81 FR 48851 - Exelon Generation Company, LLC; Braidwood Station, Units 1 and 2
NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 143 (July 26, 2016)
Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 143 (July 26, 2016)
| Page Range | 48851-48857 | |
| FR Document | 2016-17688 |
[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 143 (Tuesday, July 26, 2016)] [Notices] [Pages 48851-48857] From the Federal Register Online [www.thefederalregister.org] [FR Doc No: 2016-17688] ======================================================================= ----------------------------------------------------------------------- NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION [Docket Nos. 50-456 and 50-457; NRC-2016-0147] Exelon Generation Company, LLC; Braidwood Station, Units 1 and 2 AGENCY: Nuclear Regulatory Commission. ACTION: Environmental assessment and finding of no significant impact; issuance. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is considering issuance of amendments to Renewed Facility Operating License Nos. NPF- 72 and NPF-77 issued to Exelon Generation Company, LLC (Exelon, the licensee) for operation of Braidwood Station, Units 1 and 2 (Braidwood), located in Will County, Illinois. The proposed amendments would revise the maximum allowable technical specification (TS) temperature of the ultimate heat sink (UHS) for the plant. The NRC staff is issuing a final environmental assessment (EA) and finding of no significant impact (FONSI) associated with the proposed license amendments. DATES: The environmental assessment and finding of no significant impact referenced in this document is available on July 26, 2016. ADDRESSES: Please refer to Docket ID NRC-2016-0147 when contacting the NRC about the availability of information regarding this document. You may obtain publically-available information related to this document using any of the following methods:Federal Rulemaking Web site: Go to http://www.regulations.gov and search for Docket ID NRC-2016-0147. Address questions about NRC dockets to Carol Gallagher; telephone: 301-415- 3463; email: Carol.Gallagher@nrc.gov. For technical questions, contact the individual listed in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section of this document. NRC's Agencywide Documents Access and Management System (ADAMS): You may obtain publicly available documents online in the ADAMS Public Documents collection at http://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/adams.html. To begin the search, select ``ADAMS Public Documents'' and then select ``Begin Web-based ADAMS Search.'' For problems with ADAMS, please contact the NRC's Public Document Room (PDR) reference staff at 1-800-397-4209, 301-415-4737, or by email to pdr.resource@nrc.gov. The ADAMS accession number for each document referenced (if that document is available in ADAMS) is provided in a table in the ``Availability of Documents'' section of this document. NRC's PDR: You may examine and purchase copies of public documents at the NRC's PDR, Room O1-F21, One White Flint North, 11555 Rockville Pike, Rockville, Maryland 20852. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Joel S. Wiebe, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation; U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, DC 20555-0001; telephone: 301-415-6606; email: Joel.Wiebe@nrc.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: I. Introduction The NRC is considering issuance of amendments to Renewed Facility Operating License Nos. NPF-72 and NPF-77 issued to Exelon for operation of Braidwood located in Will County, Illinois. Exelon submitted its license amendment request in accordance with section 50.90 of title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations (10 CFR), by letter dated August 19, 2014 (ADAMS Accession No. ML14231A902). Exelon subsequently supplemented its request as described under ``Description of the Proposed Action'' in Section II of this document. If approved, the license amendments would increase the allowable TS temperature limit of the cooling water supplied to the plant from the UHS from less than or equal to (<=) 100 degrees Fahrenheit ([deg]F) (37.8 degrees Celsius [[deg]C]) to <=102[emsp14][deg]F (38.9 [deg]C). The NRC staff prepared an EA to document its findings related to the proposed license amendments in accordance with 10 CFR 51.21. Based on results of the EA documented herein, the NRC did not identify any significant environmental impacts associated with the proposed amendments and is, therefore, issuing a FONSI in accordance with 10 CFR 51.32. II. Environmental Assessment Plant Site and Environs Braidwood is located in Will County, Illinois, approximately 50 miles (mi; 80 kilometers [km]) southwest of the [[Page 48852]] Chicago Metropolitan Area and 20 mi (32 km) south-southwest of Joliet. The Kankakee River is approximately 5 mi (8 km) east of the eastern site boundary. An onsite 2,540-acre (ac; 1,030-hectare [ha]) cooling pond provides condenser cooling. Cooling water is withdrawn from the pond through the lake screen house, which is located at the north end of the pond. Heated water returns to the cooling pond through a discharge canal west of the lake screen house intake that is separated from the intake by a dike. The pond typically holds 22,300 acre-feet (27.5 million cubic meters) of water at any given time. The cooling pond includes both ``essential'' and ``non-essential'' areas. The essential cooling pond is the portion of the cooling pond that serves as the UHS for emergency core cooling, and it consists of a 99-ac (40- ha) excavated area of the pond directly in front of the lake screen house. The essential cooling pond's principle functions are to dissipate residual heat after reactor shutdown and to dissipate heat after an accident. It is capable of supplying Braidwood's cooling system with 30 days of station operation without additional makeup water. For clarity, use of the term ``UHS'' in this document refers to the 99-ac (40-ha) essential cooling pond, and use of the term ``cooling pond'' or ``pond'' describes the entire 2,540-ac (1,030-ha) area, which includes both the essential and non-essential areas. The cooling pond is part of the Mazonia-Braidwood State Fish and Wildlife Area, which encompasses the majority of the non-UHS area of the cooling pond as well as Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR)-owned lands adjacent to the Braidwood site to the south and southwest of the cooling pond. Exelon and the IDNR have jointly managed the cooling pond as part of the Mazonia-Braidwood State Fish and Wildlife Area since 1991 pursuant to a long-term lease agreement. Under the terms of the agreement, the public has access to the pond for fishing, waterfowl hunting, fossil collecting, and other recreational activities. The cooling pond is a wastewater treatment works as defined by Section 301.415 of Title 35 of the Illinois Administrative Code (35 IAC 301.415). Under this definition, the cooling pond is not considered waters of the State under Illinois Administrative Code (35 IAC 301.440) or waters of the United States under the Federal Clean Water Act (40 CFR 230.3(s)), and so the cooling pond is not subject to State water quality standards. The cooling pond can be characterized as a managed ecosystem where IDNR fish stocking and other human activities primarily influence the species composition and population dynamics. Since the beginning of the lease agreement between Exelon and IDNR, the IDNR has stocked the cooling pond with a variety of game species, including largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides), smallmouth bass (M. dolomieu), blue catfish (Ictalurus furcatus), striped bass (Morone saxatilis), crappie (Pomoxis spp.), walleye (Sander vitreum), and tiger muskellunge (Esox masquinongy x lucius). IDNR performs annual surveys to determine which fish to stock based on fishermen preferences, fish abundance, different species' tolerance to warm waters, predator and prey dynamics, and other factors. Because of the high water temperatures experienced in the summer months, introductions of warm- water species, such as largemouth bass and blue catfish, have been more successful than introductions of cool-water species, such as walleye and tiger muskellunge. Since annual surveys began in 1980, IDNR has collected 47 species in the cooling pond. In recent years, bluegill (Lepomis macrochirus), channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus), threadfin shad (Dorosoma petenense), and common carp (Cyprinus carpio) have been among the most abundant species in the cooling pond. Gizzard shad (Dorosoma cepedianum), one of the most frequently affected species during periods of elevated pond temperatures, have decreased in abundance dramatically in recent years, while bluegill, which can tolerate high temperatures with relatively high survival, have noticeably increased in relative abundance. IDNR-stocked warm water game species, such as largemouth bass and blue catfish, continue to persist in small numbers, while cooler water stocked species, such as walleye and tiger muskellunge, no longer appear in IDNR survey collections. No Federally-listed species or designated critical habitats protected under the Endangered Species Act occur within or near the cooling pond. The Kankakee River serves as the source of makeup water for the cooling pond. The river also receives continuous blowdown from the cooling pond. Water is withdrawn from a small river screen house located on the Kankakee River, and liquid effluents from Braidwood are discharged into the cooling pond blowdown line, which subsequently discharges into the Kankakee River. The plant site and environs are described in greater detail in Chapter 3 of the NRC's November 2015, Generic Environmental Impact Statement for License Renewal of Nuclear Plants: Regarding Braidwood Station, Units 1 and 2--Final Report (NUREG-1437, Supplement 55) (herein referred to as ``Braidwood FSEIS'' [Final Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement]). Figure 3-5 on page 3-7 of the Braidwood FSEIS depicts the Braidwood plant layout, and Figure 3-4 on page 3-6 depicts the cooling pond, including the portion of the pond that constitutes the essential cooling pond (or UHS) and the blowdown line to the Kankakee River. Description of the Proposed Action The proposed action would increase the allowable TS temperature limit of the cooling water supplied to the plant from the UHS from <=100 [deg]F (37.8 [deg]C) to <=102 [deg]F (38.9 [deg]C). Specifically, the proposed action would amend TS 3.7.9.2, which currently states, ``Verify average water temperature of UHS is <=100 [deg]F.'' Under the current TS, if the average UHS temperature as measured at the discharge of the operating Essential Service Water system pumps is greater than 100 [deg]F (37.8 [deg]C), TS 3.7.9 Required Actions A.1 and A.2 would be entered concurrently and would require the licensee to place Braidwood in hot standby (Mode 3) within 6 hours and cold shutdown (Mode 5) within 36 hours. The proposed action would allow Braidwood to continue to operate during times when the UHS indicated temperature exceeds 100 [deg]F (37.8 [deg]C) but is less than or equal to 102 [deg]F (38.9 [deg]C). The proposed action would not modify the TS Required Actions, Completion Times, Frequency of Surveillance Requirement performance, or any other portion of TS 3.7.9. Therefore, the proposed amendments would require the licensee to place Braidwood in Mode 3 within 6 hours and Mode 5 within 36 hours if the UHS indicated temperature is greater than 102 [deg]F (38.9 [deg]C). The proposed action to amend TS 3.7.9.2 is in accordance with the licensee's application dated August 19, 2014, as supplemented by letters dated January 20, 2015, March 31, 2015, April 30, 2015, August 24, 2015, October 9, 2015, October 30, 2015, November 9, 2015, December 16, 2015, February 12, 2016, April 29, 2016, and June 16, 2016. Need for the Proposed Action The proposed action is needed to provide the licensee with operational flexibility during periods of high UHS temperatures in order to avoid plant shutdown. These conditions include elevated air temperatures, high humidity, and low wind speed. For instance, in July 2012, Exelon requested, [[Page 48853]] and the NRC approved, Enforcement Discretion to avoid plant shutdown and associated transient following unprecedented hot weather and drought conditions in northern Illinois that resulted in the Braidwood average discharge temperature of the essential service water pumps used to monitor compliance with TS 3.7.9.2 to exceed the limit of <=100 [deg]F (37.8 [deg]C). The NRC's Enforcement Discretion allowed Exelon to continue to operate Braidwood with an average UHS water temperature of up to <=102 [deg]F (38.9 [deg]C) for a period of 24 hours before Exelon would be required to place Braidwood in hot standby (Mode 3) in accordance with TS 3.7.9 Required Action A.1. The Enforcement Discretion period extended from July 7, 2012, at 3:56 p.m. until July 8, 2012, 3:56 p.m. During that time, the average UHS water temperature exceeded 100 [deg]F (37.8 [deg]C). Although Exelon did not anticipate making a license amendment request at the time of the NRC's Enforcement Discretion, Exelon is seeking the current license amendments in anticipation of future meteorological conditions that may continue to challenge the current UHS TS temperature limit of <=100 [deg]F (37.8 [deg]C). Environmental Impacts of the Proposed Action With regard to radiological impacts, the proposed action would not result in any changes in the types of radioactive effluents that may be released from the plant offsite. No significant increase in the amount of any radioactive effluent released offsite or significant increase in occupational or public radiation exposure is expected from the proposed action. Separate from this EA, the NRC staff is evaluating the licensee's safety analyses of the potential radiological consequences of an accident that may result from the proposed action. The results of the NRC staff's safety analysis will be documented in a safety evaluation (SE). If the NRC staff concludes in the SE that all pertinent regulatory requirements related to radiological effluents are met by the proposed UHS temperature limit increase, then the proposed action would result in no significant radiological impact to the environment. The NRC staff's SE will be issued with the license amendments, if approved by the NRC. With regard to potential non-radiological impacts, raising the maximum allowable UHS temperature from <=100 [deg]F (37.8 [deg]C) to <=102 [deg]F (38.9 [deg]C) could result in periods of increased cooling pond water temperatures, especially during periods of extreme high air temperatures, high humidity, and low wind. Because the proposed action would not affect Braidwood's licensed thermal power level, the temperature rise across the condensers as cooling water travels through the cooling system would remain constant. Therefore, if water in the UHS were to rise to 102 [deg]F (38.9 [deg]C), heated water returning to the cooling pond through the discharge canal, which lies west of the river screen house, would also experience a corresponding 2 [deg]F (1.1 [deg]C) increase. That additional heat load would dissipate across some thermal gradient as discharged water would travel down the discharge canal and through the 99-ac (40-ha) UHS. Fish kills are likely to occur when cooling pond temperatures rise above 95 [deg]F (35 [deg]C), the temperature at which most fish in the cooling pond are thermally stressed. For example, Section 3.7.4 of the Braidwood FSEIS describes six fish kill events for the period of 2001 through 2015. The fish kill events, which occurred in July 2001, August 2001, June 2005, August 2007, June 2009, and July 2012, primarily affected threadfin shad and gizzard shad, although bass, catfish, carp, and other game fish were also affected. Reported peak temperatures in the cooling pond during these events ranged from 98.4 [deg]F (36.9 [deg]C) to over 100 [deg]F (37.8 [deg]C), and each event resulted in the death of between 700 to as many as 10,000 fish. The event identified in Exelon letter dated April 30, 2014, in which cooling pond temperatures exceeded 100 [deg]F (37.8 [deg]C) occurred on July 7 and 8, 2012, and resulted in the death of approximately 3,000 gizzard shad and 100 bass, catfish, and carp. This event coincided with the NRC's granting of Enforcement Discretion to allow Braidwood to continue to operate above the TS limit of <=100 [deg]F (37.8 [deg]C) as previously described in the ``Need for the Proposed Action'' section of this document. The IDNR attributed this event, as well as four of the other fish kill events, to high cooling pond temperatures resulting from Braidwood operation. Appendix B, Section 4.1 of the Braidwood renewed facility operating licenses, requires Exelon to report to the NRC the occurrence of unusual or important environmental events, including fish kills. Since the issuance of the Braidwood FSEIS in November 2015, Exelon has not reported any additional fish kill events to the NRC. In Section 4.7.1.3 of the Braidwood FSEIS, the NRC staff concluded that thermal impacts associated with continued operation of Braidwood during the license renewal term (i.e., with a UHS TS limit of <=100 [deg]F) would result in SMALL to MODERATE impacts to aquatic resources in the cooling pond. MODERATE impacts would primarily be experienced by gizzard shad and other non-stocked and low-heat tolerant species. As part of its conclusion, the staff also noted that because the cooling pond is a highly managed system, any cascading effects that result from the loss of gizzard shad (such as reduction in prey for stocked species, which in turn could affect those stocked species' populations) could be mitigated through IDNR's annual stocking and continual management of the pond. Regarding the proposed action, the proposed increase in the allowable UHS temperature limit would not increase the likelihood of a fish kill event attributable to high cooling pond temperatures because the current TS limit for the UHS of <=100 [deg]F (37.8 [deg]C) already results in cooling pond temperatures above those at which most fish species are thermally stressed (95 [deg]F (35 [deg]C). In effect, if the UHS temperature rises to the current TS limit, fish within or near the discharge canal, within the flow path between the discharge canal and UHS, or within the UHS itself would have already experienced thermal stress and possibly died. Therefore, an incremental increase in the allowable UHS water temperature by 2 [deg]F (1.1 [deg]C) and the corresponding temperature increases within and near the discharge canal and within the flow path between the discharge canal and UHS would not significantly affect the number of fish kill events experienced in the cooling pond. While the proposed action would not affect the likelihood of a fish kill event occurring during periods when the average UHS water temperature approaches the TS limit, the proposed action could increase the number of fish killed per high temperature event. For fish with thermal tolerances at or near 95 [deg]F (35 [deg]C), there would likely be no significant difference in the number of affected fish per high temperature event because, as already stated, these fish would have already experienced thermal stress and possibly died and the additional temperature increase would not measurably affect the mortality rate of these individuals. For fish with thermal tolerances above 95 [deg]F (35 [deg]C), such as bluegill, increased mortality is possible, as described below. The available scientific literature provides conflicting information to support a clear determination of whether the incremental increase of 2 [deg]F (1.1 [deg]C) would result in a subsequent increase in the mortality rate of bluegill or other high-temperature-tolerant fish [[Page 48854]] at temperatures exceeding 100 [deg]F (37.8 [deg]C). For instance, in laboratory studies, Banner and Van Arman (1973) demonstrated 85 percent survival of juvenile bluegill after 24 hours of exposure to 98.6 [deg]F (37.0 [deg]C) water for stock acclimated to 91.2 [deg]F (32.9 [deg]C). At 100.0 [deg]F (37.8 [deg]C), survival decreased to 25 percent, and at 100.4 [deg]F (38.0 [deg]C) and 102.0 [deg]F (38.9 [deg]C), no individuals survived. Even at one hour of exposure to 102.0 [deg]F (38.9 [deg]C) water, average survival was relatively low at between 40 to 67.5 percent per replicate. However, in another laboratory study, Cairns (1956 in Banner and Van Arman 1973) demonstrated that if juvenile bluegill were acclimated to higher temperatures at 3.6 [deg]F (2.0 [deg]C) per day, individuals could tolerate water temperatures up to 102.6 [deg]F (39.2 [deg]C) with 80 percent survival after 24 hours of exposure. Although these studies provide inconsistent thermal tolerance limits, information from past fish kill events indicates that Cairns' results better describe the cooling pond's bluegill population because Exelon has not reported bluegill as one of the species that has been affected by past high temperature events, including the July 2012 event during which the cooling pond exceeded 100 [deg]F (37.8 [deg]C). Therefore, bluegill are likely acclimating to temperature rises at a rate that allows those individuals to remain in high temperature areas until temperatures decrease or that allows individuals time to seek refuge in cooler areas of the pond. Alternately, if Banner and Van Arman's results were more predictive, 75 percent or more of bluegill individuals in high temperature areas of the cooling pond could be expected to die at temperatures approaching or exceeding 100 [deg]F (37.8 [deg]C) for 24 hours, and shorter exposure time would likely result in the death of some reduced percentage of bluegill individuals. Exposure to temperatures approaching 102.0 [deg]F (38.9 [deg]C) for at least one hour would also result in observable deaths. However, as stated previously, Exelon has not reported bluegill as one of the species that has been affected during past fish kills. Consequently, the NRC staff assumes that bluegill and other high-temperature-tolerant species in the cooling pond would experience effects similar to those observed in Cairn's study. Based on Cairn's results, the proposed action's incremental increase of 2 [deg]F (1.1 [deg]C) could result in the death of some additional high-temperature-tolerant individuals, especially in cases where cooling pond temperatures rise dramatically over a short period of time (more than 3.6 [deg]F (2.0 [deg]C) in a 24-hour period). These additional deaths would likely occur in the region of the UHS nearest to the intake because this water, which is likely near or slightly above 100 [deg]F (37.8 [deg]C) under current operations, could rise by an average of an additional 2 [deg]F (1.1 [deg]C). This scenario could create conditions just above those individuals' thermal tolerances. Effectively, this area of the UHS, which would have been within the upper thermal limit of habitable conditions for high-temperature- tolerant individuals under the current TS limit, would likely become uninhabitable under the proposed action's TS limit of <=102 [deg]F (38.9 [deg]C). Therefore, high-temperature-tolerant individuals in this area that would survive under current conditions could experience thermal stress and possibly die under the proposed action. Nonetheless, for all fish species (those with thermal tolerances above and below 95 [deg]F [35 [deg]C]), the discharge canal, flow path between the discharge canal and the UHS, and the UHS itself is a small portion of the cooling pond. Therefore, while an incremental increase of the UHS to <=102 [deg]F (38.9 [deg]C) would likely increase the area over which cooling pond temperatures would rise, the majority of the cooling pond would remain at tolerable temperatures, and individuals would be able to seek refuge in those cooler areas. Therefore, only fish within or near the discharge canal, within the flow path between the discharge canal and UHS, or within the UHS itself at the time of elevated temperatures, would likely be affected, and fish would experience such effects to lessening degrees over the thermal gradient that extends from the discharge canal. This would result in no significant difference in the number of fish killed per high temperature event resulting from the proposed action when compared to current operations for those species with thermal tolerances at or near 95 [deg]F (35 [deg]C) and an insignificant increase in the number of individuals affected for species with thermal tolerances above 95 [deg]F (35 [deg]C), such as bluegill. Additionally, the cooling pond is a managed ecosystem in which fish stocking, fishing pressure, and predator-prey relationships constitute the primary population pressures. Fish populations affected by fish kills generally recover quickly, and therefore, fish kills do not appear to significantly influence the fish community structure. This is demonstrated by the fact that the species that are most often affected by high temperature events (threadfin shad and gizzard shad) are also among the most abundant species in the cooling pond. Managed species would continue to be assessed and stocked by the IDNR on an annual basis in accordance with the lease agreement between Exelon and IDNR. Continued stocking would mitigate any minor effects resulting from the proposed action. Accordingly, the NRC staff concludes that the proposed action would not result in significant impacts to aquatic resources in the cooling pond. Some terrestrial species, such as birds or other wildlife, rely on fish or other aquatic resources from the cooling pond as a source of food. The NRC staff does not expect any significant impacts to birds or other wildlife because, if a fish kill occurs, the number of dead fish would be a small proportion of the total population of fish in the cooling pond. Furthermore, during fish kills, birds and other wildlife could consume many of the floating, dead fish. Additionally and as described previously, the NRC staff does not expect that the proposed action would result in a significant difference in the number or intensity of fish kill events. With regard to water resources and ecological resources along and within the Kankakee River, the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA) imposes regulatory controls on Braidwood's thermal effluent through Title 35, Environmental Protection, Section 302, ``Water Quality Standards,'' of the Illinois Administrative Code (35 IAC 302) and through the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permitting process pursuant to the Clean Water Act. Section 302 of the Illinois Administrative Code stipulates that ``[t]he maximum temperature rise shall not exceed 2.8 [deg]C (5 [deg]F) above natural receiving water body temperatures,'' (35 IAC 302.211(d)) and that ``[w]ater temperature at representative locations in the main river shall at no time exceed 33.7 [deg]C (93 [deg]F) from April through November and 17.7 [deg]C (63 [deg]F) in other months'' (35 IAC 302.211(e)). Additional stipulations pertaining to the mixing zone further protect water resources and biota from thermal effluents. Special Condition 4 of Braidwood NPDES permit no. IL0048321 mirrors these temperature requirements and also requires that water temperature at the edge of the mixing zone not exceed 60 [deg]F (15.6 [deg]C) from December through March during more than 1 percent of the hours in a 12- month period and that at no time shall the water temperature at such locations exceed the maximum limits by more than 3 [deg]F (1.6 [deg]C) (i.e., 63 [deg]F [17.2 [deg]C]). Under the proposed action, Braidwood thermal effluent would [[Page 48855]] continue to be limited by the Illinois Administrative Code and the Braidwood NPDES permit to ensure that Braidwood operations do not create adverse effects on water resources or ecological resources along or within the Kankakee River. In the past 5 years, Exelon applied for and the IEPA granted one provisional variance to allow higher-than- permitted temperatures at the edge of the discharge mixing zone caused by a period of extremely warm weather and little to no precipitation. Exelon reported no fish kills or other events to the IEPA or the NRC that would indicate adverse environmental effects resulting from the provisional variance. The details of this provisional variance are described in Section 4.7.1.3 of the Braidwood FSEIS. Under the proposed action, Exelon would remain subject to these Federal and State regulatory controls. The NRC staff finds it reasonable to assume that Exelon's continued compliance with, and the State's continued enforcement of, the Illinois Administrative Code and the Braidwood NPDES permit would ensure that Kankakee River water resources and ecological resources are protected. Further, the proposed action would not alter the types or amount of effluents being discharged to the river as blowdown. Therefore, the NRC staff does not expect any significant impacts to water resources or ecological resources within and along the Kankakee River as a result of raising the maximum allowable UHS temperature limit. During its license renewal environmental review, the NRC staff consulted with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) pursuant to section 7 of the Endangered Species Act concerning Federally-listed species. During that consultation, the NRC found that the sheepnose (Plethobasus cyphyus) and snuffbox (Epioblasma triquetra) mussels, northern long-eared bat (Myotis septentrionalis), and eastern massasauga (Sistrurus catenatus) had the potential to occur in the areas that would be directly or indirectly affected by license renewal (i.e., the action area). In September 2015, Exelon transmitted to the NRC and the FWS the results of a mussel survey, which documented the absence of Federally-listed mussels near the Braidwood discharge site in the Kankakee River. Based on this survey and other information described in the Braidwood FSEIS, the NRC concluded that the license renewal may affect, but is not likely to adversely affect the sheepnose mussel. For the remaining species, the NRC determined that license renewal would have no effect on the snuffbox, northern long-eared bat, and eastern massasauga. The FWS concurred with the NRC's ``not likely to adversely affect'' determination in a letter dated October 20, 2015. The results of the consultation are further summarized in the January 27, 2016, Record of Decision for Braidwood license renewal. As previously described, the proposed increase in the allowable UHS temperature limit would not affect water resources or ecological resources along and within the Kankakee River. The proposed action would also not result in any disturbance or other impacts to terrestrial habitats. Because impacts would be confined to the cooling pond and no Federally-listed species or designated critical habitats have been identified within or near the cooling pond, the NRC staff concludes that the proposed action would have no effect on Federally- listed species or critical habitat. Accordingly, consultation with the FWS for the proposed action is not necessary because Federal agencies are not required to consult with the FWS if the agency determines that an action will have no effect on listed species or critical habitat as stated in the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Endangered Species Consultations: Frequently Asked Questions, dated July 15, 2013. The NRC staff has identified no foreseeable land use, visual resource, noise, or waste management impacts given that the proposed action would not result in any physical changes to Braidwood facilities or equipment or changes any land uses on or off site. The NRC staff has identified no air quality impacts given that the proposed action would not result in air emissions beyond what would be experienced during current operations. Additionally, there would be no socioeconomic, environmental justice, or historic and cultural resource impacts associated with the proposed action since no physical change would occur beyond the site boundaries and any impacts would be limited to the cooling pond. Based on the foregoing analysis, the NRC staff concludes that the proposed action would have no significant environmental impacts. Environmental Impacts of the Alternatives to the Proposed Action As an alternative to the proposed action, the NRC considered denial of the proposed amendments (i.e., the ``no-action'' alternative). Denial of the proposed amendments would result in no change in current environmental conditions and impacts at Braidwood. Alternative Use of Resources This action does not involve the use of any resources not previously considered in NUREG-1437, Supplement 55, Generic Environmental Impact Statement for License Renewal of Nuclear Plants: Regarding Braidwood Station, Units 1 and 2--Final Report. Agencies and Persons Consulted The staff did not enter into consultation with any other Federal agency or with the State of Illinois regarding the environmental impact of the proposed action. However, on May 11, 2016, the NRC notified the Illinois State official, Mr. Alwyn C. Settles, Nuclear Facility Section Head, of the Bureau of Nuclear Facility Safety of the proposed amendments. The State official had no comments. III. Finding of No Significant Impact The NRC is considering issuing amendments for Renewed Facility Operating License Nos. NPF-72 and NPF-77, issued to Exelon for operation of Braidwood to increase the allowable TS 3.7.9.2 temperature limit of the cooling water supplied to the plant from the UHS from <=100[emsp14][deg]F (38.9 [deg]C) to <=102[emsp14][deg]F (38.9 [deg]C). On the basis of the EA included in Section II above and incorporated by reference in this finding, the NRC concludes that the proposed action would not have significant effects on the quality of the human environment. The NRC's evaluation considered information provided in the licensee's application and associated supplements as well as the NRC's independent review of other relevant environmental documents. Section IV below lists the environmental documents related to the proposed action and includes information on the availability of these documents. Based on its findings, the NRC has decided not to prepare an environmental impact statement for the proposed action. IV. Availability of Documents The following table identifies the documents cited in this document and related to the NRC's FONSI. These documents are available for public inspection online through ADAMS at http://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/adams.html or in person at the NRC's PDR as previously described. [[Page 48856]] ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Document ADAMS Accession No. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ License Amendment Request and Associated Supplements ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Exelon Generation Company, LLC............ ML14231A902 Request for a License Amendment to Braidwood Station, Units 1 and 2, Technical Specification 3.7.9, ``Ultimate Heat Sink.'' Dated August 19, 2014. Exelon Generation Company, LLC............ ML15020A246 Supplemental Information in Support of Request for a License Amendment to Braidwood Station, Units 1 and 2, Technical Specification 3.7.9, ``Ultimate Heat Sink.'' Dated January 20, 2015. Exelon Generation Company, LLC............ ML15090A604 Response to Request for Additional Information Regarding Request for a License Amendment to Braidwood Station, Units 1 and 2, Technical Specification 3.7.9, ``Ultimate Heat Sink.'' Dated March 31, 2015. Exelon Generation Company, LLC............ ML15120A396 Response to Request for Additional Information Regarding Request for a License Amendment to Braidwood Station, Units 1 and 2, Technical Specification 3.7.9, ``Ultimate Heat Sink.'' Dated April 30, 2015. Exelon Generation Company, LLC............ ML15236A144 Supplemental Information in Support of Request for a License Amendment to Braidwood Station, Units 1 and 2, Technical Specification 3.7.9, ``Ultimate Heat Sink.'' Dated August 24, 2015. Exelon Generation Company, LLC............ ML15282A345 Response to Request for Additional Information Regarding Request for a License Amendment to Braidwood Station, Units 1 and 2, Technical Specification 3.7.9, ``Ultimate Heat Sink.'' Dated October 9, 2015. Exelon Generation Company, LLC............ ML15303A326 Response to Request for Additional Information Regarding Request for a License Amendment to Braidwood Station, Units 1 and 2, Technical Specification 3.7.9, ``Ultimate Heat Sink.'' Dated October 30, 2015. Exelon Generation Company, LLC............ ML15313A254 Response to Request for Additional Information Regarding Request for a License Amendment to Braidwood Station, Units 1 and 2, Technical Specification 3.7.9, ``Ultimate Heat Sink.'' Dated November 9, 2015. Exelon Generation Company, LLC............ ML15364A369 Response to Request for Additional Information Regarding Request for a License Amendment to Braidwood Station, Units 1 and 2, Technical Specification 3.7.9, ``Ultimate Heat Sink.'' Dated December 16, 2015. Exelon Generation Company, LLC............ ML16043A496 Supplemental Information in Support of Request for a License Amendment to Braidwood Station, Units 1 and 2, Technical Specification 3.7.9, ``Ultimate Heat Sink.'' Dated February 12, 2016. Exelon Generation Company, LLC............ ML16123A014 Response to Request for Additional Information Regarding Request for a License Amendment to Braidwood Station, Units 1 and 2, Technical Specification 3.7.9, ``Ultimate Heat Sink.'' Dated April 29, 2016. Exelon Generation Company, LLC............ ML16169A139 Supplemental Information Regarding Request for a License Amendment to Braidwood Station, Units 1 and 2, Technical Specification 3.7.9, ``Ultimate Heat Sink.'' Dated June 17, 2016. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Other Referenced Documents ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Cairns J. 1956. Effects of heat on fish. n/a \(1)\ Industrial Wastes, 1:180-183. Banner A, Van Arman JA. 1973. Thermal n/a \(1)\ effects on eggs, larvae and juveniles of bluegill sunfish. Washington, DC: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. EPA-R3- 73-041. Ecological Specialists, Inc............... ML15274A087 Final Report: Five Year Post-Construction Monitoring of the Unionid Community Near the Braidwood Station Kankakee River Discharge. Dated September 2015. Exelon Generation Company, LLC............ ML12192A637 Request for Enforcement Discretion for Technical Specification 3.7.9, ``Ultimate Heat Sink.'' Dated July 10, 2012. Exelon Generation Company, LLC............ ML12249A256 Licensee Event Report 2012-004-01--Notice of Enforcement Discretion Received for Ultimate Heat Sink Temperature Exceeding Technical Specifications Requirements Due to Prolonged Hot Weather. Dated September 5, 2012. Exelon Generation Company, LLC............ ML12349A174 Licensee Event Report 2012-004-01--Notice of Enforcement Discretion Received for Ultimate Heat Sink Temperature Exceeding Technical Specifications Requirements Due to Prolonged Hot Weather. Dated December 13, 2012. Exelon Generation Company, LLC............ ML14339A044 Byron and Braidwood Stations, Units 1 and 2, License Renewal Application, Braidwood Station Applicant's Environmental Report, Responses to Requests for Additional Information, Environmental RAIs AQ-11 to AQ-15. Dated April 30, 2014. Exelon Generation Company, LLC............ ML15274A093 Braidwood, Units 1 and 2--Transmittal of Report Titled ``Five Year Post- Construction Monitoring of the Unionid Community Near the Braidwood Station Kankakee River Discharge Location.'' Dated September 2015. Illinois Environmental Protection Agency.. ML14227A712 Exelon Generation Company, LLC--Braidwood Station, Units 1 and 2, National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Permit No. IL0048321. Issued on July 31, 2014 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service............ ML16120A505 Endangered Species Consultations: Frequently Asked Questions. Dated July 15, 2013. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service............ ML15299A013 Concurrence Letter Concluding Informal Consultation with the NRC for Braidwood License Renewal. Dated October 20, 2015. U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission........ ML12194A681 Notice of Enforcement Discretion for Exelon Generation Company, LLC, Regarding Braidwood Station. Dated July 12, 2012. U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission........ ML15314A814 Generic Environmental Impact Statement for License Renewal of Nuclear Plants: Regarding Braidwood Plant, Units 1 and 2-- Final Report (NUREG-1437, Supplement 55). Dated November 30, 2015. [[Page 48857]] U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission........ ML053040362 Exelon Generation Company, LLC; Docket No. STN 50-456; Braidwood Station, Unit 1 Renewed Facility Operating License. Issued on January 27, 2016 U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission........ ML053040366 Exelon Generation Company, LLC; Docket No. STN 50-457; Braidwood Station, Unit 2 Renewed Facility Operating License. Issued on January 27, 2016. U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission........ ML15322A317 Record of Decision; U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission; Docket Nos. 50-456 and 560-457; License Renewal Application for Braidwood Station, Units 1 and 2. Dated January 27, 2016. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ \1\ These references are subject to copyright laws and are, therefore, not reproduced in ADAMS. Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 18th day of July 2016. For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. Joel S. Wiebe, Senior Project Manager, Plant Licensing Branch III-2, Division of Operating Reactor Licensing, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation. [FR Doc. 2016-17688 Filed 7-25-16; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 7590-01-P
![Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 143 / Tuesday, July 26, 2016 / Notices 48851
of children in the household. The BLS included in the request for Office of (ADAMS): You may obtain publicly
National Longitudinal Survey collects Management and Budget approval of the available documents online in the
some information about leave from information collection request; they also ADAMS Public Documents collection at
employed individuals, but these data will become a matter of public record. http://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/
are available only for specific cohorts Signed at Washington, DC, this 21st day of adams.html. To begin the search, select
and not the entire population. July 2016. ‘‘ADAMS Public Documents’’ and then
Information about flexible work Kimberley Hill, select ‘‘Begin Web-based ADAMS
schedules is available through the CPS Chief, Division of Management Systems,
Search.’’ For problems with ADAMS,
Work Schedules and Work at Home Bureau of Labor Statistics. please contact the NRC’s Public
Supplement, but the Supplement has [FR Doc. 2016–17641 Filed 7–25–16; 8:45 am]
Document Room (PDR) reference staff at
not been conducted since May 2004. 1–800–397–4209, 301–415–4737, or by
BILLING CODE 4510–24–P
The proposed Leave Supplement email to pdr.resource@nrc.gov. The
questions will collect data about leave, ADAMS accession number for each
job flexibilities, and work schedules document referenced (if that document
from a sample of individuals who are NUCLEAR REGULATORY is available in ADAMS) is provided in
representative of the U.S. civilian COMMISSION a table in the ‘‘Availability of
noninstitutional population ages 15 and [Docket Nos. 50–456 and 50–457; NRC– Documents’’ section of this document.
over, which is something existing 2016–0147] • NRC’s PDR: You may examine and
surveys do not do. purchase copies of public documents at
Exelon Generation Company, LLC; the NRC’s PDR, Room O1–F21, One
Desired Focus of Comments Braidwood Station, Units 1 and 2 White Flint North, 11555 Rockville
The Bureau of Labor Statistics is AGENCY: Nuclear Regulatory Pike, Rockville, Maryland 20852.
particularly interested in comments Commission. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Joel
that: S. Wiebe, Office of Nuclear Reactor
ACTION: Environmental assessment and
• Evaluate whether the proposed Regulation; U.S. Nuclear Regulatory
finding of no significant impact;
collection of information is necessary Commission, Washington, DC 20555–
issuance.
for the proper performance of the 0001; telephone: 301–415–6606; email:
functions of the agency, including SUMMARY: The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Joel.Wiebe@nrc.gov.
whether the information will have Commission (NRC) is considering SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
practical utility. issuance of amendments to Renewed
• Evaluate the accuracy of the Facility Operating License Nos. NPF–72 I. Introduction
agency’s estimate of the burden of the and NPF–77 issued to Exelon The NRC is considering issuance of
proposed collection of information, Generation Company, LLC (Exelon, the amendments to Renewed Facility
including the validity of the licensee) for operation of Braidwood Operating License Nos. NPF–72 and
methodology and assumptions used. Station, Units 1 and 2 (Braidwood), NPF–77 issued to Exelon for operation
• Enhance the quality, utility, and located in Will County, Illinois. The of Braidwood located in Will County,
clarity of the information to be proposed amendments would revise the Illinois. Exelon submitted its license
collected. maximum allowable technical amendment request in accordance with
• Minimize the burden of the specification (TS) temperature of the section 50.90 of title 10 of the Code of
collection of information on those who ultimate heat sink (UHS) for the plant. Federal Regulations (10 CFR), by letter
are to respond, including through the The NRC staff is issuing a final dated August 19, 2014 (ADAMS
use of appropriate automated, environmental assessment (EA) and Accession No. ML14231A902). Exelon
electronic, mechanical, or other finding of no significant impact (FONSI) subsequently supplemented its request
technological collection techniques or associated with the proposed license as described under ‘‘Description of the
other forms of information technology, amendments. Proposed Action’’ in Section II of this
e.g., permitting electronic submissions document. If approved, the license
DATES: The environmental assessment
of responses. amendments would increase the
Type of Review: New collection and finding of no significant impact
referenced in this document is available allowable TS temperature limit of the
(Request for a new OMB control cooling water supplied to the plant from
Number). on July 26, 2016.
ADDRESSES: Please refer to Docket ID
the UHS from less than or equal to (≤)
Agency: Bureau of Labor Statistics. 100 degrees Fahrenheit (°F) (37.8
Title: Leave Supplement to the NRC–2016–0147 when contacting the
NRC about the availability of degrees Celsius [°C]) to ≤102 °F (38.9
American Time Use Survey. °C). The NRC staff prepared an EA to
OMB Number: 1220—NEW. information regarding this document.
You may obtain publically-available document its findings related to the
Affected Public: Individuals or
information related to this document proposed license amendments in
Households.
using any of the following methods: accordance with 10 CFR 51.21. Based on
Total Respondents: 5950.
• Federal Rulemaking Web site: Go to results of the EA documented herein,
Frequency: One time.
Total Responses: 5950. http://www.regulations.gov and search the NRC did not identify any significant
Average Time per Response: 5 for Docket ID NRC–2016–0147. Address environmental impacts associated with
minutes. questions about NRC dockets to Carol the proposed amendments and is,
Gallagher; telephone: 301–415–3463; therefore, issuing a FONSI in
srobinson on DSK5SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
Estimated Total Burden Hours: 500
hours. email: Carol.Gallagher@nrc.gov. For accordance with 10 CFR 51.32.
Total Burden Cost (capital/startup): technical questions, contact the II. Environmental Assessment
$0. individual listed in the FOR FURTHER
Total Burden Cost (operating/ INFORMATION CONTACT section of this
Plant Site and Environs
maintenance): $0. document. Braidwood is located in Will County,
Comments submitted in response to • NRC’s Agencywide Documents Illinois, approximately 50 miles (mi; 80
this notice will be summarized and/or Access and Management System kilometers [km]) southwest of the
VerDate Sep<11>2014 20:28 Jul 25, 2016 Jkt 238001 PO 00000 Frm 00116 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\26JYN1.SGM 26JYN1](https://thefederalregister.org/doc/81_FR_48994/page/1.svg)
![48852 Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 143 / Tuesday, July 26, 2016 / Notices
Chicago Metropolitan Area and 20 mi and other human activities primarily License Renewal of Nuclear Plants:
(32 km) south-southwest of Joliet. The influence the species composition and Regarding Braidwood Station, Units 1
Kankakee River is approximately 5 mi (8 population dynamics. and 2—Final Report (NUREG–1437,
km) east of the eastern site boundary. Since the beginning of the lease Supplement 55) (herein referred to as
An onsite 2,540-acre (ac; 1,030-hectare agreement between Exelon and IDNR, ‘‘Braidwood FSEIS’’ [Final
[ha]) cooling pond provides condenser the IDNR has stocked the cooling pond Supplemental Environmental Impact
cooling. Cooling water is withdrawn with a variety of game species, Statement]). Figure 3–5 on page 3–7 of
from the pond through the lake screen including largemouth bass (Micropterus the Braidwood FSEIS depicts the
house, which is located at the north end salmoides), smallmouth bass (M. Braidwood plant layout, and Figure 3–
of the pond. Heated water returns to the dolomieu), blue catfish (Ictalurus 4 on page 3–6 depicts the cooling pond,
cooling pond through a discharge canal furcatus), striped bass (Morone including the portion of the pond that
west of the lake screen house intake that saxatilis), crappie (Pomoxis spp.), constitutes the essential cooling pond
is separated from the intake by a dike. walleye (Sander vitreum), and tiger (or UHS) and the blowdown line to the
The pond typically holds 22,300 acre- muskellunge (Esox masquinongy × Kankakee River.
feet (27.5 million cubic meters) of water lucius). IDNR performs annual surveys
to determine which fish to stock based Description of the Proposed Action
at any given time. The cooling pond
includes both ‘‘essential’’ and ‘‘non- on fishermen preferences, fish The proposed action would increase
essential’’ areas. The essential cooling abundance, different species’ tolerance the allowable TS temperature limit of
pond is the portion of the cooling pond to warm waters, predator and prey the cooling water supplied to the plant
that serves as the UHS for emergency dynamics, and other factors. Because of from the UHS from ≤100 °F (37.8 °C) to
core cooling, and it consists of a 99-ac the high water temperatures ≤102 °F (38.9 °C). Specifically, the
(40-ha) excavated area of the pond experienced in the summer months, proposed action would amend TS
directly in front of the lake screen introductions of warm-water species, 3.7.9.2, which currently states, ‘‘Verify
house. The essential cooling pond’s such as largemouth bass and blue average water temperature of UHS is
principle functions are to dissipate catfish, have been more successful than ≤100 °F.’’ Under the current TS, if the
residual heat after reactor shutdown and introductions of cool-water species, average UHS temperature as measured
to dissipate heat after an accident. It is such as walleye and tiger muskellunge. at the discharge of the operating
capable of supplying Braidwood’s Since annual surveys began in 1980, Essential Service Water system pumps
cooling system with 30 days of station IDNR has collected 47 species in the is greater than 100 °F (37.8 °C), TS 3.7.9
operation without additional makeup cooling pond. In recent years, bluegill Required Actions A.1 and A.2 would be
water. For clarity, use of the term (Lepomis macrochirus), channel catfish entered concurrently and would require
‘‘UHS’’ in this document refers to the (Ictalurus punctatus), threadfin shad the licensee to place Braidwood in hot
99-ac (40-ha) essential cooling pond, (Dorosoma petenense), and common standby (Mode 3) within 6 hours and
and use of the term ‘‘cooling pond’’ or carp (Cyprinus carpio) have been among cold shutdown (Mode 5) within 36
‘‘pond’’ describes the entire 2,540-ac the most abundant species in the hours. The proposed action would allow
(1,030-ha) area, which includes both the cooling pond. Gizzard shad (Dorosoma Braidwood to continue to operate
essential and non-essential areas. cepedianum), one of the most frequently during times when the UHS indicated
The cooling pond is part of the affected species during periods of temperature exceeds 100 °F (37.8 °C) but
Mazonia-Braidwood State Fish and elevated pond temperatures, have is less than or equal to 102 °F (38.9 °C).
Wildlife Area, which encompasses the decreased in abundance dramatically in The proposed action would not modify
majority of the non-UHS area of the recent years, while bluegill, which can the TS Required Actions, Completion
cooling pond as well as Illinois tolerate high temperatures with Times, Frequency of Surveillance
Department of Natural Resources relatively high survival, have noticeably Requirement performance, or any other
(IDNR)-owned lands adjacent to the increased in relative abundance. IDNR- portion of TS 3.7.9. Therefore, the
Braidwood site to the south and stocked warm water game species, such proposed amendments would require
southwest of the cooling pond. Exelon as largemouth bass and blue catfish, the licensee to place Braidwood in
and the IDNR have jointly managed the continue to persist in small numbers, Mode 3 within 6 hours and Mode 5
cooling pond as part of the Mazonia- while cooler water stocked species, such within 36 hours if the UHS indicated
Braidwood State Fish and Wildlife Area as walleye and tiger muskellunge, no temperature is greater than 102 °F (38.9
since 1991 pursuant to a long-term lease longer appear in IDNR survey °C).
agreement. Under the terms of the collections. No Federally-listed species The proposed action to amend TS
agreement, the public has access to the or designated critical habitats protected 3.7.9.2 is in accordance with the
pond for fishing, waterfowl hunting, under the Endangered Species Act occur licensee’s application dated August 19,
fossil collecting, and other recreational within or near the cooling pond. 2014, as supplemented by letters dated
activities. The Kankakee River serves as the January 20, 2015, March 31, 2015, April
The cooling pond is a wastewater source of makeup water for the cooling 30, 2015, August 24, 2015, October 9,
treatment works as defined by Section pond. The river also receives 2015, October 30, 2015, November 9,
301.415 of Title 35 of the Illinois continuous blowdown from the cooling 2015, December 16, 2015, February 12,
Administrative Code (35 IAC 301.415). pond. Water is withdrawn from a small 2016, April 29, 2016, and June 16, 2016.
Under this definition, the cooling pond river screen house located on the
is not considered waters of the State Kankakee River, and liquid effluents Need for the Proposed Action
under Illinois Administrative Code (35 from Braidwood are discharged into the The proposed action is needed to
srobinson on DSK5SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
IAC 301.440) or waters of the United cooling pond blowdown line, which provide the licensee with operational
States under the Federal Clean Water subsequently discharges into the flexibility during periods of high UHS
Act (40 CFR 230.3(s)), and so the Kankakee River. temperatures in order to avoid plant
cooling pond is not subject to State The plant site and environs are shutdown. These conditions include
water quality standards. The cooling described in greater detail in Chapter 3 elevated air temperatures, high
pond can be characterized as a managed of the NRC’s November 2015, Generic humidity, and low wind speed. For
ecosystem where IDNR fish stocking Environmental Impact Statement for instance, in July 2012, Exelon requested,
VerDate Sep<11>2014 20:28 Jul 25, 2016 Jkt 238001 PO 00000 Frm 00117 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\26JYN1.SGM 26JYN1](https://thefederalregister.org/doc/81_FR_48994/page/2.svg)
![48854 Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 143 / Tuesday, July 26, 2016 / Notices
at temperatures exceeding 100 °F (37.8 (more than 3.6 °F (2.0 °C) in a 24-hour most abundant species in the cooling
°C). For instance, in laboratory studies, period). These additional deaths would pond. Managed species would continue
Banner and Van Arman (1973) likely occur in the region of the UHS to be assessed and stocked by the IDNR
demonstrated 85 percent survival of nearest to the intake because this water, on an annual basis in accordance with
juvenile bluegill after 24 hours of which is likely near or slightly above the lease agreement between Exelon and
exposure to 98.6 °F (37.0 °C) water for 100 °F (37.8 °C) under current IDNR. Continued stocking would
stock acclimated to 91.2 °F (32.9 °C). At operations, could rise by an average of mitigate any minor effects resulting
100.0 °F (37.8 °C), survival decreased to an additional 2 °F (1.1 °C). This scenario from the proposed action. Accordingly,
25 percent, and at 100.4 °F (38.0 °C) and could create conditions just above those the NRC staff concludes that the
102.0 °F (38.9 °C), no individuals individuals’ thermal tolerances. proposed action would not result in
survived. Even at one hour of exposure Effectively, this area of the UHS, which significant impacts to aquatic resources
to 102.0 °F (38.9 °C) water, average would have been within the upper in the cooling pond.
survival was relatively low at between thermal limit of habitable conditions for Some terrestrial species, such as birds
40 to 67.5 percent per replicate. high-temperature-tolerant individuals or other wildlife, rely on fish or other
However, in another laboratory study, under the current TS limit, would likely aquatic resources from the cooling pond
Cairns (1956 in Banner and Van Arman become uninhabitable under the as a source of food. The NRC staff does
1973) demonstrated that if juvenile proposed action’s TS limit of ≤102 °F not expect any significant impacts to
bluegill were acclimated to higher (38.9 °C). Therefore, high-temperature- birds or other wildlife because, if a fish
temperatures at 3.6 °F (2.0 °C) per day, tolerant individuals in this area that kill occurs, the number of dead fish
individuals could tolerate water would survive under current conditions would be a small proportion of the total
temperatures up to 102.6 °F (39.2 °C) could experience thermal stress and population of fish in the cooling pond.
with 80 percent survival after 24 hours possibly die under the proposed action. Furthermore, during fish kills, birds and
of exposure. other wildlife could consume many of
Nonetheless, for all fish species (those
Although these studies provide the floating, dead fish. Additionally and
with thermal tolerances above and
inconsistent thermal tolerance limits, as described previously, the NRC staff
below 95 °F [35 °C]), the discharge
information from past fish kill events does not expect that the proposed action
canal, flow path between the discharge
indicates that Cairns’ results better would result in a significant difference
canal and the UHS, and the UHS itself
describe the cooling pond’s bluegill in the number or intensity of fish kill
is a small portion of the cooling pond. events.
population because Exelon has not
reported bluegill as one of the species Therefore, while an incremental With regard to water resources and
that has been affected by past high increase of the UHS to ≤102 °F (38.9 °C) ecological resources along and within
temperature events, including the July would likely increase the area over the Kankakee River, the Illinois
2012 event during which the cooling which cooling pond temperatures Environmental Protection Agency
pond exceeded 100 °F (37.8 °C). would rise, the majority of the cooling (IEPA) imposes regulatory controls on
Therefore, bluegill are likely acclimating pond would remain at tolerable Braidwood’s thermal effluent through
to temperature rises at a rate that allows temperatures, and individuals would be Title 35, Environmental Protection,
those individuals to remain in high able to seek refuge in those cooler areas. Section 302, ‘‘Water Quality Standards,’’
temperature areas until temperatures Therefore, only fish within or near the of the Illinois Administrative Code (35
decrease or that allows individuals time discharge canal, within the flow path IAC 302) and through the National
to seek refuge in cooler areas of the between the discharge canal and UHS, Pollutant Discharge Elimination System
pond. Alternately, if Banner and Van or within the UHS itself at the time of (NPDES) permitting process pursuant to
Arman’s results were more predictive, elevated temperatures, would likely be the Clean Water Act. Section 302 of the
75 percent or more of bluegill affected, and fish would experience Illinois Administrative Code stipulates
individuals in high temperature areas of such effects to lessening degrees over that ‘‘[t]he maximum temperature rise
the cooling pond could be expected to the thermal gradient that extends from shall not exceed 2.8 °C (5 °F) above
die at temperatures approaching or the discharge canal. This would result natural receiving water body
exceeding 100 °F (37.8 °C) for 24 hours, in no significant difference in the temperatures,’’ (35 IAC 302.211(d)) and
and shorter exposure time would likely number of fish killed per high that ‘‘[w]ater temperature at
result in the death of some reduced temperature event resulting from the representative locations in the main
percentage of bluegill individuals. proposed action when compared to river shall at no time exceed 33.7 °C (93
Exposure to temperatures approaching current operations for those species °F) from April through November and
102.0 °F (38.9 °C) for at least one hour with thermal tolerances at or near 95 °F 17.7 °C (63 °F) in other months’’ (35 IAC
would also result in observable deaths. (35 °C) and an insignificant increase in 302.211(e)). Additional stipulations
However, as stated previously, Exelon the number of individuals affected for pertaining to the mixing zone further
has not reported bluegill as one of the species with thermal tolerances above protect water resources and biota from
species that has been affected during 95 °F (35 °C), such as bluegill. thermal effluents. Special Condition 4 of
past fish kills. Consequently, the NRC Additionally, the cooling pond is a Braidwood NPDES permit no.
staff assumes that bluegill and other managed ecosystem in which fish IL0048321 mirrors these temperature
high-temperature-tolerant species in the stocking, fishing pressure, and predator- requirements and also requires that
cooling pond would experience effects prey relationships constitute the water temperature at the edge of the
similar to those observed in Cairn’s primary population pressures. Fish mixing zone not exceed 60 °F (15.6 °C)
populations affected by fish kills from December through March during
srobinson on DSK5SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
study.
Based on Cairn’s results, the proposed generally recover quickly, and therefore, more than 1 percent of the hours in a
action’s incremental increase of 2 °F (1.1 fish kills do not appear to significantly 12-month period and that at no time
°C) could result in the death of some influence the fish community structure. shall the water temperature at such
additional high-temperature-tolerant This is demonstrated by the fact that the locations exceed the maximum limits by
individuals, especially in cases where species that are most often affected by more than 3 °F (1.6 °C) (i.e., 63 °F [17.2
cooling pond temperatures rise high temperature events (threadfin shad °C]). Under the proposed action,
dramatically over a short period of time and gizzard shad) are also among the Braidwood thermal effluent would
VerDate Sep<11>2014 20:28 Jul 25, 2016 Jkt 238001 PO 00000 Frm 00119 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\26JYN1.SGM 26JYN1](https://thefederalregister.org/doc/81_FR_48994/page/4.svg)
![Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 143 / Tuesday, July 26, 2016 / Notices 48857
ADAMS
Document Accession No.
U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission ................................................................................................................................................. ML053040362
Exelon Generation Company, LLC; Docket No. STN 50–456; Braidwood Station, Unit 1 Renewed Facility Operating License.
Issued on January 27, 2016
U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission ................................................................................................................................................. ML053040366
Exelon Generation Company, LLC; Docket No. STN 50–457; Braidwood Station, Unit 2 Renewed Facility Operating License.
Issued on January 27, 2016.
U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission ................................................................................................................................................. ML15322A317
Record of Decision; U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission; Docket Nos. 50–456 and 560–457; License Renewal Application for
Braidwood Station, Units 1 and 2. Dated January 27, 2016.
1 These references are subject to copyright laws and are, therefore, not reproduced in ADAMS.
Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 18th day • Federal Rulemaking Web site: Go to 1–800–397–4209, 301–415–4737, or by
of July 2016. http://www.regulations.gov and search email to pdr.resource@nrc.gov. The draft
For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. for Docket ID NRC–2016–0053. Address NUREG–1556, Volume 12, Revision 1, is
Joel S. Wiebe, questions about NRC dockets to Carol available in ADAMS under Accession
Senior Project Manager, Plant Licensing Gallagher; telephone: 301–415–3463; No. ML16182A163.
Branch III–2, Division of Operating Reactor email: Carol.Gallagher@nrc.gov. For • NRC’s PDR: You may examine and
Licensing, Office of Nuclear Reactor technical questions, contact the purchase copies of public documents at
Regulation. individual listed in the FOR FURTHER the NRC’s PDR, Room O1–F21, One
[FR Doc. 2016–17688 Filed 7–25–16; 8:45 am] INFORMATION CONTACT section of this White Flint North, 11555 Rockville
BILLING CODE 7590–01–P document. Pike, Rockville, Maryland 20852.
• Mail comments to: Cindy Bladey, The draft NUREG–1556, Volume 12,
Office of Administration, Mail Stop: Revision 1, is also available on the
NUCLEAR REGULATORY OWFN–12–H08, U.S. Nuclear NRC’s public Web site on: (1) The
COMMISSION Regulatory Commission, Washington, ‘‘Consolidated Guidance About
DC 20555–0001. Materials Licenses (NUREG–1556)’’
[NRC–2016–0053]
For additional direction on accessing page at http://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/
Program-Specific Guidance About information and submitting comments, doc-collections/nuregs/staff/sr1556/;
Possession Licenses for see ‘‘Obtaining Information and and (2) the ‘‘Draft NUREG-Series
Manufacturing and Distribution Submitting Comments’’ in the Publications for Comment’’ page at
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section of http://www.nrc.gov/public-involve/doc-
AGENCY: Nuclear Regulatory this document. comment.html#nuregs.
Commission. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: B. Submitting Comments
ACTION: Draft NUREG; extension of Anthony McMurtray, Office of Nuclear
comment period. Material Safety and Safeguards; U.S. Please include Docket ID NRC–2016–
Nuclear Regulatory Commission, 0053 in the subject line of your
SUMMARY: On July 13, 2016, the U.S. Washington, DC 20555–0001; telephone: comment submission, in order to ensure
Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) 301–415–2746; email: that the NRC is able to make your
solicited comments on draft NUREG– Anthony.McMurtray@nrc.gov. comment submission available to the
1556, Volume 12, Revision 1, public in this docket.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
‘‘Consolidated Guidance About The NRC cautions you not to include
Materials Licenses: Program-Specific I. Obtaining Information and identifying or contact information that
Guidance About Possession Licenses for Submitting Comments you do not want publicly disclosed in
Manufacturing and Distribution.’’ The your comment submission. The NRC
A. Obtaining Information will post all comment submissions at
public comment period was originally
scheduled to close on August 12, 2016. Please refer to Docket ID NRC–2016– http://www.regulations.gov as well as
The NRC has decided to extend the 0053 when contacting the NRC about enter the comment submissions into
public comment period to allow more the availability of information regarding ADAMS, and the NRC does not
time for members of the public to this document. You may obtain routinely edit comment submissions to
develop and submit their comments. publicly-available information related to remove identifying or contact
this action by the following methods: information.
DATES: The due date of comments
• Federal Rulemaking Web site: Go to If you are requesting or aggregating
requested in the document published on http://www.regulations.gov and search
July 13, 2016 (81 FR 45308) is extended. comments from other persons for
for Docket ID NRC–2016–0053. submission to the NRC, you should
Comments should be filed no later than • NRC’s Agencywide Documents
August 26, 2016. Comments received inform these persons that they should
Access and Management System not to include identifying or contact
after this date will be considered if it is (ADAMS): You may obtain publicly-
practical to do so, but the NRC is able information that they do not want to be
available documents online in the publicly disclosed in their comment
to ensure consideration only for ADAMS Public Documents collection at
srobinson on DSK5SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
comments received on or before this submission.
http://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/
date. adams.html. To begin the search, select II. Discussion
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments ‘‘ADAMS Public Documents’’ and then On July 13, 2016, the NRC solicited
by any of the following methods (unless select ‘‘Begin Web-based ADAMS comments on draft NUREG–1556,
this document describes a different Search.’’ For problems with ADAMS, Volume 12, Revision 1, ‘‘Consolidated
method for submitting comments on a please contact the NRC’s Public Guidance About Materials Licenses:
specific subject): Document Room (PDR) reference staff at Program-Specific Guidance About
VerDate Sep<11>2014 20:28 Jul 25, 2016 Jkt 238001 PO 00000 Frm 00122 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\26JYN1.SGM 26JYN1](https://thefederalregister.org/doc/81_FR_48994/page/7.svg)
Document Created: 2018-02-08 08:01:03
Document Modified: 2018-02-08 08:01:03
| Category | Regulatory Information | |
| Collection | Federal Register | |
| sudoc Class | AE 2.7: GS 4.107: AE 2.106: | |
| Publisher | Office of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration | |
| Section | Notices | |
| Action | Environmental assessment and finding of no significant impact; issuance. | |
| Dates | The environmental assessment and finding of no significant impact referenced in this document is available on July 26, 2016. | |
| Contact | Joel S. Wiebe, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation; U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, DC 20555-0001; telephone: 301-415-6606; email: [email protected] | |
| FR Citation | 81 FR 48851 |
2024 Federal Register | Disclaimer | Privacy Policy
USC | CFR | eCFR