ML110490058

Comment (1) of Scott Sysum on Behalf of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Comments on the Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement

ML110490058
Person / Time
Site:	Palo Verde
Issue date:	02/14/2011
From:	Goforth K, Sysum S Environmental Protection Agency
To:	Rulemaking, Directives, and Editing Branch
References
76FR1197 00001
Download: ML110490058 (3)

Text

{{#Wiki_filter:Mendiola, DorisI

Subject:

FW: EPA Region 9 Comments for the FSEIS for Palo Verde Nuclear Generating Station Attachments: EPA Region 9 cmts on PV FSEIS Feb 11 2011 .pdf From: Sysum.Scott(epamail.epa.gov [1] Sent: Monday, February 14, 2011 1:05 PM To: Drucker, David

Subject:

EPA Region 9 Comments for the FSEIS for Palo Verde Nuclear Generating Station Mr Drucker I was assigned the task of reviewing the final SEIS for Palo Verde Generating Station License Renewal. I mailed the letter today. I am providing a pdf of the signed letter as an attachment to this email. v/r Scott Sysum NOWCC-Energy Specialist //,0 ý//,20 // U.S. EPA Region IX Environmental Review Office 75 Hawthorne Street CED-2 San Francisco, CA 94105 voice-415-972-3742; fax-415-947-3562 x C-n-I- m ci C-) C-rn Cl) '5 C) Sf 5'T

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        '              UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY 1'4                                             REGION IX E4 Pp°ltý'                              75 Hawthorne Street San Francisco, CA 94105-3901 FEB 1i     2D)0 Chief Rulemaking, Directives, and Editing Branch U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Mail Stop T6-D59 Washington, D.C. 20555-0001

Subject:

Plant-Specific Supplement 43 to the Generic Environmental Impact Statement for License Renewal of Nuclear Plants Regarding Palo Verde Nuclear Generating Station Final Report for Comment and Final Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (FSEIS), Maricopa County, Arizona [CEQ #20110012] NUREG-1437

Dear Sir or Madam:

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has reviewed the above-referenced document pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) regulations (40 CFR Parts 1500-1508), and our NEPA review authority under Section 309 of the Clean Air Act. EPA provided comments on the Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (DSEIS) on October 29, 2010 to the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission. We rated the DSEIS as Environmental Concerns - Insufficient Information (EC-2) due to the need for additional information regarding potential impacts to wildlife from contaminants in the water, sludge, and sediments in the evaporation ponds and air emissions from the Palo Verde Nuclear Generating Station (PVNGS). EPA is pleased that most of the issues identified in our review of the DSEIS have been addressed in the FSEIS. We have continuing concerns, however, regarding the need for an ecological risk assessment to determine the potential effects to wildlife from exposure to the water, sludge, and sediments of the evaporation ponds. Although the FSEIS indicates that PVNGS complies with its aquifer protection permit (APP), it remains unclear whether compliance with the APP also minimizes the risks to wildlife from exposure to the evaporation pond waters, sludges, and sediments. We recommend an ecological risk assessment be conducted to determine the potential effects of wildlife exposure to these facilities. We appreciate the opportunity to review this FSEIS. When the ROD is signed, please send one copy to the address above (mail code: CED-2). If you have any questions, please call me at (415) 972-3521, or have your staff call Jeanne Geselbracht at (415) 972-3853. Printed on Recycled Paper

Kathleen M. Goforth, Manager Environmental Review Office Cc: David Drucker, NRC}}