ML19211C602

NRC to NMFS, Notification of No Effect to ESA Species for Peach Bottom SLR

ML19211C602
Person / Time
Site:	Peach Bottom
Issue date:	08/05/2019
From:	Briana Grange Division of Materials and License Renewal
To:	Crocker J US Dept of Commerce, National Marine Fisheries Service
Briana Grange 301-415-1042
References
Download: ML19211C602 (3)

Text

From: Grange, Briana To: nmfs.gar.esa.section7@noaa.gov; Julie Crocker - NOAA Federal Cc: Karen Greene - NOAA Federal; Kristy Beard - NOAA Federal; jennifer.anderson@noaa.gov; Beasley, Benjamin; Drucker, David

Subject:

NRC Issuance of Draft Environmental Impact Statement for Peach Bottom License Renewal, Opportunity for Public Comment, and Endangered Species Act Determinations Date: Monday, August 05, 2019 9:18:00 AM Good morning Julie, The purpose of this email is to notify you that the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) has issued a draft supplemental environmental impact statement (SEIS) for the proposed license renewal of Peach Bottom Atomic Power Station, Units 2 and 3 (Peach Bottom) in York County, Pennsylvania. During preparation of the SEIS, the NRC staff determined that the proposed action would have no effects on federally listed species and critical habitats protected by the Endangered Species Act (ESA) and under your agencys jurisdiction. This email describes the proposed action, summarizes the NRCs environmental review, and explains how the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) may submit public comments on the draft SEIS.

Proposed Action Peach Bottom is a two-unit nuclear power plant located along the western shore of Conowingo Pond on a 769-acre site near Delta, Pennsylvania, in York County. The plant lies approximately 19 miles south of Lancaster, Pennsylvania; 30 miles to the southeast of York, Pennsylvania; and 38 miles north of Baltimore, Maryland. Exelon Generation Company, LLC (Exelon) operates and maintains the plant. The NRC issued facility operating licenses for Peach Bottom in October 1973 (Unit 2) and July 1974 (Unit 3), and commercial operations began in July 1974 (Unit 2) and December 1974 (Unit 3). In 2003, the NRC issued renewed facility operating licenses authorizing an additional 20 years of plant operation through August 2033 (Unit 2) and July 2034 (Unit 3).

The NRCs Federal action is the decision whether to issue subsequent renewed operating licenses for Peach Bottom authorizing an additional 20 years of operation. If the NRC grants Exelon renewed licenses, the company could continue to operate Peach Bottom until August 2053 (Unit 2) and July 2054 (Unit 3).

National Environmental Policy Act Review In support of its review of the proposed action, the NRC staff prepared a draft SEIS to comply with NEPA and the NRCs environmental regulations at 10 CFR Part 51 that implement NEPA. The draft SEIS addresses the environmental impacts of the proposed action and relevant alternatives.

The draft SEIS is available online at: https://www.nrc.gov/docs/ML1921/ML19210D453.pdf.

The NRC is accepting public comments on the draft SEIS pursuant to NEPA through September 23, 2019. You may submit comments either online or via U.S. mail.

Online: Go to the Federal Rulemaking website at http://www.regulations.gov and search for Docket ID NRC-2018-0130.

U.S. mail: Address comments to Office of Administration, Mail Stop: TWFN-7-A60M, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, DC 20555-0001.

The NRC staff will also hold a public meeting prior to the close of the public comment period to present an overview of the draft SEIS and to accept public comments on the document. The meeting will be held on September 12, 2019, from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at

the Peach Bottom Inn, 6085 Delta Road, Delta, PA 17314. The NRC staff will also host an open house one hour before the meeting for members of the public to meet with staff and sign in to speak.

ESA Effect Determinations As part of its environmental review, the NRC staff evaluated the potential impacts of Peach Bottom subsequent license renewal on two federally listed species under the NMFSs jurisdiction. The two species are:

shortnose sturgeon (Acipenser brevirostrum)

Atlantic sturgeon (Acipenser oxyrinchus oxyrinchus)

The NRC staff obtained this list of species from the NMFSs public website, and the staff confirmed the relevance of each species to its review through staff-level communications with the NMFS Greater Atlantic Regional Fisheries Office. The NRC staff did not identify any critical habitat within the action area.

The NRCs ESA analysis appears within the following sections of the draft SEIS.

Section 3.8.1.1 describes the ESA action area.

Section 3.8.1.3 describes the relevant life history characteristics, available ecological studies, and potential for shortnose and Atlantic sturgeon to be present in the action area.

Section 4.8.1.2 evaluates the potential for the proposed action to affect shortnose and Atlantic sturgeon during the proposed license renewal term.

Appendix C.1 describes the NRCs obligations under Section 7 of the ESA and relevant correspondence with the NMFS and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in connection with the NRC staffs review of the proposed action.

In Section 4.8.1.2 of the draft SEIS, the NRC staff finds that the proposed action would have no effect on shortnose and Atlantic sturgeon because neither species occurs in the action area. Although shortnose and Atlantic sturgeon inhabit the lower Susquehanna River, Conowingo Dam physically prevents individuals from entering Conowingo Pond.

The Susquehanna River below Conowingo Dam within the dams tailwaters is the closest region of the river in which shortnose sturgeon may occur. This region of the river is outside of the Peach Bottom action area.

Because the NRC staff concludes that the proposed action would have no effect on federally listed species, the NRC staff also finds that ESA Section 7 consultation for the proposed action is not required.

Conclusion If you have any questions about this email, the NRCs draft SEIS, the NEPA public comment period, the NRCs upcoming public meeting, or the NRCs determination that ESA Section 7 consultation is not required for the proposed action, please reach out to me by phone or email.

Thank you, Briana

_____________

Briana A. Grange Conservation Biologist Division of Materials and License Renewal Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation

ML19211C602 OFFICE PM:MRPB:DMLR BC:MENB:DMLR AB:MENB:DMLR NAME DDrucker BBeasley BGrange DATE 7/30/19 8/2/19 8/5/19