ML072000450

Letter from National Marine Fisheries Service (Nmfs) in Response to Hope Creek EPU Efh Assessment

ML072000450
Person / Time
Site:	Hope Creek
Issue date:	07/13/2007
From:	Colosi P D US Dept of Commerce, National Marine Fisheries Service, US Dept of Commerce, National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration
To:	Benner E J NRC/NRR/ADRO/DLR/REBA
References
Download: ML072000450 (1)

Text

0, or% UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE SNational Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

• j NATIONAL MARINE FISHERIES SERVICE NORTHEAST REGION One Blackburn Drive oqm. Gloucester, MA 01930-2298 JUL 13 2007 Mr. Eric Benner Branch Chief, Environmental Branch A Division of License Renewal Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Washington, D.C. 20555-0001

Dear Mr. Benner:

--We have reviewed the Hope Creek Extended Power Uprate Essential Fish Habitat Asessment, dated June 14, 2007, for the Hope Creek Generating Station on Artificial Island in Lower Alloways Creek Township, New Jersey, adjacent to the Delaware Estuary We find that this EFH assessment satisfactorily describes the potential impacts of uprating the generating plant from a capacity to produce 3,339 megawatts to produce up to 3,952 megawatts.

And because the Hope Creek Generating Station operates with closed cycle cooling, we agree with the document's conclusion that closed cycle cooling systems are the most reasonable way to reduce aquatic organism loss through entrainment and impingnent, and offer ng conservation recommendations.

However, we note on page 14 of the docuient, under the section "6.0 Mitigation Measures," the statement "Continuous operation of'the traveling screens may reduce the mortality of those organisms that are impinged." We agree with this statement, but note that the first paragraph of page 6 verifies that the traveling screens do not operate continuously.

Within the limits of practical and technical feasibility, we recommend that the traveling screens be in operation-as much as possible.Thank you for the opportunity to comment. If 'you have further questions or comments, please contact Stan Gorski, stationed at the James J. Howard Marine Sciences Laboratory in Highlands, New Jersey, at 732-872-3037.

Sincerely, Peter D, Colosi, Jr Assistant Regional Administrator..

S-, .: .Habitat Cnservation Division .* " * "+I... ..