Comanche Peak Nuclear Power Plant, Units 3 & 4 COL Application Part 3 - Environmental Report CHAPTER 5 ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS OF OPERATION TABLE OF CONTENTS Section Title Page 5.0 ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS OF OPERATION ........................................................ 5.0-1 5.1 LAND-USE IMPACTS ................................................................................................. 5.1-1 5.1.1 THE SITE AND VICINITY ..................................................................................... 5.1-1 5.1.1.1 The Site........................................................................................................... 5.1-1 5.1.1.2 The Vicinity...................................................................................................... 5.1-2 5.1.2 TRANSMISSION CORRIDORS AND OFF-SITE AREAS..................................... 5.1-2 5.1.3 HISTORIC PROPERTIES..................................................................................... 5.1-3 5.1.3.1 Site and Vicinity............................................................................................... 5.1-3 5.1.3.1.1 Prehistoric Archaeological Sites...................................................................... 5.1-4 5.1.3.1.2 Historical Period Archaeological Sites............................................................. 5.1-4 5.1.3.1.3 Historic Sites ................................................................................................... 5.1-4 5.1.3.1.4 Historic Cemeteries......................................................................................... 5.1-5 5.1.3.1.5 Traditional Cultural Properties......................................................................... 5.1-5 5.1.3.2 Transmission Corridors and Off-Site Areas..................................................... 5.1-5 5.1.3.2.1 Water Pipeline Corridor ................................................................................... 5.1-6 5.1.4 REFERENCES...................................................................................................... 5.1-6 5.2 WATER-RELATED IMPACTS .................................................................................... 5.2-1 5.2.1 HYDROLOGIC ALTERATIONS AND PLANT WATER SUPPLY.......................... 5.2-1 5.2.1.1 Physical Characteristics of Surface Water and Groundwater ......................... 5.2-2 5.2.1.2 Water Sources................................................................................................. 5.2-2 5.2.1.3 Plant Withdrawals and Returns ...................................................................... 5.2-3 5.2.1.4 Present and Future Surface Water Use .......................................................... 5.2-4 5.2.1.5 Hydrological Alterations Affecting Groundwater.............................................. 5.2-5 5.2.1.6 Operational Activities Causing Hydrologic Alterations .................................... 5.2-6 5.2.1.7 Surface Water and Groundwater Users Affected by Hydrologic Alterations ... 5.2-6 5.2.1.8 Legal Restrictions............................................................................................ 5.2-8 5.2.2 WATER-USE IMPACTS........................................................................................ 5.2-8 5.2.2.1 Plant Operational Activities Potentially Impacting Water Use ......................... 5.2-8 5.2.2.2 Surface Water - Makeup Water Withdrawal and Consumptive Use................ 5.2-9 5.2.2.3 Potential Impacts on Water Use ..................................................................... 5.2-9 5.2.2.3.1 Downstream Water Availability Impacts .......................................................... 5.2-9 5.2.3 WATER QUALITY IMPACTS.............................................................................. 5.2-12 5.2.3.1 Thermal Impacts............................................................................................ 5.2-12 5.2.3.2 Operational Limitations.................................................................................. 5.2-12 5.2.3.3 Discharge Design .......................................................................................... 5.2-13 5.2.3.4 Wastewater Discharge .................................................................................. 5.2-14 5-i Revision 1 Comanche Peak Nuclear Power Plant, Units 3 & 4 COL Application Part 3 - Environmental Report TABLE OF CONTENTS (Continued) Section Title Page 5.2.3.5 Impacts to Groundwater ................................................................................ 5.2-16 5.2.3.6 Regulatory Compliance ................................................................................. 5.2-17 5.2.4 REFERENCES.................................................................................................... 5.2-17 5.3 COOLING SYSTEM IMPACTS................................................................................... 5.3-1 5.3.1 INTAKE SYSTEM ................................................................................................. 5.3-1 5.3.1.1 Hydrodynamic Description and Physical Impacts .......................................... 5.3-1 5.3.1.1.1 Intake-Hydrodynamic Description .................................................................. 5.3-1 5.3.1.1.2 Physical Impacts of Intake............................................................................... 5.3-4 5.3.1.2 Aquatic Ecosystems........................................................................................ 5.3-5 5.3.1.2.1 Fish Impingement and Entrainment ................................................................ 5.3-5 5.3.1.2.2 Important Species ........................................................................................... 5.3-5 5.3.2 DISCHARGE SYSTEM ......................................................................................... 5.3-7 5.3.2.1 Thermal Description and Physical Impacts .................................................... 5.3-7 5.3.2.2 Aquatic Ecosystems........................................................................................ 5.3-8 5.3.3 HEAT-DISCHARGE SYSTEM ............................................................................ 5.3-10 5.3.3.1 Heat Dissipation to the Atmosphere.............................................................. 5.3-10 5.3.3.1.1 Length and Frequency of Elevated Plumes ................................................. 5.3-11 5.3.3.1.2 Frequency and Extent of Ground Level Fogging and Icing in the Site Vicinity . 5.3- 11 5.3.3.1.3 Solids Deposition (i.e., Drift Deposition) in the Site Vicinity .......................... 5.3-11 5.3.3.1.4 Cloud Formation, Cloud Shadowing, and Additional Precipitation ................ 5.3-13 5.3.3.1.5 Vapor Plume Interactions With Existing Pollution Sources ........................... 5.3-13 5.3.3.1.6 Ground Level Humidity Increase in the Site Vicinity...................................... 5.3-13 5.3.3.2 Terrestrial Ecosystems.................................................................................. 5.3-13 5.3.3.2.1 Salt Drift......................................................................................................... 5.3-14 5.3.3.2.2 Increased Precipitation.................................................................................. 5.3-14 5.3.3.2.3 Fogging and Icing.......................................................................................... 5.3-14 5.3.3.2.4 Noise ............................................................................................................. 5.3-14 5.3.3.2.5 Bird collisions ................................................................................................ 5.3-14 5.3.4 IMPACTS TO MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC....................................................... 5.3-15 5.3.4.1 Thermophilic Microorganisms ....................................................................... 5.3-15 5.3.4.2 Noise ............................................................................................................. 5.3-16 5.3.5 REFERENCES.................................................................................................... 5.3-16 5.4 RADIOLOGICAL IMPACTS OF NORMAL OPERATIONS ........................................ 5.4-1 5.4.1 EXPOSURE PATHWAYS .................................................................................... 5.4-1 5.4.1.1 Liquid Pathways .............................................................................................. 5.4-1 5.4.1.2 Gaseous Pathways ........................................................................................ 5.4-6 5.4.1.3 Direct Radiation from Station Operation ......................................................... 5.4-7 5.4.2 RADIATION DOSES TO MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC ....................................... 5.4-7 5.4.2.1 Liquid Pathways Doses .................................................................................. 5.4-7 5-ii Revision 1 Comanche Peak Nuclear Power Plant, Units 3 & 4 COL Application Part 3 - Environmental Report TABLE OF CONTENTS (Continued) Section Title Page 5.4.2.2 Gaseous Pathways Doses ............................................................................. 5.4-7 5.4.3 IMPACTS TO MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC......................................................... 5.4-8 5.4.3.1 Impacts from Liquid Pathways ........................................................................ 5.4-8 5.4.3.2 Impacts from Gaseous Pathways.................................................................... 5.4-8 5.4.3.3 Direct Radiation Doses ..................................................................................