ML061280128
| ML061280128 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Vermont Yankee File:NorthStar Vermont Yankee icon.png |
| Issue date: | 05/05/2006 |
| From: | Rani Franovich, Masnik M NRC/NRR/ADRO/DLR/REBB |
| To: | Moriarty M US Dept of Interior, Fish & Wildlife Service |
| Hernandez S, NRR/DLR/REBB, 415-4049 | |
| References | |
| %dam200611 | |
| Download: ML061280128 (10) | |
Text
May 5, 2006 Mr. Marvin Moriarty, Regional Director Northeast Regional Office U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 300 Westgate Center Drive Hadley, MA 01035-9589
SUBJECT:
REQUEST FOR LIST OF PROTECTED SPECIES WITHIN THE AREA UNDER EVALUATION FOR THE VERMONT YANKEE NUCLEAR POWER STATION LICENSE RENEWAL APPLICATION REVIEW
Dear Mr. Moriarty:
The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is reviewing an application submitted by Entergy Nuclear Operations, Inc. (Entergy) for the renewal of the operating license for the Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Station (VYNPS). VYNPS is located in the town of Vernon, Vermont, in Windham County on the west shore of the Connecticut River immediately upstream of the Vernon Hydroelectric Station. As part of the review of the license renewal application (LRA), the NRC is preparing a Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS) under the provisions of Title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations Part 51 (10 CFR Part 51), the NRC regulation that implements the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969. The SEIS includes an analysis of pertinent environmental issues, including endangered or threatened species and impacts to fish and wildlife. This letter is being submitted under the provisions of the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended, and the Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act of 1934, as amended.
The proposed action would include the use and continued maintenance of existing plant facilities and transmission lines. VYNPS stated that no major refurbishment activities have been identified as necessary to support the continued operation of VYNPS beyond the end of the existing operating license term. VYNPS is situated on approximately 125 acres of land on the west shore of the Connecticut River 0.75 miles upstream of the Vernon Hydroelectric Station. This section of the river is known as Vernon Pool. The areas adjacent to the station are primarily farm and pasture lands. The area within a five mile radius is predominantly rural with the exception of a portion of the town of Brattleboro, Vermont, and the town of Hinsdale, New Hampshire. Between 75 percent and 80 percent of the area within five miles of the station is wooded. The remainder is occupied by farms and small industries. Enclosure 1 shows the layout of the general area near the VYNPS site and Enclosure 2 presents an overview of the site location.
M. Moriarty The VYNPS utilizes a once-through cooling system and mechanical draft cooling towers to remove waste heat from the condensers. The three circulating water pumps are located in the enclosed intake structure at the river bank. Water from the main condensers is returned to the discharge structure where it is either discharged through an aerating structure to the river or is diverted to the cooling towers. Water circulated through the towers may be either discharged through the aerating structure to the river or recirculated in a closed loop path to the intake structure, or a combination of both, known as hybrid cycle mode. The discharge path is manually selected by the operator and is contingent upon seasonal variation in environmental parameters.
The only transmission lines considered to be in scope for the review are located inside the 125 acre plant site. These transmission lines were constructed to connect VYNPS to the New England transmission grid. The transmission lines exiting the switchyards are part of the New England transmission grid that was constructed to supply purchased power to the State of Vermont. The New England transmission grid is not considered to be in scope of the license renewal review.
To support the SEIS preparation process and to ensure compliance with Section 7 of the Endangered Species Act, the NRC requests information on Federally listed, proposed, and candidate species and critical habitat that may be in the vicinity of the VYNPS site. In addition, please provide any information you consider appropriate under the provisions of the Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act.
From May 23-25, 2006, the NRC staff plans to conduct a site audit at the VYNPS. On June 7, 2006, the NRC staff plans to hold two public NEPA scoping meetings at the Latchis Theatre, 50 Main Street, Brattleboro, Vermont 05301. The first session will convene at 1:30 p.m. and will continue until 4:30 p.m., as necessary. The second session will convene at 7:00 p.m., with a repeat of the overview portions of the meeting, and will continue until 10:00 p.m., as necessary. In addition to the environmental scoping meeting described above, the NRC will hold an informal open house at the Quality Inn & Suites, 1380 Putney Road, Brattleboro, Vermont 05301, on Tuesday, June 6, 2006, from 2:00 p.m.-8:00 p.m., as necessary. You and your staff are invited to attend both the site audit and the public meetings. Your office will receive a copy of the draft SEIS along with a request for comments. The anticipated publication date for the draft SEIS is December 2006.
M. Moriarty If you have any questions concerning the NRC staff review of this LRA, please contact Mr. Richard L. Emch Jr., Senior Environmental Project Manager at 301-415-1590 or RLE@nrc.gov.
Sincerely,
/RA Michael Masnik For/
Rani Franovich, Branch Chief Environmental Branch B Division of License Renewal Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation Docket No. 50-271
Enclosures:
- 1. Layout of General Area near VYNPS Site
- 2. Overview of the Site Location cc w/encls.: See next page
M. Moriarty If you have any questions concerning the NRC staff review of this LRA, please contact Mr.
Richard L. Emch Jr., Senior Environmental Project Manager at 301-415-1590 or RLE@nrc.gov.
Sincerely,
/RA Michael Masnik For/
Rani Franovich, Branch Chief Environmental Branch B Division of License Renewal Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation Docket No. 50-271
Enclosures:
- 1. Layout of General Area near VYNPS Site
- 2. Overview of the Site Location cc w/encls.: See next page DISTRIBUTION: See next page Adam Accession Nos.:
- 1. Ltr. to w/Encls. 1, 2, Svc. List: ML061280128 Document Name:E:\\Filenet\\ML061280128.wpd OFFICE LA:DLR GE:DLR:REBB PM:DLR:REBB BC:DLR:REBB NAME Y. Edmonds S. Hernandez R.Emch /RA S.
Hernandez For/
R.Franovich /RA M.
Masnik For/
DATE 5/4/06 5/5/06 5/5/06 5/5/06 OFFICIAL RECORD COPY
Letter to: Marvin Moriarty from Richard L. Emch, Jr., dated: May 5, 2006
SUBJECT:
REQUEST FOR LIST OF PROTECTED SPECIES WITHIN THE AREA UNDER EVALUATION FOR THE VERMONT YANKEE NUCLEAR POWER STATION LICENSE RENEWAL APPLICATION REVIEW DISTRIBUTION:
F. Gillespie / P.T. Kuo (RidsNrrDlr)
R. Franovich (RidsNrrDlrRebb)
R. Emch (RidsNrrDlrReba)
S. Hernandez M. Masnik H. Nash R. Schaaf D. Miller (david.s.miller@anl.gov)
J. Eads J. Shea C. Anderson, RI D. Pelton, RI N. Sheehan, RI RidsOGCMailRoom DLR/REBB
Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Station cc:
Regional Administrator, Region I U. S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission 475 Allendale Road King of Prussia, PA 19406-1415 Mr. David R. Lewis Pillsbury, Winthrop, Shaw, Pittman, LLP 2300 N Street, N.W.
Washington, DC 20037-1128 Mr. David OBrien, Commissioner Vermont Department of Public Service 112 State Street Montpelier, VT 05620-2601 Mr. James Volz, Chairman Public Service Board State of Vermont 112 State Street Montpelier, VT 05620-2701 Operating Experience Coordinator Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Station 320 Governor Hunt Road Vernon, VT 05354 Mr. G. Dana Bisbee, Esq.
Deputy Attorney General 33 Capitol Street Concord, NH 03301-6937 Chief, Safety Unit Office of the Attorney General One Ashburton Place, 19th Floor Boston, MA 02108 Ms. Deborah B. Katz Box 83 Shelburne Falls, MA 01370 Ms. Carla A. White, RRPT, CHP Radiological Health Vermont Department of Health P.O. Box 70, Drawer #43 108 Cherry Street Burlington, VT 05402-0070 Mr. James M. DeVincentis Manager, Licensing Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Station P.O. Box 0500 185 Old Ferry Road Brattleboro, VT 05302-0500 Resident Inspector Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Station U. S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission P.O. Box 176 Vernon, VT 05354 Director, Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency ATTN: James Muckerheide 400 Worcester Rd.
Framingham, MA 01702-5399 Mr. Jonathan M. Block, Esq.
Main Street P.O. Box 566 Putney, VT 05346-0566 Mr. John F. McCann Director, Licensing Entergy Nuclear Operations, Inc.
440 Hamilton Avenue White Plains, NY 10601 Mr. Gary J. Taylor Chief Executive Officer Entergy Operations 1340 Echelon Parkway Jackson, MS 39213 Mr. John T. Herron Sr. VP and Chief Operating Officer Entergy Nuclear Operations, Inc.
440 Hamilton Avenue White Plains, NY 10601
Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Station cc:
Mr. Oscar Limpias Vice President, Engineering Entergy Nuclear Operations, Inc.
440 Hamilton Avenue White Plains, NY 10601 Mr. Christopher Schwartz Vice President, Operations Support Entergy Nuclear Operations, Inc.
440 Hamilton Avenue White Plains, NY 10601 Mr. Michael J. Colomb Director of Oversight Entergy Nuclear Operations, Inc.
440 Hamilton Avenue White Plains, NY 10601 Mr. Travis C. McCullough Assistant General Counsel Entergy Nuclear Operations, Inc.
440 Hamilton Avenue White Plains, NY 10601 Mr. Jay K. Thayer Site Vice President Entergy Nuclear Operations, Inc.
Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Station P.O. Box 0500 185 Old Ferry Road Brattleboro, VT 05302-0500 Mr. James H. Sniezek 5486 Nithsdale Drive Salisbury, MD 21801 Ms. Stacey M. Lousteau Treasury Department Entergy Services, Inc.
639 Loyola Avenue New Orleans, LA 70113 Mr. Raymond Shadis New England Coalition Post Office Box 98 Edgecomb, ME 04556 Mr. James P. Matteau Executive Director Windham Regional Commission 139 Main Street, Suite 505 Brattleboro, VT 05301 Mr. William K. Sherman Vermont Department of Public Service 112 State Street Drawer 20 Montpelier, VT 05620-2601 Mr. Michael D. Lyster 5931 Barclay Lane Naples, FL 34110-7306 Ms. Charlene D. Faison Manager, Licensing 440 Hamilton Avenue White Plains, NY 10601 Mr. James Ross Nuclear Energy Institute 1776 I Street, NW, Suite 400 Washington, DC 20006-3708 Mr. Peter Deyo Chairman, Vernon Select Board 567 Governor Hunt Road Vernon, VT 05354 Mr. Jerry Remillard Brattleboro Town Manager 230 Main Street, Suite 208 Brattleboro, VT 05301 Mr. Steven A. Steidle Chair, Brattleboro Select Board 108 Meetinghouse Lane Brattleboro, VT 05301-8985 Sen. Roderick M. Gander Senator, Windham District 43 Tyler Street Brattleboro, VT 05301
Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Station cc:
Sen. Jeanette K. White Senator, Windham District 35A Old Depot Road Putney, VT 05346 Mr. Ed Anthes Vermont Nuclear Free by 2012 PO Box 6325 Brattleboro, VT 05302 Mr. John D. Smith Chairman Board of Selectmen PO Box 13 Hinsdale, NH 03451 Ms. Diana Sidebotham The New England Coalition PO Box 545 Brattleboro, VT 05302