ML071410315
| ML071410315 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Hope Creek  |
| Issue date: | 06/13/2007 |
| From: | Eric Benner NRC/NRR/ADRO/DLR/REBA |
| To: | Popolizio C US Dept of Interior, Fish & Wildlife Service |
| Logan, Dennis NRR/DLR/REBA - 415-0490 | |
| References | |
| TAC MC3002 | |
| Download: ML071410315 (6) | |
Text
June 13, 2007 Mr. Carlo Popolizio New Jersey Field Office U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 927 N. Main Street Heritage Square, Building D Pleasantville, NJ 08232
SUBJECT:
EXPLANATION OF HOPE CREEK NUCLEAR GENERATING STATION EXTENDED POWER UPRATE AND REQUEST FOR CONCLUSION OF INFORMAL CONSULTATION (TAC NO. MC3002)
Dear Mr. Popolizio:
As described in our letter dated December 8, 2006, the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is reviewing an application submitted by PSEG Nuclear, LLC for an amendment to the current operating license of Hope Creek Generating Station (HCGS) for an extended power uprate. HCGS is a single-unit nuclear plant located on Artificial Island in Lower Alloways Creek Township, New Jersey. In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as amended, NRC is preparing an Environmental Assessment. In this letter, NRC requested that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) provide information regarding protected, proposed, and candidate species and critical habitat under their jurisdiction and that may be in the vicinity of HCGS and its associated transmission lines, pursuant to Section 7 of the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended.
In response, the Service issued a letter providing information on bald eagles and stating that an active nest is known to occur in the area. In the same letter, the Service deferred to New Jerseys Endangered and Nongame Species Program (ENSP) regarding bald eagles. In a subsequent telephone conversation, Ms. Kathleen Clark of the ENSP requested that NRC provide additional information regarding the HCGS extended power uprate to better assess the need for consultation, and NRC staff provided the information. We have had no further conversations with Ms. Clark.
The primary concerns for the bald eagle are the risks of changing terrestrial habitat and of affecting prey fish populations from impingement or entrainment due to cooling water intake by the plant. The intake flow would not be changed, and therefore there should be no increase in the risk of impingement and entrainment. To dissipate the additional heat created by the power uprate, the temperature of the plants cooling water discharge would be slightly elevated, but still within the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permits 24-hour average temperature limit of 97.1°F. Therefore, there are no anticipated effects related to discharge. In addition, no changes to transmission lines would be needed, so no terrestrial effects are anticipated. The HCGS has had no takes of bald eagles.
C. Popolizio Because the intake flow of HCGS would remain the same after the extended power uprate, the cooling water intake structure would not change, and transmission lines would remain the same, NRC staff anticipates no alteration to the risk for bald eagles.
This letter requests conclusion of the informal consultation on bald eagles.
If you have any additional questions or concerns regarding the NRC staffs review of this license amendment application, please contact Mr. Dennis Logan, Aquatic Biologist, at 301-415-0490 or via e-mail at DTL1@nrc.gov.
Sincerely,
/RA/
Eric Benner, Branch Chief Environmental Branch A Division of License Renewal Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation Docket No. 50-354 cc: See next page
C. Popolizio Because the intake flow of HCGS would remain the same after the extended power uprate, the cooling water intake structure would not change, and transmission lines would remain the same, NRC staff anticipates no alteration to the risk for bald eagles.
This letter requests conclusion of the informal consultation on bald eagles.
If you have any additional questions or concerns regarding the NRC staffs review of this license amendment application, please contact Mr. Dennis Logan, Aquatic Biologist, at 301-415-0490 or via e-mail at DTL1@nrc.gov.
Sincerely,
/RA/
Eric Benner, Branch Chief Environmental Branch A Division of License Renewal Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation Docket No. 50-354 cc: See next page Accession No.: ML071410315 OFFICE DLR:REBA:AB DLR:LA DLR:REBA:ES DLR:REBA:PM DLR:REBA:BC NAME D. Logan I. King H. Nash A. Luu E. Benner DATE 05/30/07 05/23/07 06/08/07 06/11/07 06/13/07 OFFICIAL RECORD COPY
Letter to C. Popolizio from E. Benner dated June 13, 2007
SUBJECT:
EXPLANATION OF HOPE CREEK NUCLEAR GENERATING STATION EXTENDED POWER UPRATE AND REQUEST FOR CONCLUSION OF INFORMAL CONSULTATION (TAC NO. MC3002)
DISTRIBUTION:
E-mail D. Logan E. Wexler H. Nash A. Luu E. Benner J. Shea
Hope Creek Generating Station cc:
Mr. Dennis Winchester Vice President - Nuclear Assessments PSEG Nuclear P.O. Box 236 Hancocks Bridge, NJ 08038 Mr. George P. Barnes Site Vice President - Hope Creek PSEG Nuclear P.O. Box 236 Hancocks Bridge, NJ 08038 Mr. George H. Gellrich Plant Support Manager PSEG Nuclear P.O. Box 236 Hancocks Bridge, NJ 08038 Mr. Michael J. Massaro Plant Manager - Hope Creek PSEG Nuclear P.O. Box 236 Hancocks Bridge, NJ 08038 Mr. James Mallon Manager - Licensing 200 Exelon Way - KSA 3-E Kennett Square, PA 19348 Jeffrie J. Keenan, Esquire PSEG Nuclear - N21 P.O. Box 236 Hancocks Bridge, NJ 08038 Mr. Michael Jesse Manager - Regulatory Assurance P.O. Box 236 Hancocks Bridge, NJ 08038 Township Clerk Lower Alloways Creek Township Municipal Building, P.O. Box 157 Hancocks Bridge, NJ 08038 Mr. Paul Bauldauf, P.E., Asst. Director Radiation Protection Programs NJ Department of Environmental Protection and Energy CN 415 Trenton, NJ 08625-0415 Mr. Brian Beam Board of Public Utilities 2 Gateway Center, Tenth Floor Newark, NJ 07102 Regional Administrator, Region I U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission 475 Allendale Road King of Prussia, PA 19406 Senior Resident Inspector Hope Creek Generating Station U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Drawer 0509 Hancocks Bridge, NJ 08038