Information Notice 1989-76, Biofouling Agent: Zebra Mussel
UNITED STATES NUCLEAR REGULATORY
COMMISSION
OFFICE OF NUCLEAR REACTOR REGULATION
WASHINGTON*
D.C. 20555'November
21, 1989, NRC INFORMATION
NOTICE NO. 89-76: BIOFOULING
AGENT: ZEBRA MUSSEL
Addressees
All holders'of
operating
licenses or construction
permits for nuclear power reactors.
Purpose
- This information
notice is intended to alert addressees
to potential
problems related to biofouling
of service water and cooling water systems that may result from a recently identified
agent, Dreissena
polymompha (zebra mussel). It is expected that recipients
will review the ifnformation
for applicability
to their facilities
and consider actions, as appropriate, to avoid similar problems.
However, suggestions
contained
in this information
notice do not constitute
NRC requirements;
therefore, no specific action or written-response
is required.-
Discussion:
The potential
for biofouling
has been of concern to the NRC since 1980 because biofouling
can compromise
the vital transfer of heat to the ultimate heat sink.The NRC issued Generic Letter (GL) 89-13, "Service Water System Problems Af-fecting Safety-Related
Equipment," on July 18, 1989, requesting
licensees
to adopt either the specific recommended
surveillance
and control procedures
delineated
in the generic letter or an equally effective
alternative
course of action for preventing
of their nuclear service water systems.This aspect of the generic letter presents the results and recommendations
from an NRC research program initiated
in 1982 when biofouling
agents were noted to clog service water systems. The principal
agents noted in the generic letter were Corbicula
fluminea (Asiatic clam) Crassostrea
virginica (American
oyster)', and 14ytius edulis (blue mussel5.lIn
1986,Tthe'nmbr fT nuclear power plants directly affected by these agents was small, but by 1984 the infestation
by these aquatic bivalves had spread to a large portion of the United States.The following
information
about the zebra mussel is taken from the abstract of a paper given at the Electric Power Research Institute
Service Water System Relia-bility Improvement
Seminar at Charlotte, North Carolina, on November 6-8, 1989.The paper is entitled, "The Zebra Mussel, Dreissena
Polymorpha (Pallas, 1771), in North America: Impact on Raw Water Users." The authors are R. W. Griffiths, Ontario Ministry of the Environment, Ontario, Canada; W. P. Kovalak, Detroit Ed a ayimnd D. W. Schloesser, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.911150012 ZXP
IN 89-76 November 21, 1989 "The zebra mussel, Dreissena
pokmorpha (Pallas), is a small mollusc native to the Black, Caspin, and Azov Seas that was discovered
in Lake Erie of the Laurentian
Great Lakes of North America in 1988. The mussel raises immediate concerns for raw water users because it can obstruct the flow of water through pipes, hoses, screens, and condensers
when it occurs in substantial
numbers.Biofouling
attributed
to this mussel was observed at several power plants, water treatment
plants, and processing
and industrial
facilities
along Lake Erie in 1989. At one power plant, densities
as high as 700,000 per m 2 were observed in the intake canal in August. In addition, large numbers were found in main steam condensers
and in the service water system threatening
operation of cooling, fire protection, and dust suppression
systems. Intakes of munici-pal water supplies along the Canadian and the United States shorelines
have also been impaired.
In one southeast
Michigan city, drinking water withdrawal
from Lake Erie was reduced 45% by the mussel." The geographical
area of immediate
concern for this source of potential
bio-fouling is along the Great Lakes and major tributaries
and canals. This potential
is the subject of an international
conference
at Rochester, New York, on November 28 and 29, 1989. Additional
information
on the meeting may be obtained from Charles R. O'Neill, Jr., of New York SeaGrant at (716) 395-2638 or Don W. Schloesser
of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service at (313) 994-3331.This information
notice requires no specific action or written response.
If you have any questions
about the information
tn-this nottce,--please
contact--the technical
contact listed below or the appropriate
NRR project manager.Charles E. Rossi, Director Division of Operational
Events Assessment
Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
Technical
Contact: C. Vernon Hodge, NRR (301) 492-1169 Attachment:
List of Recently Issued NRC Information
Notices
I 4 -Attachment
IN 89-76 November 21, 1989 -S LIST OF RECENTLY ISSUED NRC INFORMATION
NOTICES ,. .Information
Date of Notice No. Subject Issuance Issued to 89-75 89-74 89-73 Falsification
of Welder Qualifications
for Contractor
Employees Clarification
of Trans--portation
Requirements
Applicable
to Return of Spent Radiopharmacy
Dosages from Users to Suppliers Potential
Overpressurization
of Low Pressure Systems-11/20/89 11/7/89 11/1/89 All holders of OLs or CPs for nuclear power reactors.All manufacturers
and distributors
of radiopharmaceuticals
for medical use, nuclear pharmacies, and medical licensees.
All holders of OLs or CPs for nuclear power reactors.89-72-4*..a a _ -.Failure of Licensed Senior Operators
to Classify-Emergency-Events
Properly 10/24/89 All holders of OLs or CPs for nuclear power reactors.89-71 89-70 89-69 89-68 89-67 Diversion
of the Residual Heat Removal Pump Seal Cooling Water Flow During Recirculation
Operation Following
a Loss-of-Coolant Accident Possible Indications
of Misrepresented
Vendor Products Loss of Thermal Margin Caused by Channel Box Bow Evaluation
of Instrument
Setpoints
During Modifications
Loss of Residual Heat Removal Caused by Accumulator
Nitrogen Injection 10/19/89 10/11/89 9/29/89 9/25/89 9/13/89 All holders of OLs or CPs for nuclear power reactors.All holders of OLs or CPs for nuclear power reactors.All holders of OLs or CPs for BWRS.All holders of OLs or CPs for nuclear power reactors.All holders of OLs or CPs for PWRs.OL = Operating
License CP = Construction
Permit
- , , -'WN k , %IN 89-76 November 21, 1989 "The zebra mussel, Dreissena
polymorpha (Pallas), is a small mollusc native to the Black, Caspian, and Azov Seas that was discovered
in Lake Erie of the Laurentian
Great Lakes of North America in 1988. The mussel raises immediate concerns for raw water users because it can obstruct the flow of water through pipes, hoses, screens, and condensers
when it occurs in substantial
numbers.Biofouling
attributed
to this mussel was observed at several power plants, water treatment
plants, and processing
and industrial
facilities
along Lake Erie in 1989. At one power plant, densities
as high as 700,000 per m 2 were observed in the intake canal in August. In addition, large numbers were found in main steam condensers
and in the service water system threatening
operation of cooling, fire protection, and dust suppression
systems. Intakes of munici-pal water supplies along the Canadian and the United States shorelines
have also been impaired.
In one southeast
Michigan city, drinking water withdrawal
from Lake Erie was reduced 45% by the mussel." The geographical
area of immediate
concern for this source of potential
bio-fouling is along the Great Lakes and major tributaries
and canals. This potential
is the subject of an international
conference
at Rochester, New York, on November 28 and 29, 1989. Additional
information
on the meeting may be obtained from Charles R. O'Neill, Jr., of New York Sea Grant at (716) 395-2638 or Don W. Schloesser
of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service at (313) 994-3331.This information
notice requires no specific action or written response.
If you have any questions
about the information
in this notice, please contact the technical
contact listed below or the appropriate
NRR project manager.Charles E. Rossi, Director Division of Operational
Events Assessment
Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
Technical
Contact: C. Vernon Hodge, NRR (301) 492-1169 Attachment:
List of Recently Issued NRC Information
Notices*SEE PREVIOUS PAGE FOR CONCURRENCE
- OGCB: DOEA:NRR CVHodge 11/09/89*RPB:ARM TechEd 11/09/89*C/OGCB:DOEA:NRR
CHBerlinger
11/09/89*SPLB:NRR
.<JWermeit o -0 11/14/89 11/j5789
-IN 89-XX November xx, 1989 plants, and processing
and industrial
facilities
along Lake Erie in 1989. At one power plant, densities
as high as 700,000 per m 2 were observed in the intake canal in August. In addition, large numbers were found in main steam condensers
and in the service water system threatening
operation
of cooling, fire protection, and dust suppression
systems. Intakes of municipal
water supplies along the Canadian and the United States shorelines
have also been impaired.
In one south-east Michigan city, drinking water withdrawal
from Lake Erie was reduced 45% by the mussel (Griffiths, R. W., Kovalak, W. P., and Schloesser, D. W., "The Zebra Mussel, Dreissena
Polymorpha (Pallas, 1771), in North America: Impact on Raw Water Users," Electric Power Research Institute
Service Water System Reliability
Improvement
Seminar, November 6-8, 1989).Of major immediate
concern is the potential
fouling of water intake structures
in municipal, industrial, and power generation
facilities.
Fouling can result in major flow restrictions.
The geographical
area of immediate
concern is along the Great Lakes and major tributaries
and canals. This potential
is the subject of an international
conference
at Rochester, New York, on November 28 and 29, 1989.Additional
information
on the meeting may be obtained from Charles R. O'Neill, Jr., of New York Sea Grant at (716) 395-2638 or Don W. Schloesser
of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service at (313) 994-3331.The NRC issued GL 89-13 to resolve service water system problems affecting safety-related
equipment.
GL 89-13 includes resolution
of Generic Issue 51, Improving
the Reliability
of Open-Cycle
Service Water Systems." Modes of failure of the service water system addressed
in the generic letter include flow blockage from biofouling, sedimentation, and corrosion
agents. To deter-mine appropriate
surveillance
and control measures for biofouling
agents, all species that may potentially
cause flow blockage problems were included in the scope of GL 89-13, which was not restricted
to certain biospecies.
The surveil-lance and control programs established
in response to GL 89-13 are expected to be sufficient
to keep any blofouling
agent, including
Dreissena
polymorpha, from becoming a safety concern.This information
notice requires no specific action or written response.
If you have any questions
about the information
in this notice, please contact the technical
contact listed below or the appropriate
NRR project manager.Charles E. Rossi, Director Division of Operational
Events Assessment
Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
Technical
Contact: C. Vernon Hodge, NRR (301) 492-1169 Attachment:
List of Recently Issued NRC Information
Notices*SEE PREVIOUS PAGE FOR CONCURRENCE
- OGCB:DOEA:NRR
- RPB:ARM *C/OGCB:DOEA:NRR
SPLB:NRR D/DOEA:NRR
CVHodge TechEd CHBerlinger
JWermeil CERossi 11/ /89 11/ /89 11/ /89 11/14/89 I1/ /89 IN 89-XX November xx, 1989 industrial, and power generation
facilities.
Fouling can result in major flow restrictions.
The geographical
area of immediate
concern is along the Great Lakes and major tributaries
and canals. This potential
is the subject of an international
conference
at Rochester, New York, on November 28 and 29, 1989.Additional
information
on the meeting may be obtained from Charles R. O'Neill, Jr., of New York Sea Grant at (716) 395-2638 or Don W. Schloesser
of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service at (313) 994-3331.The NRC issued GL 89-13 to resolve service water system problems affecting safety-related
equipment.
GL 89-13 includes resolution
of Generic Issue 51,"Improving
the Reliability
of Open-Cycle
Service Water Systems." Modes of failure of the service water system addressed
in the generic letter include flow blockage from biofouling, sedimentation, and corrosion
agents. To deter-mine appropriate
surveillance
and control measures for biofouling
agents, all Mollusca species that may potentially
cause flow blockage problems were includ-ed in the scope of GL 89-13, which was not restricted
to certain biospecies.
The surveillance
and control programs established
in response to GL 89-13 are expected to be sufficient
to keep any biofouling
agent, including
Dreissena polymorpha, from becoming a safety concern.This information
notice requires no specific action or written response.
If you have any questions
about the information
in this notice, please contact the technical
contact listed below or the appropriate
NRR project manager.Charles E. Rossi, Director Division of Operational
Events Assessment
Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
Technical
Contact: C. Vernon Hodge, NRR (301) 492-1169 Attachment:
List of Recently Issued NRC Information
Notices OGCB:DOEA:NRR
RPB:ARMfmv
C/O 'B:DOE :R D/DOEA:NRR
CVHodge TechEd CHBerlinger
CERossi 11/Oi/89 11/01/89 11// /89 11/ /89