ML092050511

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Response to Correspondence Regarding Finninger Farm Section of Oyster Creek Nuclear Generating Station
ML092050511
Person / Time
Site: Oyster Creek
Issue date: 07/29/2009
From: David Pelton
License Renewal Projects Branch 1
To: Lemke A
Lacey Rail-Trail Environmental Committee
Stuyvenberg, A L, NRR/DLR/ 415-4006
References
Download: ML092050511 (5)


Text

July 29, 2009 Ms. Alison Lemke Lacey Rail-Trail Environmental Committee P.O. Box 118 Lanoka Harbor, NJ 08734

SUBJECT:

RESPONSE TO CORRESPONDENCE REGARDING FINNINGER FARM SECTION OF OYSTER CREEK NUCLEAR GENERATING STATION SITE

Dear Ms. Lemke,

Im writing to respond to the issues youve raised in recent e-mails to David L. Pelton and in your February 3, 2009, letter to Samson S. Lee.

Your concerns appear to relate to the environmental impacts of potential developments on the Finninger Farm portion of the Oyster Creek property. You noted that these potential actions include constructing public access facilities and supporting infrastructure on the eastern portion of the property. Briefly, these actions were not proposed at the behest or under the control of U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), and are not part of NRCs license renewal process.

As you indicated in your February 3, 2009 letter, Exelons proposed public access plans at the Finninger Farm portion of their property emerged from negotiations between Exelon and the State of New Jersey as part of the States Federal Consistency Determination process under the Federal Coastal Zone Management Act. In the States Federal Consistency Determination, the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) acknowledged that it must strike a balance among competing interests. In the case of the Oyster Creek determination (signed December 28, 2007), the State explicitly weighed ecosystem protection along with other factors like protecting health, safety and welfare; promoting public access to the waterfront; and maintaining and upgrading existing energy facilities.

While you indicated in your e-mails that Finninger Farm is critical habitat, a term with special meaning under the Federal Endangered Species Act, the NRCs consultations with the U.S.

Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) and National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) did not indicate that any critical habitat exists on site. NRC staff identified the Finninger Farm property as part of the Oyster Creek site during these consultations. In addition, the bald eagle, which was previously listed as threatened, is no longer listed under the Endangered Species Act (ESA),

and is as yet not known to nest onsite. The bald eagle is, however, protected by The Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act and The Migratory Bird Treaty Act. Potential future site activities will have to comply with the provisions of the Acts, as enforced by FWS, DEP and other relevant authorities. Please contact DEP of the New Jersey Field Office of the FWS if you have additional concerns about the enforcement of these Acts.

A. Lemke If you have additional questions about the State of New Jerseys Federal Consistency Determination process or the actions Exelon proposed to make in order for the State to determine that license renewal is consistent with New Jerseys Coastal Management Program, please contact the State of New Jersey DEPs Division of Land Use Regulation. Any future developments at the Oyster Creek site - including activities taken by Exelon in response to the State of New Jerseys Federal Consistency Determination process - will have to meet applicable State and Federal environmental review regulations.

Thank you for your interest in these matters.

Sincerely,

/RA/

David L. Pelton, Chief Projects Branch 1 Division of License Renewal Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation Docket No. 50-219 cc: See next page

ML092050511 *via telephone OFFICE LA:DLR PM:DLR:RPB2 OGC (NLO)* BC:DLR:RPB1 NAME S. Figueroa AStuyvenberg MBaty DPelton DATE 07/24/09 07/29/09 07/29/09 07/29/09 Letter to A. Lemke from D. Pelton, dated July 29, 2009 DISTRIBUTION:

SUBJECT:

RESPONSE TO CORRESPONDENCE REGARDING FINNINGER FARM SECTION OF OYSTER CREEK NUCLEAR GENERATING STATION SITE HARD COPY:

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Oyster Creek Nuclear Generating Station cc:

Site Vice President - Oyster Creek Director - Licensing and Regulatory Affairs Nuclear Generating Station AmerGen Energy Company, LLC AmerGen Energy Company, LLC Correspondence Control P.O. Box 388 P.O. Box 160 Forked River, NJ 08731 Kennett Square, PA 19348 Senior Vice President- Operations Support Manager Licensing - Oyster Creek AmerGen Energy Company, LLC Exelon Generation Company, LLC 4300 Winfield Road Correspondence Control Warrenville, IL 60555 P.O. Box 160 Kennett Square, PA 19348 Kathryn M. Sutton, Esquire Morgan, Lewis, & Bockius LLP Ron Bellamy, Region I 1111 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Washington, DC 20004 475 Allendale Road King of Prussia, PA 19406-1415 Patrick Mulligan, Chief Bureau of Nuclear Engineering Correspondence Control Desk New Jersey Department of AmerGen Energy Company, LLC Environmental Protection 200 Exelon Way, KSA 1-N-1 25 Arctic Parkway Kennett Square, PA 19348 Ewing, NJ 08638 Plant Manager Vice President - Licensing and Oyster Creek Nuclear Generating Station Regulatory Affairs AmerGen Energy Company, LLC AmerGen Energy Company, LLC P.O. Box 388 4300 Winfield Road Forked River, NJ 08731 Warrenville, IL 60555 Associate General Counsel Regional Administrator, Region I Exelon Generation Company, LLC U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission 4300 Winfield Road 475 Allendale Road Warrenville, IL 60555 King of Prussia, PA 19406-1415 Chief Operating Officer (COO)

Mayor of Lacey Township AmerGen Energy Company, LLC 818 West Lacey Road 4300 Winfield Road Forked River, NJ 08731 Warrenville, IL 60555 Manager Regulatory Assurance Senior Vice President - Mid-Atlantic Oyster Creek Generating Station Operations AmerGen Energy Company, LLC AmerGen Energy Company, LLC P.O. Box 388 200 Exelon Way, KSA 3-N Forked River, NJ 08731 Kennett Square, PA 19348 Senior Resident Inspector Peggi Sturmfels, Program Organizer U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission NJ Environmental Federation P.O. Box 445 1002 Ocean Avenue Forked River, NJ 08731 Belmar, NJ 07719