ML13064A064
| ML13064A064 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Limerick  |
| Issue date: | 05/07/2013 |
| From: | Melanie Wong Division of License Renewal |
| To: | Colligan M US Dept of Commerce, National Marine Fisheries Service |
| References | |
| Download: ML13064A064 (4) | |
Text
UNITED STATES NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION WASHINGTON, D.C. 20555-0001 May 7,2013 Ms. Mary A. Colligan Northeast Assistant Regional Administrator National Marine Fisheries Service 55 Great Republic Drive Gloucester, MA 01930-2276
SUBJECT:
AVAILABILITY OF THE DRAFT SUPPLEMENTAL ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT FOR LICENSE RENEWAL OF LIMERICK GENERATING STATION, UNITS 1 AND 2
Dear Ms. Colligan:
The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) has completed the enclosed draft Supplement 49 to NUREG-1437, "Generic Environmental Impact Statement for License Renewal of Nuclear Plants" (SEIS), regarding Limerick Generating Station, Units 1 and 2 (Limerick), in accordance with 10 CFR Part 51, the NRC's regulation that implements the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). The draft SEIS evaluates the environmental impacts of Limerick operating for an additional 20 years beyond the current operating licenses, which expire in 2024 (Unit 1) and 2029 (Unit 2).
In a letter dated May 30,2012, and in accordance with section 7 of the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (ESA), the NRC requested that the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) provide NRC with a list of ESA-protected species and critical habitats that may be in the vicinity of Limerick, the Schuylkill River, or in other water bodies affected by Limerick operations.
Your office replied in a letter dated June 27,2012. In that letter, NMFS stated that no Federally listed species or designated critical habitat occurs within the action area. NIVIFS noted that shortnose sturgeon (Acipenser brevirostrum) and Atlantic sturgeon (Acipenser oxyrinchus) occur within the Delaware River, but confirmed that neither species occurs in the Schuylkill River near Limerick or in any of the water bodies affected by Limerick operations. However, NIVIFS advised NRC that two candidate species, alewife (A/osa pseudoharengus) and blueback herring (A/osa aestiva/is) (collectively, "river herring"), occur in the action area and that the future listing of river herring, if it occurs, would necessitate a section 7 conference or consultation between NRC and NMFS. NMFS requested that NRC confirm the status of river herring at the time the draft SEIS is published. As of the publication of this draft SEIS, NMFS has not published a proposed rule to list the river herring under the ESA. Thus, river herring remain a candidate species, and the provisions of the ESA do not necessitate a section 7 conference or conSUltation at this time.
The enclosed draft SEIS discusses protected species and habitats in Sections 2.2.8 and 4.8.
The NRC staff considers shortnose sturgeon and Atlantic sturgeon in its analysis of Federally endangered species and concludes that the proposed license renewal of Limerick would have no effect on these species. The NRC staff considers river herring as a Pennsylvania-listed species and candidate species under the ESA and concludes that impacts
M. Colligan
- 2 to these species would be small, as defined in Table B-1 of 10 CFR Part 51, Subpart A, Appendix B.
The NRC understands that if NMFS proposes a rule to list river herring under the ESA in the future, NRC would likely be required to initiate a section 7 conference or consultation. NRC staff biologists monitor ESA listings in the Federal Register as part of their regular responsibilities and would work to initiate such a conference or consultation expediently if river herring are proposed for listing.
If you or your staff have any comments on the enclosed draft SEIS, you may submit them as part of NRC's NEPA process for the proposed Limerick license renewal. The comment period closes June 27,2013. See the enclosed Federal Register notice or go to http://www.Regulations.gov and search for documents filed under Docket ID NRC-2011-0166 for additional information on the NEPA process and on how to submit draft SEIS comments.
The NRC staff also plans to hold two public environmental meetings on the draft SEIS at the Sunnybrook Ballroom, 50 North Sunnybrook Road, Pottstown, PA 19464-2946, on May 23, 2013, at 2:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. I invite you and your staff to attend the public meetings.
If you have any questions regarding this letter, please contact Ms. Michelle Moser, biologist, at 301-415-6509 or by e-mail atmichelle.moser@nrc.govorMs.BrianaGrange.biologist.at 301-415-1042 or bye-mail at briana.grange@nrc.gov.
I have also forwarded a copy of this letter to Ms. Julie Crocker of your office. Ms. Crocker is the NRC's main point of contact for ESA issues.
Sincerely,
~{1J6 Melanie C. Wong, Chief Environmental Review and Guidance Update Branch Division of License Renewal Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation Docket Nos. 50-352 and 50-353
Enclosure:
As stated cc w/encl: Listserv
ML13120A539(package), ML13120A078(draft SEIS). ML13058A481 (FRN) ML13064A064 (letter)
OFFICE LA:DLR AB:RERB:DLR AB:RERB:DLR PM:RPB2:DLR BC:RERB:DLR NAME IKing BGrange MMoser LPerkins MWong DATE 4/11113 4/16/13 4/22/13 14/22/13 517/13
Letter to M. Colligan from M. Wong dated May 7,2013
SUBJECT:
AVAILABILITY OF THE DRAFT SUPPLEMENTAL ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT FOR LICENSE RENEWAL OF LIMERICK GENERATING STATION, UNITS 1 AND 2 DISTRIBUTION:
HARDCOPY:
Ms. Julie Crocker Fisheries Biologist National Marine Fisheries Service 55 Great Republic Drive Gloucester, MA 01930 E-MAIL:
PUBLIC RidsNrrDlr Resource RidsNrrDlrRpb2 Resource RidsNrrDlrRerb Resource RidsNrrPMLimerick BGrange MMoser LPerkins MWong DWrona julie.crocker@noaa.gov