L-2005-146, Environmental Protection Plan Report May 16, 2005, Unusual or Important Environmental Event - Smalltooth Sawfish

Environmental Protection Plan Report May 16, 2005, Unusual or Important Environmental Event - Smalltooth Sawfish

ML051940435
Person / Time
Site:	Saint Lucie
Issue date:	07/01/2005
From:	Jefferson W Florida Power & Light Co
To:	Document Control Desk, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
References
EPP 5.4.2, L-2005-146
Download: ML051940435 (3)

Text

Florida Power & Light Company, 6501 S. Ocean Drive, Jensen Beach, FL 34957 0 July 1, 2005 FPL L-2005-146 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 16, 2005 Unusual or Important Environmental Event - Smalltooth Sawfish The attached report is being submitted pursuant to the requirements of Section 5.4.2 of the St. Lucie Units I and 2 Environmental Protection Plans to provide a description of a reportable capture of a smalltooth sawfish in the intake canal at the St. Lucie Plant.

Ve jtruly yours, Vice Presi cent./

St. Lucie PlarrC WJ/spt Attachment

-::\:: 7-- 3 an FPL Group company

I I i.

St. Lucie Units 1 and 2 Docket Nos. 50-335 and 50-389 L-2005-146 Attachment Page-1 EVENT DESCRIPTION At approximately 1830 hours0.0212 days <br />0.508 hours <br />0.00303 weeks <br />6.96315e-4 months <br /> on May 16, 2005, a smalltooth sawfish (Pristis pectinata) was captured in a temporary net that was deployed to capture sea turtles in the St.

Lucie Plant intake canal. The fish was released from the net by station biologists who monitor the net for sea turtles. After being freed from the net, the animal was measured and immediately returned to the ocean with no apparent injury.

National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) was contacted for guidance on May 17, 2005 to determine if the event needed to be formally reported. At the time, NMFS personnel requested that information regarding the fish be forwarded to Mote Marine Laboratory for research purposes, but stated that no formal notification to NMFS was required. On June 7, 2005, NMFS contacted FPL with additional information that the sawfish was federally listed as an endangered species and that further review of the impact to the species may be warranted. After discussion with NMFS on June 7, 2005, FPL determined that the event should be classified as an "unusual or important environmental event," as discussed in the St. Lucie Plant Environmental Protection Plans (EPP). Under the EPP, the unusual occurrence of a species protected by the Endangered Species Act of 1973 requires notification to the United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission (USNRC) Operations Center; therefore, notification was made to USNRC on June 8, 2005 following the discussion with NMFS. A follow-up report is required to be issued within 30 days of the initial report to USNRC.

CAUSE OF THE EVENT The temporary entrainment of the smalltooth sawfish in the intake canal system was apparently caused when the fish entered the offshore intake piping structure and was caught by the flow of seawater through the plant's intake pipes. The intake piping structure terminates at a common intake canal that is approximately 300 feet wide and 25 feet deep. The fish was discovered by on-site biologists in the intake canal after becoming entangled in temporary netting designed for sea turtle capture. The species has not been seen prior to this in the plant's intake canal system and the specific cause of this occurrence is unknown.

CORRECTIVE ACTIONS The USNRC and NMFS notified FPL that they would initiate consultation regarding this event. On June 20, 2005, FPL provided additional details regarding the event in a teleconference with USNRC to support the request for consultation. FPL will review recommendations that may result from consultation between the agencies and implement corrective actions as required.

St. Lucie Units I and 2 Docket Nos. 50-335 and 50-389 L-2005-146 Attachment Page 2 AGENCIES NOTIFIED .

National Marine Fisheries Service was contacted by FPL on May 17, 2005. NMFS again communicated with FPL on June 7, 2005.

U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission was notified of the event on June 8, 2005 and additional information was provided by FPL to USNRC on June 20, 2005.