 WNW Soddy-Daisy Hamilton North End Ballpark Local 6 NW Soddy-Daisy Hamilton Soddy-Daisy Roadside Park Local 6 NW Soddy-Daisy Hamilton Poe Branch Wetland State 7 W Soddy-Daisy Hamilton Possum Creek TVA Habitat Federal (TVA) 7 N Sale Creek Hamilton Protection Area Eagle Roost TVA Habitat Federal (TVA) 7 NNE Sale Creek Hamilton Protection Area 2-9 | |||
Sequoyah Nuclear Plant Applicants Environmental Report Operating License Renewal Stage Table 2.1-1 (Continued) | |||
Federal, State, and Local(a) Lands Within a 50-Mile Radius of SQN Nearest Name Management Distance(b) Direction Town County Soddy Natural Area State 7 NW, WNW Soddy-Daisy Hamilton Fairview Slopes Protection Federal (TVA) 8 SW Harrison Hamilton Planning Site Grasshopper Creek TVA Federal (TVA) 8 NNE Sale Creek Hamilton Habitat Protection Area Three B TVA Habitat Federal (TVA) 8 SSW Harrison Hamilton Protection Area Booker T. Washington State State 9 SSW Harrison Hamilton Park North Chickamauga Creek Oak Forest Potential Federal (TVA) 10 SW Hixson Hamilton National Natural Area Possum State Park State 10 NW, NNW Sale Creek Hamilton Big Ridge Registered State State 11 SW Hixson Hamilton Natural Area Big Ridge TVA Habitat Federal (TVA) 11 SW Hixson Hamilton Protection Area Falling Water Falls State 11 WSW Walden Hamilton Middle Clemons Rock State 13 N, NNW Sale Creek Hamilton Hamilton North Chickamauga Creek SW to State 13 Fairmount and Gorge Natural Area WNW Sequatchie Audubon State Park State 13 N Sale Creek Hamilton Blythe Ferry State Wildlife State 13 NNE Graysville Meigs Area Nickajack Reservoir State State 14 SW Red Bank Hamilton Mussel Sanctuary Hiwassee Refuge State Meigs and State 14 NE, NNE Dayton Wildlife Management Area Rhea Sugar Creek State Wildlife State 14 NE Hopewell Meigs Observation Area 2-10 | |||
Sequoyah Nuclear Plant Applicants Environmental Report Operating License Renewal Stage Table 2.1-1 (Continued) | |||
Federal, State, and Local(a) Lands Within a 50-Mile Radius of SQN Nearest Name Management Distance(b) Direction Town County Amnicola Marsh State State 15 SW Chattanooga Hamilton Wildlife Refuge Gilliland Glade/Oak Forest East Potential National Natural Federal (TVA) 15 ESE Bradley Cleveland Area Ledford Island Wildlife State 16 ENE Charleston Bradley Management Area Hamilton Graysville State Park State 16 N Graysville and Rhea Johnson Bottoms TVA Federal (TVA) 17 ENE Charleston Bradley Habitat Protection Area Williams Island State Signal State 18 SW, WSW Hamilton Archaeological Area Mountain Red Clay State Park State 18 SSE Cohutta Bradley Hamilton, Bradley, Chickamauga State Wildlife State 19 E to NW Dayton McMinn, Management Area Meigs, and Rhea Raccoon Mountain Pumped Lookout Storage State Wildlife State 21 SW Marion Mountain Observation Area Charlotte Anne Finnell Neal State 21 ESE Ocoee Bradley Wildlife Management Area Prentice Cooper State W, WSW, Signal Marion and Forest & Wildlife State 21 SW Mountain Hamilton Management Area Signal Hamilton Tennessee River Gorge State 22 SW, WSW Mountain and Marion Laurel Snow State 23 N Dayton Rhea Lookout Hicks Gap State Park State 23 SW, WSW Marion Mountain Nancy Ward Gravesite State 24 E Benton Polk 2-11 | |||
Sequoyah Nuclear Plant Applicants Environmental Report Operating License Renewal Stage Table 2.1-1 (Continued) | |||
Federal, State, and Local(a) Lands Within a 50-Mile Radius of SQN Nearest Name Management Distance(b) Direction Town County Dry Creek Ravine State 24 WSW Victoria Marion Cummings Cove State 26 SW Morganville Marion Chimneys State 26 W Whitwell Marion Butcher Bluff TVA Habitat Federal (TVA) 27 NE Decatur Meigs Protection Area Eaves Bluff TVA Habitat Federal (TVA) 28 NE Decatur Meigs Protection Area Yuchi Wildlife Refuge State 28 NE, NNE Decatur Rhea Marion Bridge TVA Habitat Federal (TVA) 29 WSW Jasper Marion Protection Area Sequatchie Cave State Park State 29 WSW Victoria Marion Chickamauga Shoreline TVA Federal (TVA) 30 NE, NNE Decatur Meigs Habitat Protection Area Marion, Hamilton, Rhea, WSW to Cumberland, Cumberland Trail State Park State 30 Spring City NNE Morgan, Campbell, and Claiborne Harp Wetland State 31 N Pikeville Bledsoe Shellmound TVA Habitat Federal (TVA) 31 WSW New Hope Marion Protection Area Hiwassee Ocoee State 31 E Delano Polk Little Cedar Mountain TVA Federal (TVA) 31 WSW Jasper Marion Small Wild Area Piney River State 33 N, NNE Spring City Rhea Beersheba Grundy and Savage Gulf State 33 WNW Springs Sequatchie Nickajack Oak TVA Habitat Federal (TVA) 33 WSW New Hope Marion Protection Area 2-12 | |||
Sequoyah Nuclear Plant Applicants Environmental Report Operating License Renewal Stage Table 2.1-1 (Continued) | |||
Federal, State, and Local(a) Lands Within a 50-Mile Radius of SQN Nearest Name Management Distance(b) Direction Town County Nickajack Cave State State 34 WSW New Hope Marion Wildlife Observation Area Nickajack Cave TVA Habitat Federal (TVA) 34 WSW New Hope Marion Protection Area Bledsoe and Fall Creek Falls State 35 NNW Spencer Van Buren Stinging Fork Falls State State 35 NNE Spring City Rhea Park Grundy Lakes State 35 W Tracy City Grundy Guntersville Reservoir State State 35 WSW New Hope Marion Mussel Sanctuary Cumberland Bledsoe, Bledsoe State Forest State 36 N, NNW Pikeville and Van Buren Piney Falls State 36 NNE Grandview Rhea Grundy and South Cumberland State 37 W Tracy City Marion Battle Creek State 37 WSW Kimball Marion Grundy Forest State 37 W Tracy City Grundy Devil Step Hollow State 40 N Grandview Cumberland Beersheba Hubbard's Cave State Park State 40 WNW Warren Springs William L. Davenport Refuge State 41 ESE Ducktown Polk Fourth Fractional Township State 42 ESE Ducktown Polk Wildlife Management Area Watts Bar State Wildlife State 42 NNE Ten Mile Meigs Management Area Big Mouth Cave Protection Federal (TVA) 42 W Coalmont Grundy Planning Site Ducktown Basin Museum State 42 ESE Ducktown Polk 2-13 | |||
Sequoyah Nuclear Plant Applicants Environmental Report Operating License Renewal Stage Table 2.1-1 (Continued) | |||
Federal, State, and Local(a) Lands Within a 50-Mile Radius of SQN Nearest Name Management Distance(b) Direction Town County Bridgestone/Firestone Van Buren State 42 N, NNW Bon Air Wildlife Management Area and White Van Buren Centennial Wilderness State 43 NNW Bon Air and White Crab Plateau Properties State 43 N Cumberland Orchard Whites Creek State 44 NNE Westel Rhea Goose Pond Protection Federal (TVA) 44 W Monteagle Grundy Planning Site Trussle Cave Protection Federal (TVA) 44 W Monteagle Grundy Planning Site Franklin and Franklin State Forest State 44 W, WSW Sherwood Marion Virgin Falls State 44 NNW Bon Air White Bone Cave State Park State 46 NW Quebeck Van Buren Braswell State 46 W Sherwood Franklin Cumberland Mountain State 47 N Crossville Cumberland Bluebell Island Registered State 47 W Monteagle Franklin State Natural Area Mr. and Mrs. Harry Lee State 47 W Sherwood Franklin Carter Natural Area Natural Bridge State Park State 47 W Sewanee Franklin Ozone Falls State Park State 48 NNE Ozone Cumberland Hawkins Cove State 49 W Cowan Franklin Roana, Mt. Roosevelt Wildlife State 51 NNE Rockwood Cumberland, Management Area and Morgan Warren and Rock Island State Park State 51 NW Campaign White Bear Hollow State 52 W Cowan Franklin 2-14 | |||
Sequoyah Nuclear Plant Applicants Environmental Report Operating License Renewal Stage Table 2.1-1 (Continued) | |||
Federal, State, and Local(a) Lands Within a 50-Mile Radius of SQN Nearest Name Management Distance(b) Direction Town County Woods Reservoir Coffee and State 54 W Estill Springs Reservation Franklin Monroe and Tellico Lake State 56 ENE Vonore Loudon AEDC and Woods State Coffee and State 57 W Hillsboro Wildlife Management Area Franklin Polk and Cherokee National Forest Federal 110 SE to ENE Hartford Monroe (CHCRPA 2005a; GAGIS 2009; National Atlas 2005; NPS 2010a; TDEC 2009; TNSP 2010; TSDS 2009; TVA 2011b; USDOT 2010; USGS 2009a) | |||
: a. Only locally operated lands within a 6-mile radius are included in the table. A complete record of local lands, and their geographic location, within a 50-mile radius was unavailable. | |||
: b. Distances are approximate (rounded to nearest whole number) and based on SQN and land centroid data. Therefore, although the distances for some of the state and federal lands shown in this table are greater than 50 miles, the nearest property boundary for these lands are within 50 miles. | |||
2-15 | |||
Sequoyah Nuclear Plant Applicants Environmental Report Operating License Renewal Stage Figure 2.1-1 SQN Site Boundary and Aerial Site Layout 2-16 | |||
Sequoyah Nuclear Plant Applicants Environmental Report Operating License Renewal Stage Figure 2.1-2 SQN Exclusion Area Boundary and Area Topography 2-17 | |||
Sequoyah Nuclear Plant Applicants Environmental Report Operating License Renewal Stage Figure 2.1-3 SQN Site and 6-Mile Radius 2-18 | |||
Sequoyah | Sequoyah Nuclear Plant Applicants Environmental Report Operating License Renewal Stage Figure 2.1-4 SQN Site and 50-Mile Radius 2-19 | ||
Sequoyah Nuclear Plant Applicants Environmental Report Operating License Renewal Stage Figure 2.1-5 Federal, State, and Local Lands Within a 6-Mile Radius of SQN 2-20 | |||
Sequoyah Nuclear Plant Applicants Environmental Report Operating License Renewal Stage Figure 2.1-6 Federal, State, and Local Lands Within a 50-Mile Radius of SQN 2-21}} | |||
Latest revision as of 00:15, 5 November 2019
| ML13024A012 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Sequoyah  |
| Issue date: | 01/07/2013 |
| From: | Tennessee Valley Authority |
| To: | Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation |
| References | |
| Download: ML13024A012 (68) | |
Text
APPENDIX E Applicants Environmental Report Operating License Renewal Stage Sequoyah Nuclear Plant
Sequoyah Nuclear Plant Applicants Environmental Report Operating License Renewal Stage INTRODUCTION Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) submits this Environmental Report (ER) in conjunction with the application to the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) to renew the operating licenses for Sequoyah Nuclear Plant Units 1 and 2 (hereafter referred to as SQN or SQN Units 1 and 2) for 20 years beyond the end of the current license terms. In compliance with applicable NRC requirements, this ER analyzes potential environmental impacts associated with renewal of the SQN operating licenses (OLs). This ER is designed to assist the NRC staff with the preparation of the SQN-specific supplemental environmental impact statement (SEIS) required for license renewal.
The SQN ER is provided in accordance with 10 CFR 54.23, which requires license renewal applicants to submit a supplement to the ER that complies with the requirements of Subpart A of 10 CFR Part 51. This report also addresses the more detailed requirements of NRC environmental regulations in 10 CFR 51.45 and 10 CFR 51.53(c), as well as the intent of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), 42 USC 4321 et seq. For major federal actions, NEPA requires federal agencies to prepare a detailed statement that evaluates environmental impacts, alternatives to the proposed action, and irreversible and irretrievable commitments of resources associated with implementation of the proposed action.
TVA used Supplement 1 to Regulatory Guide 4.2, "Preparation of Supplemental Environmental Reports for Applications to Renew Nuclear Power Plant Operating Licenses," as guidance on the format and content of this ER. In addition, TVA utilized the Generic Environmental Impact Statement (GEIS) for License Renewal of Nuclear Plants (NUREG-1437) and Appendix B to 10 CFR Part 51 in preparation of this report. Although not yet regulatory requirements, TVA also considered the proposed amendment to 10 CFR Part 51 during the development of this ER for purposes of completeness but not in order to satisfy governing regulatory requirements. The level of information provided on the various topics and issues in this ER are commensurate with the environmental significance of the particular topic or issue.
Based upon the evaluations discussed in this ER, TVA concludes that the environmental impacts associated with renewal of the SQN OLs are SMALL. No plant refurbishment activities have been identified as necessary to support the continued operation of SQN beyond the end of the existing OLs term. Ongoing plant operational and maintenance activities will be performed during the license renewal period, but no significant environmental impacts associated with such activities are expected because established programs and procedures are in place to ensure that proper environmental monitoring continues to be conducted throughout the renewal term as discussed in Chapter 9.
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Sequoyah Nuclear Plant Applicants Environmental Report Operating License Renewal Stage ACRONYMS, ABBREVIATIONS AND SYMBOLS
§ section
ºC degree Celsius
ºF degree Fahrenheit
µm micrometers AADT annual average daily traffic ACHP Advisory Council on Historic Preservation ACRES assessment, cleanup and redevelopment exchange system AFS Air Facility System (EPA)
AFW auxiliary feedwater ALARA as low as reasonably achievable APE area of potential effect B&W Babcock and Wilcox BFN Browns Ferry Nuclear Plant bgs below ground surface BLEU blended low-enriched uranium BMP best management practice BP before present BTA best technology available.
Btu British thermal unit Btu/kWh British thermal unit per kilowatt-hour BWR boiling water reactor CAA Clean Air Act CCS carbon capture and storage CCS/AFW component cooling water system/auxiliary feedwater CCW condenser circulating water CDC U.S. Centers for Disease Control iii
Sequoyah Nuclear Plant Applicants Environmental Report Operating License Renewal Stage ACRONYMS, ABBREVIATIONS AND SYMBOLS (CONTINUED)
CDCT cask decontamination collector tank CECC Central Emergency Control Center CEQ Council on Environmental Quality Ceq/kWh carbon equivalents per kilowatt hour CERCLA Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act CFR Code of Federal Regulations cfs cubic feet per second CHCAPCB Chattanooga-Hamilton County Air Pollution Control Bureau CHCRPA Chattanooga-Hamilton County Regional Planning Agency cm centimeter CO carbon monoxide CO2 carbon dioxide CRP conservation reserve program CSP concentrating solar power CSX CSX Transportation, Inc.
CVCS chemical and volume control system CWA Clean Water Act DAW dry active waste dBa A-weighted decibel DO dissolved oxygen DOE U.S. Department of Energy DSEIS draft supplemental environmental impact statement E east EA environmental assessment EAB exclusion area boundary ED TVA Energy Delivery iv
Sequoyah Nuclear Plant Applicants Environmental Report Operating License Renewal Stage ACRONYMS, ABBREVIATIONS AND SYMBOLS (CONTINUED)
EDR Environmental Data Resources EDS environmental data station EEDR energy efficiency and demand response EERE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (DOE)
EF Enhanced Fujita (tornado scale ranging from 0 to 5) e.g. for example (Latin exempli gratia)
EIS environmental impact statement ENE east-northeast EO Executive Order EPA U.S. Environmental Protection Agency EPCRA Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act EPRI Electric Power Research Institute EPT Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera, and Trichoptera EqA equivalent adult ER environmental report ERCW essential raw cooling water ESA Endangered Species Act ESE east-southeast ESRI Environmental Systems Research Institute et seq. and following (Latin et sequens)
FAA Federal Aviation Administration FDCT floor drain collector tank F Fujita (tornado scale ranging from 0 to 5)
FEIS final environmental impact statement FES final environmental statement FONSI finding of no significant impact v
Sequoyah Nuclear Plant Applicants Environmental Report Operating License Renewal Stage ACRONYMS, ABBREVIATIONS AND SYMBOLS (CONTINUED) fps feet per second FRP flood risk profile FSEIS final supplemental environmental impact statement ft foot (feet)
FY fiscal year g gram gpd gallons per day GEIS Generic Environmental Impact Statement for License Renewal of Nuclear Plants GHG greenhouse gas GIS geographic information system GPI Groundwater Protection Initiative gpm gallons per minute GWh gigawatt hour GWPS gaseous waste processing system ha hectares HCT high crud tank HEU highly enriched uranium HIC high integrity container HiRM Hiwassee River mile HMTA Hazardous Materials Transportation Act HPA habitat protection area HSDT hot shower drain tank HUC hydrologic unit code HVAC heating, ventilation and air conditioning HWSF hazardous waste storage facility I-24 Interstate 24 vi
Sequoyah Nuclear Plant Applicants Environmental Report Operating License Renewal Stage ACRONYMS, ABBREVIATIONS AND SYMBOLS (CONTINUED)
I-59 Interstate 59 I-75 Interstate 75 i.e. that is (Latin id est)
IAAO International Association of Assessing Officers IGCC integrated-gasification combined cycle INPO Institute of Nuclear Power Operations IPE individual plant examination IPEEE individual plant examination of external events IPS intake pumping station IRP Integrated Resource Plan ISFSI independent spent fuel storage installation kg kilogram kV kilovolt kW kilowatt kWh kilowatt hour kWh/m2/day kilowatt hour per square meter per day LEU low enriched uranium LIDAR aerial light detection and ranging LLRW low-level radioactive waste LOCA loss-of-coolant accident LOS level of service LRA license renewal application LWPS liquid waste processing system m meter m2 square meter m3 cubic meter vii
Sequoyah Nuclear Plant Applicants Environmental Report Operating License Renewal Stage ACRONYMS, ABBREVIATIONS AND SYMBOLS (CONTINUED) mA milliamperes MACCS2 Melcor Accident Consequence Code System, Version 2 MACR maximum averted cost-risk MGD millions of gallons per day MMBtu million Btu MOX mixed oxide mph miles per hour mrad millirad mrem millirem msl above mean sea level MSA metropolitan statistical area MW megawatt MWD/MTU megawatt-day per metric ton uranium MWe megawatts electric N north NA not applicable NAAQS National Ambient Air Quality Standards NAICS North American Industry Classification System NASS National Agricultural Statistics Service NCDC National Climatic Data Center NE northeast NEI Nuclear Energy Institute NEPA National Environmental Policy Act NERC North American Electric Reliability Corporation NESC National Electrical Safety Code NHPA National Historic Preservation Act viii
Sequoyah Nuclear Plant Applicants Environmental Report Operating License Renewal Stage ACRONYMS, ABBREVIATIONS AND SYMBOLS (CONTINUED)
NNE north-northeast NNW north-northwest NOx nitrogen oxides NPDES national pollutant discharge elimination system NPS National Park Service NRC U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission NREL National Renewable Energy Laboratory NRHP National Register of Historic Places NRI Nationwide Rivers Inventory NRR Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation NRWT non-reclaimable waste tank NT neutralization tank NUREG U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Regulation NW northwest NWI National Wetland Inventory NW&SR National Wild and Scenic Rivers NWR national wildlife refuge ODCM offsite dose calculation manual OL operating license OSHA Occupational Health and Safety Administration OTEC ocean thermal energy conversion PCB polychlorinated biphenyls pCi/L picocuries per liter PF production foregone PM2.5 particulate matter with a diameter less than 2.5 microns PM10 particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter of up to10 microns ix
Sequoyah Nuclear Plant Applicants Environmental Report Operating License Renewal Stage ACRONYMS, ABBREVIATIONS AND SYMBOLS (CONTINUED)
PMf total filterable particulates POTW publicly owned treatment works PRA probabilistic risk assessment PSD prevention of significant deterioration PV photovoltaic PWR pressurized water reactor RBI reservoir benthic index RCDT reactor coolant drain tank RCP reactor coolant pump RCRA Resource Conservation and Recovery Act RCW raw cooling water REMP radiological environmental monitoring program RFAI reservoir fish assemblage index ROD record of decision ROI region of interest ROW right-of-way S south SAMA severe accident mitigation alternative SCPC super-critical pulverized coal SE southeast SEIS supplemental environmental impact statement SERC Southeast Electric Reliability Corporation SMZ streamside management zone SOx sulfur oxides SPCC spill prevention, control, and countermeasure SPD surplus plutonium disposition x
Sequoyah Nuclear Plant Applicants Environmental Report Operating License Renewal Stage ACRONYMS, ABBREVIATIONS AND SYMBOLS (CONTINUED)
SQN Sequoyah Nuclear Plant SR 29 State Road 29 SR 153 State Road 153 SR 312 State Road 312, Birchwood Pike SR 319 State Road 319, Hixson Pike SRST spent resin storage tank SSE south-southeast SSW south-southwest SW southwest SWPPP stormwater pollution prevention plan TDCT tritiated drain collector tank TDEC Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation TDOT Tennessee Department of Transportation THC Tennessee Historical Commission TMDL total maximum daily load TPBAR tritium-producing burnable absorber rod TRM Tennessee River mile TVA Tennessee Valley Authority TWRA Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency US 27 U.S. Highway 27 USACE U.S. Army Corps of Engineers USC U.S. Code USCB U.S. Census Bureau USDA U.S. Department of Agriculture USDOT U.S. Department of Transportation USFWS U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service xi
Sequoyah Nuclear Plant Applicants Environmental Report Operating License Renewal Stage ACRONYMS, ABBREVIATIONS AND SYMBOLS (CONTINUED)
USGS U.S. Geological Survey W west WAW wet active waste WBN Watts Bar Nuclear Plant WinMACCS MELCOR Accident Consequence Code System, Windows interface WNW west-northwest WSW west-southwest WPA Works Progress Administration xii
Sequoyah Nuclear Plant Applicants Environmental Report Operating License Renewal Stage TABLE OF CONTENTS 1.0 PURPOSE OF AND NEED FOR THE PROPOSED ACTION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-1 1.1 Environmental Report. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-1 1.2 Licensee and Ownership . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-2 2.0 SITE AND ENVIRONMENTAL INTERFACES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-1 2.1 Location and Features . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-2 2.1.1 Vicinity and Regional Features . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-2 2.1.2 Station Features. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-4 2.1.3 Federal, Native American, State, and Local Lands . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-5 2.2 Aquatic and Riparian Ecological Communities. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-22 2.2.1 Physical and Chemical Environment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-22 2.2.1.1 Hydrologic Setting. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-22 2.2.1.2 Tennessee River Controls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-24 2.2.1.3 Ecological and Riparian Habitats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-24 2.2.1.4 Tennessee River Restoration Efforts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-25 2.2.1.5 Water Quality . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-25 2.2.1.6 TVA Ecological Monitoring . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-26 2.2.1.7 Fish Consumption Advisories . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-27 2.2.2 Plankton Communities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-27 2.2.3 Macroinvertebrate Communities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-29 2.2.4 Vascular Aquatic Plants . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-34 2.2.5 Fish Communities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-35 2.3 Groundwater Resources. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-67 2.3.1 Geology . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-67 2.3.1.1 Regional Geology . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-67 2.3.1.2 Site Geology . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-67 2.3.2 Regional Groundwater . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-68 2.3.3 Local Groundwater. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-68 2.3.4 Groundwater Quality . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-69 2.3.5 Groundwater Use . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-70 2.3.6 Site Groundwater Conditions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-71 2.4 Critical and Important Terrestrial Habitats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-77 2.4.1 Site Ecology . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-77 2.4.1.1 Wetlands. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-78 2.4.1.2 Common Wildlife. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-79 2.4.1.3 Terrestrial Monitoring Programs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-82 2.4.1.4 Site Management Programs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-82 2.4.2 Transmission Line Ecology . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-82 2.4.2.1 Transmission Line Management Programs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-83 2.4.3 State-Listed Critical or Important Habitats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-83 2.4.4 Federally Listed Critical or Important Habitats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-85 xiii
Sequoyah Nuclear Plant Applicants Environmental Report Operating License Renewal Stage 2.5 Threatened or Endangered Species. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-93 2.5.1 Federally Listed Species . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-93 2.5.2 State-Protected Species . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-94 2.6 Regional Demography . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-103 2.6.1 Regional Population . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-103 2.6.2 Minority and Low-Income Populations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-106 2.6.2.1 Background. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-106 2.6.2.2 Minority Populations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-107 2.6.2.3 Low-Income Populations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-109 2.7 Taxes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-141 2.8 Land Use Planning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-145 2.8.1 Existing Land-Use Trend . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-145 2.8.2 Future Land-Use Trends . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-146 2.9 Housing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-149 2.10 Social Services and Public Facilities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-151 2.10.1 Public Water Supply . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-151 2.10.2 Transportation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-153 2.10.2.1 Traffic Counts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-154 2.10.2.2 Level of Service . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-154 2.10.3 Education . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-154 2.10.4 Transient Population . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-155 2.10.5 Migrant Farm Labor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-155 2.10.6 Employment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-155 2.11 Meteorology and Air Quality . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-164 2.11.1 Climate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-164 2.11.2 Air Quality. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-166 2.11.3 Greenhouse Gas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-166 2.12 Historic and Archaeological Resources . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-169 2.12.1 Prehistoric Era . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-169 2.12.2 Historic Era. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-175 2.12.3 Cultural Resource Properties . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-176 2.13 Related Federal and Non-Federal Projects and Other Actions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-187 2.13.1 SQN Projects . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-187 2.13.2 TVA Projects . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-188 2.13.3 Other Federal Projects . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-189 2.13.4 Non-Federal Projects . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-189 3.0 THE PROPOSED ACTION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-1 3.1 Description of the Proposed Action . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-1 3.2 General Plant Information. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-1 3.2.1 Reactor and Containment Systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-1 xiv
Sequoyah Nuclear Plant Applicants Environmental Report Operating License Renewal Stage 3.2.1.1 Reactor System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-1 3.2.1.2 Containment System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-2 3.2.2 Cooling and Auxiliary Water Systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-3 3.2.2.1 Condenser Circulating Water System. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-3 3.2.2.2 Diffuser Pond . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-5 3.2.2.3 Thermal Discharge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-6 3.2.2.4 Essential Raw Cooling Water . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-6 3.2.3 Radioactive Waste Treatment Processes (Gaseous, Liquid, and Solid) . . . . . . . 3-7 3.2.3.1 Liquid Waste Processing Systems and Effluent Controls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-8 3.2.3.1.1 Shared Components. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-8 3.2.3.1.2 System Summary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-11 3.2.3.1.3 Liquid Effluent Releases. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-15 3.2.3.2 Gaseous Waste Processing System and Effluent Controls . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-16 3.2.3.2.1 Auxiliary Services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-16 3.2.3.2.2 System Summary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-17 3.2.3.2.3 Gaseous Effluent Releases . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-17 3.2.3.3 Solid Waste Processing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-18 3.2.3.3.1 Wet Active Waste Processing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-19 3.2.3.3.2 Dry Active Waste Processing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-20 3.2.3.3.3 Miscellaneous Waste Handling . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-20 3.2.3.4 Radwaste StorageLicense Renewal Term . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-20 3.2.3.5 Spent Fuel Storage. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-21 3.2.4 Transportation of Radioactive Materials. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-21 3.2.5 Radiological Environmental Monitoring Program . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-21 3.2.6 Groundwater Protection Monitoring Program. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-22 3.2.7 Meteorological System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-23 3.2.7.1 Instrument Description . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-23 3.2.7.2 Data Acquisition System and Accuracy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-23 3.2.7.3 Data Recording and Display . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-24 3.2.7.4 Equipment Servicing, Maintenance, and Calibration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-24 3.2.8 Nonradioactive Waste Systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-24 3.2.8.1 Resource Conservation and Recovery Act Wastes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-24 3.2.8.2 Wastewater Discharges . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-26 3.2.8.3 Potable Water . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-26 3.2.8.4 Air Emissions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-26 3.2.8.5 Nonradioactive Spills . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-27 3.2.9 Maintenance, Inspection, and Refueling Activities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-27 3.2.10 Power Transmission Systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-28 3.2.10.1 In-Scope Transmission Lines . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-28 3.2.10.2 Vegetation Management Program . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-29 3.2.10.2.1 Transmission Line Surveillance Program . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-29 3.2.10.2.2 Right-of-Way Management Program . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-29 3.2.10.2.3 Environmental Review Process . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-32 3.2.10.2.4 Bird Collisions and Electrocutions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-32 3.2.10.2.5 Ozone . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-33 xv
Sequoyah Nuclear Plant Applicants Environmental Report Operating License Renewal Stage 3.3 Refurbishment Activities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-43 3.4 Programs and Activities for Managing the Effects of Aging . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-43 3.5 Employment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-43 4.0 ENVIRONMENTAL CONSEQUENCES OF THE PROPOSED ACTION. . . . . . . . . . . 4-1 4.0.1 Discussion of GEIS Categories for Environmental Issues . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-1 4.0.2 Category 1 License Renewal Issues . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-1 4.0.3 Category 2 License Renewal Issues . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-2 4.0.4 NA License Renewal Issues . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-3 4.0.5 Proposed New or Expanded Category 2 Issues . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-3 4.0.6 Format of Category 2 Issue Review . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-5 4.1 Water Use Conflicts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-14 4.1.1 Description of Issue . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-14 4.1.2 Findings from Table B-1, Appendix B to Subpart A . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-14 4.1.3 Requirement [10 CFR 51.53(c)(3)(ii)(A)] . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-14 4.1.4 Background . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-14 4.1.5 Analysis of Environmental Impact . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-14 4.1.5.1 Hydrology . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-14 4.1.5.2 Water Use. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-15 4.1.5.3 Instream Ecological Uses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-15 4.1.6 Conclusion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-16 4.2 Entrainment of Fish and Shellfish in Early Life Stages. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-18 4.2.1 Description of Issue . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-18 4.2.2 Findings from Table B-1, Appendix B to Subpart A . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-18 4.2.3 Requirement [10 CFR 51.53(c)(3)(ii)(B] . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-18 4.2.4 Background . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-18 4.2.5 Analysis of Environmental Impact . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-18 4.2.5.1 Background. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-18 4.2.5.2 Entrainment Analysis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-20 4.2.5.3 Category 1 Issue Analysis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-22 4.2.6 Conclusion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-23 4.3 Impingement of Fish and Shellfish . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-23 4.3.1 Description of Issue . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-23 4.3.2 Findings from Table B-1, Appendix B to Subpart A . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-23 4.3.3 Requirement [10 CFR 51.53(c)(3)(ii)(B)] . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-23 4.3.4 Background . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-23 4.3.5 Analysis of Environmental Impact . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-24 4.3.5.1 Background. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-24 4.3.5.2 Impingement Analysis. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-24 4.3.6 Conclusion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-27 4.4 Heat Shock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-31 4.4.1 Description of Issue . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-31 xvi
Sequoyah Nuclear Plant Applicants Environmental Report Operating License Renewal Stage 4.4.2 Findings from Table B-1, Appendix B to Subpart A . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-31 4.4.3 Requirement [10 CFR 51.53(c)(3)(ii)(B)] . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-31 4.4.4 Background . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-31 4.4.5 Analysis of Environmental Impact . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-31 4.4.5.1 Background. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-32 4.4.5.2 Thermal Discharge Analysis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-34 4.4.6 Conclusion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-35 4.5 Groundwater Use Conflicts (Plants Using > 100 gpm of Groundwater) . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-35 4.5.1 Description of Issue . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-35 4.5.2 Findings from Table B-1, Appendix B to Subpart A . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-36 4.5.3 Requirement [10 CFR 51.53(c)(3)(ii)(C)] . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-36 4.5.4 Background . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-36 4.5.5 Analysis of Environmental Impact . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-36 4.6 Groundwater Use Conflicts (Plants Using Cooling Towers Withdrawing Make-Up Water from a Small River) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-36 4.6.1 Description of Issue . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-36 4.6.2 Findings from Table B-1, Appendix B to Subpart A . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-36 4.6.3 Requirement [10 CFR 51.53(c)(3)(ii)(A)] . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-37 4.6.4 Background . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-37 4.6.5 Analysis of Environmental Impact . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-37 4.6.6 Conclusion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-38 4.7 Groundwater Use Conflicts (Plants Using Ranney Wells) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-38 4.7.1 Description of Issue . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-38 4.7.2 Findings from Table B-1, Appendix B to Subpart A . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-39 4.7.3 Requirement [10 CFR 51.53(c)(3)(ii)(C)] . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-39 4.7.4 Background . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-39 4.7.5 Analysis of Environmental Impact . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-39 4.8 Degradation of Groundwater Quality . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-39 4.8.1 Description of Issue . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-39 4.8.2 Findings from Table B-1, Appendix B to Subpart A . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-39 4.8.3 Requirement [10 CFR 51.53(c)(3)(ii)(D)] . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-39 4.8.4 Background . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-40 4.8.5 Analysis of Environmental Impact . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-40 4.9 Impacts of Refurbishment on Terrestrial Resources . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-40 4.9.1 Description of Issue . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-40 4.9.2 Findings from Table B-1, Appendix B to Subpart A . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-40 4.9.3 Requirement [10 CFR 51.53(c)(3)(ii)(E)] . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-40 4.9.4 Background . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-40 4.9.5 Analysis of Environmental Impact . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-41 4.10 Threatened or Endangered Species. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-42 4.10.1 Description of Issue . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-42 4.10.2 Finding from Table B-1, Appendix B to Subpart A . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-42 xvii
Sequoyah Nuclear Plant Applicants Environmental Report Operating License Renewal Stage 4.10.3 Requirement of 10 CFR 51.53(c)(3)(ii)(E) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-42 4.10.4 Background . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-43 4.10.5 Analysis of Environmental Impact . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-43 4.10.5.1 Refurbishment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-43 4.10.5.2 License Renewal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-43 4.10.6 Conclusion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-44 4.11 Impacts of Refurbishment on Air Quality (Nonattainment Areas). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-44 4.11.1 Description of Issue . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-44 4.11.2 Findings from Table B-1, Appendix B to Subpart A . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-44 4.11.3 Requirement [10 CFR 51.53(c)(3)(ii)(F)] . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-44 4.11.4 Background . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-45 4.11.5 Analysis of Environmental Impact . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-45 4.12 Microbiological OrganismsPublic Health. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-45 4.12.1 Description of Issue . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-45 4.12.2 Finding from Table B-1, Appendix B to Subpart A . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-45 4.12.3 Requirement [10 CFR 51.53(c)(3)(ii)(G)] . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-46 4.12.4 Background . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-46 4.12.5 Analysis of Environmental Impact . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-46 4.12.6 Conclusion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-47 4.13 Electromagnetic FieldsAcute Effects . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-47 4.13.1 Description of Issue . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-47 4.13.2 Findings from Table B-1, Subpart A, Appendix A . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-47 4.13.3 Requirements [10 CFR 51.53(c)(3)(ii)(H)] . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-48 4.13.4 Background . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-48 4.13.5 Analysis of Environmental Impact . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-48 4.13.5.1 Background. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-48 4.13.6 Conclusion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-50 4.14 Housing Impacts. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-51 4.14.1 Description of Issue . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-51 4.14.2 Findings from Table B-1, Appendix B to Subpart A . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-51 4.14.3 Requirement [10 CFR 51.53(c)(3)(ii)(I)] . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-51 4.14.4 Background . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-51 4.14.5 Analysis of Environmental Impact . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-52 4.14.5.1 Refurbishment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-52 4.14.5.2 License Renewal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-52 4.14.6 Conclusion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-52 4.15 Public Utilities; Public Water Supply Availability. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-53 4.15.1 Description of Issue . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-53 4.15.2 Findings from Table B-1, Appendix B to Subpart A . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-53 4.15.3 Requirement [10 CFR 51.53(c)(3)(ii)(I)] . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-53 4.15.4 Background . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-53 4.15.5 Analysis of Environmental Impact . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-53 xviii
Sequoyah Nuclear Plant Applicants Environmental Report Operating License Renewal Stage 4.15.5.1 Refurbishment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-53 4.15.5.2 License Renewal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-54 4.15.6 Conclusion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-54 4.16 Education Impacts from Refurbishment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-54 4.16.1 Description of Issue . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-54 4.16.2 Findings from Table B-1, Appendix B to Subpart A . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-54 4.16.3 Requirement [10 CFR 51.53(c)(3)(ii)(I)] . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-54 4.16.4 Background . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-54 4.16.5 Analysis of Environmental Impact . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-55 4.17 Offsite Land Use (Refurbishment) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-55 4.17.1 Description of Issue . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-55 4.17.2 Findings from Table B-1, Appendix B to Subpart A . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-55 4.17.3 Requirement [10 CFR 51.53(c)(3)(ii)(I)] . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-55 4.17.4 Background . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-55 4.17.5 Analysis of Environmental Impact . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-55 4.18 Offsite Land Use (License Renewal Term). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-55 4.18.1 Description of Issue . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-55 4.18.2 Findings from Table B-1, Appendix B to Subpart A . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-56 4.18.3 Requirement [10 CFR 51.53(c)(3)(ii)(I)] . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-56 4.18.4 Background . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-56 4.18.5 Analysis of Environmental Impact . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-57 4.18.5.1 Population-Driven Land-Use Changes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-57 4.18.5.2 Tax-Driven Land-Use Changes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-57 4.18.5.3 Land Value Land-Use Changes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-57 4.18.6 Conclusion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-58 4.19 Transportation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-59 4.19.1 Description of Issue . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-59 4.19.2 Findings from Table B-1, Appendix B to Subpart A . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-59 4.19.3 Requirement [10 CFR 51.53(c)(3)(ii)(J)] . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-59 4.19.4 Background . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-59 4.19.5 Analysis of Environmental Impact . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-59 4.19.5.1 Refurbishment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-59 4.19.5.2 License Renewal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-59 4.19.6 Conclusion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-60 4.20 Historic and Archaeological Resources . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-61 4.20.1 Description of Issue . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-61 4.20.2 Finding from Table B-1, Appendix B to Subpart A . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-61 4.20.3 Requirement [10 CFR 51.53(c)(3)(ii)(K)] . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-61 4.20.4 Background . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-61 4.20.5 Analysis of Environmental Impact . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-61 4.20.5.1 Refurbishment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-61 4.20.5.2 License Renewal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-61 xix
Sequoyah Nuclear Plant Applicants Environmental Report Operating License Renewal Stage 4.20.6 Conclusion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-63 4.21 Severe Accident Mitigation Alternatives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-63 4.21.1 Description of Issue . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-63 4.21.2 Finding from Table B-1, Appendix B to Subpart A . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-63 4.21.3 Requirement [10 CFR 51.53(c)(3)(ii)(L)] . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-63 4.21.4 Background . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-63 4.21.5 Analysis of Environmental Impact . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-63 4.21.6 Conclusion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-67 4.22 Environmental Justice . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-67 4.22.1 Description of Issue . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-67 4.22.2 Finding from Table B-1, Appendix B to Subpart A . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-67 4.22.3 Requirement. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-68 4.22.4 Background . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-68 4.22.5 Analysis of Environmental Impact . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-68 4.22.6 Conclusion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-69 4.23 Cumulative Impacts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-69 4.23.1 Cumulative Impacts on Water Resources . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-70 4.23.1.1 Surface Water Resources. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-70 4.23.1.2 Groundwater Resources. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-71 4.23.2 Cumulative Impacts on Aquatic Resources . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-72 4.23.3 Cumulative Impacts on Terrestrial Resources . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-73 4.23.4 Cumulative Socioeconomic Impacts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-74 4.23.5 Cumulative Impacts on Air Quality . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-75 4.23.6 Cumulative Impacts on Human Health. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-76 4.23.7 Conclusion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-78 5.0 ASSESSMENT OF NEW AND SIGNIFICANT INFORMATION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-1 5.1 New and Significant Information Review . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-1 5.1.1 Clean Water Act Section 316(b). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-3 6.0
SUMMARY
OF LICENSE RENEWAL IMPACTS AND MITIGATING ACTIONS . . . . . 6-1 6.1 License Renewal Impacts. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-1 6.2 Mitigation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-1 6.2.1 Requirement [10 CFR 51.45(c)] . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-1 6.2.2 TVA Response . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-1 6.3 Unavoidable Adverse Impacts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-2 6.3.1 Requirement [10 CFR 51.45(b)(2)] . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-2 6.3.2 TVA Response . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-2 6.4 Irreversible or Irretrievable Resource Commitments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-3 6.4.1 Requirement [10 CFR 51.45(b)(5)] . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-3 6.4.2 TVA Response . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-3 6.5 Short-Term Use Versus Long-Term Productivity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-4 xx
Sequoyah Nuclear Plant Applicants Environmental Report Operating License Renewal Stage 6.5.1 Requirement [10 CFR 51.45(b)(4)] . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-4 6.5.2 TVA Response . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-4 7.0 ALTERNATIVES TO THE PROPOSED ACTION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-1 7.1 Proposed Action . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-2 7.2 No-Action Alternative . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-2 7.2.1 TVA Region of Interest. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-2 7.2.2 Decommissioning. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-2 7.3 Alternatives Considered Reasonable . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-3 7.4 Alternatives Not Within the Range of Reasonable Alternatives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-8 7.4.1 Wind . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-8 7.4.2 Solar. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-10 7.4.3 Hydropower . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-11 7.4.4 Geothermal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-12 7.4.5 Biomass . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-12 7.4.6 Oil. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-14 7.4.7 Tidal, Ocean Thermal, and Wave . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-14 7.4.8 Fuel Cells . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-15 7.4.9 Repowering/Uprating Electrical Generating Plants . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-16 7.4.10 Energy Efficiency and Demand Response. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-16 7.4.11 Delayed Retirement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-17 7.4.12 Purchased Power. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-18 7.5 Environmental Impacts of Reasonable Energy Alternatives. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-21 7.5.1 Construct and Operate New Super-Critical Pulverized Coal Generating Capacity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-21 7.5.1.1 Land Use . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-21 7.5.1.2 Air Quality . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-22 7.5.1.3 Groundwater Use and Quality . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-24 7.5.1.4 Surface Water Use and Quality . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-25 7.5.1.5 Aquatic and Terrestrial Ecology . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-25 7.5.1.6 Human Health. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-26 7.5.1.7 Socioeconomics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-26 7.5.1.8 Transportation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-27 7.5.1.9 Aesthetics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-27 7.5.1.10 Historic and Cultural Resources . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-28 7.5.1.11 Environmental Justice. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-28 7.5.1.12 Waste Management . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-28 7.5.2 Construct and Operate New Natural Gas-Fired Generating Capacity . . . . . . . . . 7-29 7.5.2.1 Land Use . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-29 7.5.2.2 Air Quality . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-30 7.5.2.3 Groundwater Use and Quality . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-31 7.5.2.4 Surface Water Use and Quality . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-31 7.5.2.5 Aquatic and Terrestrial Ecology . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-32 xxi
Sequoyah Nuclear Plant Applicants Environmental Report Operating License Renewal Stage 7.5.2.6 Human Health. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-32 7.5.2.7 Socioeconomics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-33 7.5.2.8 Transportation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-33 7.5.2.9 Aesthetics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-34 7.5.2.10 Historic and Cultural Resources . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-34 7.5.2.11 Environmental Justice. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-35 7.5.2.12 Waste Management . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-35 7.5.3 Construct and Operate New Nuclear Generating Capacity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-35 7.5.3.1 Land Use . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-35 7.5.3.2 Air Quality . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-36 7.5.3.3 Groundwater Use and Quality . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-36 7.5.3.4 Surface Water Use and Quality . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-37 7.5.3.5 Aquatic and Terrestrial Ecology . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-37 7.5.3.6 Human Health. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-39 7.5.3.7 Socioeconomics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-39 7.5.3.8 Transportation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-39 7.5.3.9 Aesthetics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-40 7.5.3.10 Historic and Cultural Resources . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-40 7.5.3.11 Environmental Justice. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-41 7.5.3.12 Waste Management . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-41 7.6 Proposed Action vs. No Action . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-46 8.0 COMPARISON OF ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-1 9.0 STATUS OF COMPLIANCE. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-1 9.1 Requirement [10 CFR 51.45(d)] . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-1 9.1.1 Sequoyah Nuclear Plant Authorizations. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-1 9.1.2 Status of Compliance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-1 9.1.3 Federal, State, and Local Regulatory Standards: Discussion of Compliance . . . 9-1 9.1.3.1 Notice of Violations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-2 9.1.3.2 Remediation Activities (Nonradiological) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-2 9.1.3.3 Clean Water Act . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-2 9.1.3.3.1 Water Quality (401) Certification . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-2 9.1.3.3.2 NPDES Permit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-2 9.1.3.3.3 Biocide Corrosion Treatment Plan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-3 9.1.3.3.4 Stormwater Permit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-3 9.1.3.3.5 Sanitary Wastewaters. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-3 9.1.3.3.6 Spill, Prevention, Control and Countermeasures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-4 9.1.3.3.7 Facility Response Plan [40 CFR Part 112] . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-4 9.1.3.3.8 Section 404 Permit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-4 9.1.3.4 Safe Drinking Water Act . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-5 9.1.3.5 Clean Air Act. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-5 9.1.3.5.1 Air Permit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-5 9.1.3.5.2 Chemical Accident Prevention Provisions [40 CFR Part 68] . . . . . . . 9-5 9.1.3.5.3 Stratospheric Ozone [40 CFR Part 82]. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-5 xxii
Sequoyah Nuclear Plant Applicants Environmental Report Operating License Renewal Stage 9.1.3.6 Atomic Energy Act . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-6 9.1.3.6.1 Radioactive Waste . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-6 9.1.3.6.2 Liquid and Gaseous Effluent Monitoring Program . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-6 9.1.3.6.3 Radiological Environmental Monitoring Program . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-6 9.1.3.7 NEI Industry Initiative . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-6 9.1.3.8 Resource Conservation and Recovery Act. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-7 9.1.3.8.1 Nonradioactive Wastes. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-7 9.1.3.8.2 Mixed Wastes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-7 9.1.3.8.3 Underground Storage Tanks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-7 9.1.3.9 Tennessee Hazardous Waste Reduction Action of 1990 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-8 9.1.3.10 Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-8 9.1.3.11 Toxic Substances Control Act. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-8 9.1.3.12 Hazardous Materials Transportation Act . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-8 9.1.3.13 Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA). . . . . . 9-8 9.1.3.13.1 Section 312 Reporting [40 CFR Part 370] . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-8 9.1.3.13.2 Section 313 Reporting [40 CFR Part 372] . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-9 9.1.3.14 Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-9 9.1.3.15 Migratory Bird Treaty Act . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-9 9.1.3.16 Endangered Species Act . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-9 9.1.3.17 Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-9 9.1.3.18 Coastal Zone Management Act . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-9 9.1.3.19 Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act. . . . . . . . 9-10 9.1.3.20 Marine Mammal Protection Act. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-10 9.1.3.21 Farmland Protection Policy Act. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-10 9.1.3.22 Floodplain Management (Executive Order 11988) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-10 9.1.3.23 National Historic Preservation Act . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-11 9.1.3.24 Federal Aviation Act . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-11 9.1.3.25 Occupational Safety and Health Act . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-11 9.1.3.26 Soddy-Daisy Ordinances . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-11 9.1.4 Environmental Reviews . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-12 9.2 Requirement [10 CFR 51.45(d)] . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-12 9.2.1 Alternatives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-12
10.0 REFERENCES
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-1 xxiii
Sequoyah Nuclear Plant Applicants Environmental Report Operating License Renewal Stage LIST OF ATTACHMENTS Attachment A: Transmission Line Corridor Environmental Review Process and Analysis Attachment B: Cultural Resources Correspondence Attachment C: SQN National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Permit Attachment D: Threatened and Endangered Species Correspondence Attachment E: Severe Accident Mitigation Alternatives Analysis xxiv
Sequoyah Nuclear Plant Applicants Environmental Report Operating License Renewal Stage LIST OF TABLES Table 1.1-1 License Renewal Environmental Issues:
Current 1996 GEIS/Proposed 2009 GEIS Crosswalk . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-3 Table 2.1-1 Federal, State, and Local Lands Within a 50-Mile Radius of SQN . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-7 Table 2.2-1 USGS Hydrologic Units and Surface Area for Region 06: Tennessee River Basin . . . . . 2-44 Table 2.2-2 Tennessee River Dams. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-46 Table 2.2-3 TDEC Final 303(d) List of Impaired Tributaries to Chickamauga Reservoir . . . . . . . . . . . 2-47 Table 2.2-4 Ecological Health Indicators for Chickamauga Reservoir, 2011 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-50 Table 2.2-5 Seasonal Mean Hydraulic Entrainment and Entrainment Percentages of Total Fish Eggs and Larvae Passing SQN Entrained 1981 to 1985 and 2004 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-51 Table 2.2-6 Summary of RBI Scores in Chickamauga Reservoir, 1994-2010 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-52 Table 2.2-7 Comparison of Average Mean Density per Square Meter of Benthic Taxa Collected at Upstream and Downstream Sites Near SQN, Chickamauga Reservoir, Autumn 2008 and Autumn 2009 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-53 Table 2.2-8 Fish Species in the Vicinity of SQN. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-55 Table 2.2-9 Summary of RFAI Scores in Chickamauga Reservoir, 1993-2010 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-58 Table 2.2-10 Total Fish Estimated Impinged by Year at SQN . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-60 Table 2.2-11 Recreational and Commercially Important Fish Species . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-61 Table 2.3-1 Registered Groundwater Withdrawal Locations in Hamilton County, Tennessee. . . . . . . 2-72 Table 2.4-1 SQN Land Cover. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-86 xxv
Sequoyah Nuclear Plant Applicants Environmental Report Operating License Renewal Stage Table 2.4-2 SQN and Adjacent Areas Wildlife . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-87 Table 2.4-3 SQN Vicinity and Transmission Line ROW Land Use. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-89 Table 2.5-1 Endangered, Threatened, and Other Species of Concern in the SQN Geographic Area . 2-101 Table 2.6-1 2010 Population of Cities and Towns Within the 50-Mile Region . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-111 Table 2.6-2 County-Level Permanent Population (32 Counties Totally or Partially Within the 50-Mile Region of SQN) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-114 Table 2.6-3 Projected County Populations and Average Annual Growth Rates 2010-2041 (Counties Within a 20-Mile Radius of SQN) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-116 Table 2.6-4 Minority Populations Evaluated Against Criterion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-118 Table 2.6-5 Minority Census Block Counts Within the 50-Mile Region . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-119 Table 2.6-6 Low Income Population Criteria Using Two Geographic Areas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-120 Table 2.7-1 TVA Estimated Tax Distributions, 2006-2010 ($) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-143 Table 2.8-1 2005 Hamilton County Land Use by Category . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-148 Table 2.9-1 Hamilton County, Tennessee, Housing Statistics 2000 and 2010 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-150 Table 2.10-1 Public Water Supply Systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-157 Table 2.10-2 AADT Traffic Counts on Roads Near SQN, 2000-2010 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-158 Table 2.10-3 Level of Service Definitions. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-159 Table 2.10-4 State Tourism Offices and Reported Visitor Numbers, 2010 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-160 Table 2.10-5 Estimated Transient Population in Hamilton County, 2010. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-161 xxvi
Sequoyah Nuclear Plant Applicants Environmental Report Operating License Renewal Stage Table 2.10-6 Top Employing NAICS Industry Categories . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-162 Table 2.10-7 Chattanooga MSA and Tennessee Unemployment 2007-2011. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-163 Table 2.12-1 Cultural Resources on SQN and Within 0.5-Mile of SQN Boundary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-180 Table 2.12-2 Architectural Historic Properties Within a 10-Mile Radius of SQN . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-181 Table 3.2-1 SQN Hazardous Waste Generation, 2007-2011 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-34 Table 3.2-2 NPDES Permitted Outfalls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-35 Table 3.2-3 Air Permitted Emission Sources . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-37 Table 3.2-4 SQN Transmission Lines . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-38 Table 3.5-1 Employee Residence Information (January 2010) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-44 Table 4.0-1 Category 1 License Renewal Issues. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-6 Table 4.0-2 Category 2 License Renewal Issues. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-13 Table 4.1-1 Drainage Area and Average Flow Rate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-17 Table 4.3-1 Fish Species and Numbers Collected in Impingement Samples at SQN, 2005-2007 . . . 4-28 Table 4.3-2 Total Fish Estimated Impinged by Year at SQN and Numbers Following EqA and PF Models, 2005-2007 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-29 Table 4.3-3 Percent Composition by Number and After EqA and PF Models Applied of Major Species of Fish Impinged at SQN 1980-1985 and 2005-2007 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-30 Table 6.1-1 Environmental Impacts Related to License Renewal at SQN . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-6 Table 7.3-1 Recommended Planning Direction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-7 xxvii
Sequoyah Nuclear Plant Applicants Environmental Report Operating License Renewal Stage Table 7.5-1 Super-Critical Pulverized Coal Alternative Emission Control Characteristics . . . . . . . . . . 7-42 Table 7.5-2 Air Emissions From Super-Critical Pulverized Coal Alternative . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-43 Table 7.5-3 Solid Waste From Super-Critical Pulverized Coal Alternative. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-44 Table 7.5-4 Air Emissions From Natural Gas-Fired Alternative . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-45 Table 7.6-1 Carbon Dioxide Emissions From Electricity Generation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-47 Table 8.0-1 Environmental Impacts Comparison Summary. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-2 Table 8.0-2 Environmental Impacts Comparison Detail . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-3 Table 9.1-1 SQN AuthorizationsCurrent Operations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-13 Table 9.1-2 Reviews Related to Endangered Species and National Historic Preservation Acts . . . . . 9-15 Table 9.1-3 SQN NPDES Permit Noncompliances 2007-2011 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-16 xxviii
Sequoyah Nuclear Plant Applicants Environmental Report Operating License Renewal Stage LIST OF FIGURES Figure 2.1-1 SQN Site Boundary and Aerial Site Layout . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2-16 Figure 2.1-2 SQN Exclusion Area Boundary and Area Topography . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2-17 Figure 2.1-3 SQN Site and 6-Mile Radius . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2-18 Figure 2.1-4 SQN Site and 50-Mile Radius . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2-19 Figure 2.1-5 Federal, State, and Local Lands Within a 6-Mile Radius of SQN . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2-20 Figure 2.1-6 Federal, State, and Local Lands Within a 50-Mile Radius of SQN . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2-21 Figure 2.2-1 Tennessee River Watershed Basin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2-63 Figure 2.2-2 TVA Dams and Reservoirs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2-64 Figure 2.2-3 TVA Reservoir Water Release and System Flow Requirements (2010-August 2012) . .2-65 Figure 2.2-4 Impaired Waters Discharging to Chickamauga Reservoir . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2-66 Figure 2.3-1 Regional Geologic Map. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2-73 Figure 2.3-2 Site Geologic Map. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2-74 Figure 2.3-3 Regional Aquifers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2-75 Figure 2.3-4 Registered Water Wells Within a 2-Mile Radius of SQN . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2-76 xxix
Sequoyah Nuclear Plant Applicants Environmental Report Operating License Renewal Stage Figure 2.4-1 SQN Land Cover. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2-90 Figure 2.4-2 SQN National Wetlands Inventory . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2-91 Figure 2.4-3 National Wetlands Inventory Within the Vicinity of SQN. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2-92 Figure 2.6-1 Black or African American Populations, Combined State Method . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2-121 Figure 2.6-2 American Indian and Alaska Native Populations, Combined State Method . . . . . . . . . . .2-122 Figure 2.6-3 Asian Populations, Combined State Method . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2-123 Figure 2.6-4 Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander Populations, Combined State Method . . . . .2-124 Figure 2.6-5 Some Other Race, Combined State Method . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2-125 Figure 2.6-6 Two or More Races, Combined State Method . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2-126 Figure 2.6-7 Hispanic or Latino Populations, Combined State Method. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2-127 Figure 2.6-8 Aggregate of All Minority Races, Combined State Method. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2-128 Figure 2.6-9 Aggregate of All Minority Races and Hispanic or Latino, Combined State Method . . . . .2-129 Figure 2.6-10 Black or African American, Individual State Method . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2-130 Figure 2.6-11 American Indian and Alaska Native, Individual State Method . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2-131 Figure 2.6-12 Asian, Individual State Method . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2-132 xxx
Sequoyah Nuclear Plant Applicants Environmental Report Operating License Renewal Stage Figure 2.6-13 Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islanders, Individual State Method . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2-133 Figure 2.6-14 Some Other Race, Individual State Method . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2-134 Figure 2.6-15 Two or More Races, Individual State Method . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2-135 Figure 2.6-16 Hispanic or Latino, Individual State Method . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2-136 Figure 2.6-17 Aggregate of All Minority Races, Individual State Method . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2-137 Figure 2.6-18 Aggregate of All Minority Races and Hispanic or Latino, Individual State Method . . . . . .2-138 Figure 2.6-19 Low-Income Population Groups, Combined State Method. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2-139 Figure 2.6-20 Low Income Population Groups, Individual State Method . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2-140 Figure 2.7-1 TVA Power Service Area . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2-144 Figure 2.11-1 PSD Class I Air Quality Areas. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2-168 Figure 2.12-1 SQN Site with Area of Potential Effect Shown . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2-182 Figure 2.12-2 10-Mile Vicinity for SQN Site with Associated Historical Properties . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2-183 Figure 2.12-3 Oblique Aerial Photograph Taken During SQN Plant Construction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2-184 Figure 2.12-4 Oblique Aerial Photograph Taken During SQN Plant Construction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2-185 Figure 2.12-5 Oblique Aerial Photograph Taken During SQN Plant Construction ca. 1969 . . . . . . . . . .2-186 xxxi
Sequoyah Nuclear Plant Applicants Environmental Report Operating License Renewal Stage Figure 3.2-1 SQN Cooling Water Intake Structure Flow Path . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3-39 Figure 3.2-2 ERCW Intake Structure. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3-40 Figure 3.2-3 SQN Monitoring Wells. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3-41 Figure 3.2-4 SQN In-Scope Transmission Lines. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3-42 Figure 7.4-1 Peak Load Forecast . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7-19 Figure 7.4-2 Energy Forecast . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7-20 xxxii
Sequoyah Nuclear Plant Applicants Environmental Report Operating License Renewal Stage 1.0 PURPOSE OF AND NEED FOR THE PROPOSED ACTION For license renewal, the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) has adopted the following definition of purpose and need, stated in Section 1.3 of NUREG-1437, Generic Environmental Impact Statement for License Renewal of Nuclear Power Plants (GEIS): "The purpose and need for the proposed action (renewal of an operating license) is to provide an option that allows for power generation capability beyond the term of a current nuclear power plant operating license to meet future system generating needs, as such needs may be determined by State, utility, and, where authorized, Federal (other than USNRC) decision makers."
The Atomic Energy Act of 1954 authorizes the NRC to issue commercial nuclear power plant operating licenses (OLs) for up to 40 years. The 40-year length of the original license period was imposed for economic and antitrust reasons rather than the technical limitations of the nuclear power plant. NRC regulations [10 CFR 50.51] allow for the renewal of these OLs for periods up to an additional 20 years, depending on the outcome of an assessment determining whether the nuclear power plant can continue to operate safely and protect the environment during the 20-year period of extended operation. Additionally, 10 CFR 54.17(c) states, "[A]n application for a renewed license may not be submitted to the Commission earlier than 20 years before the expiration of the operating license currently in effect."
The proposed action is to renew the OLs for Sequoyah Nuclear Plant (SQN) Units 1 and 2, which would preserve the option for the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) to continue operating SQN to provide base load(1) power throughout the 20-year period of extended operation and to continue use of an existing asset. The OLs expiration dates are September 17, 2020, for Unit 1 (Facility OL DPR-077) and September 15, 2021, for Unit 2 (Facility OL DPR-079). The requested renewals would allow SQN to operate until midnight on September 17, 2040, for Unit 1 and until midnight on September 15, 2041, for Unit 2.
1.1 Environmental Report NRC regulation 10 CFR 51.53(c) requires that an applicant for license renewal submit with its application an environmental report (ER) (Appendix E of the application) entitled, "Applicant's Environmental ReportOperating License Renewal Stage." The requirements governing information to be included in an ER are codified at 10 CFR 51.45 and 51.53(c), and Table B-1 in Part 51 Appendix B lists the specific issues to be addressed in an ER. The GEIS developed by NRC discusses each of the environmental issues of concern for nuclear plant license renewal (NRC 1996). The specifics of each of the regulatory requirements and the concerns documented in the GEIS are presented by environmental issue in Chapter 4.
NRC has proposed amendments to 10 CFR Part 51 regarding what information is to be included in an ER (74 FR 38117; NRC 2012). The proposed amendments include combining related environmental issues, reassignment of issue categories, identification of new Category 1 and 2
- 1. Base load is the minimum amount of electric power over a given period of time at a steady rate.
The minimum continuous load or demand in a power system over a given period of time is usually not temperature sensitive.
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Sequoyah Nuclear Plant Applicants Environmental Report Operating License Renewal Stage issues, and the expansion of existing issues. NRC discusses this amended compilation of environmental issues of concern for nuclear plant license renewal in the draft GEIS published in 2009 (NRC 2009a). Although not yet regulatory requirements, TVA has also included in this ER, for purposes of completeness, but not in order to satisfy governing regulatory requirements, those Category 2 issues, either new or with expanded scope, currently in the proposed amendment to 10 CFR Part 51 (74 FR 38117; NRC 2012). TVA developed Table 1.1-1 as a crosswalk matrix showing relationships between the 1996 GEIS issues (those required by current regulations) and the proposed 2009 GEIS issues. The matrix identifies where the issue is addressed within the ER, to provide assurance that each issue is addressed as appropriate and guide the reviewer to the specific location in the ER.
This appendix to the TVA license renewal application (LRA) fulfills the requirements of 10 CFR Part 51 for information to be included and proactively addresses those new or expanded Category 2 issues that NRC included in its proposed amendment to 10 CFR Part 51. Moreover, TVA also addressed the proposed new Category 1 issues set forth in the proposed amendments to the GEIS in its new and significant process as discussed in Chapter 5.
1.2 Licensee and Ownership TVA is a federal agency and the owner and operator of SQN Unit 1 (Facility OL DPR-77) and Unit 2 (Facility OL DPR-79). For the purposes of this ER, TVA is considered the applicant. TVA also owns and operates the transmission lines constructed for purposes of connecting SQN to the electric power grid.
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Sequoyah Nuclear Plant Applicants Environmental Report Operating License Renewal Stage Table 1.1-1 License Renewal Environmental Issues:
Current 1996 GEIS/Proposed 2009 GEIS Crosswalk (2009 issue expansions in bold text; new 2009 issues underlined) 1996 2009 Applicable Where 1996 GEIS Issue 2009 GEIS Issue Category Category to SQN Considered Surface Water Quality, Hydrology, and Use Impacts of Surface water use 1 1 1996: No ER Section 3.3 refurbishment on and quality (both 2009: Yes surface water quality continuing operations and Impacts of refurbishment) 1 1996: No ER Section 3.3 refurbishment on 2009: Yes surface water use Altered current Altered current 1 1 Yes ER Sections 2.2 patterns at intake and patterns at intake and and 3.2 discharge structures discharge structures Altered salinity Altered salinity 1 1 No ER Section 4.0 gradients gradients and Table 4.0-1 Altered thermal Altered thermal 1 1 Yes ER Section 2.2 stratification of lakes stratification of lakes Temperature effects Temperature effects 1 1 Yes ER Table 4.0-1 on sediment on sediment transport capacity transport capacity Scouring caused by Scouring caused by 1 1 Yes ER Section 2.2 discharged cooling discharged cooling and Table 4.0-1 water water Discharge of chlorine Discharge of 1 1 Yes ER Section 3.2 or other biocides biocides, sanitary wastes, and minor Discharge of sanitary chemical spills 1 Yes ER Section 3.2 wastes and minor chemical spills Discharge of metals Discharge of metals 1 1 Yes ER Sections 2.2 in waste water in cooling system and 3.2 effluent Water use conflicts Water use conflicts 1 1 Yes ER Sections 2.2, (plants with once- (plants with once- 2.10.1, and 3.2 through cooling through cooling systems) systems) 1-3
Sequoyah Nuclear Plant Applicants Environmental Report Operating License Renewal Stage Table 1.1-1 (Continued)
License Renewal Environmental Issues:
Current 1996 GEIS/Proposed 2009 GEIS Crosswalk (2009 issue expansions in bold text; new 2009 issues underlined) 1996 2009 Applicable Where 1996 GEIS Issue 2009 GEIS Issue Category Category to SQN Considered Water use conflicts Water use conflicts 2 2 Yes ER Sections 2.2, (plants with cooling (plants with cooling 2.10.1, 3.2, and ponds or cooling ponds or cooling 4.1 towers using makeup towers using makeup water from a small water from a river river with low flow) with low flow)
Not specifically Effects of dredging No 1 Yes ER Sections 2.2, identified as a on water quality category 2.5, and 3.2 separate category issueaddressed elsewhere Aquatic Ecology Refurbishment Refurbishment 1 1 No ER Sections 2.2 impacts on aquatic and 3.3 resources Accumulation of Effects of 1 1 Yes ER Sections 2.2 contaminants in nonradiological and 3.2.8.2 sediments or biota contaminants on aquatic organisms Eutrophication Effects of cooling 1 1 Yes ER Section 2.2 water discharge on Gas supersaturation dissolved oxygen, 1 Yes ER Section 2.2 (gas bubble disease) gas supersaturation, Low dissolved and eutrophication 1 Yes ER Section 2.2 oxygen in the discharge Entrainment of fish Impingement and 2 2 Yes ER Section 4.2 and shellfish in early entrainment of life stages aquatic organisms Impingement of fish 2 Yes ER Section 4.3 and shellfish Entrainment of Entrainment of 1 1 Yes ER Sections 2.2 phytoplankton and phytoplankton and and 4.2 zooplankton zooplankton 1-4
Sequoyah Nuclear Plant Applicants Environmental Report Operating License Renewal Stage Table 1.1-1 (Continued)
License Renewal Environmental Issues:
Current 1996 GEIS/Proposed 2009 GEIS Crosswalk (2009 issue expansions in bold text; new 2009 issues underlined) 1996 2009 Applicable Where 1996 GEIS Issue 2009 GEIS Issue Category Category to SQN Considered Heat shock (for Thermal impacts on 2 2 Yes ER Sections 2.2 plants with once- aquatic organisms and 4.4 for once-through and cooling (plants with once- through cooling pond heat dissipation through cooling discharge systems) systems or cooling ponds)
Cold shock Infrequently reported 1 1 Yes ER Sections 2.2 thermal impacts (all and 4.4 for once-plants) through cooling discharge Thermal plume 1 Yes ER Sections 2.2 barrier to migrating and 4.4 for once-fish through cooling discharge; Distribution of aquatic 1 Yes ER Section 4.4 organisms for once-through cooling discharge Premature 1 Yes ER Section 4.4 emergence of aquatic for once-through insects cooling discharge Stimulation of 1 Yes ER Table 4.0-1 nuisance organisms (e.g., shipworms)
Losses from Losses from 1 1 Yes ER Section 2.2 predation, parasitism, predation, parasitism, and disease among and disease among organisms exposed organisms exposed to sub-lethal stresses to sub-lethal stresses Not specifically Exposure of aquatic No 1 Yes ER Section 3.2.5 identified as a organisms to category separate category radionuclides issueaddressed elsewhere.
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Sequoyah Nuclear Plant Applicants Environmental Report Operating License Renewal Stage Table 1.1-1 (Continued)
License Renewal Environmental Issues:
Current 1996 GEIS/Proposed 2009 GEIS Crosswalk (2009 issue expansions in bold text; new 2009 issues underlined) 1996 2009 Applicable Where 1996 GEIS Issue 2009 GEIS Issue Category Category to SQN Considered Not specifically Effects of dredging No 1 Yes ER Sections 2.2 identified as a on aquatic organisms category and 9.1 separate category issueaddressed elsewhere.
Not specifically Impacts of No 1 Yes ER Section 3.2 identified as a transmission line category separate category right-of-way (ROW) issueaddressed management on elsewhere. aquatic resources Aquatic Ecology (for plants with cooling tower-based heat dissipation systems)
Entrainment of fish Impingement and 1 1 Yes ER Sections 2.2, and shellfish in early entrainment of 2.5, and 4.2 life stages aquatic organisms (also, incorporates Impingement of fish entrainment of 1 Yes ER Sections 2.2, and shellfish phytoplankton and 2.5, and 4.3 zooplankton, see above)
Heat shock for plants Thermal impacts on 1 1 Yes ER Sections 2.2 with cooling tower- aquatic organisms and 4.4 based heat (incorporates cold dissipation systems shock, thermal plume barrier to migrating fish, distribution of aquatic organisms, and premature emergence of aquatic insects) 1-6
Sequoyah Nuclear Plant Applicants Environmental Report Operating License Renewal Stage Table 1.1-1 (Continued)
License Renewal Environmental Issues:
Current 1996 GEIS/Proposed 2009 GEIS Crosswalk (2009 issue expansions in bold text; new 2009 issues underlined) 1996 2009 Applicable Where 1996 GEIS Issue 2009 GEIS Issue Category Category to SQN Considered Consumptive water Water use conflicts No 2 Yes ER Sections 2.2, use conflict impacts with aquatic category 3.2, 4.0.5, 4.1, on riparian vegetation resources (plants and 4.10 and associated with cooling ponds or animal communities cooling towers using is combined with makeup water from a water use conflicts for river with low flow).
water resources (plants with cooling towers on river with low flow)
Groundwater Use and Quality Groundwater use Groundwater use 1 1 No ER Sections 2.3, conflicts (potable and conflicts (plants that 3.2, and 4.0 service water; plants withdraw < 100 gpm) that use < 100 gpm)
Groundwater use Groundwater use 2 2 No ER Section 4.5 conflicts (potable, conflicts (plants that service water, and withdraw > 100 gpm dewatering; plants including those using that use > 100 gpm) Ranney wells)
Groundwater use Groundwater use 2 2 Yes ER Section 4.6 conflicts (plants using conflicts (plants with cooling towers closed-cycle cooling withdrawing makeup systems that water from a small withdraw makeup river) water from a river)
Groundwater use See above 2 2 No ER Section 4.7 conflicts (Ranney (Groundwater use wells) conflicts [plants that withdraw > 100 gpm including those using Ranney wells])
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Sequoyah Nuclear Plant Applicants Environmental Report Operating License Renewal Stage Table 1.1-1 (Continued)
License Renewal Environmental Issues:
Current 1996 GEIS/Proposed 2009 GEIS Crosswalk (2009 issue expansions in bold text; new 2009 issues underlined) 1996 2009 Applicable Where 1996 GEIS Issue 2009 GEIS Issue Category Category to SQN Considered Groundwater quality Groundwater quality 1 1 No ER Sections 2.3 degradation (Ranney degradation resulting and 3.2 wells) from water withdrawals Groundwater quality 1 No ER Sections 2.3 degradation and 3.2 (saltwater intrusion)
Groundwater quality Groundwater quality 1 1 No ER Sections 2.3 degradation (cooling degradation (cooling and 3.2 ponds in salt ponds in salt marshes) marshes)
Groundwater quality Groundwater quality 2 2 No ER Sections 2.3, degradation (cooling degradation (cooling 3.2, and 4.8 ponds at inland sites) ponds at inland sites)
Impacts of Groundwater 1 1 1996: No ER Sections 2.3, refurbishment on contamination and 2009: Yes 3.2, and 9.1.3 groundwater use and use (non-cooling quality system impacts)
Not specifically Radionuclides No 2 Yes ER Sections 2.3, identified as a released to category 3.2, and 9.1.3 separate category groundwater issueaddressed elsewhere Terrestrial Resources Refurbishment Impacts of 2 2 1996: No ER Sections impacts to terrestrial refurbishment and 2009: Yes 2.4, 3.2, and 4.9 resources continued plant operations on terrestrial ecosystems.
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Sequoyah Nuclear Plant Applicants Environmental Report Operating License Renewal Stage Table 1.1-1 (Continued)
License Renewal Environmental Issues:
Current 1996 GEIS/Proposed 2009 GEIS Crosswalk (2009 issue expansions in bold text; new 2009 issues underlined) 1996 2009 Applicable Where 1996 GEIS Issue 2009 GEIS Issue Category Category to SQN Considered Cooling tower Cooling tower 1 1 Yes ER Sections 2.4, impacts on crops and impacts on 3.2, and 4.0 ornamental vegetation vegetation Cooling tower 1 Yes ER Sections 2.4, impacts on native 3.2, and 4.0 plants Bird collisions with Bird collisions with 1 1 Yes ER Sections 2.4, cooling towers cooling towers and 2.5, 3.2, and 4.0 transmission lines Cooling pond impacts Cooling system 1 1 1996: No ER Sections 2.4, on terrestrial impacts on terrestrial 2009: Yes 3.2, and 4.0 resources resources (plants with once-through cooling systems or cooling ponds)
Power line ROW Transmission line 1 1 Yes ER Sections 2.4, management (cutting ROW management 2.5, 3.2, and 4.0 and herbicide impacts on terrestrial application) resources Bird collisions with See above (Bird 1 1 Yes ER Sections 2.4, power lines collisions with cooling 2.5, 3.2, and 4.0.
towers and transmission lines)
Impacts of Impacts of 1 1 Yes ER Sections 2.4, electromagnetic electromagnetic 2.5, 3.2, and 4.0 fields on flora and fields on flora and fauna (plants, fauna (plants, agricultural crops, agricultural crops, honeybees, wildlife, honeybees, wildlife, and livestock) and livestock)
Floodplains and See above 1 1 Yes ER Sections 2.4, wetlands on power (transmission line 3.2, and 4.0 line ROW ROW management impacts on terrestrial resources) 1-9
Sequoyah Nuclear Plant Applicants Environmental Report Operating License Renewal Stage Table 1.1-1 (Continued)
License Renewal Environmental Issues:
Current 1996 GEIS/Proposed 2009 GEIS Crosswalk (2009 issue expansions in bold text; new 2009 issues underlined) 1996 2009 Applicable Where 1996 GEIS Issue 2009 GEIS Issue Category Category to SQN Considered Not specifically Exposure of No 1 Yes ER Sections 2.4, identified as a terrestrial organisms category 3.2, 4.0, and separate category to radionuclides 9.1.3 issueaddressed elsewhere Not specifically Water use conflicts No 2 Yes ER Sections identified as a with terrestrial category 2.2.1, 2.4, 4.1, separate category resources (plants and 4.9 issueaddressed with cooling ponds or elsewhere cooling towers using makeup water from a river with low flow)
Threatened or Endangered Species (for all plants)
Threatened or Threatened, 2 2 Yes ER Sections 2.2, endangered species endangered, and 2.5, and 4.10 protected species and essential fish habitat Air Quality Air quality during Air quality impacts 2 1 1996: No ER Sections refurbishment (all plants) 2009: Yes 2.11 and 4.11 (nonattainment and maintenance areas)
Air quality effects of Air quality effects of 1 1 Yes ER Sections 3.2 transmission lines transmission lines and 4.0 Land Use See Socioeconomics Offsite land use 2 1 No ER Sections 3.3 (Offsite land use (refurbishment and and 4.17
[refurbishment]) continued operations)
See Socioeconomics 2 Yes ER Sections 2.8 (Offsite land use and 4.18
[license renewal term])
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Sequoyah Nuclear Plant Applicants Environmental Report Operating License Renewal Stage Table 1.1-1 (Continued)
License Renewal Environmental Issues:
Current 1996 GEIS/Proposed 2009 GEIS Crosswalk (2009 issue expansions in bold text; new 2009 issues underlined) 1996 2009 Applicable Where 1996 GEIS Issue 2009 GEIS Issue Category Category to SQN Considered Onsite land use Onsite land use 1 1 Yes ER Sections 2.4 (refurbishment and and 4.0 continued operations)
Power line ROW Offsite land use in 1 1 Yes ER Sections 3.2 land-use impacts transmission line and 4.0 ROWs (refurbishment and continued operations)
Human Health Radiation exposures Radiation exposures 1 1 Yes ER Sections 3.2, to the public to the public 3.3, and 4.0 (refurbishment and (refurbishment and continued operations) continued operations)
Occupational Radiation exposures 1 1 Yes ER Sections 3.2, radiation exposures to occupational 3.3, and 4.0 (refurbishment and workers continued operations) (refurbishment and continued operations)
Microbiological Microbiological 1 1 Yes ER Section 4.0 organisms hazards to plant (occupational health) workers Microbiological Microbiological 2 2 Yes ER Section 4.12 organisms (public hazards to the public health) (plants using (plants with cooling lakes or canals, or ponds or canals or cooling towers or cooling towers that cooling ponds that discharge to river) discharge to a small river)
Noise Noise impacts 1 1 Yes ER Sections 2.1 and 9.1 Electromagnetic Electric shock 2 2 Yes ER Section 4.13 fields, acute effects hazards 1-11
Sequoyah Nuclear Plant Applicants Environmental Report Operating License Renewal Stage Table 1.1-1 (Continued)
License Renewal Environmental Issues:
Current 1996 GEIS/Proposed 2009 GEIS Crosswalk (2009 issue expansions in bold text; new 2009 issues underlined) 1996 2009 Applicable Where 1996 GEIS Issue 2009 GEIS Issue Category Category to SQN Considered Electromagnetic Electromagnetic No No Yes N&S review fields, chronic effects fields, chronic effects category category Not specifically Human health impact No 1 Yes ER Section 3.2 identified as a from chemicals category separate category issueaddressed elsewhere Not specifically Physical occupational No 1 Yes ER Sections 4.0 identified as a hazards category and 9.1 separate category issueaddressed elsewhere Socioeconomics Housing impacts Population and 2 1 Yes ER Sections 2.6, housing 2.9, 3.5, and 4.14 Public services: Employment and 1 1 Yes ER Sections 2.6 public safety, social income, recreation and 2.10 services, and tourism and tourism and recreation Public services: Community services 2 1 Yes ER Sections public utilities and education 2.10 and 4.15 Public services: 2 Yes ER Sections education 2.10 and 4.16 (refurbishment)
Public services: 1 Yes ER Section 2.10 education (license renewal term)
Offsite land use See Land Use 2 1 Yes ER Sections 3.3 (refurbishment) above and 4.17 Offsite land use See Land Use 2 1 Yes ER Sections 2.8 (license renewal above and 4.18 term) 1-12
Sequoyah Nuclear Plant Applicants Environmental Report Operating License Renewal Stage Table 1.1-1 (Continued)
License Renewal Environmental Issues:
Current 1996 GEIS/Proposed 2009 GEIS Crosswalk (2009 issue expansions in bold text; new 2009 issues underlined) 1996 2009 Applicable Where 1996 GEIS Issue 2009 GEIS Issue Category Category to SQN Considered Public services: Transportation 2 1 Yes ER Sections transportation (refurbishment and 2.10 and 4.19 (refurbishment and continued operations) continued operations)
Historic and Historic and cultural 2 2 Yes ER Sections archaeological resources 2.12 and 4.20 resources Aesthetic impacts Visual resources, 1 1 No ER Sections 2.1, (refurbishment) aesthetic impacts 3.3, and 4.0 Aesthetic impacts 1 Yes ER Sections 2.1 (license renewal and 4.0 term)
Aesthetic impacts of Visual resources, 1 1 Yes ER Sections 2.1 transmission lines aesthetic impacts and 4.0 (license renewal term)
Not specifically Tax revenues No 1 Yes ER Sections 2.7 identified as a category and 4.18 separate category issueaddressed elsewhere Postulated Accidents Design basis Design basis 1 1 Yes ER Sections 3.2 accidents accidents and 4.0 Severe accidents Severe accidents 2 2 Yes ER Section 4.21 Uranium Fuel Cycle and Waste Management Offsite radiological Offsite radiological 1 1 Yes ER Section 4.0 impacts (individual impacts (individual effects from other effects from other than the disposal of than the disposal of spent fuel and high- spent fuel and high-level waste) level waste) 1-13
Sequoyah Nuclear Plant Applicants Environmental Report Operating License Renewal Stage Table 1.1-1 (Continued)
License Renewal Environmental Issues:
Current 1996 GEIS/Proposed 2009 GEIS Crosswalk (2009 issue expansions in bold text; new 2009 issues underlined) 1996 2009 Applicable Where 1996 GEIS Issue 2009 GEIS Issue Category Category to SQN Considered Offsite radiological Offsite radiological 1 1 Yes ER Section 4.0 impacts (collective impacts (collective effects) effects from other than the disposal of spent fuel and high-level waste)
Offsite radiological Solid waste, offsite 1 1 Yes ER Sections 3.2 impacts (spent fuel radiological impacts and 4.0 and high-level waste of spent fuel and disposal) high-level waste disposal Nonradiological Nonradiological 1 1 Yes ER Section 4.0 impacts of the impacts of the uranium fuel cycle uranium fuel cycle Low-level waste Solid waste, low-level 1 1 Yes ER Sections 3.2 storage and disposal waste storage and and 4.0 disposal Mixed waste storage Solid waste, mixed 1 1 Yes ER Sections 3.2 and disposal waste storage and and 4.0 disposal Onsite spent fuel Solid waste, onsite 1 1 Yes ER Sections 3.2 storage of spent fuel and 4.0 Nonradiological Solid waste, 1 1 Yes ER Sections 3.2, waste nonradiological waste 4.0, and 9.1 storage and disposal Transportation Transportation 1 1 Yes ER Sections 3.1 and 4.0 1-14
Sequoyah Nuclear Plant Applicants Environmental Report Operating License Renewal Stage Table 1.1-1 (Continued)
License Renewal Environmental Issues:
Current 1996 GEIS/Proposed 2009 GEIS Crosswalk (2009 issue expansions in bold text; new 2009 issues underlined) 1996 2009 Applicable Where 1996 GEIS Issue 2009 GEIS Issue Category Category to SQN Considered Termination of Nuclear Power Plant Operations and Decommissioning Radiation doses Termination of 1 1 Yes ER Sections 4.0 nuclear power plant and 7.1 operations and Waste management decommissioning 1 Yes ER Sections 4.0 and 7.1 Air quality 1 Yes ER Sections 4.0 and 7.1 Water quality 1 Yes ER Sections 4.0 and 7.1 Ecological resources 1 Yes ER Sections 4.0 and 7.1 Socioeconomic 1 Yes ER Sections 4.0 impacts and 7.1 Environmental Justice Environmental justice Minority and low- No 2 Yes ER Sections 2.6 income populations category and 4.22 Geology and Soils (new topic in 2009)
Not specifically Impact of nuclear No 1 Yes ER Sections 2.3 identified as a plants on geology category and 4.0 separate category and soils issueaddressed elsewhere Cumulative Impacts Not specifically Cumulative impacts No 2 Yes ER Section 4.23 identified as a category separate category issueaddressed elsewhere Note: The review in ER Chapter 5 provides an evaluation of any new and significant information which might result in Category 1 impact conclusions different from those of the GEIS.
1-15
Sequoyah Nuclear Plant Applicants Environmental Report Operating License Renewal Stage 2.0 SITE AND ENVIRONMENTAL INTERFACES This chapter discusses the existing environment and environmental interfaces at the SQN site that would continue if license renewals were approved. The environmental descriptions provide sufficient detail to identify those environmental resources that have the potential to be affected by the continued operation of SQN Units 1 and 2.
This ER draws from the original licensing documents and other documents addressing the regional, local, and site characteristics of the SQN site and its environment. Preparation of this ER included reviews and citations, where needed, of other documents, including the following:
- 1974 Final Environmental Statement, Sequoyah Nuclear Plant Units 1 and 2, and 1978 Update
- 1980 Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact for Low-Level Radwaste Management, Sequoyah Nuclear Plant
- 1988 Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant ImpactChange in Expiration Dates of Facility Operating License Nos. DPR-77 and DPR-79, Tennessee Valley Authority, Sequoyah Nuclear Plant, Units 1 and 2
- 1999 Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant ImpactLow Level Radioactive Waste Transport and Storage Watts Bar and Sequoyah Nuclear Plants
- 1999 Final Environmental Impact Statement for the Production of Tritium in a Commercial Light Water Reactor (U.S. Department of Energy [DOE])
- 2000 Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant ImpactReplacement of Steam Generators, Sequoyah Nuclear Plant, Unit 1
- 2000 Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant ImpactIndependent Spent Fuel Storage Installation Sequoyah Nuclear Plant
- 2001 Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant ImpactLeading Edge Flow Measurements System Installation
- 2002 Supplemental Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact Independent Spent Fuel Storage Installation, Sequoyah Nuclear Plant, Hamilton County, Tennessee
- 2004 Reservoir Operations Study, Final Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement
- 2009 Environmental Assessment for SQN Unit 2 Steam Generator Replacements and Finding of No Significant Impact for SQN Unit 2 Steam Generator Replacements 2-1
Sequoyah Nuclear Plant Applicants Environmental Report Operating License Renewal Stage
- 2011 Supplemental Environmental Assessment for SQN Unit 2 Steam Generator Replacements and Finding of No Significant Impact for SQN Unit 2 Steam Generator Replacements
- 2011 Environmental Impact Statement for the Tennessee Valley Authority Integrated Resource Plan
- 2011 Final Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement, Sequoyah Nuclear Plant Units 1 and 2 License Renewal, Hamilton County, Tennessee
- 2011 Reevaluation of Finding of No Significant ImpactLow Level Radioactive Waste Transport and Storage Watts Bar and Sequoyah Nuclear Plants 2.1 Location and Features SQN is located near the geographical center of Hamilton County, Tennessee, on a peninsula on the western shore of Chickamauga Reservoir at Tennessee River Mile (TRM) 484.5, approximately 6 miles east of Soddy-Daisy, Tennessee, and approximately 31 miles south-southwest of TVA's Watts Bar Nuclear Plant (WBN) site. The SQN property boundary shown in Figure 2.1-1 encompasses approximately 630 acres: 525 acres are associated with the SQN industrial site and 105 acres, known as the training peninsula, are associated with SQN's training center. The SQN site is owned, including mineral rights, by the United States and is in the custody of TVA. TVA maintains control of entrances and exits from the SQN site property. The coordinates of the plant site, based on the coordinates of the Unit 1 Reactor Building center, are as follows:
- Latitude and Longitude Coordinates: 35° 13' 35.65" N and 85° 05' 28.17" W
- Universal Transverse Mercator Coordinates: Zone 16, N 3,899,640.62 and E 673,718.24 2.1.1 Vicinity and Regional Features The site is bounded by the Tennessee River on the south and east, and by land not owned by TVA on the north and west. The vicinity of the SQN site is defined as a 6-mile radius from the site center of the power block location and includes portions of Hamilton and Bradley counties in Tennessee. The nearest incorporated city is Soddy-Daisy, Tennessee, approximately 6 miles west of the site.
The Tennessee River bisects Hamilton County from northeast to southwest and accounts for 6 percent of the total county area (CHCRPA 2005a). The SQN site is situated along the Tennessee River, and there are no residences, commercial operations, or public recreational areas within the SQN exclusion area boundary (EAB), as shown in Figure 2.1-2. No public railroads or major highways cross the EAB. Two rural county roads, Igou Ferry and Stone Sage, cross the western boundary of SQN's property and run adjacent to it for a short distance before leaving the site (Figure 2.1-1). Igou Ferry Road connects with Hixson Pike, which follows the 2-2
Sequoyah Nuclear Plant Applicants Environmental Report Operating License Renewal Stage western shore of Chickamauga Reservoir and joins State Road 153 (SR 153) just north of Chickamauga Dam. The plant access road crosses Igou Ferry Road at the EAB (Figure 2.1-1) and eventually connects with U.S. Highway 27 (US 27) near Soddy-Daisy, Tennessee.
The SQN site is accessible by both river and road. SQN personnel access the site from either US 27 or State Road 319 (SR 319, also known as Hixson Pike), via the Sequoyah Access Road, as illustrated in Figure 2.1-3. The Sequoyah Access Road runs eastward from US 27 and intersects with SR 319 near the site. Chickamauga Reservoir, on the Tennessee River, is a navigable waterway that is also used by commercial and recreational traffic. Through a series of locks and dams, commercial traffic can travel from Knoxville, Tennessee, more than 100 miles northeast of the site, to the mouth of the Tennessee River at the Ohio River. (TVA 2011a, Section 3.13.10.1)
SQN has a private-use helipad, and the nearest airport is the Dallas Bay Sky Park, a general aviation airport approximately 5.5 miles west-southwest of the plant (Figure 2.1-3). The Chattanooga Airport is a full-service commercial airport about 14.5 miles south-southwest of the plant. (TVA 2011a, Section 3.13.10.1)
Two of the nation's largest rail networks serve the region: CSX Transportation, Inc. (CSX) and Norfolk Southern Corporation. CSX operates a rail line from Chattanooga to the Tyner area, where it serves several industries. The largest railroad presence in the region is Norfolk Southern Corporation, which is also the operator of the southwest to northeast line running near the SQN site through Soddy-Daisy (Figure 2.1-3). (CHCRPA 2005a; Norfolk Southern Corporation 2010) A railroad spur runs from the Norfolk Southern line to SQN just outside the EAB. Amtrak does not serve Chattanooga, and there is no local intercity passenger rail service (CHCRPA 2005a).
The major Hamilton County east-west road network on the east side of the river is anchored by Interstate 75 (I-75) and I-24, both of which pass through Chattanooga, as illustrated in Figure 2.1-4. On the west side of the river, running north-south, US 27 becomes a major expressway in Hamilton County, feeding traffic from Chattanooga to Soddy-Daisy and northward into Rhea County.
The 50-mile region from the site center encompasses all of, or portions of, the following counties in Alabama, Georgia, North Carolina, and Tennessee (Figure 2.1-4).
- Alabama: DeKalb and Jackson
- Georgia: Catoosa, Chattooga, Dade, Fannin, Floyd, Gilmer, Gordon, Murray, Walker, and Whitfield
- North Carolina: Cherokee
- Tennessee: Bledsoe, Bradley, Coffee, Cumberland, Franklin, Grundy, Hamilton, Loudon, Marion, McMinn, Meigs, Monroe, Polk, Rhea, Roane, Sequatchie, Van Buren, Warren, and White 2-3
Sequoyah Nuclear Plant Applicants Environmental Report Operating License Renewal Stage The 2010 census data showing that all of the counties within the region have increased in population since the 2000 census, with the exception of one county in Alabama (Jackson) and one county in Tennessee (Grundy), are provided in Table 2.6-2. As shown in Table 2.6-1, three cities within a 50-mile radius of SQN have a population greater than 25,000: Chattanooga, Tennessee (18 miles), with a population of 167,674 in 2010; Cleveland, Tennessee (13 miles),
with a population of 41,285 in 2010; and Dalton, Georgia (32 miles), with a population of 33,128 in 2010. One of the largest cities near SQN, Soddy-Daisy (6 miles) (Figure 2.1-3), had a 2010 population of 12,714 residents. (USDOT 2008; USCB 2010a) The 2010 population counts for cities within the 50-mile region are listed in Table 2.6-1. Most of the cities and towns serve as small retail or service centers for the surrounding farms, although a number are developing an industrial base (TVA 2011p, Section 2.1.3.2; USCB 2010a).
The region consists mainly of forest and agricultural lands, with clusters of developed areas.
(MRLC 2006) Hamilton County, where SQN is located, has a well-developed land-use and zoning plan, with every parcel of land carrying a zoning designation (CHCRPA 2005a). Hamilton County is one of Tennessee's largest counties, with a 2010 estimated population of 336,463 residents (USCB 2010b). Based upon the number and size of parcels, zoning within the county is primarily agricultural (59.64 percent), followed by residential (30.51 percent), manufacturing/
industrial (6.58 percent), commercial (2.20 percent), special zoning (0.64 percent), and office (0.12 percent). (CHCRPA 2009) Land use is discussed in greater detail in Section 2.8.
2.1.2 Station Features The principal structures of SQN consist of two reactor buildings, a turbine building, an auxiliary building, a control building, a service and office building, a diesel generator building, an intake pumping station, essential raw cooling water (ERCW) pumping station, two natural draft cooling towers, 161-kilovolt (kV) and 500-kV switchyards, a condensing water discharge and diffuser system, and an independent spent fuel storage installation (ISFSI). (TVA 2011p, Section 1.2.3; TVA 1974a, Section 1.1) Figure 2.1-1 shows the general features of the facility, the EAB, and protected area. Section 3.2 describes key features of the station, including reactor and containment systems, cooling and auxiliary water systems, radwaste systems, and transmission facilities.
The protected area is completely enclosed by a security fence, with access to the area controlled at a security gate. A plant security system monitors the protected area, as well as the buildings within the station. Access to the site is by paved entrance roads from either US 27 or SR 319 (Hixson Pike), via the Sequoyah Access Road. The exclusion area, as defined by 10 CFR 100.3, surrounds the site, as shown in Figures 2.1-1 and 2.1-2. The nearest occupied residence lies 0.5 miles beyond the site boundary to the north-northwest (SQN 2010a, Table G-1).
The tallest structures on site are the two cooling towers at approximately 459 feet in height (TVA 1974b). Predominant visual features of SQN include the reactor containment buildings, powerhouse, cooling towers, and transmission lines and associated structures that can be seen at distances of 1 to 4 miles along the Tennessee River to the north and south. The towers are visible from Harrison Bay State Park located south of the plant. Motorists have broad horizontal 2-4
Sequoyah Nuclear Plant Applicants Environmental Report Operating License Renewal Stage views of the plant site from the east along State Road 312 (SR 312, also known as Birchwood Pike), which includes Skull Island Campground (Figure 2.1-5). Recreationists on the water have similar views from the eastern side of the Tennessee River. However, these views become less dominant closer to the west side of the river near the plant site. Normally, at a range of 1 to 4 miles, an observer may find plant features distinguishable; however, the details are obscure and tend to merge into larger patterns. Topography along the bank becomes very steep, and views are obscured by dense, mature hardwood and evergreen trees (Figures 2.1-1 and 2.1-2). Scenic resources and views are common, including both unique natural features and scenic variety (TVA 2009a).
There are no noise ordinances imposed by federal, state, or local statutes that limit allowable sound levels at SQN. Given the industrial nature of the station, noise emissions from SQN are generally nothing more than an intermittent minor nuisance. Although the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) uses 55 A-weighted decibels (dBA) as a threshold level to protect against excess noise during outdoor activities, this threshold does "not constitute a standard, specification, or regulation," but was intended to provide a basis for state and local governments establishing noise standards. Although surveys have not been conducted since the construction of SQN, when the greatest sources of noise would have occurred, current noise levels are considered minor and are not expected to change during the license renewal period, because no new sources of noise are being introduced (TVA 2011a).
2.1.3 Federal, Native American, State, and Local Lands The SQN site is located on a peninsula on the western shore of Chickamauga Reservoir (Figure 2.1-5). The reservoir is one of a series of highly controlled multiple-use reservoirs located on the Tennessee River whose primary uses are flood control, navigation, and the generation of electric power. Secondary uses include industrial and public water supply and waste disposal, commercial fishing, and recreation. (SQN 2009a)
Within a 6-mile radius of SQN, there are four federal, one state, and 16 locally managed lands (Figure 2.1-5 and Table 2.1-1). The federal lands within a 6-mile radius are all TVA-managed habitat protection areas (HPAs) and their approximate distances from SQN are as follows:
Chigger Point (1 mile east), Soddy Creek (2 miles north-northwest), Ware Branch Bend (3 miles north), and Murphy Hill (5 miles north-northeast). These areas are located generally north and east of the site, adjacent to Chickamauga Reservoir.
Harrison Bay State Recreation Park is the only state-managed land within a 6-mile radius of the site. It is located approximately 1.4 miles south of SQN and comprises 1,200 acres with approximately 40 miles of shoreline on Chickamauga Reservoir. Renowned for its boat docking facilities, this park also offers biking and hiking trails, recreational vehicle and tent campsites, lake fishing, an Olympic-sized swimming pool, meeting and picnic facilities, and ballparks.
Originally developed as a TVA recreation demonstration area in the 1930s, the park is now part of the Tennessee State Parks system and is managed by the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC). (TVA 2009a) 2-5
Sequoyah Nuclear Plant Applicants Environmental Report Operating License Renewal Stage The majority of dedicated lands within a 6-mile radius are locally managed. These areas, 16 in total, are a collection of parks, campgrounds, marinas and piers, harbors, and one forest. Most of these lands are located near the town of Soddy-Daisy. The others are near the towns of Lakesite, Sale Creek, and Middle Valley (Table 2.1-1) (Figure 2.1-5).
Within the 50-mi region, there is also a mixture of federal, state, and locally managed lands (Figure 2.1-6). State and federal lands comprise approximately 88 and 37 areas, respectively (Table 2.1-1). Two federally controlled areas not listed on the table are the Trail of Tears National Historic Trail, and the Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park. Located within 30 miles of the site, these expansive areas are located in multiple states. Numerous local lands lie within the 50-mile region. They are a collection of small, locally and county-maintained parks and recreational areas. Additionally, there are no Indian reservations or Native American controlled areas within the 50-mile region. (Figure 2.1-6) There was one military installation, the Volunteer Army Ammunition Plant. However, this facility, located in Hamilton County approximately 8 miles from the plant, is currently inactive and being used for recreation and industrial development. (American Trails 2010; TVA 2011p, Section 2.2) 2-6
Sequoyah Nuclear Plant Applicants Environmental Report Operating License Renewal Stage Table 2.1-1 (a)
Federal, State, and Local Lands Within a 50-Mile Radius of SQN Nearest Name Management Distance(b) Direction Town County Alabama Russell Cave National Federal 45 WSW Bridgeport Jackson Monument Raccoon Creek State State 48 WSW, SW Stevenson Jackson Wildlife Management Area Crow Creek State Wildlife State 50 SW, WSW Stevenson Jackson Management Area Georgia Sand Mountain Federal 20 S Ringold Catoosa Georgia Department of State 26 SE Cisco Murray Transportation Area 105-001 Chattanooga Lula Lake Land Trust State 29 SW, SSW Walker Valley Conasauga River Natural State 30 SSE Sumac Murray Area Georgia Department of State 31 SSE Spring Place Whitfield Transportation Area 155-001 Cloudland Canyon State Dade and State 34 SSE Trenton Park Walker Chief Vann House Historic State 35 SSE Spring Place Murray Site Fort Mountain State Park State 38 SE Chattsworth Murray Cohutta Wildlife Murray and Federal 40 SE Eton Management Area Gilmer Crockford-Pigeon Mountain Mount State 42 SSW Walker Wildlife Management Area Carmel Zahnd Natural Area State 44 SSW Rising Fawn Walker Resaca Battlefield State State 44 S Resaca Gordon Historic Site Coosawattee Wildlife State 44 SSE Ramhurst Murray Management Area 2-7
Sequoyah Nuclear Plant Applicants Environmental Report Operating License Renewal Stage Table 2.1-1 (Continued)
Federal, State, and Local(a) Lands Within a 50-Mile Radius of SQN Nearest Name Management Distance(b) Direction Town County John's Mountain Wildlife Floyd and State 45 S Sugar Valley Management Area Walker Walker, Johns Mountain Wildlife Whitfield, Federal 47 S Sugar Valley Management Area Floyd, and Gordon New Echota State Historic State 49 SSE Resaca Gordon Site Coosawattee Wildlife Murray, Management Area (Caters Federal 49 SE, SSE Oakman Gilmer, and Lake Site) Gordon Murray, Carters Lake Federal 49 SE,SSE Oakman Gilmer, and Gordon Chattooga, Floyd, Gordon, Walker, Whitfield, Chatahoochee National Murray, Federal 51 S to ESE Cherry Log Forest Gilmer, Dawson, Fannin, Towns, Union, and Lumpkin North Carolina Cherokee, Graham, Nantahala National Forest Federal 87 E, ESE Topton Clay, and Macon Tennessee Chigger Point TVA Habitat Federal (TVA) 1 E, ESE Lakesite Hamilton Protection Area University of Tennessee ENE, NE, Federal (TVA) 1 Soddy-Daisy Hamilton Friendship Forest NNE, N 2-8
Sequoyah Nuclear Plant Applicants Environmental Report Operating License Renewal Stage Table 2.1-1 (Continued)
Federal, State, and Local(a) Lands Within a 50-Mile Radius of SQN Nearest Name Management Distance(b) Direction Town County Skull Island Campground Local 1 NE Soddy-Daisy Hamilton Harbor Lights Marina Local 2 SW Lakesite Hamilton Lakesite Marina Local 2 WSW Lakesite Hamilton Lakesite Park Local 2 SW Lakesite Hamilton Soddy Creek TVA Habitat Federal (TVA) 2 NNW Soddy-Daisy Hamilton Protection Area Shady Grove Harbor Local 3 NNW Soddy-Daisy Hamilton Ware Branch Bend TVA Federal (TVA) 3 N Soddy-Daisy Hamilton Habitat Protection Area S, SSW, Harrison Bay State Park State 4 Lakesite Hamilton SW Pine Harbor Marina Local 4 N Soddy-Daisy Hamilton Chester Frost Park Local 4 SW Middle Valley Hamilton Holly Park Local 5 NW Soddy-Daisy Hamilton Possum Creek Campground Local 5 N Soddy-Daisy Hamilton Murphy Hill TVA Habitat Federal (TVA) 5 NNE Sale Creek Hamilton Protection Area Middle Valley Recreation Local 5 WSW Middle Valley Hamilton Park Soddy-Daisy Lake Fishing Local 5 NW Soddy-Daisy Hamilton Pier Scramble Alley Park Local 6 WNW Soddy-Daisy Hamilton North End Ballpark Local 6 NW Soddy-Daisy Hamilton Soddy-Daisy Roadside Park Local 6 NW Soddy-Daisy Hamilton Poe Branch Wetland State 7 W Soddy-Daisy Hamilton Possum Creek TVA Habitat Federal (TVA) 7 N Sale Creek Hamilton Protection Area Eagle Roost TVA Habitat Federal (TVA) 7 NNE Sale Creek Hamilton Protection Area 2-9
Sequoyah Nuclear Plant Applicants Environmental Report Operating License Renewal Stage Table 2.1-1 (Continued)
Federal, State, and Local(a) Lands Within a 50-Mile Radius of SQN Nearest Name Management Distance(b) Direction Town County Soddy Natural Area State 7 NW, WNW Soddy-Daisy Hamilton Fairview Slopes Protection Federal (TVA) 8 SW Harrison Hamilton Planning Site Grasshopper Creek TVA Federal (TVA) 8 NNE Sale Creek Hamilton Habitat Protection Area Three B TVA Habitat Federal (TVA) 8 SSW Harrison Hamilton Protection Area Booker T. Washington State State 9 SSW Harrison Hamilton Park North Chickamauga Creek Oak Forest Potential Federal (TVA) 10 SW Hixson Hamilton National Natural Area Possum State Park State 10 NW, NNW Sale Creek Hamilton Big Ridge Registered State State 11 SW Hixson Hamilton Natural Area Big Ridge TVA Habitat Federal (TVA) 11 SW Hixson Hamilton Protection Area Falling Water Falls State 11 WSW Walden Hamilton Middle Clemons Rock State 13 N, NNW Sale Creek Hamilton Hamilton North Chickamauga Creek SW to State 13 Fairmount and Gorge Natural Area WNW Sequatchie Audubon State Park State 13 N Sale Creek Hamilton Blythe Ferry State Wildlife State 13 NNE Graysville Meigs Area Nickajack Reservoir State State 14 SW Red Bank Hamilton Mussel Sanctuary Hiwassee Refuge State Meigs and State 14 NE, NNE Dayton Wildlife Management Area Rhea Sugar Creek State Wildlife State 14 NE Hopewell Meigs Observation Area 2-10
Sequoyah Nuclear Plant Applicants Environmental Report Operating License Renewal Stage Table 2.1-1 (Continued)
Federal, State, and Local(a) Lands Within a 50-Mile Radius of SQN Nearest Name Management Distance(b) Direction Town County Amnicola Marsh State State 15 SW Chattanooga Hamilton Wildlife Refuge Gilliland Glade/Oak Forest East Potential National Natural Federal (TVA) 15 ESE Bradley Cleveland Area Ledford Island Wildlife State 16 ENE Charleston Bradley Management Area Hamilton Graysville State Park State 16 N Graysville and Rhea Johnson Bottoms TVA Federal (TVA) 17 ENE Charleston Bradley Habitat Protection Area Williams Island State Signal State 18 SW, WSW Hamilton Archaeological Area Mountain Red Clay State Park State 18 SSE Cohutta Bradley Hamilton, Bradley, Chickamauga State Wildlife State 19 E to NW Dayton McMinn, Management Area Meigs, and Rhea Raccoon Mountain Pumped Lookout Storage State Wildlife State 21 SW Marion Mountain Observation Area Charlotte Anne Finnell Neal State 21 ESE Ocoee Bradley Wildlife Management Area Prentice Cooper State W, WSW, Signal Marion and Forest & Wildlife State 21 SW Mountain Hamilton Management Area Signal Hamilton Tennessee River Gorge State 22 SW, WSW Mountain and Marion Laurel Snow State 23 N Dayton Rhea Lookout Hicks Gap State Park State 23 SW, WSW Marion Mountain Nancy Ward Gravesite State 24 E Benton Polk 2-11
Sequoyah Nuclear Plant Applicants Environmental Report Operating License Renewal Stage Table 2.1-1 (Continued)
Federal, State, and Local(a) Lands Within a 50-Mile Radius of SQN Nearest Name Management Distance(b) Direction Town County Dry Creek Ravine State 24 WSW Victoria Marion Cummings Cove State 26 SW Morganville Marion Chimneys State 26 W Whitwell Marion Butcher Bluff TVA Habitat Federal (TVA) 27 NE Decatur Meigs Protection Area Eaves Bluff TVA Habitat Federal (TVA) 28 NE Decatur Meigs Protection Area Yuchi Wildlife Refuge State 28 NE, NNE Decatur Rhea Marion Bridge TVA Habitat Federal (TVA) 29 WSW Jasper Marion Protection Area Sequatchie Cave State Park State 29 WSW Victoria Marion Chickamauga Shoreline TVA Federal (TVA) 30 NE, NNE Decatur Meigs Habitat Protection Area Marion, Hamilton, Rhea, WSW to Cumberland, Cumberland Trail State Park State 30 Spring City NNE Morgan, Campbell, and Claiborne Harp Wetland State 31 N Pikeville Bledsoe Shellmound TVA Habitat Federal (TVA) 31 WSW New Hope Marion Protection Area Hiwassee Ocoee State 31 E Delano Polk Little Cedar Mountain TVA Federal (TVA) 31 WSW Jasper Marion Small Wild Area Piney River State 33 N, NNE Spring City Rhea Beersheba Grundy and Savage Gulf State 33 WNW Springs Sequatchie Nickajack Oak TVA Habitat Federal (TVA) 33 WSW New Hope Marion Protection Area 2-12
Sequoyah Nuclear Plant Applicants Environmental Report Operating License Renewal Stage Table 2.1-1 (Continued)
Federal, State, and Local(a) Lands Within a 50-Mile Radius of SQN Nearest Name Management Distance(b) Direction Town County Nickajack Cave State State 34 WSW New Hope Marion Wildlife Observation Area Nickajack Cave TVA Habitat Federal (TVA) 34 WSW New Hope Marion Protection Area Bledsoe and Fall Creek Falls State 35 NNW Spencer Van Buren Stinging Fork Falls State State 35 NNE Spring City Rhea Park Grundy Lakes State 35 W Tracy City Grundy Guntersville Reservoir State State 35 WSW New Hope Marion Mussel Sanctuary Cumberland Bledsoe, Bledsoe State Forest State 36 N, NNW Pikeville and Van Buren Piney Falls State 36 NNE Grandview Rhea Grundy and South Cumberland State 37 W Tracy City Marion Battle Creek State 37 WSW Kimball Marion Grundy Forest State 37 W Tracy City Grundy Devil Step Hollow State 40 N Grandview Cumberland Beersheba Hubbard's Cave State Park State 40 WNW Warren Springs William L. Davenport Refuge State 41 ESE Ducktown Polk Fourth Fractional Township State 42 ESE Ducktown Polk Wildlife Management Area Watts Bar State Wildlife State 42 NNE Ten Mile Meigs Management Area Big Mouth Cave Protection Federal (TVA) 42 W Coalmont Grundy Planning Site Ducktown Basin Museum State 42 ESE Ducktown Polk 2-13
Sequoyah Nuclear Plant Applicants Environmental Report Operating License Renewal Stage Table 2.1-1 (Continued)
Federal, State, and Local(a) Lands Within a 50-Mile Radius of SQN Nearest Name Management Distance(b) Direction Town County Bridgestone/Firestone Van Buren State 42 N, NNW Bon Air Wildlife Management Area and White Van Buren Centennial Wilderness State 43 NNW Bon Air and White Crab Plateau Properties State 43 N Cumberland Orchard Whites Creek State 44 NNE Westel Rhea Goose Pond Protection Federal (TVA) 44 W Monteagle Grundy Planning Site Trussle Cave Protection Federal (TVA) 44 W Monteagle Grundy Planning Site Franklin and Franklin State Forest State 44 W, WSW Sherwood Marion Virgin Falls State 44 NNW Bon Air White Bone Cave State Park State 46 NW Quebeck Van Buren Braswell State 46 W Sherwood Franklin Cumberland Mountain State 47 N Crossville Cumberland Bluebell Island Registered State 47 W Monteagle Franklin State Natural Area Mr. and Mrs. Harry Lee State 47 W Sherwood Franklin Carter Natural Area Natural Bridge State Park State 47 W Sewanee Franklin Ozone Falls State Park State 48 NNE Ozone Cumberland Hawkins Cove State 49 W Cowan Franklin Roana, Mt. Roosevelt Wildlife State 51 NNE Rockwood Cumberland, Management Area and Morgan Warren and Rock Island State Park State 51 NW Campaign White Bear Hollow State 52 W Cowan Franklin 2-14
Sequoyah Nuclear Plant Applicants Environmental Report Operating License Renewal Stage Table 2.1-1 (Continued)
Federal, State, and Local(a) Lands Within a 50-Mile Radius of SQN Nearest Name Management Distance(b) Direction Town County Woods Reservoir Coffee and State 54 W Estill Springs Reservation Franklin Monroe and Tellico Lake State 56 ENE Vonore Loudon AEDC and Woods State Coffee and State 57 W Hillsboro Wildlife Management Area Franklin Polk and Cherokee National Forest Federal 110 SE to ENE Hartford Monroe (CHCRPA 2005a; GAGIS 2009; National Atlas 2005; NPS 2010a; TDEC 2009; TNSP 2010; TSDS 2009; TVA 2011b; USDOT 2010; USGS 2009a)
- a. Only locally operated lands within a 6-mile radius are included in the table. A complete record of local lands, and their geographic location, within a 50-mile radius was unavailable.
- b. Distances are approximate (rounded to nearest whole number) and based on SQN and land centroid data. Therefore, although the distances for some of the state and federal lands shown in this table are greater than 50 miles, the nearest property boundary for these lands are within 50 miles.
2-15
Sequoyah Nuclear Plant Applicants Environmental Report Operating License Renewal Stage Figure 2.1-1 SQN Site Boundary and Aerial Site Layout 2-16
Sequoyah Nuclear Plant Applicants Environmental Report Operating License Renewal Stage Figure 2.1-2 SQN Exclusion Area Boundary and Area Topography 2-17
Sequoyah Nuclear Plant Applicants Environmental Report Operating License Renewal Stage Figure 2.1-3 SQN Site and 6-Mile Radius 2-18
Sequoyah Nuclear Plant Applicants Environmental Report Operating License Renewal Stage Figure 2.1-4 SQN Site and 50-Mile Radius 2-19
Sequoyah Nuclear Plant Applicants Environmental Report Operating License Renewal Stage Figure 2.1-5 Federal, State, and Local Lands Within a 6-Mile Radius of SQN 2-20
Sequoyah Nuclear Plant Applicants Environmental Report Operating License Renewal Stage Figure 2.1-6 Federal, State, and Local Lands Within a 50-Mile Radius of SQN 2-21