ML13162A368
| ML13162A368 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Byron  |
| Issue date: | 05/30/2013 |
| From: | Exelon Generation Co |
| To: | Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation |
| References | |
| Download: ML13162A368 (14) | |
Text
Appendix D Cultural Resources Correspondence Byron Station Environmental Report
This Page Intentionally Left Blank Byron Station Environmental Report Appendix D - Cultural Resources Correspondence Table of Contents Letter Page Michael P. Gallagher, Exelon Generation, to Anne E. Haaker, Illinois Historic Preservation Agency ................................................................................................................................ D-1 Anne E. Haaker, Illinois Historic Preservation Agency, to Michael P. Gallagher, Exelon Generation .......................................................................................................................... D-9 Byron and Braidwood Stations, Units 1 and 2 Page D-iii License Renewal Application
This Page Intentionally Left Blank Byron Station Environmental Report Appendix D - Cultural Resources Correspondence November 09,2012 Ms. Anne E. Haaker Deputy State Historic Preservation Officer Preservation Services Division Illinois Historic Preservation Agency 1 Old State Capitol Plaza Springfield, Illinois 62701-1507
SUBJECT:
Exelon Generation, LLC - Byron Station Units 1 and 2 License Renewal Application, Request for Information on Historic and Archaeological Resources
Dear Ms. Haaker:
Exelon Generation, LLC (Exelon) plans to apply to the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) for renewal of the operating licenses for Byron Station (Byron)
Units 1 and 2, in June 2013. The existing operating license for Unit 1 will expire on October 31, 2024, and the existing operating license for Unit 2 will expire on November 6, 2026. Renewed licenses would allow Byron Units 1 and 2 to operate until 2044 and 2046, respectively.
As part of the license renewal process, the NRC requires license renewal applications to include environmental reports assessing the impacts from license renewal activities on historic and archeological resources on the Byron site and within the transmission line rights-of-way (ROW) that connect the plant to the transmission system. Pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), this letter seeks input from the Illinois SHPO regarding such effects in the vicinity of Byron. Later, NRC may also request an informal consultation with your office in accordance with Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, as amended (16 USC 470), and the federal Advisory Council on Historic Preservation regulations (36 CFR 800).
Project Features Byron is in northern Illinois near the center of Ogle County, approximately 90 miles west-northwest of Chicago, 17 miles southwest of Rockford, and 3.7 miles south-southwest of the City of Byron, as shown in Figure 1.
The Byron site property includes approximately 1,782 acres, which consists of the main site area and a right-of-way (ROW) to the Rock River for the cooling tower makeup water intake and blowdown discharge pipelines. The main site area consists of approximately 1,398 acres while the water pipelines ROW consists of the remaining 384 acres. The site is situated on a topographic high in the Rock River Hill Country physiographic province, in an agricultural area.
The nuclear generating facilities at Byron are sited in the approximate center of the main site area and include the two reactor containment buildings and related structures, two natural draft cooling towers, a switchyard, administration buildings, warehouses, and other features. The cooling tower makeup water intake and blowdown discharge Byron and Braidwood Stations, Units 1 and 2 Page D-1 License Renewal Application
Byron Station Environmental Report Appendix D - Cultural Resources Correspondence Haaker - 2 pipelines ROW runs from the northwest site boundary approximately 2 miles west to the Rock River.
Three 345-kilovolt (345-kV) electrical transmission line ROWs totaling an additional approximately 1,210 acres, shown on Figures 2 and 3, were constructed with the station to connect it to the electric grid and are considered to be within the scope of the license renewal project. One ROW runs north and then east from Byron approximately 30 miles to the Wempleton Transmission Substation, located approximately 7 miles northwest of Rockford, IL. A second ROW runs northeast from Byron for approximately 21 miles, to the Cherry Valley Transmission Substation. The third ROW goes directly south for a total length of 8.5 miles to its intersection with the Nelson to Cherry Valley transmission line, which existed before Byron was constructed. All three ROWs pass through primarily agricultural land with some areas of forest or lesser value land use categories. These ROWs are owned and maintained Commonwealth Edison Company (ComEd). In locations where a ROW passes through farmland, the land generally continues to be used as farmland.
Identification of Historic and Archeological Resources Using the National Register Information System (NRIS) on-line database, a search was conducted to identify any historic properties listed on the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) within a six- mile radius of the Byron property, which encompasses the ROW for the cooling tower makeup water intake and blowdown discharge pipelines, and within two miles of the transmission line ROWs of interest. Eight sites listed on the NHRP are within six miles of Byron, and no sites are within two miles of any of the ROWs. Table 1 lists the identified historic properties within six miles of Byron.
A search of the Illinois State Archaeological Site Files identified 204 previously recorded archaeological sites within six miles of the Byron facility, or within two miles of the transmission line ROWs of interest. Eight of the previously recorded archeological sites are on the Byron property, and another seven are wholly or partially within one of the transmission line ROWs. None of the archaeological resources located on Byron and in the three transmission line ROWs was added after the original surveys were completed prior to construction. Table 2 lists the archaeological resources on Byron and within the ROWs.
Activities During the License Renewal Term Renewal of Byron Units 1 and 2 operating licenses will involve neither new construction, nor any land disturbing activities, changes to plant operations, or modifications of the transmission system that connects the plant to the regional electric grid. Operation and maintenance activities during the terms of the renewed licenses are only expected to occur in previously disturbed areas or existing ROWs. Hence, Exelon believes that continued operation and maintenance of Units 1 and 2 over the license renewal terms (i.e., an additional 20 years for each unit), including maintenance of the ROWs for the transmission line and cooling tower makeup water intake and blowdown discharge pipelines, would not adversely affect any archeological or historically significant resources. Even so, Exelon Generation is implementing specific procedures, including a Cultural Resources Management Plan (CRMP), for protecting cultural resources in undisturbed areas from activities related to operation and maintenance on the Byron plant site, including the ROW for the cooling tower makeup water intake and blowdown Byron and Braidwood Stations, Units 1 and 2 Page D-2 License Renewal Application
Byron Station Environmental Report Appendix D - Cultural Resources Correspondence Haaker - 3 discharge pipelines. Therefore, effects on cultural resources from future activities would be identified in advance and avoided or appropriately mitigated.
In the case of the three project-related transmission line ROWs, ComEd has established maintenance procedures for transmission line ROWs that involve minimal land disturbance and are unlikely to result in inadvertent adverse impacts to potential historic or archaeological resources.
As stated earlier, this letter seeks input from the Illinois SHPO regarding the effects that license renewal activities may have on historic and archeologically significant resources in the vicinity of Byron. After your review of the information provided in this letter, Exelon would appreciate your sending a letter detailing any concerns you may have about historic and archaeological resources in the area of Byron, or within two miles of the ROWS of interest, or alternatively, confirming that operation of Byron over the license renewal terms would have no effect on known historic or archaeological resources.
Because Exelon will incorporate a copy of your response, as well as this letter, into the Byron license renewal environmental report that will be submitted to the NRC as part of the Byron license renewal application, your response will be most helpful if it is received by December 14,2012.
Please refer any questions regarding this submittal to Nancy Ranek, our License Renewal Environmental Lead, at (610) 765-5369. Thank you in advance for your assistance.
Michael P Gallagher
Enclosures:
Figure 1: Project Location Map Figure 2: Byron to Wempleton and Cherry Valley Transmission Line ROWs Figure 3: Byron to Nelson-Cherry Valley Transmission Line ROW Table 1: Sites Listed on the National Register of Historic Places within 6 Miles of Byron Table 2: Archeological Sites on Byron Station Property or Wholly or Partially Within Byron ROWs Byron and Braidwood Stations, Units 1 and 2 Page D-3 License Renewal Application
Byron Station Environmental Report Appendix D - Cultural Resources Correspondence Byron and Braidwood Stations, Units 1 and 2 Page D-4 License Renewal Application
Byron Station Environmental Report Appendix D - Cultural Resources Correspondence Haaker - 5 Figure 2: Byron to Wempleton and Cherry Valley Transmission Line ROWS Byron and Braidwood Stations, Units 1 and 2 Page D-5 License Renewal Application
Byron Station Environmental Report Appendix D - Cultural Resources Correspondence Haaker - 6 Figure 3: Byron to Nelson-Cherry Valley Transmission Line ROWS Byron and Braidwood Stations, Units 1 and 2 Page D-6 License Renewal Application
Byron Station Environmental Report Appendix D - Cultural Resources Correspondence Haaker - 7 Table 1. Sites listed on the National Register af Historic Places within 6 miles of Byron Soldier's Monument Byron and Braidwood Stations, Units 1 and 2 Page D-7 License Renewal Application
Byron Station Environmental Report Appendix D - Cultural Resources Correspondence Haaker - 8 Table 2. Archaeological Sites on Byron Station Property or Wholly or Partially Within Byron ROWS I 110G154 1 Archaic I Byron Station Pro~ertv 1 llOG157 / Unknown Prehistoric 1 Byron Station Pro~ertv 1106223 Archaic Transmission Line ROW 1106224 Prehistoric Isolated Find Transmission Line ROW I 1106225 I Middle to Late Woodland Transmission Line ROW I 11OG234 Archaic Transmission Line ROW j Byron and Braidwood Stations, Units 1 and 2 Page D-8 License Renewal Application
Byron Station Environmental Report
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Appendix D - Cultural Resources Correspondence IIlinois Historic Ogle County PLEASE REFER TO: IHPA LOG #006111312 Byron West of the Rock River NRC Operating license renewal, Exelon Generation, LLC November 15, 2012 Michael P. Gallagher Exelon Generation, LLC 200 Exelon Way Kennett Square, PA 19348
Dear Mr. Gallagher:
We have reviewed the documentation submitted for the referenced project(s) in accordance with 36 CFR Part 800.4. Based upon the information provided, no historic properties are affected. We, therefore, have no objection to the undertaking proceeding as planned.
Please retain this letter in your files as evidence of compliance with section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, as amended. This clearance remains in effect for two (2) years from date of issuance. It does not pertain to any discovery during construction, nor is it a clearance for purposes of the Illinois Human Skeletal Remains Protection Act (20 ILCS 3440).
If you are an applicant, please submit a copy of this letter to the state or federal agency from which you obtain any permit, license, grant, or other assistance.
Sincerelv.
Anne E. Haaker Deputy State Historic Preservation Officer A relet:jpav;r;tei for li7s speech:l;sanr;-g impairsd is avaiiabie at 21 7-524-7128. It i s no: a voice or far :ine Byron and Braidwood Stations, Units 1 and 2 Page D-9 License Renewal Application
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