ML25120A058
| ML25120A058 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Point Beach  |
| Issue date: | 04/29/2025 |
| From: | Tawes R US Dept of Interior, Fish & Wildlife Service |
| To: | Arlene B Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards |
| References | |
| Download: ML25120A058 (1) | |
Text
From:
Tawes, Robert To:
Briana Arlene Cc:
Simpkins, Darin; Galbraith, Betsy M
Subject:
[External_Sender] Concurrence on NRC Request for NLAA determination for Point Beach Nuclear Plant License Renewal Date:
Tuesday, April 29, 2025 7:55:30 AM Attachments:
Outlook-jptc3vdr.png Hello Ms. Arlene:
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) received information regarding theU.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) determination that the proposed subsequent license renewal of Point Beach Nuclear Plant, Units 1 and 2 (Point Beach) in Manitowoc County, Wisconsin, May Affect, Not Likely to Adversely Affectthe Great Lakes population of the piping plover (Charadrius melodus). NRCrequested concurrence with effects determinations of "May Affect, Not Likely to Adversely Affect piping plover, in accordancewith section 7 ofthe Endangered Species Act (ESA) of 1973, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.).
Point Beach is a two-unit nuclear power plant located on the central western shore of Lake Michigan in Wisconsin. The Point Beach site is 1,260 acres.NextEra Energy Point Beach, LLC (NextEra) owns and operates the plant. NextEra also maintains several leases allowing leaseholders to cultivate crops and generate solar power on the site. TheNRCissued facility operating licenses for Point Beach in October 1970 (Unit 1) and March 1973 (Unit 2).In 2005, theNRCissued renewed facility operating licenses authorizing an additional 20 years of plant operation through October 2030 (Unit 1) and March 2033 (Unit 2).
TheNRCs current Federal action is to decide whether to issue subsequent renewed facility operating licenses for Point Beach authorizing an additional 20 years of operation. If theNRCgrants NextEra subsequent renewed licenses, the company could continue to operate Point Beach until October 2050 (Unit 1) and March 2053 (Unit 2).
The projects IPaC reportdoes not identify piping plover as occurring in the action area, butNRCconsulted with the Service on piping plover in 2004 during theNRCs environmental review for the Point Beach initial license renewal. During that consultation, NextEra developed and implemented a piping plover monitoring framework, and NextEra committed to performing piping plover breeding censuses in June of each year. NextEra began these surveys in 2005, and no piping plover individuals or nests have been identified on the Point Beach site since that time. Nonetheless, for the proposed Point Beach subsequent license renewal,NRCassumed that piping plovers may occur in the action area from March to early September within areas of suitable beach habitat of sufficient width to support nesting and foraging. If present, individuals would occur infrequently and in very low numbers. Based on this analysis,NRCconcluded that the proposed action is May Affect, Not Likely to Adversely Affect the Great Lakes population of the piping plover.
The Service concurs that this project May Effect, Not Likely to Adversely Affectthepiping plover. No piping plover or nests have been observed and IPaC does not indicate that piping plover would be present within the action area. Ifpiping plover were occasionally present
within the action area,wedo not anticipate that operations would significantly impact to the species, especially since alternative suitable habitats that are used more frequently exist outside the project limits.As conservation measures, piping plover breeding surveys will continue to be performed annually and the Service will be informed if any individuals or nests are observed.
This concludes consultation under Section 7 of the Endangered Species Act, as amended for the species listed above. Should you have any questions regarding this response, or if a change in project plans occurs, please contact Darin Simpkins (darin_simpkins@fws.gov; 920-866-1739) for additional assistance.
On April 24 I left you a voice message that there may be an opportunity to work together proactively/voluntarily on monarch conservation through milkweed and other pollinator plantings at the Point Beach site. Establishing and maintaining monarch habitat is something that is excepted from take under the current version of the proposed listing rule for that species. https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2024/12/12/2024-28855/endangered-and-threatened-wildlife-and-plants-threatened-species-status-with-section-4d-rule-for.
Please let us know if NRC and the Site would have any interest in partnering to establish monarch habitat.
Rob Tawes l Field Supervisor U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Minnesota-Wisconsin Ecological Services Field Office 3815 American Blvd. East, Bloomington, MN 55425-1665 Mobile: (651) 895-5433 Email: robert_tawes@fws.gov Offices: Bloomington l Green Bay l Madison
https://www.fws.gov/office/minnesota-wisconsin-ecological-services From: Green Bay, FW3 <GreenBay@fws.gov>
Sent: Tuesday, April 15, 2025 3:51 PM To: Galbraith, Betsy M <betsy_galbraith@fws.gov>; Tawes, Robert <robert_tawes@fws.gov>
Subject:
Fw: [EXTERNAL] NRC Request for Concurrence with NLAA determination for Point Beach Nuclear Plant license renewal
FYI - from GB email box - looking for coordination on impacts to Monarch Butterfly From: Briana Arlene <briana.arlene@nrc.gov>
Sent: Tuesday, April 15, 2025 7:50 AM To: Green Bay, FW3 <GreenBay@fws.gov>
Cc: Mitchell Dehmer <Mitchell.Dehmer@nrc.gov>; Shannon Healy <Shannon.Healy@nrc.gov>; Karen Loomis <Karen.Loomis@nrc.gov>; Kevin Folk <Kevin.Folk@nrc.gov>; Michelle Rome
<Michelle.Rome@nrc.gov>; Steve Koenick <Stephen.Koenick@nrc.gov>; John Moses
<John.Moses@nrc.gov>; David Roth OGC <David.Roth@nrc.gov>; Jeremy Wachutka
<Jeremy.Wachutka@nrc.gov>
Subject:
[EXTERNAL] NRC Request for Concurrence with NLAA determination for Point Beach Nuclear Plant license renewal
This email has been received from outside of DOI -Use caution before clicking on links, opening attachments, or responding.
Good morning Minnesota-Wisconsin Ecological Services Field Office,
Please see the attached request for concurrence with the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commissions (NRC) determination that the continued operations of Point Beach Nuclear Plant in Manitowoc County, Wisconsin for an additional 20 years is not likely to adversely affect the monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus) pursuant to Section 7 of the Endangered Species Act.
The attached letter includes information explaining and supporting this request, and I have attached the IPaC report for the project as well.
Please reach out with any questions, and I look forward to working with you on this consultation! Thank you,
Briana Briana S. Arlene Conservation Biologist & ESA Consultation Coordinator Environmental Center of Expertise Office of Materials Safety and Safeguards U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission
briana.arlene@nrc.gov (301) 415-1042