ML080800027
| ML080800027 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Vogtle  |
| Issue date: | 04/09/2008 |
| From: | Lund A NRC/NRR/ADRO/DLR |
| To: | Bernhart D US Dept of Commerce, National Marine Fisheries Service |
| Leous, JP, DLR/REBB 301-415-2864 | |
| References | |
| Download: ML080800027 (5) | |
Text
April 9, 2008 Mr. David Bernhart Assistant Regional Administrator National Marine Fisheries Service 263 13th Avenue South St. Petersburg, FL 33701
SUBJECT:
VOGTLE ELECTRIC GENERATING PLANT, UNITS 1 AND 2, LICENSE RENEWAL APPLICATION REVIEW
Dear Mr. Bernhart:
The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) staff is reviewing an application to renew the operating licenses for Vogtle Electric Generating Plant, Units 1 and 2 (VEGP), which is located in Burke County, Georgia. VEGP is operated by Southern Nuclear Operating Company, Inc.
(SNC). As part of its review of the proposed action, the NRC staff prepared a site-specific Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS) to its AGeneric Environmental Impact Statement for License Renewal of Nuclear Plants@ (GEIS), NUREG-1437. The SEIS includes analyses of relevant environmental issues pertaining to extended operation and refurbishment activities associated with license renewal. In accordance with the Fisheries and Wildlife Coordination Act, a copy of the draft supplement is enclosed. Pursuant to 36 CFR 800.8(c), we are requesting your comments on the draft supplement and on our preliminary conclusions.
NRC staff determined that the area of potential effect for a license renewal action is the area at the power plant site and its immediate environs that may be impacted by post-license renewal land disturbing operation or projected refurbishment activities associated with the proposed action.
In the context of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, under which the draft supplemental environmental impact statement was prepared, the NRC staff=s preliminary determination is that the impact of license renewal on examined resources is small.
By letter dated August 22, 2007, the NRC requested that the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) provide a list of Federally endangered or threatened species that may be in the vicinity of VEGP and its associated transmission lines. The NMFS mailed the NRC a letter dated September 11, 2007, which identified the shortnose sturgeon (Acipenser brevirostrum) as the only Federally listed or proposed threatened or endangered species which is known to occur in the project area.
The Biological Assessment prepared by NRC staff (Appendix E of the enclosed SEIS) provides an evaluation of the potential impact of renewing the VEGP operating licenses for an additional 20 years of operation on the species. The NRC has determined that the proposed action would not likely adversely affect the shortnose sturgeon population of the Savannah River.
We are requesting your concurrence with our determination. In reaching our conclusion, the NRC staff relied on information provided by the applicant, on literature research, and information from the NMFS.
D. Bernhart Additionally, please note that the period for public comment on the draft SEIS expires on July 16, 2008. If your office requires additional time, or if there are any other questions regarding this correspondence, please have your representative contact the Environmental Project Manager, Mr. J.P. Leous, at 301-415-2864 or by e-mail at Justin.Leous@nrc.gov.
Sincerely,
/RA Donnie Ashley for/
Louise Lund, Branch Chief Projects Branch 1 Division of License Renewal Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation Docket Nos. 50-424, 50-425
Enclosures:
As stated
D. Bernhart Additionally, please note that the period for public comment on the draft SEIS expires on July 16, 2008. If your office requires additional time, or if there are any other questions regarding this correspondence, please have your representative contact the Environmental Project Manager, Mr. J.P. Leous, at 301-415-2864 or by e-mail at Justin.Leous@nrc.gov.
Sincerely,
/RA Donnie Ashley for/
Louise Lund, Branch Chief Projects Branch 1 Division of License Renewal Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation Docket Nos. 50-424, 50-425
Enclosures:
As stated DISTRIBUTION:
RidsNrrDlr RidsNrrDlrRebb RidsNrrDlrReba RidsOGCMailRoom DLR REBB DLR REBA L. Lund J. Leous S. Hernandez Bobbie.hurley@earthtech.com D. Ashley S. Lingam G. McCoy S. Shaeffer R. Hannah ADAMS Accession Number: ML080800027 OFFICE LA:DLR PM:DLR:RPB1 w/corrections DLR:RPB1 OGC BC:DLR:RPB1 NAME SFigueroa JLeous SHernandez LSubin LLund (DAshley for)
DATE 03/21/08 03/21/08 03/25/08 04/01/08 04/09/08 OFFICIAL RECORD COPY
Vogtle Electric Generating Plant, Units 1 and 2 cc:
Mr. Tom E. Tynan Vice President - Vogtle Vogtle Electric Generating Plant 7821 River Road Waynesboro, GA 30830 Mr. N. J. Stringfellow Manager, Licensing Southern Nuclear Operating Company, Inc.
P.O. Box 1295 Birmingham, AL 35201-1295 Mr. Jeffrey T. Gasser Executive Vice President Southern Nuclear Operating Company, Inc.
P.O. Box 1295 Birmingham, AL 35201-1295 Mr. Steven M. Jackson Senior Engineer - Power Supply Municipal Electric Authority of Georgia 1470 Riveredge Parkway, NW Atlanta, GA 30328-4684 Mr. Reece McAlister Executive Secretary Georgia Public Service Commission 244 Washington Street, SW Atlanta, GA 30334 Mr. Harold Reheis, Director Department of Natural Resources 205 Butler Street, SE, Suite 1252 Atlanta, GA 30334 Attorney General Law Department 132 Judicial Building Atlanta, GA 30334 Mr. Laurence Bergen Oglethorpe Power Corporation 2100 East Exchange Place P.O. Box 1349 Tucker, GA 30085-1349 Arthur H. Domby, Esquire Troutman Sanders Nations Bank Plaza 600 Peachtree Street, NE, Suite 5200 Atlanta, GA 30308-2216 Resident Inspector Vogtle Plant 8805 River Road Waynesboro, GA 30830 Office of the County Commissioner Burke County Commission Waynesboro, GA 30830 Mr. David Kyler, Executive Director Center for a Sustainable Coast 221 Mallory Street, Suite B St. Simons Island, GA 31522 Ms. Sara Barczak Southern Alliance for Clean Energy 428 Bull Street, Suite 201 Savannah, GA 31401 Ms. Bobbie Paul, Executive Director Atlanta Womens Action for New Directions 250 Georgia Avenue, SE, Suite 202 Atlanta, GA 30312 Savannah River Site Campaign Coordinator Blue Ridge Environmental Defense League 3417 Sutton Place Augusta, GA 30906 Mr. Don L. Klima, Director Advisory Council on Historic Preservation Office of Federal Agency Programs 1100 Pennsylvania Ave, NW, Suite 803 Washington, DC 20004 Mr. Strant Colwell, Supervisor U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 4270 Norwich Street Brunswick, GA 31520
Vogtle Electric Generating Plant, Units 1 and 2 cc:
Mr. David Bernhart Assistant Regional Administrator National Marine Fisheries Service 263 13th Avenue South St. Petersburg, FL 33701 Dr. Ray Luce Historic Preservation Division/DNR 34 Peachtree Street NW, Suite1600 Atlanta, GA 30303-2316 Mr. Stanford M. Blanton, esq.
Balch & Bingham LLP P.O. Box 306 Birmingham, AL 35201 Ms. Moanica M. Caston Vice President and General Counsel Southern Nuclear Operating Company, Inc.
40 Inverness Center Parkway P.O. Box 1295 Birmingham, AL 35201-1295 Mr. Michael A. Macfarlane Southern Nuclear Operating Company, Inc.
40 Inverness Center Parkway P.O. Box 1295 Birmingham, AL 35201-1295 Mr. T. C. Moorer - Project Manager -
Environmental Southern Nuclear Operating Company, Inc.
40 Inverness Center Parkway P.O. Box 1295 Birmingham, AL 35201-1295 Walter Dukes Georgia Power 699 Broad St.
Augusta, GA 30815 Teresa Carter American Cancer Society 2607 Commons Blvd.
Augusta, GA 30909 Eilis Godbee 616 Godbee Road Waynesboro, GA 30830 Billy Hopper 416 McIntosh Dr.
Waynesboro, GA 30830 Karen Patterson Tetra Tech 900 Trail Ridge Rd.
Aiken, SC 29803 Merv Waldrop Burke County Board of Commissioners P.O. Box 89 Waynesboro, GA 30830 Sean Hayes Georgia Dept of Natural Resources 1885 Tobacco Rd.
Augusta, GA 30906 Sandy Shields 808 Main St.
Byron, GA 31008 Beverly Black Capital City Bank 615 Liberty St.
Waynesboro, GA 30830 Dick Byne Waynesboro City Council 537 Jones Ave Waynesboro, GA 30830 Chalmer R. Meyer Southern Nuclear Operating Company, Inc.
40 Inverness Center Parkway P.O. Box 1295 Birmingham, AL 35201-1295