ML082820382

Response to Letter from K. Bearquiver Regarding Prairie Island Nuclear Generating Plant, Units 1 and 2, LRA Review

ML082820382
Person / Time
Site:	Prairie Island
Issue date:	10/23/2008
From:	Rani Franovich Division of License Renewal
To:	Bearquiver K US Dept of Interior, Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA)
Goodman N. NRR/DLR/REBA 415-2703
References
Download: ML082820382 (9)

Text

October 23, 2008 Mr. Kevin Bearquiver Midwest Regional Director U.S. Bureau of Indian Affairs 1 Federal Drive Room #550 Fort Snelling, MN 55111

SUBJECT:

RESPONSE TO LETTER FROM K. BEARQUIVER REGARDING PRAIRIE ISLAND NUCLEAR GENERATING PLANT, UNITS 1 AND 2, LICENSE RENEWAL APPLICATION REVIEW

Dear Mr. Bearquiver,

This letter responds to your letter dated August 18, 2008, regarding the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commissions (NRC) environmental review for the Prairie Island Nuclear Generating Plant (PINGP) license renewal. We regret that you were unable to attend the July 30, 2008, public scoping meeting. Justin Leous, the previous project manager for the PINGP license renewal, left a telephone message for Mr. Terrance Virden the week of July 14, 2008, to notify the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) of the upcoming public scoping meeting. Additionally, NRC staff sent BIA a letter addressed to Mr. Terrance Virden dated July 22, 2008. The NRC also sent a general meeting notice letter on July 17, 2008, to interested and/or affected parties, and BIA was included on the distribution of this letter.

In regard to your questions specifically concerning the NRC letter to the Minnesota State Historic Preservation Office, NRC staff conducts scoping in order to gather information for the scope of its environmental review. The deadline to submit scoping comments was September 22, 2008. Nathan Goodman, Project Manager, tried on several occasions to reach the contact given in your letter, Scott Doig, and left several messages in hopes of reaching Mr. Doig regarding any questions the BIA might have had concerning NRC staffs scoping process prior to closing of the scoping period.

Additionally, Nuclear Management Company submitted an Environmental Report as part of its application for the license renewal of PINGP, which is available on the NRC public website. The Environmental Report addresses many of the questions you have identified in your letter.

Concerning your question about environmental justice, under Executive Order 12898 (59 FR 7629), Federal agencies are responsible for identifying and addressing potential disproportionately high and adverse human health and environmental impacts on minority and low-income populations. The Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) has oversight of the Federal governments compliance with Executive Order 12898 and the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), and in consultation with the Environmental Protection Agency and other affected agencies, CEQ developed guidance to ensure that environmental justice concerns are effectively identified and addressed in the NEPA procedures of Federal agencies. This guidance is presented in Environmental Justice: Guidance Under the National Environmental Policy Act (1997). NRC staff uses this guidance as it applies to NRC license reviews.

K. Bearquiver In 2004, the Commission issued a Policy Statement on the Treatment of Environmental Justice Matters in NRC Regulatory and Licensing Actions (69 FR 52040), which states The Commission is committed to the general goals set forth in E.O. 12898, and strives to meet those goals as part of its NEPA review process. For determining the impacts to minority and low-income populations, NRC staff follows the Commissions Policy Statement on Environmental Justice as well as guidance set forth in NRR Office Instruction LIC-203, Revision 1, Appendix D

- Environmental Justice Guidance and Flow Chart.

As noted in NRC staffs letter to the BIA regarding scoping, the NRC has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Prairie Island Indian Community for the environmental portion of the PINGP license renewal review. The MOU establishes a cooperating agency relationship between the NRC and the PIIC, with the NRC as lead agency responsible for preparing a supplemental environmental impact statement.

In regards to the BIA being a consulting party for the Section 106 process under 36CFR800.2, the NRC granted BIA consulting party status by including them on the NRCs distribution list, which enables BIA to receive all related documents throughout the environmental review process for the proposed PINGP license renewal. Currently, the NRC is in the identification phase of the Section 106 process.

NRC staff looks forward to working with the BIA throughout the relicensing process. If you have any questions, please contact Mr. Nathan Goodman, License Renewal Project Manager, by phone at 301-415-2703 or by e-mail at nathan.goodman@nrc.gov.

Sincerely,

\RA\

Rani Franovich, Branch Chief Projects Branch 2 Division of License Renewal Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation Docket Nos. 50-282 and 50-306

Enclosures:

As stated cc w/encls: See next page

K. Bearquiver In 2004, the Commission issued a Policy Statement on the Treatment of Environmental Justice Matters in NRC Regulatory and Licensing Actions (69 FR 52040), which states The Commission is committed to the general goals set forth in E.O. 12898, and strives to meet those goals as part of its NEPA review process. For determining the impacts to minority and low-income populations, NRC staff follows the Commissions Policy Statement on Environmental Justice as well as guidance set forth in NRR Office Instruction LIC-203, Revision 1, Appendix D

- Environmental Justice Guidance and Flow Chart.

As noted in NRC staffs letter to the BIA regarding scoping, the NRC has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Prairie Island Indian Community for the environmental portion of the PINGP license renewal review. The MOU establishes a cooperating agency relationship between the NRC and the PIIC, with the NRC as lead agency responsible for preparing a supplemental environmental impact statement.

In regards to the BIA being a consulting party for the Section 106 process under 36CFR800.2, the NRC granted BIA consulting party status by including them on the NRCs distribution list, which enables BIA to receive all related documents throughout the environmental review process for the proposed PINGP license renewal. Currently, the NRC is in the identification phase of the Section 106 process.

NRC staff looks forward to working with the BIA throughout the relicensing process. If you have any questions, please contact Mr. Nathan Goodman, License Renewal Project Manager, by phone at 301-415-2703 or by e-mail at nathan.goodman@nrc.gov.

Sincerely,

\RA\

Rani Franovich, Branch Chief Projects Branch 2 Division of License Renewal Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation Docket Nos. 50-282 and 50-306

Enclosures:

As stated cc w/encls: See next page DISTRIBUTION: See next page ADAMS Accession Number: ML082820382 OFFICE LA:DLR PM:DLR:RPB1 BC:DLR:RPB2 NAME IKing NGoodman RFranovich (RFranovich for)

DATE 10/10/08 10/2308 10/23/08 OFFICIAL RECORD COPY

Letter to K. Bearquiver from R. Franovich dated October 23, 2008

SUBJECT:

RESPONSE TO LETTER FROM K. BEARQUIVER REGARDING PRAIRIE ISLAND NUCLEAR GENERATING PLANT, UNITS 1 AND 2, LICENSE RENEWAL APPLICATION REVIEW HARD COPY:

DLR RF DISTRIBUTION:

E-MAIL:

B. Holian/S. Lee (RidsNrrDlr)

T. Combs, OCA T. Madden, OCA R. Shane, OCA B. Keeling, OCA R. Franovich (RidsNrrDlrRebb)

B. Pham (RidsNrrDlrReba)

R. Plasse N. Goodman T. Wengert R. Skokowski K. Stoedter P. Zurawski OPA (RidsOpaMail)

D. McIntyre, OPA V. Mitlyng D. Roth, OGC B. Mizuno, OGC OGC (RidsOGCMailRoom)

DLR/REBB

Prairie Island Nuclear Generating Plant, Units 1 and 2 cc:

Jim Holthaus Peter M. Glass Nuclear Management Company, LLC Assistant General Counsel 1717 Wakonade Drive East Xcel Energy Services, Inc. Welch, MN 55089 414 Nicollet Mall (MP4)

Minneapolis, MN 55401 Katie Himanga, Mayor City of Lake City Manager, Regulatory Affairs 205 West Center Street Prairie Island Nuclear Generating Plant Lake City, MN 55041 Nuclear Management Company, LLC 1717 Wakonade Drive East Commissioner Welch, MN 55089 Minnesota Department of Commerce 85 7th Place East, Suite 500 Manager - Environmental Protection Division St. Paul, MN 55101-2198 Minnesota Attorney General=s Office 445 Minnesota Street, Suite 900 Tribal Council St. Paul, MN 55101-2127 Prairie Island Indian Community ATTN: Environmental Department U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission 5636 Sturgeon Lake Road Resident Inspector's Office Welch, MN 55089 1719 Wakonade Drive East Welch, MN 55089-9642 Nuclear Asset Manager Xcel Energy, Inc.

Administrator 414 Nicollet Mall (MP4)

Goodhue County Courthouse Minneapolis, MN 55401 P.O. Box 408 Red Wing, MN 55066-0408 Dennis L. Koehl Chief Nuclear Officer Philip R. Mahowald Nuclear Management Company, LLC General Counsel 414 Nicollet Mall (MP4)

Prairie Island Indian Community Minneapolis, MN 55401 5636 Sturgeon Lake Road Welch, MN 55089 Joel P. Sorenson Director, Site Operations Heather Westra Prairie Island Nuclear Generating Plant Prairie Island Indian Community Nuclear Management Company, LLC 5636 Sturgeon Lake Road 1717 Wakonade Drive East Welch, MN 55089 Welch, MN 55089 Gene Eckholt Nuclear Management Company, LLC 1717 Wakonade Drive East Welch, MN 55089

Prairie Island Nuclear Generating Plant, Units 1 and 2 cc:

Joan Marshman Stanley Crooks 30129 County 2 Blvd. Chairman P.O. Box 62 Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community Frontenac, MN 55026 2330 Sioux Trail NW Prior Lake, MN 55372 Kristen Eide-Toffefson Florence Township Commission Stan Ellison P.O. Box 130 Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community Frontenac, MN 55026 2330 Sioux Trail NW Prior Lake, MN 55372 Carolyn Homsten, CPA Goodhue County Leonard Wabasha Goodhue County Government Center Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community 509 W. 5th St., 2nd Floor 2330 Sioux Trail NW Red Wing, MN 55066 Prior Lake, MN 55372 Kay Kuhlmann Emily Rusch, Environmental Review Council Administrator Assistant 315 West 4th St. Wisconsin Department of Natural Red Wing, MN 55066 Resources Bureau of Endangered Species Deanna Sheely P.O. Box 7921 Assistant City Council Administrator Madison, WI 53707 315 West 4th St.

Red Wing, MN 55066 Ms. Lisa A. Joyal Endangered Species Environmental Review Lisa Hanni Coordinator Goodhue County Land Use Management Natural Heritage and Nongame Research Goodhue County Government Center Program 509 W. 5th St. Minnesota Department of Natural Red Wing, MN 55066 Resources 500 Lafayette Road Nancy Shouweiller Box 25 Commissioner - Forth District St. Paul, MN 55155 Dakota County Administrator Center 1590 Highway 55 Mr. Don L. Klima, Director Hastings, MN 55033 Advisory Council on Historic Preservation Office of Federal Agency Programs Mr. Tony Sullins 1100 Pennsylvania Ave., NW Field Supervisor Suite 803 U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Washington, DC 20004 Twin Cities Ecological Services Office 4101 East 80th Street Bloomington, MN 55425

Prairie Island Nuclear Generating Plant, Units 1 and 2 cc:

Terrance Virden Mr. Ronald Johnson, President Midwest Regional Director Prairie Island Indian Community U.S. Bureau of Indian Affairs 5636 Sturgeon Lake Road 1 Federal Drive Welch, MN 55089 Room #550 Fort Snelling, MN 55111 Mr. Kevin Jensvold, Chairman Upper Sioux Community of Minnesota John L. Stine, Division Director P.O. Box 147 Minnesota Department of Health Granite Falls, MN 56241-0147 Environmental Health Division P.O. Box 64975 Jean Stacy, President St. Paul, MN 55164-0975 Lower Sioux Indian Community of Minnesota John Wurst 39527 Res Highway 1 3433 Staehili Park Road P.O. Box 308 Lake City, MN 55041 Morton, MN 56270 Joe Ellingson Joseph Brings Plenty, Chairman 30163 County 2 Blvd. Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe Red Wing, MN 55066 P.O. Box 590 Eagle Battle, SD 57625 Michael McKay Chair, Wacouta Township Lester Thompson, Chairman 30895 Lake View Ave. Crow Creek Sioux Tribal Council Red Wing, MN 55066 P.O. Box 50 Fort Thompson, SD 57339 Elaine and Arlen Diercks Hay Creek Township Joshua Weston, President 33835 Diercks Lane Flandreau Santee Sioux Executive Red Wing, MN 55066 Committee P.O. Box 283 Doub Lansing Flandreau, SD 57028 Maiden Rock Village Hwy. 35 Michael Jandreau, Chairman Maidenrock, WI 54750 Lower Brule Sioux Tribal Council 187 Oyate Circle Matrix Energy Solutions Lower Brule, SD 57548 802 N. Pine Creek Rd.

Maiden Rock, WI 54750 John Yellow Bird Steele, President Oglala Sioux Tribal Council P.O. Box 2070 Pine Ridge, SD 57770

Prairie Island Nuclear Generating Plant, Units 1 and 2 cc:

Rodney Bordeaux, President Robert Cournoyer, Chairman Rosebud Sioux Tribal Council Yankton Sioux Tribal Business & Claims P.O. Box 430 Committee Rosebud, SD 57570 P.O. Box 248 Marty, SD 57361-0248 Roger Trudell, Chairman Santee Sioux Nation Wilfrid Cleveland, President 108 Spirit Lake Avenue West Ho-Chunk Nation Niobrara, NE 68760-7219 W9814 Airport Road P.O. Box 667 Michael Selvage, Sr., Chairman Black River Falls, WI 54615 Sisseton-Wahpeton Oyate of the Lake Traverse Reservation Norman Deschampe, President P.O. Box 509 Minnesota Chippewa Tribe Agency Village, SD 57262 P.O. Box 217 Cass Lake, MN 56633 Myra Pearson, Chairperson Spirit Lake Tribal Council Kevin Leecy, Chairman P.O. Box 359 Bois Forte Reservation Business Fort Totten, ND 58335 Committee P.O. Box 16 Ron His Horse Is Thunder, Chairman Nett Lake, MN 55770 Standing Rock Sioux Tribal Council P.O. Box D Karen R. Diver, Chairwoman Fort Yates, ND 58538 Fond du Lac Reservation Business Committee Marcus D. Wells, Jr., Chairman Fond du Lac Center Three Affiliated Tribes Business Council 1720 Big Lake Road 404 Frontage Road Cloquet, MN 55720 New Town, ND 58763 Norman Deschampe, Chairman David Brien, Chairman Grand Portage Reservation Business Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Committee P.O. Box 900 P.O. Box 428 Belcourt, ND 58316 Grande Portage, MN 55605 Matthew Pilcher, Chairman George Goggleye, Chairman Winnebago Tribal Council Leech Lake Reservation Business 100 Bluff Street Committee P.O. Box 687 6530 U.S. Highway #2 NW Winnebago, NE 68071 Cass Lake, MN 56633

Prairie Island Nuclear Generating Plant, Units 1 and 2 cc:

Melanie A. Benjamin, Chief Executive Gary Wege Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe Indians U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 43048 Oodena Drive Twin Cities Field Office Onamia, MN 56359 4101 American Blvd. E.

Bloomington, MN 55425 Erma Vizenor, Chairwoman White Earth Reservation Business Nick Schaff Committee Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources P.O. Box 418 1300 West Clairemont Ave.

White Earth, MN 56591 Eau Claire, WI 54702 Floyd Jourdain, Chairman Thomas A. Lovejoy Red Lake Band of Chippewa Indians of Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Minnesota Eau Claire, WI 54702 P.O. Box 550 Red Lake, MN 56671 Hazel Hindsley, Chairwoman St. Croix Chipewa Indians of Wisconsin 24663 Angeline Avenue Webster, WI 54893 Mr. Dennis A. Gimmestad Government Programs and Compliance Officer State Historic Preservation Officer Minnesota Historical Society 345 Kellogg Boulevard West Saint Paul, MN 55102-1903 Katrina Kessler Minnesota Pollution Control Agency 520 Lafayette Road N St. Paul, MN 55155-4194 Carol A. Overland Overland Law Office P.O. Box 176 Red Wing, MN 55066 Lea Foushee NAWO P.O. Box 174 Lake Elmo, MN 55042