ML19319D606

Submits Comments & Recommendations in Response to Rc Deyoung 710306 Request for Review of Fsar.Util Should Continue Cooperation W/Federal & State Agencies in Carrying Out Environ Surveys Prior to Reactor Operation

ML19319D606
Person / Time
Site:	Crystal River
Issue date:	10/04/1971
From:	King W INTERIOR, DEPT. OF, FISH & WILDLIFE SERVICE
To:	Price H US ATOMIC ENERGY COMMISSION (AEC)
Shared Package
ML19319D603	List: ML19319D606
References
NUDOCS 8003170774
Download: ML19319D606 (3)

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J P RT ER E WMG United States Department of the Interior d5 FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE g, f Q BUREAU OF SPORT FISHERIES AND WILDLIFE WASillNGTON, D.C. 20210 g g

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Mr. Harold L. Price t OcT5 Director of Regulation b77 A

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U.S. Atomic Energy Commission B #4cyY.,ff4r Cffyj Washington, D.C. 20$h5 kJ/g3g

Dear Mr. Price:

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Our comments are provided in response to Mr. DeYoung's letter of March 6 transmitting for our review the Final Safety Analysis Report for the ~

Florida Power Corporation's application for an operating license for the Crystal River Nuclear Generating Plant, Unit 3, Citrus County, Florida, AEC Docket No. 50-302. Also reviewed were the quarterly Environmental Status Reports for the periods July-Septenber and October-December 1970 and January-March 1971. The coments of the Mid-Atlantic Coastal Fisheries Research Center, MES, Department of Commerce, were obtained and are included in this review.

The project will be constructed on a h,738-acre tract of land located on the Gulf of Mexico 70 miles north of Tampa, Florida, approrLmately 7 miles northwest of Cr/stal River.

The preservation and enhancement of the quality of our environment is of primary concern of all Federal agencies. A proper concern for the environment requires that particular attention be given to 'fich and wildlife resources during the construction and operational phases of a nuclear power facility.

The environmental monitoring program, described in Section 2, Volume 1, of the application, was initiated prior to operation of the plant.' A quarterly Environmental Status Report describes the progress of the program which was designed and planned in cooperation with the Florida Department of Natural Resources, Florida Department of Health and Rehabilitative Services, Bureau of Sport Fl..iries and Wildlife, and -

other concerned Federal and State agencies.

The quarterly monitoring reports have noted temperatures as high as 99o F. occurring in the discharge channel. Such temperatures are known to have caused damage to established marine cerranities elsewhere. The Final Safety Analysis Report does not indicate that any remedial measures will be taken to reduce the temperature of the effluent discharge when the monitoring program discloses that such measures are necessarf.

The environmental monitoring program should be continued. If investigations show that cooling water and other wastes discharged into the Crystal Bay portion of the Gulf of Mexico will change the environment significantly q '") "wmM 8003170t/ r esa

and be detrimental to fich and wildlife resources, changes should be made in the plant design and plan of operation to obviate such changes and prevent damage to the fish and wildlife resources. Appropriate cooling facilities and alternatives should be planned, evaluated, and incorporated into the plant design and operating plan so that they can be constructed and operated without delay or unnecassary expense if needed to insure protection of the total environment. Postoperational surveys should be programed to evaluate the predictions based on the preoperational studies so that any. unforeseer damages can be promptly and adequately corrected.

The cooling water intake is a potential hacard to fish resources.

Significant numbers of fish and small aquatic crustaceans, which are the basic food items of young fish, may be drawn into this structure with the water and destroyed. If the preoperational investigations indicate that significant numbers of fish or fishfood organisms occur in the

vicinity of the inlet structure and are subject to destruction in the cooling water withdrawal system, suitable fish protective devices should be installed at the intake structure to prevent such loss of fish or fishfood organisms.

In general, the environmental radiological program seems adequate for the protection of aquatic life from radiation exposure. In tables 2-11, however, " convenience" of sampling of sediments and " seasonal" sampling of organisms are not specific. It is reco = ended that samples be collected no less frequently than once every six months.

In view the above, it is recomended that the Florida Power Corporation:

1. Continue cooperation with the Florida Department of Natural Resources, Florida Department of Health and Rehabilitative Services, Bureau of Sport Fisheries and Wildlife, and other interested Federal and State agencies in carrying out environmental surveys prior ~

to reactor operation and continue them until it has demonstrated that no significant adverse conditions exist.

2. Continue meeting with the above-named Federal and State agencies at frequent intervals to discuss any .

new or modified plans and the progress of the environmental surveys.

3 Continue preparing reports on the environmental surveys and providing six copies of them to the Secretary of the Interior for evaluation prior to project operation.

h. Design the plant with adequate flexibility to permit such modifications in project structure and operations, including facilities to:

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a. Reduce the tenperatures of the condenser cooling water and concentrations of plant wastes to be

} discharged into Crystal River and Bay; and,

b. Prevent any significant loss of fish, shellfish,

, and fishfood organisms into the intake structure during plant operations and make any such plant modification determined necessary to preserve 1 the environment and to protect the fish and vimi re resources in the area.

We appreciate the opportunity to present our views on this project.

! Sincerely yours, -

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