ML19221A752
| ML19221A752 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Issue date: | 02/28/1979 |
| From: | Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation |
| To: | |
| References | |
| NUREG-0555, NUREG-0555-02.4.1, NUREG-555, NUREG-555-2.4.1, SRP-02.04.01, SRP-2.04.01, NUDOCS 7907090039 | |
| Download: ML19221A752 (9) | |
Text
Section 2.4.1 February 1979 ENVIRONMENTAL STANDARD REVIEW PLAN FOR ES SECTION 2.4.1 TERRESTRIAL ECOLOGY 2.4.1.1 The Site and Vicinity 2.4.1.2 Transmission Corridors and Of fsite Areas REVIEW INPUTS Environmental Report Sections 2.2 Ecology Environmental Reviews None Standards and Guides Regulatory Guide 4.11, " Terrestrial Environmental Studies for Nuclear Power Station" Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act of 1958 Endangered Species Act of 1973 Other The site visit Responses to requests for additional information Consultation with local, State, and Federal agencies REVIEW OUTPUTS Environmental Statement Sections 2.4.1 Terrestrial Ecology 2.4.1.1 The Site and Vicinity 2.4.1.2 Transmission Corridors and Offsite Areas Other Environmental Reviews 2.8 Related Federal Project Activities 4.1.1 Land-Use Impacts: The Site and Vicinity (Construction) 4.1.2 Land-Use Impacts: Transmission Corridors and Offsite Areas (Construction) 107 189 2.4.1-1 7 9 07 0 9 00M
February 1979 9
4.3.1 Ecological Mpacts: Terrestrial Ecosystems (Construction) 5.1 Land-Use Imps ts (Operation) 5.3.3.2 Heat Dissioetic i System: Impacts to Terrestrial Ecosystems (Operation, 5.4 Radiological Impacts of Normal Operation 6.5.1 Environmental Measurements and Monitoring Programs-Biological:
Terrestrial Ecology I.
PURPOSE AND SCOPE The purpose of this environmental standard review plan (ESRP) is to direct the staff's description of the terrestrial environment and biota of the site, transmission corridors, and of fsite areas likely to be impacted by the construc-tion, maintenance, and operation of the proposed project.
This review will provide input to other reviews dealing with evaluation of construction and operational impacts on terrestrial ecosystems and to reviews that are concerned with land uses.
The scope of the review directed by this plan includes identification and descri9 tion of species composition, spatial distribution, abundance, and other structural and functional attributes of biotic assemblages that could be impacted by the proposed action. The scope wil also include the identification of any important or irreplaceable terrestrial natural resources and the location of wildlifre sanctuaries and natural areas which might be impacted by the proposed actions.
II.
REQUIRED DATA AND INFORMATION The kinds of data and information required will be af fected by site-and station-specific f actors, and th degree of detail will be modified according to the anticipated magnitude of the potential impacts.
The following data or information will usually be required:
107 190 g
2.4.1-2
February 1979 A.
SITE AND VICINITY 1.
A map of the site and vicinity showing the boundaries of major plant communities, the locations of minor communities, special habitats, (e.g.,
spring seeps, bogs, sink holes, cliff faces, rare or unique habitats) and any habitats used by "important"* species.
The site boundary, the construction zone, other areas to be cleared and the exclusion zone should be shown on this map. A map showing habitats utilized by "important" species in the vicinity of the site that are expected to be impacted by plant construc-tion and operation should be provided. These maps should be supplemented when available with recent aerial photographs showing the site and adjacent land areas (' rom the ER).
2.
Area occupied by each natural and man-made habitat type identi-fied in 1 above (from the ER).
3.
A map of the site and vicinity showing the locations of National, State, local, or private wildlife refuges or other land areas dedicated to preservation, management, or study of wildlife and wildlife habitats (from the ER).
4.
USGS topographic maps of the site (7-1/2 min. scale, when available) (from the general literature).
5.
Onsite data of the botanical species composition of, and relative abundance in, the major vegetation layers (e.g. overstory and understory), in For the purposes of these environmental reviews a species is "important" if a specific causal link can be identified between the proposed project and the species and if one or more of the following criteria applies:
(a) the species is conaercially or recreationally valuable, (b) the species is threatened or endangered (Pub. Law 93-205, 87 Stat. 884), (c) the species affects the well-being of some important species within criteria (a) or (b), or (d) the species is critical to the structure and function of the ecological system or is a biological indicator of radionuclides in the environment.
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2.4.1-3
February 1979 9
enough detail to identify the communities as to dominant species (from the ER).
6.
Summary of onsite ' natural and man-induced ef f ects (e.g., farming, logging, grazing, burning) and the successional stage (i.e.,
weed, brush, pole, and mature stages) (from the ER).
7.
List of "important" terrestrial vertebrate species known to occur (f rom the ER and consultation with local, State, Federal agencies).
8.
Lisis of invertebrate species of local importance or concern as disease vectors or pests.
Detailed field surveys of insect populations are not needed (from the ER and consultation with local, State, and Federal agenci s).
e 9.
Estimates of the relative abundance of both commercially and recreationally important game and nongame vertebrates (from the ER and con-sultation with local, State, and Federal agencies).
10.
Lists of threatened or endangered species that are known to occur, and for any such species, their site-specific habitat (from the ER and consultation with local, State, and Federal agencies).
11.
For those threatened and endangered species that occur within the site and vicinity, identification of their other locations and critical habitats within the region (from the ER and consultation wii.n local, State, and Federal agencies).
8.
TRANSMISSION CORRIDORS AND 0FFSITE AREAS 1.
Topographic maps (7-1/2 min. or 15-min. scale) showing proposed routes of transmission and access corridors from the station site to intercon-necting points on the existing high voltage system these maps may be supplemented 2.4.1-4
February 1979 with recent aerial photographs, when available (obtained frcm the applicant on request).
2.
Major vegetation types within the proposed corridors (from the ER, site visit, and through consultation with local, State, and Federal agencies).
3.
A map showing the locations of national, State, or private wildlife refuges or other land areas that are dedicated to preservation, management, or study of wildlife and wildlife habitats, within 2 km of proposed corridors (from the ER).
4.
A list of commercially or recreationally important vertebrate animals known to occur within and adjacent to the proposed corridors (from the ER and consultation with local, State, and Federal agencies).
5.
A list of threatened or endangered species (plants and animals) known to occur within the proposed corridors and adjacent areas, their seasons of occurrence, estimates of abundance, local flight patterns, and critical habitats (from the ER and consultation with local, State, and Federal agencies).
6.
Where proposed transmission lines cross important waterfowl areas, data on the local abundance and distribution of waterfowl, their seasonal status, and local flight patterns (from the ER and consultation with local, State, and Federal agencies).
7.
Lists of invertebrate species of local importance or concern as disease vectors or pests.
Detailed field surveys of insect populations are not needed (from the ER and consultati n with local, State, and Federal agencies).
III.
ANALY5f5 PROCEDURE In developing the description of the terrestrial resources of the site and offsite areas likely to be af fected by construction and operation of the 107 193 2.4.1-5
February 1979 O
proposed project, including transmission and access corridors, the reviewer will (1) describe the terrestrial comrauni ties and theie i nterac tions with their environment, (2) describe the existing habitat ty,7es; and (3) identity
~
" i rrpo r ta nt" species.
Since specific information requirements are dictated by the assessments in ES Sections 4 and 5 (construction and operational frapacts, respectively), the reviews of this and other secticns dealing with terrestrial ecology will be closely coordinated so that appropriate feedback to establish the extent and relevance of informatiori contained in this section is provided.
The reviewer will develop a description of the important terrestrial communities and habitat types based on information provided by the applicant, a review of the literature, information acquired during the site visit, and by consultation with appropriate local, State, and Federal agencies, including the U.
S. Fish ano Wildlife Service (through the regional director) and the director of the State Fish and Wildlife agency.
The reviewer wili identify "important" species of the site and vicinity, transmission corridors and offsite areas. This identification will begin with re /iew of the previous'y identified communities and habitats of these areas.
The categories and methods of identification will be as follows:
A.
Threatened and Endangered Species: The reviewer will review current Federal Register and State listings of threatened and endangered species, both floral ana faunal.
From these lists and the reviewer's list of terrestrial communities, the reviewer will identify those threatened and endangered species that have been obrarved on the project areas. The reviewer will also consult with local agencies to cross-check the possible occurrence of such species.
The reviewer will identify those threatened and endangered species that, on a range classification basis, could probably be expected to occur within these areas, but that have not been recorded by documer ted observations.
B.
Commercially or recreationally valuable species: The reviewer will consider wildlife and plants that could be adversely impacted by the proposed 9 2.4.1-6
February 1979 action.
In addition to the applicant's environmental report, the reviewer will consult with State or local agencies or organizations that maintain records of harvest levels of these species.
C.
The reviewer will identify any species in the site and vicinity, transmission and access corridors and offsite areas that are important to the maintenance of those species identified in items A and B above.
The reviewer will identify species that could serve as biological indicators for the accumu-lation of radionuclides. The reviewer will classify the habitats of the site and other affected areas as to whether they serve as important or irreplaceable natural resources.
The reviewer will alsc identify and cons; der offsite wildlife sanctuaries or preserves that may be modified or adversely af fected by activities associated with the construction and maintenance of access and transmission corridors for the proposed pi, ject.
Where proposed activities include urban areas or managed ecosystems (e.g.,
farmland), environmental descriptions of these areas will be provided by the environmental review for ES Section 2.2, Land Use.
IV.
EVALUATION In evaluating the adequacy of the oescription of terrestrial resources of the site and offsite areas, the reviewer will consult the applicab e standards and guides given in the Standards and Guides section of this plan.
Within these guides the reviewer will find a framework of those descriptive features of terrestrial resources judged adequate for most situations of nuclear power station siting. The reviewer will also become familiar with the provisions of the legislation listed in this section.
The reviewer will ensure that (1) data on the "important" terrestrial resources on and near the site and corridors are sufficient to provide quanti-tative information on the value (economic, environmental and social), distri-bution, and abundance of biota expected to be impacted by construction and operation; (2) if biological-indicator species are involved, criteria as to 107 105 2.4.1-7
February 1979 their selection have been verified; and (3) local, State, and Federal fish and game and conservation departments, and other appropriate resource agencies and institutions have been consulted.
V.
INPUTS TO THE ENVIRONMENTAL STATEMENT The reviewer will prepare as input to ES Sections 2.4.1.1 and 2.4.1.2, descriptions of the site and of fsite areas potentially affected by the proposed project. The inputs should be brief and will include the following inf( rmation:
A.
The principal terrestrial ecological features of the site and vicinity, transmission and access corridors, and offsite areas; with emphasis on the communities that will be potentially affected by proposed project construction, operation, and maintenance.
The extent of discussion of various plant and animal communities should be adequate to support the impact assessme.its for ES Sections 4 and 5.
B.
Wildlife sanctuaries, natural areas, and related areas that could be affected wili be addressed.
3pecial attention will be devoted to describing "important" species.
Estimates of their abundance will be provided where appropriate.
Special habitat needs such as cover, forage, and prey species will be emphasized if the proposed project would potentially disrupt these needs.
C.
Species lists, if included, will be prepared as an appendix to the ES and should be limited to those "important" species whose presence may characterize community structure and function, or that are central to the analysis.
D.
The reviewer will provide inputs to the following ES sections:
Sections 2.8, 4.1.1, 4.1.2, 4 3.1, 5.1, 5.3.3.2, 5.4, and 6.5.1.
The reviewer will provide terrestrial ecology data to the reviewers of the listed ES Sections, including a description of the food webs leading to man.
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February 1979 9
VI.
PFFERENCES 1.
General Environmental Guidelines for Evaluating and Reporting the Effects of Nuclear Power Plant Site Preparation, Plant and Transmission Facility Construction, Atomic Industrial Forum, Inc., Washirgton, D.C.,
1974.
O 2.4.1-9 107 197