ML13253A269
| ML13253A269 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Columbia  |
| Issue date: | 06/10/2011 |
| From: | Krieg R Pacific Northwest National Laboratory |
| To: | Dan Doyle Division of Policy and Rulemaking |
| References | |
| FOIA/PA-2013-0265 | |
| Download: ML13253A269 (10) | |
Text
/ I Craver, Patti From: Krieg, Rebekah <rebekah.krieg@pnnl.gov>
Sent: Friday, June 10, 2011 11:10 AM To: Doyle, Daniel Cc: Logan, Dennis; Mcdowell, Bruce K
Subject:
RE: Columbia aquatic letters for concurrence Attachments: CGS DSEIS Itr to FWSrhk.docx; CGS DSEIS Itr to NMFSrhk.dc cx
- Dan, The FWS letter is fine - I only had once change ("no affect" rather than "no effect", see attached letter). I did not see mention of any of the terrestrial species, but I am assuming that was dealt with by another communication so that he knows that NRC had determined that none of the terrestrial species mentioned in his letter were in the vicinity.
I did provide more extensive suggestions for the NMFS letter (also attached). I know that past letters from NRC have said that the NRC staff identified the EFH species, and there may be a reason for this that I do not understand, however, we actually got the list of species from NMFS in their June 23, 2010 letter. I thought it would be appropriate to state that. I am, however, checking with one of our aquatic resource coordinators (Ann Miracle) to see if her experience is different. Also, I was under the impression. that the May 3, 2010 letter you sent was the initiation of the consultation, and Ann concurred that was her understanding of how the process worked also.
This review triggered a finding of an error in the BA/EFH. This error is not included in the EIS. TIhe error is in Table 3-2, The where we had included steelhead (0. mykiss) instead of the appropriate coho (0. kisutch). remainder of the discussion and analysis in the BA/EFH is correct, it is just in the table that the error occurs. My apologies for not catching this earlier.
Table 3-2. Aquatic Fish Species with Essential Fish Habitat in the Vicinity of the HanforId Reach of the Columbia River in the Vicinity of the Columbia Generating Station Scientific Name Common Name Oncorhynchus tshawytscha Upper Columbia River Chinook salmon Oncorhynchuskisutch coho salmon Sources: NMFS 2010a Becky From: Doyle, Daniel [mailto: Daniel.Doylebnrc.gov]
Sent: Thursday, June 09, 2011 12:11 PM To: Krieg, Rebekah Cc: Logan, Dennis; Mcdowell, Bruce K
Subject:
Columbia aquatic letters for concurrence
- Becky, In preparation for issuing the Columbia draft SEIS, I prepared the attached letters to the J.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and NMFS.
1.
Please review them and let me know if you have any revisions or comments.
- Thanks, Dan Doyle Project Manager Division of License Renewal U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission daniel.doyle*,nrc.,ov (301) 415-3748 2
Ms. Robyn Thorson, Regional Director U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Pacific Region 911 NE 11th Ave Portland, OR 97232
SUBJECT:
BIOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT FOR LICENSE RENEWAL OF COLUMBIA GENERATING STATION
Dear Ms. Thorson:
The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) staff has completed the enclosed draft Supplement XX to NUREG-1437, "Generic Environmental Impact Statement for License Renewal of Nuclear Plants," to evaluate the proposed renewal of the Columbia Generating Station (CGS) operating license for a period of an additional 20 years. In accordance with the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended, the NRC's Biological Assessment (BA) for license renewal of CGS is included in Appendix D-1 of the enclosed draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS).
CGS is located in Benton County, Washington, 12.5 miles northwest of Richland. CGS is equipped with a closed-cycle heat dissipation system that withdraws makeup water from, and discharges it to, the Columbia River for six mechanical draft cooling towers. The plant is operated by Energy Northwest.
In a letter dated March 22, 2010, the NRC requested that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) provide lists of Federally-listed endangered or threatened species and information on proposed and candidate species, as well as any designated critical habitat that mIay be in the vicinity of CGS and its associated transmission line rights-of-way. The FWS responded in an e-mail dated November 8, 2010, and identified a single aquatic species-the bull trout (Salvelinus confluentus)-under its jurisdiction that is Federally-listed as threatened and has been reported in the Hanford Reach in the vicinity of the CGS facility. Further, the FWS indicated that critical habitat for the bull trout occurred within the action area, as previously defined.
This BA provides an evaluation of the potential impact of renewing the CGS operating license for an additional 20 years of operation on the bull trout and its critical habitat. The NRC concludes that continued operation of CGS will have no aeffect on the bull troutl
R. Thorson We are requesting your concurrence with our determination. In reaching our cd nclusion, the NRC staff relied on information provided by the applicant and on research perfo rmed by NRC you staff. Please note that the comment period ends on MONTH DAY, 2011. If i have any questions regarding this issue or the staff=s request, please contact Daniel Do, le at 301-415-3748 or by e-mail at Daniel.Doyleanrc..qov.
Sincerely, Bo M. Pham, Chief Projects Branch 1 Division of License Renewal Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulati( in Docket No. 50-397
Enclosure:
As stated cc w/encl: Listserv
MLxxx (Pkg.) MLxxx (Ltr.) MLxxx (SupXX) ML11091A028 (FRN)
OFFICE LA: DLR PM:DLR/RPB1 GS:DLR/RERB GS:DLR/RERB OGC BC:DLR/RPB1 NAME DDoyle ATravers DLogan LSubin BPham DATE Mr. Richard Domingue National Marine Fisheries Service Hydropower Division 1201 NE Lloyd Blvd, Ste 1100 Portland, OR 97232-2182
SUBJECT:
BIOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT AND ESSENTIAL FISH HABITAT ASSESSMENT FOR LICENSE RENEWAL OF COLUMBIA GENERATING STATION (TAC NO. ME3121)
Dear Mr. Domingue:
The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) staff has completed the enclosed draft Supplement XX to NUREG-1437, "Generic Environmental Impact Statement for License Renewal of Nuclear Plants," to evaluate the proposed renewal of Columbia Generating Station (CGS) operating license for a period of an additional 20 years. In accordance with the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended, the NRC's Biological Assessment (BA) for license renewal of CGS is included in Appendix D-1 of the enclosed draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS). Also, in accordance with the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, the NRC is requesting initiation of an Essential Fish Habitat (EFH) consultation regarding this proposed action of license renewal. The NRC's EFH assessment for CGS license renewal is also in Appendix D-1 of the enclosed draft SEIS.
CGS is located in Benton County, Washington, 12.5 miles northwest of Richland. CGS is equipped with a closed-cycle heat dissipation system that withdraws makeup water from, and discharges it to, the Columbia River for six mechanical draft cooling towers.
-f Formatted: Indent: Left: 0" In a letter, dated May 3, 2010, the NRC staff requested that NMFS provide information on Federally listed endanqered or threatened species, proposed or candidate species, designated critical habitats and essential fish habitat (EFH) in the vicinity of the project site. NMFS responded to the NRC's request in a letter dated June 23, 2010 (NMFS 2010a) and identified two Federally listed species near the CGS site. The two species are the Upper Columbia River sprinq Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) and the Upper Columbia River steelhead (0. mykiss). Critical habitat for both species occurs within the action area.
In the same letter, NMFS also indicated that the Columbia River in ihe CGS plant vicinity orovides EFH features for both the Unoer Columbia River Chinook and the coho salmon (O.kisutch) (currently an unlisted reintroduction effort). The EFH for the Upper Columbia River Chinook includes all three runs (sprinq, summer, and fall).
R. Crabtree Tho N'RC -staff identified a total of three aquatic Federally listed endangered, threatened, oF candidate spec-ies of cnccn-rn having the potential to be present in tho Vicinity of CGS and its associated transmission line right of way. The NRC staff developed a joint BA/EFH. The evaluation in the BA concludes that the proposed action may affect, but is not likely to adversely affect, the two Federally listed species. nd will hae no affect nn the third species. ........ - Comment [RHK1]: I think the confusion on the thlird species (no affect) ) is that the third species is the bull trout that is under the FWS not NMFS.
As descrbed in th+ =FH a.....ssmet, the NRI staff identified t*o spe*ies that hae. EFH designgted in the vicinity of CGS. The evaluation in the EFH assessment concludes that CGS will have a minimal adverse effect on EFH for both the Upper Columbia River Chinook salmon and the coho salmon. speeie&-The NRC staff concludes that continued operation of CGS (license renewal of CGS for an additional 20 years of operation) wGeid re6Ult iR will have a minimal adverse effects -on Federally managed species and their EFH for both the Upper Columbia River Chinook salmon and the coho salmon. in the Colu.mbia River near and downstream of the CGS site.
We are requesting your concurrence with our determination in the BA portion of the joint BA/EFH -and conclusion of the Section 7 consultation. We also request your concurrence with our determination in the EFH portion of the ioint BA/EFH and conclusion of the consultation under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, as amended by the Sustainable Fisheries Act of 1996. We are also requesting n.t.at.en ef an EFH conulItation.
R. Domingue In reaching these conclusions, the NRC staff relied on information provided by the applicant, on research performed by NRC staff, and on information from National Marine Fisheries Service.
Please note that the comment period closes MONTH DAY, 2011. Ifyou have any questions regarding the enclosed draft supplemental environmental impact statement, the EFH assessment, or the staff's request, please contact Mr. Daniel Doyle, Environmental Project Manager, at 301-415-3748 or by e-mail at Daniel. Doyle*,nrc.,ov.
Sincerely, Bo M. Pham, Chief Projects Branch 1 Division of License Renewal Docket No. 50-397
Enclosure:
As stated cc w/encl: Listserv
- 1. Package: MLxxx
- 2. Letter: MLxxx
- 3. "Generic Environmental Impact Statement for License Renewal of Nuclear Plants, Supplement XX": MLxxx OFFICE LA:DLR GS: DLR/RERB PM: DLR/RPB1 BC: DLR/RPB1 NAME DLogan DDoyle BPham DATE Letter to Richard Domingue from Bo M. Pham, dated MONTH DAY, 2011
SUBJECT:
BIOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT AND ESSENTIAL FISH HABITAT ASSESSMENT FOR LICENSE RENEWAL OF COLUMBIA GENERATING STATION (TAC NO. ME3121)
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