ML060810041
| ML060810041 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Oyster Creek |
| Issue date: | 11/30/2005 |
| From: | Masnik M T NRC/NRR/ADRO/DLR |
| To: | Maher W - No Known Affiliation |
| References | |
| %dam200604 | |
| Download: ML060810041 (3) | |
Text
NRC FORM 386 U.S. NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
- p RtCI/ DATE TELECOPIER TRANSMITTAL TIME TO NAME k J TELEPHONE NAME AND LOCATION OF COMPANY(If ofher than NRC)TELECOPY NUMBER VERIFICATION NUMBER 3 -3 _D __FROM NAME , TELEPHONE MAIL STOP TELECOPY DATA NUMBER OF PAGES PRIORITY.D IMMEDIATE THIS PAGE +_ PAGES = J TOTAL D OTHER.__ .(Specify)
SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS NR FOR _B _325 PRNE ON R.YCE PAPER NRC FORM 3B36 (3-2005)PRINTED ON RECYCLED PAPER Request for Additional Information Regarding the Environmental License Renewal Review for the Oyster Creek Nuclear Generating Station On July 19, 2005, the NJ Department of Environmental Protection issued for comment a draft water quality permit the Oyster Creek Nuclear Generating Station (OCNGS). The draft permit affords AmerGen two options for demonstrating compliance with EPA's Phase II regulations found at 40 CFR 125.94(a) for the Clean Water Act, Section 316(b).One option is to reduce intake flow to a level commensurate with the use of a closed-cycle cooling system. The second option is to reduce impingement and entrainment mortality of all life stages of fish and shellfish to the EPA performance standards of 40 CFR 125.94b(1) and (2). The State has also suggested that wetlands restoration is one means to meet the performance standards.
Given the State's discussion of the two options in the draft permit for OCNGS, the NRC staff has determined that it is reasonable to evaluate both options as part of the review of the pending license renewal application.
The environmental impacts of the current configuration (the once-through cooling system) will be considered as the proposed action and the second option (a closed-cycle cooling system using either mechanical or natural draft cooling towers)will be considered as an alternative for continued operation during the license renewal period.The assessment of this alternative will be presented in Chapter 8, Alternatives, of the Oyster Creek Supplement to the Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS).The AmerGen Environmental Report (ER), submitted with the July 22, 2005, application for license renewal, as supplemented with information provided at the NRC site audit during the week of October 10, 2005, is adequate for the staff to begin the analysis of the impacts of the current once-through cooling system. However, the ER does not address a closed-cycle cooling system alternative and the associated impacts of construction and operation.
Therefore, the staff requests the following:
(1) Provide a summary of any studies that evaluate the environmental impacts of closed-cycle cooling for OCNGS. This request includes historical studies that were performed earlier as well as any studies that were conducted specifically in response to the draft NJPDES permit.(2) Provide information that evaluates various closed-cycle cooling designs for the OCNGS as well as analyses performed to evaluate environmental impacts. Provide copies of any studies that have been completed.
If studies are ongoing, then provide a summary of their status and when the results will be available to the staff.(3) Provide available information on AmerGen's evaluation of wetlands restoration as a compliance alternative to closed-cycle cooling.(4) If available, provide any assessments of the environmental issues using the issue categories enumerated in Table B-1 of Appendix B to Subpart A of 10 CFR Part 51 for closed-cycle cooling systems.
(5) The staff believes that impacts associated with the construction of a closed-cycle cooling system would need to be assessed in Chapter 8 of the Oyster Creek license renewal SEIS along with the impacts of operation.
It is quite likely that some or all of the construction would be performed during the renewal period. Provide any assessments of the environmental issues using the issue categories enumerated in Table B-1 of Appendix B to Subpart A of 10 CFR Part 51 for refurbishment impacts for major components.