ML17209A671

Advises That NRC Must Provide Biological Assessment for Endangered Species Which Are Likely to Be Affected by Const Projects.Consultation May Be Required If Proposed Actions May Affect Listed Species or Critical Habitat

ML17209A671
Person / Time
Site:	Saint Lucie
Issue date:	02/24/1981
From:	HANKLA D J INTERIOR, DEPT. OF, FISH & WILDLIFE SERVICE
To:	YOUNGBLOOD B J Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
References
NUDOCS 8102270646
Download: ML17209A671 (6)

Text

+gHsoc>rrWVl0ssUnitedStatesDepartment oftheInteriorFISHANDWILDLIFESERVICEISNORTHLAURASTREETJACKSONVILLE, F'LORIDA32202~eIsJIQk~+lao~'~l~February24,1981B.J,~Youngblood, Chief@censin'g BranchNo.1NuclearRegulatory Commission Washington, D.C.20555

DearMrYoungblood:

Wehavereviewedtheinformation inyourletterofFebruary12,1981regarding FloridaPowerandLightCompany's St.LuciePlantUnitNo.2,locatedonHutchinson Island,St.LucieCounty,Florida.WehaveassignedLogNo.4-1-81-076 toyourproject,andwerequestthatyourefertothislognumberinfuturecorrespondence.

Itappearsthatsomeendangered speciesmayoccurinthisarea,andtheyarelistedbelow:WestIndianmanatee-Endangered Brownpelican-Endangered Baldeagle-Endangered Leatherback turtle-Endangered Hawksbill turtle-Endangered Loggerhead turtle-Threatened Greenturtle-Endangered Kemp's(Atlantic) ridley-Endangered Americanalligator

-Threatened TheFishandWildlifeServicehasjurisdiction overmarineturtlesonlywhentheyareonland.Inthemarineenvironment, theNationalMarineFisheries Servicehasjurisdiction, andthisagencyshouldbecontacted ifyoubelievetheremaybeanimpact.Section7(c)oftheEndangered SpeciesActof1973,asamendedin1978,requiresFederalagenciestoprovideabiological assessment forthespecieswhicharelikelytobeaffectedbyconstruction projects.

Thebiological assessment shallbecompleted within180daysafterthedateonwhichinitiated (orwithinamutuallyagreedtimeframe),beforeanycontracts forconstruction areenteredinto,andbeforeconstruction isbegun.Wedonotfeelthatwecanadequately assesstheeffectsoftheproposedactiononlistedandproposedspeciesorCriticalHabitat(aslistedintheFederalRegister) withoutacompleteassessment.

Thefollowing information shouldbeincludedintheassessment:

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l.Identification ofthelistedspecies,speciesproposedforlistingandCriticalHabitatdetermined tobepresentwithintheareaaffectedbytheproposal.

2.Description ofthesurveymethodsusedtodetermine presenceoflistedspeciesorspeciesproposedforlistingwithinthearea.3.Description ofanydifficulties encountered inobtaining dataandcompleting proposedstudies.4.Description oftheproposedconstruction projectandassociated activities.

5.Theactualandpotential impactsofprojectorassociated activities onlistedspecies,speciesproposedforlisting,orCriticalHabitat.Inadditiontothedirect(siterelated)impactsofprojectconstruction theBiological Assessment shouldinclude,whenapplicable, description of:A.Impactsassociated withprojectoperation.

B.C.Secondary impactsfromactivities, suchasdevelopment, whichwillbegenerated bytheproposedproject.Thecumulative effectsoftheproposalonthespeciesand/oritsCriticalHabitat.Cumulative effectsaredefinedasthedirectandindirectimpactsoftheFederalactionundercon-sideration coupledwiththeidentifiable effectsofotherreasonably foreseeable actionsoftheFederalagency,otherFederal,Stateandlocalagencies, corporations andindividuals uponaspeciesoritsCriticalHabitat.6.Whereimpactstolistedspecies,speciesproposedforlisting,orCriticalHabitatareidentified, theassessment shouldincludeadiscussion oftheeffortsthatwillbetakentoeliminate, reduce,ormitigateanyadverseeffects.7.Conclusions oftheagencyincluding recommendations regarding furtherstudies.8.Anyotherrelevantinformation.

Shouldyourequireadditional information onthissubject,pleasecontactMr.DonPalmer,Jacksonville.

AreaOffice,15N.LauraStreet,Jacksonville, Florida32202,telephone FTS946-2267or2850.

l11<<t'*4 Afteryouragencyhascompleted andreviewedtheassessment, itisyourresponsibility todetermine iftheproposedaction"mayaffect"anyofthelistedspeciesorCriticalHabitat.Ifthedetermination is"mayaffect,"youarerequiredtoinitiateconsultation byawrittenrequesttotheAreaManager,FishandWildlifeService,15NorthLauraStreet,Jacksonville, Florida32202.Atthattimeyoushouldprovideacopyof'hebiological assessment andanyotherrelevantinformation thatassistedyouinreachingyourconclusion.

Ifthedecisionis"noeffect"con-sultation isnotnecessary, howeveryoumayforwardthisdetermination toourofficeforourconcurrxence.

Ifwedonotagreewithyourdeter-mination, consultation willberequired.

Yourattention isalsodirectedtoSection7(d)oftheEndangered SpeciesAct,asamended,whichunderscores therequirement thattheFederalagencyandthepermitorlicenseapplicant shallnotmakeanyirreversible orirretrievable commitment ofresources duringtheconsultation periodwhichineffectwoulddenytheformulation orimplementation ofreasonable alternatives regarding theiractionsonanyendangered orthreatened species.Weappreciate yourinterestandconcerninthepreservation ofendangered species,andwelookforwardtominimizing thepotential adverseeffectsofthisprojectthroughconsultation.

DonaldJ.HanklaAreaManager 0i'I