ML19325D154
| ML19325D154 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | SHINE Medical Technologies |
| Issue date: | 11/12/2019 |
| From: | Briana Grange Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards |
| To: | Hemminger J US Dept of Interior, Fish & Wildlife Service |
| Briana Grange 301-415-1042 | |
| References | |
| Download: ML19325D154 (2) | |
Text
From:
Grange, Briana To:
Jeff_Hemming@fws.gov Cc:
GreenBay@fws.gov
Subject:
SHINE Production Facility Operating License in Janesville WI (Consultation Code: 03E17000-2019-SLI-1626)
Date:
Tuesday, November 12, 2019 1:26:00 PM Good afternoon Mr. Hemming, I am contacting you to inquire about updated information on federally listed species and critical habitats for a project I am reviewing in Janesville, Rock County, Wisconsin. Would you be able to refer me to the appropriate staff biologist or Section 7 coordinator in your office that I could touch base with to discuss Endangered Species Act responsibilities?
I have included some background on the project and preliminary questions below for context.
Project Background In 2013, the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) and the FWS informally consulted on SHINE Medical Technologies, LLCs application for a construction permit to build a radioisotope production facility. The NRC requested information on federally listed species and critical habitats in a July1, 2013, letter to the FWS. The FWS replied on August 13, 2013. In its response, the FWS identified no species or habitats at the proposed facility site in Janesville, Rock County, Wisconsin, and stated that no further action would be required under the Endangered Species Act should construction take place at that site. Therefore, the NRC concluded that the proposed action would have no effect on federally listed species and critical habitats, and the agencies did not consult any further on this project.
The NRC documented its no effect finding in a 2015 environmental impact statement.
Since that time, the NRC issued SHINE a construction permit in February 2016, and SHINE selected the Janesville site and began preliminary construction.
In July 2019, SHINE submitted an application for an operating permit. The NRC is currently reviewing this application.
Questions for FWS During my review of SHINEs current (operating permit) application, I queried the FWSs IPaC system on August 21, 2019 (Consultation Code: 03E17000-2019-SLI-1626) and obtained a list of four species that may occur in the project area: northern long-eared bat, whooping crane, eastern prairie fringed orchid, and prairie bush-clover.
Does the FWS have specific information that it could point me towards (surveys, studies, etc.) related to these species presence/occurrence near the proposed site?
Would the FWS recommend that I evaluate each of these species in detail during my application review?
For the eastern prairie fringed orchid and prairie bush-clover, the applicant conducted field studies in 2011 and 2012 and did not identify any federally listed species. Would the 2011-2012 survey be appropriate to rely upon to conclude that these species do not occur on the project site despite the surveys age?
Does the FWS have any specific concerns related to potential effects on the northern long-eared bat or whooping crane?
Thank you, and I look forward to coordinating with you on this project! Please feel free to call me or email in response (contact info below).
Briana Briana A. Grange Conservation Biologist & ESA Consultation Coordinator Division of Rulemaking, Environmental, and Financial Support Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (301) 415-1042 briana.grange@nrc.gov