ML052200648
| ML052200648 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Brunswick  |
| Issue date: | 08/09/2005 |
| From: | Kuo P NRC/NRR/DRIP/RLEP |
| To: | Bernhart D Carolina Power & Light Co, US Dept of Commerce, National Marine Fisheries Service, US Dept of Commerce, National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration |
| Emch R, NRR/DRIP/RLEP, 415-1590 | |
| Shared Package | |
| ML052200644 | List: |
| References | |
| Download: ML052200648 (3) | |
Text
August 9, 2005 Mr. David Bernhart Assistant Regional Administrator for Protected Resources NOAA's National Marine Fisheries Service Southeast Regional Office 263 13th Avenue, South St. Petersburg, FL 33701
SUBJECT:
BIOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT FOR LICENSE RENEWAL OF BRUNSWICK STEAM ELECTRIC PLANT, UNITS 1 AND 2, AND A REQUEST FOR INFORMAL CONSULTATION
Dear Mr. Bernhart:
The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) staff has prepared the enclosed biological assessment (BA) (Enclosure 1) to evaluate whether the proposed renewal of the Brunswick Steam Electric Plant, Units 1 and 2 (BSEP) operating licenses for a period of an additional 20 years would have any adverse effect on listed species. The proposed action (license renewal) is not a major construction activity. BSEP is located in Brunswick County in southeastern North Carolina, near the mouth of the Cape Fear River.
By letter dated December 29, 2004, to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administrations National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), the NRC requested a list of Federally threatened or endangered species that may be in the vicinity of BSEP and its associated transmission lines.
In a letter dated February 4, 2005, NMFS identified 12 Federally listed endangered or threatened species and six species of concern as potentially occurring in the area containing the BSEP site, transmission line rights-of-way, and the Cape Fear River.
In addition, the staff also contacted the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) by letter dated December 29, 2004, requesting a list of Federally endangered or threatened species that may be in the vicinity of BSEP. In a letter dated February 3, 2005, FWS directed the staff to the following Website, http://nc.es.fws.gov/es, for a list of species. The staff identified a total of 16 terrestrial and 20 aquatic Federally listed endangered, threatened, or candidate species or species of concern having the potential to be present in the vicinity of BSEP and its associated transmission line rights-of-way. Regarding the marine species, NMFS has full jurisdiction for the whales and sturgeon, while sharing the responsibilities for the sea turtles with the FWS.
The NRC has determined that the proposed action would have no effect on the sei whale (Balaenoptera borealis), blue whale (Balaenoptera musculus), fin whale (Balaenoptera physalus), North Atlantic right whale (Eubalaena glacialis), humpback whale (Megaptera Novaeangliae), sperm whale (Physeter macrocephalus), dusky shark (Carcharhinus obscurus),
night shark (Carcharhinus signatus), speckled hind (Epinephelus drummondhayi), or warsaw grouper (Epinephelus nigritus).
D. Bernhart Also, the NRC staff determined the proposed action may affect, but is not likely to adversely affect, the loggerhead turtle (Caretta caretta), green turtle (Chelonia mydas), leatherback turtle (Dermochelys coriacea), hawksbill turtle (Eretmochelys kempii), shortnose sturgeon (Acipenser brevirostrum), Atlantic sturgeon (Acipenser oxyrhynchus oxyrhynhus), or the sand tiger shark (Odontaspis taurus). There is currently an Incidental Take Statement in place as a result of a previous formal Section 7 consultation and accompanying Biological Opinion issued by NMFS on January 20, 2000. Those take limits (six loggerhead, two Kemps ridley, three green, one leatherback, and one hawksbill turtles) continue to apply to BSEP operation.
We are requesting your concurrence with our determination. In reaching our conclusion, the NRC staff relied on information provided by the licensee, on literature research and interviews with experts performed by NRC staff, and on information from the NMFS (Southeast Regional Office).
If you have any questions regarding this BA or the staffs request, please contact Richard Emch, Senior Environmental Project Manager, at 301-415-1590 or by e-mail at rle@nrc.gov.
Sincerely,
/RA/ (S.Lee for)
Pao-Tsin Kuo, Program Director License Renewal and Environmental Impacts Program Division of Regulatory Improvement Programs Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation Docket Nos.: 50-324 and 50-325
Enclosure:
As stated cc w/encl.: See next page
D. Bernhart Also, the NRC staff determined the proposed action may affect, but is not likely to adversely affect, the loggerhead turtle (Caretta caretta), green turtle (Chelonia mydas), leatherback turtle (Dermochelys coriacea), hawksbill turtle (Eretmochelys kempii), shortnose sturgeon (Acipenser brevirostrum), Atlantic sturgeon (Acipenser oxyrhynchus oxyrhynhus), or the sand tiger shark (Odontaspis taurus). There is currently an Incidental Take Statement in place as a result of a previous formal Section 7 consultation and accompanying Biological Opinion issued by NMFS on January 20, 2000. Those take limits (six loggerhead, two Kemps ridley, three green, one leatherback, and one hawksbill turtles) continue to apply to BSEP operation.
We are requesting your concurrence with our determination. In reaching our conclusion, the NRC staff relied on information provided by the licensee, on literature research and interviews with experts performed by NRC staff, and on information from the NMFS (Southeast Regional Office).
If you have any questions regarding this BA or the staffs request, please contact Richard Emch, Senior Environmental Project Manager, at 301-415-1590 or by e-mail at rle@nrc.gov.
Sincerely,
/RA/ (S. Lee for)
Pao-Tsin Kuo, Program Director License Renewal and Environmental Impacts Program Division of Regulatory Improvement Programs Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation Docket Nos.: 50-324 and 50-325
Enclosure:
As stated cc w/encl.: See next page DISTRIBUTION:
D. Matthews/F. Gillespie P.T. Kuo R. Emch R. Franovich C. Guerrero A. Williamson J. Wilson S. K. Mitra B. Mozafari OGC E. DiPaolo, SRI J. Austin, RI P. Fredrickson, RII M. Parkhurst (PNNL) RLEP R/F H. Nash Adams accession: Package: ML052200644 Cover Letter: ML052200648
Enclosure:
ML052220003 OFFICE RLEP:LA RLEP:PM RLEP:PM RLEP:SC RLEP:PD NAME MJenkins AWilliamson REmch RFranovich PTKuo (S. Lee for)
DATE 08/09/05 08/06/05 08/09/05 08/ 09/05 08/09/05 OFFICIAL OFFICE COPY