ML061650016

2006/05/23-U.S. Dept. of the Interior Fish and Wildlife Service, Letter Dated May 23, 2006 - Regarding: Formal Consultation on Pilgrim License Renewal Not Required

ML061650016
Person / Time
Site:	Pilgrim
Issue date:	05/23/2006
From:	Amaral M US Dept of Interior, Fish & Wildlife Service
To:	Rani Franovich Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
References
%dam200612
Download: ML061650016 (3)

Text

United States Department of the Interior FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE MC bNew England Field Office 70 Commercial Street, Suite 300 Concord, New Hampshire 03301-5087 May 23, 2006 Rani Franovich Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Washington, D.C.'20555-0001

Dear Ms. Franovich:

We are in receipt of your April 25, 2006 letter regarding the license renewal process for the Pilgrim Nuclear Power Station, Plymouth, Massachusetts.

This office received and responded to a letter dated February 3, 2005 that requested an informal consultation with regard to federally-threatened and endangered species from the applicant, Entergy Nuclear Generation Company. Enclosed is a copy of our response, dated March 9, 2005. In addition, we have no comments with regard to the Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act.Thank you for your coordination.

Please contact Anthony Tur at 603-223-2541 if we can be of further assistance.

Sincerely yours, Michael J. Amaral Endangered Species-Specialist-New England Field Office Enclosure United States Department of the Interior F D FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE CH 3 New England Field Office 70 Commercial Street, Suite 300 Concord, New Hampshire 03301-50.87 March 9, 2005 Siephen Bethay Entergy Nuclear Generation Company 600 Rocky HIll Road Plymouth, MA 02360

Dear Mr. Bethay:

We are in receipt of your February 3, 2005 letter regarding the license renewal processfothPigm-Nuclear Power Station (PNP S), Plymouth, Massachusetts.

The following comments are provided in accordance with Section 7 of the Endangered Species Act (ESA) of 1973, as amended (16 U.S.C.1531-1543).

The federally-threatened piping plover (Charadrius melodus) and federally-endangered roseate tern (tsterna dougallit) are known to occur along Plymouth Beach, just north of the PNPS. Occasional wintering bald eagles (Halzaeetus leucocephalus) are also sometimes present in the area. According to our records, none of the above-listed species are known. to frequent the immediate vicinity of PNPS and, therefore, the presence of these species near the power station is probably transient in nature.As stated in your letter, the PNPS-to-Snake Hill Road transmnission corridor crosses critical habitat for the endangered red-bellied cooier (Pseudemvs rubniventris).

We concur with your determiination that the area crossed by the transmission line does not provide the specific biological habitat needs for the red-bellied cooter. However, turtles may traverse the transmission line corridor and the area is considered critical based on its value to buffer agais aciitewta ay degrade wAt&-quatt~

quality in ponds occupied by the species.Information was provided regarding several marine mammals and turtles. Jurisdiction for those species resides with the National Marine Fisheries Service. We suggest you contact them at their Gloucester, Massachusetts office at 9.78-281-93 00 with regard to the reficensing of the PNPS. Sicnoexpansion of existing facilities is planned and no additional land disturbance is anticipated, we concur with your determination that license renewal for PNPS is not likely, to adversely affect federally-listed species subject to the jurisdiction of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and that formal -consultation with us is not required-.--

Thank you for your coordination.

Please contact us at 603-223-2541 if we can be of further assistance.

Sincerely yours, Michael I. Amaral Endangered Species Specialist New England Field Office