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Environmental Impact Statement - radioactive monticello

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<strong>Environmental</strong> <strong>Impact</strong>s of Alternatives<br />

* Water Use and Quality-Groundwater<br />

Any impacts to groundwater during operation would most likely be associated with storage and<br />

handling of feedstocks and the storage, handling, and disposal of wastes generated. Runoff<br />

from the coal and petroleum coke storage areas would be collected in a drainage basin and<br />

treated as needed (TVA 2003). <strong>Impact</strong>s would depend on the volume of groundwater<br />

withdrawn and the characteristics of the groundwater source.<br />

Overall, groundwater use and quality impacts at an alternate greenfield site can be<br />

characterized as SMALL to MODERATE depending on the location chosen.<br />

* Air Quality<br />

The air quality impacts of coal-fired generation vary considerably from those of nuclear<br />

generation emissions of SO 2 , NOx, particulates, carbon monoxide, hazardous air pollutants<br />

such as mercury, and naturally occurring <strong>radioactive</strong> materials.<br />

Estimated air emissions for a coal gasification plant meeting all applicable regulatory<br />

requirements and sized to fully replace the 600-MW(e) capacity of Monticello are shown in<br />

Table 8-4 (TVA 2003). The estimated emissions are based on using petroleum coke as fuel.<br />

Emissions of SOX are higher for petroleum coke than if coal is used as the fuel.<br />

A new coal gasification generating plant would need to meet the new source review<br />

requirements in Title I of the Clean Air Act (42 USC 7401-7515). The plant would need an<br />

operating permit issued under Title V of the Clean Air Act (42 USC 7661-7661 f). The plant<br />

would also need to comply with the new source performance standards for new generating<br />

plants in 40 CFR Part 60, Subpart D. The standards establish limits for particulate matter and<br />

opacity, SO 2 , and NOX.<br />

The EPA has various regulatory requirements for visibility protection in 40 CFR Part 51,<br />

Subpart P, including a specific requirement for review of any new major stationary source in an<br />

area designated as attainment or unclassified under the Clean Air Act (40 CFR 51.307).<br />

Section 169A of the Clean Air Act establishes a national goal of preventing future and<br />

remedying existing impairment of visibility in mandatory Class I Federal areas when impairment<br />

is from air pollution resulting from human activities. In addition, the EPA issued a new regional<br />

haze rule in 1999 (EPA 1999). The rule specifies that for each mandatory Class I Federal area<br />

located within a state, state agencies must establish goals that provide for reasonable progress<br />

towards achieving natural visibility conditions. The reasonable progress goals must provide for<br />

an improvement in visibility for the most-impaired days over the period of the implementation<br />

plan and ensure no degradation in visibility for the least-impaired days over the same period<br />

(40 CFR 51). If a new coal gasification power plan were located close to a mandatory Class I<br />

Federal area, additional air pollution control requirements could be imposed.<br />

NUREG-1437, Supplement 26 8-30 August 2006

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