ML20083L626

NPDES Noncompliance Notification:On 840217,high Discharge Canal Water Levels Experienced While Using Multiport Diffuser Under Certain Plant Operating Conditions.Cause Not Stated.Multiport Diffuser Discharge Sys Inspected

ML20083L626
Person / Time
Site:	Saint Lucie
Issue date:	04/06/1984
From:	Williams J FLORIDA POWER & LIGHT CO.
To:	James O'Reilly NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION II)
References
L-84-93, NUDOCS 8404170310
Download: ML20083L626 (3)

Text

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P. O. BOX 14000, JUNO BE ACH, F L 33408 k JRb/, /

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k bh*. FLORIDA POWER & LIGHT COMPANY April 6,1984 L-84-93 4

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Mr. James P. O'Reilly Regional Administrator, Region 11 i U. S. Nu.. lear Regulatory Commission b 101 Marietta Street, Suite 2900 Altanto, Georgia 30303 Re: St. Lucie Units 1 & 2 Docket Nos. 50 335 & 50-389 Occurrence of Nonroutine Event

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in accordance with Section 4.1 of the St. Lucie Unit i Environmental Protection Plan (Operating License DPR-67, Appendix B, Part II), and Section 5.4.2 of the St. Lucie Unit 2 Environmental Protection Plan (Operating License NPF-16, Appendix B),

attached please find copies of the letters written to the U. S. Environmental Protection Agency regarding actions taken by plant personnel in response to elevated

. water levels in the St.-Lucie Plant discharge canal.

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Very truly yours,

~' [jnl. W. Williams, [ .

,. , Vice President

' Nuclear Energy

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Attachment

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e. o. sox inoos. Juno seacw. ri.suae February 17,1984 epioA em a uommy Mr. Peter McGarry, P.E., Chief Florida /Mississippl Unit IndustrialOperations Seetion Paollities Performance Branch Water Management Division U.S. Environmenta1 Protection Agency Region IV 345 Courtland Street, N.E.

Atlanta, Georgia 30365 Res St. Luele Plant Condenser Cooling Water Discharge

Dear Mr. McGarry:

On the af tornoon of Priday, February 17,1984, Florida Power and Light Company notified Charles Kaplan of EPA by telephone that the St. Lucie Plant was experiencing high discharge canal water levels while using the multiport diffuser under certain plant operating conditions. The problem was observed specifically at high tido levels and with four (4) circulating wat er pumps operating. Under these operating conditfora, one circulating water pump has to be taken out of service to prevent discharge canal overflow and as a conseque,nce unit load must be reduced.

Part IIL G. of the St. Lucie Plant NPDES Permit requires that the multiport diffuser be used during single tait operation except during "short term" operation. PPL has previously proposed a plan to EPA where "short term" is defhted as seven (7) consecutive days. It now appears that the St. Luele Plant will be in single unit operation and utilizing the adjacent Y- diffuser in place of the multiport diffuser for more than seven days. Mr. Kaplan indicated that FPL should notify EPA of this operating condition in writing. PPL views this cooling system condition as a bypass and/or an upset condition which is allowed under conditions in Part II of the plant's NPDES Permit.

At the present time the multiport diffuser discharge system is being inspected.' As soon as information is available concerning a solution to the problem discussed here, PPL will provide such to EPA. Please note that Mr. Hamilton Oven, Power Pimt Siting Administrator, Florida Department of Environmenta1 Regulation was notified by

. telephone of this situation on this date.

S cerel yours, n' 0 W.3.sErowar.

Manager Environmental Permitting and Programs .

WJBjetADBiku ce: Mr. Hamilton Oven

.. .- - m ,. . .-

P. O. 80x 14000. JUNO 8EACH. FL 33408

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5 FLORIDA POWER & UGHT COMPANY February 28, 1984 Mr. Peter McGarry, P.E. Chief Florida / Mississippi Unit -

Industrial Operations Section Facilities Performance Branch Water Management Division U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region IV <

345 Courtland Street. N.E. -

Atlanta, GA 30365 -

RE: ST. LUCIE PLANT CIRCUULTING WATER SYSTEM "

Dear Mr. McGarry:

f The following is provided to update and/or correct the infomation provided in my February 17, 1984 letter to you. The St. Lucie Plant circulat.ing water 24, 1984 multiport system diffuser was returned to service at 1:00 p.m. -on February after being taken out of service at 7:00 a.m. on February 14, 1984.

i An inspection of the diffuser revealed nothing which should have significantly contributed to the high water levels in the discharge canal observed during --

operational testing of tha circulating water system during the period October 7, 1983 through October 10, 1983. That particular test was run to verify circulating water system operability for two unit operation at full power by operating eight (8) circulating water pumps and monitoring intake and discharge canal levels. While conducting the test, the discharge canal level ,

reached 13.2 feet (R.W) which appeared to be abnomally high. The discharge canal will begin to overflow by. the spillway at a elevation of 15.5 feet -

(M.W). The test was conducted during a period of particulary high tides. -

Florida Power & Light Company intends to conduct additional testing under i operating conditions, and to obtain instrumentation to monitor tide levels W at the site to collect additional data for further evaluation.

If you have any additional questions regarding this matter, please call Mr.

Tom Grozan at 305/863-3645. ,

Sinc.erely.

[

. s W./3. Barrow, J '

Manager "

Environmental Pennitting & Programs .

WJ8jr:os i

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PEOPLE. . SERVING PEOPLE