L-2003-155, Non-Routine Environmental Event - Manatee
| ML031690132 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Saint Lucie  |
| Issue date: | 06/13/2003 |
| From: | Jefferson W Florida Power & Light Co |
| To: | Document Control Desk, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation |
| References | |
| EPP 5.4.2, L-2003-155 | |
| Download: ML031690132 (2) | |
Text
FPL Florida Power & Ught Company, 6501 S. Ocean Drive, Jensen Beach, FL 34957 June 13,2003 L-2003-155 10 CFR 50.36b EPP 5.4.2 U. S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Attn: Document Control Desk Washington, D. C. 20555 Re:
St. Lucie Units 1 and 2 Docket Nos. 50-335 and 50-389 Environmental Protection Plan Report Date of Event: May 18,2003 Non-routine Environmental Event - Manatee The attached report is being submitted pursuant to the requirements of Section 5.4.2 of the St. Lucie Unit I and Unit 2 Environmental Protection Plans to provide a description of a reportable unusual occurrence of a species, West Indian Manatee, protected by the Endangered Species Act of 1973. The entrapment of a West Indian Manatee in the intake canal was classified as a non-routine environmental event at the St. Lucie Plant.
An adult male West Indian Manatee, approximately nine feet long, was observed in the St.
Lucie Plant intake canal late in the aftemoon on May 18,2003. The manatee was spotted by a biologist monitoring the canal as part of the plant sea turUe protection program, and later by a plant security officer. It is likely that the manatee was observed immediately following its entry into the canal. The newly upgraded turUe barrier net was instrumental in retaining the manatee in a safe position and in good condition prior to its capture and release to the nearby Indian River Lagoon at approximately 1500 hours0.0174 days <br />0.417 hours <br />0.00248 weeks <br />5.7075e-4 months <br /> the following day, May 19,2003.
Vice Pesidenl St. Lucie Plant WJ/GRM Attachment an FPL Group company
St Lucie Units 1 and 2 Docket Nos. 50-335 and 50-389 L-2003-155 Attachment Page 1 MANATEE CAPTURE IN THE ST. LUCIE PLANT INTAKE CANA EVENT DESCRIPTION An adult male West Indian Manatee, approximately nine feet long, was observed in the St.
Lucie Plant intake canal late in the afternoon on May 18,2003. The manatee was spotted by a biologist monitoring the canal as part of the plant sea turtle protection program, and later by a plant security officer. It is likely that the manatee was observed immediately following its entry into the canal. The newly upgraded turtle barrier net was instrumental in retaining the manatee in a safe position and in good condition prior to its capture and release to the nearby Indian River Lagoon at approximately 1500 hours0.0174 days <br />0.417 hours <br />0.00248 weeks <br />5.7075e-4 months <br /> the following day, May 19,2003.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWCC), Division of Protected Species was notified of the event on May 19,2003 at approximately 0900 hrs as per the St.
Lucie Plant Wastewater Permit, Requirement.B.14. As required by the St. Lucie Unit I and Unit 2 Environmental Protection Plans, a 72-hour notification to the NRC was completed at approximately 1030 hours0.0119 days <br />0.286 hours <br />0.0017 weeks <br />3.91915e-4 months <br />, May 19,2003. The FWCC assisted in the manatee's capture and release to the Indian River Lagoon. The manatee was tagged and released in good condition.
There have been six manatees removed from the canal since the plant began operation over 25 years ago.
No manatees have been seriously injured during the process of their entrapment Occurrence of manatees in the plant's intake canal is very rare but plausible, given the design of the ocean intake velocity cap. At least three of the six manatees captured in the intake canal entered when the velocity caps were in tact, however, the caps will be visually inspected as soon as weather and visibility permit to ensure that there are no unusual conditions that could have contributed to this event.