ML061500192

2006/06/09-Request Initiation of an Essential Fish Habitat Consultation Regarding License Renewal of Oyster Creek Nuclear Generating Station

ML061500192
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 S28, TAC MC7625
Download: ML061500192 (5)

Text

June 9, 2006Ms. Patricia KurkulRegional Administrator NOAA Fisheries Service Northeast Regional Office One Blackburn Drive Gloucester, MA 01930-2237

SUBJECT:

REQUEST INITIATION OF AN ESSENTIAL FISH HABITAT CONSULTATIONREGARDING LICENSE RENEWAL OF OYSTER CREEK NUCLEARGENERATING 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 Supplement Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS) evaluates the proposed action oflicense renewal for OCNGS, and in accordance with the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, the NRC is requesting initiation of an Essential FishHabitat (EFH) consultation regarding this proposed action of license renewal. The NRC's EFHAssessment for license renewal of OCNGS is included in Appendix E of the enclosed draft SEIS.OCNGS is located in Lacey Township in Ocean County, New Jersey. OCNGS employs aonce-through heat dissipation system designed to remove waste heat from the condensers. The circulating water system includes the intake canal, an intake structure divided into twobays, circulating water pumps, condensers, dilution pumps, discharge pipes, and the discharge canal. An angled boom in the intake canal is immediately in front of the circulating water intake preventing large mats of eelgrass and algae from clogging the intake system. The purpose ofthe dilution pumps is to decrease the attractiveness of the heated discharge to the migratory marine species during the spring and fall, and to reduce thermal stress on the organisms in the discharge canal during the summer. Barnegat Bay is the plant's cooling water source and heat sink. Cooling water is drawn from Barnegat Bay through the South Branch of Forked River and into a 150-foot-wide intake canal dredged to a depth of 10 feet. The heated circulating water is returned to the 150-foot-wide discharge canal, which also receives dilution water at ambient temperature; the water then flows to Oyster Creek and back to Barnegat Bay. Depths in the South Branch of the Forked River, canals, and lower reaches of Oyster Creek are maintained by periodic dredging.As described in the EFH Assessment, the NRC staff identified species that have EFHdesignated in the vicinity of OCNGS. Further, the NRC staff identified 14 Federally managedspecies with designated EFH that may be affected by the proposed action. The evaluation inthe EFH Assessment concludes that no adverse impact is expected to occur as a result of P. Kurkul-2-OCNGS operations for 1 species, and the remaining 13 species could experience a minimaladverse effect on their EFHs. Although once-through cooling systems are thought to have asubstantial adverse effect on EFH due to the withdrawal of water, the NRC staff has determinedthat continued operation of the OCNGS cooling system, with its existing mitigation measures, isexpected to have a minimal adverse effect on EFH.We are requesting initiation of an EFH consultation. In reaching our conclusion, the NRC staffrelied on information provided by the applicant, on research performed by NRC staff, and oninformation from National Marine Fisheries Service. If you have any questions regarding the enclosed draft SEIS, the EFH Assessment in Appendix E of the 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:

As statedcc w/encl: See next page P. Kurkul-2-OCNGS operations for 1 species, and the remaining 13 species could experience a minimaladverse effect on their EFHs. Although once-through cooling systems are thought to have asubstantial adverse effect on EFH due to the withdrawal of water, the NRC staff has determinedthat continued operation of the OCNGS cooling system, with its existing mitigation measures, isexpected to have a minimal adverse effect on EFH.We are requesting initiation of an EFH consultation. In reaching our conclusion, the NRC staffrelied on information provided by the applicant, on research performed by NRC staff, and oninformation from National Marine Fisheries Service. If you have any questions regarding the enclosed draft SEIS, the EFH Assessment in Appendix E of the 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 Nos. 50-219

Enclosure:

As statedcc w/encl: See next page DISTRIBUTION

RidsNrrDlrJWilson HNashGMiller RFranovich MMasnik RidsNrrDlrRebbAdams Accession Nos.:1. Ltr. To P. Kurkul w/Svc. List: ML

2. Draft Supplemental 28 to NUREG-1437 ?Generic Environmental Impact Statement for License Renewal of Nuclear Plants" (GEIS): ML

3. Pkg.: ML Document Name:E:\Filenet\ML061500192.wpdOFFICELA:DLRES:DLR:REBBPM:DLR:REBBBC:DLR:REBBD:DLRNAMEYEdmondsHNashMmasnik (Hnash for)RFranovichFGillespieDATE5/ 24 /065/ 25 /065/ 25 /065/ 26 /065/ 28 /06OFFICIAL 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, LLCCorrespondence 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 19348Mr. James RossNuclear Energy Institute 1776 I Street, NW, Suite 400 Oyster Creek Nuclear Generating Station-2-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