ML092170380

Letter from Mary Ann Poole, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission to David Wrona, Response to Request for a List of Protected Species within the Area of Crystal River Unit 3, License Renewal Application Review, Citrus County

ML092170380
Person / Time
Site:	Crystal River
Issue date:	07/22/2009
From:	Poole M State of FL, Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commision
To:	David Wrona License Renewal Projects Branch 2
References
Download: ML092170380 (8)

Text

Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission Commissioners Rodney Barreto Chair Miami Kathy Barco Vice-Chair Jacksonville Ronald M. Bergeron Fort Lauderdale, Richard A. Corbett Tampa Dwight Stephenson Defray Beach Kenneth W. Wright Winter Park Brian S. Yablonski Tallahassee Executive Staff Kenneth D. Haddad Executive Director Nick Wiley Assistanmt Executive Director Karen Ventimiglia Deputy Chief of Staff Office of Planning and Policy Coordination Nancy Linehan Director (850) 487-3794 (850) 410-5265 FAX (850) 410-5272 (850) 922-5679 FAX Managiog fish and wildlife resources for their long-term well-being and the benefit of people.

620 South Meridian Street Tallahassee. Florida 32399-1600 Voice: (850) 488-4676 Hearing/speech impaired:

(800) 955-8771 (T)

(800) 955-8770 )V)

MyFWC.com' July 22, 2009 David J. Wrona, Chief Projects Branch 2 U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission MS 01IEl Division of License Renewal Office of Nuclear Reaction Regulation Washington, DC 20555-0001 Re: Request for a list of protected species within the area under evaluation for the Crystal River Unit 3 Nuclear Generating Plant License Renewal Application Review, Citrus County

Dear Mr. Wrona:

The Division of Habitat and Species Conservation, Habitat Conservation Scientific Services Section, of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) has coordinated our agency's review ofthe referenced License Renewal Application (LRA),

and provides the -following.information. This response is being provided under the provisions of Title.10 of the Code of Federal Regulations Part 51, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission's (NRC) regulation that implements the National Environmental Policy Act of.1969.

Project Description The NRC is reviewing an application submitted by Florida Power Corporation for the renewal of the operating license for Crystal River Unit 3 Nuclear Generating Plant (CR-3). As part of the LRA review, the NRC is preparing a Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS). The SEIS includes an analysis of pertinent environmental issues, including wildlife listed by the State as Endangered, Threatened, or Species of Special Concern:.

CR-3 is located in Citrus County about 35 miles southwest of Ocala, Florida (Attachment 0). The CR-3 site is on the Crystal Bay, a sliallow embayment of the Gulf of Mexico.

The CR-3 site covers approximately 4,738 acres, of which approximately 1 062' acres are occupied by industrial facilities. The remaining acreage consists§-of salt marsh, hardwood hammock forest, pineland, and freshwater swamp.

The Atomic Energy Commission identifies two 500-kilovolt transmission lines that were built to connect CR-3 to the electric grid (Attachment 2)..These two transmission corridors occupy approximately 2,440 acres., :The.Central Florida line is. approximately 53 miles long, terminates at the Central.Florida Substation; and crosses Citrus.. Marion, and Sumter counties.- The Lake Tarpon line, is approximately 81 mJiles long, termina.tes at the Lake TarponSubstation; and crosses-Citrus, Hernando, Pasco, and Pinellas counties.

Both lines are owned and operated by Florida'Power Corporation and.are included in, the LRA review process.

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David J. Wrona Page 2 July 22, 2009, Potentially Affected Resources The NRC has requested information on species listed as Endangered, Threatened, or Species of Special Concern that may be in the vicinity of CR-3 and its.associated transmission line rights-of-way.

Crystal River Unit 3 Nuclear Generating Plant According to our Geographic Information System (GIS) analysis, the Crystal River Unit 3 Nuclear Generating Plant study area contains or falls within:

• Bear Range - Chassahowitzka Subpopulation-Secondary Zones; 0 Priority wetlands for the American alligator, American oystercatcher, Homosassa shrew, Florida black bear, little blue heron, tricolored heron, Marian's marsh wren, Scott's seaside sparrow, brown pelican, gopher frog, and bald eagle; Strategic Habitat Conservation Areas for the bald eagle and Scott's seaside sparrow; 9 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Consultation Area for the Florida scrub-jay and red-cockaded woodpecker;

• Florida Natuial Areas Inventory (FNAI) -Manatee Aggregation Site; FNAI Conservation Lands - Waccasassa Bay Preserve State Park, Crystal River Archeological State-Park, Crystal River Preserve State Park, Felburn Park; Yankeetown Conservation Area, and Marjorie Harris Carr Conservation Area; and FNAI Conservation Needs Under-Represented Natural.Communities: Pine

.flatwoods and sandhill.

4 These habitats support a diverse array of wildlife species including 3 1 that are protected, by state or federallaw.

Potentially'Occurring Listed Fish and Wildlife Species 1-Mile 5-Mile Common Name Scientific Nane Status*

Radius".

Radius:-

Smalltooth sawfish Pristis pectinata FE' IX "'t American alligator Alligator mississippiensis SSC; FT X

Gopher frog Rana capito SSC; X

Gopher tortoise Gophe rus polyphemus ST X

X Hawksbill sea turtle Eretmochelys imbricate,

SE FE X

Eastern indigo snake Drymarchon corais couperi ST; FT X

X Florida pine snake Pituophis melanoleucus mugitus SSC X

Short-tailed snake Stilosoma extenuaiim ST

'X "':t -

Suwannee cooter Pseudemys concinna suwanniensis SSC X

Piping plover Charadrius melodus ST; FT X

X Least tern Sterna antillarum ST X

Bald eagle Haliaeetus leucocephalus Not Listed**

X X

Osprey Pandion haliaetus SSC X

X

David J. Wrona Page 3 July 22, 2009" Peregrine falcon Falco peregrinus SE X

Southeastern American kestrel Falco sparverius paulus ST X

X American oystercatcher Haematopus palliates SSC X

Brown pelican Pelecanus occidentalis SSC X

X Black skimmer Rynchops niger SSC X

Little blue heron Egretta caerulea SSC X

X Snowy egret Egretta thula SSC X

Tricolored heron Egretta tricolor SSC X

White ibis Eudocimus albus SSC X

Florida scrub-jay Aphelocoma coerulescens ST; FT X

Marian's marsh wren Cistothorus palustris marianae SSC X

X Scott's seaside sparrow Ammodramus maritimuspeninsulae SSC X

X Wood stork Mycteria americana SE; FE X

Florida black bear Ursus americanusfloridanus ST X

X Florida manatee Trichechus manatus latirostris SE;FE X

X Florida mouse Podomysfloridanus SSC X

X Homosassa shrew Sorex longirostris eionis SSC X

X Sherman's fox squirrel I Sciurus niger shermani SSC XX

• SSC - Species of Special Concern; ST - State Threatened; SE - State Endangered; FT - Federally Threatened;, FE - Federally Endangered

• • Covered by the federal Bald Eagle. and Golden Eagle Protection Act and the State's Bald Eagle Rule (see http://myfwc.com/docs/Wildl ifeHabitats/EagIe_PlanApril2008. pdf#page= 35).'

Central Florida Transmission Line, Our Geographic Information System (GIS) analysis incorporated 'ahalf-mile buffer study area around the Central Florida line,'and we found that this area contains or falls within:

• 6 Bear Range - Chassahowitzka and Ocala subpopulations-Secondary Zones;

• Priority wetlands for the American alligator,.iimpkin, Homosassashrw, Florida black bear, little blue heron, tr~icolored heron, snowy egret, gopher fr6g, and bald

.eagle;

• Strategic Habitat Conservation -Areas for the bald eagle,.limpkin, sandhill.

communities, and rare plant species; U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Consultation Area for the Florida scrub-jay, snail kite, red-cockaded woodpecker, and Lake Wales Ridge plants; FNAI Conservation Lands - Ventura Ranch, Gum Slough Springs, Ross Prairie State Forest, Halpata Tastanaki Preserve, Withlacoochee State Forest, Potts Preserve, Lake Panasoffkee, and Crystal River Preserve State Park; and FNAI Conservation Needs - Under-Represented Natural Communities: Pine flatwoods, sandhill, and upland hardwood forest.

These habitat's support a diverse array of wildlife species including 204that are' protected by state or federal law..

David J. Wrona Page 4 July 22, 2009 Potentiallv Occurring Listed Wildlife Species Common Name Scientific Name Status*

American alligator Alligator mississippiensis SSC; FT Gopher frog Rana capito SSC Gopher tortoise Gopherus polyphemus ST Eastern indigo snake Drymarchon corais couperi ST; FT Florida pine snake Pituophis melanoleucus mugitus SSC Short-tailed snake Stilosoma extenuatum ST Bald eagle Haliaeetus leucocephalus Not Listed**

Osprey Pandion haliaetus "

SSC Southeastern American kestrel Falco sparverius paulus ST Red-cockaded woodpecker Picoides borealis SSC, FE Limpkin Aramus guarauna SSC Florida sandhill crane.

Grus ca nadensis pratensis.

ST Little blue heron.

Egretta caerulea...

SSC Snowy egret Egretta thula SSC Tricolored heron Egretta tri6olor-Flor'ida:scrub-jay Aphelocoma 6oerulescens ST; FT.

Florida black bear Ursus americanusfioridanus ST Florida mouse Podo'ysflboidanfiU`S`

SSC Homosassa~hrew Sorex longirostris eionis:

SSC Shermr'an's' foi squirrel Sciurus g

hrnani SS"C

• SSC - Spedies of Special Concern:; ST-State'Threafened; SE - State Endangered;,,FT - Federally Threatened; FE - Federally Endangered Covered by the federal Bald Eagle and Golden Eagle Protection Act and the State's Bald Eagle Rule (see httpu://Myfwc'.om/docs/WildlifeHabitats/Eagle_Plan April_2008.'df'#p* e=35)

Lake Tarpon Transmission Line

Our Geographic Information System (GIS) analysis incorporated a half-mile buffer study.

a read around the Lake Tarpon linei and' we found that this area contains or falls 'within:

.Bear Range

- Chassahowitzka SUbpopulati'h-Sedcondary Zones;,

Priority wetlands for the American' a'iligatorz limppkin; Homosassa shrew' Florida.

black bear, little blue her~on; tricolored heron, wood stork, Florida sandhill crane, white ibis, gopher frog' and reddish` egret; Strategic Habitat Conservation"Areas for wading birds and scrub communities; o U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Consultation Area for the Florida scrub-jay and!'-

red-cockaded woodpecker; FNAI ConservatiofiLands Starkey Wilderness Park, B rookerCreek-Preserve, Withlacoochee State Forest, Annutteliga Hammock, Chassahowitzka Wildlife Management Area, and Lake Dan Preserve; and

• FNAI Conservation Needs - Under-Represented Natural Communities: Pine flatwoods, sandhifl, and scrub.

David J. Wrona Page 5 July 22, 2009 These habitats support a diverse array of wildlife species including 24 that are protected by state or federal law.

Potentially Occurring Listed Wildlife Species Common Name Scientific Name Status*

American alligator Alligator mississippiensis SSC; FT Gopher frog Rana capito SSC Gopher tortoise Gopherus polyphemus ST Red rat snake Elaphe guttata

'SSC Eastern indigo snake Drymarchon corais couperi ST; FT Florida pine snake Pituophis melanoleucus mugitus SSC Short-tailed snake Stilosoma extenuatum ST Bald eagle Haliaeetus leucocephalus Not Listed**

Osprey Pandion haliaetus.

I

,1SSC Southeastern American kestrel Falco sparverius paulus ST Red-cockaded woodpecker Picoides borealis SSC, FE Limpkin Aramus guarauna SSC Florida sandhill crane Grus canadensis pratensis ST Little blue heron Egretta caerulea SSC Snowy egret Egretta thula SSC Tricolored heron Egretta'tricolor SSC White ibis' Eudocimus albus SSC Florida scrub-jay Aphe'locoma coerulescens ST; FT Florida burrowing owl Athene cuniculariafloridana SSC Wood stork Mycteria americanIa" SE; FE Florida black bear Urss 'americanusfloridanus ST" Florida mouse I Podomysfloridanus SSC Homosassa shrew Sorex longirostris eionis SSC Sherman's fox squirrel Sciurus niger shermani SSC

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u aIly Threatened-FE - Federally Endangered-

• Covered by the federal Bald Eagle and Golden Eagle Protection Act and the State's Bald Eagle Rule (see http://myfwc.com/docs/WildlifeHabitats/EaglePlan April_2008.pdf #page=35)

Thank you for the opportuniiy to assist in the review of this LRA renewal"process. Ifyou or your staff would like to' coordinate further on the information provided in this letter, please contact me at 850-410-5272 or by email at Ma ryAnn.Poole@m)fwc.com and I-will be glad to make the necessary arrangements. If you have any specific questions 1'

David J. Wrona Page 6 July 22, 2009 regarding our analysis, please contact Luis F. Gonzalez by phone at 863-581-6914 or by email at Luis.Gonzalez@myfwc.com.

Sincerely, Mary Ann Poole Commenting Program Coordinator map/Ig Crystal River Nuclear Plant Unit 3_2251_07-20-09 ENV 1-3-2 cc: Elaine Keegan, NRC (Elaine.Keegan@nrc.gov)

I.I.:

-1,

David J. Wrona Page 7 July 22, 2009.

S.

Crystal River Unit 3 Nuclear Generating Plant Citrus County, Florida

-J Legend C

Eagle Nests Crystal River Plant Boundary I Mile Buffer

-5 Mile Buffer Wdhltacoochee River Chassahowitzka Bear Range Conservation Lands Aquatic Preserves Miles 0

4 8

Habitat ('onsei-Aatioui Scientific Sen-ices

David J. Wrona Page 8 July 22, 2009.

Crystal River Transmission Lines 4v Florida rI Legend 500-Kilovolt Transrassion Lines 4

Scrub Jay Locations Eagle Nests Maiom Rivers

- Conservation Lands I

m RCW Habitat Gopher Tortoise Habitat

-Crystal River Plant Boundary Ctsassahrrltztra Bear RenMiles Ocala BeatRange 0

10 20 Scientifik Set-vices