L-2011-321, Unusual or Important Environmental Event - Turtle Mortality

Unusual or Important Environmental Event - Turtle Mortality

ML112370032
Person / Time
Site:	Saint Lucie
Issue date:	08/11/2011
From:	Katzman E Florida Power & Light Co
To:	Document Control Desk, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
References
EPP 4.1, L-2011-321
Download: ML112370032 (2)

Text

Florida Power & Light Company, 6501 S. Ocean Drive, Jensen Beach, FL 34957 0 August 11, 2011 FPL L-2011-321 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 1, 2011 Unusual or Important Environmental Event - Turtle Mortality On August 1, 2011, a dead juvenile green sea turtle (CheloniaMydas) was recovered from the east side of the St. Lucie plant intake cooling canal five-inch turtle barrier net. A gross necropsy was performed on August 1, 2011 and determined that the compromised physical state of the sea turtle may have caused or contributed to the mortality; however, the mortality will remain classified as causal to plant operations until a more detailed analysis clarifies the cause of death.

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/kdr Attachment ga~

an FPL Group company

St. Lucie Units 1 and 2 L-2011-321 Docket Nos. 50-335 and 50-389 Attachment Environmental Protection Plan Report Page 1 of 1 Unusual or Important Environmental Event - Turtle Mortality DESCRIPTION OF THE EVENT On August 1, 2011 a dead juvenile green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas) was recovered from the east side of the St. Lucie Plant Intake Canal five-inch turtle barrier net. The mortality appeared to be from drowning, and thus was determined to be causal to plant operations. The sea turtle was sent to the Loggerhead Marinelife Center located in Juno Beach, Fl. for a necropsy that same day.

The gross necropsy revealed that the health of the sea turtle was extremely compromised prior to death. The physical state of the sea turtle may have caused the mortality or was a significant contributing factor. This mortality will remain classified as causal to plant operations until a more detailed analysis, a histopathology, clarifies the cause of death.

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 not been exceeded.

CAUSE OF EVENT The probable cause of death was the entrainment of the sea turtle in the plant intake water cooling system at end of a breath cycle. The travel time to traverse the intake pipe most likely exceeded the turtle's air reserve. The weak physical condition of the turtle as defined in the gross necropsy may have been a contributing factor.

CORRECTIVE ACTIONS The five-inch turtle barrier net was inspected by staff biologists, no irregularities, were identified. The biologists also inspected the area east of the barrier net to identify and capture any at risk sea turtles, none were identified.

ACTIONS TO PRECLUDE FUTURE EVENTS An aggressive campaign to either dip net or hand capture entrained sea turtles continues at St.

Lucie in the area east of the five-inch barrier net. This effort significantly reduces the residence time of sea turtles in the canal, thus reducing their risk.

AGENCIES NOTIFIED The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission were notified of this event on August 1, 2011 in accordance with marine permit #125 and the Site Environmental Protection Plan.

A notification was made to the NRC on August 1, 2011 per the requirements of 10 CFR 50.72(b)(2)(xi).