Comanche Peak, Units 3 & 4
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Comanche Peak Nuclear Power Plant, Units 3 & 4 COL Application Part 3 - Environmental Report Timber (Canebreak) Rattlesnake (State Listed as Threatened). The timber or canebreak rattlesnake is the second largest pit viper found in Texas. Adults range between 40 and 60 in long (TPWD 2007c) (Werler and Dixon 2000). They have lightly colored bodies with darker colored jagged stripes and solid black tails, culminating with a rattle. Though venomous, timber rattlesnakes rely on their cryptic coloration or avoidance when presented with danger, biting only when escape is not possible (TPWD 2007c) (Werler and Dixon 2000). Timber rattlesnakes are most frequently associated with riparian and bottomland forest or in partially wooded hillsides. Timber rattlesnakes are sit-and-wait predators, sometimes waiting for several hours. They lie alongside fallen trees waiting for small mammals, their primary food source, to come along (TPWD 2007c) (Werler and Dixon 2000). Ground-nesting birds, frogs, and other small vertebrates are also eaten. Population decline of timber rattlesnakes has been blamed on habitat destruction, hunting (market and round-ups), logging, and mortality induced while crossing roads (TPWD 2007c) (Werler and Dixon 2000). This species was not observed on the site during field visits in 2007. Glen Rose Yucca (State Listed as Rare with no Regulatory Listing Status for Hood and Somervell RAI TE-10 Counties (TPWD 2008a and TPWD 2008b)). The Glen Rose yucca (Yucca necopina) is found in the sandy soils of the Western Cross Timbers. It is easily distinguished by its white leaf margins bearing white curly threads and its branched flower stalk. The stalk may rise to nine feet with white to greenish white flowers. The Glen Rose yucca is on the Watch List as a rare species, having either low population in numbers or a restricted range in Texas (TNPD 2009). This yucca can be found in grasslands on sandy soils and limestone outcrops (TPWD 2009). This species was not observed during informal field surveys conducted in 2007 by Enercon Services, Inc. The only two documented occurrences of the Glen Rose yucca in Somervell and Hood counties, according to the Botanical Research Institute of Texas (BRIT), were approximately four miles from the project footprint (BRIT 2009). Comanche Peak Prairie-clover (State Listed as Rare with no Regulatory Listing Status for Hood County (TPWD 2008a)). The Comanche Peak prairie-clover (Dalea reverchonii) is a low, spreading perennial, which appears as a dense, mat-forming rosette up to 16 inches in diameter. Numerous thick, 3-inch long spikes of rose-pink to magenta-purple flowers bloom in May and continue through June (CPC 2009). It is often found among sparse vegetation in barren, exposed sites, sometimes in roadway rights-of-way (TPWD 2008c). The Comanche Peak prairie-clover is restricted to shallow-soil prairies where the Western Cross Timbers meet the Grand Prairie of north-central Texas, occurring mostly where Goodland Limestone lies at or near the surface (Poole et al. 2007). There were no documented occurrences of the Comanche Peak prairie-clover in Somervell or Hood counties, according to the BRIT (BRIT 2009). This prairie- clover is only known from about 20 occurrences within a very small geographic area in north- central Texas and considered extirpated from Comanche Peak (NatureServe 2009). The species discussed below are federally and/or state listed for Hood and/or Somervell County RAI TE-07 as rare, candidate, threatened, or endangered but were not included on the list of species provided by the USFWS and TPWD during consultation (USFWS Consultation Letter dated December 4, 2006 and TPWD Consultation Letter dated August 3, 2007). Therefore, construction of units 3 and 4 are not expected to impact these species or their associated habitat. 2.4-15 Revision: 0 Comanche Peak Nuclear Power Plant, Units 3 & 4 COL Application Part 3 - Environmental Report American Peregrine Falcon (State Listed as Threatened for Hood and Somervell Counties RAI TE-07 (TPWD 2008a and TPWD 2008b)) and Arctic Peregrine Falcon (State Listed as Rare with no Regulatory Listing Status for Hood and Somervell Counties (TPWD 2008a and TPWD 2008b)). The adult American peregrine falcon (Falco peregrinus anatum) and Arctic peregrine falcon (Falco peregrinus tundrius) have long, pointed wings and a long rounded tail with narrow, black bands, ending with a broad, dark band tipped with white. Immature peregrines are similar, but the back and underparts are brown and the throat is heavily streaked with brown (DEP 2009). Peregrines migrate through Texas twice a year to and from their wintering areas in South America. They stop on the Texas Coast to feed before continuing their migration (TPWD 2009a). According to NatureServe, there are no existing natural heritage records of American peregrine falcon occurrences for Hood or Somervell counties (NatureServe 2009). Interior Least Tern (Federally and State Listed as Endangered for Hood and Somervell Counties (TPWD 2008a and TPWD 2008b)). Interior least terns (Sterna antillarum athalassos) are the smallest North American terns. Adults average 8 to 10 inches in length, with a 20 inch wingspan. The interior least tern is migratory, breeding along inland river systems in the United States and wintering along the Central American coast and the northern coast of South America. The breeding range extended from Texas to Montana and from eastern Colorado and New Mexico to southern Indiana. In Texas, interior least terns are found at three reservoirs along the Rio Grande River, on the Canadian River in the northern Panhandle, on the Prairie Dog Town Fork of the Red River in the eastern Panhandle, and along the Red River into Arkansas (TPWD 2009b). According to NatureServe, there are no existing natural heritage records of interior least tern occurrences for Hood or Somervell counties (NatureServe 2009). Whooping Crane (Federally and State Listed as Endangered for Hood and Somervell Counties (TPWD 2008a and TPWD 2008b)). The whooping crane (Grus americana) is the tallest bird in North America and have a wingspan of 7.5 feet. Whooping cranes are white with rust colored patches on top and on the back of their head. They lack feathers on both sides of the head, have yellow eyes, and long, black legs and bills. Whooping cranes breed in the wetlands of Wood Buffalo National Park in northern Canada and spends the winter on the Texas coast at Aransas National Wildlife Refuge near Rockport (TPWD 2009c). Although the whooping crane could possibly be a migrant over the proposed project location, no natural heritage records of occurrences exist for Hood or Somervell counties (NatureServe 2009). Baird’s Sparrow (State Listed as Rare with no Regulatory Listing Status for Hood County (TPWD 2008a)). Baird’s Sparrow (Ammodramus bairdii) is a brown-streaked bird with an ochre-colored slash running down the back of its head. This sparrow lives almost exclusively in the native prairie of the northern Great Plains and winters in parts of Texas. This sparrow prefers mixed grass native prairie and forbs without excessive grass litter or heavy brush (USFWS 2009). According to NatureServe’s Range Map, the Baird’s sparrow only occurs as a non breeding resident in the far west part of Texas (NatureServe 2009) which is well outside the boundaries of the proposed project. Mountain Plover (State Listed as Rare with no Regulatory Listing Status for Hood and Somervell Counties (TPWD 2008a and TPWD 2008b)). The mountain plover (Charadrius montanus) resides in arid plains and prairies, rather than mountains. The summer range of the mountain plover stretches across the Great Plains region, from Canada to the northern part of the Texas panhandle. Up to 85 percent of the total population is thought to winter in California’s Imperial 2.4-16 Revision: 0 Comanche Peak Nuclear Power Plant, Units 3 & 4 COL Application Part 3 - Environmental Report and San Joaquin valleys, with smaller numbers wintering in Arizona, southern Texas and RAI TE-07 northern Mexico (NAS 2005). According to NatureServe’s Range Map, the mountain plover only occurs as a non breeding resident in the southern tip of Texas and as a breeding resident in the northwest portion of the panhandle in Texas (NatureServe 2009) which is well outside the boundaries of the proposed project. Western Burrowing Owl (State Listed as Rare with no Regulatory Listing Status for Hood and Somervell Counties (TPWD 2008a and TPWD 2008b)). The burrowing owl (Athene cunicularia hypugaea) is a ground-dwelling bird with distinctive long legs and a short tail. The feathers are a sandy brown color above, while the breast area is beige with spotted bars. The burrowing owls do excavate their own homes but if available, they prefer to take use of other burrowing animals’ dens. They typically nest in vacated prairie dog burrows. Burrowing owl habitat includes grasslands and deserts. They winter throughout Texas and commonly breed in the Panhandle and West Texas (TPWD 2009d). According to NatureServe, there are no existing natural heritage records of Western burrowing owl occurrences for Hood or Somervell counties (NatureServe 2009). Plains Spotted Skunk (State Listed as Rare with no Regulatory Listing Status for Hood and Somervell Counties (TPWD 2008a and TPWD 2008b)). The plains spotted skunk (Spilogale putorius interrupta) has jet black fur and distinct white spots in front of the ears and between the eyes. It has four to six broken white stripes extending from its neck along its back and sides. It has a white triangle on its forehead. The plains spotted skunk lives in open tallgrass prairies, forests, bushy areas and cultivated land (MDC, 2009). According to NatureServe, there are no existing natural heritage records of plains spotted skunk occurrences for Hood or Somervell counties (NatureServe 2009). Texas Garter Snake (State Listed as Rare with no Regulatory Listing Status for Hood and Somervell Counties (TPWD 2008a and TPWD 2008b)).