DCL-2025-502, (Dcpp), 2024 Annual Sea Turtle Report
| ML25059A045 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Diablo Canyon  |
| Issue date: | 01/29/2025 |
| 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-2025-502 | |
| Download: ML25059A045 (1) | |
Text
II Pacific Gas and Electric Company"'
PG&E Letter DCL-2025-502 January 29, 2025 Justin Viezbicke California Stranding Coordinator West Coast Regional Office NOAA Fisheries 501 West Ocean Blvd., Suite 4200 Long Beach, California 90802-4213 Oiablo Canyon Power Plant P.O. Box 56 Avila Beach, CA 93424 Electronic Submission E-Mail PDF Formatted File justin. viezbicke@noaa.gov 2024 Annual Sea Turtle Report for Diablo Canyon Power Plant (DCPP)
Mr. Viezbicke, As required by the biological opinion (issued: September 18, 2006) generated by Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) biologists and National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Fisheries staff, the enclosed annual report summarizes sea turtles observed in the vicinity of DCPP during 2024.
One subadult loggerhead sea turtle (Caretta caretta) was found within an intake structure forebay on June 17, 2024. The turtle was removed by plant staff on the same day, then transferred unharmed to representatives of the Local NOAA Stranding Network Organization, the Marine Mammal Center (MMC) Morro Bay. No other sea turtles were observed in the vicinity of DCPP during 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 Manger, Environmental Protection - Diab/a Canyon Power Plant 2025502/nrh Enclosures (1)
PG&E Letter DCL-2025-502 Justin Viezbicke, NOAA Fisheries January 29, 2025 Page 2 cc w/enclosure:
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 John Monninger 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
PG&E Letter DCL-2025-502 NOAA Fisheries January 29, 2025 Pacific Gas & Electric Company Nuclear Power Generation 2024 Annual Sea Turtle Report Diablo Canyon Power Plant (DCPP)
PACIFIC GAS & ELECTRIC COMPANY 2024 ANNUAL SEA TURTLE REPORT DIABLO CANYON POWER PLANT (DCPP)
TABLE OF CONTENTS
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Incidental Take Reports......................................................
1 Intake Inspections...............................................................
1 Sea Turtle Observations.....................................................
1 Sea Turtle Photographs......................................................
1 Status of DCPP Incidental Take Level................................
1 Actions to Reduce Sea Turtle Entrainment...........................
2 Appendix 1: Incidental Take Event Report - June 17, 2024 Appendix 2: Supplemental Stranding Report -Aquarium of the Pacific Intake Examination
Incidental Take Reports One loggerhead sea turtle (Caretta caretta) was discovered within DCPP's intake structure forebay on June 17, 2024. Per the direction of NOAA Fisheries, following removal from the intake forebay, the live, healthy sea turtle was transferred to representatives of the Local NOAA Stranding Network Organization, The Marine Mammal Center (TMMC) Morro Bay. A copy of the sea turtle stranding report generated by the TMMC and submitted to NOAA Fisheries is included in Appendix 1. The Aquarium of the Pacific performed an initial intake examination of the turtle upon arrival at the facility and generated a supplemental stranding report with additional medical details. This supplemental report is included in Appendix 2.
Intake Inspections Observations of DCPP intake structure forebays continue to be conducted approximately every 12 hours1.388889e-4 days <br />0.00333 hours <br />1.984127e-5 weeks <br />4.566e-6 months <br /> by the Shift Operations Intake Watch.
Sea Turtle Observation Biological monitoring and other activities occurred routinely in the waters around DCPP throughout 2024. During 2024, no sea turtles were observed near the power plant other than the specimen found within the intake structure forebay on June 17, 2024.
Sea Turtle Photographs Several photographs were taken of the loggerhead sea turtle found in DCPP's intake structure fore bay June 17, 2024. Two photographs of the turtle were incorporated in the stranding event report submitted to NOAA Fisheries on July 2, 2024 (Reference Appendix 1 ).
Status of DCPP Incidental Take Levels DCPP's 2006 Incidental Take Statement allows the following levels of sea turtle take for the period 2007 through 2026.
Species Green Leatherback Loggerhead Olive Ridley Total Entrainment 15 turtles 3 turtles 3 turtles 3 turtles Mortality 3 turtles 1 turtle 1 turtle 1 turtle Serious Injury 1 turtle 1 turtle 1 turtle 1 turtle Sea turtles taken and released since 2006: Seven (7) healthy green sea turtles (one in 2007, one in 2009, one in 2010, one in 2012, one in 2014, one in 2019, and one in 2023) and one (1) loggerhead sea turtle (in 2024).
As seven (7) healthy green sea turtles and one (1) healthy loggerhead sea turtle were taken and released unharmed since 2006, DCPP has eight (8) remaining allowed green sea turtle takes and two (2) remaining allowed loggerhead sea turtle takes for 2024 through 2026.
Leatherback and Olive Ridley allowed takes remain at three (3) per species.
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To date there have been no sea turtle mortalities or serious injuries associated with power plant intake operations.
Actions to Reduce Sea Turtle Entrainment DCPP took no specific actions to reduce sea turtle entrainment during 2024. Sea turtles continue to be rare in the vicinity of the power plant. In addition, all incidental takes to date have involved only live, healthy, and uninjured sea turtles that were released unharmed.
Signs reminding operations and maintenance personnel to routinely watch for turtles during inspection rounds and other work activities were installed at the intake structure in early 2007 and remained in place throughout 2024.
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2024 Annual Sea Turtle Report Diablo Canyon Power Plant APPENDIX 1 Sea Turtle Incidental Take Event Report PG&E DCL-2024-527 July 2, 2024
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