COLUMBIA GENERATING STATION Amendment 61 FINAL SAFETY ANALYSIS REPORT December 2011 Chapter 2 SITE CHARACTERISTICS TABLE OF CONTENTS Section Page 2.1 GEOGRAPHY AND DEMOGRAPHY ................................................ 2.1-1 2.1.1 SITE LOCATION AND DESCRIPTION ........................................... 2.1-1 2.1.1.1 Specification of Location ............................................................. 2.1-1 2.1.1.2 Site Area Map .......................................................................... 2.1-1 2.1.1.3 Boundaries for Establishing Effluent Release Limits ........................... 2.1-2 2.1.2 EXCLUSION AREA AUTHORITY AND CONTROL .......................... 2.1-2 2.1.2.1 Authority ................................................................................ 2.1-2 2.1.2.2 Control of Activities Unrelated to Plant Operation .............................. 2.1-4 2.1.2.2.1 Industrial Development Complex ................................................ 2.1-4 2.1.2.2.2 618-11 (Wye) Waste Burial Ground ............................................. 2.1-4 2.1.2.3 Arrangements for Traffic Control .................................................. 2.1-5 2.1.2.4 Abandonment or Relocation of Roads ............................................. 2.1-5 2.1.3 POPULATION DISTRIBUTION ..................................................... 2.1-5 2.1.3.1 Population Within Ten Miles ........................................................ 2.1-6 2.1.3.2 Population Between Ten and Fifty Miles.......................................... 2.1-7 2.1.3.3 Transient Population .................................................................. 2.1-7 2.1.3.4 Low Population Zone ................................................................. 2.1-7 2.1.3.5 Population Center ..................................................................... 2.1-7 2.1.3.6 Population Density .................................................................... 2.1-7 2.1.4 REFERENCES ........................................................................... 2.1-8 2.2 NEARBY INDUSTRIAL, TRANSPORTATION, AND MILITARY FACILITIES ................................................................................ 2.2-1 2.2.1 LOCATION AND ROUTES .......................................................... 2.2-1 2.2.2 DESCRIPTIONS ......................................................................... 2.2-3 2.2.2.1 Description of Facilities .............................................................. 2.2-3 2.2.2.2 Description of Products and Materials ............................................. 2.2-6 2.2.2.3 Pipelines ................................................................................ 2.2-7 2.2.2.4 Waterways .............................................................................. 2.2-7 2.2.2.5 Airports ................................................................................. 2.2-8 2.2.2.6 Projection of Industrial Growth ..................................................... 2.2-8 2.2.3 EVALUATION OF POTENTIAL ACCIDENTS ................................. 2.2-8 2.2.3.1 Determination of Design Basis Events ............................................. 2.2-8 2.2.3.2 Effects of Design Basis Events ...................................................... 2.2-11 2.2.4 REFERENCES ........................................................................... 2.2-11 LDCN-09-044 2-i COLUMBIA GENERATING STATION Amendment 61 FINAL SAFETY ANALYSIS REPORT December 2011 Chapter 2 SITE CHARACTERISTICS TABLE OF CONTENTS (Continued) Section Page 2.3 METEOROLOGY ......................................................................... 2.3-1 2.3.1 REGIONAL CLIMATOLOGY .......................................................... 2.3-1 2.3.1.1 General Climate ....................................................................... 2.3-1 2.3.1.2 Regional Meteorological Conditions for Design and Operating Bases ....... 2.3-4 2.3.1.2.1 Severe Weather Phenomena ....................................................... 2.3-4 2.3.1.2.1.1 Heavy Rain, Snow, and Ice ..................................................... 2.3-4 2.3.1.2.1.2 Thunderstorms and Hail ......................................................... 2.3-4 2.3.1.2.1.3 Tornadoes .......................................................................... 2.3-6 2.3.1.2.1.4 Strong Winds ...................................................................... 2.3-7 2.3.1.2.1.5 High Air Pollution Potential (APP) and Dust Storm Potential ........... 2.3-8 2.3.1.2.1.5.1 Evaluation of August 11, 1955 and January 11, 1972 Dust Storms at Hanford ............................................................. 2.3-11 2.3.1.2.1.5.2 Hanford Dust Storm Climatology for Design and Operating Bases ... 2.3-13 2.3.1.2.2 Design Snow Load .................................................................. 2.3-14 2.3.1.2.3 Meteorological Data Used for Evaluation of Ultimate Heat Sink .......... 2.3-15 2.3.2 LOCAL METEOROLOGY .............................................................. 2.3-16 2.3.2.1 Data Comparisons ..................................................................... 2.3-16 2.3.2.1.1 Winds .................................................................................. 2.3-18 2.3.2.1.2 Moisture and Temperature ........................................................ 2.3-19 2.3.2.1.3 Monthly Precipitation .............................................................. 2.3-20 2.3.2.1.4 Fog .................................................................................... 2.3-20 2.3.2.1.5 Stability Summaries ................................................................. 2.3-21 2.3.2.2 Potential Influence of the Plant and Its Facilities on Local Meteorology .... 2.3-22 2.3.2.3 Local Meteorological Conditions for Design and Operating Bases ........... 2.3-23 2.3.2.4 Topographic Description ............................................................. 2.3-23 2.3.3 ONSITE METEOROLOGICAL MEASUREMENT PROGRAM ................... 2.3-23 2.3.3.1 Permanent Onsite Meteorological Tower and Instrumentation Characteristics ......................................................................... 2.3-24 2.3.3.2 Quality Assurance Program ......................................................... 2.3-26 2.3.3.2.1 Data Recovery During April 1, 1974 - March 31, 1976 ..................... 2.3-26 2.3.3.2.2 Maintenance and Calibration ..................................................... 2.3-28 2.3.3.2.3 Data Processing and Analysis .................................................... 2.3-28 2.3.3.2.4 Meteorological Monitoring Program During Plant Operation .............. 2.3-29 2.3.3.3 Other Meteorological Measurement Programs Considered for the Data Comparisons ............................................................................ 2.3-31 2.3.3.3.1 CGS Temporary Tower ............................................................ 2.3-31 2-ii COLUMBIA GENERATING STATION Amendment 61 FINAL SAFETY ANALYSIS REPORT December 2011 Chapter 2 SITE CHARACTERISTICS TABLE OF CONTENTS (Continued) Section Page 2.3.3.3.2 Hanford Meteorological Station .................................................. 2.3-31 2.3.3.4 Joint Stability - Wind Frequency Summaries ..................................... 2.3-31 2.3.4 SHORT TERM DIFFUSION ESTIMATES ........................................ 2.3-32 2.3.4.1 Objective ................................................................................ 2.3-32 2.3.4.2 Exclusion Area Boundary ............................................................ 2.3-32 2.3.4.3 Low Population Zone ................................................................. 2.3-33 2.3.4.4 Control Room .......................................................................... 2.3-33 2.3.4.5 Description of Sources ............................................................... 2.3-33 2.3.4.6 Control Room Intakes ................................................................ 2.3-34 2.3.4.7 Calculations ............................................................................ 2.3-34 2.3.5 LONG-TERM (ROUTINE) DIFFUSION ESTIMATES ............................. 2.3-35 2.3.5.1 Objectives ............................................................................... 2.3-35 2.3.5.2 Calculations ............................................................................ 2.3-36 2.3.6 REFERENCES ........................................................................... 2.3-38 2.4 HYDROLOGY ENGINEERING ........................................................ 2.4-1 2.4.1 HYDROLOGIC DESCRIPTION ..................................................... 2.4-1 2.4.1.1 Site and Facilities ...................................................................... 2.4-1 2.4.1.2 Hydrosphere ............................................................................ 2.4-1 2.4.2 FLOODS .................................................................................. 2.4-4 2.4.2.1 Flood History .......................................................................... 2.4-4 2.4.2.2 Flood Design Considerations ........................................................ 2.4-4 2.4.2.3 Effects of Local Intense Precipitation .............................................. 2.4-5 2.4.3 PROBABLE MAXIMUM FLOOD ON STREAMS AND RIVERS ........... 2.4-6 2.4.3.1 Probable Maximum Precipitation ................................................... 2.4-7 2.4.3.2 Precipitation Losses ................................................................... 2.4-7 2.4.3.3 Runoff and Stream Course Models