L-2008-032, Environmental Protection Plan Report, Unusual or Important Environmental Event - Manatee

Environmental Protection Plan Report, Unusual or Important Environmental Event - Manatee

ML080660336
Person / Time
Site:	Saint Lucie
Issue date:	02/27/2008
From:	Johnston G Florida Power & Light Co
To:	Document Control Desk, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
References
EPP 5.4.2, L-2008-032
Download: ML080660336 (3)

Text

0 IFPL Florida Power & Light Company, 6501 S. Ocean Drive, Jensen Beach, FL 34957 February 27, 2008 L-2008-032 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: January 28, 2008 Unusual or Important Environmental Event - Manatee The attached report is being submitted pursuant to the requirements of Section 5.4.2 of the St.

Lucie Units 1 and 2 Environmental Protection Plans to provide a description of a reportable capture of an adult manatee in the intake canal at the St. Lucie Plant.

Very, Gordon L. Johnston Site Vice President St. Lucie Plant GLJ/KWF Attachment L6~~2b AWW~

an FPL Group company

St. Lucie Units 1 and 2 Docket Nos. 50-335 and 50-389 L-2008-032 Attachment Page 1 of 2 EVENT DESCRIPTION At approximately 0915 hours0.0106 days <br />0.254 hours <br />0.00151 weeks <br />3.481575e-4 months <br /> on January 28, 2008, an adult male manatee (Trichechus manatus latirostris) was discovered in the St. Lucie plant intake water cooling canal. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission (FWC) were notified of the manatee entrainment at approximately 0930 hours0.0108 days <br />0.258 hours <br />0.00154 weeks <br />3.53865e-4 months <br />. FWC personnel arrived on site at approximately 1215 hours0.0141 days <br />0.338 hours <br />0.00201 weeks <br />4.623075e-4 months <br /> to support and direct capture activities. The northeast section of the cooling canal was determined to be the ideal area to facilitate extraction activities; as such the manatee was eventually lured to the northeast section of the canal, and captured at 1345 hours0.0156 days <br />0.374 hours <br />0.00222 weeks <br />5.117725e-4 months <br />.

The manatee was removed from the canal and tagged by the recovery team at approximately 1430 hours0.0166 days <br />0.397 hours <br />0.00236 weeks <br />5.44115e-4 months <br />. After a through inspection, the FWC declared the manatee to be in good health.

However the manatee did receive several superficial scrapes during entrainment and capture activities. The manatee was released to the Indian River at approximately 1500 hours0.0174 days <br />0.417 hours <br />0.00248 weeks <br />5.7075e-4 months <br />, January 28, 2008.

CAUSE OF EVENT The temporary entrainment of the adult male manatee occurred when the manatee entered the plant's offshore intake cooling water piping, and was swept into the plant cooling canal by the flow of seawater through the plant's intake system. The intake pipe structure terminates at a sequestered common intake canal area that is approximately 300 feet wide, 25 feet deep, and 656 feet long.

CORRECTIVE ACTIONS The manatee was removed from the plant intake canal under the direction of the FWC, and returned to the Indian River in good health on the same date, January 28, 2008.

CORRECTIVE ACTIONS TO PRECLUDE REPETITION OF THE EVENT The design of the intake plant structures are permanent, therefore these structures are not subject to casual manipulation or modification. However, Florida Power & Light (FPL) has recently undergone a Section 7 consultation with representatives from the NRC, FWC, and the National Marine Fisheries Service. The preliminary draft report of the Biological Opinion from the section 7 consultation calls for FPL to install a sea turtle excluding devise on the intake structure that will prevent the larger egg laden female turtles from entering the plant intake cooling canal.

This device will serve a dual purpose in preventing other large marine life (manatees) from entering the plant intake structures as well.

,> St. Lucie Units 1 and 2 Docket Nos. 50-335 and 50-389 L-2008-032 Attachment Page 2 of 2 The St. Lucie engineering department is currently evaluating the feasibility of designing a structure that will prevent all large marine life from entering the plant intake canal.

In order to increase the safety margin for the manatee and the recovery team, retrieval protocols have been significantly augmented. We now use a mobile manbasket for extraction, and a specifically designed transport vehicle to relocate the manatee for release. These new protocols reduce the stress and danger both to the manatee and the rescue team.

AGENCIES NOTIFIED The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission was contacted by FPL on January 28, 2008.

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission was notified of the event on January 28, 2008.