ML063450288

Biological Opinion and Incidental Take Statement for the Continued Operation of the (TAC Nos. MC7558, MC7559, MC7556, and MC7557) - Letter to Licensees

ML063450288
Person / Time
Site:	Diablo Canyon, San Onofre
Issue date:	12/20/2006
From:	Terao D NRC/NRR/ADRO/DORL/LPLIV
To:	Keenan J, Rosenblum R Pacific Gas & Electric Co, Southern California Edison Co
Kalynanam N, NRR/DORL/LP4, 415-1480
Shared Package
ML063450279	List: ML063450288
References
TAC MC7556, TAC MC7557, TAC MC7558, TAC MC7559
Download: ML063450288 (5)

Text

December 20, 2006 Mr. John S. Keenan Senior Vice President and Chief Nuclear Officer Pacific Gas and Electric Company Diablo Canyon Power Plant P.O. Box 770000 San Francisco, CA 94177-0001 Mr. Richard M. Rosenblum Senior Vice President and Chief Nuclear Officer Southern California Edison Company San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station P.O. Box 128 San Clemente, CA 92674-0128

SUBJECT:

BIOLOGICAL OPINION AND INCIDENTAL TAKE STATEMENT FOR THE CONTINUED OPERATION OF THE DIABLO CANYON POWER PLANT AND SAN ONOFRE NUCLEAR GENERATING STATION (TAC NOS. MC7558, MC7559, MC7556, AND MC7557)

Gentlemen:

Enclosed is the Biological Opinion (Agencywide Documents Access and Management System Accession No. ML063000348) on the effects of the continued operation of the Diablo Canyon Power Plant, Units 1 and 2 (DCPP), and the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station, Units 2 and 3 (SONGS), on threatened and endangered species, as prepared by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Associations National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) on September 18, 2006, in accordance with Section 7 of the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.). This Opinion is based on the Biological Assessments for the DCPP (submitted by the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) on May 10, 2005) and SONGS (submitted by the NRC on May 20, 2005), as well as other sources.

According to the Biological Opinion, the continued operation of DCPP and SONGS will not likely jeopardize Federally-listed green sea turtles (Chelonia mydas), leatherback sea turtles (Dermochelys coriacea), loggerhead sea turtles (Caretta caretta), and olive ridley sea turtles (Lepidochelys olivacea). NMFS included in the Biological Opinion an Incidental Take Statement (ITS). For both DCPP and SONGS, there is an estimated take level through 2026 of three turtles for each of the three species (leatherback, loggerhead, and olive ridley) of sea turtle.

The estimated take level through 2026 for the green sea turtle is 15 turtles for DCPP and 34 turtles for SONGS. Mortality and serious injury estimates are also provided.

J. Keenan and R. Rosenblum Because the licensees are required to report all sea turtle takes to NMFS within 48 hours5.555556e-4 days <br />0.0133 hours <br />7.936508e-5 weeks <br />1.8264e-5 months <br />, the licensees must also report such takes to the NRC per 10 CFR 50.72(b)(2)(xi). The ITS describes reasonable and prudent measures that must be undertaken by DCPP and SONGS, including the implementation of a NMFS-approved program to minimize the incidental take of sea turtles. In addition, the ITS specifies the terms and conditions that must be undertaken, which include attendance at a training session conducted by NMFS.

If you have any questions, please contact N. Kaly Kalyanam, Project Manager, at 301-415-1480 or via e-mail at NXK@nrc.gov.

Sincerely,

/RA/

David Terao, Chief Plant Licensing Branch IV Division of Operating Reactor Licensing Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation Docket Nos. 50-275, 50-323, 50-361, and 50-362

Enclosure:

Biological Opinion cc w/o encl: See next page

Package ML063450279 (Letter - ML063450288, Enclosure - ML063000348) *No Changes from staff provided letter OFFICE NRR/LPL4/PM NRR/LPL4/PM NRR/LPL4/LA NRR/DLR/REBA* NRR/LPL4/BC NAME NKalyanam AWang LFeizollahi EBenner DTerao DATE 12/19/06 12/20/06 12/18/06 11/28/06 12/20/06 Diablo Canyon Power Plant, Units 1 and 2 cc:

NRC Resident Inspector Richard F. Locke, Esq.

Diablo Canyon Power Plant Pacific Gas & Electric Company c/o U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission P.O. Box 7442 P.O. Box 369 San Francisco, CA 94120 Avila Beach, CA 93424 City Editor Sierra Club San Lucia Chapter The Tribune ATTN: Andrew Christie 3825 South Higuera Street P.O. Box 15755 P.O. Box 112 San Luis Obispo, CA 93406 San Luis Obispo, CA 93406-0112 Ms. Nancy Culver Director, Radiologic Health Branch San Luis Obispo State Department of Health Services Mothers for Peace P.O. Box 997414, MS 7610 P.O. Box 164 Sacramento, CA 95899-7414 Pismo Beach, CA 93448 Mr. James D. Boyd, Commissioner Chairman California Energy Commission San Luis Obispo County 1516 Ninth Street (MS 31)

Board of Supervisors Sacramento, CA 95814 1055 Monterey Street, Suite D430 San Luis Obispo, CA 93408 Mr. James R. Becker, Vice President Diablo Canyon Operations Mr. Truman Burns and Station Director Mr. Robert Kinosian Diablo Canyon Power Plant California Public Utilities Commission P.O. Box 56 505 Van Ness, Room 4102 Avila Beach, CA 93424 San Francisco, CA 94102 Jennifer Tang Diablo Canyon Independent Safety Field Representative Committee United States Senator Barbara Boxer ATTN: Robert R. Wellington, Esq. 1700 Montgomery Street, Suite 240 Legal Counsel San Francisco, CA 94111 857 Cass Street, Suite D Monterey, CA 93940 Regional Administrator, Region IV U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Harris Tower & Pavillion 611 Ryan Plaza Drive, Suite 400 Arlington, TX 76011-8064 March 2006

San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station Units 2 and 3 cc:

Mr. Daniel P. Breig Director, Radiologic Health Branch Southern California Edison Company State Department of Health Services San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station P.O. Box 997414, MS 7610 P.O. Box 128 Sacramento, CA 95899-7414 San Clemente, CA 92674-0128 Resident Inspector/San Onofre NPS Mr. Douglas K. Porter, Esquire c/o U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Southern California Edison Company Post Office Box 4329 2244 Walnut Grove Avenue San Clemente, CA 92674 Rosemead, CA 91770 Mayor Mr. David Spath, Chief City of San Clemente Division of Drinking Water and 100 Avenida Presidio Environmental Management San Clemente, CA 92672 P.O. Box 942732 Sacramento, CA 94234-7320 Mr. James T. Reilly Southern California Edison Company Chairman, Board of Supervisors San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station County of San Diego P.O. Box 128 1600 Pacific Highway, Room 335 San Clemente, CA 92674-0128 San Diego, CA 92101 Mr. James D. Boyd, Commissioner Mark L. Parsons California Energy Commission Deputy City Attorney 1516 Ninth Street (MS 31)

City of Riverside Sacramento, CA 95814 3900 Main Street Riverside, CA 92522 Mr. Ray Waldo, Vice President Southern California Edison Company Mr. Gary L. Nolff San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station Assistant Director - Resources P.O. Box 128 City of Riverside San Clemente, CA 92764-0128 3900 Main Street Riverside, CA 92522 Mr. Brian Katz Southern California Edison Company Regional Administrator, Region IV San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission P.O. Box 128 611 Ryan Plaza Drive, Suite 400 San Clemente, CA 92764-0128 Arlington, TX 76011-8064 Mr. Steve Hsu Mr. Michael R. Olson Department of Health Services San Diego Gas & Electric Company Radiologic Health Branch 8315 Century Park Ct. CP21G MS 7610, P.O. Box 997414 San Diego, CA 92123-1548 Sacramento, CA 95899 Mr. A. Edward Scherer Southern California Edison Company San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station P.O. Box 128 San Clemente, CA 92674-0128 March 2006