radiation and "decay heat." The amount of radioactivity remaining in the fuel varies according to the length of time after discharge from the reactor. After discharge from a reactor, the fuel elements are placed under water in a storage pool for cooling prior to being loaded into a cask for transport. Although the specific cask design has not been identified, the irradiated fuel elements will be shipped in approved casks designed for transport by truck and each cask will carry 2 irradiated fuel elements and weigh no more than 50 tons. The weight will be due principally to the radiation shielding--steel, lead, or uranium. The applicant estimates that the irradiated fuel removed from the three reactors will require 89 shipments by truck each year. 3. Transport of Solid Radioactive Wastes The applicant estimates that the solid wastes generated by the three units will amount to approximately 2,500 cubic feet of evaporator bottoms and about 350 cubic feet of demineralizer resins. That waste will be packaged in approved Type B packages for shipment. In addition, low-level contaminated wastes, such as contaminated clothing, rags, paper, gloves, shoe coverings, etc., will be compacted in 55-gallon drums for shipment and disposal, and approximately 100 drums will be shipped each year. The waste will be shipped by truck to a licensed disposal site. It is estimated that about 45 truckloads of drums and shielded containers will be required to remove the solid waste each year. IV. ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS OF SITE PREPARATION AND PLANT CONSTRUCTION A. SUMMARY OF PLANS AND SCHEDULES Construction of the dams for impounding the waters which form Lakes Keowee and Jocassee (see Fig. II-3) was started in the spring of 1968. Construction of the Little River and the Keowee River dams of Lake Keowee was completed in the fall of 1970; the first stage of fill was completed in April 1968, and complete fill (to within 2 feet of full pool) was completed in April 1971. The Jocassee River dam of Lake Jocassee is scheduled for completion in the spring of 1972. Its first stage of fill was reached in March 1971, but final filling will not be attained until about December 1974. The Oconee Nuclear Station will consist of three units designated 1, 2, and 3, scheduled to begin operation in early 1972, 1973, and late 1973, respectively. Unit No. 1 was 95% complete, No. 2 is 60% to 75% complete, and No. 3 is 40% to 50% complete, as of October 18, 1971. B. IMPACTS OF SITE PREPARATION AND PLANT CONSTRUCTION In considering the impact of site preparation for the Station, the impacts of creating Lakes Keowee and Jocassee, which are essential features of Oconee, was taken into account. These lakes have converted a land resource into a water resource; in so doing, some land was necessarily sacrificed, and almost 1000 people required relocation. Creation of the new lakes required as follows: Lake Keowee 18,500 acres cleared 14,084 acres woodland 4,416 acres field and pasture 430 acres for dam, access roads, construction yards, etc. Lake Jocassee 7,500 acres cleared 7,270 acres woodland 230 acres field and pasture 360 acres for dam, access roads, etc. Oconee Site 510 acres cleared As the land was cleared, the inhabiting population and a certain few institutions were necessarily relocated. In summary, the water resources replaced the following in human habitations and resources: Lakes Keowee and Jocassee 150 houses removed (12 on farms) 57 tenant houses removed 120 summer cabins removed 780 nonfarm people removed The immediate site for the Nuclear Plant: 17 houses removed (2 on farms) 1 vacation house removed 8 farm people relocated 56 nonfarm people relocated In addition, Jocassee Girls Camp was relocated at Lake Keowee 2 sawmills were removed Piedmont Nursery was relocated in Oconee County C. CONTROLS TO LIMIT IMPACT OF PREPARATION AND CONSTRUCTION Controls to limit impacts of construction such as dust, noise, and excavated material were not necessary because the inhabitants of the areas to be inundated were already relocated when most of the construction occurred. The intensity of power station constructional operations reached a peak in early 1971 and has been decreasing slowly since that time. Flights over the area by helicopter verified that construction impacts were reduced by the practice of prompt landscaping. V. ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS OF PLANT OPERATION A. LAND USE The applicant acquired more than 157,000 acres of land in conjunction with the Keowee-Toxaway Project. The alteration of 26,000 acres of this land to form Lake Keowee and Lake Jocassee was the major change in land use. This land was previously mostly wooded with some farms. Conversion of much of the remaining land to forestry and wildlife management programs can be classified also as major changes in land use. Operation of the Oconee Nuclear Station will require restriction of the use of the 2000 acres of land and water within a one-mile radius of the (1) reactors. No permanent residents are in this area; however, there is a visitors' center about 300 yards from the reactor containment buildings. The access to and the use of the lake have been facilitated by the construction of eight access areas around the perimeter. Each is reached by gravel roads, and is furnished with a boat ramp. Proposed facilities include picnic tables and parking areas. In addition, a 155-acre recretional complex is being planned by the applicant. Plans are under way to develop land around Lake Keowee into residential A few residences have already been built. Access roads to the pro areas. posed development areas have been constructed. Operation of the plant requires the construction of transmission lines involving some 3900 acres of land for right-of-ways. This will not significantly affect agricultural crop production but will of course limit construction of buildings and timber growth within the right-of-ways. Lake Keowee was created to serve the cooling needs of the Station. However, the water of Lake Keowee will also be used for operation of the hydroelectric turbines at the dam, for fish propagation, and for recreation and sports on Lake Keowee. Protection of this water use is aided by application of water quality standards to Keowee and Hartwell Reservoirs. Water quality standards applying to the Station have been promulgated under the authority of Act Number 1157, 1970 Acts and Joint Resolutions of the South Carolina General Assembly. These standards require that the applicant obtain permits from the Pollution Control Authority of the State 76-248 O 72 - 18 for operation of any waste treatment facilities, including those for industrial wastes or sewage. The holding pond is considered a facility for industrial wastes under the standards. In addition, the following restrictions and requirements pertain: (1) No wastes amenable to treatment or control shall be discharged into any State waters without treatment or control. (2) (3) (4) Tests or analytical determinations to determine compliance or noncompliance with standards shall be made in accordance with methods and procedures approved by the Pollution Control Authority. In making any tests or analytical determinations on classified waters to determine compliance or noncompliance with water quality standards, representative samples shall be collected at locations approved by the Pollution Control Authority. General water quality criteria are established to maintain in (a) The water temperature shall not exceed 90°F at any time, (b) The pH shall range between 6.0 and 8.5. (c) The dissolved oxygen shall have a daily average of not less than 5 milligrams per liter with a low of 4 milligrams per liter. At this time, the size of the mixing zone has not been established by the South Carolina Pollution Control Authority. Groundwater quality in the vicinity of the project is not expected to be affected by the Station operation, because the normal flow of groundwater is toward the lake basin. |