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HomeMy WebLinkAbout9210_DukeShearonHarris_AssessmentWorkPlan_DIN26954_20161028S&ME, Inc. | 8646 W Market St, Ste 105 | Greensboro, NC 27409 | p 336.288.7180 | f 336.288.8980 | www.smeinc.com October 27, 2016 NCDEQ-DWM, Solid Waste Section 1646 Mail Service Center Raleigh, North Carolina 27699-1646 Attention:Ms. Elizabeth Werner Reference:Assessment Work Plan Harris Nuclear Plant Closed Landfill (Permit No. 92-10) New Hill, North Carolina S&ME Project No. 7126-16-045 Dear Ms. Werner: On behalf of Duke Energy Progress, LLC (Duke Energy), S&ME, Inc. (S&ME) prepared this Work Plan for conducting assessment activities at the closed landfill located at Shearon Harris Nuclear Plant, in New Hill, North Carolina. For ease of review, essential project background information has been summarized. This Work Plan provides an outline of noteworthy tasks to be completed as part of this assessment and tentative schedule for implementation of the plan. This Work Plan is consistent with information presented and discussed during our October 13, 2016 meeting with John Toepfer with Duke Energy. Background The closed landfill is located at the Duke Energy, Shearon Harris Nuclear Plant in New Hill North Carolina (see Figure 1). In accordance with the Closure of the Harris Nuclear Plant, Unlined Industrial Landfill Unit; New Hill, North Carolina; FACILITY PERMIT #: 92-10, letter from the NCDEQ dated May 25, 2005; this unlined industrial landfill was closed and covered under NCDEQ Solid Waste Permit No. 92-10. The NCDEQ letter dated May 25, 2005, addressing the closure of this unlined Industrial landfill referenced Rule 0.510. As a 0.500 landfill the compliance boundary would be established 500 feet from the waste boundary, or at the property line; whichever is closer to the waste boundary. The review boundary would be established halfway between the waste boundary and compliance boundary.Figure 2 depicts the approximate location of landfill waste boundary, review boundary, and compliance boundary. The landfill cells were reportedly trench style units.Figure 3 depicts the two landfill cells (Cells 1 and 3) known to contain waste, the third cell (Cell 2) was not used for waste disposal. Currently, monitoring wells MW-1, MW-2, MW-3, MW-6, and MW-7 comprise the groundwater monitoring network for the closed landfill. As part of post-closure monitoring, these wells are sampled on a semi-annual basis and the collected groundwater samples analyzed for Appendix I VOCs, 8-RCRA Metals, and sulfate. Analytical results are compared with the 15A North Carolina Administrative Code (NCAC) 2L .0200 groundwater quality standards (2L Standard) or the NCDEQ Interim Maximum Allowable Concentrations (IMACs) when no 2L Standard is published. Assessment Work Plan Harris Nuclear Plant Closed Landfill (Permit No. 92-10) New Hill, North Carolina S&ME Project No. 7126-16-045 October 27, 2016 2 For at least the past two post-closure monitoring events, analytical results of the monitoring well groundwater samples have indicated that one or more volatile organic compounds (VOCs) have been detected at monitoring wells MW-1 and MW-7 at concentrations greater than the corresponding 2L Standard. Both of these monitoring wells (MW-1 and MW-7) are located less than 100 feet from the landfill limits of waste and each well is substantially within the 500 foot compliance boundary. Monitoring well MW-2, located near the review boundary has also had detections of VOCs with one VOC exceeding a 2L standard for the last two monitoring events. At monitoring well MW-7, some of the detected VOCs have exhibited apparent trends of rising concentrations over time. In contrast VOCs detected at monitoring well MW-1 have exhibited trends of declining or stable concentrations over time. Based on the detection of VOCs at monitoring wells MW-1 and MW-7 with concentrations greater than the corresponding 2L Standards, this Work Plan was developed to outline the actions to be undertaken to initiate an assessment of groundwater quality down-gradient of these wells. Geology / Hydrogeology According to the North Carolina Geologic Map, 1985, the subject site is located in an area underlain by rock that is part of the Newark Super Group. The Newark Super Group is one of a series of sedimentary rift valley structures worldwide resulting from movements in the continental plates during the Triassic period. The Newark Super Group is located in the Eastern Piedmont area of North America, approximately parallel to the coastline and extending roughly from Pennsylvania to northern Florida. The Newark Group is divided into several separate basins, including the Culpepper, Richmond, Dan River and Deep River Basins of Virginia and North Carolina. The subject site is located within the Deep River Basin. The underlying rock present in the vicinity of the site can be classified as sedimentary rocks of the Chatham Group, which can consist of shales, sandstones, and coarse conglomerates in a fine-grained matrix. These sedimentary units are reported to dip gently eastward. Intrusive diabase dikes and sills are known to locally cross-cut these sedimentary deposits. From a hydrogeologic stand point, these deposits are generally very tight with bedrock permeability primarily available in faults, joints, and fractures. Often the tight nature of these deposits makes determining if and where groundwater is present in the overlying residual aquifer challenging. Landfill monitoring wells MW-1, MW-2, and MW-3 were drilled in 1986. The well construction records for these monitoring wells contains sparse geologic information and lack details of when or if bedrock was encountered. Therefore, the aquifer unit monitored by these wells is not clear. Monitoring wells MW-6 and MW-7 were installed during 2003, and each well was reported as screened within a portion of a bedrock aquifer. Well construction records describe the bedrock as a conglomerate. Groundwater level data report that monitoring wells MW-6 and MW-7 exhibit artesian conditions, representative of the intersected portions of the bedrock aquifer. Artesian conditions were not observed at monitoring well MW-1, MW-2, and MW-3. Development of relevant groundwater elevation contours for the landfill area has not been practical with the existing monitoring well network since: Assessment Work Plan Harris Nuclear Plant Closed Landfill (Permit No. 92-10) New Hill, North Carolina S&ME Project No. 7126-16-045 October 27, 2016 3 ♦The long-axis of the landfill unit parallels the axis of a local topographic ridge. Using topography as a guide to estimate groundwater flow directions, some degree of radial groundwater flow is expected within the shallow groundwater aquifer underlying the landfill. Considering the locations of monitoring wells MW-1, MW-2, and MW-3 relative to the axis of the ridge, groundwater elevation data for these points were not contoured. ♦Three of the five monitoring wells may be screened within the shallow unconfined aquifer, whereas two (MW-6 and MW-7) are known to be screened in the bedrock aquifer. It is often inappropriate to mix disparate aquifer water level data sets in the preparation of groundwater elevation contours. Figure 2 presents the groundwater elevations observed during April 2016. Using topography as a guide to estimate shallow unconfined aquifer flow directions,Figure 2 was prepared and depicts groundwater flow direction arrows to illustrate estimated shallow groundwater flow in the vicinity of the closed landfill unit. Considering the above stated limitations to the preparation of groundwater elevation contours, groundwater flow rate calculations have not been prepared for this Facility. Site Conceptual Model Development Recognizing the inherent challenges imposed by site geology, potential data gaps were assess during the development of a site conceptual model for the pending assessment. The lack of information regarding probable locations for bedrock fractures and diabase dikes or sills in the study area were identified as fundamental data gaps. To address these data gaps, THG Geophysics, Ltd. was contracted to perform geophysical surveys to image possible bedrock fractures and mafic-rich dikes in the immediate area of the closed landfill. A Very Low Frequency (VLF) survey and Electrical Imaging (EI) survey were completed during September 2016 to image possible fractures in bedrock. A magnetometer survey was conducted to survey the landfill area for the potential presence of mafic-rich 1 dikes or sills, referred to hereafter as diabase. Fractures are anticipated to act as conduits, providing significant control over the migration of groundwater in the bedrock aquifer. Diabase dikes often act as local barriers to groundwater flow. Based on our experience, the margins of diabase dikes can be fractured. The locations of survey imaged fractures and probable diabase features are depicted on Figure 3. The solid lines shown indicative of facture and diabase features are based on interpretations of the direction and interconnection of imaged features detected, between data collection transects. This figure was used to examine potential spatial correlations between the imaged fractures and diabase features relative to the waste disposal unit and the known distribution of dissolved phase groundwater contaminants. As depicted in Figure 3, the geophysical surveys imaged two fracture zones striking generally north – south and dipping toward the west and one vertical fracture zone striking generally east - west. These features appear underlie portion of the landfill. Indications of a diabase feature striking generally north - south were detected immediately east of the landfill. 1 A magnetometer can measure properties of bedrock that are consistent with those of mafic-rich rocks; however, it cannot determine actual rock compositions. Given that diabase rocks, a mafic-rich rock, have been mapped in the area by others, the term diabase is utilized herein for simplicity of discussion. Assessment Work Plan Harris Nuclear Plant Closed Landfill (Permit No. 92-10) New Hill, North Carolina S&ME Project No. 7126-16-045 October 27, 2016 4 Our conceptual site model for the landfill assumes that water which percolates downward from the land surface, interacts with landfill contents in the waste management units, then continues to migrate downward into the underlying groundwater aquifer. Due to the tight nature of the surround geologic formations, groundwater flow and dissolved phase contaminant migration are largely controlled by fractures and the diabase features. Thus groundwater migrating downward beneath the landfill may intersect the east – west striking fracture and based upon head pressures, migrate east or west along this fracture as a preferential flow path. When groundwater migrating along the east – west fracture intersects one of the imaged north – south striking fractures, these may also become preferential flow paths, with flow controlled by head pressures. It is possible that the diabase feature east of the landfill may inhibit further eastward migration of groundwater, and if present, fractures on the margins of the diabase may be preferred flow paths to the north or south. The hypothetical function of the diabase as a local barrier to groundwater flow, may in part explain the observed absence of VOCs in the groundwater at monitoring well MW-6. Based on the known site background information and our initial Site Conceptual Model, the following Work Plan elements are proposed to assess the VOC detections at monitoring wells MW-6 and MW-7. Assessment Work Plan Task 1: Soil Borings and Monitoring Well Installations Hollow-stem auger soil borings will be completed adjacent to existing monitoring wells MW-1 and MW-2. These borings will extend to the depth of auger refusal, and the bore-hole left open for approximately 24- hours to monitor for presence of shallow water table. Each boring will be abandoned after water level data collection is complete. An Environmental Staff Professional will be on-site to observe drilling and classify the soils. The information gathered will fill some of the subsurface geologic conditions data gaps that currently exist for these monitoring wells. Two new monitoring wells will be installed at locations approximated on Figure 3. Monitoring well MW-8 will target the down-dip extension of the nearby north - south striking fracture zone. Monitoring well MW-9 will target the possible fractures along the margin of the imaged diabase. The monitoring wells will be constructed in accordance with the Solid Waste Sections requirement and the requirements specified under NCAC 2C. The following summarizes basic tasks associated with the installation of the new monitoring wells: ♦The proposed wells will be Type II PVC monitoring wells designed to monitor the uppermost prevalent aquifer. Two-inch diameter Schedule 40 PVC casing and screens will be installed in the hollow-stem auger borings / rock-core borings. Pre-packed screens will be utilized during well construction. A bentonite seal will be installed above the well screen and the annulus space between the borehole wall and the well casing grouted up to the ground surface. Each monitoring well will be completed at the surface by enclosing the casing within a protective cover installed to a height approximately three feet above ground surface, and encased within a 2-foot by 2-foot concrete pad installed at the ground surface. ♦An Environmental Staff Professional will be on-site to observe drilling, classify the soils, and determine site-specific well construction details based on observed subsurface conditions. Assessment Work Plan Harris Nuclear Plant Closed Landfill (Permit No. 92-10) New Hill, North Carolina S&ME Project No. 7126-16-045 October 27, 2016 5 ♦Depth to groundwater measurements will be determined a minimum 24-hours following well completion. ♦Drilling equipment will be decontaminated prior to use at each location. ♦Each newly-installed monitoring well will be developed using an electric submersible pump to remove visible clay, silt, and sand particles that may have been introduced into the formation or filter pack during installation. ♦Subcontract a registered land surveyor to determine the coordinates for each new well and top of casing elevations. The top of casing elevations and depth to groundwater measurements will be used to calculate observed groundwater elevations. ♦A well construction record (Form GW-1) for each new well will be prepared and submitted to the NCDEQ within 30-days of well completion. Task 2: Groundwater Sampling and Analyses Following well installation and development, groundwater samples will be obtained using low-flow sampling methods consistent with those utilized at the landfill for routine site post-closure monitoring. The collected groundwater samples will be analyzed for Appendix I VOCs, 8-RCRA Metals, and sulfate, consistent with the suite of analyses used during post-closure care monitoring. Task 3: Slug Testing Rising or falling head slug tests will be performed on each the two new monitoring wells. The collected data will be analyzed and used to provide estimate hydraulic conductivities for each well location. Task 4: Reporting A written report will be prepared to summarize the field methods employed and the results that were obtained. Groundwater analytical results will be compared with the corresponding 2L Standard or NCDEQ IMACs when applicable. The report will include borings logs, well construction records, and laboratory analytical reports generated for this assessment. Schedule The attached Preliminary Project Implementation Schedule provides an estimate of the time frame needed to complete the proposed activities. The drilling schedule considers some anticipated challenges to developing access for drilling rigs and drill crew availability. We anticipate drilling to commence sometime in November 2016. Assessment Work Plan Harris Nuclear Plant Closed Landfill (Permit No. 92-10) New Hill, North Carolina S&ME Project No. 7126-16-045 October 27, 2016 6 Closure Please review the proposed assessment activities and provide us with your comments and/or approval to proceed with the assessment outlined herein. Contact Edmund Henriques at (336) 312-3330 if you have any questions regarding this proposed work plan. We appreciate your assistance in this matter. Sincerely, S&ME, Inc. John Whitehead Edmund Q.B. Henriques, L.G. Senior Project Manager Senior Geologist NC Geology License 1216 Attachments Attachment I – Figures S h e a r o n H a r r i s N u c l e a r P l a n t Closed Industrial LandfillPermit No. 92-10 3 0 1 Z i m a P a r k R o a d S p a r t a n b u r g , S o u t h C a r o l i n a 2 9 3 0 1 P h o n e 8 6 4 . 5 7 4 . 2 3 6 0 F a x 8 6 4 . 5 7 6 . 8 7 3 0 S i t e L o c a t i o n M a p S h e a r o n H a r r i s N u c l e a r P l a n t I n d u s t r i a l L a n d f i l l P e r m i t N o . 9 2 - 1 0 N e w H i l l , N o r t h C a r o l i n a 1 § 7126-16-045 October 18, 2016jww     ) 4 # 2 * + %  5 % # . '  ( 6          M W - 6 M W - 7 M W - 1 M W - 2 MW-3 C E L L 3 C E L L 2 C E L L 1 L a n d f i l l B o u n d a r y 500-Foot L a n d f i l l C o m p l i a n c e B o u n d a r y 28 0 2 8 0 28 0 280 280 27 0 2 7 0 27 0 2 7 0 270 270 2 7 0 26 0 2 6 0 2 6 0 2 6 0 2 6 0 260 260 2 5 0 2 5 0 2 5 0 2 4 0 2 4 0 2 3 0 249.74 2 5 3 . 9 4 2 5 4 . 2 7 2 5 4 . 2 6 2 7 4 . 9 8 253.66 2 5 7 . 6 1 2 5 4 . 6 6 2 5 4 . 6 7 2 7 4 . 9 8 250-Fo o t L a n d f i l l R e v i e w B o u n d a r y 3 0 1 Z i m a P a r k R o a d S p a r t a n b u r g , S o u t h C a r o l i n a 2 9 3 0 1 P h o n e 8 6 4 . 5 7 4 . 2 3 6 0 F a x 8 6 4 . 5 7 6 . 8 7 3 0 G e n e r a l i z e d G r o u n d w a t e r F l o w M a p S h e a r o n H a r r i s N u c l e a r P l a n t I n d u s t r i a l L a n d f i l l P e r m i t N o . 9 2 - 1 0 N e w H i l l , N o r t h C a r o l i n a 2 As Shown7126-16-045 May 25, 2016jww )4#2*+%5%#.' (6 eqbh L E G E N D N O T E S : M o n i t o r i n g w e l l i n f o r m a t i o n b a s e d o n d r a w i n g b y M c K i m & C r e e d . D r a w i n g t i t l e : S H E A R O N H A R R I S C O N S T R U C T I O N D E B R I S L A N D F I L L d a t e d O c t o b e r 3 0 , 2 0 1 4 , d r a w i n g n u m b e r R . 1 . 3 . 1 0 . 1 1 2 5 . N o r t h C a r o l i n a s t a t e p l a n e c o o r d i n a t e s y s t e m ( N A D 8 3 ) a n d d a t u m 8 8 . D r a w i n g i n U S s u r v e y f e e t . M e a s u r i n g p o i n t w a s t h e t o p o f P V C w e l l c a s i n g . A p p r o x i m a t e M o n i t o r i n g W e l l L o c a t i o n G r o u n d w a t e r E l e v a t i o n - A p r i l 2 0 1 6 2 5 4 . 6 6 E s t i m a t e d G r o u n d w a t e r F l o w D i r e c t i o n 5 0 0 - F o o t C o m p l i a n c e B o u n d a r y 2 5 0 - F o o t R e v i e w B o u n d a r y 0 8 6 6 1 , 2 5 0 1 , 1 8 1 1 , 1 0 2 1 , 0 2 3 9 4 5 7 8 7 7 0 8 6 3 0 5 5 1 39 4 315236157790102030405060708090100110120130 150 160 170 180 190 200 220 210 230 240 250 260 270 280 290 300 310 320 330 340 350 360 370 380 390 400 410 420 430 0102030405060708090100110120130 150 160 170 180 190 200 220 210 230 240 250 260 270 280 290 300 310 320 330 340 350 360 370 380 390 400 410 420 440 140 450 430 1 , 1 7 8 1 , 1 0 2 1 , 0 2 3 9 4 5 8 6 6 7 8 7 7 0 8 6 3 0 5 5 1 4 7 2 3 9 4 315236157079079 157 551 236 315 394 630472 725 0 7 9 1 5 7 2 3 6 3 1 5 3 9 4 4 7 2 4 6 2 M W - 6 M W - 7 M W - 1 M W - 2 MW-3 250-ft. Review B o u n d a r y 500-ft. Compliance Bo u n d a r y EI Line 1 VLF Line 1EI Line 2EI Line 3 E I L i n e 4 VLF Line 2 Ce l l 3 Cel l 2 Cel l 1 Propos e d M W - 8 P r o p o s e d M W - 9 3 0 1 Z i m a P a r k R o a d S p a r t a n b u r g , S o u t h C a r o l i n a 2 9 3 0 1 P h o n e 8 6 4 . 5 7 4 . 2 3 6 0 F a x 8 6 4 . 5 7 6 . 8 7 3 0 W o r k P l a n D e t a i l S h e a r o n H a r r i s N u c l e a r P l a n t I n d u s t r i a l L a n d f i l l P e r m i t N o . 9 2 - 1 0 N e w H i l l , N o r t h C a r o l i n a 3 § 7126-16-045 October 18, 2016jww    ) 4 # 2 * + %  5 % # . '  ( 6        I n f e r r e d F r a c t u r e A r r o w I n d i c a t e s D i p D i r e c t i o n M a g n e t i c L i n e a m e n t ( I n f e r r e d M a g n e t i t e - r i c h M a f i c D i k e ) A r r o w I n d i c a t e s D i p D i r e c t i o n E x i s t i n g M o n i t o r i n g W e l l P r o p o s e d M o n i t o r i n g W e l l E l e c t r i c a l I m a g i n g P r o f i l e R e c o r d s S h o w i n g D i s t a n c e i n A p p r o x i m a t e M e t e r s V e r y L o w F r e q u e n c y ( V L F ) P r o f i l e R e c o r d s S h o w i n g D i s t a n c e i n A p p r o x i m a t e F e e t E l e v a t e d M a g n e t i c R e c o r d L e g e n d 3 1 5 1 2 0 A s s u m e d G r o u n d w a t e r F l o w D i r e c t i o n A l o n g S t r u c t u r a l F e a t u r e s L a n d f i l l C e l l C o n t a i n i n g W a s t e L a n d f i l l C e l l N o t U s e d f o r W a s t e D i s p o s a l Attachment II – Preliminary Schedule PRELIMINARY PROJECT IMPLEMENTATION SCHEDULE HARRIS NUCLEAR PLANT, CLOSED LANDFILL ASSESSMENT S&ME PROJECT NO. 7158-14-014 Tasks Data Review & Project Planning Meet with NCDEQ-SWS ######## Prepare Work Plan for Assessment Activities Prepare and Submit Work Plan to NCDEQ-SWS Obtain NCDEQ-SWS Approval Geophysical Survey Geophysical Survey Data Collection (THG+S&ME) Data Review & proposed well site selection Drilling Drill site access development Complete Soil Borings next to MW-1 and MW-2 Install 2 New Monitoring Wells Develop New Monitoring Wells Sample New Monitoring Wells Slug Testing of New Wells Monitoring Well Survey Survey each new monitoring well Assessment Report Preparation Prepare Well Installation and Sampling Report Submit Report to NCDEQ-SWS August 2016 September 2016 October 2016 November 2016 December 2016 January 2017 February 2017 March 2017 April 2017 T:\Projects\2016\Energy\7126-16-045_Duke Energy_Shearon Harris Nuclear Plant_Landfill Assessment\Deliverables\Assessment Work Plan\SCHEDULE-DRAFT_HARRIS NUCLEAR PLANT LANDFILL ASSESSMENT.xlsx