ML092020070

Comment (2) of Richard C. Nelson on Behalf of the U.S. Dept. of Interior: Fish and Wildlife Service on the Duane Arnold Energy Center License Renewal Application in Linn County, Iowa

ML092020070
Person / Time
Site:	Duane Arnold
Issue date:	05/29/2009
From:	Nelson R US Dept of Interior, Fish & Wildlife Service
To:	David Pelton Division of License Renewal
References
74FR12399 00002
Download: ML092020070 (2)

Text

United States Department of the Interior FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE Rock Island Field Office 1511 47h Avenue Moline, Illinois 61265 Phone: (309) 757-5800 Fax: (309) 757-5807.

May 29, 2009 IN REPLY REFER TO:

FWS/RIFO Mr. David K. Pelton Division of License Renewal Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation Nuclear Regulatory Commission Washington, D.C. 20555-0001

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Dear Mr. Pelton:

rNo This is in response to your letter of May 6, 2009, requesting a list of protected species within the area under evaluation for the Duane Arnold Energy Centerlicense renewal. application in Linn County, Iowa.

To facilitate compliance with. Section 7(c)of the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended, Federal agencies. are required to obtain from the U.S., Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) information concerning any species, listed or proposed to be listed, which may be present in the area of a proposed action. Therefore, we are providing the following list' of threatened and endangered species that may, occur in the county of the proposed actions...

Classification Threatened Threatened Common Name (Scientific-Name)

Prairie Bush Clover (Lespedeza leptostachyaJh Western Prairie Fringed Orchid (Platantherapraeiara)

Habitat' Dry to mesic prairies with gravelly soil.

Wet to mesic grasslands.

In addition, there have been recent efforts by the Service;and the Iowa Department of Natural Resources to restore the endangered HigginG eye pearly mussel' to the Cedar River, :downstream of the project area. Target release areas and: future plans for Higgins eye recovery in the area can be provided upon request, and we recommend that the Nuclear Regulatory Commission evaluate existing and potential project impacts to local waterresources in relation to this recovery effort.

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The project area is within the documented range of numerous species that are protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty act and/or have been identified by the Service as Resource Conservation Priorities (http://www.fws.gov/Midwest/EcosystemConservation/conservation species.html). At a minimum, project evaluations should contain delineations of whether or not habitat for these species occurs within project boundaries or will be affected by project operations, particularly electrical transmission lines.

Finally, the proximity of the project area to the Cedar River provides a unique opportunity to augment local fish and wildlife resources through habitat restoration and environmentally friendly project operations. The Service would be pleased to provide information and assistance to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission and/or their representative during the relicensing process to develop ways to minimize project impacts to these resources and facilitate habitat restoration within the scope of the project.

This letter provides technical assistance and comments under the authority of and in accordance with provisions of the Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act (48 Stat. 401, as amended; 16 U.S.C.

661 et seq.); and the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (87 Stat. 884, as amended; 16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq).

If you have any questions regarding our comments or would like to arrange a meeting, please contact Amber Andress of my staff at (309) 757-5800 x 222.

Sincerely, Richard C. Nelson Field Supervisor S:\\Office Users\\Amber\\Technical Assistance

\\Duane Arnold Nuclear License Renewal, 5-27-09