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Environmental Impact Statement - radioactive monticello

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Description of Site and Environment<br />

Furthermore, the Sherco <strong>Environmental</strong> Monitoring and Ecological Studies Program identified<br />

99 avian species over a ten-year monitoring period during breeding season road transects<br />

surveys and in a floodplain near the Monticello site. The most abundant species observed<br />

during these surveys were mourning dove (Zenaida macroura), cliff swallow (Petrochelidon<br />

pyrrhonota), barn swallow (Hirundo rustica), American robin (Turdus migratorius), European<br />

starling (Sturnus vulgaris), vesper sparrow (Pooecetes gramineus), red-winged blackbird<br />

(Agelaius phoeniceus), common grackle (Quiscalus quicula), American goldfinch (Carduelis<br />

tristis), and house sparrow (Passer domesticus). Game species commonly harvested within the<br />

vicinity of Monticello are ruffed grouse (Bonasa umbellus), grey partridge (Perdix perdix) and<br />

ring-necked pheasant (Phasianus colchicus) (NMC 2005a). Waterfowl commonly encountered<br />

along the river shoreline are Canada goose (Branta canadensis), mallard (Anas platyrhynchos),<br />

and wood duck (Aix sponsa). Grassland/woodland ecotone avian species include eastern<br />

meadowlark (Stumella magna), western meadowlark (Stumella neglecta), American robin, blue<br />

jay (Cyanocitta cristata), eastern bluebird (Sialia sialis), northern flicker (Colaptes auratus),<br />

red-tailed hawk (Buteojamaicensis), and American kestrel (Falco sparverius) (NMC 2005a).<br />

Two transmission lines in two corridors that are within scope of the license renewal review<br />

originate from the Monticello site. These are discussed in Section 2.1.7. Major portions of both<br />

corridors pass through rural areas, utilizing railroad.rights-of-way (ROW) and highways where<br />

possible. The Monticello-Coon Creek corridor is predominantly cultivated fields with scattered<br />

forests and some wetlands. The Monticello-Parkers Lake corridor is a mix of agriculture, rural<br />

residential, scattered forests, and wetlands (NMC 2005a). MNDNR identified native plant<br />

communities of significant biodiversity. associated with transmission corridors, as shown in<br />

Table 2-4. The majority of transmission corridors are adjacent to the areas where native plant<br />

communities occur and do not traverse them (NMC 2005a).<br />

There are no Federally designated critical habitats for threatened or endangered species within<br />

the Monticello site or along the associated transmission corridors (FWS 2004b). The FWS has<br />

designated 13 species known to occur in Minnesota as threatened or endangered, and 4<br />

species known to occur in the state have been designated as candidates for such listing.<br />

However, only 2 of these species, the bald eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) and the gray wolf<br />

(Canis lupus) are indicated by the FWS as potentially occurring on or in the vicinity of the site or<br />

transmission lines associated with Monticello (Table 2-5) (FWS 2005c).<br />

The bald eagle, listed as Federally threatened, is known to occur in the vicinity of the Monticello<br />

site. Originally listed as endangered by the FWS in 1967, the bald eagle was down-listed to<br />

threatened in 1995, and is currently proposed for delisting (Hoff mann 2004). The State's first<br />

bald eagle survey in 1973 found 115 active nests; by 1995 the survey found over 600<br />

(NMC 2005a). MNDNR has concluded that Minnesota's bald eagle population is growing slowly<br />

but is at a healthy level (MNDNR 2004b). Bald eagles are typically associated with forested<br />

areas near rivers and lakes where nest sites are readily available near food sources. One nest<br />

site is known to occur just north-northwest of the power block on Beaver Island (NMC 2005a).<br />

One additional nest occurs on a transmission tower on the Monticello-Coon Creek transmission<br />

line.<br />

NUREG-1437, Supplement 26 2-26 August 2006 1

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