SOUTHWESTERN POWER ADMINISTRATION

S I T E ENVIRONMENTAL REPORT

FOR CALENDAR YEAR 1995

TULSA, OKLAHOMA

WILLIAMS CENTER TOWER I

JANUARY 1, 1995 - DECEMBER 31, 1995

SOUTHWESTERN POWER ADMINISTRATION

P. 0. BOX 1619

TULSA, OKLAHOMA 74103

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DISCLAIMER

This report was prepared as an account of work sponsored by an agency of the United States Government. Neither the United States Government nor any agency thereof, nor any of their employees, makes any warranty, express or implied, or assumes any legal liability or responsibility for the accuracy, completeness, or use- fulness of any information, apparatus, product, or process disclosed, or represents that its use would not infringe privately owned rights. Reference herein to any spe- cific commercial product, process, or service by trade name, trademark, manufac- turer, or otherwise does not necessarily constitute or imply its endorsement, recorn- mendation, or favoring by the United States Government or any agency thereof. The views and opinions of authors expressed herein do not necessarily state or reflect those of the United States Government or any agency thereof.

SOUTHWESTERN POWER ADMINISTRATION

S I T E ENVIRONMENTAL REPORT

FOR CALENDAR YEAR 1995

TULSA, OKLAHOMA

WILLIAMS CENTER TOWER I

JANUARY 1. 1995 - DECEMBER 31, 1995

SOUTHWESTERN POWER ADMINISTRATION

P. 0. BOX 1619

TULSA, OKLAHOMA 74103

TABLE OF CONTENTS

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY . . . . . . . . . . 1

INTRODUCTION . . . . . . . . . . . . COMPLIANCE SUMMARY . . . . . . . . .

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3

ENVIRONMENTAL PROGRAM INFORMATION . . 6 ENVIRONMENTAL RADIOLOGICAL PROGRAM . . 7

INFORMATION

ENVIRONMENTAL NON-RADIOLOGICAL . . . . 7 PROGRAM INFORMATION

EXECUTIVE ORDER 12856 COMPLIANCE. . . 8

GROUNDWATER PROTECTION . . . . . . . . 8 QUALITY ASSURANCE . . . . . . . . . . 9

PERFORMANCE INDICATORS . . . . . . . . 9

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

DURING CY 95, SOUTHWESTERN WAS NOT INVOLVED I N ANY PROGRAMS THAT HAD A

DIRECT EFFECT ON THE ENVIRONMENT, INVOLVING ENDANGERED SPECIES, PROTECTION

OF WETLANDS, OR INCREASED ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION. SOUTHWESTERN

CONTINUED TO FUNCTION THROUGHOUT THE YEAR I N AN OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE

POSTURE WITH MINOR SUBSTATION PROJECTS. SOUTHWESTERN RECEIVED TWO DOE

AUDITS, MARCH 1991 AND 1993. SOUTHWESTERN HAS WORKED DILIGENTLY ON THE

DOE APPROVED ACTION PLAN AND HAS COMPLETED THE REQUIRED EFFORT. THE AUDITS

PROVIDED THE SECRETARY, DOE HEADQUARTERS, AND SOUTHWESTERN AN INDICATION OF

THE STATUS OF SOUTHWESTERN MANAGEMENT’S EFFECTIVENESS I N DISCHARGING I T S

DUTIES I N AN ENVIRONMENTALLY RESPONSIBLE MANNER. SENIOR MANAGEMENT AT

SOUTHWESTERN HAS TAKEN ACTIONS TO INCREASE ENVIRONMENTAL AWARENESS

THROUGHOUT THE ORGANIZATION WHICH I S EVIDENCED BY THE CREATION OF THE

ENVIRONMENTAL, SAFETY, HEALTH, AND SECURITY OFFICE, AND THE ESTABLISHMENT

OF ENVIRONMENTAL AND SAFETY APPOINTED REPRESENTATIVES AT VARIOUS F I E L D

LOCATIONS.

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INTRODUCTION

THE SOUTHWESTERN POWER ADMINISTRATION (SOUTHWESTERN) I S A POWER MARKETING

AGENCY OF THE DOE CREATED I N 1943. SOUTHWESTERN MARKETS HYDROPOWER THAT I S

PRODUCED BY 23 FEDERAL DAMS OPERATED BY THE U. S . ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS

I N OKLAHOMA, ARKANSAS, MISSOURI, AND TEXAS. MARKETING T H I S HYDROPOWER AND

ENSURING I T S RELIABLE DELIVERY CONSTITUTE THE CORE OF SOUTHWESTERN ' S

PROGRAM. SOUTHWESTERN MAINTAINS 1 , 3 8 0 MILES OF HIGH-VOLTAGE TRANSMISSION

L INES AND ASSOCIATED SUBSTATIONS. SUPPORT FOR OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE

OF T H I S SYSTEM I S PROVIDED BY AN AREA-WIDE MICROWAVE COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEM.

THIS SYSTEM INTERFACES W I T H THE U. S. ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS' MICROWAVE

SYSTEM AND INCLUDES TELEMETERING, SUPERVISORY CONTROL AND DATA ACQUISITION

(SCADA) , MOBILE RADIO BASE STATION CONTROL, COMPUTER DATA TRANSMISSION, AND

TELEPHONE COMMUNICATIONS. THESE F A C I L I T I E S , PLUS THE CORPS' GENERATING

F A C I L I T I E S , MAKE UP THE SOUTHWESTERN FEDERAL POWER SYSTEM. THE AGENCY I S

HEADQUARTERED I N TULSA, OKLAHOMA WITH ENGINEERING AND MAINTENANCE

F A C I L I T I E S LOCATED I N SPRINGFIELD, MISSOURI ; JONESBORO, ARKANSAS; GORE AND

TUPELO, OKLAHOMA. THE ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICES I N TULSA PROVIDE A COMPLETE

RANGE OF SUPPORT FUNCTIONS INCLUDING LEGAL, FINANCIAL, PROCUREMENT,

AUTOMATIC DATA PROCESSING, ENGINEERING, AND POWER MARKETING. SOUTHWESTERN 'S

LEGISLATIVE MANDATE I S SECTION 5 OF THE FLOOD CONTROL ACT OF 1944.

LAW REQUIRES SOUTHWESTERN TO GIVF PREFERENCE I N SALES TO PUBLIC BODIES AND

COOPERATIVES AND TO ACHIEVE WIDESPREAD USE OF THE POWER.

T H I S

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(January 1, - December 31, 1995)

COMPLIANCE STATUS

Southwestern Power Administration (Southwestern) conducted i ts operations and maintenance during the calendar year w i t h no identified environmental problems or issues. The on-going program t o remove a l l testable PCB contaminated equipment (50-499 ppm) is continuing. non-testable (assumed 50-499 ppm PCB) equipment is electrical bushings. They will be utilized for their useful l i f e or u n t i l replaced by gas breakers. As the bushings (OCBs) are changed o u t , they are properly disposed of as PCB contaminated equi pment .

The fol l owing major envi ronmental statutes and Executive Orders are d i scussed : - - Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, L i a b i l i t y Act

Most of Southwestern’s

( CERC LA 1

Southwestern currently has no facil i t ies listed on or under consideration for the CERCLA: the National Priorities List ( N P L ) ; or the Federal Faci 1 i t i es Compl i ance Docket,

- - Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA)

Southwestern has developed a Waste Management Program and a Waste Minimization P l a n .

- - Federal Faci 1 i t i es Compl i ance Act (FFCA)

Southwestern is i n compl i ance w i t h the FFCA. generate any mixed waste or have any TSD Facilities.

Southwestern doesn ’ t

I - - Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act (SARA)

Southwestern has notified applicable Sta te and Local officials of sites containing chemicals i n amounts exceeding the threshold reporting requi rements.

- - National Envi ronmental Pol icy Act (NEPA)

Southwestern is i n compl i ance w i t h NEPA requi rements . Southwestern has been given authority for envi ronmental asswment , f ind ings of no significant impact, and categorical exclusion approval.

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- - Clean A i r Act (CAA)

Southwestern does not have any radioact ive sources ; therefore, does not perform any radi a t i on or radi onucl i de moni t o r i ng .

- - Clean Water Act (CWA) / Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA)

Southwestern u t i l i z e s c i t y water a t i t s manned f a c i l i t i e s . A t s i x unmanned s i t es , there i s one potable wel l and f i v e non-potable wel ls : these are tested by the appropriate s tate. Southwestern has closed two o f these wel ls and i s considering the need f o r the remaining wel ls .

- - Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA)

Southwestern has an on-going program t o dispose o f equipment contai n i ng PCB-contaminated o i 1. Southwestern current ly has no testab le pieces o f equi pment whi ch contain 500 ppm o r greater PCB concentrate. Southwestern has a plan i n place t o dispose o f a l l tes tab le PCB- contaminated equipment containing 50-499 ppm PCB. Southwestern s t r i ves t o dispose o f any PCB-contaminated equipment w i th in 30 days o f removal from servi ce and declared excess t o Southwestern ’ s needs.

- - Federal Insect ic ide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA)

Southwestern has completed an envi ronmental assessment concerni ng the u t i 1 i zat i on o f a selected vegetation control method u t i 1 i z i ng a combi nation o f mechanical /manual and herbi c i de control . This program would be u t i l i z e d on sections o f the r ights-of-way. An envi ronmental assessment i s being completed f o r u t i 1 i za t i on o f a selected vegetation control method a t the 24 substations and some radio microwave s i t es .

A7 1 herbicide spraying w i 17 be accompl i shed by ce r t i f i ed personnel . No r e s t r i cted herbicides w i 11 be u t i 1 i zed.

- - Endangered Species Act (ESA)

Southwestern has no major construction projects : therefore, there i s minimal involvement wi th t h i s Act.

- - National H is to r i c Preservation Act (NHPA)

Southwestern has no major c o w t r u c t i on projects ; therefore, there i s minimal involvement w i t ’ } t h i s Act.

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- - Executive Order 11988, 'IF1 oodpl a i n Management"

Southwestern has no major construction projects : therefore, there is minimal involvement w i t h this Act.

- - Executive Order 11990, "Protection of Wetlands"

Southwestern has no major construction projects ; therefore,. there is minimal involvement w i t h this Act.

Southwestern personnel review changes t o the above Acts and Orders bu t have minimal opportunity t o utilize any of them.

OTHER MAJOR ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES AND ACTIONS

Southwestern d i d not have any significant environmental issues unresolved a t the end of CY 95.

Southwestern received two envi ronmental aud i t s by the Department. One i n December, 1991, and the last i n March, 1993. The DOE approved action plan corrective action is complete. Since the a u d i t s , Southwestern Senior Management has established positions a t the field locations w i t h position descri p t i ons requi ring a percentage of thei r time devoted to envi ronmental functions. An environmental activities management field posit ion has a lso been established w i t h the majority o f this position being dedicated t o envi ronmental functions. Addit ional ly . Southwestern has been very proactive i n the Total Qual i ty Management (TQM) arena since 1989. Southwestern has i n place a1 1 the requi red environmental orders and has ensured t h a t the appropri ate personnel have received the requi red trai n i ng . Southwestern conducted t r a i n i n g on a need-to-know basis for a l l field personnel who might be involved w i t h any items of equipment t h a t are covered under the environmental statutes.

SUMMARY OF PERMITS

Gore, Oklahoma Maintenance Facility - EPA Identification Number (PCB) Tupelo, Oklahoma Maintenance Facility - EPA Identification Number (PCB) Springfield, Missouri Maintenance Facility - EPA Identification Number(PCB1 Jonesboro, Arkansas Maintenance Faci 1 i t y - EPA Identi f i cati on Number (PCB)

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ENVIRONMENTAL PROGRAM INFORMATION

GENERAL COMPLIANCE INFORMATION

COMPLIANCE SUMMARY

CURRENT ISSUES AND ACTIONS

Southwestern’s major involvement i n the environmental f i e l d i s w i th PCB

e lec t r i ca l equi pment . Southwestern establ i shed a goal t o change-out and

dispose o f a l l testable PCB equipment over 500 ppm PCB by FY 90. This

goal was achieved. Southwestern has had no s p i l l s and/or releases.

Southwestern has accompl i shed m i nor substation construction t o i ncl ude a

new Operations and Maintenance f a c i l i t y , completed i n CY 95.

Southwestern d i d not i n i ti ate nor complete any envi ronmental impact

statements but d i d i n i t i a t e one envi ronmental assessments (EA) during CY

1994 (Vegetation Control Along Transmission Line Rights-of-way). The EA

was completed during CY 95.

personnel i n the techni ques o f conducti ng sel f -assessments. The f i e l d w i 11

conduct self-assessments a t one s i t e i n each geographic loca t ion during CY

96 and the environmental s t a f f w i l l perform an appraisal i n each area.

Awareness t ra in ing has been conducted i n environmental areas t o include

po l l u t i on prevention and waste minimization.

Environmental s t a f f has t ra ined the f i e l d

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ENVIRONMENTAL PERM ITS

See Summary of Permits (Above)

RADIOLOGICAL INFORMATION

Southwestern has no radi 01 ogi cal involvement .

NON -RADIOLOGICAL INFORMATI ON

NPDES - Southwestern conducted a study t o determine i f a d d i t i o n a l

. involvement i s required i n this area. The study indicated t h a t no NPDES permits were requi red a t Southwestern faci 1 i t i es .

SARA TITLE I11 - The substances of primary concern a t Southwestern facilities include sulfuric acid, present i n lead-acid batteries used for back-up power: sulfur hexafluoride. present i n gas ci rcui t breakers : and polychl ori nated biphenyl (PCBs 1, potenti a1 l y present i n smal 1 q u a n t i t i es i n hermetically-sealed, o i l -filled bushings and other electrical equipment. Sulfur Hexafluoride is not considered a hazardous chemical, therefore no TPQ i s 1 i sted and there are currently no reporting requi rements . PCBs are not considered t o be an extremely hazardous substance, however, PCBs are listed as a hazardous substance. Southwestern does not have sufficient equipment containing PCB t o qual i fy for the amounts required for reporting. Southwestern i s i n the process of changing out a l l of the "wet cell" batteries w i t h "gel batteri est' , When this conversion is completed, none of Southwestern's facilities will contain sufficient sulfuric acid t o qual i fy for reporting requi rements .

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.

EXECUTIVE ORDER 12856 COMPLIANCE - 1995 EPCRA 302-303 : P1 anni ng Noti f i cat ion N/R

EPCRA 304: EHS Release No t i f i ca t i on N/R

EPCRA 311-312: MSDS/Chemi cal Inventory N/R

EPCRA 313: TRI Reporting N/R

GROUNDWATER PROTECTION - Southwestern conducted a study t o determine i f

addit ional involvement i s required i n t h i s area.

The study which included ranking the substations

u t i l i z i n g CERCLA c r i t e r i a as appl icable t o

Southwestern, t es t i ng and sampl i ng the soi 1 and

groundwater a t the substation tha t had the highest

t o t a l from the ranking system and analyzing the

data, Southwestern determined tha t addi t ional

groundwater monitoring i s no t requi red

HAZARDOUS MATERIAL SPILLS - Southwestern has had no s p i l l o f reportable

quanti ty o f hazardous mate r i a1 s .

TOXIC CHEMICAL INVENTORY - Southwestern u t i 1 izes bat ter ies f o r emergency

backup power a t various locations (substations

and radio s tat ions) . I n some instances, the

quant i ty o f s u l f u r i c acid present exceeds the

threshold l i m i t s .

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. 1 ,

QUALITY ASSURANCE - Southwestern has developed a Q u a l i t y Assurance Program.

The program provides Headquarters and f i el d units the

capability t o ensure t h a t qual i ty assurance i s

considered and applied i n all areas.

ENVIRONMENTAL PERFORMANCE INDICATORS - Southwestern has devel oped a n Envi ronmental Performance Indicators Trending System Standard. The standard provides Headquarters and field units the capabi 1 i t y t o i denti fy indicators which would provide an i ndi cati on of potenti a1 envi ronmental problems and/or deteriorating envi ronmental conditions : and t o i denti fy i ndi cators which woul d monitor the affects of improving envi ronmental performance. CY 96 wi 11 provide the f i r s t opportunity for the standard t o be evaluated. Performance Indicators selected for u t i l i za t ion are: 1) Findings from envi ronmental self -assessment/ appraisal program: 2 ) environmental $ spent versus $ budgeted; 3) gallons of o i l remaining; and 4) environmental checklist findings.

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