ML091830056

Nebraska Public Power District; Cooper Nuclear Station License Renewal 345kV Transmission Line Marking Proposal

ML091830056
Person / Time
Site:	Cooper
Issue date:	05/08/2009
From:	Citta J Nebraska Public Power District (NPPD)
To:	Deweese J Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation, US Dept of Interior, Fish & Wildlife Service
References
Download: ML091830056 (3)

Text

Nebraska Public Power District Joe L. Citta, Jr. '"Aiwa, heyre when -".c toi" u

CorporateEnvironmental Agr.

PH: 402.563.5355 May 8, 2009 Ms. June DeWeese U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service 203 West Second Street Federal Bldg., Second Floor Grand Island, NE 68801 RE: Nebraska Public Power District; Cooper Nuclear Station License Renewal 345kV Transmission Line Marking Proposal

Dear Ms. DeWeese:

As part of the Cooper Nuclear Station (CNS) License Renewal Process Nebraska Public Power District (NPPD) has recently been in discussions with members of your staff, specifically Mr.

Robert Harms and Mr. Jeff Runge, regarding the 345kV transmission line running from CNS to a NPPD substation located just east of Grand Island, Nebraska.

The transmission line crosses wetland areas protected as Waterfowl Production Areas or State Wildlife Management Areas as well as the Platte River east of Grand Island, Nebraska.

Recognizing these wetland areas and Platte River provide habitat for the endangered whooping crane, NPPD has been working in cooperation with the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) to consider additional line marking to reduce the likelihood of collisions by whopping cranes.

After a field visit and informal discussions with the USFWS it was determined the wetlands are sufficiently marked with spiral bird flight diverters (BFD) but the segment of line that crosses the river and a portion of the line on the east side of the river crossing should be considered for marking. In addition it was identified that an additional 115kV transmission line, not associated with CNS, which crosses the river at the same point but at an angle to the 345kV line, should also be considered. Based upon data of sandhill crane use on the east side of the river it was suggested by the USFWS to mark the line in the low lying upland areas near the crossing also.

NPPD proposes to mark portions of the two lines that cross the river, a portion of the line on the east side, and the line in the low lying upland area near the crossing, with yellow BFD's spaced per the guidelines in the Avian Powerline Interaction Committee recommendations in the Mitigating Bird Collisions with Powerlines: The State of the Art in 1994. Total length to be marked will be (at a minimum) the approximate 1.65 miles as depicted on the attached aerial photograph. NPPD proposes to have the lines marked before December 31 2009-, >.,

General Office

!J!, 15th Swerer ,, P . Box 499,/ Columbus. NE 68602-0-*.'

Telephone: i402, 564-8561 Fax: (402) 563-5557

,g. ,ivD

Ms. Junte DevAeese Page 2 May 832009 The proposed NPPD actions, confirm the details of the discussions that took place between NPPD and USFWVS colleagues, and I appreciate the USFWS willingness to work with NPPD on this matter.

I would appreciate receiving a letter in reply to our proposal. I would respectively request that you consider stating in your reply that the proposed actions from NPPD address any concerns you have regarding the CNS 345kV transmission line, and the USFWS supports the CNS relicensing application.

Please contact me for any questions or comments.

Sincerely, Joe L. Citta, Jr.

Corporate Environmental Manager Att.: Aerial Photograph cc: Robert Harms w/att.

Jeff Runge wlatt.

N 0.6 0 0.6 1.2 Miles S