ML082820414

PINGP Lr - Question from NRC

ML082820414
Person / Time
Site:	Prairie Island
Issue date:	09/10/2008
From:	- No Known Affiliation
To:	Division of License Renewal
References
Download: ML082820414 (3)

Text

PrairieIslandNPEm Resource From: Gary_Wege@fws.gov Sent: Wednesday, September 10, 2008 11:25 AM To: Elizabeth Wexler; daniel.e.kelner@mvp02.usace.army.mil; dennis.d.anderson@mvp02.usace.army.mil Cc: Dennis Logan; Nathan Goodman

Subject:

Re: question from NRC Elizabeth:

I'm out a bunch the next couple weeks so thought I'd beam this. Suggest you contact Dan Kelner or Dennis Anderson (St. Paul District Corps of Engineers) as they are in charge of the COE Higgins eye relocation project and can beam you any maps/data/etc on the Sturgeon Lake Population Establishment Site. Mike Davis, MNDNR, has mussel survey data from this location. Will beam this to them as a head up in case you need any additional information.

COE with help from the interagency Mussel Coordination Team picked this spot (Sturgeon Lake) because zebra mussels are not a threat to native mussels at this time and it has a decent native mussel community indicating good environmental conditions and available host fish. I can't speak for everyone but I did not anticipate any impacts from the existing nuke downstream of Sturgeon Lake affecting the successful establishment of a population of Higgins eye at this location. Adult female Higgins eye (and some other species) use a lure to entice a host fish (i.e. walleye, large and smallmouth bass) into close proximity for infestation of their glochidia which must attach the gills of the host fish. Host fish are inoculated by Higgins eye after they strike their lure so there is not a drift of viable Higgins eye glochidia in the water column infesting host fish that anyone is aware of. Higgins eye glochidia transform on the gills of the host fish in approximately 3 weeks and fall to the river bottom.

Transformers are heavier than water and sink to the bottom. So I would not anticipate a drift of viable Higgins eye glochidia or transformed juveniles getting into the power plant under existing conditions.

I do not forsee impacts to native mussels in general, or Higgins eye in particular, from relicensing the existing nuke unless something changes drastically over existing conditions (i.e. intake flows, water temperature, discharge plume). Of course, that's just my personal opinion and NRC needs to make their own determination with regards to relicensing impacts on Higgins eye and other fauna.

Take Care!

Gary Elizabeth Wexler

<Elizabeth.Wexler

@nrc.gov> To "gary_wege@fws.gov" 09/02/2008 01:20 <gary_wege@fws.gov>

PM cc Nathan Goodman

<Nathan.Goodman@nrc.gov>, Dennis Logan <Dennis.Logan@nrc.gov>

Subject question from NRC 1

Hi Gary, We met at the Prairie Island environmental site audit. I was hoping that we could have a quick phone call sometime this week or the next about the site selection for the Higgins Eye relocation plan.

Thanks so much, Liz Wexler Elizabeth Wexler, Aquatic Ecologist Environmental Review Branch Department of License Renewal U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (301) 415-1522 2

Hearing Identifier: Prairie_Island_NonPublic Email Number: 65 Mail Envelope Properties (OF612F787A.A101BD78-ON862574C0.00504C4D-862574C0.0054ACB5)

Subject:

Re: question from NRC Sent Date: 9/10/2008 11:24:56 AM Received Date: 9/10/2008 11:24:57 AM From: Gary_Wege@fws.gov Created By: Gary_Wege@fws.gov Recipients:

"Dennis Logan" <Dennis.Logan@nrc.gov>

Tracking Status: None "Nathan Goodman" <Nathan.Goodman@nrc.gov>

Tracking Status: None "Elizabeth Wexler" <Elizabeth.Wexler@nrc.gov>

Tracking Status: None "daniel.e.kelner@mvp02.usace.army.mil" <daniel.e.kelner@mvp02.usace.army.mil>

Tracking Status: None "dennis.d.anderson@mvp02.usace.army.mil" <dennis.d.anderson@mvp02.usace.army.mil>

Tracking Status: None Post Office: fws.gov Files Size Date & Time MESSAGE 3212 9/10/2008 11:24:57 AM Options Priority: Standard Return Notification: No Reply Requested: No Sensitivity: Normal Expiration Date:

Recipients Received: