ML082470303
| ML082470303 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Prairie Island  |
| Issue date: | 08/13/2008 |
| From: | Sullins T US Dept of Interior, Fish & Wildlife Service |
| To: | Rani Franovich License Renewal Projects Branch 2 |
| References | |
| Download: ML082470303 (2) | |
Text
United States Department of the Interior FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE Twin Cities Field Office
. 4101 American Blvd E.
Bloomington, Minnesota 55425-1665 August 13, 2008 Mr. Rani Franovich Branch Chief U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Co'"mission Projects Branch 2 Division of License Renewal Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
.Washington, D.C. 20555-0001
Subject:
Request for list of federally protected species within the area under evaluation for the Prairie Island Nuclear Generating Plant, Units 1 and 2, license renewal application review.
This concerns your July 22, 2008, letter requesting a list of federally threatened and endangered species from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service that may occur in the vicinity of the Prairie Island Nuclear Generating Plant near Red Wing in Goodhue County, Minnesota.
The following federally-listed endangered (E) speciesis present in this portion of the Upper Mississippi River:
Species Scientific Name Habitat Higgins eye pearly Lampsilis higginsii Mississippi River mussel (E)
There is no designated critical habitat for the above species, nor any candidate species listed for Goodhue County. Sturgeon Lake, located upstream from the Prairie Island Nuclear Generating Plant, is a Population Establishment Site for Higgins eye. The St.
Paul District Corps of Engineers in association with the interagency Mussel Coordination Team has placed several thousand Higgins eye in Sturgeon Lake to establish a viable population. They are also using Sturgeon Lake to. propagate Higgins eye in cages for use in.establishing additional populations in Minnesota, Wisconsin and Iowa. Additional information on these activities can be obtained at the following website:
http://www.mnvp.usace.army. mil/environment/default. asp?pageid=66 3.
In accoi-dance withSection 7(c) of the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended, it is the responsibility of the Federal agency to determine if its actions "may affect" listed
/7 species or critical habitat. We recommend that your assessment of project effects on federally-listed species be included in any environmental documentation required for the proposed license renewal.
We also recommend that you contact the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources concerning any state-listed species which may occur within the vicinity of the project.
We appreciate the opportunity to comment and look forward to working with you in the future. If you have questions regarding our comments, please call Mr. Gary Wege of my staff at (612)725-3548, extension 207.
Si cerely, Snl
\\ony Su ns Field Supervisor:
cc: Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, St. Paul, MN
....Prairie Islaid. Indian Com*mounity, Red Wing, MN