L-2015-277, Environmental Protection Plan Report, Event Dates: October 14, 2015 and October 18. 2015, Unusual or Important Environmental Event - Turtle Mortality

Environmental Protection Plan Report, Event Dates: October 14, 2015 and October 18. 2015, Unusual or Important Environmental Event - Turtle Mortality

ML15322A156
Person / Time
Site:	Saint Lucie
Issue date:	10/29/2015
From:	Katzman E Florida Power & Light Co
To:	Document Control Desk, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
References
EPP 4.1, L-2015-277
Download: ML15322A156 (2)

Text

FPLo October 29, 2015 L-201 5-277 10 CFR 50.4 10 CFR 50.36.b EPP 4.1 U.S. 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 Dates: October 14, 2015 and October 18, 2015 Unusual or Important Environmental Event - Turtle Mortality On October 14, 2015 and on October 18, 2015 two dead juvenile green sea turtles (Chelonia mydas) were recovered fr-om the east side of-the St. Lucie Plant Intake cooling canal five-inch barrier net. A necropsy was performed on October 14, 2015 and on October 19, 2015 respectively. The determination is that both mortalities are causal to plant operations due to-forced submergence.

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/rcs Attachment cc: FDEP Siting Office-"'

Florida Power & LUght Company 6501 S. Ocean Drive, Jensen Beach, FL 34957

p St. Lucie Units I and 2 L-201 5-277 Docket Nos. 50-335 and 50-389 Attachment Environmental Protection Plan Report Page 1 of 1 Event Dates: October 14, 2015 and October 18, 2015 Unusual or Important Environmental Event - Turtle Mortality DESCRIPTION OF THE EVENT On October 14, 2015, and on October 18, 2015 two dead juvenile green sea turtles (chelonian mydas) were recovered from the east side of the St. Lucie Plant Intake canal five-inch turtle barrier net. The sea turtles were sent to Nancy S. Mettee, DVM for necropsy on October 14, 2015, and-October 19, 2015 respectively.

The October 14, 2015 necropsy determined that the mortality was most likely due to forced submergence, thus causal to plant operations.

The necropsy performed on October 19, 2015 for the second turtle noted a congenital abnormality in the vascular system that may have indirectly resulted in extensive internal hemorrhage with minimal trauma. The necropsy concluded that the mortality was due to exsanguination due to stress of forced submergence, also causal to plant operations.

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 most probable cause of the mortality is that the turtles were entrained in the plant's intake cooling system at the end of a breath cycle. The time required to traverse the intake pipe exceeded the turtles' air reserve.

CORRECTIVE ACTION The five-inch turtle net was inspected by staff biologists directly after the mortalities. No issues were identified that could have contributed to the mortalities. Hourly inspections of the five-inch net are performed during daylight hours, as well as constant surveillance of the two tangle nets.

ACTIONS TO PRECLUDE FUTURE EVENTS Aggressive turtle monitoring and removal protocols remain in place; hourly inspections of the five-inch net and constant observations on the tangle nets occur during daylight hours. When visibility allows staff biologists perform hand and dip net turtle captures in an effort to minimize turtle residence time.

AGENCIES NOTIFIED The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission were notified on October 14, 2015 and then again on October 18, 2015 in accordance with Marine Turtle Permit# MTP-125 and the Site Environmental Protection Plan.

A notification was made to the NRC on October 14, 2015 and on October 18, 2015 per the requirements of 10 CFR 50.72(b) (2) (xi).

FPLo October 29, 2015 L-201 5-277 10 CFR 50.4 10 CFR 50.36.b EPP 4.1 U.S. 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 Dates: October 14, 2015 and October 18, 2015 Unusual or Important Environmental Event - Turtle Mortality On October 14, 2015 and on October 18, 2015 two dead juvenile green sea turtles (Chelonia mydas) were recovered fr-om the east side of-the St. Lucie Plant Intake cooling canal five-inch barrier net. A necropsy was performed on October 14, 2015 and on October 19, 2015 respectively. The determination is that both mortalities are causal to plant operations due to-forced submergence.

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/rcs Attachment cc: FDEP Siting Office-"'

Florida Power & LUght Company 6501 S. Ocean Drive, Jensen Beach, FL 34957

p St. Lucie Units I and 2 L-201 5-277 Docket Nos. 50-335 and 50-389 Attachment Environmental Protection Plan Report Page 1 of 1 Event Dates: October 14, 2015 and October 18, 2015 Unusual or Important Environmental Event - Turtle Mortality DESCRIPTION OF THE EVENT On October 14, 2015, and on October 18, 2015 two dead juvenile green sea turtles (chelonian mydas) were recovered from the east side of the St. Lucie Plant Intake canal five-inch turtle barrier net. The sea turtles were sent to Nancy S. Mettee, DVM for necropsy on October 14, 2015, and-October 19, 2015 respectively.

The October 14, 2015 necropsy determined that the mortality was most likely due to forced submergence, thus causal to plant operations.

The necropsy performed on October 19, 2015 for the second turtle noted a congenital abnormality in the vascular system that may have indirectly resulted in extensive internal hemorrhage with minimal trauma. The necropsy concluded that the mortality was due to exsanguination due to stress of forced submergence, also causal to plant operations.

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 most probable cause of the mortality is that the turtles were entrained in the plant's intake cooling system at the end of a breath cycle. The time required to traverse the intake pipe exceeded the turtles' air reserve.

CORRECTIVE ACTION The five-inch turtle net was inspected by staff biologists directly after the mortalities. No issues were identified that could have contributed to the mortalities. Hourly inspections of the five-inch net are performed during daylight hours, as well as constant surveillance of the two tangle nets.

ACTIONS TO PRECLUDE FUTURE EVENTS Aggressive turtle monitoring and removal protocols remain in place; hourly inspections of the five-inch net and constant observations on the tangle nets occur during daylight hours. When visibility allows staff biologists perform hand and dip net turtle captures in an effort to minimize turtle residence time.

AGENCIES NOTIFIED The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission were notified on October 14, 2015 and then again on October 18, 2015 in accordance with Marine Turtle Permit# MTP-125 and the Site Environmental Protection Plan.

A notification was made to the NRC on October 14, 2015 and on October 18, 2015 per the requirements of 10 CFR 50.72(b) (2) (xi).