ML061500190

2006/06/09-Request Initiation of a Section 7 Consultation Regarding License Renewal of Oyster Creek Nuclear Generating Station

ML061500190
Person / Time
Site:	Oyster Creek
Issue date:	06/09/2006
From:	Gillespie F NRC/NRR/ADRO/DLR
To:	Kurkul P US Dept of Commerce, National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration
Hernandez S, NRR/DLR/REBB, 415-4049
References
%dam200612, NUREG-1437, TAC MC7625
Download: ML061500190 (5)

Text

Ms. Patricia KurkulRegional Administrator NOAA Fisheries Service Northeast Regional Office One Blackburn Drive Gloucester, MA 01930-2237

SUBJECT:

REQUEST INITIATION OF A SECTION 7 CONSULTATION REGARDINGLICENSE RENEWAL OF OYSTER CREEK NUCLEAR GENERATING STATION(TAC NO. MC7625)

Dear Ms. Kurkul:

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) staff has completed the enclosed draftSupplement 28 to NUREG-1437, ?Generic Environmental Impact Statement for LicenseRenewal of Nuclear Plants" (GEIS), to evaluate the proposed renewal of the Oyster Creek Nuclear Generating Station (OCNGS) operating license for a period of an additional 20 years.

The Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS) evaluates the proposed action oflicense renewal for OCNGS, and the NRC is requesting initiation of a Section 7 consultationregarding this proposed action of license renewal.On September 22, 2005, the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) concluded a Section 7consultation with the NRC regarding continued operation of OCNGS; the consultation wastriggered by an exceedance of the incidental take limit for Kemp's ridley turtles (Lepidochelyskempi). Now the NRC is requesting initiation of another Section 7 consultation withoutsubmitting a revised Biological Assessment (BA). As a result of e-mail and telephone communications with Ms. Sara McNulty of your office and because this request closely follows the conclusion of the last Section 7 consultation, the NRC staff will not submit a revision to the BA dated March 29, 2005. Also, the NRC staff has not identified any changes in OCNGSoperations since the conclusion of the last Section 7 consultation in September 2005.

However, for your review, we have enclosed a copy of the draft SEIS, which has the most up-to-date information regarding OCNGS operations. Since the NRC's 2005 BA, two incidental takes occurred at OCNGS; both takes were of Kemp'sridley turtles. On July 4, 2005, a dead juvenile male Kemp's ridley turtle was removed from the trash bars at the dilution water intake structure. The turtle was taken to the Marine Mammal Stranding Center (MMSC) for necropsy, the results of which indicate that the turtle likely died of wounds resulting from collision with a boat propeller. The second take was a live Kemp's ridleyturtle found on the trash bars at the circulating water intake structure on August 5, 2005. The turtle was taken to the MMSC and then to the Sea Turtle Rescue and Rehabilitation Center inTopsail Beach, North Carolina, for rehabilitation.

P. Kurkul OCNGS staff routinely follows standard protocols to remove sea turtles safely from the intakecanal and works with the MMSC to rehabilitate injured sea turtles. The NRC staff hasdetermined that license renewal for OCNGS may adversely affect but is not likely to jeopardize the continued existence of Kemp's ridley turtles, green turtles (Chelonia mydas), or loggerheadturtles (Caretta caretta); the proposed action is not likely to adversely affect leatherback turtles (Dermochelys coriacea) and hawksbill turtles (Eretmochelys imbricata

).We are requesting your concurrence with our determination. In reaching our conclusion, theNRC staff relied on information provided by the applicant, on research performed by NRC staff,and on information from NMFS. If you have any questions regarding the enclosed draft SEIS or the staff's request, please contact Dr. Michael Masnik, Senior Environmental Project Manager, at 301-415-1191 or by e-mail at mtm2@nrc.gov.Sincerely, /RA/Frank Gillespie, DirectorDivision of License Renewal Office of Nuclear Reactor RegulationDocket No. 50-219

Enclosure:

Draft Supplement 28 to NUREG-1437cc w/encl: See next page P. Kurkul OCNGS staff routinely follows standard protocols to remove sea turtles safely from the intakecanal and works with the MMSC to rehabilitate injured sea turtles. The NRC staff hasdetermined that license renewal for OCNGS may adversely affect but is not likely to jeopardize the continued existence of Kemp's ridley turtles, green turtles (Chelonia mydas), or loggerheadturtles (Caretta caretta); the proposed action is not likely to adversely affect leatherback turtles (Dermochelys coriacea) and hawksbill turtles (Eretmochelys imbricata

).We are requesting your concurrence with our determination. In reaching our conclusion, theNRC staff relied on information provided by the applicant, on research performed by NRC staff,and on information from NMFS. If you have any questions regarding the enclosed draft SEIS or the staff's request, please contact Dr. Michael Masnik, Senior Environmental Project Manager, at 301-415-1191 or by e-mail at mtm2@nrc.gov.Sincerely, /RA/Frank Gillespie, DirectorDivision of License Renewal Office of Nuclear Reactor RegulationDocket No. 50-219

Enclosure:

Draft Supplement 28 to NUREG-1437cc w/encl: See next page DISTRIBUTION

F. Gillespie / P.T. Kuo (RidsNrrDlr)J. Wilson M. MasnikH. Nash R. FranovichG. MillerAdams Accession Nos.:1. Ltr. To P. Kurkul w/Svc. List:

0615001902. Draft Supplemental 28 to NUREG-1437 ?Generic Environmental Impact Statement forLicense Renewal of Nuclear Plants" (GEIS):

3. Pkg.: 061570467Document Name:E:\Filenet\ML061500190.wpdOFFICELA:REBB:DLRES:REBA:DLRPM:REBB:DLRBC:REBB:DLRD:DLRNAMEY. EdmondsH. NashM. Masnik(HNash for)R. FranovichF. GillespieDATE5/ 24 /055/ 25 /05 5/ 25 /05 5 / 30 /05 5 / 30 /05OFFICIAL RECORD COPY Oyster Creek Nuclear Generating Station cc:

Site Vice President - Oyster Creek Nuclear Generating Station AmerGen Energy Company, LLC

P.O. Box 388 Forked River, NJ 08731Senior Vice President of Operations AmerGen Energy Company, LLC 200 Exelon Way, KSA 3-N Kennett Square, PA 19348Kathryn M. Sutton, EsquireMorgan, Lewis, & Bockius LLP 1111 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW Washington, DC 20004Kent Tosch, ChiefNew Jersey Department of Environmental Protection Bureau of Nuclear Engineering CN 415 Trenton, NJ 08625Vice President - Licensing and Regulatory Affairs AmerGen Energy Company, LLC 4300 Winfield Road Warrenville, IL 60555Regional Administrator, Region IU.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission 475 Allendale Road King of Prussia, PA 19406-1415Mayor of Lacey Township818 West Lacey Road Forked River, NJ 08731Senior Resident InspectorU.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission

P.O. Box 445 Forked River, NJ 08731Director - Licensing and Regulatory AffairsAmerGen Energy Company, LLC Correspondence Control

P.O. Box 160 Kennett Square, PA 19348Manager Licensing - Oyster CreekExelon Generation Company, LLC Correspondence Control

P.O. Box 160 Kennett Square, PA 19348Regulatory Assurance Manager Oyster Creek AmerGen Energy Company, LLC

P.O. Box 388 Forked River, NJ 08731Assistant General CounselAmerGen Energy Company, LLC 200 Exelon Way Kennett Square, PA 19348Ron Bellamy, Region IU.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission 475 Allendale Road King of Prussia, PA 19406-1415Correspondence Control DeskAmerGen Energy Company, LLC 200 Exelon Way, KSA 1--1 Kennett Square, PA 19348Oyster Creek Nuclear Generating StationPlant Manager AmerGen Energy Company, LLC

P.O. Box 388 Forked River, NJ 08731License Renewal ManagerExelon Generation Company, LLC 200 Exelon Way, Suite 230 Kennett Square, PA 19348 Oyster Creek Nuclear Generating Station cc:Mr. James RossNuclear Energy Institute 1776 I Street, NW, Suite 400 Washington, DC 20006-3708Mr. Michael P. GallagherVice President License Renewal Exelon Generation Company, LLC 200 Exelon Way, Suite 230 Kennett Square, PA 19348Mr. Christopher M. CranePresident and Chief Nuclear Officer AmerGen Energy Company, LLC 4300 Winfield Road Warrenville, IL 60555