ML19091A128

NRC to NMFS, Request for Concurrence with Nrc'S Not Likely to Adversely Affect Determination for Turkey Point 3 and 4 License Renewal

ML19091A128
Person / Time
Site:	Turkey Point
Issue date:	04/01/2019
From:	Briana Grange Division of Materials and License Renewal
To:	US Dept of Commerce, National Marine Fisheries Service
Briana Grange 301-415-1042
References
Download: ML19091A128 (2)

Text

From: Grange, Briana To: "nmfs.ser.esa.consultations@noaa.gov" Cc: Erwin, Kenneth; Drucker, David; James, Lois; Burton, William; "mark.lamb@noaa.gov";

"sarah.furtak@noaa.gov"; "noah.silverman@noaa.gov"

Subject:

Request for Concurrence with NRCs NLAA Determination for Turkey Point Nuclear Generating, Units 3 and 4, License Renewal Date: Monday, April 01, 2019 11:17:00 AM To whom it may concern:

The purpose of this email is to request the National Marine Fisheries Services (NMFS) concurrence with the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) staffs determination that the proposed license renewal of Turkey Point Nuclear Generating Unit Nos. 3 and 4 (Turkey Point) in Miami-Dade County, Florida, is not likely to adversely affect any federally listed species under the NMFSs jurisdiction. This request is made pursuant to Section 7 of the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (ESA).

Proposed Action The NRCs Federal action is the decision whether to issue renewed operating licenses for Turkey Point authorizing an additional 20 years of operation. Turkey Point is a 2-unit nuclear power plant located on the southeastern coast of Florida bordering Biscayne Bay in Miami-Dade County, Florida. The current Turkey Point licenses authorize plant operation through July 2032 (Unit No. 3), and April 2033 (Unit No. 4). If the NRC grants Florida Power and Light Company renewed licenses, the company could continue to operate Turkey Point until July 2052 (Unit No. 3) and April 2053 (Unit No. 4).

National Environmental Policy Act Review In support its review of the proposed action, the NRC staff prepared a draft supplemental environmental impact statement (SEIS) to comply with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as amended (NEPA) and the NRCs regulations that implement NEPA. The draft SEIS addresses the environmental impacts of the proposed action and relevant alternatives. The draft SEIS is available online at:

https://www.nrc.gov/docs/ML1907/ML19078A330.pdf.

The NRC is accepting public comments on the draft SEIS pursuant to NEPA through May 20, 2019. You may submit comments either online or via U.S. Mail.

Online: Go to the Federal Rulemaking website at http://www.regulations.gov and search for Docket ID NRC-2018-0101.

U.S. mail: Address comments to May Ma, Office of Administration, Mail Stop: TWFN-7-A60M, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, DC 20555-0001.

The NRC staff will also hold two public meetings prior to the close of the public comment period to present an overview of the draft SEIS and to accept public comments on the document. The meetings will be held on May 1, 2019, from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. and from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the City of Homestead City Hall, 100 Civic Court, Homestead, FL 33030. The NRC staff will also host an open house one hour before each meeting for members of the public to meet with staff and sign in to speak.

ESA Effect Determinations As part of its environmental review, the NRC staff evaluated the potential impacts of Turkey Point license renewal on five federally listed species under the NMFSs jurisdiction. The five species are:

loggerhead sea turtle (Caretta caretta) green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas) leatherback sea turtle (Dermochelys coriacea) hawksbill sea turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata) smalltooth sawfish (Pristis pectinata)

The NRC staff obtained this list of species from the NMFSs public website, and the staff confirmed the relevance of each species to its review through staff-level communications with the NMFS Southeast Regional Office.

The NRCs ESA analysis appears within the following sections of the draft SEIS.

Section 3.8.1 describes the ESA action area.

Section 3.8.1.2 describes the relevant life history characteristics, available ecological studies, and potential for each of the five federally listed species to be present in the action area.

Section 4.8.1.2 evaluates the potential for impingement, entrainment, thermal effects, barge traffic, and Biscayne Bay water quality to impact each species during the proposed license renewal term.

Appendix C.1 describes the NRCs obligations under Section 7 of the ESA and relevant correspondence with the NMFS and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in connection with the NRC staffs review of the proposed action.

In Section 4.8.1.2 of the draft SEIS, the NRC staff finds that the impacts of the proposed action would be insignificant, discountable, or both. Accordingly, the NRC staff concludes that the proposed license renewal may affect, but is not likely to adversely affect the four species of sea turtles and the smalltooth sawfish.

Request for Concurrence The NRC staff submits the draft SEIS for your review and requests your offices concurrence with its not likely to adversely affect determinations for the five federally listed species identified above within 30 days of receipt of this email in accordance with Title 50 of the Code of Federal Regulation (50 CFR) 402.12(j). I respectfully request that if you are unable to make such a determination within this timeframe that you contact me to discuss an alternate review timeline.

Please also reach out if you require additional information during your ESA review or if you have any questions about this email, the NEPA public comment period, the NRCs upcoming public meetings, or the project in general.

Thank you, Briana

_____________

Briana A. Grange Biologist Division of Materials and License Renewal Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (301) 415-1042 briana.grange@nrc.gov