ML071300230

U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service Project 2007-1111 Regarding Protected Species in the Vicinity of the Susquehanna Steam Electric Station and Units 1 and 2 and Associated Transmission Line Corridor

ML071300230
Person / Time
Site:	Susquehanna
Issue date:	06/09/2007
From:	Rani Franovich NRC/NRR/ADRO/DLR/REBB
To:	Densmore D, Shellenberger P US Dept of Interior, Fish & Wildlife Service
Stuyvenberg, A L, NRR/DLR/ 415-4006
References
Download: ML071300230 (6)

Text

June 9, 2007 David Densmore, Supervisor (ATTN: Pamela Shellenberger)

United States Department of the Interior Fish and Wildlife Service Pennsylvania Field Office 315 South Allen Street, Suite 322 State College, PA 16801-4850

SUBJECT:

U.S. FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE PROJECT 2007-1111 REGARDING PROTECTED SPECIES IN THE VICINITY OF THE SUSQUEHANNA STEAM ELECTRIC STATION, UNITS 1 AND 2, AND ASSOCIATED TRANSMISSION LINE CORRIDOR

Dear Mr. Densmore,

This letter is intended to serve as a record of the discussions between the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) staff and Ms. Pamela Shellenberger of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) on March 28, 2007. In addition, this letter is intended to allow FWS to respond with an updated version of their March 1, 2007, determination regarding endangered species in the vicinity of Susquehanna Steam Electric Station (SSES), thus concluding NRCs informal Section 7 conference with FWS relating both to SSES license renewal and extended power uprate (EPU) reviews.

As noted in the March 28, 2007, discussion, PPL Susquehanna, LLC, (PPL) has applied for an EPU for Units 1 and 2. NRCs review of PPLs EPU application began after NRCs initial license renewal consultation letter to FWS, dated November 15, 2006. If approved, the EPU will allow SSES to increase maximum thermal power at both SSES Units 1 and 2 from 3489 megawatts thermal (MWt) to 3953 MWt - or by approximately 14 percent. NRC staff, in the March 28, 2007, discussion, requested that FWS issue a revised determination addressing both EPU and license renewal. This will not only assist staff in developing a supplemental environmental impact statement for license renewal, but will also assist NRC staff in preparing an environmental assessment for the EPU. Should NRC staff find that EPU will have significant impacts on the human environment, we will develop an environmental impact statement for the EPU.

Also during the March 28, 2007, call to FWS, NRC staff noted that PPLs March 24, 2005, letter to FWS is a more reliable characterization of PPLs maintenance activities than the NRC staffs assertion FWS referenced in the March 1, 2007, determination. According to PPLs letter, any maintenance activities necessary to support license renewal would be limited to previously disturbed areas, and no additional land disturbance is anticipated for license renewal.

Finally, as discussed in the March 28, 2007, call, NRC staff requested that FWS issue a determination without a set duration, as it is possible that NRCs staff review of license renewal and EPU may take longer than the two-year limit invoked in the March 1, 2007, letter. In return, NRC staff will promptly notify FWS in the unlikely event that either EPU or license renewal reviews change in scope.

D. Densmore NRC staff greatly appreciates your time and attention in providing an updated version of your previous determination based on the requested EPU. If you have any questions concerning this matter, please contact Drew Stuyvenberg, License Renewal Environmental Project Manager at 301-415-4006 or by e-mail at als3@nrc.gov.

Sincerely,

/RA/

Rani Franovich, Branch Chief Environmental Branch B Division of License Renewal Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation Docket No. 50-387 cc: See next page

D. Densmore NRC staff greatly appreciates your time and attention in providing an updated version of your previous determination based on the requested EPU. If you have any questions concerning this matter, please contact Drew Stuyvenberg, License Renewal Environmental Project Manager at 301-415-4006 or by e-mail at als3@nrc.gov.

Sincerely,

/RA/

Rani Franovich, Branch Chief Environmental Branch B Division of License Renewal Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation Docket No. 50-387 cc: See next page DISTRIBUTION:

See next page Accession No.: ML071300230 OFFICE PM:DLR:REBB LA:DLR PM:DLR:REBB BC:DLR:REBB NAME D. Stuyvenberg I. King J. Davis R. Franovich DATE 05/18/07 06/07/07 05/21/07 06/09/07 OFFICIAL RECORD COPY

Letter to D. Densmore from R. Franovich dated June 9, 2007 DISTRIBUTION:

SUBJECT:

U.S. FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE PROJECT 2007-1111 REGARDING PROTECTED SPECIES IN THE VICINITY OF THE SUSQUEHANNA STEAM ELECTRIC STATION, UNITS 1 AND 2, AND ASSOCIATED TRANSMISSION LINE CORRIDOR HARD COPY DLR RF E-MAIL:

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Susquehanna Steam Electric Station, Units 1 and 2 cc:

Robert A. Saccone Luis A. Ramos Vice President - Nuclear Operations Community Relations Manager, PPL Susquehanna, LLC Susquehanna 769 Salem Blvd., NUCSB3 PPL Susquehanna, LLC Berwick, PA 18603-0467 634 Salem Blvd., SSO Berwick, PA 18603-0467 Aloysius J. Wrape, III General Manager - Performance Bryan A. Snapp, Esq.

Improvement and Oversight Associate General Counsel PPL Susquehanna, LLC PPL Services Corporation Two North Ninth Street, GENPL4 Two North Ninth Street, GENTW3 Allentown, PA 18101-1179 Allentown, PA 18101-1179 Terry L. Harpster Supervisor - Document Control Services General Manager - Plant Support PPL Susquehanna, LLC PPL Susquehanna, LLC Two North Ninth Street, GENPL4 769 Salem Blvd., NUCSA4 Allentown, PA 18101-1179 Berwick, PA 18603-0467 Richard W. Osborne Rocco R. Sgarro Allegheny Electric Cooperative, Inc.

Manager - Nuclear Regulatory Affairs 212 Locust Street PPL Susquehanna, LLC P.O. Box 1266 Two North Ninth Street, GENPL4 Harrisburg, PA 17108-1266 Allentown, PA 18101-1179 Director, Bureau of Radiation Protection Walter E. Morrissey Pennsylvania Department of Supervising Engineer Environmental Protection Nuclear Regulatory Affairs Rachel Carson State Office Building PPL Susquehanna, LLC P.O. Box 8469 769 Salem Blvd., NUCSA4 Harrisburg, PA 17105-8469 Berwick, PA 18603-0467 Senior Resident Inspector Michael H. Crowthers U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Supervising Engineer P.O. Box 35, NUCSA4 Nuclear Regulatory Affairs Berwick, PA 18603-0035 PPL Susquehanna, LLC Two North Ninth Street, GENPL4 Regional Administrator, Region 1 Allentown, PA 18101-1179 U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission 475 Allendale Road Steven M. Cook King of Prussia, PA 19406 Manager - Quality Assurance PPL Susquehanna, LLC Board of Supervisors 769 Salem Blvd., NUCSB2 Salem Township Berwick, PA 18603-0467 P.O. Box 405 Berwick, PA 18603-0035

Susquehanna Steam Electric Station, Units 1 and 2 cc:

Dr. Judith Johnsrud National Energy Committee Sierra Club 443 Orlando Avenue State College, PA 16803 Mr. James Ross Nuclear Energy Institute 1776 I Street, NW, Suite 400 Washington, DC 20006-3708