L-2008-203, Environmental Protection Plan Report on Unusual Event - Turtle Mortality

Environmental Protection Plan Report on Unusual Event - Turtle Mortality

ML082750045
Person / Time
Site:	Saint Lucie
Issue date:	09/19/2008
From:	Katzman E Florida Power & Light Co
To:	Document Control Desk, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
References
L-2008-203
Download: ML082750045 (3)

Text

0 Florida Power & Light Company, 6501 S. Ocean Drive, Jensen Beach, FL 34957 September 19, 2008 FIPL L-2008-203 10 CFR 50.4 10 CFR 50.36.b EPP 4.1 U. S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Attn: Document Control Desk Washington, DC 20555 RE: St. Lucie Units 1 and 2 Docket Nos. 50-335 and 50-389 Environmental Protection Plan Report Event Date: August 29, 2008 Unusual or Important Environmental Event - Turtle Mortality On August 29, 2008 a dead juvenile green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas) was recovered from the west side of the plant intake 5-inch barrier turtle net. The attached report is being submitted pursuant to the requirements of Section 4.1 of the St. Lucie Units 1 and 2 Environmental Protection Plans to provide the description of a reportable sea turtle mortality that was causal to plant operations at the St. Lucie Plant.

Sincerely, Eric S. Katzman Licensing Manager St. Lucie Plant ESK/KWF Attachment an FPL Group company

St. Lucie Units 1 and 2 L-2008-203 Docket Nos. 50-33 5 and 50-3 89 Attachment Environmental Protection Plan Report Page 1 of 2 Unusual or Important Environmental Event - Turtle Mortality DESCRIPTION OF THE EVENT On August 29, 2008, a dead juvenile green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas) was recovered from the west side of the plant intake five-inch barrier turtle net. Although the necropsy has not been completed at this time, the site biologists determined that the cause of death was drowning and was causal to plant operations.

This is the first mortality attributed to St. Lucie Plant operations in 2008. The limits for sea turtle injuries and mortalities resulting from plant operations were set by the National Marine Fisheries Incidental Take Statement, issued and clarified by the NRC in 2001. These limits have currently not been exceeded.

CAUSE OF THE EVENT The five-inch turtle exclusion net failed during the night of August 19, 2008, as a result of severe weather from Tropical Storm Fay. FPL commenced net recovery activities after the storm in order to restore the 5-inch turtle net to its original design configuration. Turtle surveillance and capture activities were augmented during this time. However, despite these activities, a small green sea turtle apparently became trapped in the folds on the net and drowned during the night of August 28-29, 2008.

CORRECTIVE ACTIONS

1) Net restoration activities commenced on August 20, 2008, post planning and logistical analysis recovery efforts consisted of deploying barges, cranes, and a restoration team equipped with divers.

2) The staff biologists increased surveillances on the canal banks to include the area between the 5 and the 8-inch net.

3) Turtle capture activities by the staff biologists were augmented and included free diving.

4) The 8-inch turtle net was inspected hourly to ensure integrity.

5) Once the 5-inch net was restored, capture activities between the 5 and the 8-.inch nets commenced and included free diving by staff biologists.

6) A boat was deployed in the intake canal adjacent to the intake wells to provide additional surveillance for sea turtles, as well as a platform to capture turtles if needed.

7) Currently the plant intake wells are inspected 8 times daily, during the 5-inch turtle net recovery efforts intake wells inspections were increased to 10 times per day. One juvenile green sea turtle was retrieved from the Unit-2 intake well in good condition and was released by the staff biologists.

8) The 5-inch turtle net was repaired and reported as intact and functional on September 2, 2008.

St. Lucie Units 1 and 2 L-2008-203 Docket Nos. 50-335 and 50-389 Attachment Environmental Protection Plan Report Page 2 of 2 Unusual or Important Environmental Event - Turtle Mortality AGENCIES NOTIFIED The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission were notified of this event on August 29, 2008, in compliance with marine Turtle Permit #125 and the Site Environmental Protection Plan.

A notification was made to the NRC on August 29, 2008, per the requirements of 10CFR 50.72(b)(2)(vi).