3F0207-04, Sea Turtle Mortality Report

Sea Turtle Mortality Report

ML070520350
Person / Time
Site:	Crystal River
Issue date:	02/07/2007
From:	Infanger P Progress Energy Florida
To:	Document Control Desk, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
References
3F0207-04
Download: ML070520350 (2)

Text

Progress Energy Crystal River Nuclear Plant Docket No. 50-302 Operating License No. DPR-72 February 7, 2007 3F0207-04 U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Attn: Document Control Desk Washington, DC 20555-0001

Subject:

Crystal River - Unit 3 - Sea Turtle Mortality Report Dear Sir.

Florida Power Corporation, doing business as Progress Energy Florida, Inc. (PEF), hereby provides a copy to the NRC of a sea turtle mortality report that was submitted to the U. S. National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS). The report to the NMFS is required by NMFS's Crystal River - Unit 3 (CR-3) Biological Opinion, dated August 8, 2002, Terms and Conditions, Item 2. Reporting to the NRC is required by the CR-3 Operating License, Appendix B - Part II, Environmental Protection Plan (Non-Radiological) Technical Specifications, Section 4.0, Environmental Conditions, Item 4.1, Significant Environmental Events.

This letter establishes no new regulatory commitments.

If you have any questions regarding this submittal, please contact Mr. Lee Hughes, Superintendent, Environmental and Chemistry at (352) 563-4715.

Sincerely, Supervisor, Licyfng & Regulatory Programs Crystal River Nuclear Plant PEI/ff Attachment xc: Regional Administrator, Region II Senior Resident Inspector NRR Project Manager Progress Energy Florida, Lnc.

Crystal River Nuclear Plant 15760 W. Powerline Street Crystal River, FL 34428

Progress Energy February 7, 2007 LRP07-0003 U.S. National Marine Fisheries Service South East Regional Office Attn: Assistant Regional Administrator Protected Resources Division 263 13th Avenue, South Saint Petersburg, Florida 33701

Subject:

Crystal River Unit 3 - Sea Turtle Mortality Report

Dear Sir:

The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), Nuclear Regulatory Commission, and the Crystal River Energy Complex (CREC) completed an Endangered Species Act Section 7 formal consultation process. In the Biological Opinion, issued August 8, 2002 by the NMFS, terms and conditions were included which required that if any listed species are apparently injured or killed in the CREC intake canal or the Crystal River Unit 3 bar racks, a report summarizing the incident must be provided to the NMFS within 30 days of the incident.

On December 28, 2006, at 11:22 P.M., a dead Kemp's ridley sea turtle (Lepidochelys kempii) was recovered from the Crystal River Unit 3 intake screenwash basket. The turtle was transferred to the Crystal River Mariculture Center for evaluation by facility biologists. On December 30, 2006, a request was made to the University of Florida - College of Veterinary Medicine to conduct a necropsy in order to determine if the death was causally related to CREC operations. There were delays in securing the proper transfer of the carcass to the University of Florida - College of Veterinary Medicine and the completion of the necropsy. This delayed the final determination of causal mortality until preliminary necropsy results were obtained which in turn, delayed the issuance of this report in excess of the required 30 days from carcass recovery.

Following a careful physical examination and review of the circumstances of the recovery, on January 31, 2007, it was concluded that the likely cause of death was drowning causally related to unit operations. The sea turtle had a carapace length of 22 cm and was in good nutritional condition. A Kemp's ridley sea turtle this small is*a rare occurrence in the intake canal, based on historical records of rescues at the site and on juvenile sea turtle habitat utilization and migration information. A likely scenario is that this small turtle was swimming in the intake canal and oriented in such a way as to pass unobserved between the fixed bar rack openings. This is the only causal mortality at the Crystal River Energy Complex during 2006.

Progress Energy continues to implement the reasonable and prudent measures described in the current incidental take statement to minimize impacts on sea turtles from facility operations.

If you have any questions regarding this submittal, please contact Mr. Lee Hughes, Superintendent, Environmental and Chemistry at (352) 563-4715.

Sincerely, Paul E. Infanef Supervisor, &'cning & Regulatory Programs Crystal River N clear Plant PEI/ff Progress Energy Florida, Inc.

Crystal River Nuclear Plant 15760 W. Powerline Street Crystal River, FL 34428