ML070870846
| ML070870846 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Saint Lucie  |
| Issue date: | 04/04/2007 |
| From: | Eric Benner NRC/NRR/ADRO/DLR/REBA |
| To: | Bernhart D US Dept of Commerce, National Marine Fisheries Service |
| Nash H, REBA/DLR/NRR, 415-4100 | |
| References | |
| TAC MD4260, TAC MD4261 | |
| Download: ML070870846 (4) | |
Text
April 4, 2007 Mr. David Bernhart Assistant Regional Administrator for Protected Resources National Marine Fisheries Service Southeast Regional Office 263 13th Avenue, South St. Petersburg, FL 33701
SUBJECT:
REQUEST FOR REINITIATION OF SECTION 7 CONSULTATION UNDER THE ENDANGERED SPECIES ACT REGARDING SEA TURTLES AT THE ST. LUCIE NUCLEAR POWER PLANT (TAC NOS. MD4260 AND MD4261)
Dear Mr. Bernhart:
The St. Lucie Nuclear Power Plant (SLNPP) exceeded the annual incidental take limit for sea turtles in 2006. The plant entrained a total of 662 green turtles (Chelonia mydas) and loggerhead turtles (Caretta caretta). The incidental take limit of 1% of entrained green and loggerhead turtles was exceeded because 29 of the 662 entrained turtles were injured or killed due to plant operation.
Exceeding this incidental take limit requires the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) to reinitiate a formal consultation with National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) according to Section 7 of the Endangered Species Act. The NRC and NMFS are currently in formal consultation regarding the smalltooth sawfish (Pristis pectinata) at the SLNPP. As discussed previously, NMFS will include concerns for sea turtles in the ongoing consultation regarding the smalltooth sawfish because we are still in the reinitiation phase. NMFS would conclude the consultation with one comprehensive biological opinion for operation of SLNPP to address all species under their jurisdiction, including the smalltooth sawfish and sea turtles.
Turtle injuries were likely caused by hurricane debris and/or biofouling in the intake pipes leading to the intake canal. An inspection of the pipes is expected to occur during an outage in April 2007. Corrective actions will be determined by NMFS and NRC based on the inspection results.
On January 22, 2006, a small, dead green turtle was discovered impinged at the intake well for Unit 2. On October 25 and 26, 2006, 21 loggerhead hatchling mortalities were discovered and likely resulted from a single hatching event from an undetected nest on the intake canal bank.
During the same event, three loggerhead hatchlings were retrieved alive and later released on November 4, 2006. The January and October mortalities resulted from drowning as a result of impingement at the intake wells. Event reports for the mortalities are enclosed. Instead of submitting a revised biological assessment for sea turtles, we are summarizing here the takes that were causal to plant operation in 2006 in the following table.
D. Bernhart Summary of Sea Turtle Takes Causal to Plant Operation in 2006 Date Species Number of Injury/Mortality 1/22/06 Chelonia mydas 1
Mortality 7/12/06 Chelonia mydas 1
Injury 7/18/06 Chelonia mydas 1
Injury 8/15/06 Chelonia mydas 1
Injury 9/2/06 Chelonia mydas 1
Injury 9/13/06 Chelonia mydas 1
Injury 9/25/06 Chelonia mydas 1
Injury 10/12/06 Chelonia mydas 1
Injury 10/25/06 Caretta caretta 11*
Mortality 10/26/06 Caretta caretta 10*
Mortality
- Loggerhead hatchlings from an undetected nest located on the berm of the intake canal. Hatchlings were found in the weir pits of each unit. An additional 3 hatchlings were found alive and sent to rehabilitation.
We look forward to continuing to work closely with NMFS to conclude the Section 7 consultation for the St. Lucie Power Plant. If you have any questions or need more information, please contact Harriet Nash at hln@nrc.gov or 301-415-4100.
Sincerely,
/RA/
Eric Benner, Branch Chief Environmental Branch A Division of License Renewal Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation Docket No.(s) 50-335 and 50-389
Enclosures:
As stated cc w/encls: See next page
D. Bernhart Summary of Sea Turtle Takes Causal to Plant Operation in 2006 Date Species Number of Turtles Injury/Mortality 1/22/06 Chelonia mydas 1
Mortality 7/12/06 Chelonia mydas 1
Injury 7/18/06 Chelonia mydas 1
Injury 8/15/06 Chelonia mydas 1
Injury 9/2/06 Chelonia mydas 1
Injury 9/13/06 Chelonia mydas 1
Injury 9/25/06 Chelonia mydas 1
Injury 10/12/06 Chelonia mydas 1
Injury 10/25/06 Caretta caretta 11*
Mortality 10/26/06 Caretta caretta 10*
Mortality
- Loggerhead hatchlings from an undetected nest located on the berm of the intake canal. Hatchlings were found in the weir pits of each unit. An additional 3 hatchlings were found alive and sent to rehabilitation.
We look forward to continuing to work closely with NMFS to conclude the Section 7 consultation for the St. Lucie Power Plant. If you have any questions or need more information, please contact Harriet Nash at hln@nrc.gov or 301-415-4100.
Sincerely,
/RA/
Eric Benner, Branch Chief Environmental Branch A Division of License Renewal Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation Docket No.: 50-335 and 50-389
Enclosures:
As stated cc w/encls: See next page DISTRIBUTION:
D. Logan H. Nash B. Mozafari E. Wexler E. Benner Adams Accession No.: ML070871059 (Package)
ML070870846 (Letter)
ML060670270 (Enclosure)
ML063410233 (Enclosure)
OFFICE DLR:REBA:AB DLR:LA DLR:REBA:ES DLR:REBA:BC NAME DLogan I. King HNash EBenner DATE 3/30/07 03/30/07 04/3/07 04/4/07 OFFICIAL RECORD COPY
St. Lucie Plant Florida Power and Light Company cc:
Senior Resident Inspector St. Lucie Plant U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission P.O. Box 6090 Jensen Beach, FL 34957 Craig Fugate, Director Division of Emergency Preparedness Department of Community Affairs 2740 Centerview Drive Tallahassee, FL 32399-2100 M. S. Ross, Attorney Florida Power & Light Company P.O. Box 14000 Juno Beach, FL 33408-0420 Mr. Douglas Anderson County Administrator St. Lucie County 2300 Virginia Avenue Fort Pierce, Florida 34982 Mr. William A. Passetti, Chief Department of Health Bureau of Radiation Control 2020 Capital Circle, SE., Bin #C21 Tallahassee, FL 32399-1741 Mr. Donald E. Jernigan, Site Vice President St. Lucie Nuclear Plant 6351 South Ocean Drive Jensen Beach, FL 34957 Mr. R. E. Rose Plant General Manager St. Lucie Nuclear Plant 6351 South Ocean Drive Jensen Beach, FL 34957 Mr. Kelly J. Korth Licensing Manager St. Lucie Nuclear Plant 6351 South Ocean Drive Jensen Beach, FL 34957 Mr. William Jefferson Vice President, Nuclear Operations Support P.O. Box 14000 Juno Beach, FL 33408-0420 Mr. Don Mothena Manager, Nuclear Plant Support Services Florida Power & Light Company P.O. Box 14000 Juno Beach, FL 33408-0420 Mr. Rajiv S. Kundalkar Vice President - Nuclear Engineering Florida Power & Light Company P.O. Box 14000 Juno Beach, FL 33408-0420 Mr. J. Kammel Radiological Emergency Planning Administrator Department of Public Safety 6000 SE. Tower Drive Stuart, FL 34997 Attorney General Department of Legal Affairs The Capitol Tallahassee, FL 32304 Mr. Steve Hale St. Lucie Nuclear Plant Florida Power and Light Company 6351 South Ocean Drive Jensen Beach, FL 34957-2000 Mr. Alan P. Nelson Nuclear Energy Institute 1776 I Street, NW., Suite 400 Washington, DC 20006-3708 Indian River Community College ATTN: Dr. R. Wideman/Library 3209 Virginia Avenue Ft. Pierce, FL 34981-5596