ML19091A131

NRC to NMFS, NRC Issuance of Draft Environmental Impact Statement for Turkey Point 3 and 4 and Opportunity for Public Comment

ML19091A131
Person / Time
Site:	Turkey Point
Issue date:	04/01/2019
From:	Briana Grange NRC
To:	Dale D, Wilbur P US Dept of Commerce, National Marine Fisheries Service
Briana Grange 301-415-1042
References
Download: ML19091A131 (2)

Text

From: Grange, Briana To: "david.dale@noaa.gov"; "pace.wilbur@noaa.gov" Cc: Erwin, Kenneth; Drucker, David; James, Lois; Burton, William; "noah.silverman@noaa.gov"

Subject:

NRC Issuance of Draft Environmental Impact Statement for Turkey Point Nuclear Generating, Units 3 and 4, License Renewal, and Opportunity for Public Comment Date: Monday, April 01, 2019 11:21:00 AM Mr. Dale and Mr. Wilbur:

The purpose of this email is to notify you that the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) has issued a draft supplemental environmental impact statement (SEIS) for the proposed license renewal of Turkey Point Nuclear Generating Unit Nos. 3 and 4 (Turkey Point) in Miami-Dade County, Florida. During preparation of the SEIS, the NRC staff determined that the proposed action would not result in any impacts to Essential Fish Habitat (EFH). This email includes a brief summary of the proposed action, the NRCs NEPA review and EFH determinations, and information on how the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) may submit public comments on the draft SEIS.

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 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.

EFH Determinations As part of its environmental review, the NRC staff evaluated the potential impacts of Turkey Point license renewal on the EFH of seven federally managed species for which the South Atlantic Marine Fisheries Council and NMFS have designated EFH in Biscayne Bay. The

seven species are:

pink shrimp (Farfantepenaeus duorarum) white grunt (Haemulon plumieri) bluestriped grunt (Haemulon sciurus) mutton snapper (Lutianus analis) dog snapper (Lutianus jocu) gray snapper (Lutjanus griseus) spiny lobster (Panulirus argus)

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

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

Section 3.8.2 describes the relevant life history characteristics and EFH designations of the seven federally managed species.

Section 4.8.1.3 evaluates the potential for the proposed action to impact EFH during the proposed license renewal term.

Appendix C.1 describes the NRCs obligations under the Magnuson-Stevens Act and relevant correspondence with the NMFS in connection with the NRC staffs review of the proposed action.

In Section 4.8.1.3 of the draft SEIS, the NRC staff finds that the proposed action would not result in any adverse impacts to EFH. The only potential activity that could affect Biscayne Bays aquatic resources is vessel traffic associated with infrequent deliveries of large parts and equipment to the Turkey Point site. The NRC finds that such traffic would not impact any aquatic habitats (including prey) in any noticeable or measurable way, and thus, would also not affect EFH. Biscayne Bay water quality is not likely to be affected by continued Turkey Point operations to a degree that would be discernable on the aquatic ecology of the Biscayne Bay. Water quality is discussed in detail in the draft SEIS. Because the NRC staff concludes that the proposed action would have no adverse effects on EFH, the NRC staff also finds that EFH consultation for the proposed action is not required.

Conclusion If you have any questions about this email, the NRCs draft SEIS, the NEPA public comment period, the NRCs upcoming public meetings, or the NRCs determination that EFH consultation is not required for the proposed action, please reach out to me by phone or email.

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