ML072420149
| ML072420149 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Wolf Creek  |
| Issue date: | 09/20/2007 |
| From: | Rani Franovich NRC/NRR/ADRO/DLR/REBB |
| To: | Levalley M US Dept of Interior, Fish & Wildlife Service |
| Jacobs C, PM, REBB, DLR, 415-3874 | |
| Shared Package | |
| ML072420147 | List: |
| References | |
| TAC MD3182 | |
| Download: ML072420149 (5) | |
Text
September 20, 2007 Mr. Mike LeValley United States Fish and Wildlife Service Kansas Field Office 315 Houston Street, Suite E Manhattan, KS 66502
SUBJECT:
BIOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT FOR LICENSE RENEWAL OF WOLF CREEK GENERATING STATION (TAC NO. MD3182)
Dear Mr. LeValley:
The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) staff has completed the enclosed draft Supplement 32 to NUREG-1437, ?Generic Environmental Impact Statement for License Renewal of Nuclear Plants, to evaluate the proposed renewal of the Wolf Creek Generating Station (WCGS) operating license for a period of an additional 20 years. The Supplement Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS) evaluates the proposed action of license renewal for WCGS. The WCGS facility is located in Coffey County in eastern Kansas approximately 75 miles southwest of Kansas City. In accordance with the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended, and the Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act of 1934, as amended, the NRC Biological Assessment (BA) for license renewal of WCGS is included in Appendix E of the enclosed draft SEIS.
In a letter to the NRC dated January 29, 2007, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) provided information about three Federally listed species and one candidate species with the potential to occur in the project area. One of the three species, the bald eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus), has been delisted since receipt of the FWS letter. Because Section 7 consultations do not address candidate species, this BA does not include information on the candidate species Neosho mucket (Lampsilis rafinesqueana) that may occur in the area.
Therefore, this BA examines the potential effects of the continued operation of WCGS on two Federally threatened species: the threatened Neosho madtom (Noturus placidus) and the threatened Meads milkweed (Asclepias meadii).
The NRC staff has examined the species that may be present in the vicinity of WCGS, the known distributions and available habitat for those species, the potential effects of the operation of WCGS on the species, and the studies and mitigation measures that Wolf Creek Nuclear Operating Corporation (WCNOC) and Westar Energy Inc. (the owner of the transmission lines) employ to protect the species. Based on this analysis, the staff has determined that continued operation of WCGS for an additional 20 years is not likely to adversely affect Meads milkweed.
Likewise, during periods with no water use conflicts, the proposed action is not likely to adversely affect the Neosho madtom. However, when water use conflicts exist during low-flow or drought conditions in the Neosho River, continued operation of WCGS may adversely affect the Neosho madtom.
M. LeValley We are requesting your concurrence with our determination in the BA. In reaching our conclusion, the NRC staff relied on information provided by the applicant, research performed by NRC staff and information from the FWS. If you have any questions regarding the enclosed draft SEIS, the BA in Appendix E of the draft SEIS, or the staffs request, please contact Mr. Christian Jacobs, Environmental Project Manager, at 301-415-3874 or by e-mail at cjj@nrc.gov.
Sincerely,
/RA by Samuel Hernandez-Quinones for/
Rani L. Franovich, Branch Chief Environmental Branch B Division of License Renewal Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation Docket No. 50-482
Enclosure:
As stated cc w/encl: See next page
M. LeValley We are requesting your concurrence with our determination in the BA. In reaching our conclusion, the NRC staff relied on information provided by the applicant, research performed by NRC staff and information from the FWS. If you have any questions regarding the enclosed draft SEIS, the BA in Appendix E of the draft SEIS, or the staffs request, please contact Mr. Christian Jacobs, Environmental Project Manager, at 301-415-3874 or by e-mail at cjj@nrc.gov.
Sincerely,
/RA by Samuel Hernandez-Quinones for/
Rani L. Franovich, Branch Chief Environmental Branch B Division of License Renewal Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation Docket No. 50-482
Enclosure:
As stated cc w/encl: See next page Adams Accession Nos.:
- 1. Ltr. To M. LeValley w/Svc. List: ML072420149
- 2. Draft Supplemental 32 to NUREG-1437 ?Generic Environmental Impact Statement for License Renewal of Nuclear Plants (GEIS): ML072540026
- 3. Pkg.: ML072420147 OFFICE ES:DLR:REBA LA:DLR PM:DLR:REBB BC:DLR:REBB NAME D. Logan I. King C. Jacobs R. Franovich S. Hernandez for DATE 09/04/07 08/30/07 09/04/07 09/20/07 OFFICIAL RECORD COPY
Letter to M. LeValley from R. Franovich, dated September 20, 2007
SUBJECT:
BIOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT FOR LICENSE RENEWAL OF WOLF CREEK GENERATING STATION (TAC NO. MD3182)
DISTRIBUTION:
P.T. Kuo (RidsNrrDlr)
R. Franovich (RidsNrrDlrRebb)
E. Benner (RidsNrrDlrReba)
C. Jacobs D. Logan W. Maier B. Hurley (bobbie.hurley@eartech.com)
S. Duda (Steve.duda@earthtech.com)
RidsOGCMailRoom D. Roth DLR/REBB DLR/REBA
Wolf Creek Generating Station cc:
Jay Silberg, Esq.
Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman, LLP 2300 N Street, NW Washington, DC 20037 Regional Administrator, Region IV U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission 611 Ryan Plaza Drive, Suite 400 Arlington, TX 76011-7005 Senior Resident Inspector U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission P.O. Box 311 Burlington, KS 66839 Chief Engineer, Utilities Division Kansas Corporation Commission 1500 SW Arrowhead Road Topeka, KS 66604-4027 Office of the Governor State of Kansas Topeka, KS 66612 Attorney General 120 SW 10th Avenue, 2nd Floor Topeka, KS 66612-1597 County Clerk Coffey County Courthouse 110 South 6th Street Burlington, KS 66839 Chief, Radiation and Asbestos Control Section Kansas Department of Health and Environment Bureau of Air and Radiation 1000 SW Jackson, Suite 310 Topeka, KS 66612-1366 Vice President Operations/Plant Manager Wolf Creek Nuclear Operating Corporation P.O. Box 411 Burlington, KS 66839 Supervisor Licensing Wolf Creek Nuclear Operating Corporation P.O. Box 411 Burlington, KS 66839 U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Resident Inspectors Office/Callaway Plant 8201 NRC Road Steedman, MO 65077-1032 Mr. Terry J. Garrett Vice President Engineering Wolf Creek Nuclear Operating Corporation P.O. Box 411 Burlington, KS 66839 Kevin J. Moles, Manager Regulatory Affairs Wolf Creek Nuclear Operating Corporation P.O. Box 411 Burlington, KS 66839 Lorrie I. Bell, Project Manager Wolf Creek Nuclear Operating Corporation P.O. Box 411 Burlington, KS 66839 Ms. Julie Keys Nuclear Energy Institute 1776 I Street, NW, Suite 400 Washington, DC 20006-3708 Ms. Valerie Williams, Branch Director Coffey County Library Burlington Branch 410 Juniatta Street Burlington, KS 66839