ML063450288

Diablo Canyon Power Plant, Units 1 and 2, and San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station, Units 2 and 3 - Biological Opinion and Incidental Take Statement for the Continued Operation of the (TAC Nos. MC7558, MC7559, MC7556, and MC7557) - Letter

ML063450288
Person / Time
Site:	Diablo Canyon, San Onofre
Issue date:	12/20/2006
From:	Terao D NRC/NRR/ADRO/DORL/LPLIV
To:	Keenan J S, Rosenblum R M 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, 2006Mr. John S. KeenanSenior Vice President and Chief Nuclear Officer Pacific Gas and Electric Company Diablo Canyon Power Plant P.O. Box 770000 San Francisco, CA 94177-0001Mr. Richard M. RosenblumSenior 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 THECONTINUED 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 SystemAccession 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 Association's 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 likelyjeopardize 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-2-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 />, thelicensees 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 301-415-1480or via e-mail at NXK@nrc.gov. Sincerely,/RA/David Terao, ChiefPlant Licensing Branch IV Division of Operating Reactor Licensing Office of Nuclear Reactor RegulationDocket 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 letterOFFICENRR/LPL4/PMNRR/LPL4/PMNRR/LPL4/LANRR/DLR/REBA*NRR/LPL4/BCNAMENKalyanamAWangLFeizollahiEBennerDTerao DATE12/19/0612/20/0612/18/0611/28/0612/20/06 March 2006Diablo Canyon Power Plant, Units 1 and 2 cc:NRC Resident Inspector Diablo Canyon Power Plant c/o U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission P.O. Box 369 Avila Beach, CA 93424Sierra Club San Lucia ChapterATTN: Andrew Christie P.O. Box 15755 San Luis Obispo, CA 93406Ms. Nancy CulverSan Luis Obispo Mothers for Peace P.O. Box 164 Pismo Beach, CA 93448ChairmanSan Luis Obispo County Board of Supervisors 1055 Monterey Street, Suite D430 San Luis Obispo, CA 93408Mr. Truman BurnsMr. Robert Kinosian California Public Utilities Commission 505 Van Ness, Room 4102 San Francisco, CA 94102Diablo Canyon Independent Safety Committee ATTN: Robert R. Wellington, Esq.

Legal Counsel 857 Cass Street, Suite D Monterey, CA 93940Regional Administrator, Region IVU.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Harris Tower & Pavillion 611 Ryan Plaza Drive, Suite 400 Arlington, TX 76011-8064Richard F. Locke, Esq.Pacific Gas & Electric Company P.O. Box 7442 San Francisco, CA 94120City EditorThe Tribune 3825 South Higuera Street P.O. Box 112 San Luis Obispo, CA 93406-0112Director, Radiologic Health BranchState Department of Health Services P.O. Box 997414, MS 7610 Sacramento, CA 95899-7414Mr. James D. Boyd, CommissionerCalifornia Energy Commission 1516 Ninth Street (MS 31)

Sacramento, CA 95814Mr. James R. Becker, Vice PresidentDiablo Canyon Operations and Station Director Diablo Canyon Power Plant P.O. Box 56 Avila Beach, CA 93424Jennifer TangField Representative United States Senator Barbara Boxer 1700 Montgomery Street, Suite 240 San Francisco, CA 94111 March 2006San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station Units 2 and 3 cc:Mr. Daniel P. Breig Southern California Edison Company San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station P.O. Box 128 San Clemente, CA 92674-0128Mr. Douglas K. Porter, EsquireSouthern California Edison Company 2244 Walnut Grove Avenue Rosemead, CA 91770Mr. David Spath, ChiefDivision of Drinking Water and Environmental Management P.O. Box 942732 Sacramento, CA 94234-7320Chairman, Board of SupervisorsCounty of San Diego 1600 Pacific Highway, Room 335 San Diego, CA 92101Mark L. ParsonsDeputy City Attorney City of Riverside 3900 Main Street Riverside, CA 92522Mr. Gary L. Nolff Assistant Director - Resources City of Riverside 3900 Main Street Riverside, CA 92522Regional Administrator, Region IVU.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission 611 Ryan Plaza Drive, Suite 400 Arlington, TX 76011-8064Mr. Michael R. OlsonSan Diego Gas & Electric Company 8315 Century Park Ct. CP21G San Diego, CA 92123-1548Director, Radiologic Health BranchState Department of Health Services P.O. Box 997414, MS 7610 Sacramento, CA 95899-7414Resident Inspector/San Onofre NPS c/o U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Post Office Box 4329 San Clemente, CA 92674Mayor City of San Clemente 100 Avenida Presidio San Clemente, CA 92672Mr. James T. Reilly Southern California Edison Company San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station P.O. Box 128 San Clemente, CA 92674-0128Mr. James D. Boyd, CommissionerCalifornia Energy Commission 1516 Ninth Street (MS 31)

Sacramento, CA 95814Mr. Ray Waldo, Vice PresidentSouthern California Edison Company San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station P.O. Box 128 San Clemente, CA 92764-0128Mr. Brian KatzSouthern California Edison Company San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station P.O. Box 128 San Clemente, CA 92764-0128Mr. Steve HsuDepartment of Health Services Radiologic Health Branch MS 7610, P.O. Box 997414 Sacramento, CA 95899Mr. A. Edward SchererSouthern California Edison Company San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station P.O. Box 128 San Clemente, CA 92674-0128