ML050760398
| ML050760398 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Point Beach  |
| Issue date: | 03/07/2005 |
| From: | James Smith US Dept of Interior, Fish & Wildlife Service |
| To: | Cutright N Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation, We Energies |
| References | |
| Download: ML050760398 (1) | |
Text
United States Department of the Interior FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE Green Bay ES Field Office 2661 Scott Tower Drive New Franken, Wisconsin 54229-9565 Telephone 920/866-1717 FAX 9201866-1710 March 7,2005 Dr. Noel J. Cutright WE Energies 231 West Michigan Street Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53203 re:
Piping Plover Monitoring Point Beach Nuclear Plant Manitowoc County, Wisconsin
Dear Dr. Cutright:
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) received your letter dated February 17, 2005, with a proposed monitoring framework for piping plovers at the Point Beach Nuclear Plant in Manitowoc County.
The framework includes: conduct of an annual survey, following the International Piping Plover Breeding Census guidelines, between June 1 and June 15; contact and coordination with the Service and the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources in the event that plovers are discovered nesting; and an increase in the number of surveys in the event of nesting.
The Service concurs with framework points 1 through 5 as described in your letter. However, we suggest the following changes to point 6. "If piping plovers are observed [on the property],
follow up surveys will be conducted in the same year; earlier and repeated surveys will be conducted the next year, continuing for as long as piping plovers are observed at [the property]."
It is our belief that increased surveys would be warranted if birds are observed because of the difficulty in detecting nests. We also emphasize that if birds are observed on-site, nest searches should only be conducted by trained personnel because of the potential for causing abandonment or for crushing or damaging cryptic plover nests.
We appreciate the opportunity to respond. Questions pertaining to these comments can be directed to Mr. Joel Trick at 920-866-1737 or Ms. Leakhena Au at 920-866-1734.
Sincerely, Janet M. Smith Field Supervisor