DCL-2024-527, Sea Turtle Stranding Report (Loggerhead Sea Turtle) Diablo Canyon Power Plant

Sea Turtle Stranding Report (Loggerhead Sea Turtle) Diablo Canyon Power Plant

ML24212A209
Person / Time
Site:	Diablo Canyon
Issue date:	07/01/2024
From:	Rebel T Pacific Gas & Electric Co
To:	Viezbicke J Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation, US Dept of Commerce, National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration
References
DCL-2024-527
Download: ML24212A209 (1)

Text

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Pacific Gas and Electric Company~*

Diablo Canyon Power Plant P. 0. Box 56 Avila Beach, CA 93424 PG&E Letter DCL-2024-527 July 2, 2024 Justin Viezbicke California Stranding Network Coordinator NOAA Fisheries 501 West Ocean Blvd., Suite 4200 Long Beach, California 90802-4213 Electronic Submission E-Mail PDF Formatted File

_justin.viezbicke@noaa.gov Sea Turtle Stranding Report (Loggerhead 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 June 17, 2024, a live sea turtle was discovered by intake operations within the power plaht intake structure 1-4 forebay. The turtle was subsequently identified as a loggerhead sea turtle (Caretta caretta).

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 (June 17th) 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 June 17th for further examination, assessment, and eventual release. Prior to transfer, TMMC measured the turtle's weight at 23.0 kilograms and shell length (notch-tip) at 62.0 centimeters, and noted the animal appeared to be in average health based on visual observation. There were no apparent abrasions or indication of any injury due to the stranding event. Superficial lesions and inflammatory tissue likely due to barnacle adhesion were noted, and the animal showed evidence of cold stunning ( core body temperature approaching 1 O degrees C). 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 June 17, 2024, within the required 48-hour facility reporting period.

Live loggerhead sea turtles have not been discovered at DCPP's intake structure prior to this event. Loggerhead sea turtles are not typically observed in the coastal waters in the vicinity of the power plant.

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PG&E Letter DCL-2024-527 Justin Viezbicke, NOAA Fisheries July 2, 2024 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 - Diab/a Canyon Power Plant 2024527/nrh Enclosures (2)

PG&E Letter DCL-2024-527 Justin Viezbicke, NOAA Fisheries July 2, 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 James Morris DCPP Manager, Nuclear Regulatory Services

PG&E Letter DCL-2024-501 July 2, 2024 Copy NMFS Stranding Report Loggerhead Sea Turtle (Caretta caretta)

Diablo Canyon Power Plant (DCPP) - June 17, 2024 Report Generated by The Marine Mammal Center (TMMC) Morro Bay

Revised 3/2020 U.S. WEST COAST SEA TURTLE STRANDING REPORT FIELD # TMMC-ST-84 ("Liftoff")

NMFS REGIONAL#

Other#

DATE INITIALLY OBSERVED: 06_ _ 1L 20~_

DATE EXAMINED: _Q6_ j_] _

20~_ RESTRANDER?

Month Day Year Month Day Year IN IT ALLY OBSERVED BY: Ninah Hartley, PGE Diablo Canyon EXAMINED BY: Dr. Heather Harris/Shayla Zink Phone (

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_ 545-3326 Email ninah.hartley@pge.com Phone ( )~ _517-5514 Email HarrisH@tmmc.org/ZinkS@tmmc.org D Private citizen Ii] Beach official D Stranding network member Affiliation The Marine Mammal Center SPECIES: D Unidentified LOCATION: Check one option.

D Beached Ii] Floating in water Loggernead sea turtle City Avila Beach County San Luis Obispo State_cA _ _

Common name Locality details (be specific): Diablo Canyon Power Plant Intake Structure Carella caretta Genus Species Digital photos taken: Ii] Yes D No Latitude 35 2110 o N Longitude _-..!,?Q_. ~563 __

0 w Record in decimal degrees.

Verified by: Heather Harris How determined (check one): D GPS Map [j] Internet/software google Maps AGE: (NMFS Use Only)

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

Body weight Ii] Actual D Estimate 23.0 kg Yes Ii] No CARAPACE:

CONDITION:

How was sex determined?

Curved Carapace Length (nuchal notch to tip) 62 cm

[j] 1 = Alive 0 Tail length 0 Penis D Necropsy Curved Carapace Width (at widest point) 59.5 cm D 2 = Fresh dead Straight Carapace Length Ii] Calipers D Tape ss.5 cm D 3 = Moderate decomposition BODY CONDITION:

Straight Carapace Width Ii] Calipers D Tape 48.75 cm D 4 = Advanced decomposition D 1 = Poor D 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 Iii 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.

Ii] 5 ='Power plant entrainment Diablo Canyon Power Plant PIT: Existing PIT tags present?

Yes No D 6 = Other Scanner type: AVID D Universal tag reader How determined? Ii] External exam Internal exam D Necropsy PIT tag #did not scan Evidence collected? D Yes Iii No Describe Location:

Left/ Right Front/ Rear Storage location PIT tag#

Digital photos sent to NMFS coordinator? D Yes Iii No Location:

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

Yes No OTHER FINDINGS: Iii 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#

D 2 = Trauma Location:

Left/ Right Front/ Rear Ii] 3 = Cold stunning: Body temp (live only) ~°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 Iii 2 = Alive, transferred to rehabilitation Date6111124 F aci lily Aquarium of the Pacific 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: D Field D Laboratory Date By D 8 = Left floating, not recovered Why?

D 9 = Disposition unknown Explain:

CARAPACE (DORSAL VIEW)

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS ASTRON (VENTRAL VIEW)

Revised 3/2020 LEFT LEFT

~?p;y 0-S i sterior~

Marginal TIP 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? [i] Yes D No Quiet, alert, and responsive. Can lift head above plane of body, strong spontaneous movmement of head and all flippers, moving around carrier, flaps flippers when lifted.

Eyes open and aware of surroundings, clear OU. No nasal discharge, no oral lesions observed, no foreign material in oral or cloaca.

Heart rate 9 beats/min, respiratory rate 4 breaths/min, core body temp (cloacal probe) 11.5 C (52,7 F), weight 23 kg.

Brown algal growth diffusely across 80% of carapace, with some patchy algae on plastron. 6 large round barnacles (2-4 cm diameter) on carapace, with several round raised ulcerative lesions on dorsal and ventral front flippers (likely previous barnacle attachment sites). Gooseneck barnacle trailing off claw of right hind flipper.

Crusty pink inflammatory tissue on ventral side of tail base. No evidence of trauma or fisheries interactions.

Additional Attachments (e.g. Level A, Pathology): _____ _________ ______ _ _ _____ _

SPECIMEN DISPOSITION:

Check all that apply.

[i] Scientific collection Education Other _________ _

List all samples/ parts collected (note tissue and storage medium): Storage location. _______________ __ _

Plasma (lithium heparin)- 3 vial* x 1.8 ml each, frozen at TMMC for cold-stun health assessment NMFS Sample Requests:

Skin (All species):

Scleral ossicles (Leatherbacks only):

Humerus bone (CM, CC and El only):

DMSO D Left eye Left D Saturated salt D Right eye Right Other Samples: _______________________ _

SHIP TO: Erin LaCasella SWFSC-NMFS-NOAA 8901 La Jolla Shores Drive La Jolla, CA 92037 858-546-5696 Erin.LaCasella@noaa.gov 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-2024-527 July 2, 2024 Specimen Photographs - Loggerhead Sea Turtle (Caretta caretta)

Diablo Canyon Power Plant (DCPP) - June 17, 2024