ML100340092

Request for List of Protected Species and Essential Fish Habitat within the Area Under Evaluation for the Diablo Canyon, Units 1 and 2, License Renewal Application Review

ML100340092
Person / Time
Site:	Diablo Canyon
Issue date:	03/09/2010
From:	David Wrona License Renewal Projects Branch 2
To:	Mcinnis R US Dept of Commerce, National Marine Fisheries Service
Stuyvenberg, A L, NRR/DLR, 415-4006
References
TAC ME2825, TAC ME2826
Download: ML100340092 (8)

Text

March 9, 2010 Mr. Rodney McInnis Regional Administrator, Southwest Region National Marine Fisheries Service 501 West Ocean Boulevard Long Beach, CA 90802

SUBJECT:

REQUEST FOR LIST OF PROTECTED SPECIES AND ESSENTIAL FISH HABITAT WITHIN THE AREA UNDER EVALUATION FOR THE DIABLO CANYON NUCLEAR POWER PLANT, UNITS 1 AND 2, LICENSE RENEWAL APPLICATION REVIEW

Dear Mr. McInnis:

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC or the staff) is reviewing an application submitted by Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E) for the renewal of the operating licenses for Diablo Canyon Nuclear Power Plant (DCPP), Units 1 and 2. DCPP is located approximately 12 miles west-southwest of San Luis Obispo, California. As part of the review of the license renewal application (LRA), the NRC is preparing a Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS) under the provisions of Title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations Part 51 (10 CFR Part 51), the NRCs regulation that implements the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969. The SEIS includes an analysis of pertinent environmental issues, including endangered or threatened species and impacts to marine resources and habitat. This letter is being submitted under the provisions of the Endangered Species Act of 1973; as amended, and the Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act of 1934, as amended; and the Sustainable Fisheries Act of 1996.

The proposed action would include the use and continued maintenance of existing plant facilities and transmission lines. The DCPP site consists of approximately 750 acres of land located near the mouth of Diablo Creek, and a portion of the power plant site is bounded by the Pacific Ocean. Approximately 165 acres of the owner-controlled area are located north of Diablo Creek. The remaining 585 acres are located adjacent to and south of Diablo Creek. The entire acreage is owned by PG&E. PG&E owns all coastal properties north of Diablo Creek, to the southerly boundary of Montana de Oro State Park and inland a distance of 0.5 to 1.75 miles.

Similarly, PG&E owns all coastal properties south of Diablo Creek for approximately 8 miles and inland approximately 1.75 miles. Except for the DCPP site, all of the acreage north and south of DCPP is encumbered by two grazing licenses.

DCPP utilizes a once-through cooling (OTC) water system whereby raw, ambient temperature seawater is drawn from the Pacific Ocean through a shoreline intake structure, and discharged back to the Pacific Ocean at a second, separate, shoreline location approximately 20°F on average above ambient temperature. The seawater is pumped through heat exchanging steam condensers located in the turbine building. Each unit utilizes an independent cooling system, however the systems share common intake and discharge structures. During full power operations, the plant circulates approximately 2.45 billion gallons (equivalent to 9.275 million cubic meters) of raw seawater per day through the main steam condensers.

R. McInnis PG&E indicates that the main condenser OTC system was initially designed for heat treatment to control marine fouling organisms. Heat treatments were discontinued early during the initial license period. PG&E found treatments to be ineffective at managing acorn barnacles (Megabalanus tintinnabulum), the primary seawater systems fouling problem. PG&E indicates that treatment of seawater systems will not be used in the license renewal period.

Heated discharge from the main condensers of each unit combine and flow to a common structure terminating in a shoreline outfall. The discharge for Unit 1 and 2 are parallel within the structure separated by a central concrete partition. Cutouts exist in the dividing wall to promote mixing of thermal effluent between the operating units. PG&E indicates that the mixing also provides dilution and reduction of residual oxidants from seawater inlet systems chemical treatments.

The transmission lines in the scope of NRCs environmental review for license renewal are those that were originally constructed for the specific purpose of connecting the plant to the transmission system. The enclosed transmission line map shows the transmission system that is being evaluated in the SEIS. The transmission lines consist of three single-circuit 500 kV lines and one double-circuit 230 kV line. One double-circuit 230 kV line was connected to an existing Morro Bay-Mesa line 10.25 miles from DCPP with an 80-foot right-of-way width. One single-circuit 500 kV line was connected to the Gates Substation in Fresno County 79 miles from DCPP with a 350-foot right-of-way width. Lastly, two single-circuit 500 kV lines were connected to the Midway Substation in Kern County 84 miles from DCPP with a combined right-of-way width of 400 feet.

In total, for the specific purpose of connecting DCPP to the transmission system, PG&E has approximately 170 miles of corridor that occupy approximately 7,500 acres. The corridors pass primarily through foothills and rolling land. In addition, there are parcels of land that are agricultural and forest land. All lines, except the Morro Bay-Mesa feeder line, cross Highway 101. The transmission line and site boundary are identified in the enclosed maps.

To support the SEIS preparation process and to ensure compliance with Section 7 of the Endangered Species Act, the NRC requests information on Federally listed, proposed, and candidate species and critical habitat that may be in the vicinity of the DCPP site, as shown on the enclosed plant location map, as well as the transmission system being evaluated by the SEIS. In addition, please provide any information you consider appropriate under the provisions of the Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act. Also in support of the SEIS preparation and to ensure compliance with Section 305 of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, the NRC requests a list of essential fish habitat that has been designated in the vicinity of the DCPP site.

During the week of April 19, 2010, the NRC staff plans to conduct a site audit at DCPP. You and your staff are invited to attend the site audit. Your office will receive a copy of the draft SEIS along with a request for comments. The anticipated publication date for the draft SEIS is October 2010.

R. McInnis The DCPP LRA is available on the internet at www.nrc.gov/reactors/operating/licensing/renewal/applications/diablo-canyon.html. If you have any questions concerning the NRC staffs review of this LRA, please contact Mr. Drew Stuyvenberg, Environmental Project Manager, at 301-415-4006 or Andrew.Stuyvenberg@nrc.gov.

Sincerely,

/RA/

David J. Wrona, Chief Projects Branch 2 Division of License Renewal Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation Docket Nos. 50-275 and 50-323

Enclosures:

As stated cc w/encls.: See next page

ML100340092 OFFICE PM:RPB2:DLR LA:RPOB:DLR OGC BC:RPB2:DLR NAME AStuyvenberg YEdmonds LSubin (NLO) DWrona DATE 02/18/10 02/15/10 02/22/10 03/09/10

Diablo Canyon Nuclear Power Plant Units 1 and 2 cc:

Chairman Mr. Terence L. Grebel San Luis Obispo County Board of Manager, Regulatory Projects Supervisors Diablo Canyon Nuclear Power Plant 1055 Monterey Street, Suite D430 P.O. Box 56 Room 370, County Government Center Avila Beach, CA 93424 San Luis Obispo, CA 93408 Mr. Truman Burns Mr. James R. Becker, Site Vice President Mr. Robert Kinosian Pacific Gas & Electric Company California Public Utilities Commission Diablo Canyon Nuclear Power Plant 505 Van Ness, Room 4102 P.O. Box 3, Mail Station 104/6/601 San Francisco, CA 94102 Avila Beach, CA 93424 Mr. James D. Boyd, Commissioner Ms. Jennifer Post, Esq. California Energy Commission Pacific Gas & Electric Company 1516 Ninth Street (MS 31) 77 Beale Street, Room 2496 Sacramento, CA 95814 Mail Code B30A San Francisco, CA 94120 Mr. Brian Hembacher Deputy Attorney General Mr. Gary Butner 300 South Spring Street, Suite 1702 Chief, Radiological Health Branch Los Angeles, CA 90013 California Department of Public Health P.O. Box 997414, MS 7610 Ms. Susan Durbin Sacramento, CA 95899-7414 1300 I Street P.O. Box 944255 Mr. Tony Brown Sacramento, CA 94244-2550 NRC Resident Inspector Diablo Canyon Nuclear Power Plant Mr. Tom Luster c/o U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission CA Coastal Commission P.O. Box 369 45 Freemont Street, #2000 Avila Beach, CA 93424 San Francisco, CA 94105 Mr. Michael Peck Mr. Mark Johnsson NRC Senior Resident Inspector CA Coastal Commission Diablo Canyon Nuclear Power Plant 45 Freemont Street, #2000 c/o U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission San Francisco, CA 94105 P.O. Box 369 Avila Beach, CA 93424 Mr. Eric Green 505 Van Ness Avenue Regional Administrator, Region IV San Francisco, CA 94102-3214 U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Texas Health Resources Tower 612 East Lamar Boulevard, Suite 400 Arlington, TX 76011-4125

Diablo Canyon Nuclear Power Plant, Units 1 and 2 cc:

Ms. Barbara Byron Lieutenant Jim Epperson Senior Policy Advisor California Highway Patrol California Energy Commission Commercial Vehicle Section 1516 9th Street, MS 36 601B North 7th Street Sacramento, CA 95814 Sacramento, CA 95811 Mr. Kevin Bell Mr. Peter Von Lagen, PhD, PG General Council 895 Areovista Place, Suite 101 California Energy Commission San Luis Obispo, CA 93401 1516 9th Street, MS 36 Sacramento, CA 95814 Mr. Burton Chadwick, PhD, PG Core Regulatory Permitting Ms. Rachel MacDonald Central Coast Water Board Nuclear Policy Advisor 895 Areovista Place, Suite 101 California Energy Commission San Luis Obispo, CA 93401 1516 9th Street, MS 36 Sacramento, CA 95814 Mr. Gary W. Butner Branch Chief Mr. Bill Potter Division of Food, Drug, and Radiation Senior Emergency Services Coordinator Safety California Emergency Management Agency California Department of Health Services Radiological Preparedness Unit P.O. Box 997414, MS-7610 3650 Schriever Avenue Sacramento, CA 95899-7414 Mather, CA 95655 Ms. Jane Swanson Mr. Michael Warren San Luis Obispo Mothers for Peace California Emergency Management Agency P.O. Box 3608 Radiological Preparedness Unit San Luis Obispo, CA 93403 3650 Schriever Avenue Mather, CA 95655 Ms. Rochelle Becker, Executive Director Alliance for Nuclear Responsibility Mr. Chris Wills P.O. Box 1328 Supervising Geologist San Luis Obispo, CA 93406-1328 California Geological Survey 801 K Street, MS 12-32 Mr. John T. Conway, Senior Vice President, Sacramento, CA 95814-3531 Generation and Chief Nuclear Officer Diablo Canyon Nuclear Power Plant, Mr. John G. Parrish, PhD Units 1 and 2 State Geologist Pacific Gas & Electric Company California Geological Survey 77 Beale Street, MC B32 801 K Street, Suite 1200 San Francisco, CA 94105 Sacramento, CA 95814