ML17229A438
| ML17229A438 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Saint Lucie  |
| Issue date: | 07/30/1997 |
| From: | Matthews D NRC (Affiliation Not Assigned) |
| To: | Coogan C COMMERCE, DEPT. OF, NATIONAL MARINE FISHERIES SERVICE |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 9708130223 | |
| Download: ML17229A438 (8) | |
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UNITED STATES NUCLEAR REGULATORYCOMMISSION WASHINGTON, D.C. 20555-0001 July 3G, 1997 Ms. Colleen Coogan National Marine Fisheries Service Southeast Region Protected Species Division 9721 Executive Center Drive North St. Petersburg, FL 33702
Dear Ms. Coogan,
In a letter dated February 7, 1997, the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) provided the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) a biological opinion (BO) under Section 7 of the Endangered Species Act (ESA) regarding the effects of continued operation of the St. Lucie Nuclear Generating Plant (St. Lucie) on listed sea turtle species.
By letter dated May 30, 1997, the NRC fotwarded the BO to St. Lucie and requested appropriate changes be made to the Environmental Protection Plan, Appendices B of the St. Lucie, Unit 1 and 2 licenses, within 60 days of receipt of the letter. However, before St. Lucie was able to fullyimplement the BO, the plant exceeded the number of green turtle mortalities provided in the Incidental Take Statement (ITS), which was included in the BO. The ITS provided an annual lethal incidental take limitfor green turtles of 3 per year or 1.5 percent of the total number of green turtles entrapped at the intake canal, whichever is greater.
As of June 30, 1997, St. Lucie had four green turtle mortalities and had captured 141 green turtles, thus exceeding the limitin the ITS. In a letter dated July 7, 1997, St. Lucie notified the NRC that the limit had been exceeded, described the details associated with the two latest mortalities, and requested NRC reinitiate consultation.
This letter provides details of the mortalities and requests reinitiation of consultation with NMFS.
On January 4, 1997, a fresh dead green turtle was found impinged upon the 5-inch mesh barrier net. The turtle was not tangled in the net, had no obvious injuries or abnormalities, but appeared to have drowned.
Details of the drowning are unknown.
On March 10, 1997, a fresh dead green turtle was recovered from the surface of the water at the barrier net.
It is believed that the mortality of the turtle was not due to plant operations, but to the poor health condition of the turtle. The turtle had extensive tumors and was extremely emaciated.
On June 4, 1997, a 5.6 pound green sea turtle was removed from the barrier net. Since eariy in the week of May 26, the net had been heavily loaded with fine filamentous algae that caused the net to stretch so that it was in a more vertical position. The net is supposed to be in a 1:1 slope to allow the water current to help carry weak or injured turtles to the surface.
The stretching of the net due to the algae couid have caused the turiie to be held in place, thereby drowning it, although it did not appear to be entangled or held in place when discovered.
This is the first event of this type since the 5-inch mesh net was installed in January 1996.
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9708130223 970730 PDR ADOCK 05000335
Ms. Colleen Coogan Huly 30, 1997 On June 30, 1997, a green sea turtle weighing 20 pounds was found on the bottom of the canal.
The apparent cause of death was drowning due to entanglement in fishing line. The fishing line was used as part of the voluntary fish tagging and release program and was snagged on the rocky bottom of the canal structure.
St. Lucie has taken corrective action in response to the events and implemented actions to preclude repetition of the events in the future.
Enhanced inspection and maintenance programs for the 5-inch mesh barrier net include a process to determine the slope of the net and a better communication link between operations personnel and the land utilization personnel regarding algae buildup. The fish tagging and release program has been discontinued except under very controlled conditions.
Based on the information provided by the licensee, it appears some of the turtle mortalities may not have been a direct result of plant operations.
Therefore, the NRC believes it is reasonable to reinitiate consultation to amend the lethal incidental take limitfor green sea turtles.
Please contact Claudia M. Craig, (301) 415-1053 of my office ifyou have any questions.
Since ely, avid B. Matthews, Chief Generic Issues and Enviro ental Projects Branch Division of Reactor Program Management Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation Docket Nos. 50-335, 389 cc: See next page
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Ms. Colleen Coogan July 30, 1997 On June 30, 1997, a green sea turtle weighing 20 pounds was found on the bottom of the canal.
The apparent cause of death was drowning due to entanglement in fishing line. The fishing line was used as part of the voluntary fish tagging and release program and was snagged on the rocky bottom of the canal structure.
St. Lucie has taken corrective action in response to the events and implemented actions to preclude repetition of the events in the future.
Enhanced inspection and maintenance programs for the 5-inch mesh barrier net include a process to determine the slope of the net and a better communication link between operations personnel and the land utilization personnel regarding algae buildup. The fish tagging and release program has been discontinued except under very controlled conditions.
Based on the information provided by the licensee, it appears some of the turtle mortalities may not have been a direct result of plant operations.
Therefore, the NRC believes it is reasonable to reinitiate consultation to amend the lethal incidental take limitfor green sea turtles.
Please contact Claudia M. Craig, (301) 415-1053 of my office ifyou have any questions.
Sincerely, Frank Akstulewci z/for David B. Matthews, Chief Generic Issues and Environmental Projects Branch Division of Reactor Program Management Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation Docket Nos. 50-335, 389 cc: See next page DISTRIBUTION:
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Florida Power and Light Company ST. LUCIE PLANT CC:
Senior Resident inspector St. Lucia Plant U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission 7585 S. Hwy A1A Jensen Beach, Florida 34957 J. Scarola Plant General Manager St. Lucie Nuclear Plant 6351 South Ocean Drive Jensen Beach, Florida 34957
~ Joe Myers, Director Division of Emergency Preparedness Department of Community Affairs 2740 Centerview Drive Tallahassee, Florida 32399-2100 M. S. Ross, Attorney Florida Power L Light Company P.O. Box 14000 Juno Beach, FL 33408-0420 Mr. Kerry Landis
-U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission 61 Forsyth Street, SW., Suite 23T85 Atlanta, Georgia 30303-3415 Mr. T. F. Plunkett President - Nuclear Division Florida Power and Light Company P.O. Box 14000 Juno Beach, Florida 33408-0420 John T. Butler, Esquire Steel, Hector and Davis 4000 Southeast Financial Center IVliami, Florida 33131-2398 Mr. Douglas Anderson County Administrator St. Lucie County 2300 Virginia Avenue Fort Pierce, Florida 34982 Mr. Bill Passetti Office of Radiation Control Department of Health and Rehahiiitative Services 1317 Winewood Blvd.
Tallahassee, Florida 32399-0700 E. J. Weinkam LIcensing Manager St. Lucie Nuclear Plant 6351 South Ocean Drive Jensen Beach, Florida 34957 Ms. Patricia A. IVlontanio Acting Director Office of Protected Resources National Maritime Fisheries Service Silver Spring, Maryland 20910 Regional Administrator, Region II U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission 6'I Forsyth Street, SW., Suite 23T85 Atlanta, GA 30303-3415 H. N. Paduano, Manager Licensing 5 Special Programs Florida Power and LIght Company P.O. Box 14000 Juno Beach, Florida 33408-0420 J. A. Stall, Site Vice President St. Lucie Nuclear Plant 6351 South Ocean Drive Jensen Beach, Florida 34957
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