ML25265A197
| ML25265A197 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Saint Lucie  |
| Issue date: | 12/23/2025 |
| From: | Healy S Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards |
| To: | Wilber P National Marine Fisheries Service |
| References | |
| Download: ML25265A197 (0) | |
Text
E-MAIL ONLY Pace Wilber, Ph.D.
South Atlantic and Caribbean Branch Chief Southeast Regional Office National Marine Fisheries Service
SUBJECT:
REQUEST TO INITIATE ABBREVIATED ESSENTIAL FISH HABITAT CONSULTATION FOR ST. LUCIE PLANT, UNITS 1 AND 2, PROPOSED SUBSEQUENT LICENSE RENEWAL IN ST. LUCIE COUNTY, FLORIDA (DOCKET NUMBERS: 50-335 AND 50-389)
Dear Pace Wilber:
With this letter, the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) requests to initiate abbreviated essential fish habitat (EFH) consultation pursuant to Section 305(b)(2) of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act of 1976, as amended (MSA), with the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) with respect to the proposed NRC Federal action of determining whether to subsequently renew the St. Lucie Plant, Units 1 and 2 (St. Lucie) renewed facility operating licenses (DPR-67 and NPF-16) for an additional 20 years. The subsequent renewal of these licenses would authorize the owner of St. Lucie, Florida Power &
Light Company (FPL), to continue to operate Units 1 and 2 until midnight on March 1, 2056, and April 6, 2063, respectively. This letter includes information explaining and supporting this request.
Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement In support of its environmental review of the proposed action, the NRC staff is preparing a supplemental environmental impact statement (SEIS) to comply with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as amended (NEPA), and the NRCs environmental regulations at Title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations Part 51, Environmental Protection Regulations for Domestic Licensing and Related Regulatory Functions, that implement NEPA. The SEIS will address the environmental impacts of the proposed action and reasonable alternatives to the proposed action.
In support of this consultation request, the NRC staff is providing the NMFS with a copy of the draft SEIS pursuant to Title 50 of the Code of Federal Regulations (50 CFR) Section 600.920(e)(1). This regulation allows Federal agencies to submit existing documents prepared for the proposed action, such as NEPA analyses, in substitution for a separate EFH assessment. The draft SEIS contains the staffs EFH assessment, as described below. Other supporting information can be found in the following sections of the draft SEIS.
December 23, 2025
P. Wilber 2
Section 2.1 describes the St. Lucie site and operation of Units 1 and 2.
Section 2.2 describes the proposed action, including purpose, duration, timing, and associated activities that would be carried out during the proposed subsequent license renewal term.
Appendix C, Section C.2 describes the marine and freshwater ecology of the site and surrounding area.
EFH Assessment The NRC staffs EFH assessment for federally managed species with designated EFH is contained within Appendix C, Section C.4 of the draft SEIS.
Section C.4.1 describes the designated EFH within the affected area.
Section C.4.2 analyzes the impacts of the proposed action on EFH. The results of the staffs analysis are summarized in table C-18 and table C-19.
Request for Abbreviated EFH Consultation With this letter, the NRC requests to initiate abbreviated EFH consultation with the NMFS regarding the continued operation of St. Lucie for the proposed subsequent license renewal term (i.e., March 1, 2036 to March 1, 2056 for Unit 1 and April 6, 2043 to April 6, 2063 for Unit 2). This request is made in accordance with 50 CFR 600.920(a)(1), which directs Federal agencies to consult with the NMFS for actions that may adversely affect EFH, and 50 CFR 600.920(h)(1), which states that abbreviated consultation is appropriate for actions that do not have the potential to cause substantial adverse effects on EFH. The NRC staff has determined that the continued operation of St. Lucie would result in no more than minimal adverse effects on the designated EFH of all life stages of EFH species in the vicinity of St. Lucie.
As explained above, the NRC staff is providing the NMFS with a copy of the draft SEIS, which contains the EFH assessment and other supporting information.
Conclusion If you have any questions regarding the information in this letter, please contact me by phone at (301) 415-6714 or via email at Shannon.Healy@nrc.gov.
Sincerely, Shannon Healy, Environmental Scientist Environmental Technical Review Branch 1 Division of Rulemaking, Environmental, and Financial Support Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards Docket Nos. 50-335 and 50-389 cc: Listserv Signed by Healy, Shannon on 12/23/25
P. Wilber 3
SUBJECT:
REQUEST TO INITIATE ABBREVIATED ESSENTIAL FISH HABITAT CONSULTATION FOR ST. LUCIE PLANT, UNITS 1 AND 2, PROPOSED SUBSEQUENT LICENSE RENEWAL IN ST. LUCIE COUNTY, FLORIDA (DOCKET NUMBERS: 50-335 AND 50-389)
DATED:
DISTRIBUTION:
Shannon Healy Briana Arlene Mitchell Dehmer Lance Rakovan Desiree Davis Steve Koenick Jeremy Wachutka (OGC)
Pace Wilber ADAMS Accession Number: ML25265A197