ML062980195
| ML062980195 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Susquehanna  |
| Issue date: | 11/13/2006 |
| From: | Rani Franovich NRC/NRR/ADRO/DLR/REBB |
| To: | Mcmonagle J Pennsylvania Environmental Council |
| Mullins A, NRR/DLR, 415-1224 | |
| References | |
| Download: ML062980195 (10) | |
Text
November 13, 2006 Julie A. McMonagle, Director Pennsylvania Environmental Council Northeast Regional Office 175 Main Street Luzerne, PA 18709
SUBJECT:
SUSQUEHANNA STEAM ELECTRIC STATION LICENSE RENEWAL APPLICATION REVIEW
Dear Ms. McMonagle:
The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is reviewing an application submitted by PPL Susquehanna, LLC (PPL), for renewal of the operating licenses for Susquehanna Steam Electric Station (SSES), Units 1 and 2. SSES is located along the Susquehanna River, approximately five miles northeast of Berwick, Pennsylvania. 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 regulations that implement 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.
PPL is requesting the renewal of its operating licenses for Units 1 and 2 for a period of 20 years beyond the expiration of the current license term, extending unit operation until July 2042 and March 2044, respectively. The proposed action would include the use and continued maintenance of existing plant facilities and transmission lines; PPL does not plan to construct or alter any facilities associated with the plant to support license renewal.
In total, PPL owns 2,355 acres of land on both sides of the Susquehanna River. In general, this land is characterized by open deciduous woodlands interspersed with grasslands and orchards.
Approximately 487 acres are used for power generation, and the remainder of the land is primarily river floodplain forest, upland forest, and marshes. PPL maintains a 401-acre nature preserve, the Susquehanna Riverlands, located between SSES and the river; US Route 11 separates these areas. East of the Susquehanna River are 717 acres of mostly undeveloped land, which includes natural, recreational, and wildlife areas. Additionally, PPL owns Gould Island, a 65-acre island just up the Susquehanna River.
SSES uses a closed-cycle heat dissipation system to remove waste heat from the circulating water system. The circulating water and the service water systems draw water from, and discharge to, the Susquehanna River. The river intake structure is located on the western bank of the river and consists of two water entrance chambers with one-inch, on-center vertical bar screens and 3/8-inch mesh traveling screens. A low-pressure screen-wash system periodically operates to release aquatic organisms and debris impinged on the traveling screens to the trash rack. Cooling tower blowdown, spray pond overflow, and other permitted effluents are discharged to the Susquehanna River through a buried pipe leading to a submerged discharge structure/diffuser, approximately 600 feet downstream of the river intake structure. The diffuser pipe is 200 feet long, with the last 120 feet containing 72 four-inch portals that direct the discharge upwards at a 45 degree angle then going downstream. Warm circulating water from the cooling towers can be diverted to the river intake structure to prevent icing; this usually occurs from November through March.
For the specific purpose of connecting SSES to the regional transmission system, there is a total of approximately 150 miles of transmission line corridors that occupy approximately 3,341 acres of land. These transmission line corridors are being evaluated as part of the environmental review process. The corridors pass through land that is primarily agricultural and forest land with low population densities. Two 500-kilovolt (kV) lines and one 230-kV transmission line connect SSES to the electric grid, with approximately 2.3 miles of short ties in the immediate plant vicinity to connect SSES to the 230-kV system. The 230-kV Stanton-Susquehanna #2 transmission line corridor runs northeast from the plant for approximately 30 miles and ranges from 100 to 400 feet wide. The Susquehanna-Wescosville-Alburtis 500-kV transmission line corridor ranges from 100 to 350 feet wide and runs generally southeast from the plant for approximately 76 miles. The Sunbury-Susquehanna #2 500-kV line is approximately 325 feet wide and runs 44 miles west-southwest from the plant. Pennsylvania counties crossed by the transmission line corridors include Luzerne (the location of SSES),
Carbon, Columbia, Lehigh, Northampton, Northumberland, Montour, and Snyder. PPL plans to maintain these transmission lines and the associated corridors, which are integral to the larger transmission system, indefinitely. Except for the short 230-kV transmission lines, the lines will remain a permanent part of the transmission system even after SSES is decommissioned.
We plan to hold two public NEPA scoping meetings at 1:30 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. on November 15, 2006, at the Eagles Building, 107 South Market Street, Berwick, Pennsylvania 18603. You and your staff are invited to attend 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 2007.
If you have any questions concerning the NRC staff review of this LRA, please contact Ms. Alicia Mullins, Project Manager at 301-415-1224 or by e-mail at axm7@nrc.gov.
Sincerely,
/RA/
Rani Franovich, Branch Chief Environmental Branch B Division of License Renewal Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation Docket Nos. 50-387 and 50-388 cc: See next page
ML062980195 Document Name:C:\\FileNet\\ML062980195.wpd OFFICE LA:DLR:REBB GS:DLR:REBA PM:DLR:REBB BC:DLR:REBB NAME I. King S. Lopas J. Davis for A. Mullins R.Franovich DATE 11/13/06 11/07/06 11/07/06 11/13/06
Letter to J. McMonagle, from R. Franovich, dated November 13, 2006
SUBJECT:
REQUEST FOR LIST OF PROTECTED SPECIES WITHIN THE AREA UNDER EVALUATION FOR THE SUSQUEHANNA STEAM ELECTRIC STATION, UNITS 1 AND 2, LICENSE RENEWAL APPLICATION REVIEW DISTRIBUTION:
F. Gillespie / P.T. Kuo (RidsNrrDlr)
R. Franovich (RidsNrrDlrRebb)
E. Benner (RidsNrrDlrReba)
R. Schaaf A. Mullins S. Lopas J. Davis F. Monette Y. Diaz-Sanabria R. Guzman A. Blamey N. Sheehan RidsOGCMailRoom DLR/REBB DLR/REBA
Susquehanna Steam Electric Station, Units 1 and 2 cc:
Robert A. Saccone General Manager - Nuclear Operations PPL Susquehanna, LLC 769 Salem Blvd., NUCSB3 Berwick, PA 18603-0467 Terry L. Harpster General Manager - Plant Support PPL Susquehanna, LLC 769 Salem Blvd., NUCSA4 Berwick, PA 18603-0467 Rocco R. Sgarro Manager - Nuclear Regulatory Affairs PPL Susquehanna, LLC Two North Ninth Street, GENPL4 Allentown, PA 18101-1179 Walter E. Morrissey Supervising Engineer Nuclear Regulatory Affairs PPL Susquehanna, LLC 769 Salem Blvd., NUCSA4 Berwick, PA 18603-0467 Michael H. Crowthers Supervising Engineer Nuclear Regulatory Affairs PPL Susquehanna, LLC Two North Ninth Street, GENPL4 Allentown, PA 18101-1179 Steven M. Cook Manager - Quality Assurance PPL Susquehanna, LLC 769 Salem Blvd., NUCSB2 Berwick, PA 18603-0467 Luis A. Ramos Community Relations Manager, Susquehanna PPL Susquehanna, LLC 634 Salem Blvd., SSO Berwick, PA 18603-0467 Bryan A. Snapp, Esq.
Associate General Counsel PPL Services Corporation Two North Ninth Street, GENTW3 Allentown, PA 18101-1179 Supervisor - Document Control Services PPL Susquehanna, LLC Two North Ninth Street, GENPL4 Allentown, PA 18101-1179 Richard W. Osborne Allegheny Electric Cooperative, Inc.
212 Locust Street P.O. Box 1266 Harrisburg, PA 17108-1266 Director, Bureau of Radiation Protection Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection P.O. Box 8469 Harrisburg, PA 17105-8469 Senior Resident Inspector U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission P.O. Box 35, NUCSA4 Berwick, PA 18603-0035 Regional Administrator, Region 1 U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission 475 Allendale Road King of Prussia, PA 19406 Board of Supervisors Salem Township P.O. Box 405 Berwick, PA 18603-0035 Dr. Judith Johnsrud National Energy Committee Sierra Club 443 Orlando Avenue State College, PA 16803
Susquehanna Steam Electric Station, Units 1 and 2 cc: Mr. James Ross Nuclear Energy Institute 1776 I Street, NW, Suite 400 Washington, DC 20006-3708 Mr. Don L. Klima, Director Advisory Council on Historic Preservation Office of Federal Agency Programs 1100 Pennsylvania Ave., NW, Suite 803 Washington, DC 20004 Susan M. Zacher, Historic Structures Section Chief Pennsylvania Historical & Museum Commission Bureau of Historic Preservation Commonwealth Keystone Building, 2nd Floor 400 North Street Harrisburg, PA 17120-0093 Mark Hartle, Chief, Aquatic Resources Section Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission Environmental Services 450 Robinson Lane Bellefonte, PA 16823-9620 Jennifer Kagel, Fishery Biologist U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Pennsylvania Field Office 315 South Allen Street, Suite 322 State College, PA 16801-4850 Alice Zaikoski, Co-Director Berwick Public Library 205 Chestnut Street Berwick, PA 18603 Clifford Farides, Executive Director Mill Memorial Library 495 E. Main Street Nanticoke, PA 18634 Ms. Chris Firestone, Native Plant Program Manager Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Bureau of Forestry Forest Advisory Services P.O. Box 8552 Harrisburg, PA 17105-1673 Raymond Cline, Trust Board Chairman Delaware Trust Board 220 NW Virginia Avenue Bartlesville, OK 74003 Edgar French, Tribal President Delaware Nation of Oklahoma P.O. Box 825 Anadarko, OK 73005 Paul Spicer, Chief Seneca-Cayuga Tribe of Oklahoma P.O. Box 1283 Miami, OK 74355 Barry E. Snyder, Sr., President Seneca Nation of Indians P.O. Box 231 Salamanca, NY 14779 Roger Hill, Chief Tonawanda Band of Seneca 7027 Meadville Road Basom, NY 14013 Ray Halbritter, Nation Representative Oneida Indian Nation 5218 Patrick Road Verona, NY 13478
Susquehanna Steam Electric Station, Units 1 and 2 cc: James W. Ransom, Chief St. Regis Band of Mohawk Indians 412 State Route 37 Akwesasne, NY 13655 Irving Powless, Jr., Chief Onondaga Indian Nation RR #1, Box 319-B Nedrow, NY 13120 The Honorable Clint Halftown Heron Clan Representative Cayuga Nation P.O. Box 11 Versailles, NY 14168 Leo R. Henry, Clerk, Chief Tuscarora Nation 2006 Mt. Hope Road via: Lewistown, NY 14092 Karen Kaniatobe, THPO Absentee-Shawnee Tribe of Oklahoma 2025 S. Gordon Cooper Drive Shawnee, OK 74801 Larry Nuckolls, Governor Absentee-Shawnee Tribe of Oklahoma 2025 S. Gordon Cooper Drive Shawnee, OK 74801 Timothy Two Guns Cayuga Nation P.O. Box 11 Versailles, NY 14168 Tamara Francis, NAGPRA Director Delaware Nation of Oklahoma P.O. Box 825 Anadarko, OK 73005 Darrin Ahshapanek, EPA Director Delaware Nation of Oklahoma P.O. Box 825 Anadarko, OK 73005 Charles D. Enyart, Chief Eastern Shawnee Tribe of Oklahoma P.O. Box 350 Seneca, MO 64865 Roxane Weldon, EPA Director Eastern Shawnee Tribe of Oklahoma P.O. Box 350 Seneca, MO 64865 Anthony Wonderley, Oneida Nation Historian Oneida Indian Nation 221 Union Street P.O. Box 662 Oneida, NY 13421 Brian Patterson Bear Clan Representative, Mens Council Oneida Indian Nation Annex Bldg.
579 Main Street Oneida, NY 13421 Stephen J. Selden, Esq.
General Council 5218 Patrick Road Verona, NY 13478 Gerald Danforth, Chairman Oneida Nation of Wisconsin P.O. Box 365 Oneida, WI 54155-0365 Corina Williams, THPO Oneida Nation of Wisconsin P.O. Box 365 Oneida, WI 54155-0365
Susquehanna Steam Electric Station, Units 1 and 2 cc: Tony Gonyea, Faithkeeper Onondaga Nation RR #1, Route 11A Box 258C via: Nedrow, NY 13120 Kathleen Mitchell Seneca Nation of Indians Tribal Historic Preservation Office 467 Center St.
Salamanca, NY 14779 Paul Barton, Historic Preservation Officer Seneca-Cayuga Tribe of Oklahoma P.O. Box 1283 Miami, OK 74355 Marion Sizemore, Environmental Director Seneca-Cayuga Tribe of Oklahoma P.O. Box 1283 Miami, OK 74355 Chief Leroy Howard Seneca-Cayuga Tribe of Oklahoma P.O. Box 1283 Miami, OK 74355 Sheree Bonaparte, Historic Preservation Officer St. Regis Mohawk Tribe 412 State Route 37 Akwesasne, NY 13655 Ken Jocks, Director Environmental Division RR #1, Box 8a Hogansburg, NY 13655 Ron Sparkman, Chairman Shawnee Tribe 29 South 69a Highway Miami, OK 74354 Rebecca Hawkins, Tribal Historic Preservation Officer Shawnee Tribe 29 South 69a Highway Miami, OK 74354 Tribal Chairman Shawnee Tribe 29 South 69a Highway Miami, OK 74354 Robert Chicks, Tribal Chairman Stockbridge-Munsee Band of the Mohican Nation, Wisconsin Route 1 P.O. Box 70 Bowler, WI 54416 Sherry White, Cultural Preservation Officer Stockbridge-Munsee Band of the Mohican Nation, Wisconsin Route 1 P.O. Box 70 Bowler, WI 54416 Greg Bunker Stockbridge-Munsee Band of the Mohican Nation, Wisconsin Route 1 P.O. Box 70 Bowler, WI 54416 Stuart Patterson, Chief 1983 Upper Mountain Road Tuscarora Nation via: Sanborn, NY 14132 Tuscarora Environmental Program Neil Patterson, Jr., Director 2045 Upper Mountain Road Tuscarora Nation via: Sanborn, NY 14132