ML13255A106

Email from D. Logan, NRR to P. Cooper, NRR Et Al., Columbia Letter

ML13255A106
Person / Time
Site:	Columbia
Issue date:	05/17/2012
From:	Logan D Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
To:	Cooper P, Briana Grange Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
References
FOIA/PA-2013-0265
Download: ML13255A106 (5)

Text

Craver, Patti From: Logan, Dennis Sent: Thursday, May 17, 2012 8:48 AM To: Cooper, Paula; Grange, Briana

Subject:

RE: Columbia Letter Attachments: Columbia-NMFS-NPDES - DTL.docx

Paula, I have some suggested edits in the attached file. NMFS has concerns are broader than the just the structure of intake, and I tried to express this.

Dennis From: Cooper, Paula Sent: Wednesday, May 16, 2012 5:00 PM To: Logan, Dennis; Balsam, Briana

Subject:

Columbia Letter Briana & Dennis, If you wouldn't mind reviewing the letter prior to my sending it to typing, I'd really appreciate it.

Thanks, Paula Cooper I

May XX, 2011 Mr. William W. Stelle, Jr.

Regional Administrator National Marine Fisheries Service Northwest Regional Office 1201 NE Lloyd Blvd., Suite 1100 Portland, OR 97232-1274

SUBJECT:

RESPONSE TO THE COLUMBIA GENERATING STATION - PENDING APPLICATION FOR NPDES PERMIT RENEWAL AND THE NPDES PERMIT REVIEW BY THE STATE OF WASHINGTON (TAC NO. ME3121; NMFS CONSULTATION NO. F/NWR/2011/05286)

Dear Mr. Stelle:

The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) copied the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC; the staff)-was-eepied on two letters that NMFSwer-e sent to both the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the State of Washington Energy Facility Site Evaluation Control (EFSEC), dated May 7, 2012. NMFS generated tmhese letters ,we--e. ,,ated as a result of ongoing section 7 consultation between National Marine Fisheries Serice (NMFS) and the NRC regarding the license renewal of the Columbia Generating Station (CGS).

In a letter dated October 24, 2011, NMFS informed the NRC of their non-concurrence on the proposed action of license renewal. The non-concurrence is because was-due-tG-the cooling water intake isbeing located downstream of known spawning areas and within the migration corridor of ESA-listed Upper Columbia River spring Chinook salmon and steelhead,_. NMFS expressed concern that GORce the design of the intake screening system is inis-net-consistent with NMFS' screen criteria, and the CGS intake operates when the juveniles of these species are present, that-the potential ex4sts-for entrainment of the juvenile salmonids under the proposed action is not discountable.

In response to NMFS concerns, NRC replied, by letter dated December 20, 2011, that the identification and implementation of best technology available for cooling water intake systems is under the authority of the EPA under the Federal Water Pollution Control Act of 1972, or commonly referred to as the Clean Water Act (CWA). EPA has since delegated its authority under the CWA to issue and oversee National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits to the State of Washington in 1973. Based on this information the NRC encouraged NMFS to collaborate with the EFSEC as the concerns and modifications regarding CGS's cooling water intake system would be most appropriately considered as part of the CGS NPDES permit renewal process.

On February 10, 2012 NMFS sent, via email, an additional information request regarding the license renewal of CGS. In this email, NMFS requested items such as, copies of impingement and or entrainment studies and data, intake design reports, water quality data, and water surface elevation data. The NRC provided this information on May 9, 2012, with the exception of

W. Stelle the water quality data. The gathering of the water quality data is still pending, and NRC will forward the data will be forAA-rded to NMFS once received.

The letters sent by NMFS, on May 7, 2012, to EPA and EFSEC request coordination between the agencies in regards to the Clean Water Act and the Endangered Species Act for the CGS NPDES review. Although the intake structure design was the only objection cited by NMFS in the letter of non-concurrence, the NRC considers the informal consultation to be ongoing.

Furthermore, the NRC issuance of the license, currently proposed on May 22, 2012, does not finalize the consultation with NMFS. NRC will continue to consult with NMFS as required.

If you have any questions regarding this letter or the proposed CGS license renewal, please contact Paula Cooper, environmental project manager, or Dennis Logan, aquatic biologist.

Ms. Cooper can be reached at 301-415-2323 or by e-mail at Paula.Cooperanrc.qov. Mr.

Logan can be reached at 301-415-0490 or by e-mail at Dennis.Loqan(nrc..lov.

Sincerely, Jeremy Susco, Chief Environmental Guidance and Review Branch Division of License Renewal Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation Docket No. 50-397

Enclosure:

As stated cc w/encl: Listserv

OFFICE LA:DLR GS:RERB:DLR PM:RPB2:DLR OGC (NLO) BC:RPB2 NAME King DLogan PCooper LSubin DWrona DATE OFFICE BC:RERB:DLR NAME JSusco DATE

SUBJECT:

RESPONSE TO THE COLUMBIA GENERATING STATION - PENDING APPLICATION FOR NPDES PERMIT RENEWAL AND THE NPDES PERMIT REVIEW BY THE STATE OF WASHINGTON (TAC NO. ME3121; NMFS CONSULTATION NO. F/NWR/2011/05286)

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