ML20246J833

NPDES Noncompliance Notification:On 890728,unauthorized Discharge of Sodium Nitrite That Had Occurred in May Discovered During Review of Wastewater Inventory Records. Personnel Reviewing Procedures Re Wastewater Releases

ML20246J833
Person / Time
Site:	Catawba
Issue date:	08/18/1989
From:	Haller W DUKE POWER CO.
To:	Knauss R SOUTH CAROLINA, STATE OF
References
NUDOCS 8909050276
Download: ML20246J833 (5)

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Duxe Powsa COMPANY P.O. BOX 33189

WILLIAM A. HALLER

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l August 38,'1989 f

Mr. Robert R. Knauss Environmental. Quality Manager.

Water Quality Assessment E Enforcement. Division S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control 2600 Bull Street-Columbia, SC 29201

Subject:

Catawba' Nuclear Station -

' Notification of Incident i

. Discharge of Sodium Nitrite File: CN-702.26, CN-707.03

Dear Sir:

On July 28, 1989, an incidence of an unauthorized discharge that had

' occurred ' in May at the Duke Power Company Catawba Nuclear Station was discovered by way of a review of wastewater inventory records. On August 3, 1989, W. T. Griffin, of this office, discussed with you delaying written notification of this incident such that the SARA Follow-up Release Notification report could be utilized as the written NPDES report. This letter is to serve as our NPDES written response. Attached is the SARA Follow-up Release Notification report.

We are amenable to arranging a meeting with you in order to address the specifics of this incident or the actiens we are taking to prevent a future-recurrence should you thine it beneficial. Should you have any questions or desire additional information, please contact M. C. Griggs [(704) 373-7080).

Sincerely, I

W. A. Haller, Manager Nuclear Technical Services WTG/ggb:0272 Attachment 8909050276 890816 l PDR ADOCK 05000413 PDC 3

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^ Dt;xn POWER COMPANY NUCLEAR PRODUCTION DEPARTMEyr P.O. BOK 33189. 492 eOt TM CNtJRcM STREET cnAaLOTTE. x.c. 2a942 (704) 373-4011 August- 18, 1989 l

South Carolina Emergency Response Commission Stan M.- McKinney, Chairman Division of Public Safety Programs Edgar A. Brown Building 1205 Pendleton Street Columbia, SC 29221 York County Emergency Preparedness Agency Cotton Howell 155 Johnson Street P. O. Box 11706 Rock Hill, SC 29731

Subject:

Catawba Huclear Station j" Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act (SARA)

Follow-up Release Notification - Sodium Nitrite Release File: CN-707.03, CN-702.00

Dear Sirs:

Pursuant to 40CFR Part 355 (Emergency Planning and Notification), Duke Power Company hereby provides written follow-up emergency notice of a-reportable SARA release. On July 28, 1909, a review of station wastewater inventory records ' revealed that a greater than reportable quantity release occurred during the time period from May 10, 1989 to May 16, 1989 and verbal notification of this release was provided to your offices on July 28, 1989.

Sodium nitrite is not classified as an Extremely Hazardous Substance under SARA; however, it is classified as a CERCLA Hazardous Substance. As-indicated on the Attachment, an amount of sodium nitrite greater than the 100 pound CERCLA reportable quantity was released on three occasions over the May 10-May 16, 1989 time period. Also indicated on the Attachment are the calculated concentrations that were discharged to Lake Wylie, which ranged from 3.5 to 5.6 ppm sodium nitrite.

The following agencies were contacted on July 28, 1989 and informed of the release:

k August 18, 19891 Page Two Agency Oentact Ttfe National Response Center Mike King 1950 South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control Wayne Corley 2105 York County Emergency Preparedness Agency. Cotton Howell 2100 Nuclear Regulatory Conunission (via Red Phone) 2020 In detennining the acute or chronic health risks associated with the release, the following factors were considered:

1. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) allows 200 ppm maximum sodium nitrite in fish and meat as a preservative or color fixative; therefore there should be no impact to human health from this release.

2. In 1988, using dye, flow characterization studies were conducted on the station's cooling water discharge into Lake Wylie. Assuming

-cooling water discharge flow similar to that during these studies, the chemical concentrations in this discharge, as. measured in the discharge cove approximately 2600 feet away from the station discharge point, would typically be reduced by 90% of their original concentration by the time they reached this point.

3. The 48 and 96 hour0.00111 days <br />0.0267 hours <br />1.587302e-4 weeks <br />3.6528e-5 months <br /> LC50 data reveals the following acute toxicity values for fish exposed to sodium nitrite:

Organism Test Conditions Effects Mosquitofish *pH 7.1-7.4 "96 hr. LC50 = 7.5 ppm Bluegill pH = 7.2 "48 hr. LC50 = 211.3 ppm

• Average lakewater pH falls within this range.

• • 48 hour5.555556e-4 days <br />0.0133 hours <br />7.936508e-5 weeks <br />1.8264e-5 months <br /> and 96 hour0.00111 days <br />0.0267 hours <br />1.587302e-4 weeks <br />3.6528e-5 months <br /> LC50 data reflect the concentration of a chemical constituent at which 50% of the population of a species would die if exposed to this concentration for 48 or 96 hours0.00111 days <br />0.0267 hours <br />1.587302e-4 weeks <br />3.6528e-5 months <br />, respectively.

l At the time verbal notifications were made to the National Response Center, the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control, and the j York County Emergency Preparedness Agency, the individual making the notifications had a general knowledge of the LC50 data and of the flow characterization dye study results. This individual conveyed in these verbal reports that no significant impact to the environment or to human health would have resulted from the release.

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August 18, 1989 Page Three Duke Power Industrial Hygiene personnel also concluded that based on the above three factors there was no significant relative acute or chronic health risks associated with this release. Additionally, no environmental impact was seen subsequent to the release based on routine daily inspection of the discharge area by station personnel.

Additional administrative controls are being established to prevent a reoccurrence of this type of release. Specifically, station personnel are reviewing existing procedures that involve wastewater releases to the environment and are making changes as appropriate to prevent a reoccurrence of this type incident. In addition, station training modules will be refined to ensure appropriate personnel are made aware of this incident.

Training will be conducted through the station's Employee Training and Qualification Program (ETQS) which is an Institute of Nuclear Power Operations (INPO) e.;redited program.

If you have any questions concerning this notification, please contact Mark Hollis at (704) 373-2758 or Hilary Sonener at (704) 373-2374.

W. A. Haller, Manager Nuclear Technical Services HLS/RRW/ggb:0257 Attachment xc: Paul Wise, DHEC - Fort Lawn District NRC Regional Administrator l

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Attachment l

l Liquid Waste Releases (LWR) From 5/10/89 to 5/16/89 Gal Monitor Tank ppm Sodium Nitrite

)1 LWR Date Start Stop Released Sodlum Nitrite (End of pipe discharging to take) 368 5/10 1545 1641 4530 1885 3.72

- 369 5/10 2027 2111 3660 1885 4.12 370 5/11 0011 0054 3470 1885 4.02 383 5/13 2250 2337 3660 2175 4.98 385 5/14 1549 1625' 3690 2175 5.57 386 5/15 0839 0937 3700 2175 3.48 388 5/16 0305 0345 3600 2175 4.89 Godium Nitrite Releases in Excess of CERCLA / SARA Li.mits:

Highest NANO e neentration, ppm Date Total lbs. Released (end of pipe2 discharge to lake) 5/10-5/11 182 A.12 5/13-5/14 133 5.57 5/15-5/16 132 4.89 I

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