ML12100A082
| ML12100A082 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Indian Point  |
| Issue date: | 05/16/2012 |
| From: | Susco J NRC/NRR/DLR/RERGUB |
| To: | Kurkul P US Dept of Commerce, National Marine Fisheries Service |
| Logan D | |
| References | |
| Download: ML12100A082 (41) | |
Text
UNITED STATES NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION WASHINGTON, D.C. 20555-0001 May 16, 2012 Ms. Patricia A. Kurkul Northeast Regional Administrator National Marine Fisheries Service 55 Great Republic Dr.
Gloucester, MA 01930-2276
SUBJECT:
REQUEST TO REINITIATE SECTION 7 CONSULTATION FOR THE INDIAN POINT NUCLEAR GENERATING UNIT NOS. 2 AND 3 DUE TO LISTING OF ATLANTIC STURGEON
Dear Ms. Kurkul:
The staff of the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC, the staff) hereby requests reinitiation of section 7 consultation under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (ESA), for Atlantic sturgeon (Acipenser oxyrinchus oxyrinchus), which was recently listed under the ESA, at Indian Point Nuclear Generating Unit Nos. 2 and 3 (Indian Point, IP2 and IP3). IP2 and IP3 have once-through cooling systems with intake structures located on the eastern shore of the Hudson River at approximately river mile 43.
In December 2008, previous to this request, the NRC submitted a biological assessment for the endangered shortnose sturgeon (Acipenser brevirostrum) along with the draft supplemental environmental impact statement for license renewal for IP2 and IP3 (draft IP SEIS) . For that assessment, the proposed Federal action was the renewal of the operating licenses of IP2 and IP3 for an additional 20-year period beyond the period of the existing licenses, which expire on September 28,2013, and December 12, 2015, respectively.
On February 24, 2009, the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) requested additional information on shortnose sturgeon. In response, the NRC submitted a revised biological assessment for the endangered shortnose sturgeon, with some information on the Atlantic sturgeon (a candidate species at the time), to your office via letter dated December 10, 2010.
The revised biological assessment included, among other things , the numbers of both Atlantic and shortnose sturgeon impinged at IP2 and IP3 and a summary of individual collection records for shortnose sturgeon. The finallP SEIS, which NRC transmitted to NMFS on December 10, 2010, contains life history information for both sturgeon species. The finallP SEIS, the NRC's 2010 revised biological assessment for shortnose sturgeon, and Barnthouse et al.'s 2011 technical assessment for shortnose sturgeon provide descriptions of the cooling water system in relation to effects on biota . The NRC has previously submitted each of these documents to NMFS. No entrainment of sturgeon species has been reported at IP2 and IP3.
P. Kurkul -2 At the time the NRC staff developed its December 2010 revised biological assessment, Entergy Nuclear Operations, Inc. (Entergy) had not yet completed its survey of Indian Point's heated discharges, and the staff was unable to provide a specific assessment of thermal effects. In June 2011, the NRC staff learned that Entergy had submitted a final, verified triaxial thermal model to the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) concerning aquatic conditions at Indian Point and that NYSDEC had accepted and relied on that model and Entergy's associated information to reach its conclusions about thermal conditions at Indian Point for inclusion in a draft State Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit. With the new information, the NRC provided an additional and updated assessment of the thermal effects on operation of IP2 and IP3 on the shortnose and Atlantic sturgeon species in a supplement to its 2010 revised biological assessment on July 26, 2011. On October 14, 2011, NMFS issued its biological opinion on the effects of IP2 and IP3 operation on the endangered shortnose sturgeon for the proposed period of continued operation, under the scenario that NRC decides to renew the operating licenses for an additional 20 years each . The biological opinion concluded the formal consultation process and provided an incidental take statement that specifies non-discretionary reasonable and prudent measures necessary to minimize and monitor incidental take of shortnose sturgeon.
On February 6, 2012, NMFS listed five distinct population segments of the Atlantic sturgeon as threatened or endangered species under the ESA. Atlantic sturgeon in the Hudson River near Indian Point are part of the New York Bight distinct population segment (DPS), which is listed as endangered. In response to this recent listing of the Atlantic sturgeon New York Bight DPS, the NRC requests reinitiation of section 7 consultation for the remaining period of the existing licenses for IP2 and IP3 and the additional 20-year license renewal period, if granted.
In addition to the information already submitted to NMFS, the attached biological assessment for reinitiation contains information on individual impingement samples of Atlantic sturgeon. The NMFS had previously requested, and NRC had provided, the same type of specific information for shortnose sturgeon for NMFS's preparation of the biological opinion during the previous consultation. In addition, the attached biological assessment provides information on the degree to which the number of impinged Atalntic sturgeon tracks the population size of young sturgeon. The NMFS used such information in its shortnose sturgeon biological opinion.
In the enclosed biological assessment for reinitiation of section 7 consultation, the NRC staff concludes that operation of IP2 and IP3 may affect, but is not likely to adversely affect, the Atlantic sturgeon during the remainder of the current operating license period and the 20-year license renewal term (through September 28, 2033, and December 12, 2035, respectively), if granted.
The NRC requests that NRC and NMFS conclude section 7 consultation within 90 days and that the NMFS issue its biological opinion 45 days thereafter per 50 CFR 402.14(e) (135 days total).
If your office requires more time to complete the biological opinion, the NRC requests that you provide NRC with a request for such an extension in order that the NRC may appropriately consider that request and coordinate with Entergy. The NRC would also like to have the opportunity to review a draft biological opinion prior to NMFS's issuance of a final biological opinion. As you may know, the licensee, Entergy, has requested that consultations be conducted expeditiously and would like to participate in this consultation.
P. Kurkul -3 Please contact Dr. Dennis Logan, Aquatic Biologist, of my staff to advise of any additional information you might need to assess the potential impacts to the Atlantic sturgeon at Indian Point. You can reach him at 301-415-0490 or bye-mail at Dennis.Logan@nrc.gov.
I have also forwarded a copy of this letter to Ms. Julie Crocker of your office. Ms. Crocker has been NRC's main point of contact for section 7 consultations related to operating nuclear power plants within the NMFS's northeast region.
Jeremy J. Susco, Acting Chief Environmental Review and Guidance Update Branch Division of License Renewal Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation Docket Nos. 50-247 and 50-286
Enclosure:
As stated cc w/encl : Listserv
BIOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT FOR REINITIATION OF SECTION 7 CONSULTATION FOR THE INDIAN POINT NUCLEAR GENERATING PLANT, UNIT NOS. 2 AND 3 DUE TO LISTING OF ATLANTIC STURGEON May 2012 Docket Numbers 50-247, 50-286 U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Rockville, Maryland Prepared by:
Dennis Logan Division of License Renewal Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation Valerie Cullinan Pacific Northwest National laboratory
Table of Contents 1.0 Introduction .............................................................................................................1 2.0 Description of the Action ........................................................................................1 3.0 Federally Listed Species Considered .................................................................... 1 3.1 Listed Species Previously Considered ................................................................... 1 3.2 Atlantic Sturgeon ...................................................................................................2 3.2.1 Life History ......................................................................................................2 3.2.2 Distribution ......................................................................................................2 3.2.3 Population Status ............................................................................................2 3.2.4 Listing History ..................................................................................................3 4.0 Action Effects Analysis ...........................................................................................3 5.0 Conclusion and Determination of Effects.............................................................. 6 6.0 References ...............................................................................................................6 ii
Abbreviations, Acronyms, and Symbols
°C degrees Celsius
°F degrees Fahrenheit ASMFC Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission BSS Beach Seine Survey cm centimeter CPUE catch per unit effort DPS distinct population segment Entergy Entergy Nuclear Operations, Inc.
ESA Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended FR Federal Register FSS Fall Shoals Survey ft foot in. inch kg kilogram lb pound LRS Longitudinal River Ichthyoplankton Survey m meter m3 cubic meters NMFS National Marine Fisheries Service NRC U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission NRDC Natural Resources Defense Council SEIS supplemental environmental impact statement SPDES State Pollutant Discharge Elimination System YOY young-of-the-year iii
Biological Assessment for Reinitiation of Section 7 Consultation for the Indian Point Nuclear Generating Plant, Unit Nos. 2 and 3 Due to Listing of Atlantic Sturgeon 1.0 Introduction On February 6, 2012, the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) listed five distinct population segments (DPSs) of the Atlantic sturgeon (Acipenser oxyrinchus oxyrinchus) under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (ESA) (77 FR 5880; 77 FR 5914). As a result of the Atlantic sturgeons listing, the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC or the staff) has reviewed the potential for each NRC-licensed operating reactor to adversely affect the Atlantic sturgeon. The NRC staff identified Indian Point Nuclear Generating Unit Nos. 2 and 3 (Indian Point or IP2 and IP3), operated by Entergy Nuclear Operations, Inc. (Entergy), as a facility that has the potential to adversely affect Atlantic sturgeon. In the Hudson River near Indian Point, Atlantic sturgeon would belong to the New York Bight DPS, which is endangered.
The NMFS (2011a, 2011b) recently issued a biological opinion for shortnose sturgeon (Acipenser brevirostrum) at IP2 and IP3. As a result of NMFSs recent listing of the New York Bight DPS as endangered, the NRC staff prepared this biological assessment in connection with its request to reinitiate section 7 consultation for the newly listed Atlantic sturgeon. The NRC provided much of the information needed for this biological assessment in its final supplemental environmental impact statement for IP2 and IP3 (IP SEIS) (NRC 2010a) and the revised biological assessment for shortnose sturgeon (NRC 2010b) and its supplement (NRC 2011).
Entergy (2011a) and its consultants (Barnthouse et al. 2011) provided additional information to NMFS on shortnose and Atlantic sturgeon in the Hudson River, the characteristics of IP2 and IP3, and the facilitys effects on the two sturgeon species. Entergy (2012) listed and reviewed some of the reports with information on the effects of IP2 and IP3 on Atlantic sturgeon. This biological assessment provides additional information pertinent to reinitiation of section 7 consultation and the NRCs assessment of the effects of IP2 and IP3 on Atlantic sturgeon.
2.0 Description of the Action The action that this biological assessment considers is the continued operation of IP2 and IP3 through the end of the current licenses and the potentially renewed license terms. Entergy owns and operates IP2 and IP3 and has submitted an application to NRC to renew the operating licenses of IP2 and IP3 for an additional 20 years. The NRC is presently reviewing that application. The NRCs (2010a) IP SEIS and supplemental biological assessment (NRC 2010b) describe the facility, the site location, the cooling water system and its operation, and the action area (the Hudson River). That discussion is incorporated by reference here. The action area for Atlantic sturgeon is the same as the action area that NMFS (2011a) describes in its biological opinion for shortnose sturgeon and includes the intake areas of IP1 (for service water), IP2, and IP3, and the region where the thermal plume extends into the Hudson River from IP2 and IP3.
3.0 Federally Listed Species Considered 3.1 Listed Species Previously Considered As part of the NRCs review of the license renewal application for IP2 and IP3, the staff prepared the IP SEIS (NRC 2010a) that considered the potential effects of license renewal on Federally listed species. The SEIS, the revised biological assessment of December 10, 2010, 1
and its supplement of July 26, 2011, analyzed the effects of license renewal on the shortnose sturgeon and the Atlantic sturgeon, which was a candidate for Federal listing at the time.
3.2 Atlantic Sturgeon 3.2.1 Life History The Atlantic sturgeon is an anadromous bony fish that can grow to 14 ft (4.3 m) and weigh up to 800 lbs (370 kg) (Gilbert 1989; NMFS 2012). Atlantic sturgeon are similar in appearance to shortnose sturgeonbluish-black to olive brown dorsally with pale sides and underbellybut are larger in size and have a smaller and differently shaped mouth (NMFS 2012). Females reach maturity at 7 to 30 years of age, and males reach maturity at 5 to 24 years of age, with fish inhabiting the southern range maturing earlier (ASMFC 2007). Females return to natal freshwater rivers to spawn between April and May. Females lay 400,000 to 4 million highly adhesive eggs, which fall to the bottom of the water column and adhere to cobble or other hard bottom substrate. Eggs hatch to yolk-sac larvae in 94 to 140 hours0.00162 days <br />0.0389 hours <br />2.314815e-4 weeks <br />5.327e-5 months <br /> at temperatures of 20°C (68°F) and 18°C (64.4°F), respectively (ASSRT 2007). The larvae absorb their yolk in 8 to 12 days, during which time the post yolk-sac larvae migrate downstream into brackish water, where they live for a few months (ASSRT 2007). Larvae are demersal and use benthic structures as refugia; thus, they are typically not found in the water column (ASSRT 2007).
When juveniles reach a size of 30 to 36 in. (76 to 92 cm), they migrate to nearshore coastal waters, where they feed on benthic invertebrates, including crustaceans, worms, and mollusks (NMFS 2012). Juveniles and non-spawning adults inhabit estuaries and coastal marine waters dominated by gravel and sand substrates (NMFS 2012).
3.2.2 Distribution Historically, the Atlantic sturgeon has inhabited riverine, estuarine, and coastal ocean waters from St. Lawrence River, Canada to St. Johns River, Florida (ASMFC 2007). Within the U.S.,
the species was present in approximately 38 rivers from St. Croix, Maine to Saint Johns River, Florida. Currently, the species resides in 36 U.S. rivers and spawns in at least 20 of these rivers (ASSRT 2007). Barnthouse et al. (2011) describe temporal and spatial distribution of young Atlantic sturgeon in the Hudson River based on the Hudson River utilities fish sampling programs.
3.2.3 Population Status Atlantic sturgeon have been commercially fished from as early as 1628, though a substantial Atlantic sturgeon fishery did not appear until the late 1800s (Shepard 2006). Overfishing and habitat degradation caused a decline in landings beginning in the early 1900s; however, landings increased from 1950 to 1980 (Shepard 2006). In 1998, the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC), which manages the commercial harvest of the species, instituted a moratorium on Atlantic sturgeon harvest in U.S. waters (NMFS 2012). Today, the species is still caught as bycatch. Based on data from 2001 to 2006, the ASMFC (2007) estimated that in U.S. waters, between 2,752 and 7,904 individuals per year are caught as bycatch in sink gillnets, and 2,167 to 7,210 individuals per year are caught as bycatch in trawls.
In the U.S., population estimates exist for only the Hudson River, New York (approximately 870 spawning adults/year) and the Atlamaha River, Georgia (approximately 343 spawning adults/year), and these two rivers are thought to have the healthiest subpopulations within the U.S. (75 FR 61872, ASSRT 2007). The population in the Hudson River has been conservatively estimated to be 6,000 to 6,800 spawning females in the late 1800s, and the population decreased from then until perhaps 1990. Low population levels in the 1990s began 2
to increase in the late 1990s (ASSRT 2007). A catch per unit effort (CPUE) index based on density data from the Hudson River utilities Fall Shoals Survey (FSS) from 1985 through 2007 shows that the abundance of juvenile Atlantic sturgeon in the Hudson River declined sharply in 1989 and has not recovered (Figure 2 in Barnthouse et al. 2011)
North of the Hudson River in Connecticut, Atlantic sturgeon historically spawned in the Thames, Connecticut, and Housatonic Rivers, but spawning populations are unlikely today. South of the Hudson River in New Jersey, Delaware, and Pennsylvania, the Delaware River may have once supported the largest spawning stock of any Atlantic coast river (more than 180,000 spawning females), but numbers have fallen and the reproducing population is now small (ASSRT 2007).
3.2.4 Listing History In 2007, the NMFS considered listing the Atlantic sturgeon under the ESA but concluded that listing was not warranted at that time. The Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC 2009) petitioned for the NMFS to reconsider the listing of the species (NRDC 2009). The NMFS accepted the NRDCs petition in a 90-Day Finding on January 6, 2010 (75 FR 838). On October 6, 2010, the NMFS published Proposed Listing Determinations for five Atlantic sturgeon DPSs (75 FR 61872; 75 FR 61904). On February 6, 2012, the NMFS listed the five Atlantic sturgeon DPSs under the ESA (77 FR 5880; 77 FR 5914). Atlantic sturgeon in the Hudson River belong to the New York Bight DPS, which is listed as endangered. The NMFS has not designated critical habitat for Atlantic sturgeon.
4.0 Action Effects Analysis Indian Point has the potential to entrain or impinge Atlantic sturgeon when the facility withdraws Hudson River water for cooling. The heated water effluent has the potential to cause heat shock in the facilitys heated water discharge. Indian Point Unit 1 operated from 1962 through October 1974. IP2 and IP3 have been operational since 1973 and 1975, respectively. The Atlantic sturgeon population in the Hudson River has been exposed to the effects of Indian Point since 1962. The NRC is presently reviewing Entergys application for license renewals for IP2 and IP3, and, if granted, the renewed licenses could extend the exposure of Atlantic sturgeon to operation of IP2 and IP3 for an additional 20 years (i.e., through September 28, 2033 and December 12, 2035, for IP2 and IP3, respectively).
Entrainment Entrainment occurs when aquatic organisms (usually eggs, larvae, and other small organisms) are drawn into the cooling water system and are subjected to thermal, physical, and chemical stress. Because Atlantic sturgeon spawn in freshwater upstream of Indian Point and the eggs adhere to hard substrate material, the occurrence of eggs in the water column near IP2 and IP3 is unlikely, and entrainment studies at IP2 and IP3 do not report finding Atlantic sturgeon eggs or larvae in entrainment samples.
Impingement Impingement occurs when aquatic organisms are pinned against intake screens or other parts of the cooling water system intake structure. Impingement of juvenile Atlantic sturgeon can occur when juveniles migrate downstream to estuarine waters and then to near shore coastal waters when they reach larger sizes. Impingement of juvenile Atlantic sturgeon at IP2 and IP3 has been reported. Impingement of migrating adults is unlikely because adults travel up fast-flowing rivers to spawn and should be capable of avoiding impingement. Because of the large volume of water withdrawn daily when IP2 and IP3 are operating, Indian Point can impinge 3
the bodies of Atlantic sturgeon killed by causes unrelated to plant operation (e.g., strikes by boat propellers or hulls, disease, parasites, starvation, etc.).
Impingement of Atlantic sturgeon (Table 1) was recorded at IP2 and IP3 from 1975 through 1990 and is presented in Table 4-11 of the IP SEIS (NRC 2010a). Annual numbers impinged in the 1970s were much higher than in subsequent years. Appendix A provides more detailed information on the individual sturgeon impinged at IP2 and IP3. This information was provided by Entergy (2009) and is the similar to information NMFS requested for shortnose sturgeon during the consultation for that species.
The NRC staff performed an analysis of data supplied by Entergy (NAI 2008) to elucidate the degree to which numbers impinged might reflect numbers of young Atlantic sturgeon in the Hudson River subject to impingement. To examine the relationship, the staff compared the CPUEs of Atlantic sturgeon captured in the two Hudson River sampling programsthe Hudson River utilities FSS and Longitudinal River Ichthyoplankton Survey (LRS)with the annual numbers impinged at IP2 and IP3 after all numbers were standardized by subtracting the mean and dividing by the standard deviation for those programs. Staff used data supplied by Entergy (Entergy 2008, NAI 2008). All regions of the Hudson River were not sampled each year (Tables 2 and 3). To account for sampling design changes over time, the CPUE was calculated for each year and then standardized by subtracting the mean river-wide CPUE from 1979 through 1983 and dividing by the standard deviation of river-wide CPUE using years 1979 through 2005. The total number of Atlantic sturgeon impinged annually (Table 1) was standardized by subtracting the mean number impinged between 1979 and 1983 and dividing by the standard deviation of the annual number impinged using all years (1975-1990).
For young-of-the-year (YOY) and older Atlantic sturgeon, which are the age groups subject to impingement, the CPUEs for the FSS and LRS were calculated annually as the total number caught divided by the volume sampled (m3) during the surveys for 1974 through 2005. The standardized number impinged was then plotted with the standardized river-wide CPUE of the two programs by year (Figure 1). Numbers impinged appear to track the CPUE of Hudson River sampling programs, and all sampling programs indicate a decreasing population of Atlantic sturgeon. To the degree that the number impinged tracks the population size of young sturgeon, the NRC staff expects that if the Hudson River population of Atlantic sturgeon recovers, impingement at IP2 and IP3 would also increase.
Following the period of impingement monitoring through 1990, modified Ristroph screens were installed at IP2 and IP3 in 1990 and 1991 to reduce impingement mortality. Barnthouse et al.
(2011) discuss likely survival of sturgeon impinged at IP2 and IP3 and predict a high degree of survival. The NMFS (2011a) found in its biological opinion for shortnose sturgeon that installation of the modified Ristroph screens is expected to have reduced impingement mortality for shortnose sturgeon, although the degree to which these screens may have reduced impingement mortality as compared to pre-1991 levels cannot be firmly established because no monitoring occurred after the installation of the Ristroph screens and more recent data are not available. These conclusions would also apply to Atlantic sturgeon.
The staff examined the susceptibility of young Atlantic sturgeon to impingement by IP2 and IP3 in terms of the river region where the FSS caught most of the Atlantic sturgeon. The percentage of the average annual (1979 through 2005) CPUE (number/1000 m3) for the LRS and FSS in each river region (Figure 2) was calculated as the percent of the total of the number caught divided by the total volume sampled. The FSS caught most fish in the West Point through Saugerties regions of the river. A third program, the Beach Seine Survey (BSS), caught seven Atlantic sturgeon in the Tappan Zee Region and three in the Cornwall Region of the river between 1974 and 2005. The LRS caught a total of 276 YOY and older Atlantic sturgeon 4
between 1974 and 2005. Figure 2 supplements those submitted to NMFS in Figure 4 of Barnthouse et al. (2011) that show the numbers of sturgeon of all age groups caught in the LRS, BSS, and FSS combined by decade (1979-1989, 1990-1999, 2000-2006) and indicates that young Atlantic sturgeon susceptible impingement tend to be concentrated north of Indian Point. The presence of young Atlantic sturgeon in impingement samples confirms their presence in the river near Indian Point.
The numbers of Atlantic sturgeon impinged at IP2 and IP3 are higher than the numbers of shortnose sturgeon impinged (Table 1). This difference may partially reflect the relative population sizes, as the total catch of Atlantic sturgeon in the FSS from 1979 through 1990 was 694 fish compared to 88 shortnose. Besides difference in population sizes, other factors, such as differences in distribution in the river or behavior, can affect numbers impinged.
Heat Shock Heat shock is acute thermal stress caused by exposure to a sudden elevation of water temperature that adversely affects the metabolism and behavior of fish and other aquatic organisms. The NRCs (2011) supplement to the revised biological assessment discusses Entergys recent triaxial survey of the IP2 and IP3 thermal effluent and its effects on shortnose sturgeon. The NRC staff concluded that continued operation of IP2 and IP3 through the license renewal terms is not likely to adversely affect the Hudson River population of shortnose sturgeon.
NMFSs (2011a) biological opinion also concluded that the thermal effluent was not likely to have any observable adverse effects on shortnose sturgeon. Given these findings and the similarities in behavior and physiological requirements of shortnose and Atlantic sturgeon, the NRC staff expects that the thermal effluent is not likely to have any observable adverse effects on Atlantic sturgeon.
Atlantic Sturgeon Prey The food and migratory patterns of Atlantic sturgeon are generally similar to those of shortnose sturgeon, so the staff expects that the effect of operating IP2 and IP3 would be similar for the prey of both species. In its biological opinion, NMFS (2011a) stated that it appears that the prey of shortnose sturgeon, would be impacted insignificantly, if at all, by the thermal discharge from IP. The NRC staff expects that any effect on Atlantic sturgeon prey due to operation of IP2 and IP3, including entrainment and thermal effects, would also be insignificant.
Potential Discharge of Radionuclides to the Hudson River The IP SEIS (NRC 2010a) discusses the potential discharge and monitoring of radionuclides to the Hudson River. The NMFS (2011a) considers this possible stressor in its biological opinion for shortnose sturgeon at IP2 and IP3 and concludes, NMFS considers the effects to shortnose sturgeon from radionuclides to be insignificant and discountable. The NRC staff finds that these conclusions would also apply to Atlantic sturgeon.
Other Pollutants Discharged from IP2 and IP3 The 1987 State Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (SPDES) permit contains effluent limits related to an on-site sewage treatment plant, as well as cooling water discharges. The IP SEIS (NRC 2010a) discusses potential discharge and monitoring of other pollutants to the Hudson River. Because IP2 and IP3 must have a SPDES permit to operate and must operate within the terms of that permit, the staff assumes for this assessment that the plant will operate in compliance with permit limits. Therefore, the staff believes that the effects of exposure of Atlantic sturgeon to any contaminants at or below permit levels will be insignificant.
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Cumulative Effects The NMFS (2011a) biological opinion for shortnose sturgeon considered cumulative effects and found that the effects of state water fisheries, pollution, and contaminants would be similar to the effects in the past. It also found that the degree to which effects of global climate change will increase Hudson River water temperatures are not reasonably certain but that any temperature changes are not likely to cause adverse effects over the proposed roughly 20-year period of extended operation for IP2 and IP3. The NRC staff believes NMFSs assessment and conclusions for shortnose sturgeon would also apply to Atlantic sturgeon. Any adverse effects from IP2 and IP3 on adult Atlantic sturgeon would be smaller than those for shortnose sturgeon, as Atlantic sturgeon adults spend less time in estuaries and more time at sea than adult shortnose sturgeon.
5.0 Conclusion and Determination of Effects The life history of the species and lack of evidence of entrainment indicates that eggs and larvae are unlikely to be found near Indian Point and are not affected by entrainment at IP2 and IP3. Juveniles can be found near IP2 and IP3 because they migrate downstream to estuarine waters. Though the sturgeon tend to stay in deeper channels, IP2 and IP3 do impinge some juvenile Atlantic sturgeon. Migrating adults should be able to avoid the low intake velocities of the IP2 and IP3 intake during their migrations. Installation of modified Ristroph screens in 1990 and 1991 should reduce impingement damage and mortality. A comparison of the spatial distribution of elevated water temperatures in the thermal plume with the known thermal requirements of sturgeon indicates that Atlantic sturgeon are not likely to be adversely affected by the IP2 and IP3 thermal discharge. The NRC staff believes that if the population of Atlantic sturgeon in the Hudson River begins to recover, impingement rates at IP2 andIP3 will increase with the increasing population size.
The NRC staff concludes that operation of IP2 and IP3 is may affect, but is not likely to adversely affect, the Atlantic sturgeon during the remainder of the current operating license period and the 20-year license renewal term (through September 28, 2033 and December 12, 2035, respectively), if license renewal is approved.
6.0 References References that appear with an Agencywide Documents Access and Management System (ADAMS) accession number can be accessed through NRCs web-based ADAMS at the following URL: http://adams.nrc.gov/wba/.
75 FR 838. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Endangered and Threatened Wildlife; Notice of 90-Day Finding on a Petition to List Atlantic Sturgeon as Threatened or Endangered under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). Federal Register 75(3):838-841.
January 6, 2010.
75 FR 61872. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Endangered and Threatened and Plants; Proposed Listing Determinations for Three Distinct Population Segments of Atlantic Sturgeon in the Northeast Region. Federal Register 75(193):61872-61904. October 6, 2010.
75 FR 61904. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Proposed Listing Determinations for Two Distinct Population Segments of Atlantic Sturgeon in the Southeast Region. Federal Register 75(193):61904-61929. October 6, 2010.
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77 FR 5880. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Final Listing Determinations for Two Distinct Population Segments of Atlantic Sturgeon (Acipenser oxyrinchus oxyrinchus) in the Northeast. Federal Register 77(24):5880-5912. February 6, 2012.
77 FR 5914. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Final Listing Determinations for Two Distinct Population Segments of Atlantic Sturgeon (Acipenser oxyrinchus oxyrinchus) in the Southeast. Federal Register 77(24):5914-5982. February 6, 2012.
[ASMFC] Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission. 2007. Estimation of Atlantic Sturgeon Bycatch in Coastal Atlantic Commercial Fisheries of New England and the Mid-Atlantic. Special Report to the ASMFC Atlantic Sturgeon Management Board. August 2007. Available at
<http://www.asmfc.org/speciesDocuments/sturgeon/bycatchReportAug07.pdf> (accessed 14 February 2012).
[ASSRT] Atlantic Sturgeon Status Review Team. 2007. Status Review of Atlantic Sturgeon (Acipenser oxyrinchus oxyrinchus). Report to National Marine Fisheries Service, Northeast Regional Office. February 23, 2007. Available at
<http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/pdfs/statusreviews/atlanticsturgeon2007.pdf> (accessed 14 February 2012).
Barnthouse, L.W., D.G. Heimbuch, M. Mattson, and J.R. Young. 2009. Review of NRCs Impingement and Entrainment Assessment for IP2 and IP3. (Data from Table A-1). March 16, 2009. Enclosure 6 in Entergy Nuclear Northeast (Entergy). 2009. Letter from F. Dacimo, Vice President, Entergy Nuclear Northeast, to U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Chief, Rulemaking, Directives and Editing Branch. Reference NL-09-036.
Subject:
Comments on NUREG-1437, Draft Supplement 38. March 18, 2009. ADAMS Accession No. ML091040133.
Barnthouse, L., M. Mattson, and J. Young. 2011. Shortnose Sturgeon: A Technical Assessment Pursuant to the Endangered Species Act. Prepared for Entergy Nuclear Operations, Inc.; Entergy Nuclear Indian Point 2, LLC; and Entergy Nuclear Indian Point 3, LLC.
April 2011. ADAMS No. ML11126A202.
Endangered Species Act of 1973. 16 U.S.C. 1531, et seq.
[Entergy] Entergy Nuclear Northeast. 2008. Letter from Robert Walpole, Manager, Licensing, Entergy to USNRC, Document Control Desk.
Subject:
Document Request for Additional Information Regarding Environmental Review for License Renewal Application - Hudson River Fisheries Program Data (Year Class Report). NL-08-049. March 7, 2008. ADAMS No.
[Entergy] Entergy Nuclear Northeast. 2009. Letter from Fred Dacimo, Vice President, License Renewal, Entergy to USNRC, Document Control Desk.
Subject:
Transmission of Additional Requested Information Regarding Sturgeon Impingement Data, Indian Point Nuclear Generating Unit Nos. 2 & 3, Docket Nos. 50-247 and 50-286, License Nos. DPR-26 and DPR-
- 64. Enclosure 1 to NL-09-091, Sturgeon Impingement at Indian Point 1974-1990. July 1, 2009.
ADAMS No. ML091950345.
[Entergy] Entergy Nuclear Northeast. 2011a. Letter from Fred Dacimo, Vice President, License Renewal to Andrew Stuyvenberg, NRC Environmental Project Manager, NRC and Patricia Kurkul, Regional Administrator, National Marine Fisheries Service - Northeast Region.
Subject:
Endangered Species Act Consultation, Indian Point Nuclear Generating Unit Nos. 2 & 3, Docket Nos. 50-247 and 50-286, License Nos. DPR-26 and DPR-64. April 28, 2011. ADAMS No.
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[Entergy] Entergy Nuclear Northeast. 2012. Letter from Fred Dacimo, Vice President, License Renewal to David Wrona, Branch Chief, Projects Branch 2, Division of License Renewal, NRC.
Subject:
Endangered Species Act Consultation, Indian Point Nuclear Generating Unit Nos. 2 &
3, Docket Nos. 50-247 and 50-286, License Nos. DPR-26 and DPR-64. NL-12-043. March 7, 2012. ADAMS No. ML1207A116.
Gilbert CR. 1989. Species Profiles: Life Histories and Environmental Requirements of Coastal Fishes and Invertebrates (Mid-Atlantic)Atlantic and Shortnose Sturgeons. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Biological Report 82(11.122). U.S. Army Corps of Engineers TR EL-82-4.
December 1989. Available at <http://www.nwrc.usgs.gov/wdb/pub/species_profiles/82_11-122.pdf> (accessed 14 February 2012).
[NAI] Normandeau Associates Inc. 2008. NRC Request for Sampling Effort and Abundance Data from Three Hudson River Sampling Programs for 16 Selected Fish Species During 1974 through 2005. February 25, 2008. Bedford, NH. ADAMS No. ML080780288. Data displayed in ADAMS Nos. ML080770458, ML080770459, ML080770463, ML080770464, ML080770465, ML080770466, ML080770467.
[NMFS] National Marine Fisheries Service. 2011a. Endangered Species Act Section 7 Consultation, Biological Opinion. Northeast Regional Office. October 14, 2011. ADAMS No.
[NMFS] National Marine Fisheries Service. 2011b. Letter from Patricia Kurkul, Regional Administrator, Northeast Regional Office, NMFS to David Wrona, Branch chief, Projects Branch 2, division of License Renewal, NRC. Re: Biological Opinion for License Renewal of the Indian Point Nuclear Generating Unit Nos. 2 and 3. October 14, 2011. ADAMS No. ML11290A232.
[NMFS] National Marine Fisheries Service. 2012. Atlantic Sturgeon (Acipenser oxyrinchus oxyrinchus). Available at <http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/species/fish/atlanticsturgeon.htm>
(accessed 14 February 2012).
[NRC] U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission . 2010a. Generic Environmental Impact Statement for License Renewal of Nuclear Plants, Supplement 38, Regarding Indian Point Nuclear Generating Unit Nos. 2 and 3, Final Report, Main Report and Comment Responses.
NUREG-1437, Supplement 38, 3 volumes. Washington, DC. ADAMS No. ML103270072.
[NRC] U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission. 2010b. Letter from David J. Wrona, Chief, Projects Branch 2, Division of License Renewal, NRC to Mary A. Colligan, Assistant Regional Administrator for Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
Subject:
Revised biological assessment for license renewal of the Indian Point Nuclear Generating Plant, Unit Nos. 2 and 3. December 10, 2010. ADAMS No. ML102990043.
[NRC] U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission. 2011. Letter from Laurel M. Bauer, Acting Chief, Environmental Review and Guidance Update Branch, Division of License Renewal, NRC to Mary A. Colligan, Assistant Regional Administrator for Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
Subject:
Supplement to revised biological assessment for license renewal of the Indian Point Nuclear Generating Plant, Unit Nos. 2 and 3. July 26, 2011. ADAMS No.
[NRDC] Natural Resources Defense Council. 2009. Before the Secretary of Commerce, Petition to List Atlantic Sturgeon (Acipenser oxyrinchus oxyrinchus) as an Endangered Species, or List Specified Atlantic Sturgeon DPSs as Threatened and Endangered Species, and to Designate Critical Habitat. September 30, 2009. Available at
<http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/pdfs/species/petition_atlanticsturgeon_nrdc.pdf> (accessed 14 February 2012).
8
Shepard G. 2006. Status of Fishery Resources off the Northeastern U.S.: Atlantic and Shortnose Sturgeons. December 2006. Available at
<http://www.nefsc.noaa.gov/sos/spsyn/af/sturgeon/archives/42_Atlantic_ShortnoseSturgeons_2 006.pdf> (accessed 14 February 2012).
9
Table 1. Impingement of Shortnose and Atlantic Sturgeon at IP2 and IP3 from 1975 through 1990 from IP SEIS Table 4-11 (NRC 2010a, data from Barnthouse et al. 2009 in Entergy 2009).
Shortnose Sturgeon Atlantic Sturgeon Year Grand Total IP2 IP3 Total IP2 IP3 Total (a) 1975 1 NS 1 118 NS 118 119 1976 2 0 2 8 8 16 18 1977 6 1 7 44 153 197 204 1978 2 3 5 16 21 37 42 1979 2 2 4 32 38 70 74 1980 0 1 1 9 10 19 20 1981 0 0 0 3 5 8 8 1982 0 0 0 1 1 2 2 1983 0 0 0 3 0 3 3 1984 1 1 2 3 5 8 10 1985 0 0 0 8 17 25 25 1986 0 0 0 2 4 6 6 1987 2 1 3 2 1 3 6 1988 3 1 4 1 0 1 5 1989 0 1 1 0 0 0 1 1990 1 0 1 0 2 2 3 Total 20 11 31 250 265 515 546 (a)
Not Sampled, unit not in operation 10
Table 2. Total Atlantic Sturgeon Caught during the Hudson River Fall Shoals Survey, 1974-2005, by Region.
The numbers of Young of the Year (YOY) are indicated in parentheses where appropriate (NAI 2008).
Tappan Croton- Indian West Hyde Grand Year Battery Yonkers Cornwall Poughkeepsie Kingston Saugerties Catskill Albany Zee Haverstraw Point Point Park Total 1974 -- 0 3 7 17 24 12 5 -- -- -- -- -- 68 1975 -- 0 2 2 1 1 1 0 -- -- -- -- -- 7 1976 -- 0 3 2 6 0 1 0 -- -- -- -- -- 12 1977 -- 0 3 1 2 0 2 3 -- -- -- -- -- 11 1978 -- 0 1 3 1 1 3 2 -- -- -- -- -- 11 1979 -- 0 3 3 1 1 0 0 1 1 1 0 1 12 1980 -- 0 2 0 1 1 0 0 1 (1) 0 0 0 1 6 (1) 1981 -- 0 0 0 0 1 4 0 1 3 1 2 2 14 1982 -- 0 1 0 0 2 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 4 1983 -- 0 0 0 0 0 0 6 3 0 2 5 12 28 1984 -- 0 0 2 0 2 2 0 1 3 4 0 1 15 1985 -- 0 3 1 2 6 11 10 15 29 11 3 5 96 1986 -- 0 2 7 6 17 19 12 39 52 23 6 1 184 1987 -- 0 1 5 4 15 7 6 26 59 25 (1) 1 0 149 (1) 1988 -- 0 0 1 2 11 8 2 36 35 15 3 4 (1) 117 (1) 1989 -- 0 2 3 0 12 7 6 12 16 4 1 0 63 1990 -- 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 4 0 0 6 1991 -- 0 0 0 0 3 0 1 1 0 0 1 4 10 1992 -- 0 0 0 2 2 4 0 2 0 0 1 0 11 1993 -- 0 0 0 1 0 2 0 1 2 0 0 1 7 1994 -- 0 0 1 1 3 1 0 1 4 1 3 0 15 1995 -- 0 0 1 1 0 4 1 0 4 4 0 0 15 1996 0 0 0 0 0 2 2 1 0 0 1 0 2 8 1997 0 0 0 0 1 5 3 20 7 (1) 3 0 1 0 40 (1) 1998 0 1 0 1 0 8 16 3 1 0 0 0 0 30 1999 0 0 1 1 3 6 3 4 0 0 0 0 0 18 2000 0 0 0 0 0 3 (1) 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 5 (1) 2001 0 0 0 0 0 2 2 14 (1) 5 0 0 0 0 23 (1) 2002 0 0 0 1 0 14 10 11 (1) 1 0 0 0 0 37 (1) 2003 0 0 1 1 5 11 20 1 0 0 0 0 0 39 2004 0 0 1 1 6 8 3 3 0 0 0 0 0 22 2005 0 0 0 0 2 4 4 2 0 0 0 0 0 12 Grand 0 1 29 45 65 165 (1) 153 114 (2) 155 (2) 211 96 (1) 27 34 (1) 1095 (7)
Total Shading and -- means not sampled.
11
Table 3. Young of the Year (YOY) and Older Atlantic Sturgeon Caught during the Hudson River Long River Survey from 1974 through 2005 by Region. The numbers of young of the year are indicated in parentheses where appropriate (NAI 2008).
Tappan Croton- Indian West Hyde Grand Year Battery Yonkers Cornwall Poughkeepsie Kingston Saugerties Catskill Albany Zee Haverstraw Point Point Park Total 1974 -- 0 10 1 17 6 6 14 7 (1) 2 0 0 0 63 (1) 1975 -- 0 4 3 10 23 0 4 0 1 1 0 0 46 1976 -- 0 3 1 7 9 3 2 (1) 0 0 1 1 0 27 (1) 1977 -- 0 1 1 1 3 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 9 1978 -- 0 1 0 2 4 2 1 (1) 0 0 0 0 0 10 (1) 1979 -- 0 0 2 5 4 4 0 1 0 0 0 1 17 1980 -- 0 1 3 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 6 1981 -- 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 1 0 0 0 3 1982 -- 0 0 0 0 4 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 5 1983 -- 0 0 0 0 9 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 9 1984 -- 0 0 1 0 1 2 3 9 1 0 1 1 19 1985 -- 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 3 2 2 0 0 8 1986 -- 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 1 0 2 0 0 5 1987 -- 0 0 0 2 5 0 2 1 2 0 0 0 12 1988 -- 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 3 0 0 5 1989 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 1990 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 3 5 1991 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 1 1 0 2 2 (1) 8 (1) 1992 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1993 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1994 0 0 0 0 2 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 1995 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1996 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 1997 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 1998 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 1999 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2000 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2001 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 2002 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 2003 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 2004 0 0 0 0 1 1 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 2005 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Grand 0 0 21 12 50 76 29 32 (2) 24 (1) 11 9 5 7 (1) 276 (4)
Total Shading and -- means not sampled.
12
Atlantic Sturgeon 4
3 Standardized Value 2
1 0
-1
-2 1970 1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010 FSS CPUE Impingement LRS CPUE Figure 1. Standardized annual river-wide catch per unit effort (CPUE) and impingement by year. The dashed blue line and open blue triangle indicate years with no samples from Hyde Park to Albany during the FSS. The vertical line indicates a change in the sampling gear.
25%
20%
Percent of Total 15%
10%
5%
0%
Percent of Total FSS Percent of Total LRS Figure 2. The percent of the total average annual young of the year and older Atlantic sturgeon catch per unit effort (CPUE, number/1000 m3) by region for the FSS and LRS in 1979 through 2005.
13
APPENDIX A ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON IMPINGEMENT OF ATLANTIC STURGEON AT INDIAN POINT NUCLEAR GENERATING STATION UNIT NOS. 2 AND 3 PROVIDED BY ENTERGY (2009)
A-2 A-3 A-4 A-5 A-6 A-7 A-8 A-9 A-10 A-11 A-12 A-13 A-14 A-15 A-16 A-17 A-18 A-19 A-20
ML12100A082 OFFICE LA:RPB2:DLR PM:RERB:DLR AB:RERB:DLR OGC BC:RERB:DLR NAME IKing DLogan BBalsam STurk JSusco DATE 04/12/12 04/16/12 04/16/12 05/11/12 05/16/12 Letter to P. Kurkul from J. Susco dated May 16, 2012
SUBJECT:
REQUEST TO REINITIATE SECTION 7 CONSULTATION FOR THE INDIAN POINT NUCLEAR GENERATING UNIT NOS. 2 AND 3 DUE TO LISTING OF ATLANTIC STURGEON DISTRIBUTION:
E-MAIL:
PUBLIC RidsNrrDlr Resource RidsNrrDlrRpb1 Resource RidsNrrDlrRpb2 Resource RidsNrrDlrRarb Resource RidsNrrDlrRasb Resource RidsNrrDlrRapb Resource RidsOgcMailCenter Resource RidsNrrPMIndianPoint Resource JSusco DLogan BBalsam KGreen STurk julie.crocker@noaa.gov dgray@entergy.com