ML062420111

Enclosure to Letter, Biological Opinion Regarding American Crocodiles at Turkey Point Nuclear Plant

ML062420111
Person / Time
Site:	Turkey Point
Issue date:	08/01/2006
From:	Souza P US Dept of Interior, Fish & Wildlife Service
To:	Gillespie F Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
Moroney B, NRR/DORL, 415-3974
Shared Package
ML062420003	List: ML062420002 ML062420111
References
TAC MC9679, TAC MC9680
Download: ML062420111 (2)

Text

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- United States Department of the Interior FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE South Florida Ecological Services Office

~~1339 20"h Street "

Vero Beach, Florida 32960 August 1, 2006 Frank Gillespie Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Mail Stop 0-1 FI Washington, D.C. 20555-0001 Service Federal Activity Code: 41420-2006-FA-0478

... Service Cnnrsultation.Code: .41420-2006-F-0125 ...

Project: Renewal of Operating Licenses for the Nuclear-Powered Generating Units at the Turkey Point Power Plant Applicant: Florida Power and Light County: Miami-Dade

Dear Mr. Gillespie:

This letter responds to your letter dated June 29, 2006, requesting the Fish and Wildlife Service (Serviee) reinitiate consultation and amend the biological opinion (BO) for the endangered American croco.dile (Crocodyl's aicutus) (Service Consultation C6de 41420-2006-F-0125) dated May 5,2006. This biological opinion relates to the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission's (NRC) renewal of operating licenses for the two nuclear-powered generating units located at the Turkey Point Power Plant in Miami-Dade County. The licenses were renewed for a period of 20 years on.June 6, 2002. The Turkey Point Power Plant is operated by Florida Power and Light (FPL) and the site is located on the shores of Biscayne Bay in Sections 27, 28, 29, 31, 32, 33, and 34, Township 57 South, Range 40 East in Miami-Dade County Florida.

On page 14 of the May 5, 2006, 1O, the Service anticipated the operation of the Turkey Point Power Plant would result ihn the incidentai take of one American crocodile every.5 years as a result of the proposed action. The incidental take is expected to be in the form of accidental direct mortality resulting from the ongoing operations at ttie Turkey Point Power Plant site, and the Service determined this level of anticipated take is not likely to result in jeopardy to the species. On May 27, 2006, an American crocodile, approximately 3 feet in total length, was hit and unintentionally killed by a security vehicle on Bechtel Road near the test canals at the Turkey Point Power Plant site. The security vehicle was conducting a routine patrol of the area and the crocodile apparently ran out in front of the vehicle. To minimize the likelihood of future incidental take.of the American crocodile on the Turkey Point Power Plant site, FPL has reduced the.speed limit.ion Bechtel Road to 5.miles per hour. Based on this protection measure, the NRC fias requested the Service adjust the am ouht of incidenial t-tke allowed'under the May.53 2006, 130.. . ...

TAKE PRIDE5 INAMERICA1 ,

Enclosure

The Service believes the proposed measures by FPL will minimize the potential for the ongoing operations of the Turkey Point Power Plant to result in the incidental take of the American crocodile. Therefore, we have modified the section of the May 5, 2006, BO entitled "AMOUNT OR EXTENT OF TAKE ANTICIPATED" as follows,(changes to the original document are indicated in bold type):

The Service anticipates the incidental take of two American crocodiles from May 5, 2006, through May 4,2011, and thereafter one American crocodile per year as a result of the proposed action. The incidental take is expected to be in the form of accidental direct mortality resulting from the ongoing operations at the Turkey Point Power Facility site. The action will not result in the loss of additional habitat for the American crocodile. In the accompanying biological opinion, the Service determined this level of anticipated take is not likely to result

........ _-- in jeopardy to -the species: .

The Service also adds the following item to the section of the May 5, 2006, BO entitled "TERMS AND CONDITIONS:"

5. The applicant must install four speed limit signs labeled as "Speed Limit 5 MPH" along Bechtel Road near the test canals on the Turkey Point Power Plant site. The signs wvill be installed at approxiniately 500-foot intervals.

As of the date of this letter, the Service's May 5, 2006, Biological Opinion for the NRC's renewal of operating licenses for the two nuclear-powered generating units located at the Turkey Point Power Plant in Miami-Dade County is amended to include the changes indicated in the "AMOUNT OR EXTENT OF TAKE ANTICIPATED" and the addition of item number 5 to the "TERMS AND CONDITIONS" as listed above. All other components of the biological opinion remain unchanged.

Thank you for your efforts in protecting Florida's listed species. If you have any questions, please contact John Wrublik at 772-562-3909, extension 282.

Sincer yours, P ul ouza Acting Field Supervisor South Florida Ecological Services Office cc:

EPA, West Palm Beach, Florida (Richard Harvey)

FWC, Vero Beach, Florida (Joe Walsh)

District, West Palm Beach (Anita Bain)

Service, Atlanta, Georgia (Dave Flemming) (electronic copy only)

FPL, Juno Beach, Florida (Barbara Linkiewicz) 2