Applicant’s Environmental Report Operating License Renewal Stage McGuire Nuclear Station This page intentionally left blank. McGuire Nuclear Station Applicant’s Environmental Report Operating License Renewal Stage Introduction Introduction Duke Energy Corporation (Duke) submits this Environmental Report (ER) as part of Duke’s application to the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) to renew the operating licenses for Units 1 and 2 of the McGuire Nuclear Station (McGuire). The Duke application is a combined application to renew the licenses for Catawba Nuclear Station, Units 1 and 2, and McGuire Nuclear Station, Units 1 and 2 for twenty years beyond the end of the current licenses. In compliance with applicable NRC requirements, this ER analyzes potential environmental impacts associated with renewal of the McGuire licenses. A separate ER is submitted as part of the application to analyze potential environmental impacts associated with the renewal of the Catawba licenses. This ER is designed to assist the NRC Staff in preparing the McGuire-specific Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement required for license renewal. The McGuire ER complies with 10 CFR § 54.23, which requires license renewal applicants to submit a supplement to the Environmental Report which complies with requirements of Subpart A of 10 CFR Part 51. This Report also addresses the more detailed requirements of NRC environmental regulations in 10 CFR §§ 51.45 and 51.53, as well as the underlying intent of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), 42 U.S.C. § 4321 et seq. For major federal actions, NEPA requires preparation of a detailed statement that addresses their significant environmental impacts, adverse environmental effects that cannot be avoided should the proposal be implemented, alternatives to the proposed action, and any irreversible and irretrievable commitments of resources associated with implementation of the proposed action. The NRC Regulatory Guide Supplement 1 to Regulatory Guide 4.2 - Preparation of Supplemental Environmental Reports for Applications to Renew Nuclear Power Plant Operating Licenses [Reference 1] was used as guidance on the format and content in the preparation of this ER. The level of information provided on the various topics and issues in this ER is commensurate with the extent of the analysis provided for the particular topic or issue. Based upon the evaluations discussed in this ER, Duke has concluded that no significant environmental impacts are associated with the renewal of the McGuire operating licenses. No major plant refurbishment activities have been identified as being necessary to support the continued operation of McGuire beyond the end of the existing operating licenses. Although normal plant maintenance activities may later be performed for economic and operational reasons, no significant environmental impacts associated with such refurbishments are expected. i McGuire Nuclear Station Applicant’s Environmental Report Operating License Renewal Stage Introduction The Application to Renew the Operating Licenses of McGuire Nuclear Station, Units 1 and 2, and Catawba Nuclear Station, Units 1 and 2, assumes throughout that licensed activities are now conducted, and will continue to be conducted, in accordance with the facilities’ current licensing bases (e.g., use of low enriched uranium fuel only). Any changes made to the current licensing basis of McGuire Nuclear Station, Units 1 and 2 or Catawba Nuclear Station, Units 1 and 2 during the staff review of this Application will be made in accordance with the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, as amended, and with Commission regulations. ii McGuire Nuclear Station Applicant’s Environmental Report Operating License Renewal Stage McGuire Nuclear Station Applicant’s Environmental Report Operating License Renewal Stage Table of Contents 1.0 PURPOSE AND NEED FOR THE PROPOSED ACTION .............................1-1 2.0 SITE AND ENVIRONMENTAL INTERFACES .............................................2-1 2.1 Site Location.................................................................................................2-1 2.2 Site Description ............................................................................................2-1 2.3 General Site Environment ............................................................................2-2 2.4 Population.....................................................................................................2-2 2.5 Aquatic Environment ...................................................................................2-3 2.6 Terrestrial Environment .............................................................................2-10 2.7 Historic and Archeological Resources .......................................................2-13 3.0 THE PROPOSED ACTION................................................................................3-1 Description of the Proposed Action .............................................................................3-1 3.1 General Plant Description ............................................................................3-1 3.2 Refurbishment Activities............................................................................3-13 3.3 Programs and Activities for Managing the Effects of Aging .....................3-14 3.4 Employment ...............................................................................................3-14 4.0 ENVIRONMENTAL CONSEQUENCES OF THE PROPOSED ACTION..4-1 Discussion of GEIS Categories of Environmental Issues ............................................4-1 Category 1 Issues..........................................................................................................4-2 Category 2 Issues..........................................................................................................4-8 iii McGuire Nuclear Station Applicant’s Environmental Report Operating License Renewal Stage Issues Not Applicable to McGuire.............................................................................4-10 Issues Applicable to McGuire Related to Refurbishment..........................................4-10 4.1 Water Use Conflicts ...................................................................................4-11 4.2 Entrainment of Fish and Shellfish in Early Life Stages .............................4-12 4.3 Impingement of Fish and Shellfish.............................................................4-14 4.4 Heat Shock .................................................................................................4-17 4.5 Ground-Water Use Conflicts (Plants Using >100 gpm of Ground-Water) 4-19 4.6 Ground-Water Use Conflicts (Plants Using Cooling Towers Withdrawing Make-Up Water from a Small River).........................................................4-22 4.7 Ground-Water Use Conflicts (Plants Using Ranney Wells) ......................4-23 4.8 Degradation of Ground-Water Quality.......................................................4-24 4.9 Impacts of Refurbishment on Terrestrial Resources ..................................4-25 4.10 Threatened or Endangered Species ............................................................4-26 4.11 Air Quality During Refurbishment (non-attainment and maintenance areas)4-28 4.12 Impact on Public Health of Microbiological Organisms............................4-30 4.13 Electromagnetic Fields –Acute Effects ......................................................4-33 4.14 Housing Impacts.........................................................................................4-36 4.15 Public Utilities: Public Water Supply Availability ....................................4-38 4.16 Education Impacts from Refurbishment.....................................................4-40 4.17 Offsite Land Use (Refurbishment) .............................................................4-41 4.18 Offsite Land Use (License Renewal)..........................................................4-42 4.19 Transportation ............................................................................................4-46 4.20 Historic and Archaeological Properties......................................................4-50 iv McGuire Nuclear Station Applicant’s Environmental Report Operating License Renewal Stage 4.21 Severe Accident Mitigation Alternatives ...................................................4-52 4.22 Environmental Justice ................................................................................4-54 5.0 ASSESSMENT OF NEW AND SIGNIFICANT INFORMATION.................5-1 5.1 Requirement [§51.53(c)(3)(iv)]....................................................................5-1 5.2 Definition of New and Significant ...............................................................5-1 5.3 Scope of Review...........................................................................................5-2 5.4 Description of Review Process.....................................................................5-2 5.5 Results of the Review...................................................................................5-4 6.0 SUMMARY OF LICENSE RENEWAL IMPACTS AND MITIGATING ACTIONS..............................................................................................................6-1 6.1 License Renewal Impacts .............................................................................6-1 6.2 Mitigation.....................................................................................................6-3 6.3 Unavoidable Adverse Impacts......................................................................6-9