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Environmental Impact Statement - radioactive monticello

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Description of Site and Environment<br />

Table 2-5.<br />

Threatened or Endangered Terrestrial Species Potentially Occurring in<br />

the Vicinity of Monticello and the Associated Transmission Corridors<br />

Status(a)<br />

Scientific Name Common Name Minnesota U.S.<br />

Birds<br />

Haliaeetus leucocephalus bald eagle SPC T<br />

Lanius ludovicianus loggerhead shrike T<br />

Falco peregrinus peregrine falcon' T<br />

Cygnus buccinator trumpeter swan T<br />

MAMMAL<br />

Canis lupus gray wolf T<br />

REPTILE<br />

Emydoidea blandingii Blanding's turtle T<br />

INSECT<br />

Hesperia uncas Uncas skipper E<br />

PLANT<br />

Scleria triglomerata tall nut-rush E<br />

' 8 IE = endangered, T = threatened, SPC = species of concem, -<br />

= no listing.<br />

The-gray wolf was listed in Minnesota as Federally endangered in 1974 as a result of human<br />

persecution and reduced prey availability. Gray wolves in Minnesota were reclassified from<br />

endangered to threatened in 1978, to allow for special regulation under Section 4(d) of the<br />

Endangered Species Act. Since 1977, gray wolf populations in Minnesota have expanded.<br />

Population recovery goals of 1250 to 1400 individuals have been achieved, with populations at<br />

or above that level since the late 1970s (FWS 2005e). Today, wolves live in areas with higher<br />

road and human densities than previously believed to be suitable for wolf survival. Wolves<br />

continue to disperse to areas in west-central and east-central Minnesota (just north of<br />

Minneapolis/St. Paul), North and South Dakota, and Wisconsin (FWS 2005e). As gray wolf<br />

populations recover, it is likely that they will be within the vicinity of transmission corridors of<br />

interest to the license renewal of Monticello. However, gray wolves have not been sighted in<br />

the Monticello area to date.<br />

The MNDNR has determined that the peregrine falcon (Falco peregrinus), loggerhead shrike<br />

(Lanius ludovicianus), and trumpeter swan (Cygnus buccinator) are known to occur within the<br />

vicinity of Monticello and associated transmission line corridors (MNDR 2004c). All of these<br />

species are listed as threatened by the State of Minnesota. With the installation of a nest box<br />

on the Monticello Off Gas Stack in 1992, peregrine falcons have been breeding successfully at<br />

the site since 1995 (NMC 2005a). The loggerhead shrike, a grassland and open-land species,<br />

is known to occur on site and in the vicinity of Monticello. It has been documented in several<br />

areas along the transmission corridors in Anoka and Sherburne counties (NMC 2005a).<br />

NUREG-1437, Supplement 26 2-28 August 2006 1

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