ML20105B931

Responds to 830615 Request for Info Re Presence of Federally Listed or Proposed Endangered & Threatened Species within Plant Impact Area.Compilation of Federally Listed Endangered & Threatened Species in State of PA Encl

ML20105B931
Person / Time
Site:	Beaver Valley
Issue date:	06/30/1983
From:	Kulp C INTERIOR, DEPT. OF, FISH & WILDLIFE SERVICE
To:	Knighton G Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
References
NUDOCS 8307070036
Download: ML20105B931 (5)

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1 UNITED STATES I '

S DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR I FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE Suite 322 315 South Allen Street State College, Pennsylvania 16801 June 30, 1983 Hr. George Knighton, Chief Licensing Branch No. 3 Division of Licensing Nuclear Regulatory Commission Washington, D.C. 20555 Re: Docket No. 50-412

Dear Mr. Knighton:

This is in response to your letter of June 15, 1983, requesting information on the presence of federally listed or proposed endangered and threatened species within the impact area of the Beaver Valley Power Station Unit 2 in the Borough of Shippingport, Beaver County, Pennsylvania.

Three federally listed endangered birds are expected to be found as transient species in the project area. They are: bald eagle (lial i a e e tu s leucocephalus); peregrine falcon (Falco peregrinus);

and K i r t l a n d 's warbler (Dendroica kirtlandii). There is no listed critical habitat for these species in Ehe project area.

Except for the bald eagle,which may stop to feed and rest along the river during migration, we do not expect to find the Kirtland's warbler or peregrine f alcon as regular visitors to the project area.

The project area is within the historic range of the Indiana bat (Myoti s sodalis), but there are no populations of this species known to occur there. The distribution of this species is strongly correlated with the major rivers within its range and it has been postulated that the major rivers are migration routes.

Although suitable habitat for nursery colonies may be found within the vicinity of the project, we have no evidence that any Indiana bat nursery colonies exist in the project area.

Although there have been no recent collections of endangered molluscs from the Ohio River, the following three federally listed species have historically occurred in the upper Ohio f00 hDR , K O 000 2 I l A PDR

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River: orange f ooted pea rly mussel (Plethobasus cooperianus);

pink mucket pearly nussel (Lampsilis oroiculata); and rough pigtoa (Pleurobema plenum).

Dr. David Stansbery f rom Ohio State University has inf ormed us that since their listing in the June 1976 Federal Register, Plethobasus cooperianus has been renamed Plethobasus striatus and Lampsilis orbiculata has been renamed Lampsilis abrupta. These species may have been extirpated or remnant populations may exist in the Upper Ohio or its tributaries or they may have reinvaded their former range along with the game fish species that are once again common in the upper river.

Significant changes have taken place in the river since these molluscs were last collected. Water quality, seriously degraded in the past, has improved as a resul t of water pollution controls and changing economic conditions. Therefore, conditions for mussels have improved. We have no information on the presence of endangered mussels within the project area.

The small whorled pogonia, an endangered plant, presently exists or has been known to occur in 16 eastern States and Canada. It is most often found in mixed second growth hardwoods with a relatively open canopy and little shrub or herbaceous cover. It has been found, however, in a broad spectrun of conifer / hardwood habitat types and, in f act, may be found almost anywhere in the castern United States. There are many as yet unanswered questions about its growth, reproduction and other life requirements.

There are presently 18 known existing populations (approximately 600 individuals) of this plant in the ea s tern U.S. and Canada.

Although additional populations could occur almost anywhere, the chances of occurrence at any particular site are extremely remote. The Pennsylvania locations of historical populations are: Berks County (Reading), Chester County (West Chester),

Green County (Rogersville), lionroe County (East Stroudsburg),

flontgomery County (Willow Grove) and Philadelphia County (Philadelphia). The only known existing population in Pennsylvania is located in Centre County near the town of Port fi a t i l d a . To reduce the chance of disturbance by plant collectors, exact locations of plants are not released.

We have no information to indicate that any endangered species under our jurisdiction will be affected by the proposed project.

Therefore, no Biological Assessment or further Section 7 consultation under the Endangered Species Act (87 Stat. 884, as amended; 16 U.S.C . 1531 et seq.) is required with the Fish and Wildlife Service. Should project plans change, or if additional l

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information on listed or proposed species becomes available, this determina tion nay be reconsidered. A conpila tion of f ederally listed endangered and threatened species in Pennsylvania is enclosed for your information.

Sincerely, Charle.,.. K Field o pervisor Enclosure 3

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. .- o 6 FEDERALLY LISTED ENDANGERED AND THREATENED SPECIES IN PENNSYLVANIA Common Name Scientific Name Status Distribution l FISHES:

, -Cisco, longjaw Coregonus alpenae E Lake Erie - probably extinct Pike, blue Stizostedion vitreum E Deep water of Lake glaucum Erie - probably extinct Sturgeon, shortnose* Acipenser brevirostrum E Delaware River & other Atlantic coastal rivers REPTILES:

None

, BIRDS:

4 Eagle, bald Haliaeetus leucocephalus E Entire State - nests only in Crawford County

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Falcon, American peregrine Falco peregrinus anatum E Entire State -

re-establishment to j former breeding range in progress Falcon, Arctic peregrine Falco peregrinus tundrius E Entire State migratory

- no nesting.  ;

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Warbler, Kirtland'_s Dendroica kirtlandii E Western Pennsylvania -

occasional migri.nt 1

MAMMALS:

Bat, Indiana Myotis sodalis E Entire State - only-known wintering g population in PA is l in Blair County

• Cougar, eastern Felis concolor cougar E Entire Stato -

probably extinct Sciurus niger cinereus E Fox squirrel,.Delmarva Southeastern FA -

probably extirpated i

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Federally listed endangered and threatened species in Pennsylvania (continued) .

MOLLUSKS:

Plethobasus cooperianus** E Ohio River drainage -

Pearly mussel, orange no recent collections footed Lampsilis orbiculata** E Ohio River drainage -

Pearly mussel, pink no recent collections mucket Pleurobema plenum E Ohio River drainage -

Pigtoe, rough no recent collections PLANTS:

Small whorled pogonia Isotria medeoloides E Entire State - historical populations in Berks, Chester, Green, Monroe, Montgomery & Philadelphia Counties Existing population in Centre County

• Principal responsibility for this species is vested with the National Marine Fisheries Service..

• • Since listing, Plethobasus cooperianus has been renamed Plethobasus striatus and Lempsilis_orbiculata has been renamed Lampsilis abrupta.

i Fish & Wildlife Service, Region 5 March 1983

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