DCL-2024-501, Sea Turtle Stranding Report (Green Sea Turtle)

Sea Turtle Stranding Report (Green Sea Turtle)

ML24047A050
Person / Time
Site:	Diablo Canyon
Issue date:	01/24/2024
From:	Rebel T Pacific Gas & Electric Co
To:	Viezbicke J Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
References
DCL-2024-501
Download: ML24047A050 (1)

Text

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Pacific Gas and Electric Company**

PG&E Letter DCL-2024-501 January 24, 2024 Justin Viezbicke California Stranding Network Coordinator NOAA Fisheries 501 West Ocean Blvd., Suite 4200 Long Beach, California 90802-4213 Diablo Canyon Power Plant P. 0. Box 56 Avila Beach, CA 93424 Electronic Submission E-Mail PDF Formatted File justin. viezbicke@noaa.gov Sea Turtle Stranding Report (Green Sea Turtle) Diablo Canyon Power Plant Enclosed is NOAA Fisheries West Coast Sea Turtle Stranding Report (Copy) for a sea turtle discovered in the Diablo Canyon Power Plant (DCPP) intake structure. This report was previously provided to NOAA Fisheries by the Local NOAA Stranding Network Organization, The Marine Mammal Center (TMMC) Morro Bay, which managed the specimen following recovery from the power plant intake structure.

On the morning of December 11, 2023, a live sea turtle was discovered by intake operations within the power plant intake structure 2-4 forebay. The turtle was subsequently identified as a green sea turtle (Che/onia mydas).

As authorized in DCPP's incidental take statement issued September 18, 2006, facility staff removed the turtle from the intake structure forebay later that morning (December 11 th) and transferred the turtle to the management and care of TMMC staff at the direction of NMFS. The turtle was removed using a welded metal platform, then transported from the intake structure in a TMMC climate-controlled van. Photographs taken of the recovered turtle are enclosed.

TMMC transferred the turtle to the Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach, CA on the evening of December 11th for further examination, assessment, and eventual release. Prior to transfer, TMMC measured the turtle's weight at 9.5 kilograms and shell length (notch-tip) at 44.0 centimeters, and noted the animal appeared to be in good health based on visual observation.

There was one minimal injury noted to the tip of the left front flipper, where a small piece of tissue was folded over and later removed by aquarium staff. TMMC noted on the enclosed stranding report that this injury may have potentially occurred during the stranding event, but this was not confirmed. There were no other indications of injury. The turtle was transferred to TMMC staff for initial transport to the Morro Bay Care facility and later to the Aquarium of the Pacific. Discovery and disposition of the turtle was reported by TMMC to NOAA Fisheries on December 11, 2023, within the required 48-hour facility reporting period.

Live green sea turtles have been discovered at DCPP's intake structure on thirteen previous occasions during commercial operations: July 26, 2019, September 22, 2014, September 21,

2012, August 08, 2010, September 08, 2009, July 23, 2007, February 27, 2001, April 16, 2000, August 24, 1999, May 29, 1999, June 12, 1997, January 10, 1997, and April 27, 1994. Green sea turtles are infrequently observed in the coastal waters in the vicinity of the power plant.

If you have any questions or concerns regarding the enclosed report, or require additional information, please contact Steve Pengilley at (805) 545-3236.

Sincerely, Trevor Rebel Manager, Environmental Protection - Diablo Canyon Power Plant 2024501 /nrh Enclosures (2)

PG&E Letter DCL-2024-501 Justin Viezbicke, NOAA Fisheries January 24, 2024 cc w/enclosures:

Samson Lee NRR Project Manager U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission One White Flint North 11555 Rockville Pike Rockville, MD 20852-2738 Mahdi Hayes NRC Senior Resident Inspector U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Diablo Canyon Power Plant 104/5 Regional Administrator Licensing Assistant, Operations Branch U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Region IV 1600 East Lamar Boulevard., Suite 400 Arlington, TX 76011-4511 U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Document Control Desk Washington, D.C. 20555-0001 Marine Region California Department of Fish and Wildlife 20 Lower Ragsdale Dr. Suite 100 Monterey, CA 93940 Robin LeRoux National Marine Fisheries Service Southwest Fisheries Science Center 8901 La Jolla Shores Drive La Jolla, CA 92037

PG&E Letter DCL-2024-501 January 24, 2024 Copy NMFS Stranding Report Green Sea Turtle (Chelonia mydas)

Diablo Canyon Power Plant (DCPP) - December 11, 2023 Report Generated by The Marine Mammal Center (TMMC) Morro Bay

Revised 3/2020 U.S. WEST COAST SEA TURTLE STRANDING REPORT FIELD #TMMC-ST-78 NMFS REGIONAL #

Other #

DATE INITIALLY OBSERVED:

12 11 20 23 DATE EXAMINED: 11 -

20 23 - RESTRANDER?

Month Day Year Month Day Year INITALLY OBSERVED BY: Ninah Hartley, PGE Diablo Canyon EXAMINED BY: Dr. Heather Harris Phone ( )~ - 545-3326 Email nlnah.hartley@pge.com Phone ( )~ _ 517-5514 Email hanish@tnvnc.org D Private citizen Iii Beach official D Stranding network member Affiliation The Marine Mammal Center SPECIES: D Unidentified LOCATION:

Check one option.

D Beached Iii Floating in water East Pacific Green Turttle City Avila Beach County San Luis Obispo State~

Common name Locality details (be specific): Diablo Canyon Power Plant Intake Structure, 2-4 bar racks Chelonia mydas Genus Species Digital photos taken: Iii Yes D No Latitude _35_. _2123 ___

0 N Longitude -120_. 8578 _ ___

• W Record in decimal degrees.

Verified by: Heather Hanis How determined (check one): D GPS Map Iii Internet/software Google Maps AGE: (NMFS Use Only)

D Hatchling Ii] Immature SEX: Male D Female Ii] Unknown MEASUREMENTS: Whole carcass Partial/ scavenged Adult D Unknown Does tail extend beyond carapace?

Bodyweight Iii Actual D Estimate 9.5 kg Yes Ii] No CARAPACE:

CONDITION:

How was sex determined?

Curved Carapace Length (nuchal notch to tip) 44.0 cm Ii] 1 = Alive D Tail length D Penis D Necropsy Curved Carapace Width (at widest point) 40.0 cm D 2 = Fresh dead Straight Carapace Length Ii] Calipers D Tape 41.0 cm D 3 = Moderate decomposition BODY CONDITION:

Straight Carapace Width Ii] Calipers D Tape 33.s cm D 4 = Advanced decomposition D1=Poor Ii] 4 = Good TAIL:

D 5 = Dried mummified/ skeleton D 2 = Fair D 5 = Excellent End of plastron to tail tip (ventral side) cm D 6 = Unknown condition D 3 =Average D 6 = Unknown Cloaca to tail tip (ventral side) cm TAGS: Contact NMFS before disposing of any tagged animal!! HUMAN INTERACTION: Ii] Yes No D Cannot Be Determined FLIPPER: Existing metal tags present?

Yes Ii] No If yes, choose one or more. Describe and draw on diagram on back of page.

Tag#

Left/ Right Front/ Rear D 1 = Boat collision Tag #

Left/ Right Front/ Rear 2=Shot Return address:

D 3 = Fishery interaction D Hook D Monofilament D Braided line D Netting Evidence of old tag holes/ rips in flippers Yes No 4= Oiled If yes, draw on diagram on back of page.

Iii 5 = Power plant entrainment Dlablo canyon PIT: Existing PIT tags present?

Yes No D 6 = Other Scanner type: DAVID D Universal tag reader How determined? Ii] External exam Internal exam D Necropsy PIT tag #

Did not scan for PIT tags Evidence collected? D Yes Iii No Describe Location:

Left/ Right Front/ Rear Storage location NIA PIT tag #

Digital photos sent to NMFS coordinator?

Yes Iii No Location:

Left/ Right Front/ Rear APPLIED NEWT AGS (live turtle):

Yes No OTHER FINDINGS: Ii] Yes No D Cannot Be Determined Tag #

Left/ Right Front/ Rear If yes, choose one or more. Describe and draw on diagram on back of page.

Tag #

Left/ Right Front/ Rear D 1 = Disease PIT tag #

Ii] 2 = Trauma Injury to tip ot left front flipper Location:

Left/ Right Front/ Rear 3 = Cold stunning: Body temp (live only) 14.9C °C/°F method Cloacal probe PIT tag #

D 4 = Other Location:

Left/ Right Front/ Rear How determined? Iii External exam D Internal exam D Necropsy FINAL DISPOSITION: Check all that apply.

D 1 = Alive, released D At site D Relocated If fishery interaction, disentangled prior to release? D Yes D No Ii] 2 = Alive, transferred to rehabilitation Date 12111123 Facility Aquarium of the Pacific, Long Beech, CA D 3 = Euthanized at site By Carcass disposition D 4 = Dead, left at site Marked? D Yes No How?

D 5 = Dead, buried: D On beach D Off beach Where?

D 6 = Dead, salvaged: D Whole carcass D Part(s) D Frozen for later exam Please note all specimens collected and disposition on back.

D 7 = Necropsied:

Field Laboratory Date By D 8 = Left floating, not recovered Why?

D 9 = Disposition unknown Explain:

CARAPACE (DORSAL VIEW)

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS Nuchal NOTCH RIGHT RIGHT ASTRON (VENTRAL VIEW)

Revised 3/2020 LEFT Please mark wounds/ abnormalities on diagrams above and describe them below. Be sure to measure all wounds/ lesions and document with digital photos. Note tar or oil, gear or debris entanglements, epibiota, masses, papillomas, emaciation, etc.

Please note if no wounds or abnormalities are found.

Digital photos taken? Ii] Yes O No Immature green found alive inside intake structure at Diablo Canyon Power Plant. Turtle was loaded by divers into hanging basket and lifted via aane to platform above. Water temp and turtle external temp (IR temp gun) in field approx 15C/59 F. Transported by TMMC in temperature controlled van to facility in Morro Bay for evaluation. Turtle was quiet, alert, and responsive, holding head above plane of body, actively flapping flippers when Hilted. Good body condition (4/5), rounded neck/shoulders/inguinal area. Mild algal growth on head and carapace. No foreign material noted in oral cavity or cloaca. Core body temperature {cloaca! probe) 14.9C, mildly hypothermic at the temperature threshold of inactivity for the population (15C), but not clinically cold stunned. Tip of left front flipper folded on itself, no external wounds noted, suspect injury from stranding event Stable turtle, good candidate for further medical evaluation to rule out fracture and underlying disease and relocation in warmer waters of southern California. Transferred to Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach with evening arrival.

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,om seECIMEN DISeQSIIIQN:

C.bec.k. au tbat il/JIJ/y. D Scieatific collectioa n Educatioa D Qtbec Lisi all samplesl pacts collected (aole tissue aad storage medium)* Storage localioa NIA NMFS Sample Requests:

SHIP TO: Erin LaCasella Skin (All species):

DMSO 0 Saturated salt SWFSC-NMFS-NOAA Sciera! ossicles (Leatherbacks only): D Left eye D Right eye 8901 La Jolla Shores Drive Humerus bone (CM, CC and El only): 0 Left 0 Right La Jolla, CA 92037 858-546-5696 Erin.LaCasella@noaa.gov Other Samples:

SWFSC Animal ID:

Other ID:

PLEASE MAIL ORIGINAL FORMS TO REGIONAL STRANDING COORDINATOR:

In CA: Justin Viezbicke, NOAA - West Coast Region, Long Beach Office; 501 W. Ocean Blvd., Suite 4200, Long Beach, CA 90802 Office: (562) 980-3230, Hotline Cell: (562) 506-4315, Fax: (562) 980-4027, Justin.Viezbicke@noaa.gov In OR/WA: Kristin Wilkinson, NOAA-West Coast Region, Seattle Office; 7600 Sand Point Way Northeast, Seattle, WA 98115 Office: (206) 526-4747, Cell: (206) 550-6208, Kristin.Wilkinson@noaa.gov

PG&E Letter DCL-2024-501 January 24, 2024 Specimen Photographs - Green Sea Turtle (Chelonia mydas)

Diablo Canyon Power Plant (DCPP) - December 11, 2023