Jeffrey M. HelselNuclear Plant Manager

PPL Susquehanna, LLC769 Salem Boulevard

Berwick, PA 18603Tel. 570.542.3510 Fax 570.542.1504

jmhelsel@pplweb.com pp,14:ýfAN 2 4 Z012

U. S. Nuclear Regulatory CommissionAttention: Document Control DeskWashington, DC 20555-0001

SUSQUEHANNA STEAM ELECTRIC STATIONANNUAL ENVIRONMENTAL OPERATING REPORT(NON-RADIOLOGICAL)PLA-6838

Docket Nos. 50-387and 50-388

The Susquehanna Steam Electric Station Annual Environmental Operating Report(Non-Radiological) is hereby submitted for the calendar year 2011 in accordancewith the Environmental Protection Plan.

Should you have any questions or require additional information, please contactMr. John L. Tripoli, Manager - Nuclear Regulatory Affairs at (570) 542-3100.

J. M. Helsel

Attachment: Annual Environmental Operating Report (Non-Radiological)

Copy: NRC Region IMs. C. Copeyon, U. S. Dept. of Interior Fish and Wildlife ServiceMr. P. W. Finney, NRC Sr. Resident InspectorMr. R. R. Janati, DEP/BRPMs. C. J. Sanders, NRC Project Manager

2011Annual

Attachment 1 to PLA-6838

ANNUAL ENVIRONMENTAL OPERATINGREPORT (NONRADIOLOGICAL)

for SSES Units 1 and 2

I 11AM!SUSQUEHANNA,

Generating &cellen•ie

Susquehanna Steam Electric StationUnits 1 & 2

2011ANNUAL ENVIRONMENTAL OPERATING REPORT

(NONRA DIOL OGICA L)

PI'

PPL Susquehanna, LLCBerwick, PAApril 2012

SUSQUEHANNA STEAM ELECTRIC STATION

ANNUAL ENVIRONMENTAL OPERATING REPORT(NONRADIOLOGICAL)

2011

Date: / ° .'O-QPrepared by:Curtis H. SaxtonSr. Environmental Scientist

Date: . L/Z 0 /2IReviewed by:

Manager - Plant Chemistry/ Environmental

Date: /-1 ch/0c1--Approved by:

VF,(.b clear Operations

.SUSQUEHANA.Generating &-rellence

Susquehanna Steam Electric StationUnits 1 & 2

2011ANNUAL ENVIRONMENTAL OPERATING REPORT

(NONRA DIOL OGICA L)

Facility Operating License Nos. NPF-14 & NPF-22Docket Nos. 50-387 & 50-388

Prepared byPlant Chemistry

PPL Susquehanna, LLCBerwick, PAApril 2012

FOREWORD

The Susquehanna Steam Electric Station (Susquehanna SES) consists of two boilingwater reactors each with about 1350 megawatts electrical (MWE) net electrical capacitylocated in Salem Township, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania. The site consists ofapproximately 2,267 acres located along the Susquehanna River approximately fivemiles northeast of Berwick, Pennsylvania; 628 acres of which, mostly undeveloped andrecreational lands, are located on the east side of the Susquehanna River inConyngham and Hollenback Townships. Under terms of an agreement finalized inJanuary 1978, 90% of the Susquehanna SES is owned by PPL Susquehanna, LLC(Licensee) and 10% by the Allegheny Electric Cooperative, Inc.

This report discusses environmental commitments and impacts from January 1, 2011through December 31, 2011. In summary it documents that environmentalcommitments were met and that there was no significant adverse environmental impactfrom station operation.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

SECTION PAGE NO.

Foreword

Table of Contents ii

1.0 OBJECTIVE 1-1

2.0 ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES 2-1

2.1 Aquatic Issues 2-12.2 Terrestrial Issues 2-2

2.2.1 Studies Previously Completed 2-22.2.2 Sound Level Survey 2-22.2.3 Maintenance of Transmission Line Corridors 2-2

2.3 Cultural Resources Issues 2-2

3.0 CONSISTENCY REQUIREMENTS 3-1

3.1 Plant Design and Operation 3-13.2 Reporting Related to NPDES Permits and State Certifications 3-33.3 Changes Required for Compliance with other Environmental 3-3

Regulations

4.0 ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS 4-1

4.1 Unusual or Important Environmental Events 4-14.2 Environmental Monitoring 4-1

4.2.1 General Monitoring 4-14.2.2 Maintenance of Transmission Line Corridors 4-1

ii

SECTION PAGE NO.

5.0 ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION PLAN REPORTING REQUIREMENTS 5-1

5.1 Review and Audit 5-15.2 Records Retention 5-15.3 Changes in Environmental Protection Plan 5-25.4 Plant Reporting Requirements 5-2

5.4.1 Routine Reports 5-25.4.2 Nonroutine Reports 5-2

6.0 ATTACHMENTS 6-1

Figure 5.1-1 Auditing Organization Chart (2011) 6-2

iii

1.0 OBJECTIVE

The Licensee has developed procedures and guidelines to ensure that operationof Susquehanna SES does not adversely affect the environment in the vicinity ofthe station. Also, these procedures allocate responsibilities and define interfacesnecessary to monitor environmental impacts. They include coordination of U.S.Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) requirements with other federal, state,and local requirements for environmental protection.

The objective of this 2011 Annual Environmental Operating Report(Nonradiological) is to provide a summary of both environmental programs andprocedures. This report is required by the Final Environmental Statement (FES)for the operation of the Susquehanna SES, Unit 1 and 2, NUREG-0564June 1981, and Appendix B - Environmental Protection Plan (EPP) to OperatingLicenses No. NPF-14 and No. NPF-22. The 2011 report is the 29th AnnualEnvironmental Operating Report (Nonradiological) submitted to meet EPPrequirements.

The Licensee submitted an Environmental Report-Operating License Stage forSusquehanna SES to the NRC in May 1978. This report reviewed the results ofthe preoperational environmental programs and described the preoperationaland proposed operational environmental monitoring programs. The NRC andother agencies reviewed this report and made recommendations for operationalenvironmental monitoring programs which were listed in the FES.

1-1

2.0 ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES

2.1 Aquatic Issues

The aquatic monitoring program for operation of the Susquehanna SES isdivided into two parts. Part 1 includes effluent monitoring required by aNational Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit issuedby the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (PaDEP).Monthly discharge monitoring reports are submitted to the PaDEP as partof the permitting requirements. The station's operational NPDES permitNo. PA-0047325 was reissued on September 1, 2011, and currentlyexpires on August 31, 2016. Part 2 of the aquatic monitoring programdeals with programs listed in the FES or recommended by the PaDEP orU.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

The PaDEP is responsible for regulating the water quality permit for theSusquehanna SES. The NPDES permit deals with discharge parametersfor the Susquehanna SES Sewage Treatment Plant, Cooling Towerblowdown, and miscellaneous low volume waste discharges. The CoolingTower blowdown also includes in-plant process streams which dischargeto the Susquehanna River. Various low volume waste sumps discharge tothe station's stormwater system, which flows into Lake Took-A-While, andeventually into the Susquehanna River. A copy of the permit renewalapplication was provided to the NRC in 2010. (PLA-6606, March 26,2010)

American Shad

Maintenance at the Susquehanna SES intake during August and therecord flood of the Susquehanna River on 9 September precluded anysampling for out-migrating juvenile American shad (Alosa sapidissima) in2011.

Biofoulincq Mollusk Monitoring

The biofouling mollusk monitoring program continued at the SusquehannaSES in 2011. With the arrival of Asian clams in the vicinity of the plant,the program has shifted the monitoring emphasis to searching for livingclams in the Emergency Service Water Spray Pond by scuba. In 2011,there were no living Asian clam specimens observed in the Spray Pond.However, live zebra mussels were discovered for the first time in theSpray Pond attached to pump screens in the pump forebays. The musselspecimens were large enough to indicate that they had survived previousmolluscicide treatments of the pond, probably due to the lack of water

2-1

circulation during treatment into the forebay areas. No mussels have yetbeen observed living in the main body of the pond.

2.2 Terrestrial Issues

2.2.1 Studies Previously Completed

Terrestrial environmental studies including Cooling Tower birdimpaction were completed prior to 1989.

2.2.2 Sound Level Survey

Sound level surveys were conducted during preoperation andoperational periods and are completed. There were no noisecomplaints received during 2011.

2.2.3 Maintenance of Transmission Line Corridors

Transmission line corridor vegetation maintenance and inspectionrecords are maintained by the Project and Contract Managementdepartment of PPL Electric Utilities and are available upon request.There were no adverse environmental impacts to transmissioncorridors reported in 2011. Records will be maintained for fiveyears.

2.3 Cultural Resources Issues

Environmental Protection Plan actions required to satisfy Title 36, Code ofFederal Regulations Part 800, relating to archeological sites, werecompleted in 1987. The Advisory Council on Historic Preservation(ACHP), in accordance with 36 CFR 800.6 (a)(1), approved the NRC'sdetermination of "no adverse effect" for archeological sites SES-3(36LU15), SES-6 (36LU16), SES-8 (36LU49), and SES-1 1 (36LU51)located on the Licensee's property (NRC letter dated October 28, 1987, toACHP).

As part of the determination-of-effect process, the Licensee committed toand is taking appropriate measures to mitigate impacts from plantmaintenance and operation to sites 36LU15, 36LU16, 36LU49, 36LU51,and 36LU43. There was no impact to these sites from plant maintenanceand operation in 2011.

As a result of License Renewal reviews, additional programmaticelements to address protection of cultural resource have been developed.This will allow us to anticipate and prevent impacts to unknown culturalresources that could be affected by station activities.

2-2

3.0 CONSISTENCY REQUIREMENTS

3.1 Plant Design and Operation

In accordance with the Environmental Protection Plan (EPP), theLicensee shall prepare and record an environmental evaluation ofproposed changes in plant design, operation, or performance of any testor experiment which may significantly affect the environment. Beforeinitiating such activities, the Licensee shall provide a written evaluationand obtain prior approval from the Director, Office of Nuclear ReactorRegulation. Criteria for the need to perform an environmental evaluationinclude: (1) a significant increase in any adverse environmental impactpreviously evaluated by the NRC or Atomic Safety and Licensing Board,(2) a significant change in effluent or power level, or (3) a matter notpreviously evaluated which may have a significant adverse environmentalimpact.

The EPP requires that if an activity meets any of the criteria to perform anenvironmental evaluation, the NRC will be notified. If the change, test, orexperiment does not meet any of these criteria, the Licensee willdocument the evaluation and allow the activity to occur.

During operation of the Susquehanna SES in 2011, there were proposedactivities that the Licensee reviewed as part of the unreviewedenvironmental question program. None of these activities weredetermined to involve an unreviewed environmental question or requireprior NRC notification. The activities reviewed were:

1. Installation of a sub-slab radon ventilation (mitigation) system forthe plant toolroom.

2. Installation and connection of a new drinking water supply well forPPL Susquehanna Riverlands (PSW ID #2400995).

3. Installation of a new 12 ft x 12 ft storage shed north of S & A Bldg.

4. Installation of a new fall arrest system for South Gatehouse.

5. Submitted Plan Approval application to PaDEP to includeparticulate emissions from Cooling Towers and Emergency SprayPond into the Stations State Only [Air] Operating Permit.

6. Dig a soil pit 4' deep, 10' long, 3' wide for Annual Envirothon.

7. Excavate and replace well pump and 100 ft of underground wellpiping for Stations Drinking Water Wells (TW-1 and TW-2).

3-1

8. Perform infiltration testing to enable Bell Bend Nuclear Project toproperly site stormwater/sedimentation basins.

9. Excavate and replace 12 ft of 16" diameter Fiberglass river watermakeup line at each Units Cooling Tower.

10. Excavate and install 95 ft electrical conduit in Vicinity of NorthGatehouse.

11. Excavate and install 30 ft electrical conduit in Vicinity of NorthGatehouse.

12. Excavation and construction of a new Defensive Fighting Positionfor South Gatehouse.

13. Install two concrete pads on east side of S&A Building for newrefrigeration compressors.

14. Pave 17,000 sq ft in front of New Vehicle Maintenance Garage.

15. Reduce 2 earthen mounds under the Montour-Susquehanna #2230kv transmission line to comply with FERC line to groundclearance requirements.

16. Dig 2 holes to replace directional sign on Main Access Road.

17. Remove vegetation; replace lawn with gravel and pave an 80 ft x80 ft area to comply with Security Requirements.

18. Excavate and repair the existing wetland flow structure along HicksFerry Road.

19. Exploratory 100' excavation to support installation of New LiquidRadwaste Discharge Line.

3-2

3.2 Reporting Related to NPDES Permits and State Certifications

There were no noncompliances or special reporting requirementsassociated with implementation of NPDES Permit No. PA-0047325.

The Susquehanna SES has an NPDES permit; therefore, statecertification pursuant to Section 401 of the Clean Water Act is notrequired.

3.3 Changes Required for Compliance with Other Environmental Regulations

During 2011 the Station received a Plan Approval from the PennsylvaniaDepartment of Environmental Protection to include Particulate Emissionsfrom the Cooling Towers and Emergency Spraypond into the State Only[Air] Operating Permit.

During 2011 the Station received a new 5 yr NPDES Permit from thePaDEP effective September 1, 2011 until August 31, 2016.

3-3

4.0 ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS

4.1 Unusual or Important Environmental Events

During 2011, there were no operating occurrences requiring review aspart of the significant environmental event evaluation program. Therewere no significant or adverse environmental effects related to stationoperation and there were no EPP noncompliances.

4.2 Environmental Monitoring

4.2.1 General Monitorinq

With the exception of aquatic monitoring required for compliancewith the NPDES permit which continues during operation of thestation, all monitoring of station operational impacts on aquatic andterrestrial biota listed in the FES and Appendix B of the operatinglicense have been completed.

4.2.2 Maintenance of Transmission Line Corridors

In 2011, the Project and Contract Management department of PPLElectric Utilities maintained transmission line vegetationmaintenance and inspection records.

4-1

5.0 ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION PLAN REPORTINGREQUIREMENTS

5.1 Review and Audit

The Licensee has established procedures for an independent group toreview and audit compliance with the EPP. Audits of EPP compliance areconducted by Quality Assurance. The Manager-Quality Assurance isresponsible for verifying compliance with the EPP. The Vice President-Site Operations is responsible for environmental monitoring and forproviding any related support concerning licensing. The Manager - PlantChemistry / Environmental is responsible for day-to-day environmentalmonitoring.

The Auditing Organization Chart (Fig. 5.1-1) lists the groups utilized inreviewing and auditing of the Susquehanna SES environmental programsas well as those responsible for managing these programs. PPL's SeniorDirector of Environmental Management is available to provide auditingsupport as necessary.

An audit of compliance with the EPP program was conducted during 2010as part of a regularly scheduled Chemistry Program Audit. There were nofindings or noncompliances identified as a result of this effort. The programwas determined to be effective and well implemented.

5.2 Records Retention

Records and logs relative to environmental aspects of plant operation andaudit activities are retained in the Nuclear Records System. This systemprovides for review and inspection of environmental documents, which areavailable to the NRC upon request.

All records concerning modifications of plant structures, systems andcomponents which are determined to potentially affect the continuedprotection of the environment are retained for the life of the plant. All otherrecords, data, and logs relating to the environmental programs andmonitoring are retained for at least five years or, where applicable, inaccordance with the requirements of other agencies. Transmission linecorridor vegetation maintenance records are maintained by PPL ElectricalUtilities per section 2.2.3 of this report.

5-1

5.3 Changes in Environmental Protection Plan

No changes were made to the EPP during 2011.

5.4 Plant Reporting Requirements

5.4.1 Routine Reports

This Annual Environmental Operating Report (Nonradiological) wasprepared to meet routine reporting requirements of the EPP for2011. It provides summaries and analyses of environmentalprotection activities required in Subsection 4.2 of the EPP for thereporting period.

5.4.2 Nonroutine Reports

There were no unusual or Important Environmental Events asidentified in the Environmental Protection Plan that requiredreporting in 2011.

51-2

6.0 ATTACHMENTS

Figure 5.1-1

Auditing Organization Chart (2011)

6-1

FIGURE 5.1-1AUDITING ORGANIZATION CHART

(2011)

6-2