L-2022-188, Unusual or Important Environmental Event - Turtle Mortality
| ML22353A048 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Saint Lucie  |
| Issue date: | 12/19/2022 |
| From: | Strand D Florida Power & Light Co |
| To: | Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation, Document Control Desk |
| References | |
| L-2022-188 | |
| Download: ML22353A048 (1) | |
Text
December 19, 2022 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: November 20, 2022 Unusual or Important Environmental Event - Turtle Mortality L-2022-188 10 CFR 50.4 10 CFR 50.36.b EPP 4.1 On November 20, 2022, a deceased juvenile green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas) was recovered from the St. Lucie Plant intake cooling canal. A necropsy was performed with results provided to Florida Power & Light (FPL) on November 28, 2022. The determination is that the mortality was causal to plant operations.
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 Munne at 772-263-2847.
Sincerely, Dianne Strand General Manager, Regulatory Affairs Florida Power & Light Company 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
DESCRIPTION OF THE EVENT L-2022-188 Attachment On November 20, 2022, a deceased juvenile green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas) was recovered from the St. Lucie Plant 1 B2 Intake well. The sea turtle was sent to Nancy S. Mettee, DVM for necropsy.
The necropsy was indeterminate on causality due to the advanced state of decomposition.
The limits for green sea turtle injuries and mortalities resulting from plant operations have not been exceeded.
CAUSE OF EVENT Due to advanced decomposition and loss of all soft tissue, the exact cause of death could not be determined; however, due to the location of the turtle retrieval, and its condition, the prevailing consensus between lnwater Research Group and the supporting agencies (Fish and Wildlife Commission) was that causality was due to plant operations.
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. Additionally, FPL dive contractor Underwater Engineering Services Inc. inspected the net to evaluate any net anomalies; none were discovered. 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. A biologist also inspects the net daily at 2200 hours0.0255 days <br />0.611 hours <br />0.00364 weeks <br />8.371e-4 months <br /> to evaluate net condition and determine intrusion rates of biota that could impact net health.
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. Plant Intake Wells are inspected 4 times/day to look for marine life. The action threshold for net cleaning have been lowered, thus the net is generally kept free of accumulated debris that could impact sea turtles.
AGIENCES NOTIFIED The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission was notified on November 29, 2022 in accordance with Marine Turtle Permit MTP-125 and the Site Environmental Protection Plan.
A notification was made to the NRC on November 29, 2022 per the requirements of 10 CFR 50.72(b)(2)(xi).