[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 147 (Thursday, July 31, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 44464-44470]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-18159]
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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
[Docket Nos. 50-250 and 50-251; NRC-2014-0181]
Florida Power & Light Company; Turkey Point Nuclear Generating
Unit Nos. 3 and 4
AGENCY: Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
ACTION: Environmental assessment and final finding of no significant
impact; issuance.
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SUMMARY: The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is considering
issuance of amendments to Renewed Facility Operating License Nos. DPR-
31 and DPR-41 issued to Florida Power & Light Company (FPL, the
licensee) for operation of Turkey Point Nuclear Generating Unit Nos. 3
and 4 (Turkey Point) located in Homestead, Miami-Dade County, Florida.
The proposed amendments would increase the ultimate heat sink (UHS)
water temperature limit specified in the Turkey Point Technical
Specifications (TSs) from 100 degrees Fahrenheit ([deg]F) to
104[emsp14][deg]F and add a surveillance requirement to monitor the UHS
temperature more frequently if the UHS temperature approaches the new
limit. The NRC did not identify any significant environmental impacts
associated with the proposed license amendments based on its evaluation
of the information provided in the licensee's application and other
available information. Accordingly, the NRC has prepared this
Environmental Assessment (EA) and Final Finding of No Significant
Impact (FONSI) for the proposed license amendments.
ADDRESSES: Please refer to Docket ID NRC-2014-0181 when contacting the
NRC about the availability of information regarding this document. You
may access publicly available
[[Page 44465]]
information related to this document using any of the following
methods:
Federal Rulemaking Web site: Go to http://www.regulations.gov and search for Docket ID NRC-2011-0181. Address
questions about NRC dockets to Carol Gallagher; telephone: 301-287-
3422; email: [email protected]. For technical questions, contact
the individual listed in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section of
this document.
NRC's Agencywide Documents Access and Management System
(ADAMS): You may obtain publicly available documents online in the NRC
Public Documents collection at http://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/adams.html. To begin the search, select ``ADAMS Public Documents'' and
then select ``Begin Web-based ADAMS Search.'' For problems with ADAMS,
please contact the NRC's Public Document Room (PDR) reference staff at
1-800-397-4209, 301-415-4737, or by email to [email protected]. The
ADAMS accession number for each document referenced in this notice (if
that document is available in ADAMS) is provided the first time that a
document is referenced. For the convenience of the reader, the ADAMS
accession numbers are also provided in a table in the ``Availability of
Documents'' section of this document.
NRC's PDR: You may examine and purchase copies of public
documents at the NRC's PDR, Room O1-F21, One White Flint North, 11555
Rockville Pike, Rockville, Maryland 20852.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Audrey L. Klett, Office of Nuclear
Reactor Regulation, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, DC
20555-0001; telephone: 301-415-0489; email: [email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Introduction
The NRC is considering issuance of amendments to Renewed Facility
Operating License Nos. DPR-31 and DPR-41 issued to FPL for operation of
Turkey Point, located in Homestead, Miami-Dade County, Florida. As
required by Sec. 51.21 of Title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations
(10 CFR Part 51.21), the NRC staff performed an EA to document its
findings related to the proposed license amendments. FPL submitted its
license amendment request by letter dated July 10, 2014 (ADAMS
Accession No. ML14196A006) and subsequently supplemented its
application by letters dated July 17, 2014 (ADAMS Accession No.
ML14202A392), July 22, 2014 (ADAMS Accession Nos. ML14204A367 and
ML14204A368), and July 24, 2014 (ADAMS Accession No. ML14206A853).
Based on information provided in FPL's application and associated
supplements, the NRC staff's independent review, and the NRC's
consultation with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) pursuant to
section 7 of the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (ESA), the
NRC did not identify any significant environmental impacts associated
with the proposed license amendments.
Based on the results of the EA documented herein, the NRC is
issuing this final FONSI, in accordance with 10 CFR 51.32, for the
proposed license amendments.
II. Environmental Assessment
Plant Site and Environs
The Turkey Point site encompasses 11,000 acres (ac) (4,450 hectares
(ha)) in Miami-Dade County, Florida. The site lies 25 miles (mi) (40
kilometers [km]) south of Miami, Florida, and the nearest city limits
are Florida City, which lies 8 mi (13 km) to the west, Homestead, which
lies 4.5 mi (7 km) to the northwest, and Key Largo, which lies 10 mi
(16 km) south of the Turkey Point site. The Turkey Point site is
bordered to the east by Biscayne National Park, to the north by
Homestead Bayfront Park and a portion of Biscayne National Park, and on
the west and south by FPL's 13,000-ac (5,260-ha) Everglades Mitigation
Bank. The Turkey Point site includes five electric generating units.
Units 1, 2, and 5 are fossil-fueled generating units and are not
covered by the proposed licensing action; Units 3 and 4 are nuclear
generating units. Each nuclear reactor is a Westinghouse pressurized
light-water reactor that generates electricity via three steam
generators that produce steam that turns turbines. The site features a
6,100-ac (2,500-ha) closed cooling canal system (CCS) that cools heated
water discharged by Units 1 through 4. Unit 5 uses mechanical draft
cooling towers for cooling, draws makeup water from the Upper Floridan
Aquifer, and discharges blowdown to the CCS. The five units and
supporting equipment (excluding the CCS) occupy approximately 130 ac
(53 ha).
The U.S. Atomic Energy Commission (AEC), the NRC's predecessor
agency, and the NRC have previously conducted environmental reviews of
Turkey Point in several documents, and the descriptions therein
continue to accurately depict the Turkey Point site and environs. Those
documents include the AEC's July 1972 Final Environmental Statement
(FES); the NRC's January 2002 Generic Environmental Impact Statement
for License Renewal of Nuclear Plants: Regarding Turkey Point Units 3
and 4--Final Report (NUREG-1437, Supplement 5) (ADAMS Accession No.
ML020280236); and the NRC's March 2012 environmental assessment and
final FONSI for the Turkey Point extended power uprate (EPU) (ADAMS
Accession No. ML12074A251).
Identification of the Proposed Action
The proposed action would increase the UHS water temperature limit
specified in the Turkey Point TSs and add a surveillance requirement to
monitor the UHS temperature more frequently if the UHS temperature
approaches the new limit. The proposed action is in accordance with the
licensee's application dated July 10, 2014, as supplemented by letters
dated July 17, July 22 (two letters), and July 24, 2014.
More specifically, the proposed action would amend Appendix A of
Turkey Point's Renewed Facility Operating Licenses in order to revise
the UHS temperature limit set forth in TS Limiting Operating Condition
(LOC) 3/4.7.4 from 100 [deg]F to 104 [deg]F. The CCS serves as the UHS
for the Intake Cooling Water (ICW) system and provides the coolant for
the Circulating Water (CW) system. The CW system provides cooling water
to the main plant condensers, and the ICW system removes heat loads
from the Component Cooling Water (CCW) system during normal and
accident conditions to support both reactor and containment heat
removal requirements as well as spent fuel cooling requirements.
Currently, TS LOC 3/4.7.4 includes a Surveillance Requirement (SR)
that necessitates the licensee to verify the UHS (CCS) temperature once
every 24-hour period and confirm that the average supply water
temperature is within the 100 [deg]F limit. The proposed license
amendments would modify the SR to require the licensee to verify the
average supply water temperature to be within the new TS limit at least
once per 24 hours, and once per hour when the water temperature exceeds
100 [deg]F. FPL monitors the UHS (CCS) temperature at a point in the
ICW system piping going into the inlet of the CCW Heat Exchangers.
The license amendment would require the licensee to place both
units in at least hot standby within 12 hours and cold shutdown within
the next 30 hours if the UHS exceeds 104 [deg]F.
The proposed TS revisions would not result in or require any
physical changes to Turkey Point systems, structures, or components,
including those intended for the prevention of accidents. If
[[Page 44466]]
approved, the LAR would be effective from the date of NRC approval
through the expiration dates of the renewed facility operating licenses
(i.e., through 2032 for Unit 3 and 2033 for Unit 4).
The Need for the Proposed Action
The proposed action is needed to provide FPL with additional
operational flexibility during periods when high air temperatures, low
rainfall, and other factors contribute to conditions resulting in a UHS
temperature in excess of 100 [deg]F that would otherwise necessitate
FPL to place Turkey Point in cold shutdown. In its application, FPL
states that loss of load and voltage control resulting from shutdown
during periods of high summer demand could result in impacts to grid
reliability. UHS temperatures have recently approached and exceeded the
100 [deg]F TS limit on several occasions. On July 20, 2014, the NRC
approved a notice of enforcement discretion (NOED), which allows the
UHS temperature to exceed 100 [deg]F up to 103 [deg]F for a period of
no more than 10 days, as well as several other NOED exit criteria. The
NRC documented the NOED in a letter to FPL dated July 23, 2014 (ADAMS
Accession No. ML14204A652).
Environmental Impacts of the Proposed Action
As part of the original licensing review for Turkey Point, the AEC
published an FES in July 1972 that evaluates potential environmental
impacts associated with the operation of Turkey Point over its initial
40-year operating period (1972-2012 for Unit 3 and 1973-2013 for Unit
4). In 2002, the NRC evaluated the environmental impacts of operating
Turkey Point for an additional 20 years beyond the original operating
license (i.e., through 2032 for Unit 3 and 2033 for Unit 4) and
predicted that the environmental impacts of license renewal were small
for all environmental resources. NUREG-1437, Supplement 5 provides that
assessment. In 2012, the NRC evaluated the impacts of a then-proposed
EPU at Turkey Point that authorized the facility to increase the
maximum power level from 2300 megawatts thermal (MWt) to 2644 MWt for
each unit. The NRC's March 2012 EA and final FONSI provide that
assessment.
As previously discussed, the proposed action would not result in or
require any physical changes to Turkey Point systems, structures, or
components, including those intended for the prevention of accidents.
Further, the proposed license amendments involve TS changes that would
only result in changes in procedural and operational aspects undertaken
by FPL personnel for monitoring and maintaining the UHS temperature
limit as measured at the ICW system piping going into the inlet of the
CCW Heat Exchangers. Thus, FPL's workforce would not change, and the
regular operations workforce would otherwise be unaffected by the
proposed action. Based on the above and the available information
reviewed by the staff, the NRC concludes that the proposed action would
result in no significant impact on land use, visual resources, air
quality, noise, the geologic environment, groundwater resources,
terrestrial resources, historic and cultural resources, socioeconomic
conditions including minority and low income populations (environmental
justice), or waste generation and management activities. Therefore,
this environmental assessment does not prevent any further evaluation
of the operational impacts on these environmental resources. The NRC
previously assessed the environmental impacts of continued operations
of Turkey Point in NUREG-1437, Supplement 5 and the EA and final FONSI
for the EPU, and implementation of the proposed license amendments
would not result in any impacts beyond those already characterized in
these documents. Accordingly, this environmental assessment focuses on
the environmental resources that could be affected by the change in the
CCS thermal limit: Surface water resources, aquatic resources, and
Federally-protected species and habitats. Radiological impacts are also
addressed.
The details of the NRC staff's safety evaluation will be separately
provided in the license amendment package issued to approve the license
amendment, if granted.
Nonradiological Impacts
Surface Water Resources
The Turkey Point site lies on the shore of Biscayne Bay. South of
the site, Mangrove Point divides the bay from Card Sound. Biscayne Bay
and Card Sound are shallow, subtropical estuarine waters located
between the Atlantic coast mainland and a grouping of barrier islands
that form the northernmost Florida Keys. The Atlantic Ocean lies beyond
the barrier islands. The Intracoastal Waterway traverses Biscayne Bay
and Card Sound, and a barge passage runs from the Intracoastal Waterway
to the non-nuclear units on the Turkey Point site.
In addition to these offsite waters, the site includes several
manmade surface waters, the most significant of which is the CCS. The
CCS spans a 6,100-ac (2,500-ha) area (4,370 ac (1,770 ha) of surface
water) spread over a 5-mi by 2-mi (8-km by 3.2-km) area. The system
includes 168 mi (270 km) of earthen canals with an average depth of 2.8
ft (0.8 km) and contains approximately 4 billion gallons (12,300 acre-
feet) of water. The Turkey Point units (both nuclear Units 3 and 4 and
fossil-fueled Units 1 and 2) use the CCS like a radiator and, as
previously mentioned, the CCS serves as the UHS for Units 3 and 4.
Heated water discharges into the CCS at one end, flows through the
canal system, and is withdrawn from the other end for reuse as cooling
water. The heated discharge effluent is distributed to 32 feeder
canals. Water in the feeder canals flows south and discharges into a
single collector canal that distributes water to six return canals.
Water in the return canals flows north to the plant intake. The entire
circuit that water travels from plant discharge back to plant intake is
13.2 mi (21.2 km), and transit time through the system is approximately
44 hours. Water flows attributable to Units 3 and 4 amount to
approximately 1.0 million gallons per minute. Temperature rise across
the plant (from intake to discharge) averages 15 to 30 [deg]F depending
on the number of fossil and nuclear units in operation, unit load, and
various other factors. The average intake temperature is 2.5 [deg]F
above the average ambient air temperature. Rainfall, stormwater runoff,
and groundwater exchange replace evaporative losses.
The Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) has
issued FPL a ``No Discharge'' National Pollutant Discharge Elimination
System (NPDES) permit (No. FL0001562) to operate the CCS as an
industrial wastewater facility. Accordingly, the CCS does not discharge
directly to fresh or marine surface waters. The proposed action would
not require FPL to request modifications to the NPDES permit because
the plant discharge limits would not change. Plant discharge limits are
not intake-temperature limited; rather, they are a function of the
quantity of heat rejected to the CCS during plant operation.
Under the proposed action, the CCS could experience temperatures
between 100 [deg]F and 104 [deg]F at the TS monitoring location near
the north end of the system for short durations during periods of peak
summer air temperatures and low rainfall. Such conditions may not be
experienced at all depending on site and weather conditions.
Temperature increases would also increase CCS water
[[Page 44467]]
evaporation rates and result in higher salinity levels. This effect
would also be temporary and short in duration because salinity would
again decrease upon natural freshwater recharge of the system (i.e.,
through rainfall, stormwater runoff, and groundwater exchange). No
other onsite or offsite waters would be affected by the proposed UHS
temperature limit increase.
Because the proposed action would only affect the CCS, and the CCS
is a manmade closed cycle cooling system, the NRC concludes that the
proposed action would not result in significant impacts to surface
water resources.
Aquatic Resources
As determined in the previous section, the CCS is the only surface
water that would be affected by the proposed action. Accordingly, this
section only addresses aquatic resources in the CCS.
The CCS supports a variety of aquatic species typical of shallow,
subtropical waters, including phytoplankton, zooplankton, marine algae,
rooted plants, crabs, and estuarine fish. Because of high water
temperatures and salinity content of the CCS, the resident fish
assemblage is dominated by species adapted to living in harsh
conditions, such as sheepshead minnow (Cyprinodon variegatus) and
several Fundulus species. The CCS is owner-controlled and closed to the
public; thus, fish and other aquatic biota in the CCS do not carry any
commercial or recreational value.
Because aquatic organisms in the cooling canal system are unable to
travel to or from Biscayne Bay, Card Sound, or any other natural water
body, changes to the conditions within the CCS would not affect any
aquatic populations in the surrounding natural aquatic habitats of
Biscayne Bay, Card Sound, or the Atlantic Ocean. Therefore, the NRC
staff concludes that the proposed action would result in no significant
impact to aquatic resources.
Federally Protected Species and Habitats
The Turkey Point site is home to a resident population of
Federally-threatened American crocodiles (Crocodylus acutus).
Crocodiles discovered and colonized the Turkey Point CCS following
plant construction in the 1970s, and the site now hosts approximately
one-third to one-half of the United States breeding population. In
1977, the FWS designated an area of Florida that includes the majority
of the Turkey Point site (including the CCS) as critical habitat for
the species under the ESA. FPL maintains a crocodile management plan
that prescribes how CCS maintenance procedures shall be conducted to
minimize nest, hatchling, or adult disturbance. FPL also maintains a
crocodile monitoring program to document breeding success and survival
on the site.
As a Federal agency, the NRC must comply with the ESA as part of
any action it authorizes, funds, or carries out, such as the proposed
action evaluated in this environmental assessment. Under ESA section 7,
the NRC must consult with the FWS and the National Marine Fisheries
Service, as appropriate, to ensure that the proposed agency action is
not likely to jeopardize the continued existence of any endangered or
threatened species or result in the destruction or adverse modification
of designated critical habitat. The ESA and the regulations that
implement ESA section 7 (50 CFR Part 402) describe the consultation
process that Federal agencies must follow in support of agency actions.
Based on a review of the proposed action, the NRC staff has
determined that the American crocodile is the only Federally-listed
species that has the potential to be affected by the proposed action.
Pursuant to ESA section 7, NRC staff consulted with FWS staff at the
South Florida Ecological Services Office in Vero Beach, Florida. The
NRC staff prepared a biological assessment (ADAMS Accession No.
ML14206A806) that considers the potential for the proposed action to
reduce hatchling survival, alter crocodile growth rates, and reduce
habitat availability and concludes that the proposed action is not
likely to adversely affect the American crocodile and would have no
effect on the species' designated critical habitat. Based on the NRC
staff's biological assessment determinations, the NRC concludes that
the proposed action would have no significant impact on Federally-
protected species or habitats.
In a July 25, 2014, letter (ADAMS Accession No. ML14206A800) to
FWS, the NRC requested ESA section 7 consultation.
Radiological Impacts
The proposed action would not result in or require any physical
changes to Turkey Point systems, structures, or components, including
those intended for the prevention of accidents because the proposed
license amendments involve TS changes that would only result in changes
in procedural and operational aspects undertaken by FPL personnel for
monitoring and maintaining the increased allowable UHS temperature
limit. Thus, the proposed action would not have a significant adverse
effect on the probability of an accident occurring or result in an
increased radiological hazard beyond those analyzed in the licensee's
Updated Final Safety Analysis Report. The proposed action would result
in no changes to radiation levels or the types or quantities of
radioactive effluents (gaseous or liquid) that affect radiation
exposures to members of the public or plant workers. No changes or
different types of radiological impacts would be expected from the
proposed action. Therefore, the radiological impacts of granting the
license amendments would result in no significant impact on the
radiological environment.
Cumulative Impacts
The Council on Environmental Quality defines cumulative impacts
under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as amended (NEPA)
as the impact on the environment which results from the incremental
impact of the action when added to other past, present, and reasonably
foreseeable future actions regardless of what agency (Federal or non-
Federal) or person undertakes such other actions (40 CFR Part 1508.7).
For the purposes of this analysis, past actions are related to the
resource conditions when Turkey Point was licensed and constructed;
present actions are related to the resource conditions during current
operations; and future actions are those that are reasonably
foreseeable through the expiration of Turkey Point's renewed facility
operating licenses. In the preceding sections of this EA, the NRC has
determined that the proposed action has the potential to only affect
surface water resources and aquatic resources in the CCS and Federally
protected species and habitats (i.e., the site's resident population of
American crocodiles and its designated critical habitat). This EA also
addresses radiological impacts of the proposed action. Accordingly,
this section only addresses the cumulative impacts that could result
from the proposed action and other actions on these resources. The
proposed action would have no effect on the remaining resources (i.e.,
land use, visual resources, air quality, noise, the geologic
environment, groundwater resources, terrestrial resources, historic and
cultural resources, socioeconomic conditions including minority and low
income populations (environmental justice), and waste generation and
management activities), and thus, cumulative impacts would not occur
for these environmental resources.
[[Page 44468]]
The NRC staff has identified several actions that may contribute to
cumulative effects; each of these actions is described separately
below.
CCS Chemical Treatments
In 2011, FPL began to notice increased blue green algae
concentrations in the CCS. The concentrations have steadily increased
since that time. FPL has performed engineering and environmental
analyses and believes that the presence of higher than normal CCS algae
concentrations may be diminishing the CCS's heat transfer capabilities.
FPL developed a plan to gradually reduce algae concentrations through
controlled chemical treatment of the CCS over the course of several
weeks. On June 18, 2014, FPL submitted a request to the FDEP to approve
the use of copper sulfate, hydrogen peroxide, and a bio-stimulant to
treat the algae (letter contained in Appendix A of ADAMS Accession No.
ML14206A806). On June 27, 2014, the FDEP approved FPL's treatment plan
for a 90-day trial period (letter contained in Appendix A of ADAMS
Accession No. ML14206A806). The FDEP requested that during the 90-day
treatment period, FPL monitor the CCS for total recoverable copper and
dissolved oxygen and submit its results to the FDEP. The FDEP also
recommended that FPL coordinate with the Florida Fish and Wildlife
Conservation Commission (FWC) due to the presence of crocodiles in the
cooling system. The FWC provided its comments on FPL's treatment plan
in a letter dated July 1, 2014 (letter contained in Appendix A of ADAMS
Accession No. ML14206A806).
The CCS chemical treatments have the potential to contribute to
cumulative effects on CCS surface water resources, CCS aquatic
resources, and the American crocodile. Because the CCS is a manmade
closed cycle cooling system, treatment of the CCS is not likely to have
a significant cumulative effect on surface water resources. Monitoring
required by the FDEP will ensure adequate water quality throughout and
following treatment. Monitoring will also ensure that any unanticipated
effects on the aquatic organisms that inhabit the CCS are appropriately
addressed. During the treatment period, FPL has agreed to report any
potentially related fish kills in the CCS to the FWC. No fish kills
have been reported to date. Regarding crocodiles, the NRC's July 25,
2014, biological assessment notes that FPL has not observed any
behavioral or distributional changes or any other noticeable
differences that would indicate effects to crocodiles resulting from
either the presence of higher algae concentrations or the recent
chemical treatments.
Aquifer Withdrawals
The CCS is situated above two aquifers: the shallower saltwater
Biscayne Aquifer and the deeper brackish Floridan Aquifer. A confining
layer separates the two aquifers from one another. Turkey Point, Unit 5
uses the Floridan Aquifer for cooling water. The South Florida Water
Management District (SFWMD) recently granted FPL approval to withdraw a
portion (approximately 5 million gallons per day [MGD]) of the Unit 5
withdrawal allowance for use in the CCS. FPL began pumping Floridan
Aquifer water into the CCS in early July. FPL has also received
temporary approval to withdraw 30 MGD from the Biscayne Aquifer, though
FPL has not yet used this allowance.
FPL also anticipates the FDEP to issue an Administrative Order
requiring FPL to install up to six new wells that will pump
approximately 14 MGD of water from the Floridan Aquifer into the CCS.
Modeling performed by FPL consultants and the SFWMD indicates that in
approximately 2 years, the withdrawals would reduce the salinity of the
CCS to the equivalent of Biscayne Bay (about 34 parts per thousand
[ppt]). Such withdrawals could also help moderate water temperatures.
The current and anticipated future aquifer withdrawals have the
potential to contribute to cumulative effects on CCS surface water
resources, CCS aquatic resources, and crocodiles. Because the CCS is a
manmade closed cycle cooling system, aquifer withdrawals are not likely
to have a significant cumulative effect on surface water resources.
Aquifer withdrawals would result in beneficial impacts to CCS aquatic
resources and the crocodiles inhabiting the Turkey Point site. FPL
anticipates that the withdrawals will reduce the salinity of the CCS to
about 34 ppt and could also help moderate CCS temperatures over the
long term. Both of these effects would create favorable conditions for
CCS aquatic biota and crocodiles, which are currently tolerating an
unusually hot, hypersaline environment.
Turkey Point, Units 6 and 7 Construction and Operation
In June 2009, FPL submitted a combined license application (COLA)
(ADAMS Accession No. ML091830589) to construct and operate two
Westinghouse Advanced Passive 1000 (AP1000) pressurized-water reactors
designated as Turkey Point, Units 6 and 7. Submission of the COLA does
not commit FPL to build two new nuclear units and does not constitute
approval of the proposal by the NRC; however, submission of the COLA
infers that the construction and operation of the new units is a
reasonably foreseeable future action. The COLA will be evaluated on its
merits, and the NRC will decide whether to grant the licenses after
considering and evaluating the environmental and safety implications of
the proposal. Environmental impacts of constructing and operating
Turkey Point, Units 6 and 7 will depend on their actual design
characteristics, construction practices, and power plant operations.
These impacts will be assessed by the NRC in a separate NEPA document.
The cumulative impacts presented in this EA may differ from those
impacts assessed for the COLA. Potential impacts presented below have
been drawn from FPL's Turkey Point, Units 6 and 7 Environmental Report,
Revision 5 (ADAMS Accession No. ML13357A435), and NRC's 2012 EA and
final FONSI for the EPU.
Of the environmental resources affected by the proposed action, the
possible construction and operation of Units 6 and 7 only have the
potential to contribute to cumulative radiological impacts. Units 6 and
7 would not use the CCS for cooling. Rather, Units 6 and 7 would have a
closed-cycle cooling system with mechanical draft cooling towers. The
cooling towers would draw makeup from Miami-Dade Water and Sewer
Department reclaimed water and would discharge blowdown into deep
injection wells. Saltwater extracted from Biscayne Bay subsurface
sediment through radial collector wells proposed to be built on the
Turkey Point site would serve as a secondary source of makeup water
when a sufficient quantity and/or quality of reclaimed water is not
available. Because Units 6 and 7 would not use the CCS, the proposed
new units would not have a cumulative effect on CCS surface water
resources or CCS aquatic resources.
Regarding crocodiles, potential impacts to this species and its
critical habitat will be addressed in a future ESA section 7
consultation between the NRC and FWS. When considering cumulative
impacts on Federally listed species, the ESA's implementing regulations
direct Federal agencies to consider the effects of future State or
private activities, not involving Federal activities, that are
reasonably certain to occur within the action area of the Federal
action subject to consultation (50 CFR part 402.02; emphasis added).
Accordingly, the NRC will not address cumulative impacts of Units 6 and
7 on
[[Page 44469]]
the American crocodile in this EA because the NRC's issuance of a
license to construct and operate Units 6 and 7 is a separate Federal
activity that will require future consultation.
Regarding cumulative radiological impacts, the NRC and
Environmental Protection Agency have developed radiological dose limits
for protection of the public and workers that address the cumulative
effects of acute and long-term exposure to radiation and radioactive
material. These dose limits are specified in 10 CFR part 20 and 40 CFR
part 190.
The cumulative radiation dose to the public and workers is required
to be within the regulations cited above. The public dose limit of 25
millirem (0.25 millisieverts) in 40 CFR part 190 applies to all
reactors that may be on a site and also includes any other nearby
nuclear power reactor facilities. The NRC staff reviewed several years
of radiation dose data contained in the licensee's annual radioactive
effluent release reports for Turkey Point, and the data demonstrate
that the dose to members of the public from radioactive effluents is
within the limits of 10 CFR part 20 and 40 CFR part 190. As previously
indicated in the ``Radiological Impacts'' section of this environmental
assessment, the proposed action would result in no changes to radiation
levels or the types or quantities of radioactive effluents (gaseous or
liquid) that affect radiation exposures to plant workers and members of
the public.
FPL's COLA for Units 6 and 7 contains an assessment of the
radiation doses to members of the public from the proposed new reactors
and concludes that doses would be within regulatory limits. The staff
expects continued compliance with regulatory dose limits during
operation of Turkey Point, Units 3 and 4 under the proposed action.
Therefore, the NRC staff concludes that the cumulative radiological
impacts to members of the public that could result from the combined
operations of Turkey Point, Units 3 and 4 and the proposed new Units 6
and 7 would result in no significant impact on the environment.
Regarding radiation dose to workers, cumulative dose would only be
applicable for those workers that would be engaged at both facilities
(i.e., the currently operating Units 3 and 4 and proposed new Units 6
and 7). For Units 3 and 4, the licensee has a radiation protection
program that maintains worker doses within the dose limits in 10 CFR
part 20 during all phases of operations. Operation of Units 6 and 7
would require a similar radiation protection program, and the licensee
would be responsible for ensuring that workers are not exposed to dose
limits above those specified in 10 CFR part 20. Therefore, the NRC
staff concludes that the cumulative radiological impacts to plant
workers that could result from the combined operations of Turkey Point,
Units 3 and 4 and the proposed new Units 6 and 7 would result in no
significant impact on the radiological environment.
Cumulative Impacts Conclusion
The NRC staff considered the cumulative impacts of CCS chemical
treatments, current and anticipated future aquifer withdrawals, and the
possible future construction and operation of two new nuclear units on
the Turkey Point site. Based on the information presented in this
section, the NRC staff concludes that the proposed action, in
combination with other cumulative actions, would result in no
significant cumulative impacts on the environment.
Alternatives to the Proposed Action
As an alternative to the proposed action, the NRC staff considered
denial of the proposed license amendments (i.e., the ``no-action''
alternative). Denial of the application would result in no change in
current environmental conditions or impacts. However, denial would
result in reduced operational flexibility and could require FPL to
derate or shutdown Turkey Point if the UHS average supply water
temperature approaches or exceeds the 100[emsp14][deg]F TS limit. In
its application, FPL states that loss of load and voltage control
resulting from such a shutdown during periods of high summer demand
could result in impacts to grid reliability.
Alternative Use of Resources
The action does not involve the use of any different resources than
those previously considered in NUREG-1437, Supplement 5 prepared for
license renewal of Turkey Point.
Agencies and Persons Consulted
On July 28, 2014, the NRC staff notified the Florida State
official, Ms. Cindy Becker, Chief of Bureau of Radiation Control, of
the Florida Department of Health, regarding the environmental impacts
of the proposed action. The State official had no comments.
The NRC staff also coordinated with the FWS pursuant to
consultation under ESA section 7 during the staff's review of the
proposed action. The consultation is further discussed under the
``Federally-Protected Species'' section of this environmental
assessment.
III. Finding of No Significant Impact
The NRC is considering issuing amendments for Renewed Facility
Operating License Nos. DPR-31 and DPR-41, issued to FPL for operation
of Turkey Point to increase the UHS water temperature limit specified
in the Turkey Point TSs from 100[emsp14][deg]F to 104[emsp14][deg]F and
add an SR to monitor the UHS temperature more frequently if the UHS
temperature approaches the new limit.
On the basis of the EA included in Section II above and
incorporated by reference in this finding, the NRC concludes that the
proposed action would not have significant effects on the quality of
the human environment. The proposed action would result in no
significant impacts on surface water resources, aquatic resources, or
the radiological environment. In addition, the proposed action is not
likely to adversely affect any Federally-protected species or affect
any designated critical habitat. The proposed action would also not
result in significant cumulative impacts on any environmental
resources. The NRC's evaluation considered information provided in the
licensee's application and associated supplements; the NRC's staff
independent review of other environmental documents, and coordination
with the FWS pursuant to consultation under ESA section 7. Section IV
below lists the environmental documents related to the proposed action
and includes information on the availability of these documents. Based
on its findings, the NRC has decided not to prepare an environmental
impact statement for the proposed action.
IV. Availability of Documents
The following table identifies the environmental and other
documents cited in this document and related to the NRC's FONSI. These
documents are available for public inspection online through ADAMS at
http://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/adams.html or in person at the NRC's PDR
as described previously.
[[Page 44470]]
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Document Adams Accession No.
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Documents Related to License Amendment Request
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Florida Power & Light Company. License ML14196A006
Amendment Request No. 231, Application
to Revise Technical Specifications to
Revise Ultimate Heat Sink Temperature
Limit. Dated July 10, 2014.
Florida Power & Light Company. License ML14202A392
Amendment Request No. 231, Application
to Revise Ultimate Heat Sink
Temperature Limit--Request for
Emergency Approval. Dated July 17, 2014.
U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission. ML14203A614
Turkey Point 3 and 4 Request for
Additional Information--LAR231 (TAC
MF4392 and MF4393). [1 of 2] Dated July
18, 2014.
U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission. ML14203A618
Turkey Point 3 and 4 Request for
Additional Information--LAR231 (TAC
MF4392 and MF4393). [2 of 2] Dated July
18, 2014.
Florida Power & Light Company. License ML14204A367
Amendment Request No. 231, Application
to Revise Ultimate Heat Sink
Temperature Limit--Supplement 1, and
Response to Request for Additional
Information. Dated July 22, 2014.
Florida Power & Light Company. Response ML14204A368
to Request for Additional Information
Regarding License Amendment Request No.
231, Application to Revise Technical
Specifications to Revise Ultimate Heat
Sink Temperature Limit. Dated July 22,
2014.
U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission. ML14204A814
Turkey Point 3 and 4 Request for
Additional Information--LAR231 (TAC
MF4392 and MF4393). Dated July 22, 2014.
U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission. ML14204A652
Notice of Enforcement Discretion for
Florida Power & Light Company Regarding
Turkey Point Nuclear Generating Unit
Nos. 3 and 4 [NOED NO. 14-2-001]. Dated
July 23, 2014.
Florida Power & Light Company. Response ML14206A853
to Containment and Ventilation Branch
Request for Additional Information,
Regarding License Amendment Request No.
231, Application to Revise Ultimate
Heat Temperature Limit. Dated July 24,
2014.
Florida Power & Light Company. Turkey ML14204A129 (letter)
Point Nuclear Generating Unit Nos. 3 ML14199A111 (enclosure)
and 4--Individual Notice of
Consideration of Issuance of Amendments
to Renewed Facility Operating Licenses,
Proposed No Significant Hazards
Consideration Determination, and
Opportunity for Hearing (Exigent
Circumstances) (TAC Nos. MF4392 and
MF4293). Dated July 24, 2014.
U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission. ML14206A800
Request to Reinitiate Informal
Consultation for a Proposed License
Amendment to Increase the Ultimate Heat
Sink Temperature Limit at Turkey Point
Nuclear Generating Unit Nos. 3 and 4.
Dated July 25, 2014.
U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission. ML14206A806
Biological Assessment on the American
Crocodile (Crocodylus acutus) for
Turkey Point Nuclear Generating Unit
Nos. 3 and 4 Proposed License Amendment
to Increase the Ultimate Heat Sink
Temperature Limit. Dated July 25, 2014.
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Other Referenced Documents
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U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission. ML020280236
Generic Environmental Impact Statement
for License Renewal of Nuclear Plants:
Regarding Turkey Point Units 3 and 4--
Final Report (NUREG-1437, Supplement
5). Dated January 28, 2002.
Florida Power & Light Company. Proposed ML091830589
Turkey Point Units 6 & 7, Project No.
763, Application for Combined License
for Turkey Point Units 6 and 7. Dated
June 30, 2009.
U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission. ML12074A251
Final Environmental Assessment and
Finding of No Significant Impact
Related to a License Amendment To
Increase the Maximum Reactor Power
Level, Florida Power & Light Company;
Turkey Point, Units 3 and 4. Dated
March 27, 2012.
Florida Power & Light Company. Turkey ML13357A435
Point Units 6 & 7 Combine License
Application, Part 3: Environmental
Report, Revision 5. Dated December 23,
2013.
Florida Power & Light Company. Turkey ML14206A806 *
Point Units 3 and 4; Wastewater Permit
FL0001563; Request for Approval for the
Use of Copper Sulfate, Hydrogen
Peroxide, and a Bio-Stimulant in the
Treatment and Control of Blue Green
Algae in the Cooling Canal System.
Dated June 18, 2014.
Florida Department of Environmental ML14206A806 *
Protection. Re: Florida Power & Light,
Turkey Point, NPDES Permit FL0001562,
90-Day Trial Approval. Dated June 27,
2014.
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation ML14206A806 *
Commission. Re: Florida Power & Light,
Turkey Point Plant Maintenance
Activity, NPDES Permit FL0001562, Miami-
Dade County. Dated July 1, 2014.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
* (See Appendix A.)
Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 28th day of July 2014.
For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
Lisa M. Regner,
Acting Chief, Plant Licensing Branch II-2, Division of Operating
Reactor Licensing, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation.
[FR Doc. 2014-18159 Filed 7-30-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7590-01-P