L-2022-059, Unusual or Important Environmental Event - Turtle Mortality

Unusual or Important Environmental Event - Turtle Mortality

ML22095A146
Person / Time
Site:	Saint Lucie
Issue date:	04/05/2022
From:	Godes W Florida Power & Light Co
To:	Document Control Desk, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
References
L-2022-059
Download: ML22095A146 (2)

Text

April 5, 2022 L-2022-059 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: March 14, 2022 Unusual or Important Environmental Event - Turtle Mortality On March 14, 2022, a deceased adult, male, Kemps ridley turtle (Lepidochelys kempii) was recovered from the east side of the St. Lucie Plant intake cooling canal five-inch barrier net. A necropsy was performed on March 14, 2022 with results provided to Florida Power & Light (FPL) on April 1, 2022. The determination is that the mortality was causal to plant operations due to forced submersion.

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.

If you should have any questions, please contact Vince Munné at 772-263-2847.

Sincerely, Wyatt Godes Regulatory Affairs Manager St. Lucie Plant WG/rcs Attachment cc: FDEP Siting Office Audra Livergood, National Marine Fisheries Service Briana Grange, Biologist, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Meghan Koperski, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission Florida Power & Light Company 6501 S. Ocean Drive, Jensen Beach, FL 34957

L-2022-059 Attachment DESCRIPTION OF THE EVENT On March 14, 2022, a deceased adult, male, Kemps ridley turtle (Lepidochelys kempii) was recovered from the east side of the St. Lucie Plant intake cooling canal five-inch barrier net.

The sea turtle was sent to Nancy S. Mettee, DVM for necropsy.

The necropsy determined that the mortality was due to forced submergence, thus causal to plant operations.

The limits for sea turtle injuries and mortalities resulting from plant operations have not been exceeded.

CAUSE OF EVENT The cause of the mortality on March 14, 2022 identified by the necropsy was due to forced submersion; however, the necropsy also recognized that the turtles health had been adversely affected by pre-existing conditions:

This adult male was compromised by long term previous injuries to carapace, extremities, and head. These handicaps likely resulted in reduced feeding, mobility, and thin body condition. Based on the location the body was discovered in and the acute injuries present, the mortality is, at least in part, related to plant activity. Drowning is suspected to be the ultimate cause of death, but the poor condition of the turtle more than contributed to the loss.

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

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.

AGIENCES NOTIFIED The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission was notified on April 1, 2022 in accordance with Marine Turtle Permit MTP-125 and the Site Environmental Protection Plan.

A notification was made to the NRC on April 1, 2022 per the requirements of 10 CFR 50.72(b)(2)(xi).