Florida Power & Light Company; Turkey Point Nuclear Generating Unit Nos. 3 and 4, 44464-44470 [2014-18159]

Agencies

• NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 147 (Thursday, July 31, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 44464-44470]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-18159]


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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

[Docket Nos. 50-250 and 50-251; NRC-2014-0181]


Florida Power & Light Company; Turkey Point Nuclear Generating 
Unit Nos. 3 and 4

AGENCY: Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

ACTION: Environmental assessment and final finding of no significant 
impact; issuance.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is considering 
issuance of amendments to Renewed Facility Operating License Nos. DPR-
31 and DPR-41 issued to Florida Power & Light Company (FPL, the 
licensee) for operation of Turkey Point Nuclear Generating Unit Nos. 3 
and 4 (Turkey Point) located in Homestead, Miami-Dade County, Florida. 
The proposed amendments would increase the ultimate heat sink (UHS) 
water temperature limit specified in the Turkey Point Technical 
Specifications (TSs) from 100 degrees Fahrenheit ([deg]F) to 
104[emsp14][deg]F and add a surveillance requirement to monitor the UHS 
temperature more frequently if the UHS temperature approaches the new 
limit. The NRC did not identify any significant environmental impacts 
associated with the proposed license amendments based on its evaluation 
of the information provided in the licensee's application and other 
available information. Accordingly, the NRC has prepared this 
Environmental Assessment (EA) and Final Finding of No Significant 
Impact (FONSI) for the proposed license amendments.

ADDRESSES: Please refer to Docket ID NRC-2014-0181 when contacting the 
NRC about the availability of information regarding this document. You 
may access publicly available

[[Page 44465]]

information related to this document using any of the following 
methods:
     Federal Rulemaking Web site: Go to https://www.regulations.gov and search for Docket ID NRC-2011-0181. Address 
questions about NRC dockets to Carol Gallagher; telephone: 301-287-
3422; 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 NRC 
Public Documents collection at https://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 in this notice (if 
that document is available in ADAMS) is provided the first time that a 
document is referenced. For the convenience of the reader, the ADAMS 
accession numbers are also 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: Audrey L. Klett, Office of Nuclear 
Reactor Regulation, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, DC 
20555-0001; telephone: 301-415-0489; email: Audrey.Klett@nrc.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Introduction

    The NRC is considering issuance of amendments to Renewed Facility 
Operating License Nos. DPR-31 and DPR-41 issued to FPL for operation of 
Turkey Point, located in Homestead, Miami-Dade County, Florida. As 
required by Sec.  51.21 of Title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations 
(10 CFR Part 51.21), the NRC staff performed an EA to document its 
findings related to the proposed license amendments. FPL submitted its 
license amendment request by letter dated July 10, 2014 (ADAMS 
Accession No. ML14196A006) and subsequently supplemented its 
application by letters dated July 17, 2014 (ADAMS Accession No. 
ML14202A392), July 22, 2014 (ADAMS Accession Nos. ML14204A367 and 
ML14204A368), and July 24, 2014 (ADAMS Accession No. ML14206A853). 
Based on information provided in FPL's application and associated 
supplements, the NRC staff's independent review, and the NRC's 
consultation with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) pursuant to 
section 7 of the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (ESA), the 
NRC did not identify any significant environmental impacts associated 
with the proposed license amendments.
    Based on the results of the EA documented herein, the NRC is 
issuing this final FONSI, in accordance with 10 CFR 51.32, for the 
proposed license amendments.

II. Environmental Assessment

Plant Site and Environs

    The Turkey Point site encompasses 11,000 acres (ac) (4,450 hectares 
(ha)) in Miami-Dade County, Florida. The site lies 25 miles (mi) (40 
kilometers [km]) south of Miami, Florida, and the nearest city limits 
are Florida City, which lies 8 mi (13 km) to the west, Homestead, which 
lies 4.5 mi (7 km) to the northwest, and Key Largo, which lies 10 mi 
(16 km) south of the Turkey Point site. The Turkey Point site is 
bordered to the east by Biscayne National Park, to the north by 
Homestead Bayfront Park and a portion of Biscayne National Park, and on 
the west and south by FPL's 13,000-ac (5,260-ha) Everglades Mitigation 
Bank. The Turkey Point site includes five electric generating units. 
Units 1, 2, and 5 are fossil-fueled generating units and are not 
covered by the proposed licensing action; Units 3 and 4 are nuclear 
generating units. Each nuclear reactor is a Westinghouse pressurized 
light-water reactor that generates electricity via three steam 
generators that produce steam that turns turbines. The site features a 
6,100-ac (2,500-ha) closed cooling canal system (CCS) that cools heated 
water discharged by Units 1 through 4. Unit 5 uses mechanical draft 
cooling towers for cooling, draws makeup water from the Upper Floridan 
Aquifer, and discharges blowdown to the CCS. The five units and 
supporting equipment (excluding the CCS) occupy approximately 130 ac 
(53 ha).
    The U.S. Atomic Energy Commission (AEC), the NRC's predecessor 
agency, and the NRC have previously conducted environmental reviews of 
Turkey Point in several documents, and the descriptions therein 
continue to accurately depict the Turkey Point site and environs. Those 
documents include the AEC's July 1972 Final Environmental Statement 
(FES); the NRC's January 2002 Generic Environmental Impact Statement 
for License Renewal of Nuclear Plants: Regarding Turkey Point Units 3 
and 4--Final Report (NUREG-1437, Supplement 5) (ADAMS Accession No. 
ML020280236); and the NRC's March 2012 environmental assessment and 
final FONSI for the Turkey Point extended power uprate (EPU) (ADAMS 
Accession No. ML12074A251).

Identification of the Proposed Action

    The proposed action would increase the UHS water temperature limit 
specified in the Turkey Point TSs and add a surveillance requirement to 
monitor the UHS temperature more frequently if the UHS temperature 
approaches the new limit. The proposed action is in accordance with the 
licensee's application dated July 10, 2014, as supplemented by letters 
dated July 17, July 22 (two letters), and July 24, 2014.
    More specifically, the proposed action would amend Appendix A of 
Turkey Point's Renewed Facility Operating Licenses in order to revise 
the UHS temperature limit set forth in TS Limiting Operating Condition 
(LOC) 3/4.7.4 from 100 [deg]F to 104 [deg]F. The CCS serves as the UHS 
for the Intake Cooling Water (ICW) system and provides the coolant for 
the Circulating Water (CW) system. The CW system provides cooling water 
to the main plant condensers, and the ICW system removes heat loads 
from the Component Cooling Water (CCW) system during normal and 
accident conditions to support both reactor and containment heat 
removal requirements as well as spent fuel cooling requirements.
    Currently, TS LOC 3/4.7.4 includes a Surveillance Requirement (SR) 
that necessitates the licensee to verify the UHS (CCS) temperature once 
every 24-hour period and confirm that the average supply water 
temperature is within the 100 [deg]F limit. The proposed license 
amendments would modify the SR to require the licensee to verify the 
average supply water temperature to be within the new TS limit at least 
once per 24 hours, and once per hour when the water temperature exceeds 
100 [deg]F. FPL monitors the UHS (CCS) temperature at a point in the 
ICW system piping going into the inlet of the CCW Heat Exchangers.
    The license amendment would require the licensee to place both 
units in at least hot standby within 12 hours and cold shutdown within 
the next 30 hours if the UHS exceeds 104 [deg]F.
    The proposed TS revisions would not result in or require any 
physical changes to Turkey Point systems, structures, or components, 
including those intended for the prevention of accidents. If

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approved, the LAR would be effective from the date of NRC approval 
through the expiration dates of the renewed facility operating licenses 
(i.e., through 2032 for Unit 3 and 2033 for Unit 4).

The Need for the Proposed Action

    The proposed action is needed to provide FPL with additional 
operational flexibility during periods when high air temperatures, low 
rainfall, and other factors contribute to conditions resulting in a UHS 
temperature in excess of 100 [deg]F that would otherwise necessitate 
FPL to place Turkey Point in cold shutdown. In its application, FPL 
states that loss of load and voltage control resulting from shutdown 
during periods of high summer demand could result in impacts to grid 
reliability. UHS temperatures have recently approached and exceeded the 
100 [deg]F TS limit on several occasions. On July 20, 2014, the NRC 
approved a notice of enforcement discretion (NOED), which allows the 
UHS temperature to exceed 100 [deg]F up to 103 [deg]F for a period of 
no more than 10 days, as well as several other NOED exit criteria. The 
NRC documented the NOED in a letter to FPL dated July 23, 2014 (ADAMS 
Accession No. ML14204A652).

Environmental Impacts of the Proposed Action

    As part of the original licensing review for Turkey Point, the AEC 
published an FES in July 1972 that evaluates potential environmental 
impacts associated with the operation of Turkey Point over its initial 
40-year operating period (1972-2012 for Unit 3 and 1973-2013 for Unit 
4). In 2002, the NRC evaluated the environmental impacts of operating 
Turkey Point for an additional 20 years beyond the original operating 
license (i.e., through 2032 for Unit 3 and 2033 for Unit 4) and 
predicted that the environmental impacts of license renewal were small 
for all environmental resources. NUREG-1437, Supplement 5 provides that 
assessment. In 2012, the NRC evaluated the impacts of a then-proposed 
EPU at Turkey Point that authorized the facility to increase the 
maximum power level from 2300 megawatts thermal (MWt) to 2644 MWt for 
each unit. The NRC's March 2012 EA and final FONSI provide that 
assessment.
    As previously discussed, the proposed action would not result in or 
require any physical changes to Turkey Point systems, structures, or 
components, including those intended for the prevention of accidents. 
Further, the proposed license amendments involve TS changes that would 
only result in changes in procedural and operational aspects undertaken 
by FPL personnel for monitoring and maintaining the UHS temperature 
limit as measured at the ICW system piping going into the inlet of the 
CCW Heat Exchangers. Thus, FPL's workforce would not change, and the 
regular operations workforce would otherwise be unaffected by the 
proposed action. Based on the above and the available information 
reviewed by the staff, the NRC concludes that the proposed action would 
result in no significant impact on land use, visual resources, air 
quality, noise, the geologic environment, groundwater resources, 
terrestrial resources, historic and cultural resources, socioeconomic 
conditions including minority and low income populations (environmental 
justice), or waste generation and management activities. Therefore, 
this environmental assessment does not prevent any further evaluation 
of the operational impacts on these environmental resources. The NRC 
previously assessed the environmental impacts of continued operations 
of Turkey Point in NUREG-1437, Supplement 5 and the EA and final FONSI 
for the EPU, and implementation of the proposed license amendments 
would not result in any impacts beyond those already characterized in 
these documents. Accordingly, this environmental assessment focuses on 
the environmental resources that could be affected by the change in the 
CCS thermal limit: Surface water resources, aquatic resources, and 
Federally-protected species and habitats. Radiological impacts are also 
addressed.
    The details of the NRC staff's safety evaluation will be separately 
provided in the license amendment package issued to approve the license 
amendment, if granted.

Nonradiological Impacts

Surface Water Resources
    The Turkey Point site lies on the shore of Biscayne Bay. South of 
the site, Mangrove Point divides the bay from Card Sound. Biscayne Bay 
and Card Sound are shallow, subtropical estuarine waters located 
between the Atlantic coast mainland and a grouping of barrier islands 
that form the northernmost Florida Keys. The Atlantic Ocean lies beyond 
the barrier islands. The Intracoastal Waterway traverses Biscayne Bay 
and Card Sound, and a barge passage runs from the Intracoastal Waterway 
to the non-nuclear units on the Turkey Point site.
    In addition to these offsite waters, the site includes several 
manmade surface waters, the most significant of which is the CCS. The 
CCS spans a 6,100-ac (2,500-ha) area (4,370 ac (1,770 ha) of surface 
water) spread over a 5-mi by 2-mi (8-km by 3.2-km) area. The system 
includes 168 mi (270 km) of earthen canals with an average depth of 2.8 
ft (0.8 km) and contains approximately 4 billion gallons (12,300 acre-
feet) of water. The Turkey Point units (both nuclear Units 3 and 4 and 
fossil-fueled Units 1 and 2) use the CCS like a radiator and, as 
previously mentioned, the CCS serves as the UHS for Units 3 and 4. 
Heated water discharges into the CCS at one end, flows through the 
canal system, and is withdrawn from the other end for reuse as cooling 
water. The heated discharge effluent is distributed to 32 feeder 
canals. Water in the feeder canals flows south and discharges into a 
single collector canal that distributes water to six return canals. 
Water in the return canals flows north to the plant intake. The entire 
circuit that water travels from plant discharge back to plant intake is 
13.2 mi (21.2 km), and transit time through the system is approximately 
44 hours. Water flows attributable to Units 3 and 4 amount to 
approximately 1.0 million gallons per minute. Temperature rise across 
the plant (from intake to discharge) averages 15 to 30 [deg]F depending 
on the number of fossil and nuclear units in operation, unit load, and 
various other factors. The average intake temperature is 2.5 [deg]F 
above the average ambient air temperature. Rainfall, stormwater runoff, 
and groundwater exchange replace evaporative losses.
    The Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) has 
issued FPL a ``No Discharge'' National Pollutant Discharge Elimination 
System (NPDES) permit (No. FL0001562) to operate the CCS as an 
industrial wastewater facility. Accordingly, the CCS does not discharge 
directly to fresh or marine surface waters. The proposed action would 
not require FPL to request modifications to the NPDES permit because 
the plant discharge limits would not change. Plant discharge limits are 
not intake-temperature limited; rather, they are a function of the 
quantity of heat rejected to the CCS during plant operation.
    Under the proposed action, the CCS could experience temperatures 
between 100 [deg]F and 104 [deg]F at the TS monitoring location near 
the north end of the system for short durations during periods of peak 
summer air temperatures and low rainfall. Such conditions may not be 
experienced at all depending on site and weather conditions. 
Temperature increases would also increase CCS water

[[Page 44467]]

evaporation rates and result in higher salinity levels. This effect 
would also be temporary and short in duration because salinity would 
again decrease upon natural freshwater recharge of the system (i.e., 
through rainfall, stormwater runoff, and groundwater exchange). No 
other onsite or offsite waters would be affected by the proposed UHS 
temperature limit increase.
    Because the proposed action would only affect the CCS, and the CCS 
is a manmade closed cycle cooling system, the NRC concludes that the 
proposed action would not result in significant impacts to surface 
water resources.
Aquatic Resources
    As determined in the previous section, the CCS is the only surface 
water that would be affected by the proposed action. Accordingly, this 
section only addresses aquatic resources in the CCS.
    The CCS supports a variety of aquatic species typical of shallow, 
subtropical waters, including phytoplankton, zooplankton, marine algae, 
rooted plants, crabs, and estuarine fish. Because of high water 
temperatures and salinity content of the CCS, the resident fish 
assemblage is dominated by species adapted to living in harsh 
conditions, such as sheepshead minnow (Cyprinodon variegatus) and 
several Fundulus species. The CCS is owner-controlled and closed to the 
public; thus, fish and other aquatic biota in the CCS do not carry any 
commercial or recreational value.
    Because aquatic organisms in the cooling canal system are unable to 
travel to or from Biscayne Bay, Card Sound, or any other natural water 
body, changes to the conditions within the CCS would not affect any 
aquatic populations in the surrounding natural aquatic habitats of 
Biscayne Bay, Card Sound, or the Atlantic Ocean. Therefore, the NRC 
staff concludes that the proposed action would result in no significant 
impact to aquatic resources.
Federally Protected Species and Habitats
    The Turkey Point site is home to a resident population of 
Federally-threatened American crocodiles (Crocodylus acutus). 
Crocodiles discovered and colonized the Turkey Point CCS following 
plant construction in the 1970s, and the site now hosts approximately 
one-third to one-half of the United States breeding population. In 
1977, the FWS designated an area of Florida that includes the majority 
of the Turkey Point site (including the CCS) as critical habitat for 
the species under the ESA. FPL maintains a crocodile management plan 
that prescribes how CCS maintenance procedures shall be conducted to 
minimize nest, hatchling, or adult disturbance. FPL also maintains a 
crocodile monitoring program to document breeding success and survival 
on the site.
    As a Federal agency, the NRC must comply with the ESA as part of 
any action it authorizes, funds, or carries out, such as the proposed 
action evaluated in this environmental assessment. Under ESA section 7, 
the NRC must consult with the FWS and the National Marine Fisheries 
Service, as appropriate, to ensure that the proposed agency action is 
not likely to jeopardize the continued existence of any endangered or 
threatened species or result in the destruction or adverse modification 
of designated critical habitat. The ESA and the regulations that 
implement ESA section 7 (50 CFR Part 402) describe the consultation 
process that Federal agencies must follow in support of agency actions.
    Based on a review of the proposed action, the NRC staff has 
determined that the American crocodile is the only Federally-listed 
species that has the potential to be affected by the proposed action. 
Pursuant to ESA section 7, NRC staff consulted with FWS staff at the 
South Florida Ecological Services Office in Vero Beach, Florida. The 
NRC staff prepared a biological assessment (ADAMS Accession No. 
ML14206A806) that considers the potential for the proposed action to 
reduce hatchling survival, alter crocodile growth rates, and reduce 
habitat availability and concludes that the proposed action is not 
likely to adversely affect the American crocodile and would have no 
effect on the species' designated critical habitat. Based on the NRC 
staff's biological assessment determinations, the NRC concludes that 
the proposed action would have no significant impact on Federally-
protected species or habitats.
    In a July 25, 2014, letter (ADAMS Accession No. ML14206A800) to 
FWS, the NRC requested ESA section 7 consultation.

Radiological Impacts

    The proposed action would not result in or require any physical 
changes to Turkey Point systems, structures, or components, including 
those intended for the prevention of accidents because the proposed 
license amendments involve TS changes that would only result in changes 
in procedural and operational aspects undertaken by FPL personnel for 
monitoring and maintaining the increased allowable UHS temperature 
limit. Thus, the proposed action would not have a significant adverse 
effect on the probability of an accident occurring or result in an 
increased radiological hazard beyond those analyzed in the licensee's 
Updated Final Safety Analysis Report. The proposed action would result 
in no changes to radiation levels or the types or quantities of 
radioactive effluents (gaseous or liquid) that affect radiation 
exposures to members of the public or plant workers. No changes or 
different types of radiological impacts would be expected from the 
proposed action. Therefore, the radiological impacts of granting the 
license amendments would result in no significant impact on the 
radiological environment.

Cumulative Impacts

    The Council on Environmental Quality defines cumulative impacts 
under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as amended (NEPA) 
as the impact on the environment which results from the incremental 
impact of the action when added to other past, present, and reasonably 
foreseeable future actions regardless of what agency (Federal or non-
Federal) or person undertakes such other actions (40 CFR Part 1508.7). 
For the purposes of this analysis, past actions are related to the 
resource conditions when Turkey Point was licensed and constructed; 
present actions are related to the resource conditions during current 
operations; and future actions are those that are reasonably 
foreseeable through the expiration of Turkey Point's renewed facility 
operating licenses. In the preceding sections of this EA, the NRC has 
determined that the proposed action has the potential to only affect 
surface water resources and aquatic resources in the CCS and Federally 
protected species and habitats (i.e., the site's resident population of 
American crocodiles and its designated critical habitat). This EA also 
addresses radiological impacts of the proposed action. Accordingly, 
this section only addresses the cumulative impacts that could result 
from the proposed action and other actions on these resources. The 
proposed action would have no effect on the remaining resources (i.e., 
land use, visual resources, air quality, noise, the geologic 
environment, groundwater resources, terrestrial resources, historic and 
cultural resources, socioeconomic conditions including minority and low 
income populations (environmental justice), and waste generation and 
management activities), and thus, cumulative impacts would not occur 
for these environmental resources.

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    The NRC staff has identified several actions that may contribute to 
cumulative effects; each of these actions is described separately 
below.
CCS Chemical Treatments
    In 2011, FPL began to notice increased blue green algae 
concentrations in the CCS. The concentrations have steadily increased 
since that time. FPL has performed engineering and environmental 
analyses and believes that the presence of higher than normal CCS algae 
concentrations may be diminishing the CCS's heat transfer capabilities. 
FPL developed a plan to gradually reduce algae concentrations through 
controlled chemical treatment of the CCS over the course of several 
weeks. On June 18, 2014, FPL submitted a request to the FDEP to approve 
the use of copper sulfate, hydrogen peroxide, and a bio-stimulant to 
treat the algae (letter contained in Appendix A of ADAMS Accession No. 
ML14206A806). On June 27, 2014, the FDEP approved FPL's treatment plan 
for a 90-day trial period (letter contained in Appendix A of ADAMS 
Accession No. ML14206A806). The FDEP requested that during the 90-day 
treatment period, FPL monitor the CCS for total recoverable copper and 
dissolved oxygen and submit its results to the FDEP. The FDEP also 
recommended that FPL coordinate with the Florida Fish and Wildlife 
Conservation Commission (FWC) due to the presence of crocodiles in the 
cooling system. The FWC provided its comments on FPL's treatment plan 
in a letter dated July 1, 2014 (letter contained in Appendix A of ADAMS 
Accession No. ML14206A806).
    The CCS chemical treatments have the potential to contribute to 
cumulative effects on CCS surface water resources, CCS aquatic 
resources, and the American crocodile. Because the CCS is a manmade 
closed cycle cooling system, treatment of the CCS is not likely to have 
a significant cumulative effect on surface water resources. Monitoring 
required by the FDEP will ensure adequate water quality throughout and 
following treatment. Monitoring will also ensure that any unanticipated 
effects on the aquatic organisms that inhabit the CCS are appropriately 
addressed. During the treatment period, FPL has agreed to report any 
potentially related fish kills in the CCS to the FWC. No fish kills 
have been reported to date. Regarding crocodiles, the NRC's July 25, 
2014, biological assessment notes that FPL has not observed any 
behavioral or distributional changes or any other noticeable 
differences that would indicate effects to crocodiles resulting from 
either the presence of higher algae concentrations or the recent 
chemical treatments.
Aquifer Withdrawals
    The CCS is situated above two aquifers: the shallower saltwater 
Biscayne Aquifer and the deeper brackish Floridan Aquifer. A confining 
layer separates the two aquifers from one another. Turkey Point, Unit 5 
uses the Floridan Aquifer for cooling water. The South Florida Water 
Management District (SFWMD) recently granted FPL approval to withdraw a 
portion (approximately 5 million gallons per day [MGD]) of the Unit 5 
withdrawal allowance for use in the CCS. FPL began pumping Floridan 
Aquifer water into the CCS in early July. FPL has also received 
temporary approval to withdraw 30 MGD from the Biscayne Aquifer, though 
FPL has not yet used this allowance.
    FPL also anticipates the FDEP to issue an Administrative Order 
requiring FPL to install up to six new wells that will pump 
approximately 14 MGD of water from the Floridan Aquifer into the CCS. 
Modeling performed by FPL consultants and the SFWMD indicates that in 
approximately 2 years, the withdrawals would reduce the salinity of the 
CCS to the equivalent of Biscayne Bay (about 34 parts per thousand 
[ppt]). Such withdrawals could also help moderate water temperatures.
    The current and anticipated future aquifer withdrawals have the 
potential to contribute to cumulative effects on CCS surface water 
resources, CCS aquatic resources, and crocodiles. Because the CCS is a 
manmade closed cycle cooling system, aquifer withdrawals are not likely 
to have a significant cumulative effect on surface water resources. 
Aquifer withdrawals would result in beneficial impacts to CCS aquatic 
resources and the crocodiles inhabiting the Turkey Point site. FPL 
anticipates that the withdrawals will reduce the salinity of the CCS to 
about 34 ppt and could also help moderate CCS temperatures over the 
long term. Both of these effects would create favorable conditions for 
CCS aquatic biota and crocodiles, which are currently tolerating an 
unusually hot, hypersaline environment.
Turkey Point, Units 6 and 7 Construction and Operation
    In June 2009, FPL submitted a combined license application (COLA) 
(ADAMS Accession No. ML091830589) to construct and operate two 
Westinghouse Advanced Passive 1000 (AP1000) pressurized-water reactors 
designated as Turkey Point, Units 6 and 7. Submission of the COLA does 
not commit FPL to build two new nuclear units and does not constitute 
approval of the proposal by the NRC; however, submission of the COLA 
infers that the construction and operation of the new units is a 
reasonably foreseeable future action. The COLA will be evaluated on its 
merits, and the NRC will decide whether to grant the licenses after 
considering and evaluating the environmental and safety implications of 
the proposal. Environmental impacts of constructing and operating 
Turkey Point, Units 6 and 7 will depend on their actual design 
characteristics, construction practices, and power plant operations. 
These impacts will be assessed by the NRC in a separate NEPA document. 
The cumulative impacts presented in this EA may differ from those 
impacts assessed for the COLA. Potential impacts presented below have 
been drawn from FPL's Turkey Point, Units 6 and 7 Environmental Report, 
Revision 5 (ADAMS Accession No. ML13357A435), and NRC's 2012 EA and 
final FONSI for the EPU.
    Of the environmental resources affected by the proposed action, the 
possible construction and operation of Units 6 and 7 only have the 
potential to contribute to cumulative radiological impacts. Units 6 and 
7 would not use the CCS for cooling. Rather, Units 6 and 7 would have a 
closed-cycle cooling system with mechanical draft cooling towers. The 
cooling towers would draw makeup from Miami-Dade Water and Sewer 
Department reclaimed water and would discharge blowdown into deep 
injection wells. Saltwater extracted from Biscayne Bay subsurface 
sediment through radial collector wells proposed to be built on the 
Turkey Point site would serve as a secondary source of makeup water 
when a sufficient quantity and/or quality of reclaimed water is not 
available. Because Units 6 and 7 would not use the CCS, the proposed 
new units would not have a cumulative effect on CCS surface water 
resources or CCS aquatic resources.
    Regarding crocodiles, potential impacts to this species and its 
critical habitat will be addressed in a future ESA section 7 
consultation between the NRC and FWS. When considering cumulative 
impacts on Federally listed species, the ESA's implementing regulations 
direct Federal agencies to consider the effects of future State or 
private activities, not involving Federal activities, that are 
reasonably certain to occur within the action area of the Federal 
action subject to consultation (50 CFR part 402.02; emphasis added). 
Accordingly, the NRC will not address cumulative impacts of Units 6 and 
7 on

[[Page 44469]]

the American crocodile in this EA because the NRC's issuance of a 
license to construct and operate Units 6 and 7 is a separate Federal 
activity that will require future consultation.
    Regarding cumulative radiological impacts, the NRC and 
Environmental Protection Agency have developed radiological dose limits 
for protection of the public and workers that address the cumulative 
effects of acute and long-term exposure to radiation and radioactive 
material. These dose limits are specified in 10 CFR part 20 and 40 CFR 
part 190.
    The cumulative radiation dose to the public and workers is required 
to be within the regulations cited above. The public dose limit of 25 
millirem (0.25 millisieverts) in 40 CFR part 190 applies to all 
reactors that may be on a site and also includes any other nearby 
nuclear power reactor facilities. The NRC staff reviewed several years 
of radiation dose data contained in the licensee's annual radioactive 
effluent release reports for Turkey Point, and the data demonstrate 
that the dose to members of the public from radioactive effluents is 
within the limits of 10 CFR part 20 and 40 CFR part 190. As previously 
indicated in the ``Radiological Impacts'' section of this environmental 
assessment, the proposed action would result in no changes to radiation 
levels or the types or quantities of radioactive effluents (gaseous or 
liquid) that affect radiation exposures to plant workers and members of 
the public.
    FPL's COLA for Units 6 and 7 contains an assessment of the 
radiation doses to members of the public from the proposed new reactors 
and concludes that doses would be within regulatory limits. The staff 
expects continued compliance with regulatory dose limits during 
operation of Turkey Point, Units 3 and 4 under the proposed action. 
Therefore, the NRC staff concludes that the cumulative radiological 
impacts to members of the public that could result from the combined 
operations of Turkey Point, Units 3 and 4 and the proposed new Units 6 
and 7 would result in no significant impact on the environment.
    Regarding radiation dose to workers, cumulative dose would only be 
applicable for those workers that would be engaged at both facilities 
(i.e., the currently operating Units 3 and 4 and proposed new Units 6 
and 7). For Units 3 and 4, the licensee has a radiation protection 
program that maintains worker doses within the dose limits in 10 CFR 
part 20 during all phases of operations. Operation of Units 6 and 7 
would require a similar radiation protection program, and the licensee 
would be responsible for ensuring that workers are not exposed to dose 
limits above those specified in 10 CFR part 20. Therefore, the NRC 
staff concludes that the cumulative radiological impacts to plant 
workers that could result from the combined operations of Turkey Point, 
Units 3 and 4 and the proposed new Units 6 and 7 would result in no 
significant impact on the radiological environment.
Cumulative Impacts Conclusion
    The NRC staff considered the cumulative impacts of CCS chemical 
treatments, current and anticipated future aquifer withdrawals, and the 
possible future construction and operation of two new nuclear units on 
the Turkey Point site. Based on the information presented in this 
section, the NRC staff concludes that the proposed action, in 
combination with other cumulative actions, would result in no 
significant cumulative impacts on the environment.

Alternatives to the Proposed Action

    As an alternative to the proposed action, the NRC staff considered 
denial of the proposed license amendments (i.e., the ``no-action'' 
alternative). Denial of the application would result in no change in 
current environmental conditions or impacts. However, denial would 
result in reduced operational flexibility and could require FPL to 
derate or shutdown Turkey Point if the UHS average supply water 
temperature approaches or exceeds the 100[emsp14][deg]F TS limit. In 
its application, FPL states that loss of load and voltage control 
resulting from such a shutdown during periods of high summer demand 
could result in impacts to grid reliability.

Alternative Use of Resources

    The action does not involve the use of any different resources than 
those previously considered in NUREG-1437, Supplement 5 prepared for 
license renewal of Turkey Point.

Agencies and Persons Consulted

    On July 28, 2014, the NRC staff notified the Florida State 
official, Ms. Cindy Becker, Chief of Bureau of Radiation Control, of 
the Florida Department of Health, regarding the environmental impacts 
of the proposed action. The State official had no comments.
    The NRC staff also coordinated with the FWS pursuant to 
consultation under ESA section 7 during the staff's review of the 
proposed action. The consultation is further discussed under the 
``Federally-Protected Species'' section of this environmental 
assessment.

III. Finding of No Significant Impact

    The NRC is considering issuing amendments for Renewed Facility 
Operating License Nos. DPR-31 and DPR-41, issued to FPL for operation 
of Turkey Point to increase the UHS water temperature limit specified 
in the Turkey Point TSs from 100[emsp14][deg]F to 104[emsp14][deg]F and 
add an SR to monitor the UHS temperature more frequently if the UHS 
temperature approaches the new limit.
    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 proposed action would result in no 
significant impacts on surface water resources, aquatic resources, or 
the radiological environment. In addition, the proposed action is not 
likely to adversely affect any Federally-protected species or affect 
any designated critical habitat. The proposed action would also not 
result in significant cumulative impacts on any environmental 
resources. The NRC's evaluation considered information provided in the 
licensee's application and associated supplements; the NRC's staff 
independent review of other environmental documents, and coordination 
with the FWS pursuant to consultation under ESA section 7. 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 environmental and other 
documents cited in this document and related to the NRC's FONSI. These 
documents are available for public inspection online through ADAMS at 
https://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/adams.html or in person at the NRC's PDR 
as described previously.

[[Page 44470]]



------------------------------------------------------------------------
                Document                        Adams Accession No.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
             Documents Related to License Amendment Request
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Florida Power & Light Company. License    ML14196A006
 Amendment Request No. 231, Application
 to Revise Technical Specifications to
 Revise Ultimate Heat Sink Temperature
 Limit. Dated July 10, 2014.
Florida Power & Light Company. License    ML14202A392
 Amendment Request No. 231, Application
 to Revise Ultimate Heat Sink
 Temperature Limit--Request for
 Emergency Approval. Dated July 17, 2014.
U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission.       ML14203A614
 Turkey Point 3 and 4 Request for
 Additional Information--LAR231 (TAC
 MF4392 and MF4393). [1 of 2] Dated July
 18, 2014.
U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission.       ML14203A618
 Turkey Point 3 and 4 Request for
 Additional Information--LAR231 (TAC
 MF4392 and MF4393). [2 of 2] Dated July
 18, 2014.
Florida Power & Light Company. License    ML14204A367
 Amendment Request No. 231, Application
 to Revise Ultimate Heat Sink
 Temperature Limit--Supplement 1, and
 Response to Request for Additional
 Information. Dated July 22, 2014.
Florida Power & Light Company. Response   ML14204A368
 to Request for Additional Information
 Regarding License Amendment Request No.
 231, Application to Revise Technical
 Specifications to Revise Ultimate Heat
 Sink Temperature Limit. Dated July 22,
 2014.
U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission.       ML14204A814
 Turkey Point 3 and 4 Request for
 Additional Information--LAR231 (TAC
 MF4392 and MF4393). Dated July 22, 2014.
U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission.       ML14204A652
 Notice of Enforcement Discretion for
 Florida Power & Light Company Regarding
 Turkey Point Nuclear Generating Unit
 Nos. 3 and 4 [NOED NO. 14-2-001]. Dated
 July 23, 2014.
Florida Power & Light Company. Response   ML14206A853
 to Containment and Ventilation Branch
 Request for Additional Information,
 Regarding License Amendment Request No.
 231, Application to Revise Ultimate
 Heat Temperature Limit. Dated July 24,
 2014.
Florida Power & Light Company. Turkey     ML14204A129 (letter)
 Point Nuclear Generating Unit Nos. 3     ML14199A111 (enclosure)
 and 4--Individual Notice of
 Consideration of Issuance of Amendments
 to Renewed Facility Operating Licenses,
 Proposed No Significant Hazards
 Consideration Determination, and
 Opportunity for Hearing (Exigent
 Circumstances) (TAC Nos. MF4392 and
 MF4293). Dated July 24, 2014.
U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission.       ML14206A800
 Request to Reinitiate Informal
 Consultation for a Proposed License
 Amendment to Increase the Ultimate Heat
 Sink Temperature Limit at Turkey Point
 Nuclear Generating Unit Nos. 3 and 4.
 Dated July 25, 2014.
U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission.       ML14206A806
 Biological Assessment on the American
 Crocodile (Crocodylus acutus) for
 Turkey Point Nuclear Generating Unit
 Nos. 3 and 4 Proposed License Amendment
 to Increase the Ultimate Heat Sink
 Temperature Limit. Dated July 25, 2014.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                       Other Referenced Documents
------------------------------------------------------------------------
U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission.       ML020280236
 Generic Environmental Impact Statement
 for License Renewal of Nuclear Plants:
 Regarding Turkey Point Units 3 and 4--
 Final Report (NUREG-1437, Supplement
 5). Dated January 28, 2002.
Florida Power & Light Company. Proposed   ML091830589
 Turkey Point Units 6 & 7, Project No.
 763, Application for Combined License
 for Turkey Point Units 6 and 7. Dated
 June 30, 2009.
U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission.       ML12074A251
 Final Environmental Assessment and
 Finding of No Significant Impact
 Related to a License Amendment To
 Increase the Maximum Reactor Power
 Level, Florida Power & Light Company;
 Turkey Point, Units 3 and 4. Dated
 March 27, 2012.
Florida Power & Light Company. Turkey     ML13357A435
 Point Units 6 & 7 Combine License
 Application, Part 3: Environmental
 Report, Revision 5. Dated December 23,
 2013.
Florida Power & Light Company. Turkey     ML14206A806 *
 Point Units 3 and 4; Wastewater Permit
 FL0001563; Request for Approval for the
 Use of Copper Sulfate, Hydrogen
 Peroxide, and a Bio-Stimulant in the
 Treatment and Control of Blue Green
 Algae in the Cooling Canal System.
 Dated June 18, 2014.
Florida Department of Environmental       ML14206A806 *
 Protection. Re: Florida Power & Light,
 Turkey Point, NPDES Permit FL0001562,
 90-Day Trial Approval. Dated June 27,
 2014.
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation    ML14206A806 *
 Commission. Re: Florida Power & Light,
 Turkey Point Plant Maintenance
 Activity, NPDES Permit FL0001562, Miami-
 Dade County. Dated July 1, 2014.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
* (See Appendix A.)


    Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 28th day of July 2014.

    For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
Lisa M. Regner,
Acting Chief, Plant Licensing Branch II-2, Division of Operating 
Reactor Licensing, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation.
[FR Doc. 2014-18159 Filed 7-30-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7590-01-P