ML111091091
| ML111091091 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Salem  |
| Issue date: | 05/02/2011 |
| From: | Andy Imboden Division of License Renewal |
| To: | Colligan M US Dept of Commerce, National Marine Fisheries Service |
| Balsam B | |
| References | |
| Download: ML111091091 (4) | |
Text
UNITED STATES NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION WASHINGTON, D.C. 20555-0001 May 2,2011 Mary A. Colligan Assistant Regional Administrator for Protected Resources National Marine Fisheries Service Northeast Regional Office 55 Great Republic Drive Gloucester, MA 01930-2276
SUBJECT:
REQUEST FOR FORMAL CONFERENCE FOR THE ATLANTIC STURGEON AT THE SALEM NUCLEAR GENERATING STATION, UNITS 1 AND 2
Dear Ms. Colligan:
The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is currently undergoing a formal section 7 consultation with your office for the proposed license renewal of Hope Creek Generating Station (HCGS) and Salem Nuclear Generating Station, Units 1 and 2 (Salem) operating licenses. The NRC prepared a biological assessment dated December 13, 2010, for the endangered shortnose sturgeon (Acipenser brevirosfrum), the proposed Atlantic sturgeon (A oxyrinchus oxyrinchus), and four sea turtles: the threatened loggerhead (Carretta carretta), the endangered Kemp's ridley (Lepidochelys kempil), the endangered green turtle (Chelonia mydas), and the endangered leatherback (Dermochelys coriacea).
At the time the biological assessment was submitted to your office, Salem had no record or knowledge of any Atlantic sturgeon impingements at the intake of the plant since the plant began operation in 1977. On April 14, 2011, PSEG Nuclear, LLC (PSEG) notified the NRC via e-mail that a dead Atlantic sturgeon had been found on the Salem intake structure trash bars on March 18,2011.1 PSEG does not normally keep records of Atlantic sturgeon impingements because Salem has no requirement to do so, but PSEG informed the NRC that they had reported the March 18 impingement to the National Marine Fisheries Service due to the ongoing section 7 consultation and the recent proposed rule to list the Atlantic Sturgeon under the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (ESA). During a phone call with Ms. Leslie Perkins, NRC Project Manager, on April 19, 2011, PSEG confirmed that the March 18, 2011, impingement is the only known impingement of Atlantic sturgeon since the species became a proposed species under the ESA in October 2010. Because of this event, the NRC staff requests a formal conference for the Atlantic sturgeon under section 7 of the ESA as part of the ongoing formal section 7 consultation for listed species.
NRC's previously submitted biological assessment provides an evaluation of the potential adverse effects of the proposed action on the Atlantic sturgeon. In the biological assessment, the NRC staff determined that license renewal for HCGS will have no effect on any listed species. For Salem, the NRC staff determined that license renewal may affect, but is not likely to adversely affect, the Atlantic sturgeon. Because HCGS has not impinged any Atlantic sturgeon and the NRC's biological assessment concludes that HCGS will have no effect on the 1 PSEG. Email from N. Ranek to L. Perkins.
Subject:
Atlantic Sturgeon Impinged at Salem Intake.
April 14, 2011. ADAMS No. ML11105A126.
M. Colligan
- 2 Atlantic sturgeon, the NRC staff requests that the formal conference for the Atlantic sturgeon only apply to Salem.
NRC staff has discussed the Atlantic sturgeon take at Salem with Ms. Julie Crocker of your staff via phone and e-mail, and she is aware that NRC is requesting a formal section 7 conference for the species. If you have any questions regarding this request or the staff's request, please contact Ms. Briana Balsam, Biologist, at 301-415-1042, or bye-mail atbriana.balsam@nrc.gov or Dr. Dennis Logan, Aquatic Biologist, at 301-415-0490, or bye-mail at dennis.logan@nrc.gov.
Sincerely, Andrew S. Imboden, Chief Environmental Review and Guidance Update Branch Division of license Renewal Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation Docket Nos. 50-272 and 50-311 cc: listserv
'.. ML111091091
- concurrence via e-mail OFFICE LA:DLR*
PM:RERB:DLR PM:RPB1 :DLR BC:RERB:DLR NAME SFigueroa BBalsam LPerkins Almboden DATE 04/26/11 05/02/11 05/02/11 05/02/11
Letter to M. Colligan from A Imboden dated May 2, 2011.
SUBJECT:
REQUEST FOR FORMAL CONFERENCE FOR THE ATLANTIC STURGEON AT THE SALEM NUCLEAR GENERATING STATION, UNITS 1 AND 2 DISTRIBUTION:
HARDCOPY:
DLR RF E-MAIL:
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