ML043200355
| ML043200355 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Farley  |
| Issue date: | 10/27/2004 |
| From: | Snyder-Conn E US Dept of Interior, Fish & Wildlife Service |
| To: | Kuo P NRC/NRR/DRIP/RLEP |
| Cushing J, NRR/DRIP/RLEP, 415-1424 | |
| References | |
| Download: ML043200355 (2) | |
Text
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Daphne Field Office U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 1208-B Main Street-Daphne, AL 36526 phone: 251-441-5181 fax: 251-441-6222 04-0397a October 27, 2004 Mr. Pao-Tsin Kuo, Program Director License Renewal and Environmental Impacts Program Division of Regulatory Improvements Programs Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Washington, DC 20555-0001
-Dcar-Mr.-Kuo:--
Our office has completed review of Southern Nuclear Company's (SNC's) proposed re-licensing application for the Joseph M. Farley Nuclear Plant. This plant is located east of Dothan, Alabama, in Houston County, in the Chattahoochee Watershed. Our comments are provided in accordance with the Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act (48 Stat. 884, as amended; 16 U.S.C. et seq.) and the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (87 Stat. 884, as amended; 16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.)
and'included review of the following:
- information in "Generic Environmental Impact Statement for License Renewal of Nuclear Plants, Supplement 18"
- data on the freshwater mussel survey downstream of effluent discharges, conducted October 8-10, 2004 by Yokley Environmental Consulting Company
- previous plant and wildlife survey data for the Farley plant site and four connecting transmission lines
- data provided on effluie quality, including radiological and contaminants data, and information provided on herbicides used and herbicide and mowing practices.
We are extremely pleased with SNC's efforts to provide information essential for review. Per the information provided and commitments made during our meeting of October 22, as well as during our teleconference on October 15, 2004, our office concurs that re-issuance of the operating license'for the Farley Nuclear Plant in not likely to adversely affect any Federally listed threatened or endangered species in Alabama. This concurrence is predicated on SNC's agreements to the following:
6?
- SNC will ensure that applicators will avoid any broadcast aerial herbicide spraying within 300 ft of waters with any potential habitat for listed plant, amphibian, mussel or fish species.
- Surfactants used with any herbicide should be no more than slightly to practically nontoxic to Daphnia and trout in 48-hr EC50 and 96-hr LC50 testing, respectively (i.e.,
EC50's and LC50's occur only at concentrations greater than 10 mg/L [and ideally greater than 100 mg/L]).
- SNC will evaluate herbicide spray drift to natural areas from aerial applications and tlie need for more stringent best management practices to avoid drift into non-target natural areas. Drift cards or other accepted methods will be used in the evaluation to determine the extent of drift under several wind speeds within the range of normal application conditions. To assure representative results, applicators will not notified of the assessment.
- Within stream and wetland buffer, vegetation controls will include mechanical removal or spot/hand treatments with glyphosate or imazapyr or other products similarly low in whole-formulation toxicities and similarly lacking in other detrimental effects on invertebrates, amphibians, or fish.
- Disturbance (e.g., construction, repair, or herbicide treatments) will be avoided or delayed in the immediate area if a wood stork (Mycteria americana) is observed until the wood stork-hasaabandoned the area.
- SNC will follow Fish and Wildlife Service guidance on protection of the bald eagle.
No further endangered species consultation will be required unless: 1) the identified action is subsequently modified in a manner that causes an effect on listed species or a designated Critical Habitat; 2) new information reveals the identified action may affect Federally protected species or designated Critical Habitat in a manner or to an extent not previously considered; or 3) a new species is listed or Critical Habitat is designated under the Endangered Species Act that may be affected by the identified action.
If you have any questions or need additional information, please contact me at (251) 441-587 1.
Please refer to the reference number above.
Sincerely,--
.p:.-
Elaine Snyder-Conn Acting Field Supervisor cc:
Jack Cushing, License Renewal, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission