ML081890395
| ML081890395 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Prairie Island  |
| Issue date: | 07/22/2008 |
| From: | Rani Franovich NRC/NRR/ADRO/DLR |
| To: | Joyal L State of MN, Dept of Natural Resources |
| Leous, JP, DLR/REBB 301-415-2864 | |
| References | |
| Download: ML081890395 (8) | |
Text
July 22, 2008 Ms. Lisa A. Joyal Endangered Species Environmental Review Coordinator Natural Heritage and Nongame Research Program Minnesota Department of Natural Resources 500 Lafayette Road Box 25 St. Paul, MN 55155
SUBJECT:
REQUEST FOR LIST OF STATE-PROTECTED SPECIES AND IMPORTANT HABITATS WITHIN THE AREA UNDER EVALUATION FOR THE PRAIRIE ISLAND NUCLEAR GENERATING PLANT, UNITS 1 AND 2, LICENSE RENEWAL APPLICATION REVIEW
Dear Ms. Joyal:
The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC or the staff) is reviewing an application submitted by Nuclear Management Company, LLC (NMC), for the renewal of the operating licenses for the Prairie Island Nuclear Generating Plant, Units 1 and 2 (PINGP). PINGP is located near Red Wing, Minnesota, approximately 39 miles southeast of Minneapolis. As part of the review of the license renewal application (LRA), the NRC is preparing a Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS) to its Generic Environmental Impact Statement for License Renewal of Nuclear Plants, NUREG-1437, under the provisions of Title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations Part 51 (10 CFR Part 51), the NRCs regulation that implements the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969. The SEIS includes an analysis of pertinent environmental issues, impacts to endangered or threatened species and other fish and wildlife.
NMC is requesting renewal of its operating licenses for PINGP for a period of 20 years beyond the expiration of the current license terms of August 9, 2013, and October 29, 2014, respectively. This proposed action would include the use and continued maintenance of existing plant facilities and transmission lines. For the purpose of license renewal, NMC plans to replace the PINGP steam generators. As part of these refurbishment activities, NMC also plans to establish a temporary construction area approximately 100 yards northwest of the turbine building and to build permanent warehouses within existing plant boundaries. NMC states there will be no clearing of previously-undisturbed areas.
The PINGP site encompasses approximately 578 acres, and is located on the western shore of Sturgeon Lake. Prairie Island, upon which PINGP is located, is a low island terrace in the Mississippi River; please see the attached site boundary map (Enclosure 1). The Prairie Island Indian Reservation is directly north of the site.
One 161-kilovolt (kV) and four 345-kV transmission lines connect Prairie Island to the regional transmission system; please see the attached Prairie Island transmission system map (Enclosure 2). To support the SEIS preparation process and to ensure compliance with Section 7 of the Endangered Species Act, the NRC requests information on state-listed, proposed, and candidate species and critical habitat that may be in the vicinity of PINGP and its associated
L. Joyal transmission line corridors. In addition, please provide any information you consider appropriate under the provisions of the Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act.
The NRC staff plans to hold two public NEPA scoping meetings on July 30, 2008. The first session will be held in the afternoon and an identical session will be held later that evening.
The first meeting will convene at 1:30 p.m. and will continue until 4:30 p.m., as necessary. The second meeting will convene at 7:00 p.m. and will continue until 10:00 p.m., as necessary. Both sessions will be held at the Red Wing Public Library, 225 East Avenue, Red Wing, MN 55066.
In addition, during the week of August 18, 2008, the NRC plans to conduct a site audit. You and your staff are invited to attend both the public meetings and the site audit. Your office will receive a copy of the draft SEIS along with a request for comments. The anticipated publication date for the draft SEIS is March 2009.
If you have any questions concerning the NRC staffs review of this license renewal application, please contact Mr. J.P. Leous, License Renewal Project Manager, at 301-415-2864 or by e-mail at Justin.Leous@nrc.gov.
Sincerely,
/RA by AStuyvenberg for/
Rani Franovich, Branch Chief Projects Branch 2 Division of License Renewal Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation Docket Nos. 50-282 & 50-306
Enclosures:
As stated cc w/encls: See next page
ML081890395 OFFICE LA:DLR PM:DLR:RPB1 PM:DLR:RPB2 BC:DLR:RPB2 NAME YEdmounds JLeous RPlasse AStuyvenberg for RFranovich DATE 07/14/08 07/16/08 07/16/08 07/22/08
ENCLOSURE 1
ENCLOSURE 2
Letter to L. Joyal from R. Franovich, July 22, 2008
SUBJECT:
REQUEST FOR LIST OF STATE-PROTECTED SPECIES AND IMPORTANT HABITATS WITHIN THE AREA UNDER EVALUATION FOR THE PRAIRIE ISLAND NUCLEAR GENERATING PLANT, UNITS 1 AND 2, LICENSE RENEWAL APPLICATION REVIEW HARD COPY:
DLR RF DISTRIBUTION:
E-MAIL:
B. Holian / S. Lee(RidsNrrDlr)
T. Combs, OCA T. Madden, OCA R. Shane, OCA B. Keeling, OCA R. Franovich (RidsNrrDlrRebb)
R. Rikhoff (RidsNrrDlrReba)
R.Plasse J. Leous T. Wengert R. Skokowski K. Stoedter P. Zurawski OPA (RidsOpaMail)
D. McIntyre, OPA V. Mitlyng D. Roth, OGC B. Mizuno, OGC OGC (RidsOGCMailRoom)
Prairie Island Nuclear Generating Plant, Units 1 and 2 cc:
Peter M. Glass Assistant General Counsel Xcel Energy Services, Inc.
414 Nicollet Mall (MP4)
Minneapolis, MN 55401 Manager, Regulatory Affairs Prairie Island Nuclear Generating Plant Nuclear Management Company, LLC 1717 Wakonade Drive East Welch, MN 55089 Manager - Environmental Protection Division Minnesota Attorney General=s Office 445 Minnesota St., Suite 900 St. Paul, MN 55101-2127 U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Resident Inspector's Office 1719 Wakonade Drive East Welch, MN 55089-9642 Administrator Goodhue County Courthouse Box 408 Red Wing, MN 55066-0408 Philip R. Mahowald General Counsel Prairie Island Indian Community 5636 Sturgeon Lake Road Welch, MN 55089 Heather Westra Prairie Island Indian Community 5636 Sturgeon Lake Road Welch, MN 55089 Gene Eckholt Nuclear Management Company, LLC 1717 Wakonade Drive East Welch, MN 55089 Jim Holthaus Nuclear Management Company, LLC 1717 Wakonade Drive East Welch, MN 55089 Katie Himanga, Mayor City of Lake City 205 West Center St.
Lake City, MN 55041 Commissioner Minnesota Department of Commerce 85 7th Place East, Suite 500 St. Paul, MN 55101-2198 Tribal Council Prairie Island Indian Community ATTN: Environmental Department 5636 Sturgeon Lake Road Welch, MN 55089 Nuclear Asset Manager Xcel Energy, Inc.
414 Nicollet Mall (MP4)
Minneapolis, MN 55401 Dennis L. Koehl Chief Nuclear Officer Nuclear Management Company, LLC 414 Nicollet Mall (MP4)
Minneapolis, MN 55401 Joel P. Sorenson Director, Site Operations Prairie Island Nuclear Generating Plant Nuclear Management Company, LLC 1717 Wakonade Drive East Welch, MN 55089
Prairie Island Nuclear Generating Plant, Units 1 and 2 cc:
Joan Marshman 30129 County 2 Blvd.
P.O. Box 62 Frontenac, MN 55026 Kristen Eide-Tollefson Florence Township Commission P.O. Box 130 Frontenac, MN 55026