ML041550148

United States Department of Interior - Fish and Wildlife Service Response to Letter from NRC Staff Dated March 4, 2004 - to Prepare a SEIS for Browns Ferry Nuclear Plant

ML041550148
Person / Time
Site:	Browns Ferry
Issue date:	05/19/2004
From:	Goldman L US Dept of Interior, Fish & Wildlife Service
To:	Masnik M Division of Regulatory Improvement Programs
References
04-0760
Download: ML041550148 (2)

Text

United States Department of the Interior FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE P.O. Drawer 1190 IN REPLYREFERTO: Daphne, Alabama 36526 04-0760 May 19, 2004 U.S. Nuclear Regulatory'Commission Division of Regulatory Improvement Programs Attn: Dr. Michael Masnik Washington, D.C. 20555-0001

Dear Dr. Masnik:

This letter is in response to your letter, dated March 4, 2004, notifying our agency of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission's (NRC) plan to prepare a Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS) for the Browns Ferry Nuclear Plant Operations License Renewal, Limestone County, Alabama. The following comments are provided in accordance with the Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act, as amended (16 U.S.C. 661-667e), the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (16 U.S.C. 703, et seq.) and section 7 of the Endangered Species Act, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1531-1543).

According to your letter, the proposed action would include the use and continued maintenance of the existing plant facilities and transmission lines. However, you indicated that very little new construction' or ground disturbance'would occur as a result 'of the proposed actio6& The entire Tennessee River system and ihe 5-co'6ty- area trav'ered by the transimigsiofi lines prdvides'habitat to a number of terrestrial and aquatic federally listed species. A county list of these species may be found on our website at the following aiddress, 'http://daphne.fw's.irov/es/specieslst.htm. The SEIS should address the type of ground disturbance and maintenance needed for the transmission lines.

If the maintenance involves the'use of chemicals or'mowing to maintain the rights-of-way in a herbaceous environment, further consultation with the Service wvill be required to determine the extent, if any, these applications will have on listed species.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Daphne, Alabama Field Office has concerns with the thermal plume that will be created if the maximum operating power level is increased for the facility.

Thermal plume could impact aquatic organisms, particularly the rough pigtoe (Pleurobemaplenum),

an endangered mussel found in the vicinity of the discharge. The Service req'uests that surveys for threatened and endangered mussels be conducted and thermal plume models be produced pursuant to the preparation of the SEIS, and provided to'ihis office 'for review.

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'The service aprepaattion tiin 'roj'ct an'dwelo- kforward-to vorking w'ith ofnhis Y duringythipreparaion' q or comfments,'piesd direct 'them' to huestions

-PHONE: 251-441-5181 . f- * -* www.fwsgrzov .,. by . , '- FAX: 251-441-6222 SHIPPING ADDRESS: 1208-B Main Street, Daph. -AL36526

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Mr. Bruce Porter, at (251)441-5864 or via email bruce jorter(.fws.gov.

Sincerely, Larry E. Goldman Field Supervisor cc: Mr. Jon M. Loney, Environmental Policy and Planning Tennessee Valley Authority 400 West Summit Hill Drive _ _ __ _ _

Knoxville, Tennessee 37902-1 499 - - - -