Environmental Impact Statement - radioactive monticello

Environmental Impacts of Operation
as concerns that the FWS has regarding those species (FWS 2005). The staff has prepared a
biological assessment (BA) documenting its review of Federally listed threatened or
endangered species at the Monticello site and associated transmission lines and submitted it to
the FWS for concurrence (NRC 2005d).
Table 4-10. Category 2 Issue Applicable to Threatened or Endangered
Species in the Vicinity of Monticello During the License
Renewal Term
ISSUE-i 0 CFR Part 51,
10 CFR
Subpart A, Appendix B,
51.53(c)(3)(ii)
Table B-1 GElS Section Subparagraph SEIS Section
THREATENED OR ENDANGERED SPECIES (FOR ALL PLANTS)
Threatened or endangered 4.1 E 4.6
species
4.6.1 Aquatic Species
The Higgins' eye pearlymussel (Lampsilis higginsih) is the only Federally listed (endangered)
aquatic species reported from the four-county area that includes the Monticello site and its
associated transmission lines (FWS 2005). As discussed in Section 2.2.5, the closest Essential
Habitat Areas for the.Higgins' eye pearlymussel occur in the St. Croix River (RM 811), which
flows into the Mississippi River approximately 89 mi downstream from Monticello (RM 900).
Also, the Higgins' eye pearlymussel is not known to occur further upstream than Pool 2
(RM 848 to RM 815) of the Mississippi River, which is mostly located downstream from the Twin.;
Cities area (Kelner and Davis 2002; Hornbach 2004). Therefore, potential impacts from the
operation of Monticello are too far removed to adversely affect the species. The Monticello
cooling-water intake and discharge are closely monitored under the NPDES program. NPDES
permit limits are reviewed on a regular basis by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency to
ensure the protection of aquatic biota, including fish species that can serve as hosts for the
glochidia of the Higgins' eye pearlymussel.
There are no plans to conduct refurbishment or construction activities at Monticello. Therefore,
the staff has concluded that continued operation of the plant during the license renewal term will
have no effect on the Higgins' eye pearlymussel. Thus, it is the staff's finding, as documented
in its BA (see Appendix E), that the impacts on threatened or endangered aquatic species from
an additional 20 years of operation of Monticello would be SMALL, and additional mitigation is
not warranted.
4.6.2 Terrestrial Species
There are two Federally listed threatened or endangered terrestrial species that have the
potential to occur on or in the vicinity of the Monticello site and its associated transmission lines.
These two species are discussed in Section 2.2.6. One Federally threatened species, the bald
NUREG-1437, Supplement 26 4-42 August 2006 1