ML081130677

Applicant'S Environmental Report - Operating License Renewal Stage, Appendix E, Table of Contents Through Section 2.0, Site and Environmental Interfaces

ML081130677
Person / Time
Site:	Prairie Island
Issue date:	04/30/2008
From:	Nuclear Management Co
To:	Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
References
FOIA/PA-2010-0209, L-PI-08-024
Download: ML081130677 (103)

Text

Prairie Island Nuclear Generating Plant License Renewal Application Appendix E - Environmental Report Applicant's Environmental Report -

Operating License Renewal Stage Prairie Island Nuclear Generating Plant Nuclear Management Company, LLC Units 1 and 2 Docket Nos. 50-282 and 50-306 License Nos. DPR-42 and DPR-60 April 2008 Prairie Island Nuclear Generating Plant License Renewal Application Appendix E - Environmental Report TABLE OF CONTENTS Section Page ACRONYMS AND ABBREVIATIONS.................................................................... xi 1.0 PURPOSE OF AND N EED FOR ACTION................................................... 1-1 1.1 Introduction and

Background

........................................................................ 1-1 1.2 Statement of Pu rpose and Need..................................................................

1-2 1.3 Environmental Report Scope and Met hodology........................................... 1-3 1.4 Prairie Island Nuclear Generatin g Plant Licensee and Ownership............... 1-4

1.5 References

................................................................................................ 1-7 2.0 SITE AND ENVIRONMEN TAL INTERFACES............................................. 2-1 2.1 General Site Description............................................................................... 2-1 2.1.1 Regional Features and General Features in the 6-Mile Vicinity............................................................................................. 2-2 2.1.2 PINGP Site Features....................................................................... 2-2

2.2 Hydrology

................................................................................................ 2-3 2.2.1 Upper Mississipp i River Basin......................................................... 2-3 2.2.1.1 United States Geologica l Survey Gaging Stations........... 2-3 2.2.1.2 Mississippi River Flow Statistics at USGS Stations.......... 2-4 2.2.1.3 Lock and Dam 3 Di scharge Statistics............................... 2-4 2.2.1.4 Consumptive Su rface Water Use..................................... 2-4

2.2.2 Alluvial

Aquifers............................................................................... 2-4 2.2.3 Deep Aquifers................................................................................. 2-5

2.2.4 Groundwater

Level.......................................................................... 2-5 2.2.5 Consumptive Gr oundwater Use...................................................... 2-6 2.3 Biological Re sources.................................................................................... 2-7 2.3.1 Aquatic and Riparian Ec ological Communities................................ 2-7 2.3.1.1 Aquatic Communiti es........................................................ 2-7 2.3.1.2 Riparian Co mmunities...................................................... 2-10 2.3.2 Critical and Important Terrestrial Habitats....................................... 2-12 2.3.2.1 Regional Setting............................................................... 2-12 2.3.2.2 PINGP Site....................................................................... 2-12 2.3.2.3 Transmission Corridors.................................................... 2-13 2.3.3 Threatened or E ndangered Species............................................... 2-13 2.3.3.1 Fauna............................................................................... 2-14 2.3.3.2 Flora................................................................................. 2-16 2.4 Meteorology and Air Quality

......................................................................... 2-17

2.5 Demography

................................................................................................ 2-19 2.5.1 General De mography...................................................................... 2-19 2.5.2 Transient P opulations

..................................................................... 2-21 2.5.3 Minority and Low-Income Populations............................................ 2-22 2.5.3.1 Minority P opulations

......................................................... 2-22 2.5.3.2 Low-Income Populations

.................................................. 2-24 ENVIRONMENTAL REPORT Page ii Prairie Island Nuclear Generating Plant License Renewal Application Appendix E - Environmental Report TABLE OF CONTENTS (CONTINUED)

Section Page 2.6 Area Economic Base.................................................................................... 2-25 2.6.1 Labor Force and Employment Opportunities------............. 2-25 2.6.2 Potential for Econom ic Growth-------............................... 2-25 2.7 Taxes ................................................................................................ 2-27 2.8 Social Services and P ublic Facilities............................................................ 2-29 2.8.1 Public Wate r Supply........................................................................ 2-29 2.8.2 Transportation................................................................................. 2-30 2.9 Land Use

................................................................................................ 2-32 2.9.1 Goodhue County............................................................................. 2-32

2.9.2 Dakota

County................................................................................ 2-33

2.9.3 Pierce

County.................................................................................. 2-34 2.10 Historic and Archaeologi cal Resources........................................................ 2-36 2.11 Known or Reasonably Foreseeable Pr ojects in Site Vicinity........................ 2-39 2.12 References ................................................................................................ 2-72 3.0 THE PROPOSED ACTION.......................................................................... 3-1 3.1 General Plant Information............................................................................. 3-2 3.1.1 Reactor and Containment Systems................................................. 3-2

3.1.2 Nuclear

Fuel.................................................................................... 3-3 3.1.3 Cooling and Auxili ary Water Systems............................................. 3-3 3.1.3.1 Water Us e Overvi ew......................................................... 3-3 3.1.3.2 Circulating Water System................................................. 3-4 3.1.3.3 Circulating Water S ystem Operati ng Modes..................... 3-5 3.1.3.4 Biofouling and Scale Control............................................ 3-6 3.1.3.5 Domestic Water Supply and Sanitary Wastewater Treatment......................................................................... 3-7 3.1.4 Radioactive Waste Tr eatment Systems.......................................... 3-7 3.1.4.1 Liquid Radioactive Waste Treatment Systems................. 3-7 3.1.4.2 Gaseous Radioacti ve Waste S ystems.............................. 3-8 3.1.4.3 Solid Radioactiv e Waste Systems.................................... 3-8 3.1.5 Non-Radioactiv e Waste M anagement............................................. 3-9 3.1.6 Transmission Fa cilities.................................................................... 3-10 3.1.6.1 History/B ackground.......................................................... 3-10 3.1.6.2 Current System Configuration.......................................... 3-11 3.1.6.3 Avian Mortality Resulting from Collisions with Transmission Lines

......................................................................................... 3-13 3.1.7 Maintenance, Operation and Inspection.......................................... 3-14

3.2 Refurbishment

Activities

............................................................................... 3-15 3.3 Programs and Activities for Managing the Effects of Aging.......................... 3-17

3.4 Employment

................................................................................................ 3-18 3.4.1 Current Workforce........................................................................... 3-18 ENVIRONMENTAL REPORT Page iii Prairie Island Nuclear Generating Plant License Renewal Application Appendix E - Environmental Report TABLE OF CONTENTS (CONTINUED)

Section Page 3.4.2 Refurbishment Increment

................................................................ 3-18 3.4.3 License Renewal Increment-----.......................................... 3-19

3.5 References

................................................................................................ 3-25

4.0 ENVIRONMENTAL

CONSEQUENCES OF THE PROPOSED ACTION AND MITIGATING ACTIONS....................................................................... 4-1

4.1 Background

................................................................................................ 4-1 4.1.1 Category 1 Licens e Renewal Issues............................................... 4-2 4.1.2 Category 2 Licens e Renewal Issues............................................... 4-2 4.1.3 "NA" License Renewal Issues.........................................................

4-3 4.2 Surface Water and Groundwat er Use Conflicts............................................ 4-4 4.2.1 Impact on Mississippi River Flows and Wate r Levels...................... 4-5 4.2.2 Indirect Impacts from Surface Water Use....................................... 4-6 4.2.3 Groundwater Use Conflicts (Plants Using >100 GPM of Groundwater).................................................................................. 4-7 4.2.4 Groundwater Use Conflicts (P lants Using Ranney Wells)............... 4-9 4.2.5 Degradation of Groundwater Quality............................................... 4-10

4.2.6 Conclusi

ons..................................................................................... 4-11 4.3 Entrainment of Fish and Shellf ish in Early Li fe Stages................................. 4-12 4.4 Impingement of Fish and Shellfish................................................................ 4-16 4.5 Heat Shock ................................................................................................ 4-19 4.6 Impacts of Refurbishment on Terrestrial Resources..................................... 4-22 4.7 Threatened and Endan gered Species.......................................................... 4-24 4.8 Air Quality During Refurbishment (Non-Attainment or Maintenance Areas). 4-28 4.9 Impact on Public Health of Microbiological Organisms.................................

4-31 4.10 Electromagnetic Field

- Acute Effects.......................................................... 4-34 4.11 Housing ................................................................................................ 4-37 4.11.1 Housing - Re furbishment

................................................................ 4-37 4.11.2 Housing - Licens e Renewal Term................................................... 4-39 4.12 Public Utilities: Public Water Supply Availability........................................... 4-41 4.12.1 Public Water Supply - Refurbishment.............................................

4-41 4.12.2 Public Water Supply -

License Renewal Term............................... 4-43 4.13 Education Impacts fr om Refurbishment........................................................

4-45 4.14 Offsite Land Use........................................................................................... 4-46 4.14.1 Offsite Land Use -

Refurbishment................................................... 4-46 4.14.2 Offsite Land Use - Lic ense Renewal Term...................................... 4-48 4.15 Transportation.............................................................................................. 4-51 4.15.1 Transportation -

Refurbishment....................................................... 4-51 4.15.2 Transportation - Lic ense Renewal Term......................................... 4-53 4.16 Historic and Archaeologi cal Resources........................................................ 4-54 4.16.1 Historic and Archeological Resources - Refu rbishment.................. 4-54 4.16.2 Historic and Archeological Resources - License Renewal Term.... 4-56 ENVIRONMENTAL REPORT Page iv Prairie Island Nuclear Generating Plant License Renewal Application Appendix E - Environmental Report TABLE OF CONTENTS (CONTINUED)

Section Page 4.17 Severe Accident Mitiga tion Alternatives.......................................................

4-57 4.17.1 Methodology Overview.................................................................... 4-58 4.17.2 Baseline Risk M onetization

............................................................. 4-59 4.17.3 SAMA Identificati on and Screening................................................. 4-59 4.17.4 Cost-Benefit Results....................................................................... 4-60 4.18 References ................................................................................................ 4-63

5.0 ASSESSMENT

OF NEW AND S IGNIFICANT INFORMATION................... 5-1

5.1 References

................................................................................................ 5-4 6.0

SUMMARY

OF LICENSE RENEWAL IMPACTS AND MITIGATING ACTIONS..................................................................................................... 6-1 6.1 License Renewal Impacts............................................................................. 6-1

6.2 Mitigation

................................................................................................ 6-2 6.3 Unavoidable Ad verse Impacts...................................................................... 6-3 6.4 Irreversible and Irretriev able Resource Commitments.................................. 6-4 6.5 Short-term Use versus Long-term Productivity of the Environment.............. 6-5

6.6 References

................................................................................................ 6-9

7.0 ALTERNATIVES

TO THE PROPOSED ACTION........................................ 7-1 7.1 No-Action Al ternative.................................................................................... 7-3 7.1.1 Terminating Operati ons and Decommi ssioning............................... 7-3

7.1.2 Replacemen

t Capacity.................................................................... 7-6 7.2 Alternatives that Meet System Generat ing Needs........................................ 7-7 7.2.1 General Cons iderations.................................................................. 7-7 7.2.1.1 Current and Projected Generating Capability and Utilization.......................................................................... 7-7 7.2.1.2 Effects of Electric Power Industry Restructuring............... 7-9 7.2.1.3 Mixture of Gener ating Sources......................................... 7-11 7.2.2 Reasonable Al ternatives

................................................................. 7-11 7.2.2.1 Purchased Power.............................................................

7-12 7.2.2.2 Gas-Fired Generation

....................................................... 7-13 7.2.2.3 Coal-Fired Generation

...................................................... 7-14 7.2.2.4 Siting Cons iderations

....................................................... 7-16 7.2.3 Other Alternatives........................................................................... 7-17 7.2.3.1 Demand Side Management

.............................................. 7-17 7.2.3.2 Wind ................................................................................ 7-18 7.2.3.3 Solar ................................................................................ 7-19 7.2.3.4 Hydropower...................................................................... 7-20 7.2.3.5 Geothermal....................................................................... 7-20 7.2.3.6 Wood Energy....................................................................

7-20 ENVIRONMENTAL REPORT Page v Prairie Island Nuclear Generating Plant License Renewal Application Appendix E - Environmental Report TABLE OF CONTENTS (CONTINUED)

Section Page 7.2.3.7 Municipal So lid Waste...................................................... 7-21 7.2.3.8 Other Biomass-Derived Fuels.......................................... 7-21 7.2.3.9 Petroleum.........................................................................

7-22 7.2.3.10 Fuel Cells.........................................................................

7-22 7.2.3.11 Advanced Nucl ear Reactor............................................... 7-22 7.2.3.12 Delayed Retirement of Ex isting Non-nuclear Units........... 7-23 7.3 Environmental Impacts of Alternatives.........................................................

7-24 7.3.1 Purchased Power............................................................................

7-24 7.3.2 Gas-Fired G eneration..................................................................... 7-26 7.3.2.1 Land Use.......................................................................... 7-26 7.3.2.2 Air Quality.........................................................................

7-26 7.3.2.3 Waste Management.........................................................

7-27 7.3.2.4 Ecological Resources....................................................... 7-27 7.3.2.5 Socioeconomics............................................................... 7-28 7.3.2.6 Aesthetics......................................................................... 7-29 7.3.2.7 Other Impacts...................................................................

7-29 7.3.3 Coal-Fired G eneration..................................................................... 7-30 7.3.3.1 Land Use.......................................................................... 7-30 7.3.3.2 Air Quality.........................................................................

7-30 7.3.3.3 Waste Management.........................................................

7-31 7.3.3.4 Ecological Resources....................................................... 7-31 7.3.3.5 Socioeconomics............................................................... 7-32 7.3.3.6 Aesthetics......................................................................... 7-32 7.3.3.7 Other Impacts...................................................................

7-33 7.4 References ................................................................................................ 7-36

8.0 COMPARISON

OF ENVIRONMEN TAL IMPACTS OF LICENSE RENEWAL WITH THE ALTERNATIVES.....................................................

8-1 8.1 References ................................................................................................ 8-11

9.0 STATUS

OF COMPLIANCE........................................................................ 9-1 9.1 Proposed Action........................................................................................... 9-1 9.1.1 General........................................................................................... 9-1 9.1.2 Threatened or Endangered Species............................................... 9-1 9.1.3 Historic Pr eservation....................................................................... 9-2 9.1.4 Water Quality (401) Certification..................................................... 9-2 9.1.5 State of Minnes ota Environmental Re view Program....................... 9-2

9.2 Alternatives

................................................................................................ 9-4

9.3 References

................................................................................................ 9-12 ENVIRONMENTAL REPORT Page vi Prairie Island Nuclear Generating Plant License Renewal Application Appendix E - Environmental Report TABLE OF CONTENTS (CONTINUED)

List of Attachments Attachment A NRC NEPA Issues for License Renewal of Nuclear Power Plants Attachment B NPDES Permit Attachment C Special-Stat us Species Correspondence Attachment D State Historic Preservation Officer Correspondence Attachment E Public Health Agency Correspondence Attachment F Severe Accident Mitigation Alternatives ENVIRONMENTAL REPORT Page vii Prairie Island Nuclear Generating Plant License Renewal Application Appendix E - Environmental Report TABLE OF CONTENTS (CONTINUED)

List of Tables Table Page 1-1 Environmental Report Responses to License Renewal Environmental Regulatory Requ irements............................................................................. 1-5 2.2-1 USGS Gaging Stations................................................................................. 2-42 2.2-2 Mississippi River Flow Statisti cs at USGS Gaging Stations......................... 2-42 2.2-3 Discharge Flow at Lock and Dam No. 3....................................................... 2-42 2.2-4 PINGP Groundwater Use Table................................................................... 2-43 2.3-1 Threatened and Endangered Species Potentially Affected by Operation of PINGP and Associated Transmission Lines............................................. 2-44 2.5-1 Decennial Populations, Projections, and Growth Rate ................................ 2-47 2.5-2 Block Groups Within 50 Miles of PING P With Minority or Low-Income Populations More Than 20% Greater Than the State Percentage...................................

2-48 2.6-1 Goodhue County Majo r Employers............................................................... 2-50 2.6-2 Dakota County Major Employers.................................................................. 2-51 2.6-3 Pierce County Major Employers................................................................... 2-53 2.7-1 PINGP Tax Inform ation 2001-2006.............................................................. 2-54 2.8-1 State-Regulated Municipal Water Systems in the Three-County Area......... 2-55 2.8-2 Traffic Statistics for Most Likely Routes to the PINGP Site........................... 2-57 2.10-1 Sites Listed in the National Register of Historic Places That Fall Within a 6-Mile Radius of PINGP............................................................................ 2-58 3.1-1 Transmission Lines from PINGP Substation................................................ 3-21 3.4-1 PINGP Employees by Count y....................................................................... 3-22 4.2-1 PINGP Surface Water Withdrawals from the Mississippi River at Sturgeon Lake

.............................................................................................. 4-61 4.10-1 Results of Induced Current Analysis............................................................. 4-62 6-1 Environmental Impacts Related to License Renewal at PINGP................... 6-6 7.2-1 Gas-Fired Al ternative.................................................................................... 7-34 7.2-2 Coal-Fired Al ternative................................................................................... 7-35 8-1 Impacts Compar ison Summary.................................................................... 8-2 8-2 Impacts Compar ison Detail.......................................................................... 8-3 ENVIRONMENTAL REPORT Page viii Prairie Island Nuclear Generating Plant License Renewal Application Appendix E - Environmental Report TABLE OF CONTENTS (CONTINUED)

Table Page 9.1-1 Environmental Authorizations for Current PINGP Operations...................... 9-5 9.1-2 Environmental Authorizations for PINGP License Renewal......................... 9-11 ENVIRONMENTAL REPORT Page ix Prairie Island Nuclear Generating Plant License Renewal Application Appendix E - Environmental Report TABLE OF CONTENTS (CONTINUED)

List of Figures Figure Page 2.1-1 50-Mile Vicinity............................................................................................. 2-60 2.1-2 6-Mile Vicinity............................................................................................... 2-61 2.1-3 Exclusion Ar ea Boundary

............................................................................. 2-62 2.5-1 Black Minority Population............................................................................. 2-63 2.5-2 American Indian or Alaskan Na tive Minority P opulation............................... 2-64 2.5-3 Asian Minority Population............................................................................. 2-65 2.5-4 Other Minority Population

............................................................................. 2-66 2.5-5 Multi-Racial Minor ity Population................................................................... 2-67 2.5-6 Aggregate Minorit y Population...................................................................... 2-68 2.5-7 Hispanic Ethnicity Population....................................................................... 2-69 2.5-8 Low-Income P opulation................................................................................ 2-70 2.8-1 Transportation System in Goodhue County.................................................. 2-71 3.1-1 Station and Transmi ssion Line Layout.......................................................... 3-23 3.1-2 PINGP Transmi ssion System

....................................................................... 3-24 7.2-1 2005 Minnesota Generating Capacity by F uel Type..................................... 7-7 7.2-2 2005 Minnesota Generat ion by Fuel Type.................................................... 7-7 ENVIRONMENTAL REPORT Page x Prairie Island Nuclear Generating Plant License Renewal Application Appendix E - Environmental Report ACRONYMS AND ABBREVIATIONS AADT annual average daily traffic AEC U.S. Atomic Energy Commission AMC Association of Minnesota Counties AQCR Air Quality Control Region AWEA American Wind Energy Association BMP Best management practices Btu British thermal unit CAIR Clean Air Interstate Rule CDS Comprehensive Demonstration Study CEQ Council on Environmental Quality CFR Code of Federal Regulations cfs cubic feet per second CIP Conservation Improvement Plan CON Certificate of Need CRT cathode ray tube CSA Combined Statistical Area CSFCC California Stationary Fuel Cell Collaborative CT combustion turbine CWA Clean Water Act CWIS Cooling Water Intake System DAW dry active waste DECON decontamination and dismantlement DOE U.S. Department of Energy DOT Department of Transportation DSM demand-side management EA Environmental Assessment EPA U.S. Environmental Protection Agency EIA Energy Information Administration EIS Environmental Impact Statement ER Environmental Report ESWQD Environmental Services Water Quality Department

°F degrees Fahrenheit FERC Federal Energy Regulatory Commission FES Final Environmental Statement FWS U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service GEIS Generic Environmental Impact Statement for License Renewal of Nuclear Plants GIS Geographic Information System GPD gallon per day ENVIRONMENTAL REPORT Page xi Prairie Island Nuclear Generating Plant License Renewal Application Appendix E - Environmental Report gpm gallon per minute GWh gigawatt-hours IEEE Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers HAZCOM Hazard Communication HAZWOPER Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response HDR Henningson, Durham, and Richardson, Inc.

HRSG heat recovery steam generator IGCC integrated gasification combined-cycle IPA Integrated Plant Assessment ISFSI Independent Spent Fuel Storage Installation IVM integrated vegetation management JPM John P. Madgett Station kV kilovolt LOCA loss-of-coolant accident LOS level of service MAPP Mid-Continent Area Power Pool MDA Minnesota Department of Administration MDC Minnesota Department of Commerce MEQB Minnesota Environmental Quality Board mg/L milligram per liter MGY million gallons per year MISO Midwest Independent System Operators MiSA Micropolitan Statistical Area MN DNR Minnesota Department of Natural Resources Mn/DOT Minnesota Department of Transportation MOU Memorandum of Understanding MOU Minnesota Ornithologists' Union MPCA Minnesota Pollution Control Agency MPUC Minnesota Public Utilities Commission MSA Metropolitan Statistical Area msl mean sea level MTU metric ton of uranium MW megawatt MWd megawatt-days MWe megawatts-electrical MWt megawatts-thermal NAAQS National Ambient Air Quality Standards NEPA National Environmental Policy Act NERC North American Electric Reliability Council NESCNational Electrical Safety Code ENVIRONMENTAL REPORT Page xii Prairie Island Nuclear Generating Plant License Renewal Application Appendix E - Environmental Report NMC Nuclear Management Company NMFS National Marine Fisheries Service NO x oxides of nitrogen NPDES National Pollutant Dis charge Elimination System NPS National Park Service NRC U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission NREL National Renewable Energy Laboratory NSP Northern States Power NSPCM Northern States Power Company-Minnesota OLER Environmental Report

- Operating License Stage OSHA Occupational Safety and Health Administration PCB polychlorinated biphenyl PIIC Prairie Island Indian Community PINGP Prairie Island Nu clear Generating Plant PM Particulate Matter psi pound per square inch RCRA Resource Conservation and Recovery Act of 1976 RDF refuse-derived fuel ROI Region of Influence ROW right-of-way SAFSTOR Safe storage of the stabilized and defueled facility SAMA Severe Accident Mitigation Alternatives SHPO State Historic Preservation Officer SIP State Implementation Plan SMITTR surveillance, monitoring, inspections, testing, trending, and recordkeeping SO 2 sulfur dioxide SO x oxides of sulfur TtNUS Tetra Tech NUS, Inc.

UM University of Minnesota USACE U.S. Army Corps of Engineers USAR Updated Safety Analysis Report USCB U.S. Census Bureau USDOI U.S. Department of Interior USDOJ U.S. Department of Justice USAR Updated Safety Analysis Report USGS U.S. Geological Survey WDA Wisconsin Department of Administration WIDNR Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources WIPSC Wisconsin Public Service Commission ENVIRONMENTAL REPORT Page xiii Prairie Island Nuclear Generating Plant License Renewal Application Appendix E - Environmental Report 1.0 PURPOSE OF AND NEED FOR ACTION

1.1 INTRODUCTION

AND BACKGROUND NRC "Each application must include a supplement to the environmental report that complies with the requirements of Subpart A of 10 CFR 51." 10 CFR 54.23 "-The purpose and need for the proposed action (renewal of an operating license) is to provide an option that allows for power generation capability beyond the term of a current nuclear power plant operating license to meet future system generating needs, as such needs may be determined by State, utility, and, where authorized, Federal (other than NRC) decisionmakers-" (NRC 1996a, Section 1.3; NRC 1996b, Page 28472). "-The NRC's NEPA decision standard for license renewal would require the NRC to determine whether the environmental impacts of license renewal are so great that preserving the option of license renewal for future decisionmakers would be unreasonable." (NRC 1996b, Page 28471)

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) licenses the operation of domestic nuclear power plants in accordance with the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, as amended, and NRC implementing regulat ions. Nuclear Management Company (NMC) operates Prairie Island Nuclear Generating Plant (PINGP) Units 1 and 2, pursuant to NRC Operating Licenses DPR-42 and DPR-60. The license for PINGP Unit 1 will expire August 9, 2013, and the license for PINGP Unit 2 will expire October 29, 2014 (NRC 2000a).

NMC has prepared this environmental report (ER) in conjunction with its application to NRC to renew the PINGP operating licenses, in accordance with the following NRC regulations: Title 10, Energy, Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), Part 51, Environmental Protection Regulations for Domestic Li censing and Related Regulatory Functions, Section 51.53, Postconstruction Envir onmental Reports, Subsection 51.53(c), Operating License Renewal Stage [10 CFR 51.53(c)]. Title 10, Energy, CFR, Part 54, Requirements for Renewal of Operating Licenses for Nuclear Power Plants, Section 54.23, Contents of Applicat ion-Environmental Information (10 CFR 54.23). PURPOSE OF AND NEED FOR ACTION Page 1-1 Prairie Island Nuclear Generating Plant License Renewal Application Appendix E - Environmental Report 1.2 STATEMENT OF PURPOSE AND NEED NMC adopts for this ER the following NRC general definition of purpose and need for the proposed action, as stated in NRC's Generic Environmental Impact Statement for License Renewal of Nuclear Plants (GEIS), NUREG-1437 (NRC 1996a, Section 1.3; NRC 1996b, page 28472): The purpose and need for the proposed action (renewal of an operating license) is to provide an option that allows for power generation capability beyond the term of a current nuclear power plant operating license to meet future system generating needs, as such needs may be determined by State, utility, and, w here authorized, Federal (other than NRC) decision makers. The proposed action would provid e the option to operate PING P Unit 1 and PINGP Unit 2 for an additional 20 years. PURPOSE OF AND NEED FOR ACTION Page 1-2 Prairie Island Nuclear Generating Plant License Renewal Application Appendix E - Environmental Report 1.3 ENVIRONMENTAL REPORT SCOPE AND METHODOLOGY NRC regulations for domestic licensing of nuclear power plants require environmental review of applications to renew operating licenses. The NRC regulation 10 CFR 51.53(c) requires that an applicant for license renewal submit with its application a separate document entitled Applicant's Environmental Report - Operating License Renewal Stage. In determining what information to include in the PINGP ER, NMC has relied on NRC regulations and the follo wing supporting document s that provide additional insight into t he regulatory requirements: NRC supplemental information in the Federal Register (NRC 1996b, NRC 1996c, NRC 1996d, and NRC 1999a) Generic Environmental Impact Statement for License Renewal of Nuclear Plants (GEIS) (NRC 1996a and 1999b) Regulatory Analysis for Amendments to R egulations for the Environmental Review for Renewal of Nuclear Power Plant Operating Licenses (NRC 1996e) Public Comments on the Proposed 10 CFR Part 51 Rule for Renewal of Nuclear Power Plant Operating Licenses and Suppor ting Documents: Review of Concerns and NRC Staff Response (NRC 1996f) NMC also obtained general guidance regarding format and cont ent of the ER from the following NRC documents: Supplement 1 to NRC Regulatory Guide 4.2, Preparation of Supplemental Environmental Reports for Applications to Renew Nuclear Power Plant Operating Licenses (NRC 2000b) Supplement 1 to NUREG-1555 , Standard Review Plans for Environmental Reviews for Nuclear Power Plants (Operating License Renewal) (NRC 1999c) Table 1-1 indicates where the ER responds to each requirement of 10 CFR 51.53(c). In subsequent chapters of this ER , each section is prefaced by a boxed quote of the regulatory language and applicable supporting document language. PURPOSE OF AND NEED FOR ACTION Page 1-3 Prairie Island Nuclear Generating Plant License Renewal Application Appendix E - Environmental Report 1.4 PRAIRIE ISLAND NUCLEAR GENERATING PLANT LICENSEE AND OWNERSHIP PINGP is owned by Northern States Power Company (NSP), which is a wholly owned utility operating subsidiary of Xcel Energy Inc. (Xcel Energy). As the plant's owner, NSP has the exclusive right to the energy generat ed by PINGP. NMC, which is wholly owned subsidiary of Xcel Energy, operates and maintains PINGP on behalf of NSP. NSP is licensed by NRC to own PINGP, while NMC is licensed to use and operate the facility (65 FR 98, pp. 31935-36).

The Nuclear Power Plant Operating Service Agreement (NPPOSA) between NSP and NMC established NMC as the sole operator of PINGP and defines the owner-operator relationship. The NPPOSA provides for owner services and assistance to NMC for safe, economic, and efficient operation of PINGP.

Implementation of the NPPOSA is achieved by continuance of functional relationships among owner/operator organizations regarding environmental matters. These functional relationships provide for close coordination among corporate and plant staff fo r efficient and effective environmental management (NSP 1999). NMC and its employees are obligated to comply with all corporate policies listed in Exhibit D of the NPPOSA, including Xcel Energy's Code of Conduct and Envir onmental Policy (Xcel Energy 2006). PURPOSE OF AND NEED FOR ACTION Page 1-4 Prairie Island Nuclear Generating Plant License Renewal Application Appendix E - Environmental Report TABLE 1-1 ENVIRONMENTAL REPORT RESPONSES TO LICENSE RENEWAL ENVIRONMENTAL REGULATORY REQUIREMENTS Regulatory Requirement Responsive ER Section(s) 10 CFR 51.53(c)(1)

Entire Document 10 CFR 51.53(c)(2), Sentences 1 and 2 3.0 The Proposed Action

3.2 Refurbishment

Activities

3.3 Programs

and Activities for Managing the Effects of Aging 10 CFR 51.53(c)(2), Sentence 3

7.3 Environmental

Impacts of Alternatives 10 CFR 51.53(c)(2) and 10 CFR 51.45(b)(1)

4.0 Environmental

Consequences of the Proposed Action and Mitigating Actions 10 CFR 51.53(c)(2) and 10 CFR 51.45(b)(2)

6.3 Unavoidable

Adverse Impacts 10 CFR 51.53(c)(2) and 10 CFR 51.45(b)(3)

7.0 Alternatives

to the Proposed Action

8.0 Comparison

of Environmental Impacts of License Renewal with the Alternatives 10 CFR 51.53(c)(2) and 10 CFR 51.45(b)(4) 6.5 Short-Term Use Versus Long-Term Productivity of the Environment 10 CFR 51.53(c)(2) and 10 CFR 51.45(b)(5)

6.4 Irreversible

and Irretrievable Resource Commitments 10 CFR 51.53(c)(2) and 10 CFR 51.45(c)

4.0 Environmental

Consequences of the Proposed Action and Mitigating Actions

7.3 Environmental

Impacts of Alternatives

8.0 Comparison

of Environmental Impacts of License Renewal with the Alternatives 10 CFR 51.53(c)(2) and 10 CFR 51.45(d) 9.0 Status of Compliance 10 CFR 51.53(c)(2) and 10 CFR 51.45(e)

4.0 Environmental

Consequences of the Proposed Action and Mitigating Actions

6.3 Unavoidable

Adverse Impacts 10 CFR 51.53(c)(3)(ii)(A) 4.2 Surface Water and Groundwater Use Conflicts

4.2.1 Impact

on Mississippi River Flows and Water Levels

4.2.2 Indirect

Impacts from Surface Water Use 10 CFR 51.53(c)(3)(ii)(B)

4.3 Entrainment

of Fish and Shellfish in Early Life Stages 4.4 Impingement of Fish and Shellfish 4.5 Heat Shock 10 CFR 51.53(c)(3)(ii)(C) 4.2.3 Groundwater Use Conflicts (Plants Using >100 gpm of Groundwater)

4.2.4 Groundwater

Use Conflicts (Plants Using Ranney Wells) 10 CFR 51.53(c)(3)(ii)(D) 4.2.5 Degradation of Groundwater Quality PURPOSE OF AND NEED FOR ACTION Page 1-5 Prairie Island Nuclear Generating Plant License Renewal Application Appendix E - Environmental Report TABLE 1-1 (CONTINUED)

ENVIRONMENTAL REPORT RESPONSES TO LICENSE RENEWAL ENVIRONMENTAL REGULATO RY REQUIREMENTS Regulatory Requirement Responsive ER Section(s) 10 CFR 51.53(c)(3)(ii)(E) 4.6 Impacts of Refurbishment on Terrestrial Resources

4.7 Threatened

and Endangered Species 10 CFR 51.53(c)(3)(ii)(F) 4.8 Air Quality During Refurbishment (Non-Attainment or Maintenance Areas) 10 CFR 51.53(c)(3)(ii)(G)

4.9 Impact

on Public Health of Microbiological Organisms 10 CFR 51.53(c)(3)(ii)(H) 4.10 Electromagnetic Field - Acute Effects 10 CFR 51.53(c)(3)(ii)(I) 4.11 Housing 4.12 Public Utilities: Public Water Supply Availability 4.13 Education Impacts from Refurbishment 4.14 Offsite Land Use 10 CFR 51.53(c)(3)(ii)(J) 4.15 Transportation 10 CFR 51.53(c)(3)(ii)(K) 4.16 Historic and Archaeological Resources 10 CFR 51.53(c)(3)(ii)(L) 4.17 Severe Accident Mitigation Alternatives 10 CFR 51.53(c)(3)(iii)

4.0 Environmental

Consequences of the Proposed Action and Mitigating Actions

6.2 Mitigation

10 CFR 51.53(c)(3)(iv)

5.0 Assessment

of New and Significant Information 10 CFR 51, Appendix B, Table B-1, Footnote 6

2.5.3 Minority

and Low-Income Populations CFR = Code Of Federal Regulations PURPOSE OF AND NEED FOR ACTION Page 1-6 Prairie Island Nuclear Generating Plant License Renewal Application Appendix E - Environmental Report

1.5 REFERENCES

NRC (U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission). 1996a. Generic Environmental Impact Statement for License Renewal of Nuclear Plants. NUREG-1437, Volumes 1 and 2, Office of Nuclear Regulatory Research. Washington, DC. May. NRC (U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission). 1996b. "Environmental Review for Renewal of Nuclear Power Plant Operating Licenses."

Federal Register.

Vol. 61, No. 109. (June 5, 1996): 28467-97. NRC (U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission). 1996c. "Environmental Review for Renewal of Nuclear Power Plant O perating Licenses; Correction."

Federal Register.

Vol. 61, No. 147. (July 30, 1996): 39555-6. NRC (U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission). 1996d. "Environmental Review for Renewal of Nuclear Power Plant Operating Licenses."

Federal Register.

Vol. 61, No. 244. (December 18, 1996): 66537-54. NRC (U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission). 1996e.

Regulatory Analysis for Amendments to Regulations for the Environmental Review for Renewal of Nuclear Power Plant Operating Licenses.

NUREG-1440. Office of Nuclear Regulatory Research. Washington, DC. May. NRC (U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission). 1996f.

Public Comments on the Proposed 10 CFR Part 51 Rule for Renewal of Nuclear Power Plant Operating Licenses and Supporting Documents: Review of Concerns and NRC Staff Response. Volumes 1 and 2. NUREG-1529. Office of Nuclear Regulatory Research. Washington, DC. May. NRC (U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission). 1999a. "Changes to Requirements for Environmental Review for Renewal of Nuclear Power Plant Operating Licenses; Final Rule."

Federal Register.

Vol. 64, No. 171. (S eptember 3, 1999): 48496-507. NRC (U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission). 1999b. Generic Environmental Impact Statement for License Renewal of Nuclear Plants (GEIS).

Section 6.3, "Transportation" and Table 9-1, "Summary of Findings on NEPA Issues for License Renewal of Nuclear Power Plants." NUREG-1437. Volume 1, Addendum 1. Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation.

Washington, DC. August. NRC (U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission). 1999c. Standard Review Plans for Environmental Reviews for Nuclear Power Pl ants, Supplement 1:

Operating License Renewal. NUREG-1555

, Supplement 1. Washi ngton, D.C. October.

NRC (U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission). 2000a. Northern States Power Company and Nuclear Management Company, LLC; Docke t No. 50-263; Prairie Island Nuclear Generating Plant, Units No. 1 and 2; Facility Operating License, Amendments 153 and 144. August. PURPOSE OF AND NEED FOR ACTION Page 1-7 Prairie Island Nuclear Generating Plant License Renewal Application Appendix E - Environmental Report NRC (U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission). 2000b. Supplement 1 to NRC Regulatory Guide 4.2, Preparation of Supplemental Environmental Reports for Applications to Renew Nuclear Power Pl ant Operating Licenses. Office of Regulatory Research.

Washington D.C. September.

NSP (Northern States Power Company). 1999. "Nuclear Power Plant Operating Service Agreement Between Northern States Po wer Company and Nuclear Management Company for the Prairie Island Nucl ear Generating Plant." November.

Xcel Energy. 2006. "Xcel Energy Code of Conduct." August 22. PURPOSE OF AND NEED FOR ACTION Page 1-8 Prairie Island Nuclear Generating Plant License Renewal Application Appendix E - Environmental Report SITE AND ENVIRONMENTAL INTERFACES Page 2-1 2.0 SITE AND ENVIRONMENTAL INTERFACES 2.1 GENERAL SITE DESCRIPTION Prairie Island Nuclear Generating Plant (PIN GP) is located on the west bank of the Mississippi River in Section 4 and 5, T113N, R15W, in Goodhue County within the city limits of Red Wing, Minnesota, at 9237.9west longitude and 4437.3north latitude (Figure 2.1-1). The City of Hastings is located approximately 13 miles northwest (upstream) of the plant. Minneapolis is located approximately 39 miles northwest and St. Paul is located approximately 32 miles northwest of the plant. At the plant location, the Mississippi River serves as the st ate boundary between Minnesota and Wisconsin.

PINGP is located on the western shore of Sturgeon Lake, a backwater area located one mile upstream from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineer s (USACE) Lock and Dam 3 (Figure 2.1-2). The Vermillion River lies just west of PINGP and flows into the Mississippi River approximately two mile s downstream of Lock and Dam 3. Several federally-owned recreation areas and wildlife refuges are located within 50

miles of PINGP (Figure 2.1-1). The Wi nona District of the Upper Mississippi River Wildlife and Fish Refuge begins at the mouth of the Chippewa River and ends approximately 50 river miles downstream (F WS 2006a). The Mississi ppi National River and Recreation Area stretches 72 miles from the southern border of Dakota County up the Mississippi River, through Minneapolis-St. Paul, ending at the western border of Anoka County (NPS 2006a). The Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge stretches 34 miles along the Minnesota River (FWS 2006b). The St. Croix National Scenic Riverway includes 154 miles of the St. Croix River from Gordon, Wisconsin to its confluence with the Missi ssippi River (NPS 2006b).

Prairie Island Nuclear Generating Plant Prairie Island Nuclear Generating Plant License Renewal Application Appendix E - Environmental Report SITE AND ENVIRONMENTAL INTERFACES Page 2-2 2.1.1 REGIONAL FEATURES AND GENERAL FEATURES IN THE 6-MILE VICINITY Goodhue County, in which the site is locate d, and the adjacent counties of Dakota and Pierce (in Wisconsin) are predominantly rural.

Principal crops include soybeans, corn, oats, hay, and some cannery crops. The neares t dairy farm is located more than two miles southwest of the site. Beyond the site boundary and within a one-mile radius of the plant, there are approximately 20 to 30 residences or summer cottages. The closest occupied offsite residence is approximately 3,000 feet north-northwest of the plant (NMC 2007). 2.1.2 PINGP SITE FEATURES The PINGP site comprises approximately 578 ac res of land, owned in fee by Northern States Power (NMC 2007). Prior to constr uction of PINGP, the land was agricultural (AEC 1973). Figure 2.1-3 shows the property boundary and exclusion zone. On Prairie Island, access to the exclusion zone is restricted by a per imeter fence with "No Trespassing" signs. East of the plant the exclusion zone boundary extends to the main channel of the Mississippi River. Islands within this boundary as well as a small strip of land northeast of the plant are owned by USACE (NMC 2007). An agreement has been made with USACE such that no residences will be built on that strip of land or islands within the exclusion zone for the life of the plant (Wel k 1972, Cox 1972).

Directly north of NSP property lies the Prairi e Island Indian Reservation. The Prairie Island Indian Community is a Federally Recognized Indian Tri be organized under the Indian Reorganization Act (25 USC 476). Th e Prairie Island Indian Community owns and operates the Treasure Island Resort and Ca sino, which includes a 250-room hotel and convention center that is currently bei ng expanded to include an additional 230 rooms (Treasure Island Resort and Casino undated). The expansion includes a 24-lane bowling center and a multi-use ev ent center with a maximum seating capacity of 2,800. Treasure Island Resort and Casino offers gaming, dining, live entertainment, a 95-space RV park, a 137-slip marina to accommodate visitors arriving by the Mississippi River, and sightseeing and dinner cruises on t heir river boat (Minnesota Indian Affairs Council 2006). The plant's Emergency Plan and the State of Minnesota Local Government Emergency Response Plans for Nuclear Power Plants in clude notification plan s for the Treasure Island Resort and Casino, and the Tribal Community, in the event of a nuclear plant radiological emergency (NMC 2007).

Section 3.1 describes key f eatures of the plant, includi ng reactor and containment systems, cooling water systems, and transmission facilities.

Prairie Island Nuclear Generating Plant License Renewal Application Appendix E - Environmental Report

2.2 HYDROLOGY

2.2.1 UPPER

MISSISSI PPI RIVER BASIN The Mississippi River, with its headwaters loca ted in the north woods of Minnesota, is the longest and largest river in North America.

The River flows 3,705 kilometers (2,302 miles) from its source, Lake Itasca, to the Gulf of Mexico and drains all or parts of 31 states. The River and the forests and wetlands along its banks support various diverse ecosystems. For reference purposes, the Un ited States Geological Survey (USGS) has broken the Mississippi River into six sub-bas ins known as the Upper Mississippi River, Lower Mississippi River, Arkansas Red-Wh ite River, Ohio River, Missouri River, and Tennessee River Subbasins (EPA 2006a).

The Upper Mississippi River Basin drains approximately 189,000 square miles including large portions of Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, Illinois, and Missouri. Small portions of Indiana, Michigan, and South Dakota are also within the basin. The basin is drained by 30,700 miles of streams. The average annual discharge of the Upper Mississippi River increases from 9,180 cubic feet per sec ond (cfs) near St. Paul, Minnesota to 204,800 cfs at Thebes, Illinois. There are 12 major tributaries to the Upper Mississippi River Basin, including the Missouri, Illinois, Wisc onsin, and Iowa Rivers. There are more than 3,000 reservoirs within the basin. More than 30 million people live within the basin, with nearly 30 percent of the population living in urban areas such as Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minnesota; St. Louis, Missouri; Chicago, Illinois; the Quad Cities, Illinois and Iowa; Des Moines, Iowa; La Crosse, Wisconsin; and Peoria, Illinois (EPA 2006a). PINGP is located in the Rush-Vermillion Watershed, which includes portions of Dakota, Goodhue, Scott, Wabasha, and Washington counties in Minnesota and Buffalo, Pepin, Pierce, and St. Croix counties in Wisconsin (EPA 2008). The character of the Mississippi River in the vicinity of the PINGP site is shaped by the USACE lock and dam system (BALMM 2001). The Mississippi River is dammed at a point about one mile downstream from the PINGP site by Lock and Dam 3 (NMC 2007). Lock and Dam 3 is located at river mile 796.9 (USACE 2004a).T he Vermillion River and the Cannon River enter the main stream of the Mississippi River below Lock and Dam 3 (NMC 2007).

Lock and Dam 2 and Lock and Dam 4 are loca ted upstream and downstream of Lock and Dam 3 at river miles 815.2 and 752.8, respectively (USACE 2004a). The locks and dams create slack-water pools for navigation during periods of low and moderate water levels. For each pool there is a primary control point where a predetermined or normal water elevation is maintained for navigat ion (USACE 2004a). Normal pool level upstream from Lock and Dam 3 is 674.5 feet (NMC 2007). There are no withdrawals of river water for city water s upply for at least 300 miles downstream from the site (NMC 2007). Minor withdrawals of river water for irrigation purposes occur, the nearest being the City of Red Wing which withdraws water for landscaping (MN DNR 2005a).

2.2.1.1 United States Geological Survey Gaging Stations The closest U.S. Geological Survey (USG S) gaging stations located upstream and downstream of the PINGP site are listed in Table 2.2-1. The USGS operates gaging SITE AND ENVIRONMENTAL INTERFACES Page 2-3 Prairie Island Nuclear Generating Plant License Renewal Application Appendix E - Environmental Report stations at Prescott (13 miles upstream of the PINGP site) and Winona (73 miles downstream of the site). T hese stations provide a conti nuous record of stream flow since 1928 (USGS 2006). 2.2.1.2 Mississippi River Flow Statistics at USGS Stations Based on data from Water Years 1928 to 2005, the annual mean flow values of the Mississippi River at the nearest USGS upstream and downstream gaging stations (Prescott and Winona stations) are shown in Table 2.2-2. 2.2.1.3 Lock and Dam 3 Discharge Statistics Flow in the PINGP section of the Mississippi is controlled by the USACE Lock and Dam 3, which creates a pool level extending upstr eam to Lock and Dam 2. During the initial rise in pool level, Sturgeon Lake was created by the backwater flooding of low lying areas in the flood plain adjacent to the Mississippi Ri ver. The lock and dam was created by the USACE as part of a navigation project (AEC 1973, pp. II-32 to II- 42).

The river discharge through Lock and Dam 3 is indicated in Table 2.2-3. Discharge from Lock and Dam 3 is typically highest in spring and early summer. 2.2.1.4 Consumptive Surface Water Use Over seven billion gallons of water are wit hdrawn from surface water sources each day in the 60 counties that border the navigable Upper Mississippi River (EPA 2006a). Over 80 percent of this water is used as cooling water for energy production and thus returned to rivers and streams. There are 29 power plants that use water from the 1,300-mile long Upper Mississippi River. The Upper Mississippi River provides water to 23 public water suppliers serving a combined population of approx imately 2.8 million people. Approximately 278 facilities discharge wastewater to the Upper Mississippi River, including industrial facilities and municipal sewage treatment plants (EPA 2006a). 2.2.2 ALLUVIAL AQUIFERS PINGP is located on Prairie Island, an island terrace associated with the Mississippi River flood plain. The Mississi ppi River flood plain in this area is confined within a valley approximately three miles wide. Rocky bluffs and heavily forested slopes rise abruptly from both sides of the valley some 300 feet. The bluffs are deeply trenched by numerous streams emptying into the Mississippi River. The site is located on the western limb of the Red Wing anticline. The aquifers in the vicinity of the site include the alluvial aquifer (water table) and the underlying bedrock (confined) aquifers.

Generally, wells in the alluvial material in the vicinity of the site are less than 100 feet in depth (NMC 2007, Appendix E). The Prairie Island alluvial aquifer receives recharge from and discharges to surface waters. The aquifer is also recharged through direct precipitation, flood waters, snowmelt, and from underlying aquifers. A USGS study performed in 1997 stated that the amount of water discharged to wells in the Prairie Island study area from the alluvial SITE AND ENVIRONMENTAL INTERFACES Page 2-4 Prairie Island Nuclear Generating Plant License Renewal Application Appendix E - Environmental Report aquifer was less than one-third of the water th at was discharged from the alluvial aquifer to surface waters or to the atmosphere (Cowdery 1999, p. 9). 2.2.3 DEEP AQUIFERS Important aquifers in the vicinity of the PINGP site include the Jordan Sandstone and the Dresbach formation of which the primary water producing unit is the Mount Simon formation. Separating the Jordon Sandst one aquifer from the Dresbach formation are the St. Lawrence and Franconia formati ons (NMC 2007, Appendix E).

The Jordan Sandstone, which is an important aquifer in areas away from the river, outcrops on the bluffs adjacent to the Mi ssissippi River. U nderlying the Jordan Sandstone are the St.

Lawrence and Franconia formations, which are not considered important water-producing formations (NSP 1972). The Franconia sandstone formation is the uppermost bedrock underlying the alluvial overburden (alluvial aquifer) at the site. The Franconia formation's thickness at the site is believed to be much less than 180 feet which is the formation's total measured thickness. The Dresbach formation is believed to be over 100 feet in thickness, and consists of sandstone, siltstone, and shale. Test borings at the site revealed the following formations (NMC 2007, Appendix E): Elevation in feet Description 690-665 Predominantly loose granular soils which exhibit relatively low strength and moderately high compressibility characteristics. These soils consist of loose to fine-grained medium-grained sands.

665-645 Predominantly medium-dense to dense granular soils exhibiting moderate strength and compressibility characteristics. The soils consist of brown fine to medium sands containing varying amounts of coarse sand and gravel. This zone contains interspersed, discontinuous layers of loose granular soils. These soils are located below the groundwater table and are denser than the overlying sands.

645-515 Predominantly dense to very dense, fine- to medium-grained granular soils containing interspersed discontinuous zones of coarse-grained sands, gravels and cobbles. Generally, the lower 10 to 30 feet of this zone contains many cobbles and boulders. These soils exhibit moderately high strength and relatively low compressibility characteristics. These soils are saturated and are somewhat denser than the overlying sands. 515 to the depths penetrated by the borings Paleozoic sandstone of the Franconia formation. The sandstone encountered in the borings consist predominantly of a gray fine- and medium-grained quartz sandstone cont aining loose and cemented zones. 2.2.4 GROUNDWATER LEVEL The groundwater table in the vicinity of PING P is generally within 5 to 20 feet of ground surface and slopes to the southwest (NMC 2007). Under normal flow conditions the head of the Mississippi River is higher than the Vermillion River maintaining a flow from SITE AND ENVIRONMENTAL INTERFACES Page 2-5 Prairie Island Nuclear Generating Plant License Renewal Application Appendix E - Environmental Report the Mississippi River/Pool 3 toward the Vermillion River, which enters the Mississippi River below Lock and Dam 3. However, dur ing high rainfall events, the groundwater flow across the site to the southwest can flatten and result in a mounding situation where the alluvial aquifer flows radially from Prairie Island (Cowdery 1999). 2.2.5 CONSUMPTIVE GROUNDWATER USE The wells at PINGP are installed within the overburden materials (alluvial aquifer) consisting of sand and gravel al luvial soils which range from 158 to 185 feet thick.

Groundwater levels in the alluvial aquifer ar e directly influenced by the Mississippi River and vary with river fluctuations. The depth to groundwater varies from 5 to 20 feet across the island (NMC 2007, Appendix E).

The Prairie Island Indian Reservation public water supply withdraws water from the Eau Claire/Mount Simon aquifer (par t of the Dresbach formation) and has replaced most of the once-used individual wells on the reserv ation (Cowdery 1999, p.

8). One of the closest wells to PINGP is a deep well (595 f eet deep) located in the bedrock aquifers at Lock and Dam 3. The nearest groundwater cons umption of important magnitude is in the Town of Red Wing six miles downstream (NMC 2007, Section 2.4.4). The Dresbach formation, which underlies t he Franconia formation, produces water primarily from its basal member, the Mount Simon formation, ca rries large amounts of water, and is the source for several of the wells in the Red Wing area. The community derives its water from four deep wells (400 to 730 feet deep) which penetrate sandstone aquifers of the Mount Simon and into the under lying Hinkley formation and yi eld approximately 1,400 gallons per minute (gpm) (NMC 2007, Appendix E). Neither of these aquifer units is directly fed by the Mississippi River (NSP 1972).

Several industries in the Red Wing area al so use groundwater and derive their supplies principally from the bedrock aquifers. Total well production from the bedrock at Red Wing probably exceeds 3,000 gpm, and fairly large quantities may also be extracted from the alluvium for certain industrial uses. Communities further downstream from the plant site that obtain their water from we lls in bedrock are Lake City, 25 river miles downstream, and Wabasha, 37 miles downstr eam (NMC 2007, Section 2.4.4).

PINGP withdraws groundwater for potable and industrial use from six wells installed within the alluvial aquifer (F igure 3.1-1). Five of thes e wells have permits from the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (MN DNR) (NSP 2006). A permit is not required for the sixth well because its flow s are below the 10,000 gallons per day (GPD) or 1,000,000 gallons per year thresholds set by MN DNR. The 5 permitted wells (Table 2.2-4) produced an average of 91 gpm, over the 2000 - 2005 period.

The production rate for the unpermitted well was 1 gpm based on PINGP's site data for 2005 (Bergland 2006). Therefore, the total av erage groundwater pumping rate for the six site wells for the period from 2000 through 2005 was 92 gpm.

However, during this period, the highest average pumping rate for the six wells was 118 gpm which occurred during 2005. The lowest average pumping rate for the six wells was 77 gpm, which occurred

in 2000 and 2002. SITE AND ENVIRONMENTAL INTERFACES Page 2-6 Prairie Island Nuclear Generating Plant License Renewal Application Appendix E - Environmental Report 2.3 BIOLOGICAL RESOURCES 2.3.1 AQUATIC AND RIPARIAN ECOLOGICAL COMMUNITIES Until the early 1970s, when the Clean Wate r Act and its implem enting regulations produced significant improvement in water qual ity across the U.S., the Mississippi River below the Twin Cities was a degraded ecosystem. The Twin Cities area was the source of many pollutants, ranging from inadequately treated sewage to animal wastes (from area stockyards and slaughterhouses) to industrial pollutants to urban stormwater runoff. The Minnesota River, which joins the Mississippi River at Fort Snelling, also contributed to the Mississipp i River's water quality probl ems. The Minnesota River flows through an agricultural region, and has carried sediment and animal wastes downstream into the Mississippi since the native prairie was converted into cropland. In more recent times, nutrients (nitrogen and phosphorus from fertilizers) from the Minnesota River have created severe wate r quality problems dow nstream in the Mississippi River (MRBDC 2001). 2.3.1.1 Aquatic Communities 2.3.1.1.1 Preoperational Monitoring (1969-1971) During the pre-operational monitoring perio d (1969-1971), the aquatic communities of the Mississippi River (Pool 3) and St urgeon Lake reflected the river's degraded condition. Although reasonably diverse, aquatic communities from top (fish) to bottom (phytoplankton) of the f ood chain were dominated by pollution-tolerant groups associated with polluted and eutr ophic (nutrient-enriched) waters. These included well-known bioindicators of pollution such as blue-green algae (now generally referred to as blue-green "cyanobacteria"), tubifi cid worms, and common carp.

Mississippi River phytoplankton in the Prairie Island area we re monitored in 1970 and 1971 by Northern States Power (NSP) to determine pre-operational species composition, densities, and distribution (AEC 1973). Phytoplankton densities were high immediately above Lock and Dam 3 and in Sturgeon Lake. Diatom production peaked in spring and fall, with genera associated with eutrophic waters dominating collections.

In early summer, green algae were prevalen t, and eutrophic species dominated. In late summer, Cyanophytes (blue-green algae) were prevalent, and intense blue-green algae blooms were sometimes observed. Polluti on-tolerant Cyanophytes such as Anabena were common in late summer.

Zooplankton collections in 1970-1971 were do minated by rotifers and microcrustaceans (cladocerans and copepods). Rotifers were common from July th rough November, with members of the genera Keratella (July-Nove mber), Branchionus (July-October), and Trichocerca (July, August, October) pr edominant (AEC 1973). The cladocerans Daphnia and Bosmina and the copepod Cyclops were the most important microcrustaceans in summer. Daphnia became more prevalent in the fall, and was the most abundant genus in October. Zooplankton were not monitored from December

through June. SITE AND ENVIRONMENTAL INTERFACES Page 2-7 Prairie Island Nuclear Generating Plant License Renewal Application Appendix E - Environmental Report The benthic macroinvertebrates of the Prairie Island area in 1970 and 1971 were mostly pollution-tolerant forms, indicative of degraded water quality (AEC 1973). Midges and oligochaetes dominated benthos collections. Tubificid worms, often associated with organic pollution, were common across the st udy area. Several caddisfly and mayfly species, generally regarded as pollution-intolerant, were found just above Lock and Dam 3, reflecting the fact that "most of the Twin Cities' effluvia are decomposed and diluted by the time they reach the general region of the Plant" (AEC 1973, page II-67). The combination of organic pollution and high silt levels had reduced shellfish to a "few small beds" in the area. The FES (AEC 1973) did not identif y these shellfish, referring to them only as "clams."

In 1970 and 1971, the lower Pool 3 fish comm unity was composed primarily of "rough fish" [e.g., common carp (Cyprinus carpio

), freshwater drum (Aplodinotus grunniens

), redhorse (Moxostoma spp.), and gizzard shad (Dorosoma cepedianum

)] (AEC 1973).

Two-thirds of fish collected in 1970 and 1971 were rough fish. Black crappie (Pomoxis nigromaculatus

), white crappie (Pomoxis annularis

), white bass (Morone americana

), and sunfish were the most impor tant game fish. Walleye (Stizostedion vitreum) and sauger (Stizostedion canadense) were uncommon in lower Pool 3 in 1970 and 1971, but the "swift-water habitat" immediat ely below Lock and Dam 3 held larger concentrations of walleye, sauger, and whit e bass. The area below Lock and Dam 3 was also identified as a major spawning and rearing area for sauger and walleye (AEC 1973). 2.3.1.1.2 Operationa l Monitoring (1970s) The Prairie Island Nuclear Generating Plant 316(a) Demonstration (HDR 1978) contains useful information on the water quality and fi sh populations of t he Mississippi River immediately up-river of Lock and Dam 3 in the early years of PINGP operation. The 316(a) demonstration describes Pool 3 as "mo re of a lacustrine than a riverine habitat, characterized by low turbidity throughout most of the year" (HDR 1978, page III-27). It notes that this section of the Mississippi River is slightly eut rophic, with higher-than-background levels of metals and relatively hi gh levels of toxicants including phenols and cyanide. The 316(a) demonstration observes t hat water quality in Pool 3 is greatly influenced by upstream inputs.

Large quantities of treated se wage enter the river from the Metropolitan Wastewater Treatment Plant (MWTP) near St. Paul, and the Minnesota River contributes sediments and agricultural-related constit uents (fertilizer, pesticides, herbicides). Flow from the St. Croix River, whic h is relatively pristine, tends to dilute the inputs from the St. Paul area and the Minnesot a River. The authors of the 316(a) study conclude that the reach of the river adjacent to PINGP is a "recovery zone" where the biota benefit, to some degree, from upstream nutrient inputs and dissolved oxygen levels are high enough to support a variety of aquatic organisms.

The 316(a) demonstration summarizes fish sampling over the 1973-1976 period. Areas sampled were North Lake, Sturgeon Lake, and t he main river channel. A total of 45,005 fish were collected over the 1973-1976 period us ing a variety of collection methods. Collections were dominated by a relatively small number of species. Four species -

gizzard shad (20.8 percent of total), white ba ss (15.6 percent of total), freshwater drum SITE AND ENVIRONMENTAL INTERFACES Page 2-8 Prairie Island Nuclear Generating Plant License Renewal Application Appendix E - Environmental Report (12.8 percent of tota l), and common carp (11.

1 percent of total) - made up 60 percent of all fish collected. Other species co mmonly collected were emerald shiner (Notropis atherinoides

5.3 percent), sauger (3.9 percent), shorthead redhorse (Moxostoma macrolepidotum

3.8 percent), bluegill (Lepomis macrochirus; 3.6 percent), black crappie (2.8 percent), channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus

2.2 percent), and white crappie (2.1 percent).

2.3.1.1.3 Operati onal Monitoring (1980s to present)

Xcel Energy continued to monitor fish populations in the vicinity of PINGP after the plant's 316(a) and 316(b) studies were comp leted to gauge the effectiveness of the intake and discharge modifications (see Sections 3.1.3 and 4.3) in reducing entrainment, impingement, and cold shock impacts. In recent years, the objective of fisheries monitoring has shifted from identifying impacts of PINGP operation to more generally assessing the status of the fishery in the vicinity of PINGP (Xcel Energy 2007). Fish were originally monitored usi ng a variety of gear ty pes: electrofishing, seining, gill-netting, trap-netting, and trawling. After 1988, electrofishing was the only sampling method employed for monitoring fish populations. Monitoring occurs monthly from May through October of each year in accordance with the NPDES permit. Four established sampling areas are located within a section of the Mississippi River that extends from 3.6 miles ups tream of PINGP to 10.8 miles below the plant. The total number of species caught each year over the 1988-2006 period has remained relatively constant, ranging from 34 - 41 species. Relative abundance of eight representative (common) species is monitor ed. These species are carp, white bass, freshwater drum, sauger, black crappie, shorthead redhorse, walleye, and gizzard shad. These eight species make up 69 to 82 percent of all fish caught each year. Relative abundance of most species has been consistent over the 17-year peri od. For example, white bass relative abundance ranged from 10 to 20 percent over the 1988-2004 period; freshwater drum ranged from 8 to 19 percent, shorthead r edhorse ranged from 8 to 17 percent. Carp and gizzard shad abundance we re more variable, presumably because reproductive success in these species depends on adequate water levels in backwater areas. The species with more consist ent measures of abundance between years tend to be species that spawn in deeper water (main channel) habitats or tr ibutary streams. 2.3.1.1.4 Water Quality and Fi sh Consumption Advisories The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) is required, under Section 303(d) of the Clean Water Act, to identify waterbodies for which effluent limitations are not stringent enough to satisfy water quality standards (MPCA 2006). Every two years, in even-numbered years, MPCA publishes its List of Impaired Waters, i dentifying streams, lakes, and impoundments that are impaired for one or more pollutants and therefore do not meet one or more water quality standards.

The segment of the Mississippi River to which PINGP discharges (St. Croix River to Chippewa River) appears on the 2006 list as impaired in four categor ies: Aquatic Consumption

- Mercury (Fish Consumption Advisory), Aquatic Consumption - Mercury (in Water Column), Aquatic Consumption -

PCB (Fish Consumption Advisory), and Aquatic Life - Turbidity (MPCA 2006). Based SITE AND ENVIRONMENTAL INTERFACES Page 2-9 Prairie Island Nuclear Generating Plant License Renewal Application Appendix E - Environmental Report on contaminant concentrations in fish colle cted by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) in 2006 published Site-Specific Fish Consumption Guidelines for the General Public and for Children (under age 15) and Women Who Are or May Become Pregnant.

For Pool 3 of the Mississippi River, MDH recommends limiting consum ption of common game fish (e.g., bluegill, white and black crappie, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, walleye, sauger) and most rough fish (e.g., carp, freshwater drum, smallmouth buffalo) (MDH 2006). MDH lists 13 fish species with mercury levels, 9 fish species with PCB levels, and 5 fish species with perfluoro-octane sulfonate leve ls high enough to warrant limiting consumption.

2.3.1.1.5 Conclusions Mississippi River aquatic communities upstream of Lock and Dam 3 have been monitored since 1970 to determine if PINGP operation was having an effect on distribution, abundance, and overall health of aquatic biota.

Since the mid-1970s, fish have been the focus of monitoring and study.

Although big river ecosystems show a high degree of natural variability and aquatic populations in these rivers can experience dramatic changes between years, fish populations in the area of PINGP show a high degree of stability. Fish populations in the vicinity of PINGP today look similar to fish populations in the 1970s. A relatively small number of native specie s (carp, planted in the Mississippi River in the 19th century ar e the exception) has dominated collections for 35 years. All indications are that these populations are healthy, composed of fish in good condition, and are reproduci ng successfully year after year. The MPCA findings and MDH fish consumption guidelines sugge st that although Upper Mississippi River fish populations appear to be stable, fish are carrying substantial body burdens of pollutants. 2.3.1.2 Riparian Communities Riparian habitats are areas adjacent to rivers and streams that contain elements of both terrestrial and aquatic habitats. The ripari an zone begins at the high water line and extends to those portions of the terrestrial landscape that directly influence aquatic communities (by stabilizing the streambank, by providing shade or organic/inorganic

inputs to the stream, by providing habitat fo r semi-aquatic animals or terrestrial stages of animals, such as insects, that may live near the stream as adults and in the stream as larvae). Normally the entire floodplain is considered "riparian" because it may be partially inundated when river flows are high and completely inundated during floods (Knutson and Naef 1997).

Although they generally repres ent a small percentage of the total land area in a given region, riparian habitats are extremely pr oductive and provide a high degree of plant and animal diversity because they support both wetland and upland species. In the western plains and many parts of the Mi dwest, where forested areas are uncommon, riparian zones provide cover and travel corr idors for many impor tant game species, such as white-tailed deer and wild turkey.

In intensively farmed areas of the Midwest, riparian zones are important migration corridors for migrat ory songbirds. Riparian zones are critical to protecting water qualit y, as they function as the "last line of SITE AND ENVIRONMENTAL INTERFACES Page 2-10 Prairie Island Nuclear Generating Plant License Renewal Application Appendix E - Environmental Report defense" in intercepting surface runoff that contains eroded soil, nutrients (from fertilizers), and contaminants that could degrade water quality and aquatic habitats. Riparian zones along small str eams are normally narrow strips of brush or forestland, while riparian zones along larger stream s and rivers may encompass bottomland forests, swamps, marshes, and lakes. Pool 3 of the Upper Mississippi River, on which PINGP is located, is associated with a broad floodplain that ranges fr om 0.75 mile wide (immediately downstream of Lock and Dam 2) to 3 miles wide (in t he area of PINGP).

For the most part, the Wisconsin side of the river (in the area of Pool 3) is characterized by steep bluffs, and the riparian zone is limited. The Minnesota side of the river is characterized by a broad floodplain that offe rs a mosaic of aquatic and terrestrial habitats, ranging from lakes to sloughs to marshes to forestland to grassland. Virtually the entire Pool 3 floodplain and associated riparian habitat s lie in Minnesota. The discussion that follows therefore focuses on the Minnesota side of the river and Pool 3. Pool 3 is approximately 18 miles long, stretching from Lock and Dam 2 to Lock and Dam 3, and has an area of approximately 22,500 acres. The Pool 3 floodplain encompasses developed areas, forested areas, agricultural areas, wetland areas, and a number of ponds and lakes. It also includes the floodplain of the Vermillion River, which parallels the Mississippi River for almost the entire length of Pool 3. Developed areas include part of the town of Hastings, Mi nnesota, which occupies a portion of the floodplain immediately downstream of Lock and Dam 2, the Prairie Island Indian Community, and PINGP, which are approximat ely 1.5 mile and 1 mile, respectively, upstream of Lock and Dam 3.

Downstream of Hastings to the headwaters of North Lake, a distance of approximately 10 miles, the floodplain is mostly floodplai n forest and shallow marshes, with some pockets of agricultural land. From the headwaters of North Lake south to PINGP, the higher ground of the floodplai n is dominated by agricultu ral land and upland forest.

Lower-lying areas around North Lake includ e shallow marshes, areas with rooted aquatic plants, and wet meadows. Populus (predominantly cottonwood, Populus deltoides) communities are found in many places along the north shores of North Lake and Sturgeon Lake. The long strip of land that se rves as the north shores of North Lake and Sturgeon Lake is actually the west bank of the Mississippi River.

The area north (upriver) of PINGP (bet ween PINGP and the Prairie Island Indian Community) is primarily upland forest. The area immediately sout h and west of PINGP is lowland forest. Beyond the strip of lowland forest west of the PINGP lie several lakes, Goose Lake being the most notable, and the Vermillion River bottoms. The area immediately downriver of PI NGP, west of the discharge canal, is mostly wooded (cottonwoods and willows), but there is also a small parcel of agricultural land in this area. The area across the river from PINGP is the only significant part of the Pool 3 floodplain that lies in Wisconsin. A comp lex of deep-water marshes and lakes, Marsh Lake being the largest, occupies this portion of Pool 3. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers published an EIS in late 2006 that dealt, in part, with plans to rehabilitate the embankments that separate Mars h Lake from Pool 3 (USACE 2006a). In the EIS, the SITE AND ENVIRONMENTAL INTERFACES Page 2-11 Prairie Island Nuclear Generating Plant License Renewal Application Appendix E - Environmental Report Corps proposed strengthening the Marsh Lake embankments to prevent a possible failure that could create a scour channe l around Lock and Dam 3 and cause a rapid, accidental drawdown of Pool 3. 2.3.2 CRITICAL AND IMPORTANT TERRESTRIAL HABITATS 2.3.2.1 Regional Setting The PINGP site is located on the west bank of the Mississippi River (Figure 2.1-3).

Prior to purchase of the site , most of the property was used for farming (AEC 1973).

Prairie Island, upon which PINGP is located, is a low island terrace in the Mississippi River floodplain. The island is separated from other parts of the lowland by the Vermillion River on the west and by the Mississippi River on the east. Land use surrounding PINGP is mixture of farmlands , wooded areas, water bodies, and rural communities. The Prairie Island Indian Communi ty is located immediately north of the PINGP site. The Treasure Island Resort and Casino is located within the Prairie Island Indian Community approximately one mile from the plant. 2.3.2.2 PINGP Site The topography of the PINGP site is level to s lightly rolling, and el evations range from about 690 to 700 feet above mean sea level (msl). The PINGP site encompasses approximately 578 acres (NMC 2007). Approximately 240 acres of the PINGP site were disturbed and modified by plant constr uction activities in the early 1970s. Approximately 60 acres of the 240 disturbed acres support the generating facility and associated buildings, maintenance facilities, parking lots, and roads (AEC 1973). After plant construction was completed, the re maining 180 acres of disturbed land were landscaped (AEC 1973) and today most of this is mowed grass or unmowed prairie-like grassland. The remainder of the site (approximat ely 338 acres) consists primarily of scattered wooded areas (Figure 2.

1-3). Upland areas tend to be dominated by burr oak (Quercus macrocarpa

), red oak (Q. rubra), and Eastern red cedar (Juniperus virginiana

). Common trees in lower areas along the Mississippi Rive r, Sturgeon Lake, the Vermillion River, and river sloughs include silver maple (Acer saccharinum

), cottonwood, green ash (Fraxinus pennsylvanica

), American elm (Ulmus americana

), box elder (Acer negundo), river birch (Betula nigra

), and willows (Salix spp.) (AEC 1973).

Wooded areas in the northern por tion of the site consist of small isolated tracts (Figure 2.1-3). These areas provide habi tat for small mammals such as raccoons (Procyon lotor) and gray squirrels (Sciurus carolinensis), and especially for birds such as wood warblers, thrushes, woodpeckers, kinglets, and hawks (AEC 1973). The southern portion of the site provides mo re contiguous wooded habitat, where wooded areas extend to the edges of sloughs along the Mississippi and Vermillion Rivers.

These areas provide habitat for the same wild life as do the upland areas, plus species that are more associated with floodplains and wetlands. Wildlife that use the sloughs and lakes include amphibians such as salamanders and frogs, ducks such as the

mallard (Anas platyrhynchos

), American wigeon (A. americana

), common goldeneye (Bucephala clangula), bufflehead (B. albeola), ruddy duck (Oxyura jamaicensis

), and SITE AND ENVIRONMENTAL INTERFACES Page 2-12 Prairie Island Nuclear Generating Plant License Renewal Application Appendix E - Environmental Report Northern pintail (Anas acuta

), and wading birds such as the great egret (Ardea alba

), great blue heron (A. herodias

), and green heron (Butorides virescens) (AEC 1973). Wildlife species found in the forested and the open grassy portions of the PINGP site are those typically found in similar habitats of southeastern Minnesota. 2.3.2.3 Transmission Corridors Section 3.1.6 describes the r outes of the transmission lines that were built to connect PINGP to the transmission system. The principal land-use types traversed by the transmission corridors are agriculture, forest, and residential. The transmission corridors are maintained to keep vegetation heights low enough to prevent interference with the transmission lines in accordance with established procedures described in Section 3.1.6.

Near PINGP, the PINGP-to-Red Rock transmission corridor crosses the Vermillion River Bottoms Gores Pool Wildlife Manage ment Area (a portion of the Mississippi National River and Recreation Area) and the Lost Valley Scientific and Natural Area, and may cross the Cottage Grove Ravine Regional Park in Washington County.

The PINGP-to-Blue Lake transmission corridor crosses the Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge in northwestern Dakota County and the Savage Fen Scientific and Natural Area. There are other wildlife refuges along the Mississippi River in the vicinity of PINGP but the transmission co rridors do not cross these or any other state or federal wildlife refuges, wildlife management areas, or parks. There ar e no areas designated by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service as "critical habitat" at PINGP or in the associated transmission corridors. 2.3.3 THREATENED OR ENDANGERED SPECIES Table 2.3-1 indicates protected animal and plant species that are known to occur in Minnesota counties within which PINGP and associated transmission lines are located.

These include species that are federally-listed or state-listed as endangered or threatened, species proposed for federal listi ng, candidates for federal listing, and species state-listed as species of special conc ern. The transmission lines are located in Goodhue, Dakota, Washington, and Scott counties. Special-status species shown in Table 2.3-1 as occurring in these counties we re taken from county records maintained by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS 2007a) and the Natural Heritage and Nongame Research Program of the Minnes ota Department of Natural Resources (MN DNR 2007a; 2007b).

Because operation of PING P could potentially affect aquatic populations in the Mississippi River up and downstr eam of the plant, NMC has al so included special-status aquatic species known or believed to occur in Pierce County, Wisconsin, which extends upstream and downstream of the PINGP site. These include species designated Endangered, Threatened, and Species of Conc ern by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (WDNR 2007). Since operation of PINGP and its transmission system is not likely to affect terrestrial s pecies in Wisconsin, these species were not included in Table 2.3-1. SITE AND ENVIRONMENTAL INTERFACES Page 2-13 Prairie Island Nuclear Generating Plant License Renewal Application Appendix E - Environmental Report Most of the species shown in Table 2.3-1 have been recorded as "known to occur" by the MN DNR within one mile of either PI NGP (MN DNR 2007a) or the transmission lines (MN DNR 2007b).

Four species (two mussels and two plants) in Table 2.3-1 are federally-listed as endangered or threatened and two mussels are candidates for federal listing. These are discussed below. The peregrine falcon (Falco peregrinus

), paddlefish (Polyodon spathula), and Higgins eye pearlymussel (Lampsilis higginsii) are the only state- or federally-listed species known to occur at or in the vicinity of PINGP; these are also discussed below.

2.3.3.1 Fauna A nest box designed for peregrine falcons, st ate-listed as threatened, was placed on the Unit 1 containment dome at PINGP in 1994.

A pair of peregrine falcons has nested in the nest box annually since 1997, and 31 falc ons have fledged from the nest since 1997. Peregrine falcons at PINGP typically a rrive in the vicinity in March, the eggs hatch in May, and the young fledge in July.

The PINGP FES (AEC 1973) stated that t he only known endangered species near the site was the bald eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus

). The bald eagle was removed from the federal list of threatened and endangered species effective August 8, 2007 (FWS 2007b). At the federal level, the bald eagle is still protected under the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act and the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (FWS 2007b). Bald eagles occur in a wide variety of habitats, but prox imity of their nests to water (as foraging habitat) is important, and preferred nesting habi tat consists of a high amount of water-to-land edge where their aquatic prey is conc entrated. Thus, bal d eagles are generally restricted to coastal areas, lakes, and rivers. They prey on fish and other aquatic prey near the surface but will eat dead fish or other carrion, as well as birds, mammals, and occasionally reptiles (Stalmaster 1987). Bald eagles are year-round residents along the Mississippi River in southeastern Minnesota.

No eagle nests are known to exist on PINGP property, but there are at least two nests nearby.

One nest is located in the Vermillion River bottoms just south of the PINGP site, and one nest is located approximately two miles upstream of Lock and Dam 3 on the eastern side of the Mississippi River (USACE 2006a) At least two studies have documented bald eagle use of the Mississippi River near PINGP as a wintering area.

Faanes (1975) and Kühl (1981) found the PINGP area to be used by up to five eagles concurrently, with highest use when other portions of the river were frozen over. Bald eagles are regularly observed in lower Pool 3 and upper Pool 4 during winter when open water is present due to thermal discharge from PINGP (USACE 2006a).

The PINGP FES (AEC 1973) stated that trumpeter swans (Cygnus buccinator

), which are state-listed as threatened, might migr ate through the PINGP area. The MN DNR (2007b) database shows this species in Dakota County and records maintained by the Minnesota Ornithologists' Union indicate that trumpeter swans are occasionally observed in Goodhue County (MOU 2006). SITE AND ENVIRONMENTAL INTERFACES Page 2-14 Prairie Island Nuclear Generating Plant License Renewal Application Appendix E - Environmental Report The state-threatened paddlefish was once common in the Mississippi River from Lake Pepin downstream, and was found occasionally as far upstream as St. Anthony Falls, near Minneapolis (Schmidt 2005). The s pecies' numbers and range were reduced by water pollution, stream alteration (dredging, dam construction), and overfishing in the early part of the 20th century (Phillips, Schmid, and Underhill 1982). Paddlefish spend most of their time in large rivers and river lakes, but as cend tributary streams to spawn in the spring of the year, when water is high.

They grow rapidly, feeding mostly on zooplankton, and reach 5 feet in length and up to 200 pounds in weight. Paddlefish are still found in Lake Pepin and the Chippewa River, which flows into Lake Pepin from Wisconsin. Biologists have speculated t hat the Lock and Dam 3 downstream of PINGP serves to isolate paddlefish populations in the St. Croix River and Lake Pepin/Chippewa River. This "population bottleneck" restricts gene flow in the river and could (indirectly) limit growth and reproductive success, and even reduce resistance to disease of paddlefish in the Upper Mississippi. Paddlefish were once common in Sturgeon Lake, adjacent to PINGP, but sedi mentation from channel maintenance activities reduced the lake's depth, rendering it less suitable for the species (Schmidt 2004, 2005). Northern States Power and Xcel Energy biologists conducting fish population studies in the PINGP vicinity over the last several decades have occasionally collected individual paddlefish, most recently on July 17, 2007 (Giese 2007). Two federally endangered mollusks and two mo llusks that are candidates for federal listing have been recorded in counties cross ed by PINGP-associated transmission lines (Table 2.3-1). Threats to these mollusks include river impoundment, dredging/ channelization, contaminants and more recently, the invasion of their habitats by exotic zebra mussels (Dreissena polymorpha). Impoundments limit mo vements of mussels, often resulting in small geographically and genet ically isolated populations. With the

exception of the Higgins eye pearlymusse l (see below), none of these has been recorded in the area adja cent to PINGP. The Higgins eye pearlymussel is listed as endangered by FWS and MN DNR. It is a small to medium-sized freshwater mussel wit h a rounded to slightly elongate smooth shell, up to 4 inches in length. It is found in larger rivers in areas of deep water and moderate currents. It has lost approximately 50 perc ent of its historical range (FWS 2004a). It is currently found in t he upper Mississippi River between LaCrosse, Wisconsin, and Muscatine, Iowa and in two Missi ssippi River tributar ies, the St. Croix and the Wisconsin rivers (Miller and Payne 2007). Of those countie s containing PINGP facilities and transmission lines, it has been recorded in Dakota and Goodhue counties (FWS 2007a). Mussel surveys conducted in Pools 3 and 4 in 1986, 1999, 2000, and 2003 did not reveal any Higgins' eye pearlymussels in the area around Lock and Dam 3 (USACE 2006a). However, this species has been cultured (reared in cages) and recently re-introduced into lower Pool 4 and both upper and lower Pool 3 (Sturgeon Lake) of the Mississippi River (USAC E 2004b; USACE 2006a). The Sturgeon Lake relocation site, where 195 sub-adult L. higginsii were placed in July 2003 (Mussel Coordination Team 2005), is approximately 0.5 mile up-river of the PINGP Intake Screenhouse. Critical habitat has not been designated for the Higgins eye pearlymussel. SITE AND ENVIRONMENTAL INTERFACES Page 2-15 Prairie Island Nuclear Generating Plant License Renewal Application Appendix E - Environmental Report The winged mapleleaf (Quadrula fragosa) is listed as endangered by FWS and MN DNR. It is a medium-sized mussel with an ovate shell reaching 4 inches in length, and is found in stream/river ri ffles with clean gravel, sand or rubble in clear high water quality (FWS 2004b). Previously found in 13 states, it is now limited to the St. Croix River between Minnesota and Wisconsin and th ree rivers in Missouri and Arkansas. A 20-km stretch of the St. Croix River bet ween Minnesota and Wisconsin contains the only winged mapleleaf population known to be repr oducing (Vaughn 1997, FWS 2004b). Of those counties containing PINGP facilities and transmission lines, it is found only in Washington County (F WS 2007a). Critical habitat has not been designated for the winged mapleleaf.

The spectaclecase (Cumberlandia monodonta) is listed as a candidate species by FWS and threatened by MN DNR. It is a large mussel whose greatly elongated shell can reach 9 inches in length. The spectaclecas e tends to be found in aggregations. It is a habitat specialist, found in rive rine microhabitats that are s heltered from the main force of the current. It is currently found in 20 stre ams in 10 states. In Minnesota, it is located in the Mississippi and St. Croix rivers and Rush Creek (Butler 2002a). Of those counties containing PINGP facilities and transmission lines, it is found only in Washington County (FWS 2007a).

The sheepnose (Plethobasus cyphyus) is listed as a candidate species by FWS and endangered by MN DNR. It is a medium-sized mussel with an elongate ovate shell reaching 5.5 inches in length. It inhabits large streams and rivers, especially shallow shoal habitat with moderate to swift current. However, it is sometimes found in deep runs in larger rivers. Although still found in 14 states, it is no longer found in two-thirds of its historical range (Butler 2002b). Of those counties containing PINGP facilities and transmission lines, it is found only in Washington County (FWS 2007a).

2.3.3.2 Flora The dwarf trout lily (Erythronium propullans) is listed as endangered by both FWS and MN DNR. This forest wildflower is found only in three southeastern Minnesota counties (Goodhue, Rice, and Steele). It is most commonly found on north-facing wooded slopes and floodplains of drai nages of the Straight, Cann on, Little Cannon and North Fork rivers and Prairie Creek. It is a spring ephemeral, adapted to flower and grow before the deciduous trees devel op their leaves and is distinguishable from other trout lilies by its underground veget ative runner (FWS 2006c). The prairie bush clover (Lespedeza leptostachya) is classified as threatened by FWS and MN DNR. This legume occurs only in the tallgrass prairie region of Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, and Illinois and is currently found today at fewer than 40 sites (FWS 2000). Within Minnesota, it is known to occur in 12 counties (FWS 2007a), two of which (Dakota and Goodhue) are crossed by PING P-associated transmission lines. SITE AND ENVIRONMENTAL INTERFACES Page 2-16 Prairie Island Nuclear Generating Plant License Renewal Application Appendix E - Environmental Report 2.4 METEOROLOGY AND AIR QUALITY The climate of the site region is basically continental and influenced by the general storms which move eastward along the nor thern tier of the United States. The geographical location results in frequent changes in weather systems as polar and tropical air masses alternate. Rainfall av erages about 25 inches per year, with 65 percent falling in the months of May th rough September. Maximum rainfall during 24 hours2.777778e-4 days <br />0.00667 hours <br />3.968254e-5 weeks <br />9.132e-6 months <br /> was 10.0 inches in July 1987. Snowfa ll averages about 44 inches per year, with a maximum of 19.9 inches in 24 hours2.777778e-4 days <br />0.00667 hours <br />3.968254e-5 weeks <br />9.132e-6 months <br /> in January 1982 (NMC 2007). The U. S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has established National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for six common pollut ants: nitrogen dioxid e, sulfur dioxide, carbon monoxide, lead, ozone, and particulate matter (PM 10 and PM 2.5). The EPA has designated all areas of the United States as having air quality bet ter ("attainment") or worse ("non-attainment") than the NAAQS. Areas that have been re-designated to attainment from nonattainment are called maintenance areas.

To be re-designated, an area must both meet air qua lity standards and have a 10-year plan for continuing to meet and maintain air quality standards and other requirement s of the Clean Air Act.

PINGP is located in Goodhue County, Minnes ota, which is part of the Southeast Minnesota-La Crosse (Wisconsin) Interstate Air Quality Contro l Region (AQCR) (40 CFR 81.66). The AQCR is in a ttainment or maintenance for all criteria pollutants, as are all counties in Minnesota. The only main tenance area within the Southeast Minnesota-La Crosse (Wisconsin) AQCR is Olmsted C ounty, which is a maintenance area for sulfur dioxide and PM10 (40 CFR 81.324).

Other maintenance areas within Minnesota include multiple counties in the Minneapolis-St. Paul Intrastate AQCR (for carbon monoxide and sulfur dioxide), Dakota County (also in the Minneapolis St.-Paul Intrastate AQCR (for lead), Ramsey County (Minneapolis-St.

Paul Intrastate AQCR) for PM 10 , and St. Louis County in the Duluth (Minnesota)-Superior (Wisconsin) Interstate Air AQCR (f or carbon monoxide)

(40 CFR 81.324). The closest nonattainment areas (for ozone) are in eastern Wisconsin, bordering Lake Michigan (40 CFR 81.350).

Minnesota is one of the states covered by the Clean Air Inters tate Rule (CAIR), designed to reduce air pollution that moves across state boundaries. The CAIR, issued March 10, 2005, will permanently c ap emissions of sulfur diox ide and nitrogen oxides in the eastern United States when fully implemented (EPA 2006b). The CAIR is projected to reduce Minnesota's sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide emissions by 36 and 59 percent, respectively, by 2015. Currently, Mi nnesota sources significantly contribute to fine particle pollution in Illinois and Indiana (EPA 2006c). EPA has also established the Regional Haze Rule, which calls for state and federal agencies to work together to improve visibility in 156 national parks and wilderness

areas (EPA 2006d). Two of these areas, re ferred to as Class I Federal Areas, are located in Minnesota and in clude the Boundary Waters Canoe Area (U.S. Forest Service) and Voyageurs National Park (National Park Service). Both are located on the SITE AND ENVIRONMENTAL INTERFACES Page 2-17 Prairie Island Nuclear Generating Plant License Renewal Application Appendix E - Environmental Report northern border of Minnes ota. However, the closest Cla ss I Federal Area to PINGP is Rainbow Lake, located within Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest (U.S. Forest Service) in Bayfield County, Wisconsin, approximately 140 miles north-northeast of PINGP (EPA 2006e). SITE AND ENVIRONMENTAL INTERFACES Page 2-18 Prairie Island Nuclear Generating Plant License Renewal Application Appendix E - Environmental Report

2.5 DEMOGRAPHY

2.5.1 GENERAL

DEMOGRAPHY The Generic Environmental Im pact Statement for License Renewal of Nuclear Plants (GEIS) presents a population characterizati on method that is based on two factors:

"sparseness" and "proximity" (NRC 1996). "Sparseness" measur es population density and city size within 20 miles of a site and categorizes the demographic information as follows: Demographic Categories Based on Sparseness Sparseness Category Most sparse

1. Less than 40 persons per square mile and no community with 25,000 or more persons within 20 miles

2. 40 to 60 persons per square mile and no community with 25,000 or more persons within 20 miles

3. 60 to 120 persons per square mile or less than 60 persons per square mile with at least one community with 25,000 or more persons within 20 miles Least sparse

4. Greater than or equal to 120 persons per square mile within 20 miles Source: NRC 1996. "Proximity" measures population density and city size within 50 miles and categorizes the demographic information as follows: Demographic Categories Based on Proximity Proximity Category Not in close proximity

1. No city with 100,000 or more persons and less than 50 persons per square mile within 50 miles

2. No city with 100,000 or more persons and between 50 and 190 persons per square mile within 50 miles

3. One or more cities with 100,000 or more persons and less than 190 persons per square mile within 50 miles In close proximity

4. Greater than or equal to 190 persons per square mile within 50 miles Source: NRC 1996. SITE AND ENVIRONMENTAL INTERFACES Page 2-19 Prairie Island Nuclear Generating Plant License Renewal Application Appendix E - Environmental Report The GEIS then uses the following matrix to rank the populatio n category as low, medium, or high. GEIS Sparseness and Proximity Matrix Proximity 1 2 3 4 1 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 2 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 3 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 Sparseness 4 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 Low Population Area Medium Population Area High Population Area Source: NRC 1996.

NMC used 2000 census data from the U.S.

Census Bureau (U SCB) with geographic information system software (ArcGIS) to determine most demographic characteristics in the PINGP vicinity. The calculati ons determined that 107,131 people live within 20 miles of PINGP, producing a population density of 85 persons per square mile (TtNUS 2006a). Applying the GEIS sparseness measures, results in the less sparse category, Category 3 (60 to 120 persons per square mile or less than 60 persons per

square mile with at least one community with 25,000 or more persons within 20 miles).

To determine the proximity category, NM C determined that 2,733,326 people live within 50 miles of PINGP, which equates to a population density of 349 persons per square mile (TtNUS 2006a). Applying the GEIS proximity measures, PINGP is classified as Category 4 (greater than or equal to 190 pers ons per square mile within 50 miles). Therefore, according to the GEIS spars eness and proximity matrix, PINGP ranks of sparseness, Category 3, and prox imity, Category 4, result in the conclusion that PINGP is located in a high population area.

All or parts of 25 counties and a number of Metropolitan St atistical Areas (MSAs) and Micropolitan Statistical Areas (MiSAs) are located within 50 miles of PINGP (Figure 2.1-1). PINGP is lo cated in the Red Wing, MN MiSA, which is part of the Minneapolis-St. Paul-St. Cloud, MN-WI Combined Statistical Area (CSA). The Red Wing, MN MiSA and the Minneapolis-St. Pa ul-St. Cloud, MN-WI CSA had 2000 populations of 44,127 and 3,271,888, respectively (USCB 2003). SITE AND ENVIRONMENTAL INTERFACES Page 2-20 Prairie Island Nuclear Generating Plant License Renewal Application Appendix E - Environmental Report Red Wing (approximately 3 miles southeast) is the population center nearest PINGP, with a 2000 population of 16, 116 (USCB 2000a). Minneapolis (approximately 39 miles northwest), St. Paul (approximately 32 mile s northwest), and Rochester (approximately 50 miles southeast) are the largest populatio n centers within the 50-mile radius, with 2000 populations of 382,618; 287,151; and 85, 806, respectively (USCB 2000a).

From 1990 to 2000, the population of the Red Wing, MN MiSA increased from 40,690 to 44,127, an increase of 8.4 percent. The population of the Minneapolis-St. Paul-St. Cloud, MN-WI CSA increased from 2,809,713 to 3,271,888, an increase of 16.4 percent (USCB 2003).

Because approximately 83 percent of em ployees at PINGP reside in Goodhue and Dakota Counties, MN and Pier ce County, WI, they are the counties with the greatest potential to be socioeconomically affect ed by license renewal at PINGP (see Section 3.4). Table 2.5-1 shows population counts and grow th rates for these three counties. Values for the States of Minnesota and Wisconsin are provided for comparison. The table is based on USCB data for 1980 through 2000 and Minnesota and Wisconsin Department of Admini stration data for 2010 through 2030.

Over the last couple of decades, all thr ee counties and both states have experienced positive growth rates and are projected to continue to grow. By far, Dakota County experienced the greatest growth from 1980 to 2000. While Dakota County's growth rates are somewhat larger than those of the other counties and states, Minnesota demographers project t hat growth to slow as 2030 approaches. 2.5.2 TRANSIENT POPULATIONS Small daily and seasonal fluctuations in the regional po pulation occur due to the number of recreational facilities within the 50-mile region as described in Section 2.1.1. The Twin Cities Metro Region received over 18 million person-visits during a one year period (June 2005 through May 2006). Within the Twin Cities Metro Region, there are 3,153 campground sites in 39 campgrounds available for public use (Davidson Peterson-Associates 2007a). Several counties wit hin the 50-mile region are located in Minnesota's southern region, which received 7.7 million person-visits from June 2005 through May 2006. There are 10,561 campground sites in 158 campgrounds throughout the southern region (Davidson-Pe terson Associates 2007b). In general, Wisconsin counties within the 50-mile radius ranked in the bottom half of all Wisconsin counties in 2006 tourism expendit ures. Pierce and Pepin counties were two of the least visited counties in Wisconsin (Davidson-Peterson Associates 2007c).

Temporary housing for seasonal , recreational, or occasi onal use in the region of influence (ROI) is low compared with state percentages. Tem porary housing in Dakota and Goodhue counties accounts fo r 0.3 and 1.8 percent of to tal housing, compared with the Minnesota percentage of 5.1.

Temporary housing in Pier ce County accounts for 1.3 percent of total housing compared with Wisconsin's temporary housing percentage of 6.1 (USCB 2000b). SITE AND ENVIRONMENTAL INTERFACES Page 2-21 Prairie Island Nuclear Generating Plant License Renewal Application Appendix E - Environmental Report Migrant farm workers also r epresent a portion of the tran sient population within the 50-mile radius. Within the ROI, nine fa rms in Dakota County, 12 farms in Goodhue County, and 10 farms in Pierce County em ploy migrant labor (USDA 2004a, 2004b). 2.5.3 MINORITY AND LOW-INCOME POPULATIONS NRC performed environmental justice analyses for previous license renewal applications and concluded that a 50-mile r adius could reasonably be expected to contain potential environmental impact sites and that the state was appropriate as the geographic area for comparative analysis. NMC has adopted this approach for identifying the PINGP minority and low-income populations that could be affected by PINGP operations. NMC used 2000 census data from the USCB with geographic information system software (ArcGIS) to determine the minorit y characteristics by block group. NMC included a block group if any part of its area lay within 50 miles of PINGP. The 50-mile radius includes 2,197 block grou ps (TtNUS 2006a) (Table 2.5-2). 2.5.3.1 Minority Populations The NRC Procedural Guidance for Preparing Environmental Assessments and Considering Environmental Iss ues defines a "minority" populat ion as: American Indian or Alaskan Native; Asian; Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander; Black Races, and Hispanic Ethnicity (NRC 2004). Additionally, NRC's guidance requires that (1) all other single minorities are to be treated as one population and analyzed, (2) multi-racial populations are to be analyzed, and (3) the aggregate of all minority populations are to be treated as one population and analyzed.

The guidance indicates that a minority population exists if either of t he following two conditions exists:

• The minority population in the census block group or environmental impact site exceeds 50 percent.

• The minority population percentage of the environmental impact area is significantly greater (typically at leas t 20 percentage points) than the minority population percentage in t he geographic area chosen for comparative analysis.

For each of the 2,197 block groups within the 50-mile radius, NMC calculated the percent of the block group's population represented by each minority. If any block group minority percentage exceeded 50 percent, then the block group was identified as containing a minority population. NMC selected the ent ire State of Minnesota as the geographic area for comparative analysis for block groups located within Minnesota, and calculated the percentages of each minority category in the St ate. NMC selected the entire State of Wisconsin as the geographic area for comparative analysis for block groups located within Wisconsin, and calc ulated the percentages of each minority category in the State. If any block group percentage exceeded the corresponding State percentage by more than 20 percentage points, then a minor ity population was determined to exist (TtNUS 2006a). SITE AND ENVIRONMENTAL INTERFACES Page 2-22 Prairie Island Nuclear Generating Plant License Renewal Application Appendix E - Environmental Report SITE AND ENVIRONMENTAL INTERFACES Page 2-23 Census data for Minnesota characterizes 1.

14 percent of the population as American Indian or Alaskan Native; 2.94 percent Asi an; 0.04 percent Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander; 3.55 percent Bl ack races; 1.36 percent all other single minorities; 1.71 percent multi-racial; 10.

73 percent aggregate of minorit y races; and 2.96 percent Hispanic ethnicity. Census data for Wisc onsin characterizes 0.89 percent of the population as American Indian or Alaskan Native; 1.68 percent Asian; 0.03 percent Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander; 5.

75 percent Black races; 1.60 percent all other single minorities; 1.26 percent mult i-racial; 11.21 percent aggregate of minority races; and 3.64 percent Hispanic ethnicity (TtNUS 2006a).

Table 2.5-2 presents the numbers of block groups in each county in the 50-mile radius that exceed the threshold for minority popula tions. Figures 2.5-1 through 2.5-7 locate the minority block groups within the 50-mile radius. As seen in the table and figures, there were no block groups identified in Wisconsin with significant minority populations.

• One hundred and thirty-one census blo ck groups within the 50-mile radius have Black races populations that meet the NRC criteria for a minority population (Figure 2.5-1).

• Three census block groups within the 50-mile radius have American Indian or Alaska Native populations that meet the NRC criteria for a minority population. All three bloc k groups are located in Hennepin County.

• Fifty-four census block groups wit hin the 50-mile radius have Asian populations that meet the NRC criteria for a minority population.

• Eleven census block groups within the 50-mile radius have Other Race populations that meet the NRC criteria for a minority population.

• One census block group within the 50-mile radius has a Multi-Racial population that meets the NRC criteria for a minority population.

• Three-hundred and twelve census blo ck groups within the 50-mile radius have Aggregate populations that meet the NRC cr iteria for a minority population.

• Fifty census block groups within the 50-mile radius have Hispanic populations that meet the NRC criteria for a minority population. Adjacent to the PINGP site is the Pr airie Island Indian Community, home to the descendants of the Mdewakanton Band of the Eastern Dakota, also known as the Mississippi or Minnesota Sioux (PIIC Undat ed). The Shakopee-Mdewakanton Sioux (Dakota) Indian Reservation, located in Scott County, also lies within the 50-mile radius.

The locations of these reservations are shown on Figure 2.5-2. Except for the Prairie Island Indian Community, the census blo ck groups containing mi nority populations are predominantly in the Minneapolis area and more than thirty miles from PINGP.

Prairie Island Nuclear Generating Plant License Renewal Application Appendix E - Environmental Report 2.5.3.2 Low-Income Populations NRC guidance defines low-income populations based on statistical poverty thresholds (NRC 2004) if either of the following two conditions are met:

• The low-income population in the cens us block group or the environmental impact site exceeds 50 percent.

• The percentage of households below the poverty level in an environmental impact area is significantly greater (typic ally at least 20 percentage points) than the low-income population percentage in the geographic area chosen for comparative analysis. NMC divided USCB low-income households in each census block group by the total households for that block group to obtain the percentage of low-income households per block group. Using the State of Minnesota as the geographical area chosen for comparative analysis for block groups within Minnesota, NMC identif ied 7.91 percent of Minnesota as low-income households (TtNUS 2006a). Using the State of Wisconsin as the geographical area chosen for comparative analysis for block groups within Wisconsin, NMC identified 8.38 percent of Wisconsin as low-income households (TtNUS 2006a). Table 2.5-2 i dentifies the low-income blo ck groups in the region of interest, based on NRC's two criteria. Fi gure 2.5-8 locates the low-income block groups. Eighty-nine census block groups within the 50-mile radius have lo w-income households that meet the NRC criteria for a low-income population. The census block groups containing low-income populations are predominantly in the Minneapolis/St. Paul area and are all over thirty miles from PINGP. SITE AND ENVIRONMENTAL INTERFACES Page 2-24 Prairie Island Nuclear Generating Plant License Renewal Application Appendix E - Environmental Report 2.6 AREA ECONOMIC BASE To discuss economic information pertinent to the License Renewal process, NMC will focus on Goodhue and Dakota counties, Minnes ota and Pierce County, Wisconsin. Approximately 83 percent of PINGP's wo rkforce resides in these counties (see Section 3.4), which lie within the Minneapolis-St. Paul-St. Cloud, MN-WI CSA. With a year 2000 population of 3,271,888, this CSA experienced an increase in population of 16.4 percent between 1990 and 2000 (USCB 2003). 2.6.1 LABOR FORCE AND EM PLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES In 2006, Goodhue and Dakota counties had estimated labor forces of 25,217 and 232,232 persons, respectively. Since 2000, the labor force in Goodhue County has remained essentially unchanged, increasing by less than one percent. However, Dakota County, which is closer to the Minneapolis-St. Paul metropolitan area, has experienced an increase of seven percent in the labor force since 2000. Pierce County, Wisconsin had an estimated labor force of 23

,809 in 2006, an increase of 3.9 percent from the labor force of 22,909 in 2000 (U.S. Department of Labor 2006).

Local government was the largest employ er in Goodhue County in 2005, followed by manufacturing and retail trade. Dakota County's largest employment sectors were retail trade, manufacturing, and health care and social assistance, in that order. In Pierce County, Wisconsin, state and local government was the county's largest industry sector in 2005, with retail trade ranking second, and health care and social assistance ranking third (BEA 2007). Major employers (greater than 300 employees) for Goodhue, Dakota, and Pierce counties are listed in Tables 2.6-1 through 2.6-3. 2.6.2 POTENTIAL FOR ECONOMIC GROWTH Goodhue County is growing, particularly citi es and townships along the two highway corridors, US Highways 61 and 52.

The growth experienced along Highway 52 is not unique to Goodhue County; Dakota and Olms ted counties are experiencing similar growth. The three county area acts as a corridor between the Twin Cities Metro Area and Rochester. As the Twin Cities Metro Area continues to expand and commuting distances increase, more growth is ex pected in this region (Goodhue County Land Use Management 2004). Dakota County has grown in the same manner as other areas surrounding Minneapolis and St. Paul, with areas closer to the ur ban core developing earlier and more densely; and areas further out developing more slowly and at lower densities. In general, the northwestern section of the county holds the overwhelming majority of dwelling units and businesses, with the southeastern portion still mainly open and agricultural in nature (Market Research Partners, Inc. 2002).

Pierce County population is projected to in crease, but because a gr eater share of the population will be over 50 years old, total labor force growth will stall. The aging population will also impact t he economy as the elderly demand changes in types of SITE AND ENVIRONMENTAL INTERFACES Page 2-25 Prairie Island Nuclear Generating Plant License Renewal Application Appendix E - Environmental Report goods and services provided in local communiti es (Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development 2004). SITE AND ENVIRONMENTAL INTERFACES Page 2-26 Prairie Island Nuclear Generating Plant License Renewal Application Appendix E - Environmental Report

2.7 TAXES

This subsection focuses on Goodhue County bec ause, other than a St ate General Tax, the property taxes for the PINGP site are paid only to ta xing jurisdictions within Goodhue County. NSP is assessed annual property taxes for the PINGP site by Goodhue County, the City of Red Wing, and School District 256. The Minnesota Department of Revenue (DOR) is in the process of possibly revising its current utility company valuation rule. According to a fiscal impact study prepared by the DO R and based on the latest draft of the revised rule, the amount of property tax revenue received by the city of Red Wing and Goodhue County would decrease by approximately $1.4 million and $1.2 million annually, respectively. In order to stabilize these communities for their anticipated loss of property tax revenue from NSP due to a rule change, NSP executed revenue stabilization agreements with Red Wing and Goodhue County representatives in November 2006 (City of Red Wing, Minnesota and NSP 2006).

NSP is also assessed the State General Tax, however, it will not be analyzed here because the state's revenues are very large and NSP's payment s represent an extrem ely small percentage of those revenues. Nuclear fuel is not tax ed in the State of Minnesota and therefore is not included in the site's property tax assessment. Property taxes are paid directly to Goodhue County, which in turn distributes the money to the af orementioned taxing jurisdictions. Property taxes are the chief source of revenue for Minnesota counties, generally providing between 30 and 50 perc ent of their revenues (AMC 2002).

From 2001 through 2005, Goodhue County collected between $20.6 and $22.3 million annually in property tax revenues (see Tabl e 2.7-1). Goodhue County property tax revenues fund, among other things, county operations, public safety, public works, cultural and recreational programs, human services, health services, roadway maintenance, economic development, and conservation programs (Hove 2006).

Table 2.7-1 details the property tax payments made by the owners of PINGP for the same years. From 2001 to 2005, PINGP property tax payments represented 16.6 to 27.5 percent of Goodhue County's total property tax revenues.

From 2001 through 2006, the City of Red Wi ng collected between $8.9 and $11.6 million annually in property tax revenues (see Table 2.7-1). The City of Red Wing's property tax revenues fund city operations. Table 2.7-1 details the property tax payments made by the owners of PINGP for the same year

s. From 2001 to 2006, NSP property tax payments represent ed 52.3 to 36.4 percent of the City of Red Wing's total property tax revenues. Due to small PING P payment decreases and increases in the City's total revenues collected, NSP's payment percentages are trending downward.

From 2002 through 2006, the School Distric t 256 collected between $6.5 and $6.9 million annually in property tax revenues (see Table 2.7-1). From 2002 to 2006, PINGP property tax payments represented 28.5 to 38.0 percent of t he School District 256's total property tax revenues. Prior to 2002, PING P tax payments to School District 256 were significantly larger because the state-determined local school tax was included in School District 256 payments prior to year 2002. The 2001 Tax Law provided for major SITE AND ENVIRONMENTAL INTERFACES Page 2-27 Prairie Island Nuclear Generating Plant License Renewal Application Appendix E - Environmental Report changes in the source of school fundi ng in Minnesota and replaced the state-determined local school tax with the State General Tax, a statewide property tax levied for taxes payable on commercial, industrial a nd seasonal properties. Taxes under the State General Tax are paid in to the State General Fund and redistributed by a state-determined formula to school districts state-wide, in part, based on student numbers. The State General Tax is levied at a uniform rate within each county, and the levy rate is determined by the Commissioner of Revenue (Fredrikson & Byron 2001). In Minnesota, public utilities are valued using cost and income approaches.

Jurisdictional budgets are developed and taxe s are levied to meet those budgets.

Historically, annual property taxes have been gradually decreasing due to depreciation and the growth in Minnesota's residential and commercial tax bases. On the current facilities, NMC expects that trend to continue through the license renewal period. Additionally, state lawmakers are conducting hearings for a rule change that could possibly affect the way commercial entities depreciate their facilities. Currently, NSP is unable to depreciate PINGP to the fullest extent. Should the rule be changed, NSP may be able to employ the new depreciation methods to further reduce the plant's value. Offsetting this trend, however, would be any increase in PINGP's value caused by expansions or improvements to PINGP's facilities. For License Renewal, NMC plans

refurbishment activities that will likely increa se the plant's assessed value, resulting in a corresponding increase in the amount of NSP's property taxes to its taxing jurisdictions.

Since PINGP tax impacts are already of large significance to taxing jurisdictions, as discussed in Section 4.14.2, the potential increase in the plant's assessed value would not alter the analysis of socioeconom ic impacts in this report. With respect to utility deregulation, the State of Minnesota has taken no steps in recent years. Therefore, the potential effects of deregulation are currently unknown. Should deregulation ever be enacted in Minnesota, this could affect utilities' tax payments to counties. However, any changes to PI NGP property tax rates due to deregulation would be independent of license renewal. SITE AND ENVIRONMENTAL INTERFACES Page 2-28 Prairie Island Nuclear Generating Plant License Renewal Application Appendix E - Environmental Report 2.8 SOCIAL SERVICES AND PUBLIC FACILITIES 2.8.1 PUBLIC WATER SUPPLY As discussed in Section 3.4, 83 percent of employees at PINGP reside in Goodhue and Dakota Counties, MN and Pi erce County, WI. Consequent ly, the discussion of public water supply systems will be limit ed to those three counties.

As discussed in Section 2.2.5, from 2000 through 2005 PINGP used an average of 92 gallons per minute (gpm) [48.4 million gallons per year] of groundwater from six onsite groundwater wells. The highest average produc tion rate for this period was 118 gpm (62 million gallons per year) in 2005. Five of the site wells require permits from the MN DNR. The well that supplies domestic water to the administration building does not require a permit due to its low production rate s (Table 2.2-4). The well that supplies water to the Training Center for domestic use (256074) is also used for the lawn irrigation system at the facility. Domestic use from 2000 through 2005 for the Training Center well was at a rate of 3 gpm (Tt NUS 2006b). Two of the wells (Wells 256120 and 256121) have a combined maximum permitted yield of 50 million gallons per year (95 gpm) for power plant operations (MN DNR 2 005a). For the period from 2000 through 2005, the wells' average production rates were 32 gpm (Well 256120) and 28 gpm (Well

256121). Two wells (402599 and 611076) supply indu strial cooling wa ter for the plant operations and average a to tal of 27 gpm for the per iod (TtNUS 2006b).

In the vicinity of PINGP and the surrounding r egion, the primary source of potable water is groundwater. Water sources also include surface water, su ch as rivers, lakes, and streams. Table 2.8-1 details municipal wa ter suppliers in the three counties, their permitted capacities or maximum design yields , and their average daily production. As presented in Table 2.8-1, t he reported total annual average withdrawal [17,742 million gallons per year (48.6 m illion gallons per day)] for Dakota, Goodhue, and Pierce Counties represents 8.4 percent of the total permitted/pump design capacity [210,570 million gallons per year (577 m illion gallons per day)] for wells that supply municipal water supplies in these three counties.

According to the Dakota County Environmental and Natural Resources Policy Plan (Dakota County 2005, p. 5), county planners are concerned about the impact projected population growth through 2025 in the county will have on the availability of groundwater as a water source and the possible impacts that over use of the resource could have on surface water resources (trout streams, fens) wh ich are dependent on groundwater. The Dakota County planners are al so concerned about the availability of an adequate water supply due to the potential im pact of pollutants from agricultural and domestic sources on water resources (Dakota County 2005). Goodhue County's

Comprehensive Local Water Management Plan atte mpts to balance the county's natural resources, environmental habits, and growth to obtain a long-term economic and ecological sustainability. T he plan addresses erosion control and stormwater issues as the greatest concern to watershed impacts. Al so, of considerable concern are how to balance growing cities, outdated structures , increasing impervious surfaces and unsustainable farming practices (Goodhue Count y 2005, p.2). Planning officials are SITE AND ENVIRONMENTAL INTERFACES Page 2-29 Prairie Island Nuclear Generating Plant License Renewal Application Appendix E - Environmental Report also concerned with contaminants getting into the groundwater systems because of the county's reliance on groundwater as a source of drinking water and its potential impact on surface water. Planning officials are concerned, as well, with agricultural and household contaminants getting into the groundwater systems because of the county's reliance on groundwater as a source of drinking water and its potential impact on surface water (Goodhue County 2004).

Approximately 70 percent of Wisconsin's private residents and most public water systems use groundwater for their water source. Approximately two billion gallons of water are estimated to be st ored underground in Wisconsin.

Because of this, Wisconsin implemented a program approved by the EPA in 1999 designed to develop capacity for these water systems. A capacity evaluation is required for all new water systems (State of Wisconsin 2000, p.12-14). Pierce County is currently developing data to prepare a comprehensive plan for the county. 2.8.2 TRANSPORTATION Figure 2.8-1 presents the transportation system in Goodhue County within the vicinity of PINGP. Workers commuting to PINGP take one of the following rout es. Workers living in southern and central portion of Dakota County take U.S. Hi ghway (US) 61 east to the intersection of County Road 19, or cont inue to County Road 31 which connects with County Road 18, or simply continue east on US 61 to County Road 18. In either case, employees would proceed north on County R oad 18 until the intersection of Sturgeon Lake Road. Once on Sturgeon Lake Road the directions are the same for all employees. Employees proceed east approx imately 1/2 mile on Sturgeon Lake Road and then turn south on the plant access road and proceed to the PINGP entrance just past the intersection with Wakonade Drive. Wakonade Drive previously provided two way traffic from Sturgeon Lak e Road to Lock and Dam 3. T he road is currently limited to north-bound traffic only (out going) from the PINGP site. The PINGP access road provides two-way traffic access to Lock and Dam 3 via Wakonade Drive. Employees living in the northeastern portion of Dakota County could travel southeast on County Road 18 into Goodhue County and then turn east onto Sturgeon Lake Road. Employees then would proceed as above. Em ployees living in the south and eastern portion of Dakota County could travel US 61 until the intersection of County Road 18.

Once on County Road 18, employees could tr avel north until they turn east at the intersection of Sturgeon Lake Road. On ce on Sturgeon Lake Road, employees would proceed as discussed above.

Pierce County, Wisconsin can be reached vi a US 63, which enters Goodhue County at Red Wing and then intersects with US 61.

Commuters would proceed northwest until the intersection with County Road 18 and proceed as above. Pierce County employees can also cross the Mississippi River in the Prescott/Hastings vicinity via US 10 from Prescott through the southern portion of Washington County, Minnesota and connect

with US 61 and proceed south through Hast ings and then connect to State Road 316 southeast until the intersection with Goodhue County Road 68. Traffic would then proceed northeast to County Road 18 and proceed southeast unt il the intersection with SITE AND ENVIRONMENTAL INTERFACES Page 2-30 Prairie Island Nuclear Generating Plant License Renewal Application Appendix E - Environmental Report Sturgeon Lake Road. Potential employees could also travel on County Road 54 from its intersection with US 61 in Hastings and follow County Road 54 until its intersection with County Road 68. Employees would then proceed on County Road 68 east until the intersection with County Road 18 and procee d south as discussed above. Employees from Pierce County or from the Hastings area could also travel south and east from Hastings on US 61 until the intersecti on of County Road 18 and proceed north to Sturgeon Lake Road. In determining the significance levels of transportation impacts for license renewal, NRC uses the Transportation Research Board's level of service (LOS) definitions (NRC 1996). The Minnesota Department of Transportation makes LOS determinations for roadways involved in specific projects. However, there are no current LOS determinations for the roadways analyzed in this document (Bjornstad 2006). As LOS data is unavailable, annual average daily tr affic (AADT) volumes are substituted along with Road/Highway capacity data. Table 2.8-2 lists the roadways PINGP workers would use, their Minnesota Department of Transportation (Mn/DOT) road classifications, the number of lanes, and traffic data. Table 2.8-2 data indicate that current AADTs are well below maximum capacities for th e roads leading to PINGP. SITE AND ENVIRONMENTAL INTERFACES Page 2-31 Prairie Island Nuclear Generating Plant License Renewal Application Appendix E - Environmental Report 2.9 LAND USE 2.9.1 GOODHUE COUNTY Historical and Existing Land Use Goodhue County is located s outheast of the Minneapolis-S

t. Paul metropolitan area along the Minnesota-Wisconsin border, and north west of the Rochester metropolitan area. The County covers approx imately 499,369 acres of land. Existing land use in the County is as follows: agricultural land -

64 percent, deciduous forests - 20 percent, grassland - 10 percent, farmsteads and other rural developments - 2 percent, areas that are urbanized or industrialized - 1 percent, wetlands - 1 percent, and other - 2 percent (Goodhue County 2004).

Although Goodhue County remains largely u ndeveloped, the Count y's population has experienced some growth (Section 2.5.1) and state and local planning officials expect the county to grow another se ven percent by 2010. The majority of residential, commercial, and industrial development has occurred along two highway corridors, US Highway 61 and US Highway 52. The majority of that growth has been attributed to the US Highway 52 corridor, which connects t he Minneapolis-St. Paul metropolitan area with the Rochester metropolitan area. Regional planners estimate that, as the Minneapolis-St. Paul area continues to expand and commuting distances increase, more growth is expected in this region (Goodhue County 2004).

Goodhue County uses a comprehensive land use plan and zoning and subdivision ordinances to guide development. The ordinances promote the public health, safety, and general welfare of residents; protect agricultural land from urban sprawl; and provide a basis for the orderly development.

The ordinances require building permits, conditional use permits, plat development, zoning district controls, and variance requests; however, the county has no formal growth control measures.

Future Land Use In the Goodhue County Comprehensive Plan (Goodhue County Land Use Management 2004), planners have identified t he following goals for future dev elopment in the County.

Land use, urban expansion, and growth zones goals:

• to preserve the natural environment

• to preserve agricultural land

• to promote growth in cities and rural multiple housing development

• to promote compatible land uses

• to recognize and respond proactively to internal and external growth pressures SITE AND ENVIRONMENTAL INTERFACES Page 2-32 Prairie Island Nuclear Generating Plant License Renewal Application Appendix E - Environmental Report

• to promote balanced growth

• to preserve aggregate deposits (mining resources) Housing and "livable communities" goals:

• to provide adequate housing for all life stages

• to provide a range of housing types for all income levels

• to maintain existing homes

• to build safe and supportive communities

• to offer a variety of transportation opti ons to provide mobility for all citizens

• to provide citizens access to county and local services

• to create and preserve parkland and open space 2.9.2 DAKOTA COUNTY Existing Land Use Dakota County is located south of Minneapo lis and St. Paul and covers approximately 371,200 acres. The Minnesota and Mississippi Rivers form its northern border and freeway bridges span the rivers to link Da kota County commuters to Minneapolis and St. Paul. Land use categories in Dakota Co unty are as follows: agriculture and vacant (65 percent), single-family reside ntial (9 percent), rural estate (2 percent), multi-family (1 percent), commercial (1 percent), industrial (1 percent), airport (1 percent), open water (5 percent), parks and recreation (4 percent), public (4 percent), and road right-of-ways (7 percent) (Dakota County 1999). The majority of the population is concentrated in the northern third of t he County (Dakota County 1999). This once agricultural land has been transformed from farms to bedroom communities to a more diversified form of suburbia characterized by an increase in commercial and industrial development. The other two-thirds remain largely agricultural (Dakota County 1999).

Most of the population growth in Dakota County has taken place since World War II.

County planners state that the majority of land use changes since then have been driven by advancements in transportation.

As the cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul have grown, residential devel opment has expanded to neighbor ing counties, such as Dakota County, and residents commute to the cities for employment (Dakota

County 1999).

In the 1950s and 1960s, the County's devel opment was dominated by large tract suburban developers. Suburban communities dev eloped at this time were the River Hills subdivision in Burnsville, Cedar Grove subdivision in Eagan, South Grove SITE AND ENVIRONMENTAL INTERFACES Page 2-33 Prairie Island Nuclear Generating Plant License Renewal Application Appendix E - Environmental Report subdivision in Inver Grove Heights, Apple Va lley subdivision in Apple Valley, and Valley Park subdivision in Lakeville (Dakota County 1999).

The 1970s and 1980s were characterized by infill development. Also, transportation improvements like the completion of Intersta te 494, Interstate 35 East, and the Cedar Avenue Bridge accelerated the suburbanizati on process. Industrial parks were developed and large multi-family residential projects were c onstructed along Interstate 35 West, State Highway 13, and other transportation corridors (Dakota County 2005).

In the 1990s, Dakota County evolved from a bedroom community to a county with more diverse land use patterns. Employment ra te growth surpassed the residential growth rate. Commercial and industrial land uses continued to expand. Employers moving to the area included West Publishing, Cray Research, Northwest Airlines, and Blue Cross Blue Shield (Dakot a County 2005).

Currently, the northern cities in Dakota C ounty are extensions of St. Paul's early suburbs. The suburban areas are wher e development has been more recent and include: Apple Valley, Burnsville, Eagan, Inver Grove Height s, Mendota Heights, Lillydale, Lakeville, Farmington, and Rosemon

t. Dakota County's to wnships have lower population densities, are dominat ed by agriculture, and most have zoning restrictions of one housing unit per 40 acres (Dakota County 2005).

Future Land Use In general, land use decision-making occurs at the city and town ship level through zoning and the influence of land use planning at the regional level. County goals and policies include (Dakota County 2005):

• Measuring and evaluating development tr ends in Dakota County and the region.

• Preserving agricultural land and farming.

• Promoting land use patterns that value and sustain the natural environment.

• Supporting and encouraging orderly development.

• Encouraging land use patterns and co mmunity design that support pedestrian and transient-oriented development. 2.9.3 PIERCE COUNTY Historic and Existing Land Use Pierce County, covering 378,240 acres, is current ly in the first phase (data collection) of developing a county-wide comprehensive plan (Pierce County Undated). Land development activities are guided by the C ounty's municipalities through the use of local zoning and subdivision regulations until the County plan is complete. SITE AND ENVIRONMENTAL INTERFACES Page 2-34 Prairie Island Nuclear Generating Plant License Renewal Application Appendix E - Environmental Report Future Land Use Pierce County planners report that, between 2002 and 2005, approximately 8 percent of the county's farmland was converted from agric ultural to other uses. Planners estimate that, by 2025, the county may need to accommodate over 7,000 acres of new residential, commercial, and industrial land along with additional acreage needed for infrastructure, parks, community facilities, and similar uses (Pierce County Undated). SITE AND ENVIRONMENTAL INTERFACES Page 2-35 Prairie Island Nuclear Generating Plant License Renewal Application Appendix E - Environmental Report 2.10 HISTORIC AND ARCHAEOLOGICAL RESOURCES The Mississippi River and its tributaries have pl ayed an important role in the history of the region, both during prehistoric times and after the arrival of European explorers and settlers. Until the coming of the railroads in the 1860s, the Mississippi River was the main travel thoroughfare and the way most goods moved in and out of the region. This explains the high density of prehistoric and historic sites along the Upper Mississippi River and in the Red Wing and Prairie Island areas. Prehistory The first Indians moved into southern Minnesota 10

,000 to 12,000 years ago when the glaciers receded and the forests and prairies reappeared. There is evidence of four major prehistoric cultural periods: Paleo-Indi an (to 8,000 BC), Archaic (8,000 BC to 500 BC), Woodland (500 BC to 900 AD), and Mississi ppian (900 AD to arrival of Europeans) (Scullin 1996). When the Fr ench explorers and Voyageurs a rrived in the 17th century, the area now known as Minnesota was dominated by two Indian tribes, the Dakota (later called Sioux by the Fr ench) and the Ojibway (sometimes referred to as Chippewa) (Willis 1914, State of Minnesota 2001). History The first European to explore the Upper Mi ssissippi River region was Father Louis Hennepin, who was captured in 1680 near Milles Lacs by a Dakota war party and "discovered" Lake Pepin and St. Anthony Falls while a captive (Willis 1910). Another Frenchman, Nicholas Perrot, established a trading post in 1685 at Trempealau on the east bank of the Mississippi River, and a sec ond trading post (Fort Saint-Antoine) in 1686 on Lake Pepin (Kneisler 1999). Frenchm an Pierre Charles LeSeuer explored the region at the confluence of the Mississippi and Minnesota rivers, where Ft. Snelling was later established, and also built a trading post on Prairie Island around 1695 (AEC 1973). The French under Rene Boucher established a fort (Fort Beauharnois) and mission on the Mississippi River at Frontenac around 1727 to trade furs with the Dakota people (MN DNR 2005b). The chapel at Fort Beauharnois, named the Mission of St. Michael the Archangel, may have been the first church in Minnesota. Fort Beauharnois and the Frontenac settlement were abandoned in 1763, when the Treaty of Paris ended the Seven Years' War (French and Indian War) and most of France's lands in the New World were divided between England and Spain. The Louisiana Purchase in 1803 largely ended the French pr esence in the U.S.

In 1819, a U.S. Army conti ngent began building Fort Snelling, which they completed in 1825 (Minnesota Historical Society 2006). For 30 years, Fort Snelling was the most important American outpost in th e region, and a meeting place for officials of the U.S.

government and representatives of the Dakota and Ojibwa y peoples. The American and Columbia fur companies built headquarters in the area, and their employees settled SITE AND ENVIRONMENTAL INTERFACES Page 2-36 Prairie Island Nuclear Generating Plant License Renewal Application Appendix E - Environmental Report at nearby Mendota with thei r families. Emigrants fr om the east and from Europe arrived, and formed the settlement that became the city of St. Paul.

Under a treaty signed at Mendota in 1851, Europeans were allowed to make their homes on the west bank of the Mississippi River (City of Red Wing 2003). Red Wing was incorporated as a city in 1857. The te rritory of Minnesota became the 32nd state in 1858. Initial Construction and Operation of PINGP The Final Environmental Stat ement related to the Prairi e Island Nuclear Generating Plant (AEC 1973) identifies thr ee sites with historical signific ance within a 6-mile radius of PINGP and lists five more historical sites in the "plant region" (within 35 miles). The three sites in the six-mile radius were the Bartron Site (less than one mile from PINGP), the Silvernale Site (4.5 miles from PING P), and the Fort Sweeney site (6 miles from PINGP).

The Bartron Site is particularly noteworthy. As discussed in the Final Environmental Statement related to the Prairie Island Nuclear Generating Pl ant (AEC 1973, p. II-28), the AEC consulted with the St ate Archaeologist in the course of reviewing the NSP application for a construction permit. The AEC did so because previous archaeological surveys in the Mississippi River valley near Red Wing demonstr ated that a large number of prehistoric sites were present, and that undisturbed portions of Prairie Island, in particular, contained "many undisturbed burial mounds and a large village habitation occupied by late prehistoric (Mississippian) peoples" (AEC 1973, p. II-28). The State Archaeologist subsequently uncovered parts of this village on the Prairie Island site. This village, later named the Bartron Site, was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1970. Evidence suggests that the site was occupied for a relatively short time by people of the Oneota culture, who fished and hunted small game and were more

reliant on wild plants (wild rice, acorns, plum s) than cultivated plant s (corn). The site was first surveyed by T.H. Lewis in 1885, but little formal archaeology has been undertaken at the Bartron Site. Archaeological excavation has uncovered various subsurface features, such as fire hearths, storage/refuse pits, and postmolds. Parts of two houses were found, and possibly a portion of a palisade. The Bartron Site is much like other 11 th century villages in the Red Wing lo cality in the types of artifacts recovered, but with far less evidence of Middle Mississippian influence (Institute for Minnesota Archaeology 1999a). An Institute for Minnesota Archaeology report notes that the site is "not adequately dated" but probably dates to the period 1050-1300 A.D (Institute for Minnesota Archaeology 1999b).

Current Status As of September 2006, the National Register of Historic Places listed 60 properties in Goodhue County (NPS 2006c). Thirty four of these are in Red Wing and may fall within a 6 mile radius of PINGP. The National Regi ster also listed seven properties in Pierce County, Wisconsin, across the Mississippi Rive r from PINGP. Two of these appear to fall within a 6-mile radius of PINGP. SITE AND ENVIRONMENTAL INTERFACES Page 2-37 Prairie Island Nuclear Generating Plant License Renewal Application Appendix E - Environmental Report As of September 2006, the Depar tment of the Interior also listed five sites that have been determined eligible for listing (NPS 2006c) on the National Register of Historic Places in Goodhue County and two sites in Pi erce County. At least three of the Goodhue County sites appear to lie within a 6-mile radius of PINGP. Table 2.10-1 lists the National Register of Historic Places sites within the 6-mile radius of PINGP. NMC conducted a cultural resource assessment in September 2007 to identify all previously recorded archaeological sites and ar chitectural history properties, as well as previously conducted cultural resource investigations within the boundaries of PINGP. Reviews of records from the Minnesota State Historic Preservation Office and the Wisconsin Historic Preservation Database were performed to locate previously-identified archeological site s within one mile of PINGP.

According to the records on file at SHPO, four professional archaeological surveys and one testing project have been conducted within the study area to date. Within the boundaries of the PINGP, sev en archaeological sites have been recorded (confirmed) (The 106 Group 2008).

Although not recorded as a professional investigation, Elden Johnson conducted salvage data recovery operations at three precontact sites in the PINGP study area in the late 1960s. Elden Johnson is considered t he first investigator to apply scientifically based methods to the archaeological study of the region. Johnson did not always publish reports of his findings; however, his work is recorded on archaeological site forms with the SHPO office.

After NSP purchased the l and on Prairie Island, they sponsored data recovery operations directed by Johnson for the Bartron Site and two mound sites. Johnson nominated the Bartron si te to the National Register of Historic Places in 1970. This site is the only property within the study area that is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Three compliance surveys have been conducted within the study area since El den Johnson's salvage work. N one of these yielded any findings (The 106 Group 2008). SITE AND ENVIRONMENTAL INTERFACES Page 2-38 Prairie Island Nuclear Generating Plant License Renewal Application Appendix E - Environmental Report 2.11 KNOWN OR REASONABLY FORESEEABLE PROJECTS IN SITE VICINITY EPA-Permitted Dischargers to Air, Water, and Soil In its "Envirofacts Warehouse" online database, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency identifies dischargers to air, water, and soil.

A search on Goodhue County, Minnesota determined that 42 industries produce and release air pollutants; 16 facilities have reported toxic releases; 300 facilities have reported hazardous waste activities; and 35 facilities are permitted to discharge to the waters of the Un ited States. There are no Superfund sites in Goodhue County (EPA 2006g).

A search of Dakota County, Minnesota determined that 117 industries produce and release air pollutants; 61 facilities have reported toxic releases; 500 facilities have reported hazardous waste activities; 5 potentia l hazardous waste site s are part of the Superfund program; and 41 facilities are permitted to discharge to the waters of the United States (EPA 2006g). An Envirofacts search for Pierce County industries determined that 17 industries produce and release air pollutants; 6 facilities have reported toxic releases; 190 facilities have reported hazardous waste activities; and 11 facilities are permitted to discharge to the waters of the United St ates. There are no Superfund sites in Pierce County, Wisconsin (EPA 2006g). Federal Facilities in the Vicinity of PINGP USACE owns and operates five dams (with locks) within a 50-mile radius of PINGP (Figure 2.1-1). To achieve a 9-foot channel in the Upper Mississippi River, the construction of a system of navigation locks and dams was authorized in 1930. Upper St. Anthony Falls Lock and Dam began operation in 1963. Lower St. Anthony Falls Lock and Dam began operation in 1956. The dams are located at river mile 853.9 and portions of both are owned by Xcel Energy (USACE 2006b).

Lock and Dam 1 is also located in the Minneapolis/St. Paul area at river mile 847.9.

In operation since 1917, the dam contains a hydroelectric power station owned and operated by Ford Motor Company (USACE 2006b). Lock and Dam 2, near Hastings, is approximately 16 miles upstream of PINGP. It was completed in 1930 and includes a small hydr oelectric power plant owned and operated by the City of Hastings. Lock and Dam 3, completed in 1938, is located approximately one mile downstream of PINGP (USACE 2006b). Two long-standing and related problems at Lock and Dam 3 involve navigation safety and the Wisconsin embankments. Because t he dam was constructed on a bend in the river with the lock on the outside of the bend, an outdraft current sweeps across the upper lock approach toward the gated part of the dam. This outdraft current makes navigation difficult and has caused many navigation accidents. Since 1963, 11 accidents have occurred when tows collided with the gated part of the dam. Navigation accidents can result in barges blocking one of t he four roller gates in the gated part of SITE AND ENVIRONMENTAL INTERFACES Page 2-39 Prairie Island Nuclear Generating Plant License Renewal Application Appendix E - Environmental Report SITE AND ENVIRONMENTAL INTERFACES Page 2-40 the dam, resulting in a rise in water level in navigation Pool 3 and increased flow over the Wisconsin embankments when there is head at the dam, creating a highly erosive situation. Corps planners have evidenced concern that the Wisconsin embankments could fail rapidly because of the weak soil conditions in that area, opening up a scour channel around Lock and Dam 3 that would cause an accidental drawdown of Pool 3 (USACE 2006a). USACE recently published the Final Int egrated General Reevaluation Report and Environmental Impact Statem ent for Lock and Dam 3 Mi ssissippi River Navigation Safety and Embankments. The report offers a plan to improve navigation safety and strengthen the Wisconsin embankments at Lock and Dam 3 and assesses the environmental impacts of the proposed modifi cations. The improvements are intended to reduce the risk of accidental draw down of Pool 3 (USACE 2006a). Industries in the Vicinity of PINGP The area within five miles of PINGP is dev oted almost exclusively to agricultural pursuits. Outside of the City of Red Wi ng, very few industrial facilities exist.

The Treasure Island Resort and Casino owned by the Prairie Island Indian Community is located approximately one m ile from the plant. In addi tion to a hotel, casino, and marina, Prairie Island Indian Community also operates a wastewater treatment facility. A gasoline station/convenience store is located approximatel y one-mile west-northwest from PINGP. Several factories, textile mills, and laborator ies in Red Wing lie within 5 miles of PINGP (NMC 2007). Other Generating Facilities in the Vicinity of PINGP Two small hydroelectric facilities are located upstream of PINGP at Lock and Dam 1 and 2. The Ford Motor Company operates a hydroelectric plant at Lock and Dam 1. The City of Hastings operates another hydr oelectric facility at Lock and Dam 2 (USACE 2006b). Several Xcel Energy plants are located within 50 miles of PINGP. The closest plant to PINGP is Red Wing Steam Plant, a two-unit 20 MW plant in Red Wing that burns processed municipal solid wast e, called refuse-derived fuel (RDF). Other Xcel plants within 50 miles include Hennepin Island, Inver Hills, West Faribault, Blue Lake, Black Dog, High Bridge, Riverside, and Allen S. King Generating Plants (Xcel Energy 2006).

All run on coal, natural gas, or distillate fuel oil (Xcel Energy 2003), with the exception of Hennepin Island, which is a five-unit hydroelectr ic plant located at St. Anthony's falls in Minneapolis. Dairyland Power Cooperative operates two coal-fired plant s on the Mississippi River in Alma, Wisconsin, approximately 45 miles downstr eam of PINGP. The Alma Station is a five-unit plant with a capacity of 210 MW. Th e John P. Madgett Station (JPM), a single unit station, is just south of the Alma Station and has a generating capacity of 400 MW (Dairyland 2006).

Prairie Island Nuclear Generating Plant License Renewal Application Appendix E - Environmental Report CONCLUSIONS Having evaluated environmental conditions in t he vicinity of the PINGP site in this section and assessed potential impacts of lic ense renewal in Chapter 4, NMC has not identified any obvious cumulative impacts and has not extended the discussion of potential cumulative impacts into Chapter 4, "Environmental Consequences of the Proposed Action and Mitigating Actions." SITE AND ENVIRONMENTAL INTERFACES Page 2-41 Prairie Island Nuclear Generating Plant License Renewal Application Appendix E - Environmental Report SITE AND ENVIRONMENTAL INTERFACES Page 2-42 TABLE 2.2-1 USGS GAGING STATIONS USGS Station River Mile Drainage Area (mi

2) Available Record Prescott (#5344500) 811.4 44,800 1928-2005 Winona (#5378500) 725.7 59,200 1928-2005 TABLE 2.2-2 MISSISSIPPI RIVER FLOW STATISTICS AT USGS GAGING STATIONS U.S.G.S. Station Annual Mean Highest Annual Mean Lowest Annual Mean Lowest Daily Mean Prescott (#5344500) 18,380 cf s 38,540 cfs 4,367 cfs 1,380 cfs Winona (#5378500) 29,590 cfs 56,850 cfs 9,742 cfs 2,250 cfs cfs - cubic feet per second TABLE 2.2-3 DISCHARGE FLOW AT LOCK AND DAM 3 Discharge Flow at Lock and Dam 3 (cubic feet per second) 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 Monthly AverageJanuary 10,790 8,974 9,110 10, 932 9,229 6,661 9,913 17,790 10,425 February 12,589 9,548 8,364 10, 104 7,871 6,728 11,575 18,186 10,621 March 17,897 22,219 9,910 11,497 13,210 15,055 14,668 20,774 15,654 April 42,013 15,570 112,400 40, 657 25,613 24,673 44,730 51,413 44,634 May 47,426 18,839 82,655 33,974 42,194 19,432 30,977 40,997 39,562June 34,423 22,070 53,177 26,323 27,413 45,987 39,157 21,510 33,758 July 27,548 21,052 23,981 34,597 32,739 19,510 21,897 7,800 23,641 August 24,432 10,026 12,165 29,065 10,084 10,606 9,761 7,648 14,223September 18,013 6,687 9,193 24, 513 7,087 19,227 15,180 6,453 13,294October 14,200 6,790 9,577 28, 600 6,771 19,532 35,948 7,252 16,084November 13,243 17,463 11,040 18, 467 8,167 21,943 19,170 7,133 14,578December 9,671 9,558 13,813 12, 135 8,310 12,258 19,123 6,771 11,455 Total/Year 272,245 168,796 355,385 280,86 4198,688221,612272,099 213,72 7247,927 Annual Average for 1999-2006 247,927 Annual Average for 2000-2005 249,574 Prairie Island Nuclear Generating Plant License Renewal Application Appendix E - Environmental Report 2004 18,576,900 13,336,200 104 2003 10,648,800 14,248,900 80 2002 18,958,300 11,609,300

-- 76 2001 16,974,300 16,372,060

-- 90 2000 13,676,800 12,812,800

-- 76 Ave/yr 16,611,400 14,718,810 91 2005 117 Permit 965042 -Training center a (Gallons)

Total Annual Year Administration Building Non Permitted Well b

• Permit 690171 a Well 256120 -Installation 121 (Gallons) Permit 690171 a Well 256121 -Installation 122(Gallons) Permit 785153 a Well 611076 -Steam Power CT Well (Gallons) Permit 865114 a Well 402599 - Screen House (Gallons)

Domestic Irrigation Gallons Gallons per Minute 5,280,430 15,517,800 846,800 978,100 54,536,230 4,163,190 10,969,500 647,000 1,237,000 41,914,390 3,550,800 4,280,700 1,674,100 40,073,200 3,663,190 7,267,700 2,971,700 47,248,950 3,745,780 7,474,900 2,242,900 39,953,180 Total 2000-2005 563,100 99,668,400 88,312,860 27,233,600 57,566,295 9,510,500 3,033,300 285,324,955 4,538,933 9,594,383 1,585,083 505,550 47,554,159 gpm 1.07 32 gpm 28 gpm 9 gpm 18 gpm 3 gpm 1 gpm 91 563,100 20,833,300 19,933,600 6,830,210 12,055,695 1,128,000 818,200 61,599,005 TABLE 2.2-4 PINGP GROUNDWATER USE TABLE

References:

a. NSP 2001, NSP 2002, NSP 2003, NSP 2004, NSP 2005, NSP 2006 b. Bergland 2006

• Not included in Total Annual column due to lack of data.

SITE AND ENVIRONMENTAL INTERFACES Page 2-43

Prairie Island Nuclear Generating Plant License Renewal Application Appendix E - Environmental Report TABLE 2.3-1 THREATENED AND ENDANGERED SPEC IES POTENTIALLY AFFECTED BY OPERATION OF PINGP AND ASSOCIATED TRANSMISSION LINES 1 Scientific Name Common Name Federal Status 2State Status 2 (Minnesota) State Status 2(Wisconsin)

Mammals Perognathus flavescens Plains Pocket Mouse - SSC NA Birds Buteo lineatus Red-shouldered Hawk - SSC NA Cygnus buccinator Trumpeter Swan - T NA Dendroica cerulea Cerulean Warbler - SSC NA Falco peregrinus Peregrine Falcon - T NA Haliaeetus leucocephalus Bald Eagle 3- SSC NA Lanius ludovicianus Loggerhead Shrike - T NA Sterna forsteri Forster's Tern - SSC NA Wilsonia citrina Hooded Warbler - SSC NA Amphibians and Reptiles Acris crepitans Northern Cricket Frog - E NA Apalone mutica Smooth Softshell Turtle - SSC NA Clemmys insculpta Wood Turtle 3- T NA Coluber constrictor Eastern Racer - SSC NA Crotalus horridus Timber Rattlesnake - T NA Emydoidea blandingii Blanding's Turtle 3- T NA Pituophis catenifer Gopher Snake - SSC NA Fish Acipenser fulvescens Lake Sturgeon - SSC SC Alosa chrysochloris Skipjack Herring - SSC E Ammocrypta asprella Crystal Darter - SSC E Anguilla rostrata American Eel - - SC Clinostomus elongatus Redside Dace - - SC Cycleptus elongatus Blue Sucker - SSC T Etheostoma asprigene Mud Darter - - SC Etheostoma clarum Western Sand Darter - - SC Fundulus diaphanus Banded Killifish - - SC Hiodon alosoides Goldeye - - E Ictiobus niger Black Buffalo - SSC T Macrhybopsis aestivalis Shoal Chub - - T Macrhybopsi storeiana Silver Chub - - SC Moxostoma carinatum River Redhorse - - T Notropis amnis Pallid Shiner - SSC E Notropis texanus Weed Shiner - - SC Opsopoeodus emiliae Pugnose Minnow - - SC Polyodon spathula Paddlefish - T T Mussels Actinonaias ligamentina Mucket - T Alasmidonta marginata Elktoe - T SC Arcidens confragosus Rock Pocketbook - E T Cumberlandia monodonta Spectaclecase C T E SITE AND ENVIRONMENTAL INTERFACES Page 2-44 Prairie Island Nuclear Generating Plant License Renewal Application Appendix E - Environmental Report TABLE 2.3-1 (CONTINUED) THREATENED AND ENDANGERED SPEC IES POTENTIALLY AFFECTED BY OPERATION OF PINGP AND ASSOCIATED TRANSMISSION LINES 1 Scientific Name Common Name Federal Status 2State Status 2 (Minnesota) State Status 2(Wisconsin) Mussels (continued)

Cyclonaias tuberculata Purple Wartyback - T E Ellipsaria lineolata Butterfly - T E Elliptio crassidens Elephant-ear - E E Elliptio dilatata Spike - SSC - Epioblasma triquetra Snuffbox - T E Fusconaia ebena Ebonyshell - E E Lampsilis higginsi Higgins Eye 3 E E E Lampsilis teres Yellow/Slough Sandshell - E E Lasmigona costata Fluted-shell - SSC - Ligumia recta Black Sandshell - SSC - Megalonaias nervosa Washboard - T SC Obovaria olivaria Hickory nut - SSC - Plethobasus cyphyus Sheepnose (bullhead)

C E E Pleurobema sintoxia fka P. coccineum Round Pigtoe - T SC Quadrula fragosa Winged Mapleleaf E E E Quadrula metanevra Monkeyface - T T Quadrula nodulata Wartyback - E - Tritogonia verrucosa Pistolgrip (buckhorn) - T T Insects Aflexia rubranura Red Tailed Prairie Leafhopper - SSC - Gompherus externus Plains clubtail

- SC Ophiogomphus smithi Sand snaketail - - SC Neurocordulia molesta Smoky shadowfly - - SC Speyeria idalia Regal Fritillary - SSC - Stylurus plagiatus Russet-tipped clubtail - - SC Plants Agalinis auriculata Eared False Foxglove - E NA Aristida tuberculosa Sea-beach Needlegrass - SSC NA Arnoglossum plantagineum Tuberous Indian-plantain - T NA Asclepias amplexicaulis Clasping Milkweed - SSC NA Asclepias sullivantii Sullivant's Milkweed - T NA Besseya bullii Kitten-tails - T NA Botrychium oneidense Blunt-lobed Grapefern - E NA Botrychium rugulosum St. Lawerence Grapefern - T NA Carex sterilis Sterile Sedge - T NA Cirsium hillii Hill's Thistle - SSC NA Cladium mariscoides Twig-rush - SSC NA Cristatella jamesii James' Polanisia - E NA Cypripedium candidum Small White Lady's-slipper - SSC NA SITE AND ENVIRONMENTAL INTERFACES Page 2-45 Prairie Island Nuclear Generating Plant License Renewal Application Appendix E - Environmental Report SITE AND ENVIRONMENTAL INTERFACES Page 2-46 TABLE 2.3-1 (CONTINUED) THREATENED AND ENDANGERED SPEC IES POTENTIALLY AFFECTED BY OPERATION OF PINGP AND ASSOCIATED TRANSMISSION LINES 1 Scientific Name Common Name Federal Status 2State Status 2 (Minnesota) State Status 2(Wisconsin) Plants (continued)

Eleocharis rostellata Beaked Spike-rush - T NA Eryngium yuccifolium Rattlesnake-master - SSC NA Erythronium propullans Dwarf trout lily 3 E E NA Hudsonia tomentosa Beach-heather - SSC NA Juniperus horizontalis Creeping Juniper - SSC NA Lespedeza leptostachya Prairie bush-clover 3 T T NA Lesquerella ludoviciana Bladder Pod - E NA Minuartia dawsonensis Rock Sandwort - SSC NA Oenothera rhombipetala Rhombic-petaled Evening Primrose - SSC NA Opuntia macrorhiza Plains Prickly Pear - SSC NA Orobanche fasciculata Clustered Broomrape - SSC NA Panax quinquefolius American Ginseng - SSC NA Rhynchospora capillacea Hair-like Beak-rush - T NA Scleria verticillata Whorled Nut-Rush - T NA Trillium nivale Snow Trillium - SSC NA Valeriana edulis ciliata Valerian - T NA 1 Source of County Occurrence: FWS 2007a, MDNR 2007a, MDNR 2007b, WDNR 2007 2 E = Endangered, T = threatened, C = Candidate for federal listing, SSC = Minnesota Species of Special Concern, SC = Wisconsin Species of Concern, - = not listed, NA - Not applicable because only those Wisconsin state-listed species present in the Mississippi River were identified in this analysis.

3 Identified as species of concern by the Prairie Island Indian Community (PIIC 2008).

SITE AND ENVIRONMENTAL INTERFACES Page 2-47 Prairie Island Nuclear Generating Plant License Renewal Application Appendix E - Environmental Report TABLE 2.5-1 DECENNIAL POPULATIONS, PROJECTIONS, AND GROWTH RATES Goodhue County Dakota County Minnesota Pierce County Wisconsin Year Number Percent Number Percent Number Percent Number Percent Number Percent 1980 a 38,749 N/A 194,279N/A4,075,970N/A 31,149 N/A4,705,767N/A 1990 a 40,690 5.01% 275,227 41.67%4,375,099 7.34% 32,765 5.19%4,891,7693.95%2000 b 44,127 8.45% 355,904 29.31%4,919,479 12.44% 36,804 12.33%5,363,6759.65%2010 c,d 47,140 6.83% 422,990 18.85%5,452,500 10.83% 39,818 8.19%5,751,4707.23%2020 c,d 50,430 6.98% 470,460 11.22%5,909,400 8.38% 42,655 7.12%6,110,8786.25%2030 c,d 52,890 4.88% 501,0206.50%6,268,200 6.07% 45,850 7.49%6,415,9234.99% a. USCB 1995a, 1995b b. USCB 2000b c. MDA 2002 d. WDA 2004

TABLE 2.5-2 BLOCK GROUPS WITHIN 50 MILES OF PINGP WITH MINORITY OR LOW-INCOME POPULATIONS MORE THAN 20% GREATER THAN THE STATE PERCENTAGE SITE AND ENVIRONMENTAL INTERFACES Page 2-48 Prairie Island Nuclear Generating Plant License Renewal Application Appendix E - Environmental Report County Name State Name Number of Block Groups Black American Indian or Alaskan Native Asian Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander Some Other Race Multi-Racial Aggregate Hispanic Low-Income Households Total Population*

Anoka Minnesota 127 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 142066Carver Minnesota 17 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 28911Chisago Minnesota 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1334Dakota Minnesota 194 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 355904Dodge Minnesota 15 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 15482Goodhue Minnesota 37 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 44127Hennepin Minnesota 892 111 3 11 0 5 1 196 32 61 956280Le Sueur Minnesota 6 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 6607Olmsted Minnesota 109 1 0 0 0 0 0 3 0 2 114388Ramsey Minnesota 401 16 0 43 0 5 0 109 14 23 511035 Rice Minnesota 43 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 56455Scott Minnesota 50 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 1 0 83621 Steele Minnesota 21 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 27123Wabasha Minnesota 19 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 21610Waseca Minnesota 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 84Washington Minnesota 117 2 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 201020Winona Minnesota 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1579Barron Wisconsin 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 193 Buffalo Wisconsin 12 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 8867Dunn Wisconsin 31 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 34979 TABLE 2.5-2 (CONTINUED) BLOCK GROUPS WITHIN 50 MILES OF PINGP WITH MINORITY OR LOW-INCOME POPULATIONS MORE THAN 20% GREATER THAN THE STATE PERCENTAGE. SITE AND ENVIRONMENTAL INTERFACES Page 2-49 Prairie Island Nuclear Generating Plant License Renewal Application Appendix E - Environmental Report County Name State Name Number of Block Groups Black American Indian or Alaskan Native Asian Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander Some Other Race Multi-Racial Aggregate Hispanic Low-Income Households Total Populatio n* Eau Claire Wisconsin 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4745 Pepin Wisconsin 7 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 7213 Pierce Wisconsin 26 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 36804Polk Wisconsin 16 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 14015 St. Croix Wisconsin 45 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 63155 TOTALS 2197 131 3 54 0 11 1 312 50 89 2733326 Minnesota Percentages 3.55 1.14 2.94 0.04 1.36 1.71 10.73 2.96 7.91 Wisconsin Percentages 5.75 0.89 1.68 0.03 1.60 1.26 11.21 3.64 8.38 Shading indicates that the county is completely contained within the 50-mile radius. *The total population listed for each county is the population for the portion of the county that falls within the 50-mile radi us.

TABLE 2.6-1 GOODHUE COUNTY MAJOR EMPLOYERS SITE AND ENVIRONMENTAL INTERFACES Page 2-50 Prairie Island Nuclear Generating Plant License Renewal Application Appendix E - Environmental Report Employer Community Products/Services Employee Count Treasure Island Casino Red Wing Gambling Industries 1,500 Red Wing Shoe Company Red Wing Footwear Manufacturing 724 Xcel Energy Red Wing Nuclear Electric Power Generation 611 Fairview Red Wing Medical Center Red Wing General Medical and Surgical Hospitals 585 Independent School District #256 Red Wing Elementary and Secondary Schools 500 Norwood Red Wing Other Miscellaneous Manufacturing 380 MDEED 2008

TABLE 2.6-2 DAKOTA COUNTY MA JOR EMPLOYERS SITE AND ENVIRONMENTAL INTERFACES Page 2-51 Prairie Island Nuclear Generating Plant License Renewal Application Appendix E - Environmental Report Employer Community Products/Services Employee Count West Information Publishing Group Eagan Newspaper, Periodical, Book, & Directory Publishers 6,000 Rosemount School District #196 Rosemount Elementary and Secondary Schools 4,000 Blue Cross and Blue Shield Eagan Insurance Carriers 3,300 Northwest Airlines Eagan Scheduled Air Transportation 2,300 Apple Valley Schools-ISD #196 Apple Valley Elementary and Secondary Schools 1,913 Dakota County Hastings Executive and Legislative Offices, Combined 1,849 Burnsville Public Schools-ISD #191 Burnsville Elementary and Secondary Schools 1,600 Lockheed-Martin Tactical Defense Sys Eagan Computer and Peripheral Equipment Manufacturing 1,600 Lakeville Public School District #194 Lakev ille Elementary and Secondary Schools 1,596 US Postal Service Eagan Postal Service 1,570 United Parcel Service Eagan Couriers 1,435 Fairview Ridges Hospital Burnsville General Medical and Surgical Hospitals 1,400 Goodrich Sensor Systems Burnsville Computer and Peripheral Equipment Manufacturing 1,150 CHS Cooperatives Inver Grove Heights Pesticide & Other Agricultural Chemical Mfg.

1,000 Coca-Cola Bottling Company Eagan Beverage Manufacturing 900 Flint Hills Rosemount Petroleum and Coal Products Manufacturing 850 Sportsman's Guide South St. Paul Mail-Order Houses 800 Regina Medical Complex Hastings General Medical and Surgical Hospitals 730 Ecolab Research Facility Eagan Soap and Other Detergent Mfg.

700 Wells Fargo Mortgage Eagan Electronics and Other Appliance Stores 700 Ryt-Way Industries, Inc.

Lakev ille Food Service Contractors 688 West St. Paul, Mendota Heights, Egan - ISD #197 West St. Paul Elementary and Secondary Schools 651 Northern Hydraulics, Inc. Burnsville Industrial Machinery Manufacturing 600 School District 200 Hastings Elementary and Secondary Schools 600 Dakota County West St. Paul Admin. Of Human Resource Programs 577 Smead Manufacturing Co Hastings Office Supplies and Stationary Stores 575 Pepsi-Cola Bottling Company Burnsville Beverage Manufacturing 550 Prime Therapeutics Eagan Management, Scientific, & Technical Consulting Services 550 Farmington Public Schools-ISD #192 Farmington Elementary and Secondary Schools 540 Inver Grove Hts School District #199 Inver Grove Heights Elementary and Secondary Schools 525 Northland Insurance Company Mendota Heights Insurance Carriers 456 TABLE 2.6-2 (CONT)

DAKOTA COUNTY MA JOR EMPLOYERS SITE AND ENVIRONMENTAL INTERFACES Page 2-52 Prairie Island Nuclear Generating Plant License Renewal Application Appendix E - Environmental Report Employer Community Products/Services Employee Count Federal Aviation Administration Farmington Admin. Of Economic Programs 450 South St. Paul School District #6 South St. Paul Elementary and Secondary Schools 450 Travel Tags Inver Grove Heights Comm. Flexographic Printing 430 Inver Hills Community College Inver Grove Heights Colleges, Universities, and Prof. Schools 425 ConAgra Store Brands Lakeville Breakfast Cereal Mfg.

400 Freightmasters, Inc.

Eagan General Freight Trucking 400 Yellow Freight System, Inc. Burnsville Support Activities for Road Transportation 400 Skyline Eagan Specialized Design Services 400 Target West St. Paul Department Stores 400 Southview Acres Health Care West St. Paul Nursing Care Facilities 375 Waterous Co. South St. Paul Pump and Pumping Equip. Man.

375 Intek Plastics, Inc. Hastings Plastics Material and Resin Mfg.

350 Transport Corp of America Eagan General Freight Trucking 350 Dakota County Apple Valley Executive, Legislative, & Other Gen. Govt. Support 349 Best Brands Eagan Other Food Manufacturing 330 Delta Dental Eagan Insurance Carriers 330 CUB Foods Burnsville Department Stores 300 Evergreen Industries Inver Grove Heights Nursery and Tree Prod.

300 Frontier Communications of MN Burnsville Wired Telecommunications Carriers 300 Genz-Ryan Burnsville Plumbing, Heating, & Air Conditioning Contractors 300 Wal-Mart West St. Paul Department Stores 300 MDEED 2008

TABLE 2.6-3 PIERCE COUNTY MAJOR EMPLOYERS SITE AND ENVIRONMENTAL INTERFACES Page 2-53 Prairie Island Nuclear Generating Plant License Renewal Application Appendix E - Environmental Report Employer Products/Services Employee Count University of Wisconsin-River Fall Colleges and Universities 500-999 School District of River Falls Elementary and Secondary Schools 500-999 Pierce County Executive and Legislative Offices, Combined 250-499 Mentor Management, Inc. Residential Mental Retardation Facilities 250-499 Ellsworth Community School District Elementary and Secondary Schools 250-499 State of Wisconsin 2006

Prairie Island Nuclear Generating Plant License Renewal Application Appendix E - Environmental Report 2002 20,582,802 44.2 6,511,96 38.0 2003 21,069,501 41.7 5,688,50 35.6 2004 21,680,726 39.2 6,902,38 30.6 16.6 10,919,2 36.4 6,691,90 27.5 -- 11,603,1 37.2 6,943,34 28.5 2001 21,047,515 52.3 14,781,3 44.7 4,591,222 22.3 10,898,0204,812,822 32,475,4534,358,238 20.7 11,418,3084,764,870 32,024,9734,043,443 18.6 11,519,2384,515,593 02,110,5702005 22,266,086 d3,702,828383,968,67 4 91,840,068 2006 Not yet published 3,747,250514,318,291 61,979,347a. Hove 2006 b. Schlichting 2007 c. MDE 2007 d. State of Minnesota 2006 Year Goodhue County Tax Revenues a ($) PINGP Property Tax Paid to Goodhue County ($) Percent of Goodhue County Revenues City of Red Wing Tax Revenues b ($) PINGP Property Tax Paid to City of Red Wing ($) Percent of City of Red Wing Revenues School District 256 Tax Revenues c ($) PINGP Property Tax Paid to School District 256 ($) Percent of School District 256 Revenues 5,780,345 27.5 8,897,9574,654,701006,611,339TABLE 2.7-1 PINGP TAX INFORMATION 2001-2006 SITE AND ENVIRONMENTAL INTERFACES Page 2-54

Prairie Island Nuclear Generating Plant License Renewal Application Appendix E - Environmental Report SITE AND ENVIRONMENTAL INTERFACES Page 2-55 TABLE 2.8-1 STATE-REGULATED MUNICIPAL WATER SYSTEMS IN THE THREE-COUNTY AREA System Name Permitted Annual Average Withdrawal (MGY)bReported Annual Average Withdrawal 2000 - 2004 (MGY)bPopulation Served - Groundwater and Surface Water b, c Groundwater Dakota County, MN Apple Valley 30,000 1,834 - 2,331 48,000 Burnsville 51,200 2,317 - 3,018 62,200 Eagan 51,000 2,335 - 3,289 67,051 Empire Township 104 39 - 53 1,300 Farmington 2,650 374 - 551 13,000 Hampton 44 15 - 25 650 Hastings 6,000 790 - 963 21,631 Inver Grove Heights 6,250 973 - 1,116 33,000 Lakeville 37,380 1,698 - 2,183 51,000 New Trier 10 3.1 - 3.6 115 Randolph 17.4 11.3 - 15.8 351 Rosemont 4,728 537 - 765 21,000 South Saint Paul 8,400 1,064 - 1,234 20,303 Vermillion 50 20.5 - 27.8 442 Dakota County Municipal Total 197,833 MGY (542 MGD) 12,011 - 15,575 MGY (32.9 - 42.7 MGD)

Dakota County excess capacity (542 MGD - 42.7 MGD) is 499.3 MGD Goodhue County, MN a Bellechester 14.6 4.1 - 8 172 Cannon Falls 1,040 194 - 253 3,700 Dennison 13 5 - 8.3 168 Goodhue 80 29 - 33 778 Kenyon 144 54 - 68 1,661 Pine Island 332 94 - 110 2,337 Red Wing 4,725 643 - 710 16,100 Wanamingo 120 32 - 43 1,007 Zumbrota 660 168 - 189 3,004 Goodhue County Municipal Total 7,129 MGY (19.5 MGD) 1,223 - 1,422 MGY (3.4 - 3.9 MGD)

Goodhue County excess capacity (19.5 MGD - 3.9 MGD) is 15.6 MGD.

Prairie Island Nuclear Generating Plant License Renewal Application Appendix E - Environmental Report SITE AND ENVIRONMENTAL INTERFACES Page 2-56 TABLE 2.8-1 (CONTINUED) STATE-REGULATED MUNICIPAL WATER SYSTEMS IN THE THREE-COUNTY AREA System Name Total Pump Design Yield (MGY)dReported Annual Average Withdrawal 2005 (MGY)dPopulation Served - Groundwater and Surface Water c Pierce County, WI c Bay City 135 15 571 Ellsworth 368 101 2,844 Elmwood 752 22 841 Maiden Rock 184 4 121 Prescott 1,314 171 3,645 River Falls 2,597 396 12,560 Spring Valley 258 38 1,271 Pierce County Municipal Total 5,608 MGY (15.4 MGD) 747 MGY (2 MGD) Pierce County excess capacity (15.4 MGD - 2 MGD) is 13.4 MGD. Total For Dakota, Goodhue and Pierce Counties 210,570 MGY (577 MGD) 17,742 MGY 1 (48.6 MGD)

Excess capacity for these three counties (577 MGD - 48.6 MGD) is 528.4 MGD.

Sources: a. EPA 2006f; b. MN DNR 2005a, c. WDNR 2006, d. WIPSC 2006 Note 1) Maximum withdrawal data value for Dakota and Goodhue Counties used to obtain the total for Dakota, Goodhue, and Pierce Counties. MGY = Million gallons per year MGD = Million gallons per day

SITE AND ENVIRONMENTAL INTERFACES Page 2-57 Prairie Island Nuclear Generating Plant License Renewal Application Appendix E - Environmental Report TABLE 2.8-2 TRAFFIC STATISTICS FOR MOST LIKELY ROUTES TO THE PINGP SITE Figure 2.8-1 Locations Goodhue County Road Segments Number of Lanes a Mn DOT Road Classification a LOS for Road/Highway Segment a Road/Highway Capacity (vehicles per day)a Average Annual Daily Traffic (AADT) for 2002/2003 a 1 County Road 18 (just north of intersection with Sturgeon Lake Road) 2 Rural County Road N/A 12,000 6,200 2 County Road 18 Segment (south of intersection with Sturgeon Lake Road and north of County Road 19) 2 Rural County Road N/A 12,000 7,400 3 County Road 18 (between County Road 19 and County Road 46, Mt. Carmel Rd.)

2 plus climbing lane Rural County Road N/A 12,000 + 6,000 4 Sturgeon Lake Road 4 Urban Undivided County Road N/A 20,000 11,500 5 County Road 19 (between County Road 18 and U.S. Highway 61) 2 Rural County Road N/A 5,000 360 6 County Road 31 (between County Road 18 and U.S. Highway 61) 2 Rural County Road N/A 10,000 490 7 County Road 7 (just south of intersection with U.S. Highway 61) 2 County Road N/A N/A 445 8 U.S. Highway 61 (between County Road 18 and State Road 19) 4 Rural Divided U.S Highway N/A 40,000 14,400 9 U.S. Highway 61 (between State Road 316 and County Road 19) 4 Rural Divided U.S Highway N/A 40,000 10,800

a. Bjornstad 2006 N/A = Not available or not provided

Prairie Island Nuclear Generating Plant License Renewal Application Appendix E - Environmental Report TABLE 2.10-1 SITES LISTED IN THE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES THAT FALL WITHIN A 6-MILE RADIUS OF PINGP Site Name Location Goodhue County, Minnesota Alexander Anderson Estate -- Tower View West of Red Wing on U.S. 61, Red Wing Barn Bluff Junction of U.S. 61 and U.S. 63, Red Wing Bartron Site Address restricted, Red Wing Bridge No. 12 (Bullard Cr. Bridge) Twp. Road 43 over Bullard Cr., Red Wing Carlson Lime Kiln E. 5th Street, Red Wing Chicago Great Western Depot W. Main and Fulton Streets, Red Wing Cross of Christ Lutheran Church MN 61, Red Wing Diamond Round Barn MN 61, Red Wing District No. 20 School MN 58, Red Wing Fort Sweeney Site Address restricted, Red Wing Fryk (E.J.) Barn Off MN 61, Red Wing Gladstone Building 309 Bush Street, Red Wing Hewitt (Dr. Charles) Laboratory 216 Dakota Street, Red Wing Hoyt (E.S.) House 300 Hill Street, Red Wing Immanuel Lutheran Church Off MN 58, Red Wing Kappel Wagon Works 221 W. 3rd Street, Red Wing Keystone Building 409 Main Street, Red Wing Lawther (James L.) House 927 W. 3rd Street, Red Wing Mandata to Wabasha Military Road, Cannon River Section Cannon Bottom Road, Red Wing Minnesota State Training School E. 7th Street, Red Wing Minnesota Stonewear Company 1997 W. Main Street, Red Wing Nelson (Julia B.) House 219 5th Street, Red Wing Pratt - Talbott House 706 W. 4th Street, Red Wing Red Wing City Hall W. 4th Street, Red Wing Red Wing Iron Works 401 Levee Street, Red Wing Red Wing Mall Historic District Along East and West Avenues and Broadway between 6th St. and levee Sheldon Memorial Auditorium 443 W. 3rd St., Red Wing Sheldon (T. B.) House 805 W. 4th Street, Red Wing Spring Creek Petroglyphs Address restricted, Red Wing St. James Hotel Bush and Main Streets, Red Wing St. James Hotel and Buildings (boundary increase) Bush and Main Streets, Red Wing SITE AND ENVIRONMENTAL INTERFACES Page 2-58 Prairie Island Nuclear Generating Plant License Renewal Application Appendix E - Environmental Report TABLE 2.10-1 (CONTINUED)

SITES LISTED IN THE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES THAT FALL WITHIN A 6-MILE RADIUS OF PINGP Site Name Location Towne-Akenson Ho use 1121 W. 3rd St., Red Wing Vasa Historic District Off MN 19, Red Wing Wallauer Farmhouse MN 58, Red Wing Pierce County, Wisconsin Diamond Bluff - Mero Mound Site Address restricted, Diamond Bluff Mero Archaeological District Address restricted, Diamond Bluff Source: NPS 2006c.

SITE AND ENVIRONMENTAL INTERFACES Page 2-59

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Operating License Renewal Stage Prairie Island Nuclear Generating Plant Nuclear Management Company, LLC Units 1 and 2 Docket Nos. 50-282 and 50-306 License Nos. DPR-42 and DPR-60 April 2008 Prairie Island Nuclear Generating Plant License Renewal Application Appendix E - Environmental Report TABLE OF CONTENTS Section Page ACRONYMS AND ABBREVIATIONS.................................................................... xi 1.0 PURPOSE OF AND N EED FOR ACTION................................................... 1-1 1.1 Introduction and

Background

........................................................................ 1-1 1.2 Statement of Pu rpose and Need..................................................................

1-2 1.3 Environmental Report Scope and Met hodology........................................... 1-3 1.4 Prairie Island Nuclear Generatin g Plant Licensee and Ownership............... 1-4

1.5 References

................................................................................................ 1-7 2.0 SITE AND ENVIRONMEN TAL INTERFACES............................................. 2-1 2.1 General Site Description............................................................................... 2-1 2.1.1 Regional Features and General Features in the 6-Mile Vicinity............................................................................................. 2-2 2.1.2 PINGP Site Features....................................................................... 2-2

2.2 Hydrology

................................................................................................ 2-3 2.2.1 Upper Mississipp i River Basin......................................................... 2-3 2.2.1.1 United States Geologica l Survey Gaging Stations........... 2-3 2.2.1.2 Mississippi River Flow Statistics at USGS Stations.......... 2-4 2.2.1.3 Lock and Dam 3 Di scharge Statistics............................... 2-4 2.2.1.4 Consumptive Su rface Water Use..................................... 2-4

2.2.2 Alluvial

Aquifers............................................................................... 2-4 2.2.3 Deep Aquifers................................................................................. 2-5

2.2.4 Groundwater

Level.......................................................................... 2-5 2.2.5 Consumptive Gr oundwater Use...................................................... 2-6 2.3 Biological Re sources.................................................................................... 2-7 2.3.1 Aquatic and Riparian Ec ological Communities................................ 2-7 2.3.1.1 Aquatic Communiti es........................................................ 2-7 2.3.1.2 Riparian Co mmunities...................................................... 2-10 2.3.2 Critical and Important Terrestrial Habitats....................................... 2-12 2.3.2.1 Regional Setting............................................................... 2-12 2.3.2.2 PINGP Site....................................................................... 2-12 2.3.2.3 Transmission Corridors.................................................... 2-13 2.3.3 Threatened or E ndangered Species............................................... 2-13 2.3.3.1 Fauna............................................................................... 2-14 2.3.3.2 Flora................................................................................. 2-16 2.4 Meteorology and Air Quality

......................................................................... 2-17

2.5 Demography

................................................................................................ 2-19 2.5.1 General De mography...................................................................... 2-19 2.5.2 Transient P opulations

..................................................................... 2-21 2.5.3 Minority and Low-Income Populations............................................ 2-22 2.5.3.1 Minority P opulations

......................................................... 2-22 2.5.3.2 Low-Income Populations

.................................................. 2-24 ENVIRONMENTAL REPORT Page ii Prairie Island Nuclear Generating Plant License Renewal Application Appendix E - Environmental Report TABLE OF CONTENTS (CONTINUED)

Section Page 2.6 Area Economic Base.................................................................................... 2-25 2.6.1 Labor Force and Employment Opportunities------............. 2-25 2.6.2 Potential for Econom ic Growth-------............................... 2-25 2.7 Taxes ................................................................................................ 2-27 2.8 Social Services and P ublic Facilities............................................................ 2-29 2.8.1 Public Wate r Supply........................................................................ 2-29 2.8.2 Transportation................................................................................. 2-30 2.9 Land Use

................................................................................................ 2-32 2.9.1 Goodhue County............................................................................. 2-32

2.9.2 Dakota

County................................................................................ 2-33

2.9.3 Pierce

County.................................................................................. 2-34 2.10 Historic and Archaeologi cal Resources........................................................ 2-36 2.11 Known or Reasonably Foreseeable Pr ojects in Site Vicinity........................ 2-39 2.12 References ................................................................................................ 2-72 3.0 THE PROPOSED ACTION.......................................................................... 3-1 3.1 General Plant Information............................................................................. 3-2 3.1.1 Reactor and Containment Systems................................................. 3-2

3.1.2 Nuclear

Fuel.................................................................................... 3-3 3.1.3 Cooling and Auxili ary Water Systems............................................. 3-3 3.1.3.1 Water Us e Overvi ew......................................................... 3-3 3.1.3.2 Circulating Water System................................................. 3-4 3.1.3.3 Circulating Water S ystem Operati ng Modes..................... 3-5 3.1.3.4 Biofouling and Scale Control............................................ 3-6 3.1.3.5 Domestic Water Supply and Sanitary Wastewater Treatment......................................................................... 3-7 3.1.4 Radioactive Waste Tr eatment Systems.......................................... 3-7 3.1.4.1 Liquid Radioactive Waste Treatment Systems................. 3-7 3.1.4.2 Gaseous Radioacti ve Waste S ystems.............................. 3-8 3.1.4.3 Solid Radioactiv e Waste Systems.................................... 3-8 3.1.5 Non-Radioactiv e Waste M anagement............................................. 3-9 3.1.6 Transmission Fa cilities.................................................................... 3-10 3.1.6.1 History/B ackground.......................................................... 3-10 3.1.6.2 Current System Configuration.......................................... 3-11 3.1.6.3 Avian Mortality Resulting from Collisions with Transmission Lines

......................................................................................... 3-13 3.1.7 Maintenance, Operation and Inspection.......................................... 3-14

3.2 Refurbishment

Activities

............................................................................... 3-15 3.3 Programs and Activities for Managing the Effects of Aging.......................... 3-17

3.4 Employment

................................................................................................ 3-18 3.4.1 Current Workforce........................................................................... 3-18 ENVIRONMENTAL REPORT Page iii Prairie Island Nuclear Generating Plant License Renewal Application Appendix E - Environmental Report TABLE OF CONTENTS (CONTINUED)

Section Page 3.4.2 Refurbishment Increment

................................................................ 3-18 3.4.3 License Renewal Increment-----.......................................... 3-19

3.5 References

................................................................................................ 3-25

4.0 ENVIRONMENTAL

CONSEQUENCES OF THE PROPOSED ACTION AND MITIGATING ACTIONS....................................................................... 4-1

4.1 Background

................................................................................................ 4-1 4.1.1 Category 1 Licens e Renewal Issues............................................... 4-2 4.1.2 Category 2 Licens e Renewal Issues............................................... 4-2 4.1.3 "NA" License Renewal Issues.........................................................

4-3 4.2 Surface Water and Groundwat er Use Conflicts............................................ 4-4 4.2.1 Impact on Mississippi River Flows and Wate r Levels...................... 4-5 4.2.2 Indirect Impacts from Surface Water Use....................................... 4-6 4.2.3 Groundwater Use Conflicts (Plants Using >100 GPM of Groundwater).................................................................................. 4-7 4.2.4 Groundwater Use Conflicts (P lants Using Ranney Wells)............... 4-9 4.2.5 Degradation of Groundwater Quality............................................... 4-10

4.2.6 Conclusi

ons..................................................................................... 4-11 4.3 Entrainment of Fish and Shellf ish in Early Li fe Stages................................. 4-12 4.4 Impingement of Fish and Shellfish................................................................ 4-16 4.5 Heat Shock ................................................................................................ 4-19 4.6 Impacts of Refurbishment on Terrestrial Resources..................................... 4-22 4.7 Threatened and Endan gered Species.......................................................... 4-24 4.8 Air Quality During Refurbishment (Non-Attainment or Maintenance Areas). 4-28 4.9 Impact on Public Health of Microbiological Organisms.................................

4-31 4.10 Electromagnetic Field

- Acute Effects.......................................................... 4-34 4.11 Housing ................................................................................................ 4-37 4.11.1 Housing - Re furbishment

................................................................ 4-37 4.11.2 Housing - Licens e Renewal Term................................................... 4-39 4.12 Public Utilities: Public Water Supply Availability........................................... 4-41 4.12.1 Public Water Supply - Refurbishment.............................................

4-41 4.12.2 Public Water Supply -

License Renewal Term............................... 4-43 4.13 Education Impacts fr om Refurbishment........................................................

4-45 4.14 Offsite Land Use........................................................................................... 4-46 4.14.1 Offsite Land Use -

Refurbishment................................................... 4-46 4.14.2 Offsite Land Use - Lic ense Renewal Term...................................... 4-48 4.15 Transportation.............................................................................................. 4-51 4.15.1 Transportation -

Refurbishment....................................................... 4-51 4.15.2 Transportation - Lic ense Renewal Term......................................... 4-53 4.16 Historic and Archaeologi cal Resources........................................................ 4-54 4.16.1 Historic and Archeological Resources - Refu rbishment.................. 4-54 4.16.2 Historic and Archeological Resources - License Renewal Term.... 4-56 ENVIRONMENTAL REPORT Page iv Prairie Island Nuclear Generating Plant License Renewal Application Appendix E - Environmental Report TABLE OF CONTENTS (CONTINUED)

Section Page 4.17 Severe Accident Mitiga tion Alternatives.......................................................

4-57 4.17.1 Methodology Overview.................................................................... 4-58 4.17.2 Baseline Risk M onetization

............................................................. 4-59 4.17.3 SAMA Identificati on and Screening................................................. 4-59 4.17.4 Cost-Benefit Results....................................................................... 4-60 4.18 References ................................................................................................ 4-63

5.0 ASSESSMENT

OF NEW AND S IGNIFICANT INFORMATION................... 5-1

5.1 References

................................................................................................ 5-4 6.0

SUMMARY

OF LICENSE RENEWAL IMPACTS AND MITIGATING ACTIONS..................................................................................................... 6-1 6.1 License Renewal Impacts............................................................................. 6-1

6.2 Mitigation

................................................................................................ 6-2 6.3 Unavoidable Ad verse Impacts...................................................................... 6-3 6.4 Irreversible and Irretriev able Resource Commitments.................................. 6-4 6.5 Short-term Use versus Long-term Productivity of the Environment.............. 6-5

6.6 References

................................................................................................ 6-9

7.0 ALTERNATIVES

TO THE PROPOSED ACTION........................................ 7-1 7.1 No-Action Al ternative.................................................................................... 7-3 7.1.1 Terminating Operati ons and Decommi ssioning............................... 7-3

7.1.2 Replacemen

t Capacity.................................................................... 7-6 7.2 Alternatives that Meet System Generat ing Needs........................................ 7-7 7.2.1 General Cons iderations.................................................................. 7-7 7.2.1.1 Current and Projected Generating Capability and Utilization.......................................................................... 7-7 7.2.1.2 Effects of Electric Power Industry Restructuring............... 7-9 7.2.1.3 Mixture of Gener ating Sources......................................... 7-11 7.2.2 Reasonable Al ternatives

................................................................. 7-11 7.2.2.1 Purchased Power.............................................................

7-12 7.2.2.2 Gas-Fired Generation

....................................................... 7-13 7.2.2.3 Coal-Fired Generation

...................................................... 7-14 7.2.2.4 Siting Cons iderations

....................................................... 7-16 7.2.3 Other Alternatives........................................................................... 7-17 7.2.3.1 Demand Side Management

.............................................. 7-17 7.2.3.2 Wind ................................................................................ 7-18 7.2.3.3 Solar ................................................................................ 7-19 7.2.3.4 Hydropower...................................................................... 7-20 7.2.3.5 Geothermal....................................................................... 7-20 7.2.3.6 Wood Energy....................................................................

7-20 ENVIRONMENTAL REPORT Page v Prairie Island Nuclear Generating Plant License Renewal Application Appendix E - Environmental Report TABLE OF CONTENTS (CONTINUED)

Section Page 7.2.3.7 Municipal So lid Waste...................................................... 7-21 7.2.3.8 Other Biomass-Derived Fuels.......................................... 7-21 7.2.3.9 Petroleum.........................................................................

7-22 7.2.3.10 Fuel Cells.........................................................................

7-22 7.2.3.11 Advanced Nucl ear Reactor............................................... 7-22 7.2.3.12 Delayed Retirement of Ex isting Non-nuclear Units........... 7-23 7.3 Environmental Impacts of Alternatives.........................................................

7-24 7.3.1 Purchased Power............................................................................

7-24 7.3.2 Gas-Fired G eneration..................................................................... 7-26 7.3.2.1 Land Use.......................................................................... 7-26 7.3.2.2 Air Quality.........................................................................

7-26 7.3.2.3 Waste Management.........................................................

7-27 7.3.2.4 Ecological Resources....................................................... 7-27 7.3.2.5 Socioeconomics............................................................... 7-28 7.3.2.6 Aesthetics......................................................................... 7-29 7.3.2.7 Other Impacts...................................................................

7-29 7.3.3 Coal-Fired G eneration..................................................................... 7-30 7.3.3.1 Land Use.......................................................................... 7-30 7.3.3.2 Air Quality.........................................................................

7-30 7.3.3.3 Waste Management.........................................................

7-31 7.3.3.4 Ecological Resources....................................................... 7-31 7.3.3.5 Socioeconomics............................................................... 7-32 7.3.3.6 Aesthetics......................................................................... 7-32 7.3.3.7 Other Impacts...................................................................

7-33 7.4 References ................................................................................................ 7-36

8.0 COMPARISON

OF ENVIRONMEN TAL IMPACTS OF LICENSE RENEWAL WITH THE ALTERNATIVES.....................................................

8-1 8.1 References ................................................................................................ 8-11

9.0 STATUS

OF COMPLIANCE........................................................................ 9-1 9.1 Proposed Action........................................................................................... 9-1 9.1.1 General........................................................................................... 9-1 9.1.2 Threatened or Endangered Species............................................... 9-1 9.1.3 Historic Pr eservation....................................................................... 9-2 9.1.4 Water Quality (401) Certification..................................................... 9-2 9.1.5 State of Minnes ota Environmental Re view Program....................... 9-2

9.2 Alternatives

................................................................................................ 9-4

9.3 References

................................................................................................ 9-12 ENVIRONMENTAL REPORT Page vi Prairie Island Nuclear Generating Plant License Renewal Application Appendix E - Environmental Report TABLE OF CONTENTS (CONTINUED)

List of Attachments Attachment A NRC NEPA Issues for License Renewal of Nuclear Power Plants Attachment B NPDES Permit Attachment C Special-Stat us Species Correspondence Attachment D State Historic Preservation Officer Correspondence Attachment E Public Health Agency Correspondence Attachment F Severe Accident Mitigation Alternatives ENVIRONMENTAL REPORT Page vii Prairie Island Nuclear Generating Plant License Renewal Application Appendix E - Environmental Report TABLE OF CONTENTS (CONTINUED)

List of Tables Table Page 1-1 Environmental Report Responses to License Renewal Environmental Regulatory Requ irements............................................................................. 1-5 2.2-1 USGS Gaging Stations................................................................................. 2-42 2.2-2 Mississippi River Flow Statisti cs at USGS Gaging Stations......................... 2-42 2.2-3 Discharge Flow at Lock and Dam No. 3....................................................... 2-42 2.2-4 PINGP Groundwater Use Table................................................................... 2-43 2.3-1 Threatened and Endangered Species Potentially Affected by Operation of PINGP and Associated Transmission Lines............................................. 2-44 2.5-1 Decennial Populations, Projections, and Growth Rate ................................ 2-47 2.5-2 Block Groups Within 50 Miles of PING P With Minority or Low-Income Populations More Than 20% Greater Than the State Percentage...................................

2-48 2.6-1 Goodhue County Majo r Employers............................................................... 2-50 2.6-2 Dakota County Major Employers.................................................................. 2-51 2.6-3 Pierce County Major Employers................................................................... 2-53 2.7-1 PINGP Tax Inform ation 2001-2006.............................................................. 2-54 2.8-1 State-Regulated Municipal Water Systems in the Three-County Area......... 2-55 2.8-2 Traffic Statistics for Most Likely Routes to the PINGP Site........................... 2-57 2.10-1 Sites Listed in the National Register of Historic Places That Fall Within a 6-Mile Radius of PINGP............................................................................ 2-58 3.1-1 Transmission Lines from PINGP Substation................................................ 3-21 3.4-1 PINGP Employees by Count y....................................................................... 3-22 4.2-1 PINGP Surface Water Withdrawals from the Mississippi River at Sturgeon Lake

.............................................................................................. 4-61 4.10-1 Results of Induced Current Analysis............................................................. 4-62 6-1 Environmental Impacts Related to License Renewal at PINGP................... 6-6 7.2-1 Gas-Fired Al ternative.................................................................................... 7-34 7.2-2 Coal-Fired Al ternative................................................................................... 7-35 8-1 Impacts Compar ison Summary.................................................................... 8-2 8-2 Impacts Compar ison Detail.......................................................................... 8-3 ENVIRONMENTAL REPORT Page viii Prairie Island Nuclear Generating Plant License Renewal Application Appendix E - Environmental Report TABLE OF CONTENTS (CONTINUED)

Table Page 9.1-1 Environmental Authorizations for Current PINGP Operations...................... 9-5 9.1-2 Environmental Authorizations for PINGP License Renewal......................... 9-11 ENVIRONMENTAL REPORT Page ix Prairie Island Nuclear Generating Plant License Renewal Application Appendix E - Environmental Report TABLE OF CONTENTS (CONTINUED)

List of Figures Figure Page 2.1-1 50-Mile Vicinity............................................................................................. 2-60 2.1-2 6-Mile Vicinity............................................................................................... 2-61 2.1-3 Exclusion Ar ea Boundary

............................................................................. 2-62 2.5-1 Black Minority Population............................................................................. 2-63 2.5-2 American Indian or Alaskan Na tive Minority P opulation............................... 2-64 2.5-3 Asian Minority Population............................................................................. 2-65 2.5-4 Other Minority Population

............................................................................. 2-66 2.5-5 Multi-Racial Minor ity Population................................................................... 2-67 2.5-6 Aggregate Minorit y Population...................................................................... 2-68 2.5-7 Hispanic Ethnicity Population....................................................................... 2-69 2.5-8 Low-Income P opulation................................................................................ 2-70 2.8-1 Transportation System in Goodhue County.................................................. 2-71 3.1-1 Station and Transmi ssion Line Layout.......................................................... 3-23 3.1-2 PINGP Transmi ssion System

....................................................................... 3-24 7.2-1 2005 Minnesota Generating Capacity by F uel Type..................................... 7-7 7.2-2 2005 Minnesota Generat ion by Fuel Type.................................................... 7-7 ENVIRONMENTAL REPORT Page x Prairie Island Nuclear Generating Plant License Renewal Application Appendix E - Environmental Report ACRONYMS AND ABBREVIATIONS AADT annual average daily traffic AEC U.S. Atomic Energy Commission AMC Association of Minnesota Counties AQCR Air Quality Control Region AWEA American Wind Energy Association BMP Best management practices Btu British thermal unit CAIR Clean Air Interstate Rule CDS Comprehensive Demonstration Study CEQ Council on Environmental Quality CFR Code of Federal Regulations cfs cubic feet per second CIP Conservation Improvement Plan CON Certificate of Need CRT cathode ray tube CSA Combined Statistical Area CSFCC California Stationary Fuel Cell Collaborative CT combustion turbine CWA Clean Water Act CWIS Cooling Water Intake System DAW dry active waste DECON decontamination and dismantlement DOE U.S. Department of Energy DOT Department of Transportation DSM demand-side management EA Environmental Assessment EPA U.S. Environmental Protection Agency EIA Energy Information Administration EIS Environmental Impact Statement ER Environmental Report ESWQD Environmental Services Water Quality Department

°F degrees Fahrenheit FERC Federal Energy Regulatory Commission FES Final Environmental Statement FWS U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service GEIS Generic Environmental Impact Statement for License Renewal of Nuclear Plants GIS Geographic Information System GPD gallon per day ENVIRONMENTAL REPORT Page xi Prairie Island Nuclear Generating Plant License Renewal Application Appendix E - Environmental Report gpm gallon per minute GWh gigawatt-hours IEEE Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers HAZCOM Hazard Communication HAZWOPER Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response HDR Henningson, Durham, and Richardson, Inc.

HRSG heat recovery steam generator IGCC integrated gasification combined-cycle IPA Integrated Plant Assessment ISFSI Independent Spent Fuel Storage Installation IVM integrated vegetation management JPM John P. Madgett Station kV kilovolt LOCA loss-of-coolant accident LOS level of service MAPP Mid-Continent Area Power Pool MDA Minnesota Department of Administration MDC Minnesota Department of Commerce MEQB Minnesota Environmental Quality Board mg/L milligram per liter MGY million gallons per year MISO Midwest Independent System Operators MiSA Micropolitan Statistical Area MN DNR Minnesota Department of Natural Resources Mn/DOT Minnesota Department of Transportation MOU Memorandum of Understanding MOU Minnesota Ornithologists' Union MPCA Minnesota Pollution Control Agency MPUC Minnesota Public Utilities Commission MSA Metropolitan Statistical Area msl mean sea level MTU metric ton of uranium MW megawatt MWd megawatt-days MWe megawatts-electrical MWt megawatts-thermal NAAQS National Ambient Air Quality Standards NEPA National Environmental Policy Act NERC North American Electric Reliability Council NESCNational Electrical Safety Code ENVIRONMENTAL REPORT Page xii Prairie Island Nuclear Generating Plant License Renewal Application Appendix E - Environmental Report NMC Nuclear Management Company NMFS National Marine Fisheries Service NO x oxides of nitrogen NPDES National Pollutant Dis charge Elimination System NPS National Park Service NRC U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission NREL National Renewable Energy Laboratory NSP Northern States Power NSPCM Northern States Power Company-Minnesota OLER Environmental Report

- Operating License Stage OSHA Occupational Safety and Health Administration PCB polychlorinated biphenyl PIIC Prairie Island Indian Community PINGP Prairie Island Nu clear Generating Plant PM Particulate Matter psi pound per square inch RCRA Resource Conservation and Recovery Act of 1976 RDF refuse-derived fuel ROI Region of Influence ROW right-of-way SAFSTOR Safe storage of the stabilized and defueled facility SAMA Severe Accident Mitigation Alternatives SHPO State Historic Preservation Officer SIP State Implementation Plan SMITTR surveillance, monitoring, inspections, testing, trending, and recordkeeping SO 2 sulfur dioxide SO x oxides of sulfur TtNUS Tetra Tech NUS, Inc.

UM University of Minnesota USACE U.S. Army Corps of Engineers USAR Updated Safety Analysis Report USCB U.S. Census Bureau USDOI U.S. Department of Interior USDOJ U.S. Department of Justice USAR Updated Safety Analysis Report USGS U.S. Geological Survey WDA Wisconsin Department of Administration WIDNR Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources WIPSC Wisconsin Public Service Commission ENVIRONMENTAL REPORT Page xiii Prairie Island Nuclear Generating Plant License Renewal Application Appendix E - Environmental Report 1.0 PURPOSE OF AND NEED FOR ACTION

1.1 INTRODUCTION

AND BACKGROUND NRC "Each application must include a supplement to the environmental report that complies with the requirements of Subpart A of 10 CFR 51." 10 CFR 54.23 "-The purpose and need for the proposed action (renewal of an operating license) is to provide an option that allows for power generation capability beyond the term of a current nuclear power plant operating license to meet future system generating needs, as such needs may be determined by State, utility, and, where authorized, Federal (other than NRC) decisionmakers-" (NRC 1996a, Section 1.3; NRC 1996b, Page 28472). "-The NRC's NEPA decision standard for license renewal would require the NRC to determine whether the environmental impacts of license renewal are so great that preserving the option of license renewal for future decisionmakers would be unreasonable." (NRC 1996b, Page 28471)

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) licenses the operation of domestic nuclear power plants in accordance with the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, as amended, and NRC implementing regulat ions. Nuclear Management Company (NMC) operates Prairie Island Nuclear Generating Plant (PINGP) Units 1 and 2, pursuant to NRC Operating Licenses DPR-42 and DPR-60. The license for PINGP Unit 1 will expire August 9, 2013, and the license for PINGP Unit 2 will expire October 29, 2014 (NRC 2000a).

NMC has prepared this environmental report (ER) in conjunction with its application to NRC to renew the PINGP operating licenses, in accordance with the following NRC regulations: Title 10, Energy, Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), Part 51, Environmental Protection Regulations for Domestic Li censing and Related Regulatory Functions, Section 51.53, Postconstruction Envir onmental Reports, Subsection 51.53(c), Operating License Renewal Stage [10 CFR 51.53(c)]. Title 10, Energy, CFR, Part 54, Requirements for Renewal of Operating Licenses for Nuclear Power Plants, Section 54.23, Contents of Applicat ion-Environmental Information (10 CFR 54.23). PURPOSE OF AND NEED FOR ACTION Page 1-1 Prairie Island Nuclear Generating Plant License Renewal Application Appendix E - Environmental Report 1.2 STATEMENT OF PURPOSE AND NEED NMC adopts for this ER the following NRC general definition of purpose and need for the proposed action, as stated in NRC's Generic Environmental Impact Statement for License Renewal of Nuclear Plants (GEIS), NUREG-1437 (NRC 1996a, Section 1.3; NRC 1996b, page 28472): The purpose and need for the proposed action (renewal of an operating license) is to provide an option that allows for power generation capability beyond the term of a current nuclear power plant operating license to meet future system generating needs, as such needs may be determined by State, utility, and, w here authorized, Federal (other than NRC) decision makers. The proposed action would provid e the option to operate PING P Unit 1 and PINGP Unit 2 for an additional 20 years. PURPOSE OF AND NEED FOR ACTION Page 1-2 Prairie Island Nuclear Generating Plant License Renewal Application Appendix E - Environmental Report 1.3 ENVIRONMENTAL REPORT SCOPE AND METHODOLOGY NRC regulations for domestic licensing of nuclear power plants require environmental review of applications to renew operating licenses. The NRC regulation 10 CFR 51.53(c) requires that an applicant for license renewal submit with its application a separate document entitled Applicant's Environmental Report - Operating License Renewal Stage. In determining what information to include in the PINGP ER, NMC has relied on NRC regulations and the follo wing supporting document s that provide additional insight into t he regulatory requirements: NRC supplemental information in the Federal Register (NRC 1996b, NRC 1996c, NRC 1996d, and NRC 1999a) Generic Environmental Impact Statement for License Renewal of Nuclear Plants (GEIS) (NRC 1996a and 1999b) Regulatory Analysis for Amendments to R egulations for the Environmental Review for Renewal of Nuclear Power Plant Operating Licenses (NRC 1996e) Public Comments on the Proposed 10 CFR Part 51 Rule for Renewal of Nuclear Power Plant Operating Licenses and Suppor ting Documents: Review of Concerns and NRC Staff Response (NRC 1996f) NMC also obtained general guidance regarding format and cont ent of the ER from the following NRC documents: Supplement 1 to NRC Regulatory Guide 4.2, Preparation of Supplemental Environmental Reports for Applications to Renew Nuclear Power Plant Operating Licenses (NRC 2000b) Supplement 1 to NUREG-1555 , Standard Review Plans for Environmental Reviews for Nuclear Power Plants (Operating License Renewal) (NRC 1999c) Table 1-1 indicates where the ER responds to each requirement of 10 CFR 51.53(c). In subsequent chapters of this ER , each section is prefaced by a boxed quote of the regulatory language and applicable supporting document language. PURPOSE OF AND NEED FOR ACTION Page 1-3 Prairie Island Nuclear Generating Plant License Renewal Application Appendix E - Environmental Report 1.4 PRAIRIE ISLAND NUCLEAR GENERATING PLANT LICENSEE AND OWNERSHIP PINGP is owned by Northern States Power Company (NSP), which is a wholly owned utility operating subsidiary of Xcel Energy Inc. (Xcel Energy). As the plant's owner, NSP has the exclusive right to the energy generat ed by PINGP. NMC, which is wholly owned subsidiary of Xcel Energy, operates and maintains PINGP on behalf of NSP. NSP is licensed by NRC to own PINGP, while NMC is licensed to use and operate the facility (65 FR 98, pp. 31935-36).

The Nuclear Power Plant Operating Service Agreement (NPPOSA) between NSP and NMC established NMC as the sole operator of PINGP and defines the owner-operator relationship. The NPPOSA provides for owner services and assistance to NMC for safe, economic, and efficient operation of PINGP.

Implementation of the NPPOSA is achieved by continuance of functional relationships among owner/operator organizations regarding environmental matters. These functional relationships provide for close coordination among corporate and plant staff fo r efficient and effective environmental management (NSP 1999). NMC and its employees are obligated to comply with all corporate policies listed in Exhibit D of the NPPOSA, including Xcel Energy's Code of Conduct and Envir onmental Policy (Xcel Energy 2006). PURPOSE OF AND NEED FOR ACTION Page 1-4 Prairie Island Nuclear Generating Plant License Renewal Application Appendix E - Environmental Report TABLE 1-1 ENVIRONMENTAL REPORT RESPONSES TO LICENSE RENEWAL ENVIRONMENTAL REGULATORY REQUIREMENTS Regulatory Requirement Responsive ER Section(s) 10 CFR 51.53(c)(1)

Entire Document 10 CFR 51.53(c)(2), Sentences 1 and 2 3.0 The Proposed Action

3.2 Refurbishment

Activities

3.3 Programs

and Activities for Managing the Effects of Aging 10 CFR 51.53(c)(2), Sentence 3

7.3 Environmental

Impacts of Alternatives 10 CFR 51.53(c)(2) and 10 CFR 51.45(b)(1)

4.0 Environmental

Consequences of the Proposed Action and Mitigating Actions 10 CFR 51.53(c)(2) and 10 CFR 51.45(b)(2)

6.3 Unavoidable

Adverse Impacts 10 CFR 51.53(c)(2) and 10 CFR 51.45(b)(3)

7.0 Alternatives

to the Proposed Action

8.0 Comparison

of Environmental Impacts of License Renewal with the Alternatives 10 CFR 51.53(c)(2) and 10 CFR 51.45(b)(4) 6.5 Short-Term Use Versus Long-Term Productivity of the Environment 10 CFR 51.53(c)(2) and 10 CFR 51.45(b)(5)

6.4 Irreversible

and Irretrievable Resource Commitments 10 CFR 51.53(c)(2) and 10 CFR 51.45(c)

4.0 Environmental

Consequences of the Proposed Action and Mitigating Actions

7.3 Environmental

Impacts of Alternatives

8.0 Comparison

of Environmental Impacts of License Renewal with the Alternatives 10 CFR 51.53(c)(2) and 10 CFR 51.45(d) 9.0 Status of Compliance 10 CFR 51.53(c)(2) and 10 CFR 51.45(e)

4.0 Environmental

Consequences of the Proposed Action and Mitigating Actions

6.3 Unavoidable

Adverse Impacts 10 CFR 51.53(c)(3)(ii)(A) 4.2 Surface Water and Groundwater Use Conflicts

4.2.1 Impact

on Mississippi River Flows and Water Levels

4.2.2 Indirect

Impacts from Surface Water Use 10 CFR 51.53(c)(3)(ii)(B)

4.3 Entrainment

of Fish and Shellfish in Early Life Stages 4.4 Impingement of Fish and Shellfish 4.5 Heat Shock 10 CFR 51.53(c)(3)(ii)(C) 4.2.3 Groundwater Use Conflicts (Plants Using >100 gpm of Groundwater)

4.2.4 Groundwater

Use Conflicts (Plants Using Ranney Wells) 10 CFR 51.53(c)(3)(ii)(D) 4.2.5 Degradation of Groundwater Quality PURPOSE OF AND NEED FOR ACTION Page 1-5 Prairie Island Nuclear Generating Plant License Renewal Application Appendix E - Environmental Report TABLE 1-1 (CONTINUED)

ENVIRONMENTAL REPORT RESPONSES TO LICENSE RENEWAL ENVIRONMENTAL REGULATO RY REQUIREMENTS Regulatory Requirement Responsive ER Section(s) 10 CFR 51.53(c)(3)(ii)(E) 4.6 Impacts of Refurbishment on Terrestrial Resources

4.7 Threatened

and Endangered Species 10 CFR 51.53(c)(3)(ii)(F) 4.8 Air Quality During Refurbishment (Non-Attainment or Maintenance Areas) 10 CFR 51.53(c)(3)(ii)(G)

4.9 Impact

on Public Health of Microbiological Organisms 10 CFR 51.53(c)(3)(ii)(H) 4.10 Electromagnetic Field - Acute Effects 10 CFR 51.53(c)(3)(ii)(I) 4.11 Housing 4.12 Public Utilities: Public Water Supply Availability 4.13 Education Impacts from Refurbishment 4.14 Offsite Land Use 10 CFR 51.53(c)(3)(ii)(J) 4.15 Transportation 10 CFR 51.53(c)(3)(ii)(K) 4.16 Historic and Archaeological Resources 10 CFR 51.53(c)(3)(ii)(L) 4.17 Severe Accident Mitigation Alternatives 10 CFR 51.53(c)(3)(iii)

4.0 Environmental

Consequences of the Proposed Action and Mitigating Actions

6.2 Mitigation

10 CFR 51.53(c)(3)(iv)

5.0 Assessment

of New and Significant Information 10 CFR 51, Appendix B, Table B-1, Footnote 6

2.5.3 Minority

and Low-Income Populations CFR = Code Of Federal Regulations PURPOSE OF AND NEED FOR ACTION Page 1-6 Prairie Island Nuclear Generating Plant License Renewal Application Appendix E - Environmental Report

1.5 REFERENCES

NRC (U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission). 1996a. Generic Environmental Impact Statement for License Renewal of Nuclear Plants. NUREG-1437, Volumes 1 and 2, Office of Nuclear Regulatory Research. Washington, DC. May. NRC (U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission). 1996b. "Environmental Review for Renewal of Nuclear Power Plant Operating Licenses."

Federal Register.

Vol. 61, No. 109. (June 5, 1996): 28467-97. NRC (U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission). 1996c. "Environmental Review for Renewal of Nuclear Power Plant O perating Licenses; Correction."

Federal Register.

Vol. 61, No. 147. (July 30, 1996): 39555-6. NRC (U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission). 1996d. "Environmental Review for Renewal of Nuclear Power Plant Operating Licenses."

Federal Register.

Vol. 61, No. 244. (December 18, 1996): 66537-54. NRC (U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission). 1996e.

Regulatory Analysis for Amendments to Regulations for the Environmental Review for Renewal of Nuclear Power Plant Operating Licenses.

NUREG-1440. Office of Nuclear Regulatory Research. Washington, DC. May. NRC (U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission). 1996f.

Public Comments on the Proposed 10 CFR Part 51 Rule for Renewal of Nuclear Power Plant Operating Licenses and Supporting Documents: Review of Concerns and NRC Staff Response. Volumes 1 and 2. NUREG-1529. Office of Nuclear Regulatory Research. Washington, DC. May. NRC (U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission). 1999a. "Changes to Requirements for Environmental Review for Renewal of Nuclear Power Plant Operating Licenses; Final Rule."

Federal Register.

Vol. 64, No. 171. (S eptember 3, 1999): 48496-507. NRC (U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission). 1999b. Generic Environmental Impact Statement for License Renewal of Nuclear Plants (GEIS).

Section 6.3, "Transportation" and Table 9-1, "Summary of Findings on NEPA Issues for License Renewal of Nuclear Power Plants." NUREG-1437. Volume 1, Addendum 1. Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation.

Washington, DC. August. NRC (U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission). 1999c. Standard Review Plans for Environmental Reviews for Nuclear Power Pl ants, Supplement 1:

Operating License Renewal. NUREG-1555

, Supplement 1. Washi ngton, D.C. October.

NRC (U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission). 2000a. Northern States Power Company and Nuclear Management Company, LLC; Docke t No. 50-263; Prairie Island Nuclear Generating Plant, Units No. 1 and 2; Facility Operating License, Amendments 153 and 144. August. PURPOSE OF AND NEED FOR ACTION Page 1-7 Prairie Island Nuclear Generating Plant License Renewal Application Appendix E - Environmental Report NRC (U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission). 2000b. Supplement 1 to NRC Regulatory Guide 4.2, Preparation of Supplemental Environmental Reports for Applications to Renew Nuclear Power Pl ant Operating Licenses. Office of Regulatory Research.

Washington D.C. September.

NSP (Northern States Power Company). 1999. "Nuclear Power Plant Operating Service Agreement Between Northern States Po wer Company and Nuclear Management Company for the Prairie Island Nucl ear Generating Plant." November.

Xcel Energy. 2006. "Xcel Energy Code of Conduct." August 22. PURPOSE OF AND NEED FOR ACTION Page 1-8 Prairie Island Nuclear Generating Plant License Renewal Application Appendix E - Environmental Report SITE AND ENVIRONMENTAL INTERFACES Page 2-1 2.0 SITE AND ENVIRONMENTAL INTERFACES 2.1 GENERAL SITE DESCRIPTION Prairie Island Nuclear Generating Plant (PIN GP) is located on the west bank of the Mississippi River in Section 4 and 5, T113N, R15W, in Goodhue County within the city limits of Red Wing, Minnesota, at 9237.9west longitude and 4437.3north latitude (Figure 2.1-1). The City of Hastings is located approximately 13 miles northwest (upstream) of the plant. Minneapolis is located approximately 39 miles northwest and St. Paul is located approximately 32 miles northwest of the plant. At the plant location, the Mississippi River serves as the st ate boundary between Minnesota and Wisconsin.

PINGP is located on the western shore of Sturgeon Lake, a backwater area located one mile upstream from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineer s (USACE) Lock and Dam 3 (Figure 2.1-2). The Vermillion River lies just west of PINGP and flows into the Mississippi River approximately two mile s downstream of Lock and Dam 3. Several federally-owned recreation areas and wildlife refuges are located within 50

miles of PINGP (Figure 2.1-1). The Wi nona District of the Upper Mississippi River Wildlife and Fish Refuge begins at the mouth of the Chippewa River and ends approximately 50 river miles downstream (F WS 2006a). The Mississi ppi National River and Recreation Area stretches 72 miles from the southern border of Dakota County up the Mississippi River, through Minneapolis-St. Paul, ending at the western border of Anoka County (NPS 2006a). The Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge stretches 34 miles along the Minnesota River (FWS 2006b). The St. Croix National Scenic Riverway includes 154 miles of the St. Croix River from Gordon, Wisconsin to its confluence with the Missi ssippi River (NPS 2006b).

Prairie Island Nuclear Generating Plant Prairie Island Nuclear Generating Plant License Renewal Application Appendix E - Environmental Report SITE AND ENVIRONMENTAL INTERFACES Page 2-2 2.1.1 REGIONAL FEATURES AND GENERAL FEATURES IN THE 6-MILE VICINITY Goodhue County, in which the site is locate d, and the adjacent counties of Dakota and Pierce (in Wisconsin) are predominantly rural.

Principal crops include soybeans, corn, oats, hay, and some cannery crops. The neares t dairy farm is located more than two miles southwest of the site. Beyond the site boundary and within a one-mile radius of the plant, there are approximately 20 to 30 residences or summer cottages. The closest occupied offsite residence is approximately 3,000 feet north-northwest of the plant (NMC 2007). 2.1.2 PINGP SITE FEATURES The PINGP site comprises approximately 578 ac res of land, owned in fee by Northern States Power (NMC 2007). Prior to constr uction of PINGP, the land was agricultural (AEC 1973). Figure 2.1-3 shows the property boundary and exclusion zone. On Prairie Island, access to the exclusion zone is restricted by a per imeter fence with "No Trespassing" signs. East of the plant the exclusion zone boundary extends to the main channel of the Mississippi River. Islands within this boundary as well as a small strip of land northeast of the plant are owned by USACE (NMC 2007). An agreement has been made with USACE such that no residences will be built on that strip of land or islands within the exclusion zone for the life of the plant (Wel k 1972, Cox 1972).

Directly north of NSP property lies the Prairi e Island Indian Reservation. The Prairie Island Indian Community is a Federally Recognized Indian Tri be organized under the Indian Reorganization Act (25 USC 476). Th e Prairie Island Indian Community owns and operates the Treasure Island Resort and Ca sino, which includes a 250-room hotel and convention center that is currently bei ng expanded to include an additional 230 rooms (Treasure Island Resort and Casino undated). The expansion includes a 24-lane bowling center and a multi-use ev ent center with a maximum seating capacity of 2,800. Treasure Island Resort and Casino offers gaming, dining, live entertainment, a 95-space RV park, a 137-slip marina to accommodate visitors arriving by the Mississippi River, and sightseeing and dinner cruises on t heir river boat (Minnesota Indian Affairs Council 2006). The plant's Emergency Plan and the State of Minnesota Local Government Emergency Response Plans for Nuclear Power Plants in clude notification plan s for the Treasure Island Resort and Casino, and the Tribal Community, in the event of a nuclear plant radiological emergency (NMC 2007).

Section 3.1 describes key f eatures of the plant, includi ng reactor and containment systems, cooling water systems, and transmission facilities.

Prairie Island Nuclear Generating Plant License Renewal Application Appendix E - Environmental Report

2.2 HYDROLOGY

2.2.1 UPPER

MISSISSI PPI RIVER BASIN The Mississippi River, with its headwaters loca ted in the north woods of Minnesota, is the longest and largest river in North America.

The River flows 3,705 kilometers (2,302 miles) from its source, Lake Itasca, to the Gulf of Mexico and drains all or parts of 31 states. The River and the forests and wetlands along its banks support various diverse ecosystems. For reference purposes, the Un ited States Geological Survey (USGS) has broken the Mississippi River into six sub-bas ins known as the Upper Mississippi River, Lower Mississippi River, Arkansas Red-Wh ite River, Ohio River, Missouri River, and Tennessee River Subbasins (EPA 2006a).

The Upper Mississippi River Basin drains approximately 189,000 square miles including large portions of Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, Illinois, and Missouri. Small portions of Indiana, Michigan, and South Dakota are also within the basin. The basin is drained by 30,700 miles of streams. The average annual discharge of the Upper Mississippi River increases from 9,180 cubic feet per sec ond (cfs) near St. Paul, Minnesota to 204,800 cfs at Thebes, Illinois. There are 12 major tributaries to the Upper Mississippi River Basin, including the Missouri, Illinois, Wisc onsin, and Iowa Rivers. There are more than 3,000 reservoirs within the basin. More than 30 million people live within the basin, with nearly 30 percent of the population living in urban areas such as Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minnesota; St. Louis, Missouri; Chicago, Illinois; the Quad Cities, Illinois and Iowa; Des Moines, Iowa; La Crosse, Wisconsin; and Peoria, Illinois (EPA 2006a). PINGP is located in the Rush-Vermillion Watershed, which includes portions of Dakota, Goodhue, Scott, Wabasha, and Washington counties in Minnesota and Buffalo, Pepin, Pierce, and St. Croix counties in Wisconsin (EPA 2008). The character of the Mississippi River in the vicinity of the PINGP site is shaped by the USACE lock and dam system (BALMM 2001). The Mississippi River is dammed at a point about one mile downstream from the PINGP site by Lock and Dam 3 (NMC 2007). Lock and Dam 3 is located at river mile 796.9 (USACE 2004a).T he Vermillion River and the Cannon River enter the main stream of the Mississippi River below Lock and Dam 3 (NMC 2007).

Lock and Dam 2 and Lock and Dam 4 are loca ted upstream and downstream of Lock and Dam 3 at river miles 815.2 and 752.8, respectively (USACE 2004a). The locks and dams create slack-water pools for navigation during periods of low and moderate water levels. For each pool there is a primary control point where a predetermined or normal water elevation is maintained for navigat ion (USACE 2004a). Normal pool level upstream from Lock and Dam 3 is 674.5 feet (NMC 2007). There are no withdrawals of river water for city water s upply for at least 300 miles downstream from the site (NMC 2007). Minor withdrawals of river water for irrigation purposes occur, the nearest being the City of Red Wing which withdraws water for landscaping (MN DNR 2005a).

2.2.1.1 United States Geological Survey Gaging Stations The closest U.S. Geological Survey (USG S) gaging stations located upstream and downstream of the PINGP site are listed in Table 2.2-1. The USGS operates gaging SITE AND ENVIRONMENTAL INTERFACES Page 2-3 Prairie Island Nuclear Generating Plant License Renewal Application Appendix E - Environmental Report stations at Prescott (13 miles upstream of the PINGP site) and Winona (73 miles downstream of the site). T hese stations provide a conti nuous record of stream flow since 1928 (USGS 2006). 2.2.1.2 Mississippi River Flow Statistics at USGS Stations Based on data from Water Years 1928 to 2005, the annual mean flow values of the Mississippi River at the nearest USGS upstream and downstream gaging stations (Prescott and Winona stations) are shown in Table 2.2-2. 2.2.1.3 Lock and Dam 3 Discharge Statistics Flow in the PINGP section of the Mississippi is controlled by the USACE Lock and Dam 3, which creates a pool level extending upstr eam to Lock and Dam 2. During the initial rise in pool level, Sturgeon Lake was created by the backwater flooding of low lying areas in the flood plain adjacent to the Mississippi Ri ver. The lock and dam was created by the USACE as part of a navigation project (AEC 1973, pp. II-32 to II- 42).

The river discharge through Lock and Dam 3 is indicated in Table 2.2-3. Discharge from Lock and Dam 3 is typically highest in spring and early summer. 2.2.1.4 Consumptive Surface Water Use Over seven billion gallons of water are wit hdrawn from surface water sources each day in the 60 counties that border the navigable Upper Mississippi River (EPA 2006a). Over 80 percent of this water is used as cooling water for energy production and thus returned to rivers and streams. There are 29 power plants that use water from the 1,300-mile long Upper Mississippi River. The Upper Mississippi River provides water to 23 public water suppliers serving a combined population of approx imately 2.8 million people. Approximately 278 facilities discharge wastewater to the Upper Mississippi River, including industrial facilities and municipal sewage treatment plants (EPA 2006a). 2.2.2 ALLUVIAL AQUIFERS PINGP is located on Prairie Island, an island terrace associated with the Mississippi River flood plain. The Mississi ppi River flood plain in this area is confined within a valley approximately three miles wide. Rocky bluffs and heavily forested slopes rise abruptly from both sides of the valley some 300 feet. The bluffs are deeply trenched by numerous streams emptying into the Mississippi River. The site is located on the western limb of the Red Wing anticline. The aquifers in the vicinity of the site include the alluvial aquifer (water table) and the underlying bedrock (confined) aquifers.

Generally, wells in the alluvial material in the vicinity of the site are less than 100 feet in depth (NMC 2007, Appendix E). The Prairie Island alluvial aquifer receives recharge from and discharges to surface waters. The aquifer is also recharged through direct precipitation, flood waters, snowmelt, and from underlying aquifers. A USGS study performed in 1997 stated that the amount of water discharged to wells in the Prairie Island study area from the alluvial SITE AND ENVIRONMENTAL INTERFACES Page 2-4 Prairie Island Nuclear Generating Plant License Renewal Application Appendix E - Environmental Report aquifer was less than one-third of the water th at was discharged from the alluvial aquifer to surface waters or to the atmosphere (Cowdery 1999, p. 9). 2.2.3 DEEP AQUIFERS Important aquifers in the vicinity of the PINGP site include the Jordan Sandstone and the Dresbach formation of which the primary water producing unit is the Mount Simon formation. Separating the Jordon Sandst one aquifer from the Dresbach formation are the St. Lawrence and Franconia formati ons (NMC 2007, Appendix E).

The Jordan Sandstone, which is an important aquifer in areas away from the river, outcrops on the bluffs adjacent to the Mi ssissippi River. U nderlying the Jordan Sandstone are the St.

Lawrence and Franconia formations, which are not considered important water-producing formations (NSP 1972). The Franconia sandstone formation is the uppermost bedrock underlying the alluvial overburden (alluvial aquifer) at the site. The Franconia formation's thickness at the site is believed to be much less than 180 feet which is the formation's total measured thickness. The Dresbach formation is believed to be over 100 feet in thickness, and consists of sandstone, siltstone, and shale. Test borings at the site revealed the following formations (NMC 2007, Appendix E): Elevation in feet Description 690-665 Predominantly loose granular soils which exhibit relatively low strength and moderately high compressibility characteristics. These soils consist of loose to fine-grained medium-grained sands.

665-645 Predominantly medium-dense to dense granular soils exhibiting moderate strength and compressibility characteristics. The soils consist of brown fine to medium sands containing varying amounts of coarse sand and gravel. This zone contains interspersed, discontinuous layers of loose granular soils. These soils are located below the groundwater table and are denser than the overlying sands.

645-515 Predominantly dense to very dense, fine- to medium-grained granular soils containing interspersed discontinuous zones of coarse-grained sands, gravels and cobbles. Generally, the lower 10 to 30 feet of this zone contains many cobbles and boulders. These soils exhibit moderately high strength and relatively low compressibility characteristics. These soils are saturated and are somewhat denser than the overlying sands. 515 to the depths penetrated by the borings Paleozoic sandstone of the Franconia formation. The sandstone encountered in the borings consist predominantly of a gray fine- and medium-grained quartz sandstone cont aining loose and cemented zones. 2.2.4 GROUNDWATER LEVEL The groundwater table in the vicinity of PING P is generally within 5 to 20 feet of ground surface and slopes to the southwest (NMC 2007). Under normal flow conditions the head of the Mississippi River is higher than the Vermillion River maintaining a flow from SITE AND ENVIRONMENTAL INTERFACES Page 2-5 Prairie Island Nuclear Generating Plant License Renewal Application Appendix E - Environmental Report the Mississippi River/Pool 3 toward the Vermillion River, which enters the Mississippi River below Lock and Dam 3. However, dur ing high rainfall events, the groundwater flow across the site to the southwest can flatten and result in a mounding situation where the alluvial aquifer flows radially from Prairie Island (Cowdery 1999). 2.2.5 CONSUMPTIVE GROUNDWATER USE The wells at PINGP are installed within the overburden materials (alluvial aquifer) consisting of sand and gravel al luvial soils which range from 158 to 185 feet thick.

Groundwater levels in the alluvial aquifer ar e directly influenced by the Mississippi River and vary with river fluctuations. The depth to groundwater varies from 5 to 20 feet across the island (NMC 2007, Appendix E).

The Prairie Island Indian Reservation public water supply withdraws water from the Eau Claire/Mount Simon aquifer (par t of the Dresbach formation) and has replaced most of the once-used individual wells on the reserv ation (Cowdery 1999, p.

8). One of the closest wells to PINGP is a deep well (595 f eet deep) located in the bedrock aquifers at Lock and Dam 3. The nearest groundwater cons umption of important magnitude is in the Town of Red Wing six miles downstream (NMC 2007, Section 2.4.4). The Dresbach formation, which underlies t he Franconia formation, produces water primarily from its basal member, the Mount Simon formation, ca rries large amounts of water, and is the source for several of the wells in the Red Wing area. The community derives its water from four deep wells (400 to 730 feet deep) which penetrate sandstone aquifers of the Mount Simon and into the under lying Hinkley formation and yi eld approximately 1,400 gallons per minute (gpm) (NMC 2007, Appendix E). Neither of these aquifer units is directly fed by the Mississippi River (NSP 1972).

Several industries in the Red Wing area al so use groundwater and derive their supplies principally from the bedrock aquifers. Total well production from the bedrock at Red Wing probably exceeds 3,000 gpm, and fairly large quantities may also be extracted from the alluvium for certain industrial uses. Communities further downstream from the plant site that obtain their water from we lls in bedrock are Lake City, 25 river miles downstream, and Wabasha, 37 miles downstr eam (NMC 2007, Section 2.4.4).

PINGP withdraws groundwater for potable and industrial use from six wells installed within the alluvial aquifer (F igure 3.1-1). Five of thes e wells have permits from the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (MN DNR) (NSP 2006). A permit is not required for the sixth well because its flow s are below the 10,000 gallons per day (GPD) or 1,000,000 gallons per year thresholds set by MN DNR. The 5 permitted wells (Table 2.2-4) produced an average of 91 gpm, over the 2000 - 2005 period.

The production rate for the unpermitted well was 1 gpm based on PINGP's site data for 2005 (Bergland 2006). Therefore, the total av erage groundwater pumping rate for the six site wells for the period from 2000 through 2005 was 92 gpm.

However, during this period, the highest average pumping rate for the six wells was 118 gpm which occurred during 2005. The lowest average pumping rate for the six wells was 77 gpm, which occurred

in 2000 and 2002. SITE AND ENVIRONMENTAL INTERFACES Page 2-6 Prairie Island Nuclear Generating Plant License Renewal Application Appendix E - Environmental Report 2.3 BIOLOGICAL RESOURCES 2.3.1 AQUATIC AND RIPARIAN ECOLOGICAL COMMUNITIES Until the early 1970s, when the Clean Wate r Act and its implem enting regulations produced significant improvement in water qual ity across the U.S., the Mississippi River below the Twin Cities was a degraded ecosystem. The Twin Cities area was the source of many pollutants, ranging from inadequately treated sewage to animal wastes (from area stockyards and slaughterhouses) to industrial pollutants to urban stormwater runoff. The Minnesota River, which joins the Mississippi River at Fort Snelling, also contributed to the Mississipp i River's water quality probl ems. The Minnesota River flows through an agricultural region, and has carried sediment and animal wastes downstream into the Mississippi since the native prairie was converted into cropland. In more recent times, nutrients (nitrogen and phosphorus from fertilizers) from the Minnesota River have created severe wate r quality problems dow nstream in the Mississippi River (MRBDC 2001). 2.3.1.1 Aquatic Communities 2.3.1.1.1 Preoperational Monitoring (1969-1971) During the pre-operational monitoring perio d (1969-1971), the aquatic communities of the Mississippi River (Pool 3) and St urgeon Lake reflected the river's degraded condition. Although reasonably diverse, aquatic communities from top (fish) to bottom (phytoplankton) of the f ood chain were dominated by pollution-tolerant groups associated with polluted and eutr ophic (nutrient-enriched) waters. These included well-known bioindicators of pollution such as blue-green algae (now generally referred to as blue-green "cyanobacteria"), tubifi cid worms, and common carp.

Mississippi River phytoplankton in the Prairie Island area we re monitored in 1970 and 1971 by Northern States Power (NSP) to determine pre-operational species composition, densities, and distribution (AEC 1973). Phytoplankton densities were high immediately above Lock and Dam 3 and in Sturgeon Lake. Diatom production peaked in spring and fall, with genera associated with eutrophic waters dominating collections.

In early summer, green algae were prevalen t, and eutrophic species dominated. In late summer, Cyanophytes (blue-green algae) were prevalent, and intense blue-green algae blooms were sometimes observed. Polluti on-tolerant Cyanophytes such as Anabena were common in late summer.

Zooplankton collections in 1970-1971 were do minated by rotifers and microcrustaceans (cladocerans and copepods). Rotifers were common from July th rough November, with members of the genera Keratella (July-Nove mber), Branchionus (July-October), and Trichocerca (July, August, October) pr edominant (AEC 1973). The cladocerans Daphnia and Bosmina and the copepod Cyclops were the most important microcrustaceans in summer. Daphnia became more prevalent in the fall, and was the most abundant genus in October. Zooplankton were not monitored from December

through June. SITE AND ENVIRONMENTAL INTERFACES Page 2-7 Prairie Island Nuclear Generating Plant License Renewal Application Appendix E - Environmental Report The benthic macroinvertebrates of the Prairie Island area in 1970 and 1971 were mostly pollution-tolerant forms, indicative of degraded water quality (AEC 1973). Midges and oligochaetes dominated benthos collections. Tubificid worms, often associated with organic pollution, were common across the st udy area. Several caddisfly and mayfly species, generally regarded as pollution-intolerant, were found just above Lock and Dam 3, reflecting the fact that "most of the Twin Cities' effluvia are decomposed and diluted by the time they reach the general region of the Plant" (AEC 1973, page II-67). The combination of organic pollution and high silt levels had reduced shellfish to a "few small beds" in the area. The FES (AEC 1973) did not identif y these shellfish, referring to them only as "clams."

In 1970 and 1971, the lower Pool 3 fish comm unity was composed primarily of "rough fish" [e.g., common carp (Cyprinus carpio

), freshwater drum (Aplodinotus grunniens

), redhorse (Moxostoma spp.), and gizzard shad (Dorosoma cepedianum

)] (AEC 1973).

Two-thirds of fish collected in 1970 and 1971 were rough fish. Black crappie (Pomoxis nigromaculatus

), white crappie (Pomoxis annularis

), white bass (Morone americana

), and sunfish were the most impor tant game fish. Walleye (Stizostedion vitreum) and sauger (Stizostedion canadense) were uncommon in lower Pool 3 in 1970 and 1971, but the "swift-water habitat" immediat ely below Lock and Dam 3 held larger concentrations of walleye, sauger, and whit e bass. The area below Lock and Dam 3 was also identified as a major spawning and rearing area for sauger and walleye (AEC 1973). 2.3.1.1.2 Operationa l Monitoring (1970s) The Prairie Island Nuclear Generating Plant 316(a) Demonstration (HDR 1978) contains useful information on the water quality and fi sh populations of t he Mississippi River immediately up-river of Lock and Dam 3 in the early years of PINGP operation. The 316(a) demonstration describes Pool 3 as "mo re of a lacustrine than a riverine habitat, characterized by low turbidity throughout most of the year" (HDR 1978, page III-27). It notes that this section of the Mississippi River is slightly eut rophic, with higher-than-background levels of metals and relatively hi gh levels of toxicants including phenols and cyanide. The 316(a) demonstration observes t hat water quality in Pool 3 is greatly influenced by upstream inputs.

Large quantities of treated se wage enter the river from the Metropolitan Wastewater Treatment Plant (MWTP) near St. Paul, and the Minnesota River contributes sediments and agricultural-related constit uents (fertilizer, pesticides, herbicides). Flow from the St. Croix River, whic h is relatively pristine, tends to dilute the inputs from the St. Paul area and the Minnesot a River. The authors of the 316(a) study conclude that the reach of the river adjacent to PINGP is a "recovery zone" where the biota benefit, to some degree, from upstream nutrient inputs and dissolved oxygen levels are high enough to support a variety of aquatic organisms.

The 316(a) demonstration summarizes fish sampling over the 1973-1976 period. Areas sampled were North Lake, Sturgeon Lake, and t he main river channel. A total of 45,005 fish were collected over the 1973-1976 period us ing a variety of collection methods. Collections were dominated by a relatively small number of species. Four species -

gizzard shad (20.8 percent of total), white ba ss (15.6 percent of total), freshwater drum SITE AND ENVIRONMENTAL INTERFACES Page 2-8 Prairie Island Nuclear Generating Plant License Renewal Application Appendix E - Environmental Report (12.8 percent of tota l), and common carp (11.

1 percent of total) - made up 60 percent of all fish collected. Other species co mmonly collected were emerald shiner (Notropis atherinoides

5.3 percent), sauger (3.9 percent), shorthead redhorse (Moxostoma macrolepidotum

3.8 percent), bluegill (Lepomis macrochirus; 3.6 percent), black crappie (2.8 percent), channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus

2.2 percent), and white crappie (2.1 percent).

2.3.1.1.3 Operati onal Monitoring (1980s to present)

Xcel Energy continued to monitor fish populations in the vicinity of PINGP after the plant's 316(a) and 316(b) studies were comp leted to gauge the effectiveness of the intake and discharge modifications (see Sections 3.1.3 and 4.3) in reducing entrainment, impingement, and cold shock impacts. In recent years, the objective of fisheries monitoring has shifted from identifying impacts of PINGP operation to more generally assessing the status of the fishery in the vicinity of PINGP (Xcel Energy 2007). Fish were originally monitored usi ng a variety of gear ty pes: electrofishing, seining, gill-netting, trap-netting, and trawling. After 1988, electrofishing was the only sampling method employed for monitoring fish populations. Monitoring occurs monthly from May through October of each year in accordance with the NPDES permit. Four established sampling areas are located within a section of the Mississippi River that extends from 3.6 miles ups tream of PINGP to 10.8 miles below the plant. The total number of species caught each year over the 1988-2006 period has remained relatively constant, ranging from 34 - 41 species. Relative abundance of eight representative (common) species is monitor ed. These species are carp, white bass, freshwater drum, sauger, black crappie, shorthead redhorse, walleye, and gizzard shad. These eight species make up 69 to 82 percent of all fish caught each year. Relative abundance of most species has been consistent over the 17-year peri od. For example, white bass relative abundance ranged from 10 to 20 percent over the 1988-2004 period; freshwater drum ranged from 8 to 19 percent, shorthead r edhorse ranged from 8 to 17 percent. Carp and gizzard shad abundance we re more variable, presumably because reproductive success in these species depends on adequate water levels in backwater areas. The species with more consist ent measures of abundance between years tend to be species that spawn in deeper water (main channel) habitats or tr ibutary streams. 2.3.1.1.4 Water Quality and Fi sh Consumption Advisories The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) is required, under Section 303(d) of the Clean Water Act, to identify waterbodies for which effluent limitations are not stringent enough to satisfy water quality standards (MPCA 2006). Every two years, in even-numbered years, MPCA publishes its List of Impaired Waters, i dentifying streams, lakes, and impoundments that are impaired for one or more pollutants and therefore do not meet one or more water quality standards.

The segment of the Mississippi River to which PINGP discharges (St. Croix River to Chippewa River) appears on the 2006 list as impaired in four categor ies: Aquatic Consumption

- Mercury (Fish Consumption Advisory), Aquatic Consumption - Mercury (in Water Column), Aquatic Consumption -

PCB (Fish Consumption Advisory), and Aquatic Life - Turbidity (MPCA 2006). Based SITE AND ENVIRONMENTAL INTERFACES Page 2-9 Prairie Island Nuclear Generating Plant License Renewal Application Appendix E - Environmental Report on contaminant concentrations in fish colle cted by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) in 2006 published Site-Specific Fish Consumption Guidelines for the General Public and for Children (under age 15) and Women Who Are or May Become Pregnant.

For Pool 3 of the Mississippi River, MDH recommends limiting consum ption of common game fish (e.g., bluegill, white and black crappie, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, walleye, sauger) and most rough fish (e.g., carp, freshwater drum, smallmouth buffalo) (MDH 2006). MDH lists 13 fish species with mercury levels, 9 fish species with PCB levels, and 5 fish species with perfluoro-octane sulfonate leve ls high enough to warrant limiting consumption.

2.3.1.1.5 Conclusions Mississippi River aquatic communities upstream of Lock and Dam 3 have been monitored since 1970 to determine if PINGP operation was having an effect on distribution, abundance, and overall health of aquatic biota.

Since the mid-1970s, fish have been the focus of monitoring and study.

Although big river ecosystems show a high degree of natural variability and aquatic populations in these rivers can experience dramatic changes between years, fish populations in the area of PINGP show a high degree of stability. Fish populations in the vicinity of PINGP today look similar to fish populations in the 1970s. A relatively small number of native specie s (carp, planted in the Mississippi River in the 19th century ar e the exception) has dominated collections for 35 years. All indications are that these populations are healthy, composed of fish in good condition, and are reproduci ng successfully year after year. The MPCA findings and MDH fish consumption guidelines sugge st that although Upper Mississippi River fish populations appear to be stable, fish are carrying substantial body burdens of pollutants. 2.3.1.2 Riparian Communities Riparian habitats are areas adjacent to rivers and streams that contain elements of both terrestrial and aquatic habitats. The ripari an zone begins at the high water line and extends to those portions of the terrestrial landscape that directly influence aquatic communities (by stabilizing the streambank, by providing shade or organic/inorganic

inputs to the stream, by providing habitat fo r semi-aquatic animals or terrestrial stages of animals, such as insects, that may live near the stream as adults and in the stream as larvae). Normally the entire floodplain is considered "riparian" because it may be partially inundated when river flows are high and completely inundated during floods (Knutson and Naef 1997).

Although they generally repres ent a small percentage of the total land area in a given region, riparian habitats are extremely pr oductive and provide a high degree of plant and animal diversity because they support both wetland and upland species. In the western plains and many parts of the Mi dwest, where forested areas are uncommon, riparian zones provide cover and travel corr idors for many impor tant game species, such as white-tailed deer and wild turkey.

In intensively farmed areas of the Midwest, riparian zones are important migration corridors for migrat ory songbirds. Riparian zones are critical to protecting water qualit y, as they function as the "last line of SITE AND ENVIRONMENTAL INTERFACES Page 2-10 Prairie Island Nuclear Generating Plant License Renewal Application Appendix E - Environmental Report defense" in intercepting surface runoff that contains eroded soil, nutrients (from fertilizers), and contaminants that could degrade water quality and aquatic habitats. Riparian zones along small str eams are normally narrow strips of brush or forestland, while riparian zones along larger stream s and rivers may encompass bottomland forests, swamps, marshes, and lakes. Pool 3 of the Upper Mississippi River, on which PINGP is located, is associated with a broad floodplain that ranges fr om 0.75 mile wide (immediately downstream of Lock and Dam 2) to 3 miles wide (in t he area of PINGP).

For the most part, the Wisconsin side of the river (in the area of Pool 3) is characterized by steep bluffs, and the riparian zone is limited. The Minnesota side of the river is characterized by a broad floodplain that offe rs a mosaic of aquatic and terrestrial habitats, ranging from lakes to sloughs to marshes to forestland to grassland. Virtually the entire Pool 3 floodplain and associated riparian habitat s lie in Minnesota. The discussion that follows therefore focuses on the Minnesota side of the river and Pool 3. Pool 3 is approximately 18 miles long, stretching from Lock and Dam 2 to Lock and Dam 3, and has an area of approximately 22,500 acres. The Pool 3 floodplain encompasses developed areas, forested areas, agricultural areas, wetland areas, and a number of ponds and lakes. It also includes the floodplain of the Vermillion River, which parallels the Mississippi River for almost the entire length of Pool 3. Developed areas include part of the town of Hastings, Mi nnesota, which occupies a portion of the floodplain immediately downstream of Lock and Dam 2, the Prairie Island Indian Community, and PINGP, which are approximat ely 1.5 mile and 1 mile, respectively, upstream of Lock and Dam 3.

Downstream of Hastings to the headwaters of North Lake, a distance of approximately 10 miles, the floodplain is mostly floodplai n forest and shallow marshes, with some pockets of agricultural land. From the headwaters of North Lake south to PINGP, the higher ground of the floodplai n is dominated by agricultu ral land and upland forest.

Lower-lying areas around North Lake includ e shallow marshes, areas with rooted aquatic plants, and wet meadows. Populus (predominantly cottonwood, Populus deltoides) communities are found in many places along the north shores of North Lake and Sturgeon Lake. The long strip of land that se rves as the north shores of North Lake and Sturgeon Lake is actually the west bank of the Mississippi River.

The area north (upriver) of PINGP (bet ween PINGP and the Prairie Island Indian Community) is primarily upland forest. The area immediately sout h and west of PINGP is lowland forest. Beyond the strip of lowland forest west of the PINGP lie several lakes, Goose Lake being the most notable, and the Vermillion River bottoms. The area immediately downriver of PI NGP, west of the discharge canal, is mostly wooded (cottonwoods and willows), but there is also a small parcel of agricultural land in this area. The area across the river from PINGP is the only significant part of the Pool 3 floodplain that lies in Wisconsin. A comp lex of deep-water marshes and lakes, Marsh Lake being the largest, occupies this portion of Pool 3. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers published an EIS in late 2006 that dealt, in part, with plans to rehabilitate the embankments that separate Mars h Lake from Pool 3 (USACE 2006a). In the EIS, the SITE AND ENVIRONMENTAL INTERFACES Page 2-11 Prairie Island Nuclear Generating Plant License Renewal Application Appendix E - Environmental Report Corps proposed strengthening the Marsh Lake embankments to prevent a possible failure that could create a scour channe l around Lock and Dam 3 and cause a rapid, accidental drawdown of Pool 3. 2.3.2 CRITICAL AND IMPORTANT TERRESTRIAL HABITATS 2.3.2.1 Regional Setting The PINGP site is located on the west bank of the Mississippi River (Figure 2.1-3).

Prior to purchase of the site , most of the property was used for farming (AEC 1973).

Prairie Island, upon which PINGP is located, is a low island terrace in the Mississippi River floodplain. The island is separated from other parts of the lowland by the Vermillion River on the west and by the Mississippi River on the east. Land use surrounding PINGP is mixture of farmlands , wooded areas, water bodies, and rural communities. The Prairie Island Indian Communi ty is located immediately north of the PINGP site. The Treasure Island Resort and Casino is located within the Prairie Island Indian Community approximately one mile from the plant. 2.3.2.2 PINGP Site The topography of the PINGP site is level to s lightly rolling, and el evations range from about 690 to 700 feet above mean sea level (msl). The PINGP site encompasses approximately 578 acres (NMC 2007). Approximately 240 acres of the PINGP site were disturbed and modified by plant constr uction activities in the early 1970s. Approximately 60 acres of the 240 disturbed acres support the generating facility and associated buildings, maintenance facilities, parking lots, and roads (AEC 1973). After plant construction was completed, the re maining 180 acres of disturbed land were landscaped (AEC 1973) and today most of this is mowed grass or unmowed prairie-like grassland. The remainder of the site (approximat ely 338 acres) consists primarily of scattered wooded areas (Figure 2.

1-3). Upland areas tend to be dominated by burr oak (Quercus macrocarpa

), red oak (Q. rubra), and Eastern red cedar (Juniperus virginiana

). Common trees in lower areas along the Mississippi Rive r, Sturgeon Lake, the Vermillion River, and river sloughs include silver maple (Acer saccharinum

), cottonwood, green ash (Fraxinus pennsylvanica

), American elm (Ulmus americana

), box elder (Acer negundo), river birch (Betula nigra

), and willows (Salix spp.) (AEC 1973).

Wooded areas in the northern por tion of the site consist of small isolated tracts (Figure 2.1-3). These areas provide habi tat for small mammals such as raccoons (Procyon lotor) and gray squirrels (Sciurus carolinensis), and especially for birds such as wood warblers, thrushes, woodpeckers, kinglets, and hawks (AEC 1973). The southern portion of the site provides mo re contiguous wooded habitat, where wooded areas extend to the edges of sloughs along the Mississippi and Vermillion Rivers.

These areas provide habitat for the same wild life as do the upland areas, plus species that are more associated with floodplains and wetlands. Wildlife that use the sloughs and lakes include amphibians such as salamanders and frogs, ducks such as the

mallard (Anas platyrhynchos

), American wigeon (A. americana

), common goldeneye (Bucephala clangula), bufflehead (B. albeola), ruddy duck (Oxyura jamaicensis

), and SITE AND ENVIRONMENTAL INTERFACES Page 2-12 Prairie Island Nuclear Generating Plant License Renewal Application Appendix E - Environmental Report Northern pintail (Anas acuta

), and wading birds such as the great egret (Ardea alba

), great blue heron (A. herodias

), and green heron (Butorides virescens) (AEC 1973). Wildlife species found in the forested and the open grassy portions of the PINGP site are those typically found in similar habitats of southeastern Minnesota. 2.3.2.3 Transmission Corridors Section 3.1.6 describes the r outes of the transmission lines that were built to connect PINGP to the transmission system. The principal land-use types traversed by the transmission corridors are agriculture, forest, and residential. The transmission corridors are maintained to keep vegetation heights low enough to prevent interference with the transmission lines in accordance with established procedures described in Section 3.1.6.

Near PINGP, the PINGP-to-Red Rock transmission corridor crosses the Vermillion River Bottoms Gores Pool Wildlife Manage ment Area (a portion of the Mississippi National River and Recreation Area) and the Lost Valley Scientific and Natural Area, and may cross the Cottage Grove Ravine Regional Park in Washington County.

The PINGP-to-Blue Lake transmission corridor crosses the Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge in northwestern Dakota County and the Savage Fen Scientific and Natural Area. There are other wildlife refuges along the Mississippi River in the vicinity of PINGP but the transmission co rridors do not cross these or any other state or federal wildlife refuges, wildlife management areas, or parks. There ar e no areas designated by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service as "critical habitat" at PINGP or in the associated transmission corridors. 2.3.3 THREATENED OR ENDANGERED SPECIES Table 2.3-1 indicates protected animal and plant species that are known to occur in Minnesota counties within which PINGP and associated transmission lines are located.

These include species that are federally-listed or state-listed as endangered or threatened, species proposed for federal listi ng, candidates for federal listing, and species state-listed as species of special conc ern. The transmission lines are located in Goodhue, Dakota, Washington, and Scott counties. Special-status species shown in Table 2.3-1 as occurring in these counties we re taken from county records maintained by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS 2007a) and the Natural Heritage and Nongame Research Program of the Minnes ota Department of Natural Resources (MN DNR 2007a; 2007b).

Because operation of PING P could potentially affect aquatic populations in the Mississippi River up and downstr eam of the plant, NMC has al so included special-status aquatic species known or believed to occur in Pierce County, Wisconsin, which extends upstream and downstream of the PINGP site. These include species designated Endangered, Threatened, and Species of Conc ern by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (WDNR 2007). Since operation of PINGP and its transmission system is not likely to affect terrestrial s pecies in Wisconsin, these species were not included in Table 2.3-1. SITE AND ENVIRONMENTAL INTERFACES Page 2-13 Prairie Island Nuclear Generating Plant License Renewal Application Appendix E - Environmental Report Most of the species shown in Table 2.3-1 have been recorded as "known to occur" by the MN DNR within one mile of either PI NGP (MN DNR 2007a) or the transmission lines (MN DNR 2007b).

Four species (two mussels and two plants) in Table 2.3-1 are federally-listed as endangered or threatened and two mussels are candidates for federal listing. These are discussed below. The peregrine falcon (Falco peregrinus

), paddlefish (Polyodon spathula), and Higgins eye pearlymussel (Lampsilis higginsii) are the only state- or federally-listed species known to occur at or in the vicinity of PINGP; these are also discussed below.

2.3.3.1 Fauna A nest box designed for peregrine falcons, st ate-listed as threatened, was placed on the Unit 1 containment dome at PINGP in 1994.

A pair of peregrine falcons has nested in the nest box annually since 1997, and 31 falc ons have fledged from the nest since 1997. Peregrine falcons at PINGP typically a rrive in the vicinity in March, the eggs hatch in May, and the young fledge in July.

The PINGP FES (AEC 1973) stated that t he only known endangered species near the site was the bald eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus

). The bald eagle was removed from the federal list of threatened and endangered species effective August 8, 2007 (FWS 2007b). At the federal level, the bald eagle is still protected under the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act and the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (FWS 2007b). Bald eagles occur in a wide variety of habitats, but prox imity of their nests to water (as foraging habitat) is important, and preferred nesting habi tat consists of a high amount of water-to-land edge where their aquatic prey is conc entrated. Thus, bal d eagles are generally restricted to coastal areas, lakes, and rivers. They prey on fish and other aquatic prey near the surface but will eat dead fish or other carrion, as well as birds, mammals, and occasionally reptiles (Stalmaster 1987). Bald eagles are year-round residents along the Mississippi River in southeastern Minnesota.

No eagle nests are known to exist on PINGP property, but there are at least two nests nearby.

One nest is located in the Vermillion River bottoms just south of the PINGP site, and one nest is located approximately two miles upstream of Lock and Dam 3 on the eastern side of the Mississippi River (USACE 2006a) At least two studies have documented bald eagle use of the Mississippi River near PINGP as a wintering area.

Faanes (1975) and Kühl (1981) found the PINGP area to be used by up to five eagles concurrently, with highest use when other portions of the river were frozen over. Bald eagles are regularly observed in lower Pool 3 and upper Pool 4 during winter when open water is present due to thermal discharge from PINGP (USACE 2006a).

The PINGP FES (AEC 1973) stated that trumpeter swans (Cygnus buccinator

), which are state-listed as threatened, might migr ate through the PINGP area. The MN DNR (2007b) database shows this species in Dakota County and records maintained by the Minnesota Ornithologists' Union indicate that trumpeter swans are occasionally observed in Goodhue County (MOU 2006). SITE AND ENVIRONMENTAL INTERFACES Page 2-14 Prairie Island Nuclear Generating Plant License Renewal Application Appendix E - Environmental Report The state-threatened paddlefish was once common in the Mississippi River from Lake Pepin downstream, and was found occasionally as far upstream as St. Anthony Falls, near Minneapolis (Schmidt 2005). The s pecies' numbers and range were reduced by water pollution, stream alteration (dredging, dam construction), and overfishing in the early part of the 20th century (Phillips, Schmid, and Underhill 1982). Paddlefish spend most of their time in large rivers and river lakes, but as cend tributary streams to spawn in the spring of the year, when water is high.

They grow rapidly, feeding mostly on zooplankton, and reach 5 feet in length and up to 200 pounds in weight. Paddlefish are still found in Lake Pepin and the Chippewa River, which flows into Lake Pepin from Wisconsin. Biologists have speculated t hat the Lock and Dam 3 downstream of PINGP serves to isolate paddlefish populations in the St. Croix River and Lake Pepin/Chippewa River. This "population bottleneck" restricts gene flow in the river and could (indirectly) limit growth and reproductive success, and even reduce resistance to disease of paddlefish in the Upper Mississippi. Paddlefish were once common in Sturgeon Lake, adjacent to PINGP, but sedi mentation from channel maintenance activities reduced the lake's depth, rendering it less suitable for the species (Schmidt 2004, 2005). Northern States Power and Xcel Energy biologists conducting fish population studies in the PINGP vicinity over the last several decades have occasionally collected individual paddlefish, most recently on July 17, 2007 (Giese 2007). Two federally endangered mollusks and two mo llusks that are candidates for federal listing have been recorded in counties cross ed by PINGP-associated transmission lines (Table 2.3-1). Threats to these mollusks include river impoundment, dredging/ channelization, contaminants and more recently, the invasion of their habitats by exotic zebra mussels (Dreissena polymorpha). Impoundments limit mo vements of mussels, often resulting in small geographically and genet ically isolated populations. With the

exception of the Higgins eye pearlymusse l (see below), none of these has been recorded in the area adja cent to PINGP. The Higgins eye pearlymussel is listed as endangered by FWS and MN DNR. It is a small to medium-sized freshwater mussel wit h a rounded to slightly elongate smooth shell, up to 4 inches in length. It is found in larger rivers in areas of deep water and moderate currents. It has lost approximately 50 perc ent of its historical range (FWS 2004a). It is currently found in t he upper Mississippi River between LaCrosse, Wisconsin, and Muscatine, Iowa and in two Missi ssippi River tributar ies, the St. Croix and the Wisconsin rivers (Miller and Payne 2007). Of those countie s containing PINGP facilities and transmission lines, it has been recorded in Dakota and Goodhue counties (FWS 2007a). Mussel surveys conducted in Pools 3 and 4 in 1986, 1999, 2000, and 2003 did not reveal any Higgins' eye pearlymussels in the area around Lock and Dam 3 (USACE 2006a). However, this species has been cultured (reared in cages) and recently re-introduced into lower Pool 4 and both upper and lower Pool 3 (Sturgeon Lake) of the Mississippi River (USAC E 2004b; USACE 2006a). The Sturgeon Lake relocation site, where 195 sub-adult L. higginsii were placed in July 2003 (Mussel Coordination Team 2005), is approximately 0.5 mile up-river of the PINGP Intake Screenhouse. Critical habitat has not been designated for the Higgins eye pearlymussel. SITE AND ENVIRONMENTAL INTERFACES Page 2-15 Prairie Island Nuclear Generating Plant License Renewal Application Appendix E - Environmental Report The winged mapleleaf (Quadrula fragosa) is listed as endangered by FWS and MN DNR. It is a medium-sized mussel with an ovate shell reaching 4 inches in length, and is found in stream/river ri ffles with clean gravel, sand or rubble in clear high water quality (FWS 2004b). Previously found in 13 states, it is now limited to the St. Croix River between Minnesota and Wisconsin and th ree rivers in Missouri and Arkansas. A 20-km stretch of the St. Croix River bet ween Minnesota and Wisconsin contains the only winged mapleleaf population known to be repr oducing (Vaughn 1997, FWS 2004b). Of those counties containing PINGP facilities and transmission lines, it is found only in Washington County (F WS 2007a). Critical habitat has not been designated for the winged mapleleaf.

The spectaclecase (Cumberlandia monodonta) is listed as a candidate species by FWS and threatened by MN DNR. It is a large mussel whose greatly elongated shell can reach 9 inches in length. The spectaclecas e tends to be found in aggregations. It is a habitat specialist, found in rive rine microhabitats that are s heltered from the main force of the current. It is currently found in 20 stre ams in 10 states. In Minnesota, it is located in the Mississippi and St. Croix rivers and Rush Creek (Butler 2002a). Of those counties containing PINGP facilities and transmission lines, it is found only in Washington County (FWS 2007a).

The sheepnose (Plethobasus cyphyus) is listed as a candidate species by FWS and endangered by MN DNR. It is a medium-sized mussel with an elongate ovate shell reaching 5.5 inches in length. It inhabits large streams and rivers, especially shallow shoal habitat with moderate to swift current. However, it is sometimes found in deep runs in larger rivers. Although still found in 14 states, it is no longer found in two-thirds of its historical range (Butler 2002b). Of those counties containing PINGP facilities and transmission lines, it is found only in Washington County (FWS 2007a).

2.3.3.2 Flora The dwarf trout lily (Erythronium propullans) is listed as endangered by both FWS and MN DNR. This forest wildflower is found only in three southeastern Minnesota counties (Goodhue, Rice, and Steele). It is most commonly found on north-facing wooded slopes and floodplains of drai nages of the Straight, Cann on, Little Cannon and North Fork rivers and Prairie Creek. It is a spring ephemeral, adapted to flower and grow before the deciduous trees devel op their leaves and is distinguishable from other trout lilies by its underground veget ative runner (FWS 2006c). The prairie bush clover (Lespedeza leptostachya) is classified as threatened by FWS and MN DNR. This legume occurs only in the tallgrass prairie region of Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, and Illinois and is currently found today at fewer than 40 sites (FWS 2000). Within Minnesota, it is known to occur in 12 counties (FWS 2007a), two of which (Dakota and Goodhue) are crossed by PING P-associated transmission lines. SITE AND ENVIRONMENTAL INTERFACES Page 2-16 Prairie Island Nuclear Generating Plant License Renewal Application Appendix E - Environmental Report 2.4 METEOROLOGY AND AIR QUALITY The climate of the site region is basically continental and influenced by the general storms which move eastward along the nor thern tier of the United States. The geographical location results in frequent changes in weather systems as polar and tropical air masses alternate. Rainfall av erages about 25 inches per year, with 65 percent falling in the months of May th rough September. Maximum rainfall during 24 hours2.777778e-4 days <br />0.00667 hours <br />3.968254e-5 weeks <br />9.132e-6 months <br /> was 10.0 inches in July 1987. Snowfa ll averages about 44 inches per year, with a maximum of 19.9 inches in 24 hours2.777778e-4 days <br />0.00667 hours <br />3.968254e-5 weeks <br />9.132e-6 months <br /> in January 1982 (NMC 2007). The U. S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has established National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for six common pollut ants: nitrogen dioxid e, sulfur dioxide, carbon monoxide, lead, ozone, and particulate matter (PM 10 and PM 2.5). The EPA has designated all areas of the United States as having air quality bet ter ("attainment") or worse ("non-attainment") than the NAAQS. Areas that have been re-designated to attainment from nonattainment are called maintenance areas.

To be re-designated, an area must both meet air qua lity standards and have a 10-year plan for continuing to meet and maintain air quality standards and other requirement s of the Clean Air Act.

PINGP is located in Goodhue County, Minnes ota, which is part of the Southeast Minnesota-La Crosse (Wisconsin) Interstate Air Quality Contro l Region (AQCR) (40 CFR 81.66). The AQCR is in a ttainment or maintenance for all criteria pollutants, as are all counties in Minnesota. The only main tenance area within the Southeast Minnesota-La Crosse (Wisconsin) AQCR is Olmsted C ounty, which is a maintenance area for sulfur dioxide and PM10 (40 CFR 81.324).

Other maintenance areas within Minnesota include multiple counties in the Minneapolis-St. Paul Intrastate AQCR (for carbon monoxide and sulfur dioxide), Dakota County (also in the Minneapolis St.-Paul Intrastate AQCR (for lead), Ramsey County (Minneapolis-St.

Paul Intrastate AQCR) for PM 10 , and St. Louis County in the Duluth (Minnesota)-Superior (Wisconsin) Interstate Air AQCR (f or carbon monoxide)

(40 CFR 81.324). The closest nonattainment areas (for ozone) are in eastern Wisconsin, bordering Lake Michigan (40 CFR 81.350).

Minnesota is one of the states covered by the Clean Air Inters tate Rule (CAIR), designed to reduce air pollution that moves across state boundaries. The CAIR, issued March 10, 2005, will permanently c ap emissions of sulfur diox ide and nitrogen oxides in the eastern United States when fully implemented (EPA 2006b). The CAIR is projected to reduce Minnesota's sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide emissions by 36 and 59 percent, respectively, by 2015. Currently, Mi nnesota sources significantly contribute to fine particle pollution in Illinois and Indiana (EPA 2006c). EPA has also established the Regional Haze Rule, which calls for state and federal agencies to work together to improve visibility in 156 national parks and wilderness

areas (EPA 2006d). Two of these areas, re ferred to as Class I Federal Areas, are located in Minnesota and in clude the Boundary Waters Canoe Area (U.S. Forest Service) and Voyageurs National Park (National Park Service). Both are located on the SITE AND ENVIRONMENTAL INTERFACES Page 2-17 Prairie Island Nuclear Generating Plant License Renewal Application Appendix E - Environmental Report northern border of Minnes ota. However, the closest Cla ss I Federal Area to PINGP is Rainbow Lake, located within Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest (U.S. Forest Service) in Bayfield County, Wisconsin, approximately 140 miles north-northeast of PINGP (EPA 2006e). SITE AND ENVIRONMENTAL INTERFACES Page 2-18 Prairie Island Nuclear Generating Plant License Renewal Application Appendix E - Environmental Report

2.5 DEMOGRAPHY

2.5.1 GENERAL

DEMOGRAPHY The Generic Environmental Im pact Statement for License Renewal of Nuclear Plants (GEIS) presents a population characterizati on method that is based on two factors:

"sparseness" and "proximity" (NRC 1996). "Sparseness" measur es population density and city size within 20 miles of a site and categorizes the demographic information as follows: Demographic Categories Based on Sparseness Sparseness Category Most sparse

1. Less than 40 persons per square mile and no community with 25,000 or more persons within 20 miles

2. 40 to 60 persons per square mile and no community with 25,000 or more persons within 20 miles

3. 60 to 120 persons per square mile or less than 60 persons per square mile with at least one community with 25,000 or more persons within 20 miles Least sparse

4. Greater than or equal to 120 persons per square mile within 20 miles Source: NRC 1996. "Proximity" measures population density and city size within 50 miles and categorizes the demographic information as follows: Demographic Categories Based on Proximity Proximity Category Not in close proximity

1. No city with 100,000 or more persons and less than 50 persons per square mile within 50 miles

2. No city with 100,000 or more persons and between 50 and 190 persons per square mile within 50 miles

3. One or more cities with 100,000 or more persons and less than 190 persons per square mile within 50 miles In close proximity

4. Greater than or equal to 190 persons per square mile within 50 miles Source: NRC 1996. SITE AND ENVIRONMENTAL INTERFACES Page 2-19 Prairie Island Nuclear Generating Plant License Renewal Application Appendix E - Environmental Report The GEIS then uses the following matrix to rank the populatio n category as low, medium, or high. GEIS Sparseness and Proximity Matrix Proximity 1 2 3 4 1 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 2 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 3 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 Sparseness 4 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 Low Population Area Medium Population Area High Population Area Source: NRC 1996.

NMC used 2000 census data from the U.S.

Census Bureau (U SCB) with geographic information system software (ArcGIS) to determine most demographic characteristics in the PINGP vicinity. The calculati ons determined that 107,131 people live within 20 miles of PINGP, producing a population density of 85 persons per square mile (TtNUS 2006a). Applying the GEIS sparseness measures, results in the less sparse category, Category 3 (60 to 120 persons per square mile or less than 60 persons per

square mile with at least one community with 25,000 or more persons within 20 miles).

To determine the proximity category, NM C determined that 2,733,326 people live within 50 miles of PINGP, which equates to a population density of 349 persons per square mile (TtNUS 2006a). Applying the GEIS proximity measures, PINGP is classified as Category 4 (greater than or equal to 190 pers ons per square mile within 50 miles). Therefore, according to the GEIS spars eness and proximity matrix, PINGP ranks of sparseness, Category 3, and prox imity, Category 4, result in the conclusion that PINGP is located in a high population area.

All or parts of 25 counties and a number of Metropolitan St atistical Areas (MSAs) and Micropolitan Statistical Areas (MiSAs) are located within 50 miles of PINGP (Figure 2.1-1). PINGP is lo cated in the Red Wing, MN MiSA, which is part of the Minneapolis-St. Paul-St. Cloud, MN-WI Combined Statistical Area (CSA). The Red Wing, MN MiSA and the Minneapolis-St. Pa ul-St. Cloud, MN-WI CSA had 2000 populations of 44,127 and 3,271,888, respectively (USCB 2003). SITE AND ENVIRONMENTAL INTERFACES Page 2-20 Prairie Island Nuclear Generating Plant License Renewal Application Appendix E - Environmental Report Red Wing (approximately 3 miles southeast) is the population center nearest PINGP, with a 2000 population of 16, 116 (USCB 2000a). Minneapolis (approximately 39 miles northwest), St. Paul (approximately 32 mile s northwest), and Rochester (approximately 50 miles southeast) are the largest populatio n centers within the 50-mile radius, with 2000 populations of 382,618; 287,151; and 85, 806, respectively (USCB 2000a).

From 1990 to 2000, the population of the Red Wing, MN MiSA increased from 40,690 to 44,127, an increase of 8.4 percent. The population of the Minneapolis-St. Paul-St. Cloud, MN-WI CSA increased from 2,809,713 to 3,271,888, an increase of 16.4 percent (USCB 2003).

Because approximately 83 percent of em ployees at PINGP reside in Goodhue and Dakota Counties, MN and Pier ce County, WI, they are the counties with the greatest potential to be socioeconomically affect ed by license renewal at PINGP (see Section 3.4). Table 2.5-1 shows population counts and grow th rates for these three counties. Values for the States of Minnesota and Wisconsin are provided for comparison. The table is based on USCB data for 1980 through 2000 and Minnesota and Wisconsin Department of Admini stration data for 2010 through 2030.

Over the last couple of decades, all thr ee counties and both states have experienced positive growth rates and are projected to continue to grow. By far, Dakota County experienced the greatest growth from 1980 to 2000. While Dakota County's growth rates are somewhat larger than those of the other counties and states, Minnesota demographers project t hat growth to slow as 2030 approaches. 2.5.2 TRANSIENT POPULATIONS Small daily and seasonal fluctuations in the regional po pulation occur due to the number of recreational facilities within the 50-mile region as described in Section 2.1.1. The Twin Cities Metro Region received over 18 million person-visits during a one year period (June 2005 through May 2006). Within the Twin Cities Metro Region, there are 3,153 campground sites in 39 campgrounds available for public use (Davidson Peterson-Associates 2007a). Several counties wit hin the 50-mile region are located in Minnesota's southern region, which received 7.7 million person-visits from June 2005 through May 2006. There are 10,561 campground sites in 158 campgrounds throughout the southern region (Davidson-Pe terson Associates 2007b). In general, Wisconsin counties within the 50-mile radius ranked in the bottom half of all Wisconsin counties in 2006 tourism expendit ures. Pierce and Pepin counties were two of the least visited counties in Wisconsin (Davidson-Peterson Associates 2007c).

Temporary housing for seasonal , recreational, or occasi onal use in the region of influence (ROI) is low compared with state percentages. Tem porary housing in Dakota and Goodhue counties accounts fo r 0.3 and 1.8 percent of to tal housing, compared with the Minnesota percentage of 5.1.

Temporary housing in Pier ce County accounts for 1.3 percent of total housing compared with Wisconsin's temporary housing percentage of 6.1 (USCB 2000b). SITE AND ENVIRONMENTAL INTERFACES Page 2-21 Prairie Island Nuclear Generating Plant License Renewal Application Appendix E - Environmental Report Migrant farm workers also r epresent a portion of the tran sient population within the 50-mile radius. Within the ROI, nine fa rms in Dakota County, 12 farms in Goodhue County, and 10 farms in Pierce County em ploy migrant labor (USDA 2004a, 2004b). 2.5.3 MINORITY AND LOW-INCOME POPULATIONS NRC performed environmental justice analyses for previous license renewal applications and concluded that a 50-mile r adius could reasonably be expected to contain potential environmental impact sites and that the state was appropriate as the geographic area for comparative analysis. NMC has adopted this approach for identifying the PINGP minority and low-income populations that could be affected by PINGP operations. NMC used 2000 census data from the USCB with geographic information system software (ArcGIS) to determine the minorit y characteristics by block group. NMC included a block group if any part of its area lay within 50 miles of PINGP. The 50-mile radius includes 2,197 block grou ps (TtNUS 2006a) (Table 2.5-2). 2.5.3.1 Minority Populations The NRC Procedural Guidance for Preparing Environmental Assessments and Considering Environmental Iss ues defines a "minority" populat ion as: American Indian or Alaskan Native; Asian; Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander; Black Races, and Hispanic Ethnicity (NRC 2004). Additionally, NRC's guidance requires that (1) all other single minorities are to be treated as one population and analyzed, (2) multi-racial populations are to be analyzed, and (3) the aggregate of all minority populations are to be treated as one population and analyzed.

The guidance indicates that a minority population exists if either of t he following two conditions exists:

• The minority population in the census block group or environmental impact site exceeds 50 percent.

• The minority population percentage of the environmental impact area is significantly greater (typically at leas t 20 percentage points) than the minority population percentage in t he geographic area chosen for comparative analysis.

For each of the 2,197 block groups within the 50-mile radius, NMC calculated the percent of the block group's population represented by each minority. If any block group minority percentage exceeded 50 percent, then the block group was identified as containing a minority population. NMC selected the ent ire State of Minnesota as the geographic area for comparative analysis for block groups located within Minnesota, and calculated the percentages of each minority category in the St ate. NMC selected the entire State of Wisconsin as the geographic area for comparative analysis for block groups located within Wisconsin, and calc ulated the percentages of each minority category in the State. If any block group percentage exceeded the corresponding State percentage by more than 20 percentage points, then a minor ity population was determined to exist (TtNUS 2006a). SITE AND ENVIRONMENTAL INTERFACES Page 2-22 Prairie Island Nuclear Generating Plant License Renewal Application Appendix E - Environmental Report SITE AND ENVIRONMENTAL INTERFACES Page 2-23 Census data for Minnesota characterizes 1.

14 percent of the population as American Indian or Alaskan Native; 2.94 percent Asi an; 0.04 percent Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander; 3.55 percent Bl ack races; 1.36 percent all other single minorities; 1.71 percent multi-racial; 10.

73 percent aggregate of minorit y races; and 2.96 percent Hispanic ethnicity. Census data for Wisc onsin characterizes 0.89 percent of the population as American Indian or Alaskan Native; 1.68 percent Asian; 0.03 percent Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander; 5.

75 percent Black races; 1.60 percent all other single minorities; 1.26 percent mult i-racial; 11.21 percent aggregate of minority races; and 3.64 percent Hispanic ethnicity (TtNUS 2006a).

Table 2.5-2 presents the numbers of block groups in each county in the 50-mile radius that exceed the threshold for minority popula tions. Figures 2.5-1 through 2.5-7 locate the minority block groups within the 50-mile radius. As seen in the table and figures, there were no block groups identified in Wisconsin with significant minority populations.

• One hundred and thirty-one census blo ck groups within the 50-mile radius have Black races populations that meet the NRC criteria for a minority population (Figure 2.5-1).

• Three census block groups within the 50-mile radius have American Indian or Alaska Native populations that meet the NRC criteria for a minority population. All three bloc k groups are located in Hennepin County.

• Fifty-four census block groups wit hin the 50-mile radius have Asian populations that meet the NRC criteria for a minority population.

• Eleven census block groups within the 50-mile radius have Other Race populations that meet the NRC criteria for a minority population.

• One census block group within the 50-mile radius has a Multi-Racial population that meets the NRC criteria for a minority population.

• Three-hundred and twelve census blo ck groups within the 50-mile radius have Aggregate populations that meet the NRC cr iteria for a minority population.

• Fifty census block groups within the 50-mile radius have Hispanic populations that meet the NRC criteria for a minority population. Adjacent to the PINGP site is the Pr airie Island Indian Community, home to the descendants of the Mdewakanton Band of the Eastern Dakota, also known as the Mississippi or Minnesota Sioux (PIIC Undat ed). The Shakopee-Mdewakanton Sioux (Dakota) Indian Reservation, located in Scott County, also lies within the 50-mile radius.

The locations of these reservations are shown on Figure 2.5-2. Except for the Prairie Island Indian Community, the census blo ck groups containing mi nority populations are predominantly in the Minneapolis area and more than thirty miles from PINGP.

Prairie Island Nuclear Generating Plant License Renewal Application Appendix E - Environmental Report 2.5.3.2 Low-Income Populations NRC guidance defines low-income populations based on statistical poverty thresholds (NRC 2004) if either of the following two conditions are met:

• The low-income population in the cens us block group or the environmental impact site exceeds 50 percent.

• The percentage of households below the poverty level in an environmental impact area is significantly greater (typic ally at least 20 percentage points) than the low-income population percentage in the geographic area chosen for comparative analysis. NMC divided USCB low-income households in each census block group by the total households for that block group to obtain the percentage of low-income households per block group. Using the State of Minnesota as the geographical area chosen for comparative analysis for block groups within Minnesota, NMC identif ied 7.91 percent of Minnesota as low-income households (TtNUS 2006a). Using the State of Wisconsin as the geographical area chosen for comparative analysis for block groups within Wisconsin, NMC identified 8.38 percent of Wisconsin as low-income households (TtNUS 2006a). Table 2.5-2 i dentifies the low-income blo ck groups in the region of interest, based on NRC's two criteria. Fi gure 2.5-8 locates the low-income block groups. Eighty-nine census block groups within the 50-mile radius have lo w-income households that meet the NRC criteria for a low-income population. The census block groups containing low-income populations are predominantly in the Minneapolis/St. Paul area and are all over thirty miles from PINGP. SITE AND ENVIRONMENTAL INTERFACES Page 2-24 Prairie Island Nuclear Generating Plant License Renewal Application Appendix E - Environmental Report 2.6 AREA ECONOMIC BASE To discuss economic information pertinent to the License Renewal process, NMC will focus on Goodhue and Dakota counties, Minnes ota and Pierce County, Wisconsin. Approximately 83 percent of PINGP's wo rkforce resides in these counties (see Section 3.4), which lie within the Minneapolis-St. Paul-St. Cloud, MN-WI CSA. With a year 2000 population of 3,271,888, this CSA experienced an increase in population of 16.4 percent between 1990 and 2000 (USCB 2003). 2.6.1 LABOR FORCE AND EM PLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES In 2006, Goodhue and Dakota counties had estimated labor forces of 25,217 and 232,232 persons, respectively. Since 2000, the labor force in Goodhue County has remained essentially unchanged, increasing by less than one percent. However, Dakota County, which is closer to the Minneapolis-St. Paul metropolitan area, has experienced an increase of seven percent in the labor force since 2000. Pierce County, Wisconsin had an estimated labor force of 23

,809 in 2006, an increase of 3.9 percent from the labor force of 22,909 in 2000 (U.S. Department of Labor 2006).

Local government was the largest employ er in Goodhue County in 2005, followed by manufacturing and retail trade. Dakota County's largest employment sectors were retail trade, manufacturing, and health care and social assistance, in that order. In Pierce County, Wisconsin, state and local government was the county's largest industry sector in 2005, with retail trade ranking second, and health care and social assistance ranking third (BEA 2007). Major employers (greater than 300 employees) for Goodhue, Dakota, and Pierce counties are listed in Tables 2.6-1 through 2.6-3. 2.6.2 POTENTIAL FOR ECONOMIC GROWTH Goodhue County is growing, particularly citi es and townships along the two highway corridors, US Highways 61 and 52.

The growth experienced along Highway 52 is not unique to Goodhue County; Dakota and Olms ted counties are experiencing similar growth. The three county area acts as a corridor between the Twin Cities Metro Area and Rochester. As the Twin Cities Metro Area continues to expand and commuting distances increase, more growth is ex pected in this region (Goodhue County Land Use Management 2004). Dakota County has grown in the same manner as other areas surrounding Minneapolis and St. Paul, with areas closer to the ur ban core developing earlier and more densely; and areas further out developing more slowly and at lower densities. In general, the northwestern section of the county holds the overwhelming majority of dwelling units and businesses, with the southeastern portion still mainly open and agricultural in nature (Market Research Partners, Inc. 2002).

Pierce County population is projected to in crease, but because a gr eater share of the population will be over 50 years old, total labor force growth will stall. The aging population will also impact t he economy as the elderly demand changes in types of SITE AND ENVIRONMENTAL INTERFACES Page 2-25 Prairie Island Nuclear Generating Plant License Renewal Application Appendix E - Environmental Report goods and services provided in local communiti es (Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development 2004). SITE AND ENVIRONMENTAL INTERFACES Page 2-26 Prairie Island Nuclear Generating Plant License Renewal Application Appendix E - Environmental Report

2.7 TAXES

This subsection focuses on Goodhue County bec ause, other than a St ate General Tax, the property taxes for the PINGP site are paid only to ta xing jurisdictions within Goodhue County. NSP is assessed annual property taxes for the PINGP site by Goodhue County, the City of Red Wing, and School District 256. The Minnesota Department of Revenue (DOR) is in the process of possibly revising its current utility company valuation rule. According to a fiscal impact study prepared by the DO R and based on the latest draft of the revised rule, the amount of property tax revenue received by the city of Red Wing and Goodhue County would decrease by approximately $1.4 million and $1.2 million annually, respectively. In order to stabilize these communities for their anticipated loss of property tax revenue from NSP due to a rule change, NSP executed revenue stabilization agreements with Red Wing and Goodhue County representatives in November 2006 (City of Red Wing, Minnesota and NSP 2006).

NSP is also assessed the State General Tax, however, it will not be analyzed here because the state's revenues are very large and NSP's payment s represent an extrem ely small percentage of those revenues. Nuclear fuel is not tax ed in the State of Minnesota and therefore is not included in the site's property tax assessment. Property taxes are paid directly to Goodhue County, which in turn distributes the money to the af orementioned taxing jurisdictions. Property taxes are the chief source of revenue for Minnesota counties, generally providing between 30 and 50 perc ent of their revenues (AMC 2002).

From 2001 through 2005, Goodhue County collected between $20.6 and $22.3 million annually in property tax revenues (see Tabl e 2.7-1). Goodhue County property tax revenues fund, among other things, county operations, public safety, public works, cultural and recreational programs, human services, health services, roadway maintenance, economic development, and conservation programs (Hove 2006).

Table 2.7-1 details the property tax payments made by the owners of PINGP for the same years. From 2001 to 2005, PINGP property tax payments represented 16.6 to 27.5 percent of Goodhue County's total property tax revenues.

From 2001 through 2006, the City of Red Wi ng collected between $8.9 and $11.6 million annually in property tax revenues (see Table 2.7-1). The City of Red Wing's property tax revenues fund city operations. Table 2.7-1 details the property tax payments made by the owners of PINGP for the same year

s. From 2001 to 2006, NSP property tax payments represent ed 52.3 to 36.4 percent of the City of Red Wing's total property tax revenues. Due to small PING P payment decreases and increases in the City's total revenues collected, NSP's payment percentages are trending downward.

From 2002 through 2006, the School Distric t 256 collected between $6.5 and $6.9 million annually in property tax revenues (see Table 2.7-1). From 2002 to 2006, PINGP property tax payments represented 28.5 to 38.0 percent of t he School District 256's total property tax revenues. Prior to 2002, PING P tax payments to School District 256 were significantly larger because the state-determined local school tax was included in School District 256 payments prior to year 2002. The 2001 Tax Law provided for major SITE AND ENVIRONMENTAL INTERFACES Page 2-27 Prairie Island Nuclear Generating Plant License Renewal Application Appendix E - Environmental Report changes in the source of school fundi ng in Minnesota and replaced the state-determined local school tax with the State General Tax, a statewide property tax levied for taxes payable on commercial, industrial a nd seasonal properties. Taxes under the State General Tax are paid in to the State General Fund and redistributed by a state-determined formula to school districts state-wide, in part, based on student numbers. The State General Tax is levied at a uniform rate within each county, and the levy rate is determined by the Commissioner of Revenue (Fredrikson & Byron 2001). In Minnesota, public utilities are valued using cost and income approaches.

Jurisdictional budgets are developed and taxe s are levied to meet those budgets.

Historically, annual property taxes have been gradually decreasing due to depreciation and the growth in Minnesota's residential and commercial tax bases. On the current facilities, NMC expects that trend to continue through the license renewal period. Additionally, state lawmakers are conducting hearings for a rule change that could possibly affect the way commercial entities depreciate their facilities. Currently, NSP is unable to depreciate PINGP to the fullest extent. Should the rule be changed, NSP may be able to employ the new depreciation methods to further reduce the plant's value. Offsetting this trend, however, would be any increase in PINGP's value caused by expansions or improvements to PINGP's facilities. For License Renewal, NMC plans

refurbishment activities that will likely increa se the plant's assessed value, resulting in a corresponding increase in the amount of NSP's property taxes to its taxing jurisdictions.

Since PINGP tax impacts are already of large significance to taxing jurisdictions, as discussed in Section 4.14.2, the potential increase in the plant's assessed value would not alter the analysis of socioeconom ic impacts in this report. With respect to utility deregulation, the State of Minnesota has taken no steps in recent years. Therefore, the potential effects of deregulation are currently unknown. Should deregulation ever be enacted in Minnesota, this could affect utilities' tax payments to counties. However, any changes to PI NGP property tax rates due to deregulation would be independent of license renewal. SITE AND ENVIRONMENTAL INTERFACES Page 2-28 Prairie Island Nuclear Generating Plant License Renewal Application Appendix E - Environmental Report 2.8 SOCIAL SERVICES AND PUBLIC FACILITIES 2.8.1 PUBLIC WATER SUPPLY As discussed in Section 3.4, 83 percent of employees at PINGP reside in Goodhue and Dakota Counties, MN and Pi erce County, WI. Consequent ly, the discussion of public water supply systems will be limit ed to those three counties.

As discussed in Section 2.2.5, from 2000 through 2005 PINGP used an average of 92 gallons per minute (gpm) [48.4 million gallons per year] of groundwater from six onsite groundwater wells. The highest average produc tion rate for this period was 118 gpm (62 million gallons per year) in 2005. Five of the site wells require permits from the MN DNR. The well that supplies domestic water to the administration building does not require a permit due to its low production rate s (Table 2.2-4). The well that supplies water to the Training Center for domestic use (256074) is also used for the lawn irrigation system at the facility. Domestic use from 2000 through 2005 for the Training Center well was at a rate of 3 gpm (Tt NUS 2006b). Two of the wells (Wells 256120 and 256121) have a combined maximum permitted yield of 50 million gallons per year (95 gpm) for power plant operations (MN DNR 2 005a). For the period from 2000 through 2005, the wells' average production rates were 32 gpm (Well 256120) and 28 gpm (Well

256121). Two wells (402599 and 611076) supply indu strial cooling wa ter for the plant operations and average a to tal of 27 gpm for the per iod (TtNUS 2006b).

In the vicinity of PINGP and the surrounding r egion, the primary source of potable water is groundwater. Water sources also include surface water, su ch as rivers, lakes, and streams. Table 2.8-1 details municipal wa ter suppliers in the three counties, their permitted capacities or maximum design yields , and their average daily production. As presented in Table 2.8-1, t he reported total annual average withdrawal [17,742 million gallons per year (48.6 m illion gallons per day)] for Dakota, Goodhue, and Pierce Counties represents 8.4 percent of the total permitted/pump design capacity [210,570 million gallons per year (577 m illion gallons per day)] for wells that supply municipal water supplies in these three counties.

According to the Dakota County Environmental and Natural Resources Policy Plan (Dakota County 2005, p. 5), county planners are concerned about the impact projected population growth through 2025 in the county will have on the availability of groundwater as a water source and the possible impacts that over use of the resource could have on surface water resources (trout streams, fens) wh ich are dependent on groundwater. The Dakota County planners are al so concerned about the availability of an adequate water supply due to the potential im pact of pollutants from agricultural and domestic sources on water resources (Dakota County 2005). Goodhue County's

Comprehensive Local Water Management Plan atte mpts to balance the county's natural resources, environmental habits, and growth to obtain a long-term economic and ecological sustainability. T he plan addresses erosion control and stormwater issues as the greatest concern to watershed impacts. Al so, of considerable concern are how to balance growing cities, outdated structures , increasing impervious surfaces and unsustainable farming practices (Goodhue Count y 2005, p.2). Planning officials are SITE AND ENVIRONMENTAL INTERFACES Page 2-29 Prairie Island Nuclear Generating Plant License Renewal Application Appendix E - Environmental Report also concerned with contaminants getting into the groundwater systems because of the county's reliance on groundwater as a source of drinking water and its potential impact on surface water. Planning officials are concerned, as well, with agricultural and household contaminants getting into the groundwater systems because of the county's reliance on groundwater as a source of drinking water and its potential impact on surface water (Goodhue County 2004).

Approximately 70 percent of Wisconsin's private residents and most public water systems use groundwater for their water source. Approximately two billion gallons of water are estimated to be st ored underground in Wisconsin.

Because of this, Wisconsin implemented a program approved by the EPA in 1999 designed to develop capacity for these water systems. A capacity evaluation is required for all new water systems (State of Wisconsin 2000, p.12-14). Pierce County is currently developing data to prepare a comprehensive plan for the county. 2.8.2 TRANSPORTATION Figure 2.8-1 presents the transportation system in Goodhue County within the vicinity of PINGP. Workers commuting to PINGP take one of the following rout es. Workers living in southern and central portion of Dakota County take U.S. Hi ghway (US) 61 east to the intersection of County Road 19, or cont inue to County Road 31 which connects with County Road 18, or simply continue east on US 61 to County Road 18. In either case, employees would proceed north on County R oad 18 until the intersection of Sturgeon Lake Road. Once on Sturgeon Lake Road the directions are the same for all employees. Employees proceed east approx imately 1/2 mile on Sturgeon Lake Road and then turn south on the plant access road and proceed to the PINGP entrance just past the intersection with Wakonade Drive. Wakonade Drive previously provided two way traffic from Sturgeon Lak e Road to Lock and Dam 3. T he road is currently limited to north-bound traffic only (out going) from the PINGP site. The PINGP access road provides two-way traffic access to Lock and Dam 3 via Wakonade Drive. Employees living in the northeastern portion of Dakota County could travel southeast on County Road 18 into Goodhue County and then turn east onto Sturgeon Lake Road. Employees then would proceed as above. Em ployees living in the south and eastern portion of Dakota County could travel US 61 until the intersection of County Road 18.

Once on County Road 18, employees could tr avel north until they turn east at the intersection of Sturgeon Lake Road. On ce on Sturgeon Lake Road, employees would proceed as discussed above.

Pierce County, Wisconsin can be reached vi a US 63, which enters Goodhue County at Red Wing and then intersects with US 61.

Commuters would proceed northwest until the intersection with County Road 18 and proceed as above. Pierce County employees can also cross the Mississippi River in the Prescott/Hastings vicinity via US 10 from Prescott through the southern portion of Washington County, Minnesota and connect

with US 61 and proceed south through Hast ings and then connect to State Road 316 southeast until the intersection with Goodhue County Road 68. Traffic would then proceed northeast to County Road 18 and proceed southeast unt il the intersection with SITE AND ENVIRONMENTAL INTERFACES Page 2-30 Prairie Island Nuclear Generating Plant License Renewal Application Appendix E - Environmental Report Sturgeon Lake Road. Potential employees could also travel on County Road 54 from its intersection with US 61 in Hastings and follow County Road 54 until its intersection with County Road 68. Employees would then proceed on County Road 68 east until the intersection with County Road 18 and procee d south as discussed above. Employees from Pierce County or from the Hastings area could also travel south and east from Hastings on US 61 until the intersecti on of County Road 18 and proceed north to Sturgeon Lake Road. In determining the significance levels of transportation impacts for license renewal, NRC uses the Transportation Research Board's level of service (LOS) definitions (NRC 1996). The Minnesota Department of Transportation makes LOS determinations for roadways involved in specific projects. However, there are no current LOS determinations for the roadways analyzed in this document (Bjornstad 2006). As LOS data is unavailable, annual average daily tr affic (AADT) volumes are substituted along with Road/Highway capacity data. Table 2.8-2 lists the roadways PINGP workers would use, their Minnesota Department of Transportation (Mn/DOT) road classifications, the number of lanes, and traffic data. Table 2.8-2 data indicate that current AADTs are well below maximum capacities for th e roads leading to PINGP. SITE AND ENVIRONMENTAL INTERFACES Page 2-31 Prairie Island Nuclear Generating Plant License Renewal Application Appendix E - Environmental Report 2.9 LAND USE 2.9.1 GOODHUE COUNTY Historical and Existing Land Use Goodhue County is located s outheast of the Minneapolis-S

t. Paul metropolitan area along the Minnesota-Wisconsin border, and north west of the Rochester metropolitan area. The County covers approx imately 499,369 acres of land. Existing land use in the County is as follows: agricultural land -

64 percent, deciduous forests - 20 percent, grassland - 10 percent, farmsteads and other rural developments - 2 percent, areas that are urbanized or industrialized - 1 percent, wetlands - 1 percent, and other - 2 percent (Goodhue County 2004).

Although Goodhue County remains largely u ndeveloped, the Count y's population has experienced some growth (Section 2.5.1) and state and local planning officials expect the county to grow another se ven percent by 2010. The majority of residential, commercial, and industrial development has occurred along two highway corridors, US Highway 61 and US Highway 52. The majority of that growth has been attributed to the US Highway 52 corridor, which connects t he Minneapolis-St. Paul metropolitan area with the Rochester metropolitan area. Regional planners estimate that, as the Minneapolis-St. Paul area continues to expand and commuting distances increase, more growth is expected in this region (Goodhue County 2004).

Goodhue County uses a comprehensive land use plan and zoning and subdivision ordinances to guide development. The ordinances promote the public health, safety, and general welfare of residents; protect agricultural land from urban sprawl; and provide a basis for the orderly development.

The ordinances require building permits, conditional use permits, plat development, zoning district controls, and variance requests; however, the county has no formal growth control measures.

Future Land Use In the Goodhue County Comprehensive Plan (Goodhue County Land Use Management 2004), planners have identified t he following goals for future dev elopment in the County.

Land use, urban expansion, and growth zones goals:

• to preserve the natural environment

• to preserve agricultural land

• to promote growth in cities and rural multiple housing development

• to promote compatible land uses

• to recognize and respond proactively to internal and external growth pressures SITE AND ENVIRONMENTAL INTERFACES Page 2-32 Prairie Island Nuclear Generating Plant License Renewal Application Appendix E - Environmental Report

• to promote balanced growth

• to preserve aggregate deposits (mining resources) Housing and "livable communities" goals:

• to provide adequate housing for all life stages

• to provide a range of housing types for all income levels

• to maintain existing homes

• to build safe and supportive communities

• to offer a variety of transportation opti ons to provide mobility for all citizens

• to provide citizens access to county and local services

• to create and preserve parkland and open space 2.9.2 DAKOTA COUNTY Existing Land Use Dakota County is located south of Minneapo lis and St. Paul and covers approximately 371,200 acres. The Minnesota and Mississippi Rivers form its northern border and freeway bridges span the rivers to link Da kota County commuters to Minneapolis and St. Paul. Land use categories in Dakota Co unty are as follows: agriculture and vacant (65 percent), single-family reside ntial (9 percent), rural estate (2 percent), multi-family (1 percent), commercial (1 percent), industrial (1 percent), airport (1 percent), open water (5 percent), parks and recreation (4 percent), public (4 percent), and road right-of-ways (7 percent) (Dakota County 1999). The majority of the population is concentrated in the northern third of t he County (Dakota County 1999). This once agricultural land has been transformed from farms to bedroom communities to a more diversified form of suburbia characterized by an increase in commercial and industrial development. The other two-thirds remain largely agricultural (Dakota County 1999).

Most of the population growth in Dakota County has taken place since World War II.

County planners state that the majority of land use changes since then have been driven by advancements in transportation.

As the cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul have grown, residential devel opment has expanded to neighbor ing counties, such as Dakota County, and residents commute to the cities for employment (Dakota

County 1999).

In the 1950s and 1960s, the County's devel opment was dominated by large tract suburban developers. Suburban communities dev eloped at this time were the River Hills subdivision in Burnsville, Cedar Grove subdivision in Eagan, South Grove SITE AND ENVIRONMENTAL INTERFACES Page 2-33 Prairie Island Nuclear Generating Plant License Renewal Application Appendix E - Environmental Report subdivision in Inver Grove Heights, Apple Va lley subdivision in Apple Valley, and Valley Park subdivision in Lakeville (Dakota County 1999).

The 1970s and 1980s were characterized by infill development. Also, transportation improvements like the completion of Intersta te 494, Interstate 35 East, and the Cedar Avenue Bridge accelerated the suburbanizati on process. Industrial parks were developed and large multi-family residential projects were c onstructed along Interstate 35 West, State Highway 13, and other transportation corridors (Dakota County 2005).

In the 1990s, Dakota County evolved from a bedroom community to a county with more diverse land use patterns. Employment ra te growth surpassed the residential growth rate. Commercial and industrial land uses continued to expand. Employers moving to the area included West Publishing, Cray Research, Northwest Airlines, and Blue Cross Blue Shield (Dakot a County 2005).

Currently, the northern cities in Dakota C ounty are extensions of St. Paul's early suburbs. The suburban areas are wher e development has been more recent and include: Apple Valley, Burnsville, Eagan, Inver Grove Height s, Mendota Heights, Lillydale, Lakeville, Farmington, and Rosemon

t. Dakota County's to wnships have lower population densities, are dominat ed by agriculture, and most have zoning restrictions of one housing unit per 40 acres (Dakota County 2005).

Future Land Use In general, land use decision-making occurs at the city and town ship level through zoning and the influence of land use planning at the regional level. County goals and policies include (Dakota County 2005):

• Measuring and evaluating development tr ends in Dakota County and the region.

• Preserving agricultural land and farming.

• Promoting land use patterns that value and sustain the natural environment.

• Supporting and encouraging orderly development.

• Encouraging land use patterns and co mmunity design that support pedestrian and transient-oriented development. 2.9.3 PIERCE COUNTY Historic and Existing Land Use Pierce County, covering 378,240 acres, is current ly in the first phase (data collection) of developing a county-wide comprehensive plan (Pierce County Undated). Land development activities are guided by the C ounty's municipalities through the use of local zoning and subdivision regulations until the County plan is complete. SITE AND ENVIRONMENTAL INTERFACES Page 2-34 Prairie Island Nuclear Generating Plant License Renewal Application Appendix E - Environmental Report Future Land Use Pierce County planners report that, between 2002 and 2005, approximately 8 percent of the county's farmland was converted from agric ultural to other uses. Planners estimate that, by 2025, the county may need to accommodate over 7,000 acres of new residential, commercial, and industrial land along with additional acreage needed for infrastructure, parks, community facilities, and similar uses (Pierce County Undated). SITE AND ENVIRONMENTAL INTERFACES Page 2-35 Prairie Island Nuclear Generating Plant License Renewal Application Appendix E - Environmental Report 2.10 HISTORIC AND ARCHAEOLOGICAL RESOURCES The Mississippi River and its tributaries have pl ayed an important role in the history of the region, both during prehistoric times and after the arrival of European explorers and settlers. Until the coming of the railroads in the 1860s, the Mississippi River was the main travel thoroughfare and the way most goods moved in and out of the region. This explains the high density of prehistoric and historic sites along the Upper Mississippi River and in the Red Wing and Prairie Island areas. Prehistory The first Indians moved into southern Minnesota 10

,000 to 12,000 years ago when the glaciers receded and the forests and prairies reappeared. There is evidence of four major prehistoric cultural periods: Paleo-Indi an (to 8,000 BC), Archaic (8,000 BC to 500 BC), Woodland (500 BC to 900 AD), and Mississi ppian (900 AD to arrival of Europeans) (Scullin 1996). When the Fr ench explorers and Voyageurs a rrived in the 17th century, the area now known as Minnesota was dominated by two Indian tribes, the Dakota (later called Sioux by the Fr ench) and the Ojibway (sometimes referred to as Chippewa) (Willis 1914, State of Minnesota 2001). History The first European to explore the Upper Mi ssissippi River region was Father Louis Hennepin, who was captured in 1680 near Milles Lacs by a Dakota war party and "discovered" Lake Pepin and St. Anthony Falls while a captive (Willis 1910). Another Frenchman, Nicholas Perrot, established a trading post in 1685 at Trempealau on the east bank of the Mississippi River, and a sec ond trading post (Fort Saint-Antoine) in 1686 on Lake Pepin (Kneisler 1999). Frenchm an Pierre Charles LeSeuer explored the region at the confluence of the Mississippi and Minnesota rivers, where Ft. Snelling was later established, and also built a trading post on Prairie Island around 1695 (AEC 1973). The French under Rene Boucher established a fort (Fort Beauharnois) and mission on the Mississippi River at Frontenac around 1727 to trade furs with the Dakota people (MN DNR 2005b). The chapel at Fort Beauharnois, named the Mission of St. Michael the Archangel, may have been the first church in Minnesota. Fort Beauharnois and the Frontenac settlement were abandoned in 1763, when the Treaty of Paris ended the Seven Years' War (French and Indian War) and most of France's lands in the New World were divided between England and Spain. The Louisiana Purchase in 1803 largely ended the French pr esence in the U.S.

In 1819, a U.S. Army conti ngent began building Fort Snelling, which they completed in 1825 (Minnesota Historical Society 2006). For 30 years, Fort Snelling was the most important American outpost in th e region, and a meeting place for officials of the U.S.

government and representatives of the Dakota and Ojibwa y peoples. The American and Columbia fur companies built headquarters in the area, and their employees settled SITE AND ENVIRONMENTAL INTERFACES Page 2-36 Prairie Island Nuclear Generating Plant License Renewal Application Appendix E - Environmental Report at nearby Mendota with thei r families. Emigrants fr om the east and from Europe arrived, and formed the settlement that became the city of St. Paul.

Under a treaty signed at Mendota in 1851, Europeans were allowed to make their homes on the west bank of the Mississippi River (City of Red Wing 2003). Red Wing was incorporated as a city in 1857. The te rritory of Minnesota became the 32nd state in 1858. Initial Construction and Operation of PINGP The Final Environmental Stat ement related to the Prairi e Island Nuclear Generating Plant (AEC 1973) identifies thr ee sites with historical signific ance within a 6-mile radius of PINGP and lists five more historical sites in the "plant region" (within 35 miles). The three sites in the six-mile radius were the Bartron Site (less than one mile from PINGP), the Silvernale Site (4.5 miles from PING P), and the Fort Sweeney site (6 miles from PINGP).

The Bartron Site is particularly noteworthy. As discussed in the Final Environmental Statement related to the Prairie Island Nuclear Generating Pl ant (AEC 1973, p. II-28), the AEC consulted with the St ate Archaeologist in the course of reviewing the NSP application for a construction permit. The AEC did so because previous archaeological surveys in the Mississippi River valley near Red Wing demonstr ated that a large number of prehistoric sites were present, and that undisturbed portions of Prairie Island, in particular, contained "many undisturbed burial mounds and a large village habitation occupied by late prehistoric (Mississippian) peoples" (AEC 1973, p. II-28). The State Archaeologist subsequently uncovered parts of this village on the Prairie Island site. This village, later named the Bartron Site, was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1970. Evidence suggests that the site was occupied for a relatively short time by people of the Oneota culture, who fished and hunted small game and were more

reliant on wild plants (wild rice, acorns, plum s) than cultivated plant s (corn). The site was first surveyed by T.H. Lewis in 1885, but little formal archaeology has been undertaken at the Bartron Site. Archaeological excavation has uncovered various subsurface features, such as fire hearths, storage/refuse pits, and postmolds. Parts of two houses were found, and possibly a portion of a palisade. The Bartron Site is much like other 11 th century villages in the Red Wing lo cality in the types of artifacts recovered, but with far less evidence of Middle Mississippian influence (Institute for Minnesota Archaeology 1999a). An Institute for Minnesota Archaeology report notes that the site is "not adequately dated" but probably dates to the period 1050-1300 A.D (Institute for Minnesota Archaeology 1999b).

Current Status As of September 2006, the National Register of Historic Places listed 60 properties in Goodhue County (NPS 2006c). Thirty four of these are in Red Wing and may fall within a 6 mile radius of PINGP. The National Regi ster also listed seven properties in Pierce County, Wisconsin, across the Mississippi Rive r from PINGP. Two of these appear to fall within a 6-mile radius of PINGP. SITE AND ENVIRONMENTAL INTERFACES Page 2-37 Prairie Island Nuclear Generating Plant License Renewal Application Appendix E - Environmental Report As of September 2006, the Depar tment of the Interior also listed five sites that have been determined eligible for listing (NPS 2006c) on the National Register of Historic Places in Goodhue County and two sites in Pi erce County. At least three of the Goodhue County sites appear to lie within a 6-mile radius of PINGP. Table 2.10-1 lists the National Register of Historic Places sites within the 6-mile radius of PINGP. NMC conducted a cultural resource assessment in September 2007 to identify all previously recorded archaeological sites and ar chitectural history properties, as well as previously conducted cultural resource investigations within the boundaries of PINGP. Reviews of records from the Minnesota State Historic Preservation Office and the Wisconsin Historic Preservation Database were performed to locate previously-identified archeological site s within one mile of PINGP.

According to the records on file at SHPO, four professional archaeological surveys and one testing project have been conducted within the study area to date. Within the boundaries of the PINGP, sev en archaeological sites have been recorded (confirmed) (The 106 Group 2008).

Although not recorded as a professional investigation, Elden Johnson conducted salvage data recovery operations at three precontact sites in the PINGP study area in the late 1960s. Elden Johnson is considered t he first investigator to apply scientifically based methods to the archaeological study of the region. Johnson did not always publish reports of his findings; however, his work is recorded on archaeological site forms with the SHPO office.

After NSP purchased the l and on Prairie Island, they sponsored data recovery operations directed by Johnson for the Bartron Site and two mound sites. Johnson nominated the Bartron si te to the National Register of Historic Places in 1970. This site is the only property within the study area that is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Three compliance surveys have been conducted within the study area since El den Johnson's salvage work. N one of these yielded any findings (The 106 Group 2008). SITE AND ENVIRONMENTAL INTERFACES Page 2-38 Prairie Island Nuclear Generating Plant License Renewal Application Appendix E - Environmental Report 2.11 KNOWN OR REASONABLY FORESEEABLE PROJECTS IN SITE VICINITY EPA-Permitted Dischargers to Air, Water, and Soil In its "Envirofacts Warehouse" online database, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency identifies dischargers to air, water, and soil.

A search on Goodhue County, Minnesota determined that 42 industries produce and release air pollutants; 16 facilities have reported toxic releases; 300 facilities have reported hazardous waste activities; and 35 facilities are permitted to discharge to the waters of the Un ited States. There are no Superfund sites in Goodhue County (EPA 2006g).

A search of Dakota County, Minnesota determined that 117 industries produce and release air pollutants; 61 facilities have reported toxic releases; 500 facilities have reported hazardous waste activities; 5 potentia l hazardous waste site s are part of the Superfund program; and 41 facilities are permitted to discharge to the waters of the United States (EPA 2006g). An Envirofacts search for Pierce County industries determined that 17 industries produce and release air pollutants; 6 facilities have reported toxic releases; 190 facilities have reported hazardous waste activities; and 11 facilities are permitted to discharge to the waters of the United St ates. There are no Superfund sites in Pierce County, Wisconsin (EPA 2006g). Federal Facilities in the Vicinity of PINGP USACE owns and operates five dams (with locks) within a 50-mile radius of PINGP (Figure 2.1-1). To achieve a 9-foot channel in the Upper Mississippi River, the construction of a system of navigation locks and dams was authorized in 1930. Upper St. Anthony Falls Lock and Dam began operation in 1963. Lower St. Anthony Falls Lock and Dam began operation in 1956. The dams are located at river mile 853.9 and portions of both are owned by Xcel Energy (USACE 2006b).

Lock and Dam 1 is also located in the Minneapolis/St. Paul area at river mile 847.9.

In operation since 1917, the dam contains a hydroelectric power station owned and operated by Ford Motor Company (USACE 2006b). Lock and Dam 2, near Hastings, is approximately 16 miles upstream of PINGP. It was completed in 1930 and includes a small hydr oelectric power plant owned and operated by the City of Hastings. Lock and Dam 3, completed in 1938, is located approximately one mile downstream of PINGP (USACE 2006b). Two long-standing and related problems at Lock and Dam 3 involve navigation safety and the Wisconsin embankments. Because t he dam was constructed on a bend in the river with the lock on the outside of the bend, an outdraft current sweeps across the upper lock approach toward the gated part of the dam. This outdraft current makes navigation difficult and has caused many navigation accidents. Since 1963, 11 accidents have occurred when tows collided with the gated part of the dam. Navigation accidents can result in barges blocking one of t he four roller gates in the gated part of SITE AND ENVIRONMENTAL INTERFACES Page 2-39 Prairie Island Nuclear Generating Plant License Renewal Application Appendix E - Environmental Report SITE AND ENVIRONMENTAL INTERFACES Page 2-40 the dam, resulting in a rise in water level in navigation Pool 3 and increased flow over the Wisconsin embankments when there is head at the dam, creating a highly erosive situation. Corps planners have evidenced concern that the Wisconsin embankments could fail rapidly because of the weak soil conditions in that area, opening up a scour channel around Lock and Dam 3 that would cause an accidental drawdown of Pool 3 (USACE 2006a). USACE recently published the Final Int egrated General Reevaluation Report and Environmental Impact Statem ent for Lock and Dam 3 Mi ssissippi River Navigation Safety and Embankments. The report offers a plan to improve navigation safety and strengthen the Wisconsin embankments at Lock and Dam 3 and assesses the environmental impacts of the proposed modifi cations. The improvements are intended to reduce the risk of accidental draw down of Pool 3 (USACE 2006a). Industries in the Vicinity of PINGP The area within five miles of PINGP is dev oted almost exclusively to agricultural pursuits. Outside of the City of Red Wi ng, very few industrial facilities exist.

The Treasure Island Resort and Casino owned by the Prairie Island Indian Community is located approximately one m ile from the plant. In addi tion to a hotel, casino, and marina, Prairie Island Indian Community also operates a wastewater treatment facility. A gasoline station/convenience store is located approximatel y one-mile west-northwest from PINGP. Several factories, textile mills, and laborator ies in Red Wing lie within 5 miles of PINGP (NMC 2007). Other Generating Facilities in the Vicinity of PINGP Two small hydroelectric facilities are located upstream of PINGP at Lock and Dam 1 and 2. The Ford Motor Company operates a hydroelectric plant at Lock and Dam 1. The City of Hastings operates another hydr oelectric facility at Lock and Dam 2 (USACE 2006b). Several Xcel Energy plants are located within 50 miles of PINGP. The closest plant to PINGP is Red Wing Steam Plant, a two-unit 20 MW plant in Red Wing that burns processed municipal solid wast e, called refuse-derived fuel (RDF). Other Xcel plants within 50 miles include Hennepin Island, Inver Hills, West Faribault, Blue Lake, Black Dog, High Bridge, Riverside, and Allen S. King Generating Plants (Xcel Energy 2006).

All run on coal, natural gas, or distillate fuel oil (Xcel Energy 2003), with the exception of Hennepin Island, which is a five-unit hydroelectr ic plant located at St. Anthony's falls in Minneapolis. Dairyland Power Cooperative operates two coal-fired plant s on the Mississippi River in Alma, Wisconsin, approximately 45 miles downstr eam of PINGP. The Alma Station is a five-unit plant with a capacity of 210 MW. Th e John P. Madgett Station (JPM), a single unit station, is just south of the Alma Station and has a generating capacity of 400 MW (Dairyland 2006).

Prairie Island Nuclear Generating Plant License Renewal Application Appendix E - Environmental Report CONCLUSIONS Having evaluated environmental conditions in t he vicinity of the PINGP site in this section and assessed potential impacts of lic ense renewal in Chapter 4, NMC has not identified any obvious cumulative impacts and has not extended the discussion of potential cumulative impacts into Chapter 4, "Environmental Consequences of the Proposed Action and Mitigating Actions." SITE AND ENVIRONMENTAL INTERFACES Page 2-41 Prairie Island Nuclear Generating Plant License Renewal Application Appendix E - Environmental Report SITE AND ENVIRONMENTAL INTERFACES Page 2-42 TABLE 2.2-1 USGS GAGING STATIONS USGS Station River Mile Drainage Area (mi

2) Available Record Prescott (#5344500) 811.4 44,800 1928-2005 Winona (#5378500) 725.7 59,200 1928-2005 TABLE 2.2-2 MISSISSIPPI RIVER FLOW STATISTICS AT USGS GAGING STATIONS U.S.G.S. Station Annual Mean Highest Annual Mean Lowest Annual Mean Lowest Daily Mean Prescott (#5344500) 18,380 cf s 38,540 cfs 4,367 cfs 1,380 cfs Winona (#5378500) 29,590 cfs 56,850 cfs 9,742 cfs 2,250 cfs cfs - cubic feet per second TABLE 2.2-3 DISCHARGE FLOW AT LOCK AND DAM 3 Discharge Flow at Lock and Dam 3 (cubic feet per second) 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 Monthly AverageJanuary 10,790 8,974 9,110 10, 932 9,229 6,661 9,913 17,790 10,425 February 12,589 9,548 8,364 10, 104 7,871 6,728 11,575 18,186 10,621 March 17,897 22,219 9,910 11,497 13,210 15,055 14,668 20,774 15,654 April 42,013 15,570 112,400 40, 657 25,613 24,673 44,730 51,413 44,634 May 47,426 18,839 82,655 33,974 42,194 19,432 30,977 40,997 39,562June 34,423 22,070 53,177 26,323 27,413 45,987 39,157 21,510 33,758 July 27,548 21,052 23,981 34,597 32,739 19,510 21,897 7,800 23,641 August 24,432 10,026 12,165 29,065 10,084 10,606 9,761 7,648 14,223September 18,013 6,687 9,193 24, 513 7,087 19,227 15,180 6,453 13,294October 14,200 6,790 9,577 28, 600 6,771 19,532 35,948 7,252 16,084November 13,243 17,463 11,040 18, 467 8,167 21,943 19,170 7,133 14,578December 9,671 9,558 13,813 12, 135 8,310 12,258 19,123 6,771 11,455 Total/Year 272,245 168,796 355,385 280,86 4198,688221,612272,099 213,72 7247,927 Annual Average for 1999-2006 247,927 Annual Average for 2000-2005 249,574 Prairie Island Nuclear Generating Plant License Renewal Application Appendix E - Environmental Report 2004 18,576,900 13,336,200 104 2003 10,648,800 14,248,900 80 2002 18,958,300 11,609,300

-- 76 2001 16,974,300 16,372,060

-- 90 2000 13,676,800 12,812,800

-- 76 Ave/yr 16,611,400 14,718,810 91 2005 117 Permit 965042 -Training center a (Gallons)

Total Annual Year Administration Building Non Permitted Well b

• Permit 690171 a Well 256120 -Installation 121 (Gallons) Permit 690171 a Well 256121 -Installation 122(Gallons) Permit 785153 a Well 611076 -Steam Power CT Well (Gallons) Permit 865114 a Well 402599 - Screen House (Gallons)

Domestic Irrigation Gallons Gallons per Minute 5,280,430 15,517,800 846,800 978,100 54,536,230 4,163,190 10,969,500 647,000 1,237,000 41,914,390 3,550,800 4,280,700 1,674,100 40,073,200 3,663,190 7,267,700 2,971,700 47,248,950 3,745,780 7,474,900 2,242,900 39,953,180 Total 2000-2005 563,100 99,668,400 88,312,860 27,233,600 57,566,295 9,510,500 3,033,300 285,324,955 4,538,933 9,594,383 1,585,083 505,550 47,554,159 gpm 1.07 32 gpm 28 gpm 9 gpm 18 gpm 3 gpm 1 gpm 91 563,100 20,833,300 19,933,600 6,830,210 12,055,695 1,128,000 818,200 61,599,005 TABLE 2.2-4 PINGP GROUNDWATER USE TABLE

References:

a. NSP 2001, NSP 2002, NSP 2003, NSP 2004, NSP 2005, NSP 2006 b. Bergland 2006

• Not included in Total Annual column due to lack of data.

SITE AND ENVIRONMENTAL INTERFACES Page 2-43

Prairie Island Nuclear Generating Plant License Renewal Application Appendix E - Environmental Report TABLE 2.3-1 THREATENED AND ENDANGERED SPEC IES POTENTIALLY AFFECTED BY OPERATION OF PINGP AND ASSOCIATED TRANSMISSION LINES 1 Scientific Name Common Name Federal Status 2State Status 2 (Minnesota) State Status 2(Wisconsin)

Mammals Perognathus flavescens Plains Pocket Mouse - SSC NA Birds Buteo lineatus Red-shouldered Hawk - SSC NA Cygnus buccinator Trumpeter Swan - T NA Dendroica cerulea Cerulean Warbler - SSC NA Falco peregrinus Peregrine Falcon - T NA Haliaeetus leucocephalus Bald Eagle 3- SSC NA Lanius ludovicianus Loggerhead Shrike - T NA Sterna forsteri Forster's Tern - SSC NA Wilsonia citrina Hooded Warbler - SSC NA Amphibians and Reptiles Acris crepitans Northern Cricket Frog - E NA Apalone mutica Smooth Softshell Turtle - SSC NA Clemmys insculpta Wood Turtle 3- T NA Coluber constrictor Eastern Racer - SSC NA Crotalus horridus Timber Rattlesnake - T NA Emydoidea blandingii Blanding's Turtle 3- T NA Pituophis catenifer Gopher Snake - SSC NA Fish Acipenser fulvescens Lake Sturgeon - SSC SC Alosa chrysochloris Skipjack Herring - SSC E Ammocrypta asprella Crystal Darter - SSC E Anguilla rostrata American Eel - - SC Clinostomus elongatus Redside Dace - - SC Cycleptus elongatus Blue Sucker - SSC T Etheostoma asprigene Mud Darter - - SC Etheostoma clarum Western Sand Darter - - SC Fundulus diaphanus Banded Killifish - - SC Hiodon alosoides Goldeye - - E Ictiobus niger Black Buffalo - SSC T Macrhybopsis aestivalis Shoal Chub - - T Macrhybopsi storeiana Silver Chub - - SC Moxostoma carinatum River Redhorse - - T Notropis amnis Pallid Shiner - SSC E Notropis texanus Weed Shiner - - SC Opsopoeodus emiliae Pugnose Minnow - - SC Polyodon spathula Paddlefish - T T Mussels Actinonaias ligamentina Mucket - T Alasmidonta marginata Elktoe - T SC Arcidens confragosus Rock Pocketbook - E T Cumberlandia monodonta Spectaclecase C T E SITE AND ENVIRONMENTAL INTERFACES Page 2-44 Prairie Island Nuclear Generating Plant License Renewal Application Appendix E - Environmental Report TABLE 2.3-1 (CONTINUED) THREATENED AND ENDANGERED SPEC IES POTENTIALLY AFFECTED BY OPERATION OF PINGP AND ASSOCIATED TRANSMISSION LINES 1 Scientific Name Common Name Federal Status 2State Status 2 (Minnesota) State Status 2(Wisconsin) Mussels (continued)

Cyclonaias tuberculata Purple Wartyback - T E Ellipsaria lineolata Butterfly - T E Elliptio crassidens Elephant-ear - E E Elliptio dilatata Spike - SSC - Epioblasma triquetra Snuffbox - T E Fusconaia ebena Ebonyshell - E E Lampsilis higginsi Higgins Eye 3 E E E Lampsilis teres Yellow/Slough Sandshell - E E Lasmigona costata Fluted-shell - SSC - Ligumia recta Black Sandshell - SSC - Megalonaias nervosa Washboard - T SC Obovaria olivaria Hickory nut - SSC - Plethobasus cyphyus Sheepnose (bullhead)

C E E Pleurobema sintoxia fka P. coccineum Round Pigtoe - T SC Quadrula fragosa Winged Mapleleaf E E E Quadrula metanevra Monkeyface - T T Quadrula nodulata Wartyback - E - Tritogonia verrucosa Pistolgrip (buckhorn) - T T Insects Aflexia rubranura Red Tailed Prairie Leafhopper - SSC - Gompherus externus Plains clubtail

- SC Ophiogomphus smithi Sand snaketail - - SC Neurocordulia molesta Smoky shadowfly - - SC Speyeria idalia Regal Fritillary - SSC - Stylurus plagiatus Russet-tipped clubtail - - SC Plants Agalinis auriculata Eared False Foxglove - E NA Aristida tuberculosa Sea-beach Needlegrass - SSC NA Arnoglossum plantagineum Tuberous Indian-plantain - T NA Asclepias amplexicaulis Clasping Milkweed - SSC NA Asclepias sullivantii Sullivant's Milkweed - T NA Besseya bullii Kitten-tails - T NA Botrychium oneidense Blunt-lobed Grapefern - E NA Botrychium rugulosum St. Lawerence Grapefern - T NA Carex sterilis Sterile Sedge - T NA Cirsium hillii Hill's Thistle - SSC NA Cladium mariscoides Twig-rush - SSC NA Cristatella jamesii James' Polanisia - E NA Cypripedium candidum Small White Lady's-slipper - SSC NA SITE AND ENVIRONMENTAL INTERFACES Page 2-45 Prairie Island Nuclear Generating Plant License Renewal Application Appendix E - Environmental Report SITE AND ENVIRONMENTAL INTERFACES Page 2-46 TABLE 2.3-1 (CONTINUED) THREATENED AND ENDANGERED SPEC IES POTENTIALLY AFFECTED BY OPERATION OF PINGP AND ASSOCIATED TRANSMISSION LINES 1 Scientific Name Common Name Federal Status 2State Status 2 (Minnesota) State Status 2(Wisconsin) Plants (continued)

Eleocharis rostellata Beaked Spike-rush - T NA Eryngium yuccifolium Rattlesnake-master - SSC NA Erythronium propullans Dwarf trout lily 3 E E NA Hudsonia tomentosa Beach-heather - SSC NA Juniperus horizontalis Creeping Juniper - SSC NA Lespedeza leptostachya Prairie bush-clover 3 T T NA Lesquerella ludoviciana Bladder Pod - E NA Minuartia dawsonensis Rock Sandwort - SSC NA Oenothera rhombipetala Rhombic-petaled Evening Primrose - SSC NA Opuntia macrorhiza Plains Prickly Pear - SSC NA Orobanche fasciculata Clustered Broomrape - SSC NA Panax quinquefolius American Ginseng - SSC NA Rhynchospora capillacea Hair-like Beak-rush - T NA Scleria verticillata Whorled Nut-Rush - T NA Trillium nivale Snow Trillium - SSC NA Valeriana edulis ciliata Valerian - T NA 1 Source of County Occurrence: FWS 2007a, MDNR 2007a, MDNR 2007b, WDNR 2007 2 E = Endangered, T = threatened, C = Candidate for federal listing, SSC = Minnesota Species of Special Concern, SC = Wisconsin Species of Concern, - = not listed, NA - Not applicable because only those Wisconsin state-listed species present in the Mississippi River were identified in this analysis.

3 Identified as species of concern by the Prairie Island Indian Community (PIIC 2008).

SITE AND ENVIRONMENTAL INTERFACES Page 2-47 Prairie Island Nuclear Generating Plant License Renewal Application Appendix E - Environmental Report TABLE 2.5-1 DECENNIAL POPULATIONS, PROJECTIONS, AND GROWTH RATES Goodhue County Dakota County Minnesota Pierce County Wisconsin Year Number Percent Number Percent Number Percent Number Percent Number Percent 1980 a 38,749 N/A 194,279N/A4,075,970N/A 31,149 N/A4,705,767N/A 1990 a 40,690 5.01% 275,227 41.67%4,375,099 7.34% 32,765 5.19%4,891,7693.95%2000 b 44,127 8.45% 355,904 29.31%4,919,479 12.44% 36,804 12.33%5,363,6759.65%2010 c,d 47,140 6.83% 422,990 18.85%5,452,500 10.83% 39,818 8.19%5,751,4707.23%2020 c,d 50,430 6.98% 470,460 11.22%5,909,400 8.38% 42,655 7.12%6,110,8786.25%2030 c,d 52,890 4.88% 501,0206.50%6,268,200 6.07% 45,850 7.49%6,415,9234.99% a. USCB 1995a, 1995b b. USCB 2000b c. MDA 2002 d. WDA 2004

TABLE 2.5-2 BLOCK GROUPS WITHIN 50 MILES OF PINGP WITH MINORITY OR LOW-INCOME POPULATIONS MORE THAN 20% GREATER THAN THE STATE PERCENTAGE SITE AND ENVIRONMENTAL INTERFACES Page 2-48 Prairie Island Nuclear Generating Plant License Renewal Application Appendix E - Environmental Report County Name State Name Number of Block Groups Black American Indian or Alaskan Native Asian Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander Some Other Race Multi-Racial Aggregate Hispanic Low-Income Households Total Population*

Anoka Minnesota 127 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 142066Carver Minnesota 17 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 28911Chisago Minnesota 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1334Dakota Minnesota 194 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 355904Dodge Minnesota 15 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 15482Goodhue Minnesota 37 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 44127Hennepin Minnesota 892 111 3 11 0 5 1 196 32 61 956280Le Sueur Minnesota 6 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 6607Olmsted Minnesota 109 1 0 0 0 0 0 3 0 2 114388Ramsey Minnesota 401 16 0 43 0 5 0 109 14 23 511035 Rice Minnesota 43 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 56455Scott Minnesota 50 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 1 0 83621 Steele Minnesota 21 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 27123Wabasha Minnesota 19 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 21610Waseca Minnesota 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 84Washington Minnesota 117 2 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 201020Winona Minnesota 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1579Barron Wisconsin 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 193 Buffalo Wisconsin 12 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 8867Dunn Wisconsin 31 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 34979 TABLE 2.5-2 (CONTINUED) BLOCK GROUPS WITHIN 50 MILES OF PINGP WITH MINORITY OR LOW-INCOME POPULATIONS MORE THAN 20% GREATER THAN THE STATE PERCENTAGE. SITE AND ENVIRONMENTAL INTERFACES Page 2-49 Prairie Island Nuclear Generating Plant License Renewal Application Appendix E - Environmental Report County Name State Name Number of Block Groups Black American Indian or Alaskan Native Asian Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander Some Other Race Multi-Racial Aggregate Hispanic Low-Income Households Total Populatio n* Eau Claire Wisconsin 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4745 Pepin Wisconsin 7 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 7213 Pierce Wisconsin 26 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 36804Polk Wisconsin 16 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 14015 St. Croix Wisconsin 45 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 63155 TOTALS 2197 131 3 54 0 11 1 312 50 89 2733326 Minnesota Percentages 3.55 1.14 2.94 0.04 1.36 1.71 10.73 2.96 7.91 Wisconsin Percentages 5.75 0.89 1.68 0.03 1.60 1.26 11.21 3.64 8.38 Shading indicates that the county is completely contained within the 50-mile radius. *The total population listed for each county is the population for the portion of the county that falls within the 50-mile radi us.

TABLE 2.6-1 GOODHUE COUNTY MAJOR EMPLOYERS SITE AND ENVIRONMENTAL INTERFACES Page 2-50 Prairie Island Nuclear Generating Plant License Renewal Application Appendix E - Environmental Report Employer Community Products/Services Employee Count Treasure Island Casino Red Wing Gambling Industries 1,500 Red Wing Shoe Company Red Wing Footwear Manufacturing 724 Xcel Energy Red Wing Nuclear Electric Power Generation 611 Fairview Red Wing Medical Center Red Wing General Medical and Surgical Hospitals 585 Independent School District #256 Red Wing Elementary and Secondary Schools 500 Norwood Red Wing Other Miscellaneous Manufacturing 380 MDEED 2008

TABLE 2.6-2 DAKOTA COUNTY MA JOR EMPLOYERS SITE AND ENVIRONMENTAL INTERFACES Page 2-51 Prairie Island Nuclear Generating Plant License Renewal Application Appendix E - Environmental Report Employer Community Products/Services Employee Count West Information Publishing Group Eagan Newspaper, Periodical, Book, & Directory Publishers 6,000 Rosemount School District #196 Rosemount Elementary and Secondary Schools 4,000 Blue Cross and Blue Shield Eagan Insurance Carriers 3,300 Northwest Airlines Eagan Scheduled Air Transportation 2,300 Apple Valley Schools-ISD #196 Apple Valley Elementary and Secondary Schools 1,913 Dakota County Hastings Executive and Legislative Offices, Combined 1,849 Burnsville Public Schools-ISD #191 Burnsville Elementary and Secondary Schools 1,600 Lockheed-Martin Tactical Defense Sys Eagan Computer and Peripheral Equipment Manufacturing 1,600 Lakeville Public School District #194 Lakev ille Elementary and Secondary Schools 1,596 US Postal Service Eagan Postal Service 1,570 United Parcel Service Eagan Couriers 1,435 Fairview Ridges Hospital Burnsville General Medical and Surgical Hospitals 1,400 Goodrich Sensor Systems Burnsville Computer and Peripheral Equipment Manufacturing 1,150 CHS Cooperatives Inver Grove Heights Pesticide & Other Agricultural Chemical Mfg.

1,000 Coca-Cola Bottling Company Eagan Beverage Manufacturing 900 Flint Hills Rosemount Petroleum and Coal Products Manufacturing 850 Sportsman's Guide South St. Paul Mail-Order Houses 800 Regina Medical Complex Hastings General Medical and Surgical Hospitals 730 Ecolab Research Facility Eagan Soap and Other Detergent Mfg.

700 Wells Fargo Mortgage Eagan Electronics and Other Appliance Stores 700 Ryt-Way Industries, Inc.

Lakev ille Food Service Contractors 688 West St. Paul, Mendota Heights, Egan - ISD #197 West St. Paul Elementary and Secondary Schools 651 Northern Hydraulics, Inc. Burnsville Industrial Machinery Manufacturing 600 School District 200 Hastings Elementary and Secondary Schools 600 Dakota County West St. Paul Admin. Of Human Resource Programs 577 Smead Manufacturing Co Hastings Office Supplies and Stationary Stores 575 Pepsi-Cola Bottling Company Burnsville Beverage Manufacturing 550 Prime Therapeutics Eagan Management, Scientific, & Technical Consulting Services 550 Farmington Public Schools-ISD #192 Farmington Elementary and Secondary Schools 540 Inver Grove Hts School District #199 Inver Grove Heights Elementary and Secondary Schools 525 Northland Insurance Company Mendota Heights Insurance Carriers 456 TABLE 2.6-2 (CONT)

DAKOTA COUNTY MA JOR EMPLOYERS SITE AND ENVIRONMENTAL INTERFACES Page 2-52 Prairie Island Nuclear Generating Plant License Renewal Application Appendix E - Environmental Report Employer Community Products/Services Employee Count Federal Aviation Administration Farmington Admin. Of Economic Programs 450 South St. Paul School District #6 South St. Paul Elementary and Secondary Schools 450 Travel Tags Inver Grove Heights Comm. Flexographic Printing 430 Inver Hills Community College Inver Grove Heights Colleges, Universities, and Prof. Schools 425 ConAgra Store Brands Lakeville Breakfast Cereal Mfg.

400 Freightmasters, Inc.

Eagan General Freight Trucking 400 Yellow Freight System, Inc. Burnsville Support Activities for Road Transportation 400 Skyline Eagan Specialized Design Services 400 Target West St. Paul Department Stores 400 Southview Acres Health Care West St. Paul Nursing Care Facilities 375 Waterous Co. South St. Paul Pump and Pumping Equip. Man.

375 Intek Plastics, Inc. Hastings Plastics Material and Resin Mfg.

350 Transport Corp of America Eagan General Freight Trucking 350 Dakota County Apple Valley Executive, Legislative, & Other Gen. Govt. Support 349 Best Brands Eagan Other Food Manufacturing 330 Delta Dental Eagan Insurance Carriers 330 CUB Foods Burnsville Department Stores 300 Evergreen Industries Inver Grove Heights Nursery and Tree Prod.

300 Frontier Communications of MN Burnsville Wired Telecommunications Carriers 300 Genz-Ryan Burnsville Plumbing, Heating, & Air Conditioning Contractors 300 Wal-Mart West St. Paul Department Stores 300 MDEED 2008

TABLE 2.6-3 PIERCE COUNTY MAJOR EMPLOYERS SITE AND ENVIRONMENTAL INTERFACES Page 2-53 Prairie Island Nuclear Generating Plant License Renewal Application Appendix E - Environmental Report Employer Products/Services Employee Count University of Wisconsin-River Fall Colleges and Universities 500-999 School District of River Falls Elementary and Secondary Schools 500-999 Pierce County Executive and Legislative Offices, Combined 250-499 Mentor Management, Inc. Residential Mental Retardation Facilities 250-499 Ellsworth Community School District Elementary and Secondary Schools 250-499 State of Wisconsin 2006

Prairie Island Nuclear Generating Plant License Renewal Application Appendix E - Environmental Report 2002 20,582,802 44.2 6,511,96 38.0 2003 21,069,501 41.7 5,688,50 35.6 2004 21,680,726 39.2 6,902,38 30.6 16.6 10,919,2 36.4 6,691,90 27.5 -- 11,603,1 37.2 6,943,34 28.5 2001 21,047,515 52.3 14,781,3 44.7 4,591,222 22.3 10,898,0204,812,822 32,475,4534,358,238 20.7 11,418,3084,764,870 32,024,9734,043,443 18.6 11,519,2384,515,593 02,110,5702005 22,266,086 d3,702,828383,968,67 4 91,840,068 2006 Not yet published 3,747,250514,318,291 61,979,347a. Hove 2006 b. Schlichting 2007 c. MDE 2007 d. State of Minnesota 2006 Year Goodhue County Tax Revenues a ($) PINGP Property Tax Paid to Goodhue County ($) Percent of Goodhue County Revenues City of Red Wing Tax Revenues b ($) PINGP Property Tax Paid to City of Red Wing ($) Percent of City of Red Wing Revenues School District 256 Tax Revenues c ($) PINGP Property Tax Paid to School District 256 ($) Percent of School District 256 Revenues 5,780,345 27.5 8,897,9574,654,701006,611,339TABLE 2.7-1 PINGP TAX INFORMATION 2001-2006 SITE AND ENVIRONMENTAL INTERFACES Page 2-54

Prairie Island Nuclear Generating Plant License Renewal Application Appendix E - Environmental Report SITE AND ENVIRONMENTAL INTERFACES Page 2-55 TABLE 2.8-1 STATE-REGULATED MUNICIPAL WATER SYSTEMS IN THE THREE-COUNTY AREA System Name Permitted Annual Average Withdrawal (MGY)bReported Annual Average Withdrawal 2000 - 2004 (MGY)bPopulation Served - Groundwater and Surface Water b, c Groundwater Dakota County, MN Apple Valley 30,000 1,834 - 2,331 48,000 Burnsville 51,200 2,317 - 3,018 62,200 Eagan 51,000 2,335 - 3,289 67,051 Empire Township 104 39 - 53 1,300 Farmington 2,650 374 - 551 13,000 Hampton 44 15 - 25 650 Hastings 6,000 790 - 963 21,631 Inver Grove Heights 6,250 973 - 1,116 33,000 Lakeville 37,380 1,698 - 2,183 51,000 New Trier 10 3.1 - 3.6 115 Randolph 17.4 11.3 - 15.8 351 Rosemont 4,728 537 - 765 21,000 South Saint Paul 8,400 1,064 - 1,234 20,303 Vermillion 50 20.5 - 27.8 442 Dakota County Municipal Total 197,833 MGY (542 MGD) 12,011 - 15,575 MGY (32.9 - 42.7 MGD)

Dakota County excess capacity (542 MGD - 42.7 MGD) is 499.3 MGD Goodhue County, MN a Bellechester 14.6 4.1 - 8 172 Cannon Falls 1,040 194 - 253 3,700 Dennison 13 5 - 8.3 168 Goodhue 80 29 - 33 778 Kenyon 144 54 - 68 1,661 Pine Island 332 94 - 110 2,337 Red Wing 4,725 643 - 710 16,100 Wanamingo 120 32 - 43 1,007 Zumbrota 660 168 - 189 3,004 Goodhue County Municipal Total 7,129 MGY (19.5 MGD) 1,223 - 1,422 MGY (3.4 - 3.9 MGD)

Goodhue County excess capacity (19.5 MGD - 3.9 MGD) is 15.6 MGD.

Prairie Island Nuclear Generating Plant License Renewal Application Appendix E - Environmental Report SITE AND ENVIRONMENTAL INTERFACES Page 2-56 TABLE 2.8-1 (CONTINUED) STATE-REGULATED MUNICIPAL WATER SYSTEMS IN THE THREE-COUNTY AREA System Name Total Pump Design Yield (MGY)dReported Annual Average Withdrawal 2005 (MGY)dPopulation Served - Groundwater and Surface Water c Pierce County, WI c Bay City 135 15 571 Ellsworth 368 101 2,844 Elmwood 752 22 841 Maiden Rock 184 4 121 Prescott 1,314 171 3,645 River Falls 2,597 396 12,560 Spring Valley 258 38 1,271 Pierce County Municipal Total 5,608 MGY (15.4 MGD) 747 MGY (2 MGD) Pierce County excess capacity (15.4 MGD - 2 MGD) is 13.4 MGD. Total For Dakota, Goodhue and Pierce Counties 210,570 MGY (577 MGD) 17,742 MGY 1 (48.6 MGD)

Excess capacity for these three counties (577 MGD - 48.6 MGD) is 528.4 MGD.

Sources: a. EPA 2006f; b. MN DNR 2005a, c. WDNR 2006, d. WIPSC 2006 Note 1) Maximum withdrawal data value for Dakota and Goodhue Counties used to obtain the total for Dakota, Goodhue, and Pierce Counties. MGY = Million gallons per year MGD = Million gallons per day

SITE AND ENVIRONMENTAL INTERFACES Page 2-57 Prairie Island Nuclear Generating Plant License Renewal Application Appendix E - Environmental Report TABLE 2.8-2 TRAFFIC STATISTICS FOR MOST LIKELY ROUTES TO THE PINGP SITE Figure 2.8-1 Locations Goodhue County Road Segments Number of Lanes a Mn DOT Road Classification a LOS for Road/Highway Segment a Road/Highway Capacity (vehicles per day)a Average Annual Daily Traffic (AADT) for 2002/2003 a 1 County Road 18 (just north of intersection with Sturgeon Lake Road) 2 Rural County Road N/A 12,000 6,200 2 County Road 18 Segment (south of intersection with Sturgeon Lake Road and north of County Road 19) 2 Rural County Road N/A 12,000 7,400 3 County Road 18 (between County Road 19 and County Road 46, Mt. Carmel Rd.)

2 plus climbing lane Rural County Road N/A 12,000 + 6,000 4 Sturgeon Lake Road 4 Urban Undivided County Road N/A 20,000 11,500 5 County Road 19 (between County Road 18 and U.S. Highway 61) 2 Rural County Road N/A 5,000 360 6 County Road 31 (between County Road 18 and U.S. Highway 61) 2 Rural County Road N/A 10,000 490 7 County Road 7 (just south of intersection with U.S. Highway 61) 2 County Road N/A N/A 445 8 U.S. Highway 61 (between County Road 18 and State Road 19) 4 Rural Divided U.S Highway N/A 40,000 14,400 9 U.S. Highway 61 (between State Road 316 and County Road 19) 4 Rural Divided U.S Highway N/A 40,000 10,800

a. Bjornstad 2006 N/A = Not available or not provided

Prairie Island Nuclear Generating Plant License Renewal Application Appendix E - Environmental Report TABLE 2.10-1 SITES LISTED IN THE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES THAT FALL WITHIN A 6-MILE RADIUS OF PINGP Site Name Location Goodhue County, Minnesota Alexander Anderson Estate -- Tower View West of Red Wing on U.S. 61, Red Wing Barn Bluff Junction of U.S. 61 and U.S. 63, Red Wing Bartron Site Address restricted, Red Wing Bridge No. 12 (Bullard Cr. Bridge) Twp. Road 43 over Bullard Cr., Red Wing Carlson Lime Kiln E. 5th Street, Red Wing Chicago Great Western Depot W. Main and Fulton Streets, Red Wing Cross of Christ Lutheran Church MN 61, Red Wing Diamond Round Barn MN 61, Red Wing District No. 20 School MN 58, Red Wing Fort Sweeney Site Address restricted, Red Wing Fryk (E.J.) Barn Off MN 61, Red Wing Gladstone Building 309 Bush Street, Red Wing Hewitt (Dr. Charles) Laboratory 216 Dakota Street, Red Wing Hoyt (E.S.) House 300 Hill Street, Red Wing Immanuel Lutheran Church Off MN 58, Red Wing Kappel Wagon Works 221 W. 3rd Street, Red Wing Keystone Building 409 Main Street, Red Wing Lawther (James L.) House 927 W. 3rd Street, Red Wing Mandata to Wabasha Military Road, Cannon River Section Cannon Bottom Road, Red Wing Minnesota State Training School E. 7th Street, Red Wing Minnesota Stonewear Company 1997 W. Main Street, Red Wing Nelson (Julia B.) House 219 5th Street, Red Wing Pratt - Talbott House 706 W. 4th Street, Red Wing Red Wing City Hall W. 4th Street, Red Wing Red Wing Iron Works 401 Levee Street, Red Wing Red Wing Mall Historic District Along East and West Avenues and Broadway between 6th St. and levee Sheldon Memorial Auditorium 443 W. 3rd St., Red Wing Sheldon (T. B.) House 805 W. 4th Street, Red Wing Spring Creek Petroglyphs Address restricted, Red Wing St. James Hotel Bush and Main Streets, Red Wing St. James Hotel and Buildings (boundary increase) Bush and Main Streets, Red Wing SITE AND ENVIRONMENTAL INTERFACES Page 2-58 Prairie Island Nuclear Generating Plant License Renewal Application Appendix E - Environmental Report TABLE 2.10-1 (CONTINUED)

SITES LISTED IN THE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES THAT FALL WITHIN A 6-MILE RADIUS OF PINGP Site Name Location Towne-Akenson Ho use 1121 W. 3rd St., Red Wing Vasa Historic District Off MN 19, Red Wing Wallauer Farmhouse MN 58, Red Wing Pierce County, Wisconsin Diamond Bluff - Mero Mound Site Address restricted, Diamond Bluff Mero Archaeological District Address restricted, Diamond Bluff Source: NPS 2006c.

SITE AND ENVIRONMENTAL INTERFACES Page 2-59

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[_)s) tWi s c o n s i n M i n n e s o t a M i s s i s s i p p i R i v e r S t u r g e o n L a k e N o r t h L a k e G o o s e L a k e 6-M i l e R a di u sLock and Dam No. 3 V e r m i l l i o n R i v e r 18Mississippi National River And Recreation AreaPierceGoodhueDakotaRed WingNuclear Management CompanyPrairie Island Nuclear Generating PlantLicense Renewal Environmental ReportFigure 2.1-2 6-Mile Vicinity 0123450.5MilesLegend[_PINGPPrimary RoadSecondary and Connecting RoadLocal, Neighborhood, or Rural RoadRailroadState BoundaryFederal LandPrairie Island Indian CommunityWaterPopulated AreaCounty BoundaryPrairie Island Nuclear Generating Plant License Renewal Application Appendix E - Environmental Report SITE AND ENVIRONMENTAL INTERFACES Page 2-61