Information Notice 1989-76, Biofouling Agent: Zebra Mussel
UNITED STATESNUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSIONOFFICE OF NUCLEAR REACTOR REGULATIONWASHINGTON* 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 powerreactors.
Purpose
- This information notice is intended to alert addressees to potential problemsrelated to biofouling of service water and cooling water systems that mayresult from a recently identified biofouling agent, Dreissena polymompha(zebra mussel). It is expected that recipients will review the ifnformationfor applicability to their facilities and consider actions, as appropriate,to avoid similar problems. However, suggestions contained in this informationnotice do not constitute NRC requirements; therefore, no specific action orwritten-response is required.-Discussion:The potential for biofouling has been of concern to the NRC since 1980 becausebiofouling 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 toadopt either the specific recommended surveillance and control proceduresdelineated in the generic letter or an equally effective alternative courseof action for preventing biofouling of their nuclear service water systems.This aspect of the generic letter presents the results and recommendationsfrom an NRC research program initiated in 1982 when biofouling agents werenoted to clog service water systems. The principal biofouling agents notedin the generic letter were Corbicula fluminea (Asiatic clam) Crassostreavirginica (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 largeportion of the United States.The following information about the zebra mussel is taken from the abstract of apaper 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, DetroitEd a ayimnd D. W. Schloesser, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.911150012 ZXP IN 89-76November 21, 1989 "The zebra mussel, Dreissena pokmorpha (Pallas), is a small mollusc nativeto the Black, Caspin, and Azov Seas that was discovered in Lake Erie of theLaurentian Great Lakes of North America in 1988. The mussel raises immediateconcerns for raw water users because it can obstruct the flow of water throughpipes, 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 LakeErie in 1989. At one power plant, densities as high as 700,000 per m2 wereobserved in the intake canal in August. In addition, large numbers were foundin main steam condensers and in the service water system threatening operationof cooling, fire protection, and dust suppression systems. Intakes of munici-pal water supplies along the Canadian and the United States shorelines havealso been impaired. In one southeast Michigan city, drinking water withdrawalfrom 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. Thispotential is the subject of an international conference at Rochester, New York,on November 28 and 29, 1989. Additional information on the meeting may beobtained from Charles R. O'Neill, Jr., of New York SeaGrant at (716) 395-2638or 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. Ifyou 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, DirectorDivision of Operational Events AssessmentOffice of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
Technical Contact:
C. Vernon Hodge, NRR(301) 492-1169
Attachment:
List of Recently Issued NRC Information Notices I 4 -AttachmentIN 89-76November 21, 1989 -SLIST OF RECENTLY ISSUEDNRC INFORMATION NOTICES,. .Information Date ofNotice No. Subject Issuance Issued to89-7589-7489-73Falsification of WelderQualifications forContractor EmployeesClarification of Trans--portation RequirementsApplicable to Return ofSpent Radiopharmacy Dosagesfrom Users to SuppliersPotential Overpressurizationof Low Pressure Systems-11/20/8911/7/8911/1/89All holders of OLsor CPs for nuclearpower reactors.All manufacturersand distributors ofradiopharmaceuticalsfor medical use,nuclear pharmacies,and medical licensees.All holders of OLsor CPs for nuclearpower reactors.89-72-4*..a a _ -.Failure of Licensed SeniorOperators to Classify-Emergency-Events Properly10/24/89All holders of OLsor CPs for nuclearpower reactors.89-7189-7089-6989-6889-67Diversion of the ResidualHeat Removal Pump SealCooling Water Flow DuringRecirculation OperationFollowing a Loss-of-Coolant AccidentPossible Indications ofMisrepresented VendorProductsLoss of Thermal MarginCaused by Channel BoxBowEvaluation of InstrumentSetpoints DuringModificationsLoss of Residual HeatRemoval Caused byAccumulator NitrogenInjection10/19/8910/11/899/29/899/25/899/13/89All holders of OLsor CPs for nuclearpower reactors.All holders of OLsor CPs for nuclearpower reactors.All holders of OLsor CPs for BWRS.All holders of OLsor CPs for nuclearpower reactors.All holders of OLsor CPs for PWRs.OL = Operating LicenseCP = Construction Permit
- , , -'WNk , %IN 89-76November 21, 1989 "The zebra mussel, Dreissena polymorpha (Pallas), is a small mollusc nativeto the Black, Caspian, and Azov Seas that was discovered in Lake Erie of theLaurentian Great Lakes of North America in 1988. The mussel raises immediateconcerns for raw water users because it can obstruct the flow of water throughpipes, 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 LakeErie in 1989. At one power plant, densities as high as 700,000 per m2 wereobserved in the intake canal in August. In addition, large numbers were foundin main steam condensers and in the service water system threatening operationof cooling, fire protection, and dust suppression systems. Intakes of munici-pal water supplies along the Canadian and the United States shorelines havealso been impaired. In one southeast Michigan city, drinking water withdrawalfrom 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. Thispotential is the subject of an international conference at Rochester, New York,on November 28 and 29, 1989. Additional information on the meeting may beobtained from Charles R. O'Neill, Jr., of New York Sea Grant at (716) 395-2638or 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. Ifyou have any questions about the information in this notice, please contactthe technical contact listed below or the appropriate NRR project manager.Charles E. Rossi, DirectorDivision of Operational Events AssessmentOffice 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:NRRCVHodge11/09/89*RPB:ARMTechEd11/09/89*C/OGCB:DOEA:NRRCHBerlinger11/09/89*SPLB:NRR .<JWermeit o -011/14/89 11/j5789
-IN 89-XXNovember xx, 1989 plants, and processing and industrial facilities along Lake Erie in 1989. Atone power plant, densities as high as 700,000 per m2 were observed in the intakecanal in August. In addition, large numbers were found in main steam condensersand in the service water system threatening operation of cooling, fire protection,and dust suppression systems. Intakes of municipal water supplies along theCanadian and the United States shorelines have also been impaired. In one south-east Michigan city, drinking water withdrawal from Lake Erie was reduced 45% bythe mussel (Griffiths, R. W., Kovalak, W. P., and Schloesser, D. W., "The ZebraMussel, Dreissena Polymorpha (Pallas, 1771), in North America: Impact on RawWater Users," Electric Power Research Institute Service Water System ReliabilityImprovement Seminar, November 6-8, 1989).Of major immediate concern is the potential fouling of water intake structuresin municipal, industrial, and power generation facilities. Fouling can resultin major flow restrictions. The geographical area of immediate concern is alongthe Great Lakes and major tributaries and canals. This potential is the subjectof 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. Fishand Wildlife Service at (313) 994-3331.The NRC issued GL 89-13 to resolve service water system problems affectingsafety-related equipment. GL 89-13 includes resolution of Generic Issue 51,Improving the Reliability of Open-Cycle Service Water Systems." Modes offailure of the service water system addressed in the generic letter includeflow blockage from biofouling, sedimentation, and corrosion agents. To deter-mine appropriate surveillance and control measures for biofouling agents, allspecies that may potentially cause flow blockage problems were included in thescope 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 tobe sufficient to keep any blofouling agent, including Dreissena polymorpha, frombecoming a safety concern.This information notice requires no specific action or written response. Ifyou have any questions about the information in this notice, please contact thetechnical contact listed below or the appropriate NRR project manager.Charles E. Rossi, DirectorDivision of Operational Events AssessmentOffice 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:NRRCVHodge TechEd CHBerlinger JWermeil CERossi11/ /89 11/ /89 11/ /89 11/14/89 I1/ /89 IN 89-XXNovember xx, 1989 industrial, and power generation facilities. Fouling can result in major flowrestrictions. The geographical area of immediate concern is along the GreatLakes and major tributaries and canals. This potential is the subject of aninternational 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. Fishand Wildlife Service at (313) 994-3331.The NRC issued GL 89-13 to resolve service water system problems affectingsafety-related equipment. GL 89-13 includes resolution of Generic Issue 51,"Improving the Reliability of Open-Cycle Service Water Systems." Modes offailure of the service water system addressed in the generic letter includeflow blockage from biofouling, sedimentation, and corrosion agents. To deter-mine appropriate surveillance and control measures for biofouling agents, allMollusca 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 areexpected to be sufficient to keep any biofouling agent, including Dreissenapolymorpha, from becoming a safety concern.This information notice requires no specific action or written response. Ifyou have any questions about the information in this notice, please contact thetechnical contact listed below or the appropriate NRR project manager.Charles E. Rossi, DirectorDivision of Operational Events AssessmentOffice of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
Technical Contact:
C. Vernon Hodge, NRR(301) 492-1169
Attachment:
List of Recently Issued NRC Information NoticesOGCB:DOEA:NRR RPB:ARMfmv C/O 'B:DOE :R D/DOEA:NRRCVHodge TechEd CHBerlinger CERossi11/Oi/89 11/01/89 11// /89 11/ /89