ML11291A157

Comment (37) of Ken S. Berg on Behalf of Us Dept of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service, on Columbia Generating Station License Renewal Informal Consultation

ML11291A157
Person / Time
Site:	Columbia
Issue date:	10/05/2011
From:	Berg K US Dept of Interior, Fish & Wildlife Service
To:	Wrona D J Rulemaking, Directives, and Editing Branch, License Renewal Projects Branch 2
References
76FR54502 00037, NRC-2010-0029
Download: ML11291A157 (2)

Text

United States Department of the Interior FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE Washington Fish and Wildlife Office Central Washington Field Office 215 Melody Lane, Suite 119 Wenatchee, Washington 98801 October 5, 2011 In Reply Refer To: USFWS

Reference:

01E00000-2012-0004 Hydrologic Unit Codes: 17-07-01-01-01 RE: NRC-2010-0029 David J. Wrona, Chief Division of License Renewal Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation

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Dear .Mr.-:

W.;%rona:,.

This-re~sponds to ygur requ est informal consultation on the Columbia Generating Station (Cl.(Pqroject, ocatedcin Benton County, Washington.

Your Aug ' 23, 2011 cover letter and Biological Assessment (BA) were received in the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service'sj (Service),qentr-aj Washington Field Office on August 31, 2011. Supplemental information and.rrevisions totheong*al effectsrdetermination we'e receved on September 29, 2011. : .The, U.,.Nuclear Regulaor~y Copmission (NRC). has aequested Seivice concurrence with the qfnmy affet, not likely to adversey, affect" the bull trout (Salvelinus confluentus) in accordance with section 7(a)(2) of the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (Act), as amended (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.). Effects to other listed or proposed species,.

or their habitats, are not anticipated to occur.The ,NRJC.isproposing toqextendthe current licenek for.an additional 20 years. During normal (peratipg periods, wthdrays about 17,000 gpmln fRom.the mainstem Columbia River. The pipe used to extract river water includes two intake screens and'p&rforated pipe screens to exclude migrating adult bull trout. The pipe extends 300ft from the shoeline, which reduces impacts to near. shore-fish cQM.nluqnities..

For a complete desqfiption of the proposed license extensionland conservation measures, please refer to the Pject BA.'The Projpet, BAdescribes effects~that are. eith0eixtremely unlikely to occur and/or ar. very. small in.scale.

The, Selryice agrees that the, proposed license renewal will result in: discountable and insignificant effects to individuals of listed species. Therefore, the Service concurs with your determinations of "may affect, not likely to adversely affect" for the bull trout, based on the David J. Wrona information included in the BA. Our concurrence is conditioned on the nuclear plants normal operation as described in the BA.This concludes informal consultation pursuant to the implementing regulations of the Endangered Species Act, 50 C.F.R. § 402.13. This Project should be reanalyzed if new information reveals effects of the action that may affect listed or proposed species or designated or proposed critical habitat in a manner or to an extent not considered in this consultation; if the action is subsequently modified in a manner that causes an effect to a listed or proposed species or designated or proposed critical habitat that was not considered in this consultation; and/or, if a new species is listed or critical habitat is designated that may be affected by this Project. If a bull trout is impacted or harmed via harassment, disturbance, or capture during sampling activities, it will trigger a re-initiation of consultation.

Thank you for your assistance in the conservation of listed species. If you have any questions or comments regarding this letter, please contact Luke Gauthier at the Central Washington Field Office in Wenatchee at (509) 665-3508, extension 24, or via e-mail at lukegauthier@fws.gov.

Sincerely, Ken S. Berg, Manager Washington Fish and Wildlife Office cc: Dennis Logan, USNRC, Dennis.Logangnrc.gov, 301-415-0490 Dan Doyle, USNRC, Dan.Doylegnrc.gov, 301-415-3748