L-2017-173, Environmental Protection Plan Report, Unusual or Important Environmental Event - Turtle Mortality - 09/11/2017 Event

Environmental Protection Plan Report, Unusual or Important Environmental Event - Turtle Mortality - 09/11/2017 Event

ML17275A172
Person / Time
Site:	Saint Lucie
Issue date:	09/28/2017
From:	Snyder M Florida Power & Light Co
To:	Document Control Desk, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
References
L-2017-173
Download: ML17275A172 (2)

Text

September 28, 2017 L-2017-173 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 Date: September 11, 2017 Unusual or Important Environmental Event - Turtle Mo.rtality On September 11, 2017 a dead juvenile green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas) and a loggerhead sub-adult (Caretta cai*etta) were recovered from the east side of the St. Lucie Plant Intake oooling canal five-inch barrier net. Necrop~ies were not I I ,

performeq due to limited access to veterinary services immediately following Hurricane Irma. The determination by staff biologists is that botH mortalities were causal due to forced submersion.

The attached report is being submitted pursuant to the requirements of Section 4.1 of the $t. Lucie Units 1 and 2 Environmental Protection Plans to provide the description of reportable sea turtle mortalities that were causal to plant operations at the St. Lucie Plant.

Sincerely, 1'~>/~

Michael J. Snyder Licensing Manager St. Lucie Plant MJS/rcs Attachment cc: FDEP Siting Office Florida Power & Light Company 6501 S. Ocean Drive, Jensen Beach, FL 34957

St. Lucie Units 1 and 2 L-2017-173 Docket Nos. 50-335 and 50-389 Attachment Environmental Protection Plan Report Page 1 of 1 Event Date: September 11, 2017 Unusual or Important Environmental Event - Turtle Mortality DESCRIPTION OF THE EVENT On September 11, 2017 two sea turtles were recovered from the east side of the 5-inch turtle net; a green juvenile (chelonian mydas) and a loggerhead sub-adult (Caretta caretta). The discovery occurred the morning after Hurricane Irma impacted the St. Lucie Plant. The loss of electricity and lack of ice as well as the unavailability of a veterinarian precluded preserving the turtles for necropsy.

The resident biologists determined that the mortalities were most likely due to forced submersion, thus 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 by the NRC in 2016. These limits have not been exceeded.

CAUSE OF EVENT The most probable cause of these mortalities is that Hurricane Irma conditions within the confines of the intake canal contributed to the turtle mortalities.

CORRECTIVE ACTION The five-inch turtle net was inspected and cleaned as soon as weather conditions allowed safe access to the net. Monitoring and capture activities were increased to reduce the number of resident sea turtles in the intake canal immediately following Hurricane Irma. 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.

Restoring net cleanliness and performing a net inspection by divers immediately after a hurricane event is a top priority.

AGENCIES NOTIFIED The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission was notified on September 11, 2017, in accordance with Marine Turtle Permit MTP-125 and the

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Site Environmental Protection Plan. A notification was also made to the NRC on September 11, 2017, per the requirements of 10 CFR 50.72(b) (2) (xi).