ML063390166

2006/12/08-Biological Assessment and Essential Fish Habitat Assessment for License Renewal of Pilgrim Nuclear Power Station

ML063390166
Person / Time
Site:	Pilgrim
Issue date:	12/08/2006
From:	Kuo P NRC/NRR/ADRO/DLR
To:	Colosi P US Dept of Commerce, National Marine Fisheries Service
Williamson A, REBB/DLR/NRR, 415-1878
Shared Package
ML063390154	List: ML063390166
References
%dam200701, TAC MC9676
Download: ML063390166 (6)

Text

December 8, 2006Peter D. ColosiAssistant Regional Administrator for Habitat Conservation National Marine Fisheries Service Northeast Regional Office One Blackburn Drive Gloucester, MA 01930-2237

SUBJECT:

BIOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT AND ESSENTIAL FISH HABITAT ASSESSMENTFOR LICENSE RENEWAL OF PILGRIM NUCLEAR POWER STATION (TAC NO. MC9676)

Dear Mr. Colosi:

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) staff has completed the enclosed draftSupplement 29 to NUREG-1437, ?Generic Environmental Impact Statement for LicenseRenewal of Nuclear Plants" (GEIS), to evaluate the proposed renewal of the Pilgrim Nuclear Power Station (Pilgrim) operating license for a period of an additional 20 years. In accordance with the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended, the NRC's Biological Assessment (BA) for license renewal of Pilgrim is included in Appendix E of the enclosed draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS). Also, in accordance with the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, the NRC is requesting initiation of an Essential Fish Habitat (EFH) consultation regarding this proposed action of license renewal. The NRC's EFH Assessment for license renewal of Pilgrim is also in Appendix E of the enclosed draft SEIS.Pilgrim is located on the western shore of Cape Cod Bay in the Town of Plymouth, PlymouthCounty, Massachusetts. Pilgrim is equipped with a once-through heat dissipation system that withdraws cooling water from and discharges it to Cape Cod Bay. Seawater for cooling and service water is withdrawn from Cape Cod Bay via an embayment formed by two breakwaters.

After circulating through the condensers, cooling water is returned to Cape Cod Bay via a discharge channel immediately adjacent to the intake embayment. The NRC staff identified a total of 10 aquatic Federally listed endangered, threatened, orcandidate species of concern having the potential to be present in the vicinity of Pilgrim and its associated transmission line right-of-way. The evaluation in the BA concludes that the proposed action would have no effect on any of the 10 Federally listed species.As described in the EFH Assessment, the NRC staff identified 32 species that have EFHdesignated in the vicinity of Pilgrim. The evaluation in the EFH Assessment concludes a minimal adverse effect on EFH for 17 species, a less than substantial adverse effect on EFH for 8 species, and a substantial adverse effect on EFH for 7 species. The NRC staff has determined that continued operation of the Pilgrim cooling system, with its existing mitigation measures, is expected to have an overall minimal adverse effect on EFH within the Cape Cod Bay ecosystem.

P. Colosi-2-We are requesting your concurrence with our determination in the BA and conclusion of theSection 7 consultation. We are also requesting initiation of an EFH consultation. In reaching our conclusion, the NRC staff relied on information provided by the applicant, on research performed by NRC staff, information from the Fish and Wildlife Service, and on information from National Marine Fisheries Service. If you have any questions regarding the enclosed draft SEIS, the BA or EFH Assessment in Appendix E of the SEIS, or the staff's request, please contact Ms. Alicia Williamson, Environmental Project Manager, at 301-415-1878 or by e-mail at arw1@nrc.gov

.Sincerely, /RA/Pao-Tsin Kuo, Acting Director Division of License Renewal Office of Nuclear Reactor RegulationDocket No. 50-293

Enclosure:

As statedcc w/encl: See next page P. Colosi-2-We are requesting your concurrence with our determination in the BA and conclusion of theSection 7 consultation. We are also requesting initiation of an EFH consultation. In reaching our conclusion, the NRC staff relied on information provided by the applicant, on research performed by NRC staff, information from the Fish and Wildlife Service, and on information from National Marine Fisheries Service. If you have any questions regarding the enclosed draft SEIS, the BA or EFH Assessment in Appendix E of the SEIS, or the staff's request, please contact Ms. Alicia Williamson, Environmental Project Manager, at 301-415-1878 or by e-mail at arw1@nrc.gov

.Sincerely, /RA/Pao-Tsin Kuo, Acting Director Division of License Renewal Office of Nuclear Reactor RegulationDocket No. 50-293

Enclosure:

As statedcc w/encl: See next pageDISTRIBUTION:RidsNrrDlrSteve.duda@earthtech.comRidsNrrDlrReba HNashbobbie.hurley@eartech.comRFranovich EBennerjohn.szeligowski@earthtech.comRidsNrrDlrRebbAWilliamsonDLogan Adams Accession Nos.:1. Ltr. To P. Kurkul w/Svc. List: ML0633901662. Draft Supplemental 29 to NUREG-1437

?Generic Environmental Impact Statement forLicense Renewal of Nuclear Plants" (GEIS): ML0632601733. Pkg.: ML063390154OFFICELA:DLRES:DLR:REBBPM:DLR:REBBBC:DLR:REBB(A)D:DLRNAMES. FigueroaHnash(w/changes)AWilliamsonRschaaf forRFranovichPTKuoDATE12/07/0612/07/0612/07/0612/08/0612/08/06OFFICIAL RECORD COPY Pilgrim Nuclear Power Station cc:

Mr. Gary J. TaylorChief Executive Officer Entergy Operations 1340 Echelon Parkway Jackson, MS 39213Mr. John T. HerronSr. VP and Chief Operating Officer Entergy Nuclear Operations, Inc.

440 Hamilton Avenue White Plains, NY 10601Mr. Christopher SchwarzVice President, Operations Support Entergy Nuclear Operations, Inc.

440 Hamilton Avenue White Plains, NY 10601Mr. Michael A. BalduzziSite Vice President Entergy Nuclear Operations, Inc.

Pilgrim Nuclear Power Station 600 Rocky Hill Road Plymouth, MA 02360-5508Mr. Kevin H. BronsonGeneral Manager, Plant Operations Entergy Nuclear Operations, Inc.

Pilgrim Nuclear Power Station 600 Rocky Hill Road Plymouth, MA 02360-5508Mr. Stephen J. BethayDirector, Nuclear Safety Assurance Entergy Nuclear Operations, Inc.

Pilgrim Nuclear Power Station 600 Rocky Hill Road Plymouth, MA 02360-5508Mr. Oscar LimpiasVice President, Engineering Entergy Nuclear Operations, Inc.

440 Hamilton Avenue White Plains, NY 10601Mr. John F. McCannDirector, Licensing Entergy Nuclear Operations, Inc.

440 Hamilton Avenue White Plains, NY 10601Ms. Charlene D. FaisonManager, Licensing Entergy Nuclear Operations, Inc.

440 Hamilton Avenue White Plains, NY 10601Mr. Michael J. ColombDirector of Oversight Entergy Nuclear Operations, Inc.

440 Hamilton Avenue White Plains, NY 10601Mr. Bryan S. FordManager, Licensing Entergy Nuclear Operations, Inc.

Pilgrim Nuclear Power Station 600 Rocky Hill Road Plymouth, MA 02360-5508Assistant General CounselEntergy Nuclear Operations, Inc.

440 Hamilton Avenue White Plains, NY 10601Mr. James H. Sniezek5486 Nithsdale Drive Salisbury, MD 21801-2490Mr. Michael D. Lyster5931 Barclay Lane Naples, FL 34110-7306Mr. Garrett D. Edwards814 Waverly Road Kennett Square, PA 19348 Pilgrim Nuclear Power Station cc:

Mr. James RossNuclear Energy Institute 1776 I Street, NW, Suite 400 Washington, DC 20006-3708Regional Administrator, Region IU. S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission

475 Allendale Road King of Prussia, PA 19406-1415Senior Resident InspectorU. S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Pilgrim Nuclear Power Station Post Office Box 867 Plymouth, MA 02360Chairman, Board of Selectmen11 Lincoln Street Plymouth, MA 02360ChairmanNuclear Matters Committee Town Hall 11 Lincoln Street Plymouth, MA 02360Chairman, Duxbury Board of SelectmenTown Hall 878 Tremont Street Duxbury, MA 02332Plymouth Public LibraryAttn: Ms. Dinah O'Brien 132 South Street Plymouth, MA 02360Duxbury Free LibraryAttn: Mr. David Murphy 77 Alden Street Duxbury, MA 02332Kingston Public LibraryAttn: Librarian Susan Olin 6 Green Street Kingston, MA 02364Mark SylviaTown Manager Town of Plymouth 11 Lincoln St Plymouth, MA 02360Ms. Mary LampertDuxbury Nuclear Advisory Committee 148 Washington Street Duxbury, MA 02332Office of the Attorney GeneralOne Ashburton Place 20th Floor Boston, MA 02108Diane Curran, Esq.Harmon, Curran, Spielberg

& Eisenberg, L.L.P.

1726 M Street, NW., Suite 600 Washington, DC 20036Matthew Brock, Esq.Assistant Attorney General Office of the Massachusetts Attorney General Environmental Protection Division One Ashburton Place, Room 1813 Boston, MA 02108-1598Ms. Shelia HollisSuite 700 1667 K Street, NW Washington, DC 20006Ms. Molly Barlett52 Crooked Lane Duxbury, MA 02332David R. Lewis, Esq.Paul A. Gaukler, Esq.

Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP 2300 N Street, NW Washington, DC 20037-1128 Pilgrim Nuclear Power Station cc:

Chief Kevin M. NordFire Chief and Director Duxbury Emergency Management Agency 688 Tremont Street P.O. Box 2824 Duxbury, MA 02331Christopher Boelke NOAA Fisheries Service Northeast Regional Office One Blackburn Drive Gloucester, MA 01930-2237Julie Crocker NOAA Fisheries Service Northeast Regional Office One Blackburn Drive Gloucester, MA 01930-2237