ML15299A108

INT-001 - the Science of the Turkey Point Wetlands

ML15299A108
Person / Time
Site:	Turkey Point
Issue date:	10/26/2015
From:	Citizens Allied for Safe Energy (CASE)
To:	Atomic Safety and Licensing Board Panel
SECY RAS
References
RAS 28433, ASLBP 15-935-02-LA-BD01, 50-250-LA, 50-251-LA
Download: ML15299A108 (26)

Text

INT-001 THE SCIENCE OF THE TURKEY POINT WETLANDSNOTE: The terms PSU/Practical Salinity Units and PPT/partsper thousand are, for our purposes, functionally equivalent.WHAT IS SALTWATER INTRUSION? INT-041Saltwater Intrusion of Coastal Aquifers in the U.S. James SpatafoJohnson State College Senior Seminar May 6, 2008 Thttp://kanat.jsc.vsc.edu/student/spatafora/setup.htmStatementMay 6, 2008 What is saltwater intrusion?Salt water intrusion occurs in coastal freshwater aquiferswhen the different densities of both the saltwater andfreshwater allow the ocean water to intrude into thefreshwater aquifer. These areas are usually supporting largepopulations where the demanding groundwater withdrawalsfrom these aquifers is exceeding the recharge rateÉ. Thiscan cause lateral and vertical intrusion of the surroundingsaltwater, and evidence of saltwater intrusion has been foundSome coastal regions of the United States have and continue to be densely populated. Currently, over half of the population resides on land areas classied as coastal regions (NOAA, 2007). Due to over extraction from an increasing demand for freshwater resources, the coastal aquifers located in these regions are experiencing a hydrologic problem known as saltwater intrusion.throughout the eastern seaboard of the U.S. (USGS, 2007).

1 The encroaching seawater will encounter an area known asthe zone of dispersion, where the freshwater and saltwater mix and form an interfaceÉ This interface moves back andforth (a.k.a, pulse) naturally because of uctuations therecharge rate of freshwater back into these coastal aquifers(Ranjan, 2007). Aquifers are naturally replenished byprecipitation and surface waters through the soil and geologicmaterial to the water table.When groundwater levels in aquifers are depleted fasterthan they can recharge. This is directly related to the positionof the interface and determines the amount of saltwater thatcan intrude into the freshwater aquifer system. Sincesaltwater intrusion is directly related to the recharge rate ofthe groundwater, this allows for other factors that maycontribute to the encroachment of seawater into thefreshwater aquifers. Climatic variables, such as precipitation,surface runoff, and temperature can play a big role in affectingsaltwater intrusion. With lower precipitation amounts andwarmer temperatures, the recharge rate will be much less dueto lack of groundwater present and increased evaporation(Ranjan, 2007). Along with this, other factors may inuencethe groundwater recharge rate indirectly. An example of thiswould be the rising carbon dioxide emissions in theatmosphere. Increasing carbon dioxide levels can leaddirectly to an increase in average surface temperatures,indirectly increasing the evaporation rate and affecting therecharge of freshwater into the coastal aquifers. É majorpumping of well water (can) lead to a cone of depression in 2

the water table. Émajor pumping of the well water (can) leadto a cone of depression in the water table. When this occurs,it will move the saltwater freshwater interface inland, resultingin a higher saline concentration in the aquifers' water,rendering it useless for human consumption, unless it istreated. Figure 4. Saltwater IntrusionAnother factor that directly affects coastal aquiferdepletion is land use planning and management. Differentactivities such as irrigating crops and industrial processingcan require a substantial amount of freshwater resources tobe withdrawn.É If certain wells are relying on these coastalaquifers to provide enough freshwater to support agricultural,industrial, municipal, and residential demands, then therecharge rate of the aquifer must be able to keep up. Theover-pumping of these coastal aquifers has decreased theunderground water table level and decreased the abundance,pressure, and storage capacity the freshwater aquifer. Thiswill cause the zone of dispersion to move inland anddrastically reduce the freshwater that is available from the welland it may result in contamination of the freshwater aquiferand eliminate it as a potential freshwater source.Probably the most detrimental effect that ground waterdepletion causes is the lowering of the water table. Thewater table is the area underneath the ground that iscompletely saturated with freshwater and can be drilled intoand extracted as a freshwater resource. As the water leveldeclines, extraction of water may prove to be more difcult. Ifthe water level drops below the well, then it must be re-drilledand set at a lower depth. This can be quite an expensive 3

procedure, especially for a residential consumer with anindependent well system. As the water table declines,extraction of the freshwater becomes more difcult andexpensive, and the rate of water that can usually be pumpedout of the well will decline (USGS, 2005). Keeping this inmind, if water tables continue to decrease, extraction ofgroundwater for all different activities will become increasinglymore expensive as time progresses. Currently in Vermont,the price of well drilling is going up. On average, a 250 footwell will cost somewhere around $4,000 (Helmich, 2000).However, the more complicated the project gets due tolocation, underground geological rock formation, and lowerwater tables, the higher the cost of drilling a well becomes. Ifthis is true for a non coastal, lightly populated area such asVermont, you can extrapolate the costs of well drilling in adensely populated, coastal area such as coastal SouthCarolina and Georgia, where the water table is extremely low.Changing the InterfaceAnother problem that takes place when saltwater intrusionoccurs in coastal freshwater aquifers is the changing of thesaltwater- freshwater interface. Also known as the zone ofdispersion or transition zone, this is the area where the bodyof saltwater and freshwater meet and form a hydrologicbarrier. The natural hydrologic movement of the undergroundfreshwater towards the ocean usually prevents the seawaterfrom intruding into the coastal aquifer system (Ranjan, 2007).Over-pumping of these coastal aquifers will cause auctuation in the amount of freshwater moving towards the 4

coastal discharge areas and will allow for the oceanic water tomove inland, into the aquifer system. This will result in higherchlorinated concentrations of water and less available storagespace for the freshwater in the aquifer. Figure 6 accuratelyshows how the saltwater freshwater interface can intrude intothe conned coastal aquifer. When the interface movesinland, the deeper wells will begin to withdraw salinecontaminated freshwater. This means that the water must betreated before human consumption. The other option is tostop using this well until the natural recharge rate of theaquifer can force the saltwater freshwater interface back to itsnormal position. This process can take a long time and itreduces the freshwater availability of this region.What areas are currently experiencing saltwater intrusion?Currently in the U.S., many coastal aquifers areexperiencing different degrees of saltwater intrusion. Themost commonly studied coastal area experiencing saltwaterintrusion on the eastern seaboard of the U.S. is the surcialaquifer system of the southeastern U.S. This aquifer systemcovers most of Florida and the coastal areas of SouthCarolina and Georgia ÉThe average thickness of the surcialaquifer is around 50 feet, however, in some places such as St.Lucie County in Florida, it can reach a depth of over 400 feet(Miller, 2002). The Biscayne aquifer is a surcial aquiferlocated in southeastern Florida. This is the most heavily usedwater source for Florida, and it spans over 3,000 squaremiles. In many areas, the Biscayne aquifer has beencontaminated by industrial discharge, landlls, andsaltwater intrusion (University of Florida, 2003). In 1985,the Biscayne aquifer was providing 786 million gallons ofwater a day, where public water supply withdrawals were 5 around 569 million gallons a day (Miller, 2002). Acombination of large groundwater withdrawals and a newdrainage canal system has allowed the freshwater level tolpromoting the landward movement of the saltwaterinto the freshwater aquifer and canal systems (Miller,2002). (emphasis added)An Attack from BelowIn addition to surface ooding, there is trouble brewingbelow the surface too. That trouble is called saltwaterintrusion, and it is already taking place along coastalcommunities in south Florida. Saltwater intrusion occurswhen saltwater from the ocean or bay advances further intothe porous limestone aquifer. That aquifer also happens tosupply about 90% of south Floridas drinking water.Municipal wells pump fresh water up from the aquifer forresidential and agricultural use, but some cities have alreadyhad to shut down some wells because the water beingpumped up was brackish (for example, Hallandale Beach hasalready closed 6 of its 8 wells due to saltwatercontamination).Schematic drawing of saltwater intrusion. Sea level rise,water use, and rainfall all control the severity of the intrusion.(oridaswater.com)The wedge of salt water advances and retreats naturallyduring the dry and rainy seasons, but the combination offresh water extraction and sea level rise is drawing thatwedge closer to land laterally and vertically.In other words, the water table rises as sea level rises, sowith higher sea level, the saltwater exerts more pressure onthe fresh water in the aquifer, shoving the fresh water further 6 away from the coast and upward toward the surface.Map of the Miami area, where colors indicate the depth to thewater table. A lot of area is covered by 0-4 feet, including allof Miami Beach. (Dr. Keren Bolter)Map of the Miami area, where colors indicate the depth to thewater table. A lot of area is covered by 0-4 feet, including allof Miami Beach. (Keren Bolter, FAU)

INT-013http://www.rsmas.miami.edu/blog/2014/10/03/sea-levelrise-in-miami/ (Water, Water Everywhere)

INT-042Emergency Order No. 2015-034-DAO-WU [PDF] -South ...www.sfwmd.gov/.../sfwmd.../f Final Order Re: Withdrawal from L-31E Canal August 14, 2015 Tara Dolan study: INT-043"A Case Study of Turkey Point Nuclear Generating Station ...scholarlyrepository.miami.edu ETDS OA_THESES 354 The goal of this study was to assess the perception of risk to Biscayne Bay from the operation of current and proposed cooling systems by a targeted group of individual stakeholders and managers

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7 PERMEABILITY Discussed in INT-044 and INT-046 To fully understand the nature of the CCS one must know that they are unlined.

INT-0442010 USGS Borehole geophysical logging for the Florida Power & Light Turkey Point Plant groundwater, surface water, andecological monitoring plan:

Study Area: Miami-Dade County, Florida Period of Project: February 2010 through September 2010Principal Investigators: Kevin J. Cunningham, Robert A. Renken, Dorothy PayneCo-Investigators: Michael A. Wacker, Jeffrey F. RobinsonCooperator: Florida Power & Light Company

Background:

The effect of salinity and temperature (emphasis added) differences and aquifer heterogeneity on density-driven convection, and the combined impact on surface water, groundwater, and ecologic conditions is being evaluated at the Florida Power & Light Company (FPL) Turkey Point Nuclear Plant in southeastern Florida. The power plant contains a large cooling canal system with warm water;which has salinities elevated above typical, natural surface water in southeastern Florida, circulating within the canals in the uppermost part the highly permeable karst 8carbonate Biscayne aquifer. The salinity of the cooling water is greater than natural groundwater salinities in the area, and thus, the presence of unstable density-driven convection is possible.

The potential for unstable density-driven convection is somewhatdiminished, however, by cooling water temperatures that aregreater than local groundwater temperatures. Recirculatingcooling systems at thermoelectric power plants are ofconsiderable interest to USGS Water Resource Programsbecause engineered cooling systems are common in populated areas, are source-water sinks due to high evaporation rates. This Technical Assistance Agreement is part of a collaborativeeffort between the USGS and FPL.

INT-045Origins and Delineation of Saltwater Intrusion in the Biscayne Aquifer and Changes in the Distributionof Saltwater in Miami-Dade County, FloridaBy Scott T. Prinos, Michael A. Wacker, Kevin J. Cunningham, and David V. Fitterman Prepared in cooperation with Miami-Dade CountyScientic Investigations Report 20145025U.S.The report Abstract states, in part,Intrusion of saltwater into parts of the shallow karst Biscayneaquifer is a major concern for the 2.5 million residents of Miami-Dade County that rely on this aquifer as their primary drinkingwater supply. Saltwater intrusion of this aquifer began when theEverglades were drained to provide dry land for urbandevelopment and agriculture. The reduction in water levelscaused by this drainage, combined with periodic droughts,allowed saltwater to ow inland along the base of the aquifer andto seep directly into the aquifer from the canals. The approximateinland extent of saltwater was last mapped in 1995.An examination of the inland extent of saltwater and the 9sources of saltwater in the aquifer was completed during 20082011 by using (1) all available salinity information, (2) time-series electromagnetic induction log datasets from 35 wells, (3) time domain electromagnetic soundings collected at 79 locations, (4) ahelicopter electromagnetic survey done during 2001 that wasprocessed, calibrated, and published during the study, (5) coresand geophysical logs collected from 8 sites for stratigraphicanalysis, (6) 8 new water-quality monitoring wells, and (7)analyses of 69 geochemical samples. The results of the study indicate that as of 2011 approximately1,200 square kilometers (km2) of the mainland part of theBiscayne aquifer were intruded by saltwater. The saltwater frontwas mapped farther inland than it was in 1995 in eight areastotaling about 24.1 km2. In many of these areas, analysesindicated that saltwater had encroached along the base of theaquifer. The saltwater front was mapped closer to the coast than itwas in 1995 in four areas totaling approximately 6.2 km2. Thechanges in the mapped extent of saltwater resulted fromimproved spatial information, actual movement of the saltwaterfront, or a combination of both.Turkey Point Nuclear Power Plant Cooling Canal SystemThe cooling canal system (CCS) of the Turkey Point NuclearPower Plant east of Florida City (g. 8) was constructed duringthe early 1970s and contains hypersaline water (Janzen andKrupa, 2011). This hypersaline water may be contributing tosaltwater encroachment in this area (Hughes and others,2010). Water in the cooling canals is reported to have tritiumconcentrations at least two orders of magnitude abovesurrounding surface and groundwater and [tritium] therefore [is]considered a potential tracer of waters from the CCS (Janzen and Krupa, 2011, section 2, p. 8). The tritium concentration of samples collected from sites located within 8.5 km of the CCS 10 ranged from 4.1 to 53.3 TU and averaged 12.4 TU, whereas thetritium concentration of samples collected farther away from the CCS averaged 1.3 TU (appendix 2, table 23) (see the Tritiumand Uranium Concentration section of this report). Saltwaterintrusion is a recent occurrence at most of the groundwatermonitoring wells (gs. 18, 19, 2126) within 8.5 km of the CCS,except at wells FKS4 and FKS8 near the Card Sound Road Canal (see the Card Sound Road Canal section of this report). Nosamples were collected from the CCS or wells within it as part ofthe current study to detect any possible inuxes of CCS water intothe aquifer; however, monitoring wells were installed in 2010adjacent to the CCS for other studies and these wells are beingmonitored using electromagnetic induction logging.The Summary and Conclusions state:The highest tritium concentrations (3.2 to 53.3 TU) measuredduring the study were measured in water from wells FKS4, FKS7,G1264, G3698, G3699, G3855, and G3856. These sevenwells are within 10 km of the Turkey Point Nuclear Power Plant,and hypersaline water with high tritium concentrations from thecooling canals may be contributing to saltwater encroachmentnear the wells. Geochemical analyses and long-term monitoringdata from wells G1264, G3698, G3699, G3855, and G3856conrmed the recent arrival of saltwater intrusion.In Miami-Dade County, the principal source of drinking water is the Biscayne aquifer. Prior to development, the estimated level of freshwater (3 to 4.3 m) in the Everglades near Miami was likelysufcient to prevent saltwater encroachment in the Biscayneaquifer in this area. The head differential between the 11 Everglades and the coast was evidenced by numerous freshwater springs that owed near the coast line and boiled up in Biscayne Bay. Beginning in 1845, drainage canals effectively drained theEverglades and resulted in an estimated 2.9-m permanentreduction in Biscayne aquifer water levels in east-central Miami-Dade County, which allowed saltwater to encroach landwardalong the base of the Biscayne aquifer. Landward encroachmentwas exacerbated during drought periods when water levels in theaquifer fell to or below sea level. Saltwater also owed inland upthe canals and into the Biscayne aquifer. Water control structureson most of the major drainage canals in Miami-Dade Countyreduced, but did not completely eliminate, the ability of saltwaterto ow inland through these canals during drought periods. Thevarious pathways of seawater into the highly permeable Biscayneaquifer have combined to intrude approximately 1,200 km2 of thisaquifer with saltwater.To map the inland extent of saltwater in the Biscayne aquifer,the following data were compiled and analyzed: (1) all availablesalinity information, (2) TSEMIL datasets from 35 wells that wereprocessed using a newly developed method, (3) TEM soundingscollected at 79 locations in 2008 and 2009 and used to evaluatethe depth to saltwater (if present) and the depth to the base of theBiscayne aquifer, (4) a HEM survey collected in 2001 that wasprocessed and interpreted during this study, (5) cores andgeophysical logs collected from 8 sites for stratigraphic analysis,(6) analyses of samples from 8 new single or multi-depthmonitoring wells installed in these core holes, and (7) analyses of69 geochemical samples. These data were evaluated, and GISsoftware was used to map the inland extent of saltwater in theBiscayne aquifer in 2008 and in 2011.The saltwater front was mapped farther inland than it was in 12 1995 in eight approximated areas totaling 24.1 km2, most notablynear the Florida City Canal where the front had advanced by asmuch as 1.9 km between 1995 and 2011. The saltwater interfacewas mapped closer to the coast than it was in 1995 in fourapproximated areas totaling 6.2 km2. The saltwater interface was mapped closer to the coast near the Snapper Creek Canal than it had been in 1995. Some revisions to the saltwater interface werethe result of the improved spatial coverage provided by additionalwells, TEM soundings, and the HEM survey. One area withextensive revisions resulting primarily from improved spatialcoverage was near the Card Sound Road Canal and U.S.Highway 1.The sources and changes in the distribution of saltwater in theBiscayne aquifer were evaluated by using (1) geochemicalsampling, (2) salinity measurements collected in canals, and (3)TSEMIL datasets. A total of 69 geochemical water samples werecollected from 44 sites. Analyses included (1) major ion chemistryand trace ion chemistry, (2) strontium isotope ratios, (3) oxygenand hydrogen isotope ratios, (4) tritium concentration, (5) tritium/helium-3 (3H/3He) age dating, (6) sulfur hexauoride (SF6) agedating, and (7) dissolved gas composition.The results of geochemical analyses indicate that saltwaterintrusion has recently arrived at wells G1264, G3615, G3698,G3699, G3704, G3705, and G3855. Long-term records ofchloride concentration conrm that the saltwater interface (1,000mg/L) rst became evident at most of these locations during orafter 1994. Geochemical analyses at wells FKS4, FKS8, G939,G3600, G3601, G3602, G3604, and G3605 generallyindicate preexisting saltwater intrusion as reported by previousresearchers.Droughts and intruded saltwater are closely connected. The 13 piston-ow ages determined from 3H/3He age samples ofsaltwater with a chloride concentration of about 1,000 mg/L orgreater generally correspond to a period of frequent droughts. Recharge temperatures of water samples determined by usingdissolved-gas analyses are consistent with air temperatures thatoccur in April or early May, when water levels are typically at theirlowest. Conversely, most of the samples of water with chlorideconcentrations less than about 1,000 mg/L indicate rechargetemperatures corresponding to air temperatures in mid to lateMay when water levels in the aquifer begin to increase, and thepiston-ow age determinations correspond to wet years. Thepiston-ow ages of freshwater samples were generally youngerthan ages determined for saltwater.The silica concentrations in samples from well G3701 indicatethat this well is screened in the Pinecrest Sand Member of theTamiami Formation below the base of the Biscayne aquifer.Samples from the wells G3600 and G3601, which are screenedin a part of the Biscayne aquifer that includes the TamiamiFormation, also indicated silica concentrations that were elevatedrelative to samples from most other wells.The strontium (87Sr/86Sr) isotope ratio in samples was used toevaluate the origin of saltwater in the Biscayne aquifer, but themethod did not prove useful because the standard error was toolarge relative to the range of the 87Sr/86Sr isotope ratios in thestudy area. Most of the 87Sr/86Sr isotope ratios determined fromsamples corresponded with the Pleistocene age of mostsediments in the Biscayne aquifer. Two of the lowest ratios wereobserved for samples from wells G3701 and G3601. Thesewells likely are open to materials that are of Pliocene age.Oxygen and hydrogen isotopes indicated that water from well G3608 was similar in isotopic composition to water from the 14 adjacent Snapper Creek Canal. The relatively shallow increase inbulk conductivity evident in the TSEMIL dataset from G3608, theinterpreted piston-ow age of water from this well, and the local hydraulic gradient indicated that the saltwater at this location likelyemanated from seawater that had owed up the Snapper CreekCanal and leaked into the aquifer.Geochemical analyses had indicated preexisting saltwaterintrusion at wells G3600, G3601, G3602, G3604, and G3605. The highest tritium concentrations (3.2 to 53.3 TU)measured during the study were measured in water from wellsFKS4, FKS7, G1264, G3698, G3699, G3855, and G3856.These seven wells are within 10 km of the Turkey Point NuclearPower Plant, and hypersaline water with high tritiumconcentrations from the cooling canals may be contributing tosaltwater encroachment near the wells. Geochemical analysesand long-term monitoring data from wells G1264, G3698, G3699, G3855, and G3856 conrmed the recent arrival ofsaltwater intrusion.3H/3He age dating indicated that the water sampled from wellsG3601 and G3701 contained too little tritium to be evaluatedusing this method. The sample from well G3600 showed thecharacteristics of gas fractionation and could not be dated using3H/3He age dating. Water samples from wells G3600, G3601,G3602, G3604, and G3701 also indicated silicaconcentrations that were greater than the theoretical mixing offreshwater and saltwater in the area would produce. Theseelevated silica concentrations could be caused by relatively longerresidence times within a quartz-sand-rich formation.SF6 age dating could not be used effectively in the study areaprincipally because there was excess SF6 in most samples thatmay have been caused by leakage of SF6 from electrical 15 switching facilities. Moreover, SF6-interpreted piston-ow agesare generally younger than 3H/3He ages. The lowest SF6concentrations determined were for water sampled from wells G3601 and G3701. These samples also contained no tritium.Evaluations of long-term chloride monitoring and the geochemistry of water samples indicated that the saltwatersampled in the Biscayne aquifer is likely not relict seawater ofPleistocene or Pliocene ages. Some saltwater likely leaked fromcanals prior to the installation of water control structures. Near theMiami Canal northwest of the water control structure S26, thissaltwater is gradually mixing with the groundwater, and salinity isgradually decreasing. Modern leakage of saltwater likely isoccurring along the Card Sound Road Canal and upstream ofsalinity control structures in the Biscayne, Black Creek, andSnapper Creek Canals. Saltwater also may have leaked from thePrinceton Canal and the canal adjacent to well G3698, althoughthis leakage could not be conrmed or refuted with availableinformation.Additional information, such as TEM soundings or resistivitysurveys collected from the canals and monitoring wells adjacentto these canals, could be used to evaluate the effect thatsaltwater leakage around or through existing structures has onthe inland extent of saltwater in the Biscayne aquifer. Inuxes ofsaltwater in canals may be undetected because the intervalbetween samples is too long. Continuous salinity monitoring incanals could be useful in the detection of any future inuxes ofsaltwater upstream of existing water control structures. 16 MIGRATION OUT OF THE CCS INT-046PermeabilityMcNeill, Donald F., 2000. A Review of Upward Migrationof Efuent Related to Subsurface Injection at Miami-DadeWater and Sewer South District Plant. Prepared forSierra Club - Miami Group. 30 p.Dr. Donald McNeill (Univ. Miami) wrote a report in 2000looking at the same question for the south M-D treatmentplant. There, the presumed very thick low permeabilityzone was in fact only about 14 feet in thickness and layjust above the Boulder zone at a depth of 2,456'-1,443'depth. Ten of the 17 deep injection well for the efuent came out above the low permeability zone. As you cansee from the depth difference between Turkey Point andBlack Point, his low permeability surface rises up to thenorthwest. Efuent injected at Turkey Point will ow upthe surface's gradient to the NW and then probably N.IT will have lots of opportunities to encounter breaks inthe permeability barrier in this lateral travel.

INT-047GROUND WATER ATLAS of the UNITED STATES Alabama, Florida, Georgia, South CarolinaHA 730-G http://pubs.usgs.gov/ha/ha730/ch_g/G-text4.html

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INT-048Biological Assessment on the American Crocodile (Crocodylusacutus) Turkey Point Nuclear Generating Unit Nos. 3 and 4Proposed License Amendment to Increase the Ultimate Heat SinkTemperature Limit July 2014 Docket Numbers 50-250 and 50-251ML14206A806 prepared by NRC Staff:At 13, Algae In 2011, FPL began to notice increased blue green algaeconcentrations in the CCS. The concentrations have steadilyincreased since that time. FPL has performed engineering and environmental analyses and believes that the presence of higherthan normal CCS algae concentrations may be diminishing theCCSs heat transfer capabilities. FPL developed a plan togradually reduce algae concentrations through controlledchemical treatment of the CCS over the course of several weeks.On June 18, 2014, FPL (2014h) submitted a request to the FloridaDepartment of Environmental Protection (FDEP) to approve theuse of copper sulfate, hydrogen peroxide, and a bio-stimulant totreat the algae. On June 27, 2014, the FDEP (2014) approvedFPLs treatment plan for a 90-day trial period. The FDEPrequested that during the 90-day treatment period, FPL monitorfor total recoverable copper and dissolved oxygen and submit itsresults to the FDEP. The FDEP also recommended that FPLcoordinate with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) due to the presence of crocodiles in thecooling system. The FWC (2014) provided its comments on FPLstreatment plan in a letter dated July 1, 2014. Appendix A containsthe letters referenced in this paragraph, which provide additionalinformation on the algal treatment plan, timeline, and anticipatedeffects. FPL also developed a Water Quality Monitoring Plan forthe chemical treatments, and this plan is also enclosed in 18 Appendix AAquifer Withdrawals The CCS is situated above two aquifers: theshallower saltwater Biscayne Aquifer and the deeper brackishFloridan Aquifer. A conning layer separates the two aquifers fromone another. Turkey Point, Unit 5, uses the Floridan Aquifer forcooling water. The South Florida Water Management District(SFWMD) granted FPL approval to withdraw a portion(approximately 5 million gallons per day [MGD]) of the Unit 5withdrawal allowance for use in the CCS. FPL began pumping Floridan Aquifer water into the CCS in early July. FPL has alsoreceived temporary approval to withdraw 30 MGD from the Biscayne Aquifer, though FPL has not yet used this allowance.(FPL 2014f, 2014g) FPL (2014f) also anticipates the FDEP toissue an Administrative Order requiring FPL to install up to sixnew wells that will pump approximately 14 MGD of water from theFloridan Aquifer into the CCS. Modeling performed by FPLconsultants and the SFWMD indicates that in approximately twoyears, the withdrawals would reduce the salinity of the CCS to theequivalent of Biscayne Bay (about 34 parts per thousand [ppt]).Such withdrawals could also help moderate water temperatures.Turkey Point Nuclear Power Plant Cooling Canal SystemThe cooling canal system (CCS) of the Turkey Point NuclearPower Plant east of Florida City (g. 8) was constructed during the early 1970s and contains hypersaline water (Janzen andKrupa, 2011). This hypersaline water may be contributing to saltwater encroachment in this area(Hughes and others, 2010). Water in the cooling canals is reported to have tritium concentrations at least two orders of magnitude above surrounding surface and groundwater and [tritium] therefore [is] considered a potential tracer of waters fromthe CCS (Janzen and Krupa, 2011, section 2, p. 8). The tritium concentration of samples collected from sites located within 8.5km of the CCS ranged from 4.1 to 53.3 TU and averaged 12.4 TU, whereas the tritium 19 concentration of samples collected farther away from the CCS averaged1.3 TU (appendix 2, table 23) (see the Tritium and UraniumConcentration section of this report). Saltwater intrusion is arecent occurrence at most of the groundwater monitoring wells(gs. 18, 19, 2126) within 8.5 km of the CCS, except at wellsFKS4 and FKS8 near the Card Sound Road Canal (see the CardSound Road Canal section of this report). No samples werecollected from the CCS or wells within it as part of the currentstudy to detect any possible inuxes of CCS water into the aquifer; however, monitoring wells were installed in 2010 adjacentto the CCS for other studies and these wells are being monitoredusing electromagnetic induction logging.Recent Leakage from CanalsAlthough salinity control structures have been installed in most ofthe tidal canals, the leakage of saltwater through the porous rockof the Biscayne aquifer and around existing salinity control structures is documented (emphasis added)(Parker and others, 1955; Kohout and Leach, 1964; Leach and Grantham,1966). Kohout and Leach (1964) reported that any saltwater upstream of the salinity control structures could be driven into the aquifer when freshwater heads in the canals upstream of these structures increased. Monthly measurements of salinity collected by the Miami-Dade County Permitting, Environmental, and Regulatory Affairs (M-D PERA) during 1988 to 2010 (appendix 11)show inuxes of saltwater in many of the canals upstream of thesalinity control structures. These measurements at stations BL03,BS04, CD02, GL03, LR06, PR03, MI03, MW04, and SP04,located in the Black Creek, Biscayne, Cutler Drain, Goulds Canal,Little River, Princeton, Military, Mowry, and Snapper CreekCanals, respectively (g. 8), have detected inuxes of saltwater upstream of the water control structures in these canals. The occurrences have ranged from rare inuxes of 20 water with salinity between 0.5 and 1.4 PSU at station SP04 in the Snapper Creek Canal, to frequent inuxes of water witha salinity of between 15 and 32 PSU at station BS04 in theBiscayne Canal (appendix 11). This saltwater may be leaking intothe aquifer in some areas.

INT-049Sources of Saltwater in the Biscayne Aquifer Hughes, J.D., Langevin, C.D., and Brakeeld-Goswami, Linzy,2010, Effect of hypersaline cooling canals on aquifer salinization:Hydrogeology Journal, v. 18, p. 2538.

INT-050Turkey Point Unit 1 Eco System BY RUSS FINLEY ON MAR 3,2015 WITH 14 RESPONSES Blogger statement:You forgot to mention that it was a lawsuit by the EPA forviolations of the Clean Water Act which was the driving force inchanging how the discharge of the water was handled. Thedesign of the cooling canals was created by the power companyitself and the choice to save money and not line them was theirs.http://www.energytrendsinsider.com/2015/03/03/turkey-point-power-stationand-its-ecosystem/Since this is a uniquely designed system and there were concernsabout the long term effects of it, a monitoring program was set up.At the time, it was the choice that was agreed to by both thepower company and the regulators. I am not saying, in retrospect,that it was the best choice but no one had the perspective wehave today, back then. About the crocodiles, a little follow up andresearch might be helpful. The hatchlings are being relocated 21 because of contamination in the cooling canals. While the coolingcanals served as a "habitat", they are now so contaminated thatthe crocodile population is crashing going from around 20 nestslast year to 5-6 this year. The older crocodiles are dying for lack of food. You see, all the sh are dying or dead from a problem thatstarted in 2012 which required massive amounts of chemicals totry to get under control. I think that now is an excellent opportunityto do a little more research and write a follow-up article thatpresents the issues on a more level playing eld.

INT-051The National Park Service website states:Biscayne Bay is a shallow estuary (emphasis added), a placewhere freshwater from the land mixes with salt water from the sea and lifeabounds. It serves as a nursery where infant and juvenile marine lifereside. Lush seagrass beds provide hiding places and food for a vast arrayof sea life. In fact approximately 70 percent of the area's recreationally andcommercially important shes, crustaceans, and shellsh spend a portionof their young lives in the bay's protective environment.Protected from the ocean to the east by a chain of islands or keys and bythe mainland to the west, the bay is one of the most productiveecosystems in the park. Fresh water ow brings nutrients from inlandareas. Plants use these nutrients, along with energy from the sun, carbondioxide, and water to produce food through photosynthesis.http://www.nps.gov/bisc/learn/nature/biscaynebay.htm 22 INT-052Knowledge of Groundwater ResponsesÑ ACritical Factor in Saving Florida's Threatened andEndangered Species Part I: Marine EcologicalDisturbancesSydney T. BacchusApplied Environmental Services, P. O. Box 174, Athens, GA 30603;appliedenvirserv@mindspring.comhttps://www.nirs.org/nukerelapse/levy/exhf2bacchus.pdfAbstractFlorida's marine species, including threatened andendangered species, are subjected to adverse environmentalconditions due to groundwater alterations because agenciescharged with implement- ing and enforcing the Clean WaterAct and Endangered Species Act fail to consider thoseimpacts. Examples of anthropogenic groundwaterperturbations that can result in direct, indirect, secondaryand cumulative impacts to marine species include: (1)aquifer injection of efuent and other ecologi- callyhazardous wastes; (2) aquifer 'storage' and 'recovery'; (3)groundwater mining; and (4) struc- tural mining of the aquifersystem (e.g., limerock, sand, phosphate). Groundwater owin Florida's regional karst aquifer system varies greatly bothspatially and temporally, in response to those anthropogenicalterations. Those perturbations can result in signicantphysical, chemical and biological changes in the marineecosystem. Related adverse impacts can include: (1)predisposing organisms to disease (e.g., decreasing hostresistance, increasing pathogen vigor), includingcatalyzation by carbon-loading; (2) introducing newpathogens; (3) promoting rapid, antagonistic evolution of 23 microbes; and (4) introducing hazardous chemicals,including endocrine disrupters. The adverse effects of thosealterations may be a signicant factor in the major ecologicaldisturbances of Florida's marine environment described involume 18(1) of Endangered Species UPDATE. Themagnitude of adverse impacts to marine species from thosegroundwater perturbations is unknown. Currently, theagencies have not fullled their ducal responsibilities byfailing to require the neces- sary studies, proceeding withpermitting actions in the absence of that requiredinformation, and failing to take enforcement action againstexisting violations.ConclusionsThe regional karst aquifer system un- derlying south Floridais not a static system, but changes spatially and tem- porally,particularly in response to an- thropogenic perturbations.The historic submarine groundwater discharge in southFlorida occurred from the mar- gin of the submergedcarbonate plat- form, outcrops in terraces, and areas ofdiscontinuities (e.g., karst dissolution/ subsidence features,paleo channels). Data suggest that the historic discharge ofpristine, low-salinity, low-nutrient ground water of constanttemperature into Florida's coastal areas was signi- cant inmaintaining the associated eco- systems. The quantity andquality of that historic SGD has been and will be altered by:(1) aquifer injection of ef- uent and other ecologicallyhazard- ous wastes, (2) aquifer 'storage' and 're- covery,' (3)groundwater mining, and (4) structural mining of the aquifersys- tem (e.g., limerock, sand, phosphate).The same subsurface ow paths that supplied historicpristine ground water to coastal areas now may be points ofpreferential induced discharge for uid wastes injected into 24 wells along south Florida's coast. The 110 million gallons aday of minimally- treated sewage permitted for injection atthe Miami/Dade facility, and smaller volumes injected inapproximately 1,000 shallow wells throughout the FloridaKeys, in addition to the 1.7 bil- lion gallons of surface waterproposed for ASR injection in south Florida are examples.Minimal dilution, disper- sion, and adsorption should beexpected for injected contaminants due, in part, to rapidtravel times in the aquifer, prior to induced discharge intonearshore surface waters.Current literature suggests that induced dischargescontaining aqui- fer-injected contaminants are occur- ring inthe Gulf of Mexico, Straits of Florida, Gulf Stream, andAtlantic Ocean, and may be a factor in harm- ful algal bloomsand hypoxia. Governmentagencies charged with implementing and enforcingthe Clean Water Act and the Endangered Species Act havefailed to consider the direct, indirect, secondary, andcumulative impacts of those ground- water alterations toFlorida's marine species, including threatened andendangered species. By proceed- ing with permitting actions,in the absence of the required informa- tion, the agencies arenegligent and therefore liable.Vol. 18 No. 3 2001 Endangered Species UPDATE 83 25 INT-053Slide 10 in the exhibit INT-002, based on FPL data and compiled by MDCDERM illustrates further the USGS description of the movement of waterinto and out of the CCS showing s a computer generated arial view oftritium leaving the CCS based on well monitoring. The tritium, while not at alevel to be of concern, does act as a tracer showing the efuent from theCCS which is hypersaline and carries all of the chemicals in the CCS manyof which are toxic. Because, as noted above, the CCS is unlined, there isnothing to prevent this ow of water from the CCS or, conversely, nothingto prevent the ow of water into the CCS including saltwater pulsing infrom Biscayne Bay. INT-054Illustration 3, (INT-045) Initial Statement, at 12, illustrates how salinity descends from unprotected canals into the aquifer. From each furrow in the CCS water descends to the bottom of the Biscayne Aquifer and then spreads out. According to Dr. Philip Stoddard, FIU biologist, the heavy metals and other chemicals are absorbed into the soil and will stay there until disturbed by a vessel or a storm.

The many salts in the water slowly dissipate but, in the mean time, they impact the ora and fauna in the surrounding area.

26 INT-001 THE SCIENCE OF THE TURKEY POINT WETLANDSNOTE: The terms PSU/Practical Salinity Units and PPT/partsper thousand are, for our purposes, functionally equivalent.WHAT IS SALTWATER INTRUSION? INT-041Saltwater Intrusion of Coastal Aquifers in the U.S. James SpatafoJohnson State College Senior Seminar May 6, 2008 Thttp://kanat.jsc.vsc.edu/student/spatafora/setup.htmStatementMay 6, 2008 What is saltwater intrusion?Salt water intrusion occurs in coastal freshwater aquiferswhen the different densities of both the saltwater andfreshwater allow the ocean water to intrude into thefreshwater aquifer. These areas are usually supporting largepopulations where the demanding groundwater withdrawalsfrom these aquifers is exceeding the recharge rateÉ. Thiscan cause lateral and vertical intrusion of the surroundingsaltwater, and evidence of saltwater intrusion has been foundSome coastal regions of the United States have and continue to be densely populated. Currently, over half of the population resides on land areas classied as coastal regions (NOAA, 2007). Due to over extraction from an increasing demand for freshwater resources, the coastal aquifers located in these regions are experiencing a hydrologic problem known as saltwater intrusion.throughout the eastern seaboard of the U.S. (USGS, 2007).

1 The encroaching seawater will encounter an area known asthe zone of dispersion, where the freshwater and saltwater mix and form an interfaceÉ This interface moves back andforth (a.k.a, pulse) naturally because of uctuations therecharge rate of freshwater back into these coastal aquifers(Ranjan, 2007). Aquifers are naturally replenished byprecipitation and surface waters through the soil and geologicmaterial to the water table.When groundwater levels in aquifers are depleted fasterthan they can recharge. This is directly related to the positionof the interface and determines the amount of saltwater thatcan intrude into the freshwater aquifer system. Sincesaltwater intrusion is directly related to the recharge rate ofthe groundwater, this allows for other factors that maycontribute to the encroachment of seawater into thefreshwater aquifers. Climatic variables, such as precipitation,surface runoff, and temperature can play a big role in affectingsaltwater intrusion. With lower precipitation amounts andwarmer temperatures, the recharge rate will be much less dueto lack of groundwater present and increased evaporation(Ranjan, 2007). Along with this, other factors may inuencethe groundwater recharge rate indirectly. An example of thiswould be the rising carbon dioxide emissions in theatmosphere. Increasing carbon dioxide levels can leaddirectly to an increase in average surface temperatures,indirectly increasing the evaporation rate and affecting therecharge of freshwater into the coastal aquifers. É majorpumping of well water (can) lead to a cone of depression in 2

the water table. Émajor pumping of the well water (can) leadto a cone of depression in the water table. When this occurs,it will move the saltwater freshwater interface inland, resultingin a higher saline concentration in the aquifers' water,rendering it useless for human consumption, unless it istreated. Figure 4. Saltwater IntrusionAnother factor that directly affects coastal aquiferdepletion is land use planning and management. Differentactivities such as irrigating crops and industrial processingcan require a substantial amount of freshwater resources tobe withdrawn.É If certain wells are relying on these coastalaquifers to provide enough freshwater to support agricultural,industrial, municipal, and residential demands, then therecharge rate of the aquifer must be able to keep up. Theover-pumping of these coastal aquifers has decreased theunderground water table level and decreased the abundance,pressure, and storage capacity the freshwater aquifer. Thiswill cause the zone of dispersion to move inland anddrastically reduce the freshwater that is available from the welland it may result in contamination of the freshwater aquiferand eliminate it as a potential freshwater source.Probably the most detrimental effect that ground waterdepletion causes is the lowering of the water table. Thewater table is the area underneath the ground that iscompletely saturated with freshwater and can be drilled intoand extracted as a freshwater resource. As the water leveldeclines, extraction of water may prove to be more difcult. Ifthe water level drops below the well, then it must be re-drilledand set at a lower depth. This can be quite an expensive 3

procedure, especially for a residential consumer with anindependent well system. As the water table declines,extraction of the freshwater becomes more difcult andexpensive, and the rate of water that can usually be pumpedout of the well will decline (USGS, 2005). Keeping this inmind, if water tables continue to decrease, extraction ofgroundwater for all different activities will become increasinglymore expensive as time progresses. Currently in Vermont,the price of well drilling is going up. On average, a 250 footwell will cost somewhere around $4,000 (Helmich, 2000).However, the more complicated the project gets due tolocation, underground geological rock formation, and lowerwater tables, the higher the cost of drilling a well becomes. Ifthis is true for a non coastal, lightly populated area such asVermont, you can extrapolate the costs of well drilling in adensely populated, coastal area such as coastal SouthCarolina and Georgia, where the water table is extremely low.Changing the InterfaceAnother problem that takes place when saltwater intrusionoccurs in coastal freshwater aquifers is the changing of thesaltwater- freshwater interface. Also known as the zone ofdispersion or transition zone, this is the area where the bodyof saltwater and freshwater meet and form a hydrologicbarrier. The natural hydrologic movement of the undergroundfreshwater towards the ocean usually prevents the seawaterfrom intruding into the coastal aquifer system (Ranjan, 2007).Over-pumping of these coastal aquifers will cause auctuation in the amount of freshwater moving towards the 4

coastal discharge areas and will allow for the oceanic water tomove inland, into the aquifer system. This will result in higherchlorinated concentrations of water and less available storagespace for the freshwater in the aquifer. Figure 6 accuratelyshows how the saltwater freshwater interface can intrude intothe conned coastal aquifer. When the interface movesinland, the deeper wells will begin to withdraw salinecontaminated freshwater. This means that the water must betreated before human consumption. The other option is tostop using this well until the natural recharge rate of theaquifer can force the saltwater freshwater interface back to itsnormal position. This process can take a long time and itreduces the freshwater availability of this region.What areas are currently experiencing saltwater intrusion?Currently in the U.S., many coastal aquifers areexperiencing different degrees of saltwater intrusion. Themost commonly studied coastal area experiencing saltwaterintrusion on the eastern seaboard of the U.S. is the surcialaquifer system of the southeastern U.S. This aquifer systemcovers most of Florida and the coastal areas of SouthCarolina and Georgia ÉThe average thickness of the surcialaquifer is around 50 feet, however, in some places such as St.Lucie County in Florida, it can reach a depth of over 400 feet(Miller, 2002). The Biscayne aquifer is a surcial aquiferlocated in southeastern Florida. This is the most heavily usedwater source for Florida, and it spans over 3,000 squaremiles. In many areas, the Biscayne aquifer has beencontaminated by industrial discharge, landlls, andsaltwater intrusion (University of Florida, 2003). In 1985,the Biscayne aquifer was providing 786 million gallons ofwater a day, where public water supply withdrawals were 5 around 569 million gallons a day (Miller, 2002). Acombination of large groundwater withdrawals and a newdrainage canal system has allowed the freshwater level tolpromoting the landward movement of the saltwaterinto the freshwater aquifer and canal systems (Miller,2002). (emphasis added)An Attack from BelowIn addition to surface ooding, there is trouble brewingbelow the surface too. That trouble is called saltwaterintrusion, and it is already taking place along coastalcommunities in south Florida. Saltwater intrusion occurswhen saltwater from the ocean or bay advances further intothe porous limestone aquifer. That aquifer also happens tosupply about 90% of south Floridas drinking water.Municipal wells pump fresh water up from the aquifer forresidential and agricultural use, but some cities have alreadyhad to shut down some wells because the water beingpumped up was brackish (for example, Hallandale Beach hasalready closed 6 of its 8 wells due to saltwatercontamination).Schematic drawing of saltwater intrusion. Sea level rise,water use, and rainfall all control the severity of the intrusion.(oridaswater.com)The wedge of salt water advances and retreats naturallyduring the dry and rainy seasons, but the combination offresh water extraction and sea level rise is drawing thatwedge closer to land laterally and vertically.In other words, the water table rises as sea level rises, sowith higher sea level, the saltwater exerts more pressure onthe fresh water in the aquifer, shoving the fresh water further 6 away from the coast and upward toward the surface.Map of the Miami area, where colors indicate the depth to thewater table. A lot of area is covered by 0-4 feet, including allof Miami Beach. (Dr. Keren Bolter)Map of the Miami area, where colors indicate the depth to thewater table. A lot of area is covered by 0-4 feet, including allof Miami Beach. (Keren Bolter, FAU)

INT-013http://www.rsmas.miami.edu/blog/2014/10/03/sea-levelrise-in-miami/ (Water, Water Everywhere)

INT-042Emergency Order No. 2015-034-DAO-WU [PDF] -South ...www.sfwmd.gov/.../sfwmd.../f Final Order Re: Withdrawal from L-31E Canal August 14, 2015 Tara Dolan study: INT-043"A Case Study of Turkey Point Nuclear Generating Station ...scholarlyrepository.miami.edu ETDS OA_THESES 354 The goal of this study was to assess the perception of risk to Biscayne Bay from the operation of current and proposed cooling systems by a targeted group of individual stakeholders and managers

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7 PERMEABILITY Discussed in INT-044 and INT-046 To fully understand the nature of the CCS one must know that they are unlined.

INT-0442010 USGS Borehole geophysical logging for the Florida Power & Light Turkey Point Plant groundwater, surface water, andecological monitoring plan:

Study Area: Miami-Dade County, Florida Period of Project: February 2010 through September 2010Principal Investigators: Kevin J. Cunningham, Robert A. Renken, Dorothy PayneCo-Investigators: Michael A. Wacker, Jeffrey F. RobinsonCooperator: Florida Power & Light Company

Background:

The effect of salinity and temperature (emphasis added) differences and aquifer heterogeneity on density-driven convection, and the combined impact on surface water, groundwater, and ecologic conditions is being evaluated at the Florida Power & Light Company (FPL) Turkey Point Nuclear Plant in southeastern Florida. The power plant contains a large cooling canal system with warm water;which has salinities elevated above typical, natural surface water in southeastern Florida, circulating within the canals in the uppermost part the highly permeable karst 8carbonate Biscayne aquifer. The salinity of the cooling water is greater than natural groundwater salinities in the area, and thus, the presence of unstable density-driven convection is possible.

The potential for unstable density-driven convection is somewhatdiminished, however, by cooling water temperatures that aregreater than local groundwater temperatures. Recirculatingcooling systems at thermoelectric power plants are ofconsiderable interest to USGS Water Resource Programsbecause engineered cooling systems are common in populated areas, are source-water sinks due to high evaporation rates. This Technical Assistance Agreement is part of a collaborativeeffort between the USGS and FPL.

INT-045Origins and Delineation of Saltwater Intrusion in the Biscayne Aquifer and Changes in the Distributionof Saltwater in Miami-Dade County, FloridaBy Scott T. Prinos, Michael A. Wacker, Kevin J. Cunningham, and David V. Fitterman Prepared in cooperation with Miami-Dade CountyScientic Investigations Report 20145025U.S.The report Abstract states, in part,Intrusion of saltwater into parts of the shallow karst Biscayneaquifer is a major concern for the 2.5 million residents of Miami-Dade County that rely on this aquifer as their primary drinkingwater supply. Saltwater intrusion of this aquifer began when theEverglades were drained to provide dry land for urbandevelopment and agriculture. The reduction in water levelscaused by this drainage, combined with periodic droughts,allowed saltwater to ow inland along the base of the aquifer andto seep directly into the aquifer from the canals. The approximateinland extent of saltwater was last mapped in 1995.An examination of the inland extent of saltwater and the 9sources of saltwater in the aquifer was completed during 20082011 by using (1) all available salinity information, (2) time-series electromagnetic induction log datasets from 35 wells, (3) time domain electromagnetic soundings collected at 79 locations, (4) ahelicopter electromagnetic survey done during 2001 that wasprocessed, calibrated, and published during the study, (5) coresand geophysical logs collected from 8 sites for stratigraphicanalysis, (6) 8 new water-quality monitoring wells, and (7)analyses of 69 geochemical samples. The results of the study indicate that as of 2011 approximately1,200 square kilometers (km2) of the mainland part of theBiscayne aquifer were intruded by saltwater. The saltwater frontwas mapped farther inland than it was in 1995 in eight areastotaling about 24.1 km2. In many of these areas, analysesindicated that saltwater had encroached along the base of theaquifer. The saltwater front was mapped closer to the coast than itwas in 1995 in four areas totaling approximately 6.2 km2. Thechanges in the mapped extent of saltwater resulted fromimproved spatial information, actual movement of the saltwaterfront, or a combination of both.Turkey Point Nuclear Power Plant Cooling Canal SystemThe cooling canal system (CCS) of the Turkey Point NuclearPower Plant east of Florida City (g. 8) was constructed duringthe early 1970s and contains hypersaline water (Janzen andKrupa, 2011). This hypersaline water may be contributing tosaltwater encroachment in this area (Hughes and others,2010). Water in the cooling canals is reported to have tritiumconcentrations at least two orders of magnitude abovesurrounding surface and groundwater and [tritium] therefore [is]considered a potential tracer of waters from the CCS (Janzen and Krupa, 2011, section 2, p. 8). The tritium concentration of samples collected from sites located within 8.5 km of the CCS 10 ranged from 4.1 to 53.3 TU and averaged 12.4 TU, whereas thetritium concentration of samples collected farther away from the CCS averaged 1.3 TU (appendix 2, table 23) (see the Tritiumand Uranium Concentration section of this report). Saltwaterintrusion is a recent occurrence at most of the groundwatermonitoring wells (gs. 18, 19, 2126) within 8.5 km of the CCS,except at wells FKS4 and FKS8 near the Card Sound Road Canal (see the Card Sound Road Canal section of this report). Nosamples were collected from the CCS or wells within it as part ofthe current study to detect any possible inuxes of CCS water intothe aquifer; however, monitoring wells were installed in 2010adjacent to the CCS for other studies and these wells are beingmonitored using electromagnetic induction logging.The Summary and Conclusions state:The highest tritium concentrations (3.2 to 53.3 TU) measuredduring the study were measured in water from wells FKS4, FKS7,G1264, G3698, G3699, G3855, and G3856. These sevenwells are within 10 km of the Turkey Point Nuclear Power Plant,and hypersaline water with high tritium concentrations from thecooling canals may be contributing to saltwater encroachmentnear the wells. Geochemical analyses and long-term monitoringdata from wells G1264, G3698, G3699, G3855, and G3856conrmed the recent arrival of saltwater intrusion.In Miami-Dade County, the principal source of drinking water is the Biscayne aquifer. Prior to development, the estimated level of freshwater (3 to 4.3 m) in the Everglades near Miami was likelysufcient to prevent saltwater encroachment in the Biscayneaquifer in this area. The head differential between the 11 Everglades and the coast was evidenced by numerous freshwater springs that owed near the coast line and boiled up in Biscayne Bay. Beginning in 1845, drainage canals effectively drained theEverglades and resulted in an estimated 2.9-m permanentreduction in Biscayne aquifer water levels in east-central Miami-Dade County, which allowed saltwater to encroach landwardalong the base of the Biscayne aquifer. Landward encroachmentwas exacerbated during drought periods when water levels in theaquifer fell to or below sea level. Saltwater also owed inland upthe canals and into the Biscayne aquifer. Water control structureson most of the major drainage canals in Miami-Dade Countyreduced, but did not completely eliminate, the ability of saltwaterto ow inland through these canals during drought periods. Thevarious pathways of seawater into the highly permeable Biscayneaquifer have combined to intrude approximately 1,200 km2 of thisaquifer with saltwater.To map the inland extent of saltwater in the Biscayne aquifer,the following data were compiled and analyzed: (1) all availablesalinity information, (2) TSEMIL datasets from 35 wells that wereprocessed using a newly developed method, (3) TEM soundingscollected at 79 locations in 2008 and 2009 and used to evaluatethe depth to saltwater (if present) and the depth to the base of theBiscayne aquifer, (4) a HEM survey collected in 2001 that wasprocessed and interpreted during this study, (5) cores andgeophysical logs collected from 8 sites for stratigraphic analysis,(6) analyses of samples from 8 new single or multi-depthmonitoring wells installed in these core holes, and (7) analyses of69 geochemical samples. These data were evaluated, and GISsoftware was used to map the inland extent of saltwater in theBiscayne aquifer in 2008 and in 2011.The saltwater front was mapped farther inland than it was in 12 1995 in eight approximated areas totaling 24.1 km2, most notablynear the Florida City Canal where the front had advanced by asmuch as 1.9 km between 1995 and 2011. The saltwater interfacewas mapped closer to the coast than it was in 1995 in fourapproximated areas totaling 6.2 km2. The saltwater interface was mapped closer to the coast near the Snapper Creek Canal than it had been in 1995. Some revisions to the saltwater interface werethe result of the improved spatial coverage provided by additionalwells, TEM soundings, and the HEM survey. One area withextensive revisions resulting primarily from improved spatialcoverage was near the Card Sound Road Canal and U.S.Highway 1.The sources and changes in the distribution of saltwater in theBiscayne aquifer were evaluated by using (1) geochemicalsampling, (2) salinity measurements collected in canals, and (3)TSEMIL datasets. A total of 69 geochemical water samples werecollected from 44 sites. Analyses included (1) major ion chemistryand trace ion chemistry, (2) strontium isotope ratios, (3) oxygenand hydrogen isotope ratios, (4) tritium concentration, (5) tritium/helium-3 (3H/3He) age dating, (6) sulfur hexauoride (SF6) agedating, and (7) dissolved gas composition.The results of geochemical analyses indicate that saltwaterintrusion has recently arrived at wells G1264, G3615, G3698,G3699, G3704, G3705, and G3855. Long-term records ofchloride concentration conrm that the saltwater interface (1,000mg/L) rst became evident at most of these locations during orafter 1994. Geochemical analyses at wells FKS4, FKS8, G939,G3600, G3601, G3602, G3604, and G3605 generallyindicate preexisting saltwater intrusion as reported by previousresearchers.Droughts and intruded saltwater are closely connected. The 13 piston-ow ages determined from 3H/3He age samples ofsaltwater with a chloride concentration of about 1,000 mg/L orgreater generally correspond to a period of frequent droughts. Recharge temperatures of water samples determined by usingdissolved-gas analyses are consistent with air temperatures thatoccur in April or early May, when water levels are typically at theirlowest. Conversely, most of the samples of water with chlorideconcentrations less than about 1,000 mg/L indicate rechargetemperatures corresponding to air temperatures in mid to lateMay when water levels in the aquifer begin to increase, and thepiston-ow age determinations correspond to wet years. Thepiston-ow ages of freshwater samples were generally youngerthan ages determined for saltwater.The silica concentrations in samples from well G3701 indicatethat this well is screened in the Pinecrest Sand Member of theTamiami Formation below the base of the Biscayne aquifer.Samples from the wells G3600 and G3601, which are screenedin a part of the Biscayne aquifer that includes the TamiamiFormation, also indicated silica concentrations that were elevatedrelative to samples from most other wells.The strontium (87Sr/86Sr) isotope ratio in samples was used toevaluate the origin of saltwater in the Biscayne aquifer, but themethod did not prove useful because the standard error was toolarge relative to the range of the 87Sr/86Sr isotope ratios in thestudy area. Most of the 87Sr/86Sr isotope ratios determined fromsamples corresponded with the Pleistocene age of mostsediments in the Biscayne aquifer. Two of the lowest ratios wereobserved for samples from wells G3701 and G3601. Thesewells likely are open to materials that are of Pliocene age.Oxygen and hydrogen isotopes indicated that water from well G3608 was similar in isotopic composition to water from the 14 adjacent Snapper Creek Canal. The relatively shallow increase inbulk conductivity evident in the TSEMIL dataset from G3608, theinterpreted piston-ow age of water from this well, and the local hydraulic gradient indicated that the saltwater at this location likelyemanated from seawater that had owed up the Snapper CreekCanal and leaked into the aquifer.Geochemical analyses had indicated preexisting saltwaterintrusion at wells G3600, G3601, G3602, G3604, and G3605. The highest tritium concentrations (3.2 to 53.3 TU)measured during the study were measured in water from wellsFKS4, FKS7, G1264, G3698, G3699, G3855, and G3856.These seven wells are within 10 km of the Turkey Point NuclearPower Plant, and hypersaline water with high tritiumconcentrations from the cooling canals may be contributing tosaltwater encroachment near the wells. Geochemical analysesand long-term monitoring data from wells G1264, G3698, G3699, G3855, and G3856 conrmed the recent arrival ofsaltwater intrusion.3H/3He age dating indicated that the water sampled from wellsG3601 and G3701 contained too little tritium to be evaluatedusing this method. The sample from well G3600 showed thecharacteristics of gas fractionation and could not be dated using3H/3He age dating. Water samples from wells G3600, G3601,G3602, G3604, and G3701 also indicated silicaconcentrations that were greater than the theoretical mixing offreshwater and saltwater in the area would produce. Theseelevated silica concentrations could be caused by relatively longerresidence times within a quartz-sand-rich formation.SF6 age dating could not be used effectively in the study areaprincipally because there was excess SF6 in most samples thatmay have been caused by leakage of SF6 from electrical 15 switching facilities. Moreover, SF6-interpreted piston-ow agesare generally younger than 3H/3He ages. The lowest SF6concentrations determined were for water sampled from wells G3601 and G3701. These samples also contained no tritium.Evaluations of long-term chloride monitoring and the geochemistry of water samples indicated that the saltwatersampled in the Biscayne aquifer is likely not relict seawater ofPleistocene or Pliocene ages. Some saltwater likely leaked fromcanals prior to the installation of water control structures. Near theMiami Canal northwest of the water control structure S26, thissaltwater is gradually mixing with the groundwater, and salinity isgradually decreasing. Modern leakage of saltwater likely isoccurring along the Card Sound Road Canal and upstream ofsalinity control structures in the Biscayne, Black Creek, andSnapper Creek Canals. Saltwater also may have leaked from thePrinceton Canal and the canal adjacent to well G3698, althoughthis leakage could not be conrmed or refuted with availableinformation.Additional information, such as TEM soundings or resistivitysurveys collected from the canals and monitoring wells adjacentto these canals, could be used to evaluate the effect thatsaltwater leakage around or through existing structures has onthe inland extent of saltwater in the Biscayne aquifer. Inuxes ofsaltwater in canals may be undetected because the intervalbetween samples is too long. Continuous salinity monitoring incanals could be useful in the detection of any future inuxes ofsaltwater upstream of existing water control structures. 16 MIGRATION OUT OF THE CCS INT-046PermeabilityMcNeill, Donald F., 2000. A Review of Upward Migrationof Efuent Related to Subsurface Injection at Miami-DadeWater and Sewer South District Plant. Prepared forSierra Club - Miami Group. 30 p.Dr. Donald McNeill (Univ. Miami) wrote a report in 2000looking at the same question for the south M-D treatmentplant. There, the presumed very thick low permeabilityzone was in fact only about 14 feet in thickness and layjust above the Boulder zone at a depth of 2,456'-1,443'depth. Ten of the 17 deep injection well for the efuent came out above the low permeability zone. As you cansee from the depth difference between Turkey Point andBlack Point, his low permeability surface rises up to thenorthwest. Efuent injected at Turkey Point will ow upthe surface's gradient to the NW and then probably N.IT will have lots of opportunities to encounter breaks inthe permeability barrier in this lateral travel.

INT-047GROUND WATER ATLAS of the UNITED STATES Alabama, Florida, Georgia, South CarolinaHA 730-G http://pubs.usgs.gov/ha/ha730/ch_g/G-text4.html

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INT-048Biological Assessment on the American Crocodile (Crocodylusacutus) Turkey Point Nuclear Generating Unit Nos. 3 and 4Proposed License Amendment to Increase the Ultimate Heat SinkTemperature Limit July 2014 Docket Numbers 50-250 and 50-251ML14206A806 prepared by NRC Staff:At 13, Algae In 2011, FPL began to notice increased blue green algaeconcentrations in the CCS. The concentrations have steadilyincreased since that time. FPL has performed engineering and environmental analyses and believes that the presence of higherthan normal CCS algae concentrations may be diminishing theCCSs heat transfer capabilities. FPL developed a plan togradually reduce algae concentrations through controlledchemical treatment of the CCS over the course of several weeks.On June 18, 2014, FPL (2014h) submitted a request to the FloridaDepartment of Environmental Protection (FDEP) to approve theuse of copper sulfate, hydrogen peroxide, and a bio-stimulant totreat the algae. On June 27, 2014, the FDEP (2014) approvedFPLs treatment plan for a 90-day trial period. The FDEPrequested that during the 90-day treatment period, FPL monitorfor total recoverable copper and dissolved oxygen and submit itsresults to the FDEP. The FDEP also recommended that FPLcoordinate with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) due to the presence of crocodiles in thecooling system. The FWC (2014) provided its comments on FPLstreatment plan in a letter dated July 1, 2014. Appendix A containsthe letters referenced in this paragraph, which provide additionalinformation on the algal treatment plan, timeline, and anticipatedeffects. FPL also developed a Water Quality Monitoring Plan forthe chemical treatments, and this plan is also enclosed in 18 Appendix AAquifer Withdrawals The CCS is situated above two aquifers: theshallower saltwater Biscayne Aquifer and the deeper brackishFloridan Aquifer. A conning layer separates the two aquifers fromone another. Turkey Point, Unit 5, uses the Floridan Aquifer forcooling water. The South Florida Water Management District(SFWMD) granted FPL approval to withdraw a portion(approximately 5 million gallons per day [MGD]) of the Unit 5withdrawal allowance for use in the CCS. FPL began pumping Floridan Aquifer water into the CCS in early July. FPL has alsoreceived temporary approval to withdraw 30 MGD from the Biscayne Aquifer, though FPL has not yet used this allowance.(FPL 2014f, 2014g) FPL (2014f) also anticipates the FDEP toissue an Administrative Order requiring FPL to install up to sixnew wells that will pump approximately 14 MGD of water from theFloridan Aquifer into the CCS. Modeling performed by FPLconsultants and the SFWMD indicates that in approximately twoyears, the withdrawals would reduce the salinity of the CCS to theequivalent of Biscayne Bay (about 34 parts per thousand [ppt]).Such withdrawals could also help moderate water temperatures.Turkey Point Nuclear Power Plant Cooling Canal SystemThe cooling canal system (CCS) of the Turkey Point NuclearPower Plant east of Florida City (g. 8) was constructed during the early 1970s and contains hypersaline water (Janzen andKrupa, 2011). This hypersaline water may be contributing to saltwater encroachment in this area(Hughes and others, 2010). Water in the cooling canals is reported to have tritium concentrations at least two orders of magnitude above surrounding surface and groundwater and [tritium] therefore [is] considered a potential tracer of waters fromthe CCS (Janzen and Krupa, 2011, section 2, p. 8). The tritium concentration of samples collected from sites located within 8.5km of the CCS ranged from 4.1 to 53.3 TU and averaged 12.4 TU, whereas the tritium 19 concentration of samples collected farther away from the CCS averaged1.3 TU (appendix 2, table 23) (see the Tritium and UraniumConcentration section of this report). Saltwater intrusion is arecent occurrence at most of the groundwater monitoring wells(gs. 18, 19, 2126) within 8.5 km of the CCS, except at wellsFKS4 and FKS8 near the Card Sound Road Canal (see the CardSound Road Canal section of this report). No samples werecollected from the CCS or wells within it as part of the currentstudy to detect any possible inuxes of CCS water into the aquifer; however, monitoring wells were installed in 2010 adjacentto the CCS for other studies and these wells are being monitoredusing electromagnetic induction logging.Recent Leakage from CanalsAlthough salinity control structures have been installed in most ofthe tidal canals, the leakage of saltwater through the porous rockof the Biscayne aquifer and around existing salinity control structures is documented (emphasis added)(Parker and others, 1955; Kohout and Leach, 1964; Leach and Grantham,1966). Kohout and Leach (1964) reported that any saltwater upstream of the salinity control structures could be driven into the aquifer when freshwater heads in the canals upstream of these structures increased. Monthly measurements of salinity collected by the Miami-Dade County Permitting, Environmental, and Regulatory Affairs (M-D PERA) during 1988 to 2010 (appendix 11)show inuxes of saltwater in many of the canals upstream of thesalinity control structures. These measurements at stations BL03,BS04, CD02, GL03, LR06, PR03, MI03, MW04, and SP04,located in the Black Creek, Biscayne, Cutler Drain, Goulds Canal,Little River, Princeton, Military, Mowry, and Snapper CreekCanals, respectively (g. 8), have detected inuxes of saltwater upstream of the water control structures in these canals. The occurrences have ranged from rare inuxes of 20 water with salinity between 0.5 and 1.4 PSU at station SP04 in the Snapper Creek Canal, to frequent inuxes of water witha salinity of between 15 and 32 PSU at station BS04 in theBiscayne Canal (appendix 11). This saltwater may be leaking intothe aquifer in some areas.

INT-049Sources of Saltwater in the Biscayne Aquifer Hughes, J.D., Langevin, C.D., and Brakeeld-Goswami, Linzy,2010, Effect of hypersaline cooling canals on aquifer salinization:Hydrogeology Journal, v. 18, p. 2538.

INT-050Turkey Point Unit 1 Eco System BY RUSS FINLEY ON MAR 3,2015 WITH 14 RESPONSES Blogger statement:You forgot to mention that it was a lawsuit by the EPA forviolations of the Clean Water Act which was the driving force inchanging how the discharge of the water was handled. Thedesign of the cooling canals was created by the power companyitself and the choice to save money and not line them was theirs.http://www.energytrendsinsider.com/2015/03/03/turkey-point-power-stationand-its-ecosystem/Since this is a uniquely designed system and there were concernsabout the long term effects of it, a monitoring program was set up.At the time, it was the choice that was agreed to by both thepower company and the regulators. I am not saying, in retrospect,that it was the best choice but no one had the perspective wehave today, back then. About the crocodiles, a little follow up andresearch might be helpful. The hatchlings are being relocated 21 because of contamination in the cooling canals. While the coolingcanals served as a "habitat", they are now so contaminated thatthe crocodile population is crashing going from around 20 nestslast year to 5-6 this year. The older crocodiles are dying for lack of food. You see, all the sh are dying or dead from a problem thatstarted in 2012 which required massive amounts of chemicals totry to get under control. I think that now is an excellent opportunityto do a little more research and write a follow-up article thatpresents the issues on a more level playing eld.

INT-051The National Park Service website states:Biscayne Bay is a shallow estuary (emphasis added), a placewhere freshwater from the land mixes with salt water from the sea and lifeabounds. It serves as a nursery where infant and juvenile marine lifereside. Lush seagrass beds provide hiding places and food for a vast arrayof sea life. In fact approximately 70 percent of the area's recreationally andcommercially important shes, crustaceans, and shellsh spend a portionof their young lives in the bay's protective environment.Protected from the ocean to the east by a chain of islands or keys and bythe mainland to the west, the bay is one of the most productiveecosystems in the park. Fresh water ow brings nutrients from inlandareas. Plants use these nutrients, along with energy from the sun, carbondioxide, and water to produce food through photosynthesis.http://www.nps.gov/bisc/learn/nature/biscaynebay.htm 22 INT-052Knowledge of Groundwater ResponsesÑ ACritical Factor in Saving Florida's Threatened andEndangered Species Part I: Marine EcologicalDisturbancesSydney T. BacchusApplied Environmental Services, P. O. Box 174, Athens, GA 30603;appliedenvirserv@mindspring.comhttps://www.nirs.org/nukerelapse/levy/exhf2bacchus.pdfAbstractFlorida's marine species, including threatened andendangered species, are subjected to adverse environmentalconditions due to groundwater alterations because agenciescharged with implement- ing and enforcing the Clean WaterAct and Endangered Species Act fail to consider thoseimpacts. Examples of anthropogenic groundwaterperturbations that can result in direct, indirect, secondaryand cumulative impacts to marine species include: (1)aquifer injection of efuent and other ecologi- callyhazardous wastes; (2) aquifer 'storage' and 'recovery'; (3)groundwater mining; and (4) struc- tural mining of the aquifersystem (e.g., limerock, sand, phosphate). Groundwater owin Florida's regional karst aquifer system varies greatly bothspatially and temporally, in response to those anthropogenicalterations. Those perturbations can result in signicantphysical, chemical and biological changes in the marineecosystem. Related adverse impacts can include: (1)predisposing organisms to disease (e.g., decreasing hostresistance, increasing pathogen vigor), includingcatalyzation by carbon-loading; (2) introducing newpathogens; (3) promoting rapid, antagonistic evolution of 23 microbes; and (4) introducing hazardous chemicals,including endocrine disrupters. The adverse effects of thosealterations may be a signicant factor in the major ecologicaldisturbances of Florida's marine environment described involume 18(1) of Endangered Species UPDATE. Themagnitude of adverse impacts to marine species from thosegroundwater perturbations is unknown. Currently, theagencies have not fullled their ducal responsibilities byfailing to require the neces- sary studies, proceeding withpermitting actions in the absence of that requiredinformation, and failing to take enforcement action againstexisting violations.ConclusionsThe regional karst aquifer system un- derlying south Floridais not a static system, but changes spatially and tem- porally,particularly in response to an- thropogenic perturbations.The historic submarine groundwater discharge in southFlorida occurred from the mar- gin of the submergedcarbonate plat- form, outcrops in terraces, and areas ofdiscontinuities (e.g., karst dissolution/ subsidence features,paleo channels). Data suggest that the historic discharge ofpristine, low-salinity, low-nutrient ground water of constanttemperature into Florida's coastal areas was signi- cant inmaintaining the associated eco- systems. The quantity andquality of that historic SGD has been and will be altered by:(1) aquifer injection of ef- uent and other ecologicallyhazard- ous wastes, (2) aquifer 'storage' and 're- covery,' (3)groundwater mining, and (4) structural mining of the aquifersys- tem (e.g., limerock, sand, phosphate).The same subsurface ow paths that supplied historicpristine ground water to coastal areas now may be points ofpreferential induced discharge for uid wastes injected into 24 wells along south Florida's coast. The 110 million gallons aday of minimally- treated sewage permitted for injection atthe Miami/Dade facility, and smaller volumes injected inapproximately 1,000 shallow wells throughout the FloridaKeys, in addition to the 1.7 bil- lion gallons of surface waterproposed for ASR injection in south Florida are examples.Minimal dilution, disper- sion, and adsorption should beexpected for injected contaminants due, in part, to rapidtravel times in the aquifer, prior to induced discharge intonearshore surface waters.Current literature suggests that induced dischargescontaining aqui- fer-injected contaminants are occur- ring inthe Gulf of Mexico, Straits of Florida, Gulf Stream, andAtlantic Ocean, and may be a factor in harm- ful algal bloomsand hypoxia. Governmentagencies charged with implementing and enforcingthe Clean Water Act and the Endangered Species Act havefailed to consider the direct, indirect, secondary, andcumulative impacts of those ground- water alterations toFlorida's marine species, including threatened andendangered species. By proceed- ing with permitting actions,in the absence of the required informa- tion, the agencies arenegligent and therefore liable.Vol. 18 No. 3 2001 Endangered Species UPDATE 83 25 INT-053Slide 10 in the exhibit INT-002, based on FPL data and compiled by MDCDERM illustrates further the USGS description of the movement of waterinto and out of the CCS showing s a computer generated arial view oftritium leaving the CCS based on well monitoring. The tritium, while not at alevel to be of concern, does act as a tracer showing the efuent from theCCS which is hypersaline and carries all of the chemicals in the CCS manyof which are toxic. Because, as noted above, the CCS is unlined, there isnothing to prevent this ow of water from the CCS or, conversely, nothingto prevent the ow of water into the CCS including saltwater pulsing infrom Biscayne Bay. INT-054Illustration 3, (INT-045) Initial Statement, at 12, illustrates how salinity descends from unprotected canals into the aquifer. From each furrow in the CCS water descends to the bottom of the Biscayne Aquifer and then spreads out. According to Dr. Philip Stoddard, FIU biologist, the heavy metals and other chemicals are absorbed into the soil and will stay there until disturbed by a vessel or a storm.

The many salts in the water slowly dissipate but, in the mean time, they impact the ora and fauna in the surrounding area.

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