Issue | Category 2 | Findings 3 |
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Surface Water Quality, Hydrology, and Use (for all plants) | ||
Impacts of refurbishment on surface water quality | 1 | SMALL. Impacts are expected to be negligible during refurbishment because best management practices are expected to be employed to control soil erosion and spills. |
Impacts of refurbishment on surface water use | 1 | SMALL. Water use during refurbishment will not increase appreciably or will be reduced during plant outage. |
Altered current patterns at intake and discharge structures | 1 | SMALL. Altered current patterns have not been found to be a problem at operating nuclear power plants and are not expected to be a problem during the license renewal term. |
Altered salinity gradients | 1 | SMALL. Salinity gradients have not been found to be a problem at operating nuclear power plants and are not expected to be a problem during the license renewal term. |
Altered thermal stratification of lakes | 1 | SMALL. Generally, lake stratification has not been found to be a problem at operating nuclear power plants and is not expected to be a problem during the license renewal term. |
Temperature effects on sediment transport capacity | 1 | SMALL. These effects have not been found to be a problem at operating nuclear power plants and are not expected to be a problem during the license renewal term. |
Scouring caused by discharged cooling water | 1 | SMALL. Scouring has not been found to be a problem at most operating nuclear power plants and has caused only localized effects at a few plants. It is not expected to be a problem during the license renewal term. |
Eutrophication | 1 | SMALL. Eutrophication has not been found to be a problem at operating nuclear power plants and is not expected to be a problem during the license renewal term. |
Discharge of chlorine or other biocides | 1 | SMALL. Effects are not a concern among regulatory and resource agencies, and are not expected to be a problem during the license renewal term. |
Discharge of sanitary wastes and minor chemical spills | 1 | SMALL. Effects are readily controlled through NPDES permit and periodic modifications, if needed, and are not expected to be a problem during the license renewal term. |
Discharge of other metals in waste water | 1 | SMALL. These discharges have not been found to be a problem at operating nuclear power plants with cooling-tower-based heat dissipation systems and have been satisfactorily mitigated at other plants. They are not expected to be a problem during the license renewal term. |
Water use conflicts (plants with once-through cooling systems) | 1 | SMALL. These conflicts have not been found to be a problem at operating nuclear power plants with once-through heat dissipation systems. |
Water use conflicts (plants with cooling ponds or cooling towers using make-up water from a small river with low flow) | 2 | SMALL OR MODERATE. The issue has been a concern at nuclear power plants with cooling ponds and at plants with cooling towers. Impacts on instream and riparian communities near these plants could be of moderate significance in some situations. See § 51.53(c)(3)(ii)(A) . |
Aquatic Ecology (for all plants) | ||
Refurbishment | 1 | SMALL. During plant shutdown and refurbishment there will be negligible effects on aquatic biota because of a reduction of entrainment and impingement of organisms or a reduced release of chemicals. |
Accumulation of contaminants in sediments or biota | 1 | SMALL. Accumulation of contaminants has been a concern at a few nuclear power plants but has been satisfactorily mitigated by replacing copper alloy condenser tubes with those of another metal. It is not expected to be a problem during the license renewal term. |
Entrainment of phytoplankton and zooplankton | 1 | SMALL. Entrainment of phytoplankton and zooplankton has not been found to be a problem at operating nuclear power plants and is not expected to be a problem during the license renewal term. |
Cold shock | 1 | SMALL. Cold shock has been satisfactorily mitigated at operating nuclear plants with once-through cooling systems, has not endangered fish populations or been found to be a problem at operating nuclear power plants with cooling towers or cooling ponds, and is not expected to be a problem during the license renewal term. |
Thermal plume barrier to migrating fish | 1 | SMALL. Thermal plumes have not been found to be a problem at operating nuclear power plants and are not expected to be a problem during the license renewal term. |
Distribution of aquatic organisms | 1 | SMALL. Thermal discharge may have localized effects but is not expected to effect the larger geographical distribution of aquatic organisms. |
Premature emergence of aquatic insects | 1 | SMALL. Premature emergence has been found to be a localized effect at some operating nuclear power plants but has not been a problem and is not expected to be a problem during the license renewal term. |
Gas supersaturation (gas bubble disease) | 1 | SMALL. Gas supersaturation was a concern at a small number of operating nuclear power plants with once-through cooling systems but has been satisfactorily mitigated. It has not been found to be a problem at operating nuclear power plants with cooling towers or cooling ponds and is not expected to be a problem during the license renewal term. |
Code of Federal Regulations
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Low dissolved oxygen in the discharge | 1 | SMALL. Low dissolved oxygen has been a concern at one nuclear power plant with a once-through cooling system but has been effectively mitigated. It has not been found to be a problem at operating nuclear power plants with cooling towers or cooling ponds and is not expected to be a problem during the license renewal term. |
Losses from predation, parasitism, and disease among organisms exposed to sublethal stresses | 1 | SMALL. These types of losses have not been found to be a problem at operating nuclear power plants and are not expected to be a problem during the license renewal term. |
Stimulation of nuisance organisms (e.g., shipworms) | 1 | SMALL. Stimulation of nuisance organisms has been satisfactorily mitigated at the single nuclear power plant with a once-through cooling system where previously it was a problem. It has not been found to be a problem at operating nuclear power plants with cooling towers or cooling ponds and is not expected to be a problem during the license renewal term. |
Aquatic Ecology (for plants with once-through and cooling pond heat dissipation systems) | ||
Entrainment of fish and shellfish in early life stages | 2 | SMALL, MODERATE, OR LARGE. The impacts of entrainment are small at many plants but may be moderate or even large at a few plants with once-through and cooling-pond cooling systems. Further, ongoing efforts in the vicinity of these plants to restore fish populations may increase the numbers of fish susceptible to intake effects during the license renewal period, such that entrainment studies conducted in support of the original license may no longer be valid. See § 51.53(c)(3)(ii)(B) . |
Impingement of fish and shellfish | 2 | SMALL, MODERATE, OR LARGE. The impacts of impingement are small at many plants but may be moderate or even large at a few plants with once-through and cooling-pond cooling systems. See § 51.53(c)(3)(ii)(B) . |
Heat shock | 2 | SMALL, MODERATE, OR LARGE. Because of continuing concerns about heat shock and the possible need to modify thermal discharges in response to changing environmental conditions, the impacts may be of moderate or large significance at some plants. See § 51.53(c)(3)(ii)(B) . |
Aquatic Ecology (for plants with cooling-tower-based heat dissipation systems) | ||
Entrainment of fish and shellfish in early life stages | 1 | SMALL. Entrainment of fish has not been found to be a problem at operating nuclear power plants with this type of cooling system and is not expected to be a problem during the license renewal term. |
Impingement of fish and shellfish | 1 | SMALL. The impingement has not been found to be a problem at operating nuclear power plants with this type of cooling system and is not expected to be a problem during the license renewal term. |
Heat shock | 1 | SMALL. Heat shock has not been found to be a problem at operating nuclear power plants with this type of cooling system and is not expected to be a problem during the license renewal term. |
Ground-water Use and Quality | ||
Impacts of refurbishment on ground-water use and quality | 1 | SMALL. Extensive dewatering during the original construction on some sites will not be repeated during refurbishment on any sites. Any plant wastes produced during refurbishment will be handled in the same manner as in current operating practices and are not expected to be a problem during the license renewal term. |
Ground-water use conflicts (potable and service water; plants that use <100 gpm) | 1 | SMALL. Plants using less than 100 gpm are not expected to cause any ground-water use conflicts. |
Ground-water use conflicts (potable and service water, and dewatering; plants that use >100 gpm) | 2 | SMALL, MODERATE, OR LARGE. Plants that use more than 100 gpm may cause ground-water use conflicts with nearby ground-water users. See § 51.53(c)(3)(ii)(C) . |
Ground-water use conflicts (plants using cooling towers withdrawing make-up water from a small river) | 2 | SMALL, MODERATE, OR LARGE. Water use conflicts may result from surface water withdrawals from small water bodies during low flow conditions which may affect aquifer recharge, especially if other ground-water or upstream surface water users come on line before the time of license renewal. See § 51.53(c)(3)(ii)(A) . |
Ground-water use conflicts (Ranney wells) | 2 | SMALL, MODERATE, OR LARGE. Ranney wells can result in potential ground-water depression beyond the site boundary. Impacts of large ground-water withdrawal for cooling tower makeup at nuclear power plants using Ranney wells must be evaluated at the time of application for license renewal. See § 51.53(c)(3)(ii)(C) . |
Code of Federal Regulations
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Ground-water quality degradation (Ranney wells) | 1 | SMALL. Ground-water quality at river sites may be degraded by induced infiltration of poor-quality river water into an aquifer that supplies large quantities of reactor cooling water. However, the lower quality infiltrating water would not preclude the current uses of ground water and is not expected to be a problem during the license renewal term. |
Ground-water quality degradation (saltwater intrusion) | 1 | SMALL. Nuclear power plants do not contribute significantly to saltwater intrusion. |
Ground-water quality degradation (cooling ponds in salt marshes) | 1 | SMALL. Sites with closed-cycle cooling ponds may degrade ground-water quality. Because water in salt marshes is brackish, this is not a concern for plants located in salt marshes. |
Ground-water quality degradation (cooling ponds at inland sites) | 2 | SMALL, MODERATE, OR LARGE. Sites with closed-cycle cooling ponds may degrade ground-water quality. For plants located inland, the quality of the ground water in the vicinity of the ponds must be shown to be adequate to allow continuation of current uses. See § 51.53(c)(3)(ii)(D) . |
Terrestrial Resources | ||
Refurbishment impacts | 2 | SMALL, MODERATE, OR LARGE. Refurbishment impacts are insignificant if no loss of important plant and animal habitat occurs. However, it cannot be known whether important plant and animal communities may be affected until the specific proposal is presented with the license renewal application. See § 51.53(c)(3)(ii)(E) . |
Cooling tower impacts on crops and ornamental vegetation | 1 | SMALL. Impacts from salt drift, icing, fogging, or increased humidity associated with cooling tower operation have not been found to be a problem at operating nuclear power plants and are not expected to be a problem during the license renewal term. |
Cooling tower impacts on native plants | 1 | SMALL. Impacts from salt drift, icing, fogging, or increased humidity associated with cooling tower operation have not been found to be a problem at operating nuclear power plants and are not expected to be a problem during the license renewal term. |
Bird collisions with cooling towers | 1 | SMALL. These collisions have not been found to be a problem at operating nuclear power plants and are not expected to be a problem during the license renewal term. |
Cooling pond impacts on terrestrial resources | 1 | SMALL. Impacts of cooling ponds on terrestrial ecological resources are considered to be of small significance at all sites. |
Power line right-of-way management (cutting and herbicide application) | 1 | SMALL. The impacts of right-of-way maintenance on wildlife are expected to be of small significance at all sites. |
Bird collision with power lines | 1 | SMALL. Impacts are expected to be of small significance at all sites. |
Impacts of electromagnetic fields on flora and fauna (plants, agricultural crops, honeybees, wildlife, livestock) | 1 | SMALL. No significant impacts of electromagnetic fields on terrestrial flora and fauna have been identified. Such effects are not expected to be a problem during the license renewal term. |
Floodplains and wetland on power line right of way | 1 | SMALL. Periodic vegetation control is necessary in forested wetlands underneath power lines and can be achieved with minimal damage to the wetland. No significant impact is expected at any nuclear power plant during the license renewal term. |
Threatened or Endangered Species (for all plants) | ||
Threatened or endangered species |