Re: FPL Port Everglades Energy Center

Audra Livergood to: Flajole, Andy 08/28/2012 11:29 AM

Cc:

"David.Bernhardt@noaa.gov", "Cathy.Tortorici@noaa.gov", "Sobol, 

Justin", "Raffenberg, Matthew", "Foster, Stacy", "Gless, Jodie", 

Andrew Parks

History: This message has been replied to.

Dear Andy,

Please see attached minor modifications to FPL's suggested schedule. Please let me know if FPL 

and EPA concur with the proposed changes.

Thanks,

Audra

On Thu, Aug 23, 2012 at 4:03 PM, Flajole, Andy <Andy.Flajole@fpl.com> wrote:

Hi David, Cathy, and Audra,

Thank you again for taking time to meet with us yesterday regarding the Port Everglades 

Energy Center (PEEC) Project. As discussed, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) 

Region IV has initiated a consultation with the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) 

associated with the Greenhouse Gas (GHG) permit application submitted by Florida Power & 

Light Company (FPL). FPL has been designated by EPA as the non-federal representative and 

thus is preparing a Biological Assessment (BA). The additional insight you provided 

regarding the BA will help to ensure we submit a more complete BA. 

FPL understands that NMFS staff will be discussing the Section 7 consultation process as it 

relates to the PEEC project with EPA in the near future. FPL would appreciate the opportunity 

to participate in future meetings during the consultation process between EPA and NMFS. In 

addition, to help facilitate the inter-agency collaboration, FPL proposes the following 

conceptual schedule of next steps for your consideration:

8/31/12 FPL provides EPA the BA for submittal to NMFS for review

9/14/12 Meeting with EPA, NMFS, and FPL to discuss the BA

10/1/12 NMFS sends EPA a Request for Additional Information (RAI)

10/8/12 Meeting with EPA, NMFS, and FPL to discuss the RAI 
10/29/12 FPL provides EPA the RAI Response for submittal to NMFS for review

11/12/12 Meeting with EPA, NMFS, and FPL to discuss the RAI Response

11/22/12 NMFS determines the BA is “complete”; if necessary EPA enters formal 

consultation; statutory clocks start for NMFS and EPA

4/10/13 Statutory timeline date for NMFS to issue a Biological Opinion (if necessary)

5/1/13 Potential target date for EPA to issue the final GHG permit to FPL

11/21/13 Statutory deadline date for EPA to issue the GHG permit for PEEC (assumes 

BA “complete” 11/22/12)

As we discussed yesterday, maintaining the schedule is critical to the success of this project. 

FPL is committed to working with the EPA and NMFS to expedite the necessary reviews and 

ultimately the issuance of the GHG permit. The approximately year-long dismantlement of the 

existing facility is scheduled to begin April 1, 2013, with PEEC expected to be operational in 

June 2016. The proposed schedule above would minimize schedule risk to the PEEC Project 

by providing more certainty to FPL that dismantlement and construction activities can proceed 

on time, thus ensuring FPL can meet its obligation to provide reliable, cost-effective new 

power generation. 

FPL looks forward to hearing your thoughts on the draft schedule. Again, it was nice meeting 

you yesterday.

Thank You,

Andy Flajole

Environmental Services

(561) 691-2766
-- 

Audra Livergood

Marine Resource Manager

NOAA National Marine Fisheries Service

SERO Protected Resources Division

Fort Lauderdale Field Office

299 East Broward Blvd., Suite 328

Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301

Office (954) 356-7100

Fax (954) 356-7108

For if one link in nature's chain might be lost, another might be lost, until the whole of things will 

vanish by piecemeal.    Thomas Jefferson

NMFS suggested consultation schedule.docx