ML21285A041
| ML21285A041 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Turkey Point  |
| Issue date: | 10/13/2021 |
| From: | Arlene B Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards |
| To: | |
| Briana Arlene 415-1042 | |
| References | |
| Download: ML21285A041 (16) | |
Text
Meeting with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Regarding Crocodile Monitoring at Turkey Point Nuclear Generating Units 3 and 4 October 13, 2021 TELECONFERENCE DATE September 29, 2021 PARTICIPANTS U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC)
Briana Arlene, Conservation Biologist & ESA Consultation Coordinator U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS)
Lindsay Nester, Biologist John Wrublik, Biologist & Crocodile Recovery Lead Jose Rivera, Supervisory Fish and Wildlife Biologist Laura Brandt, Regional Scientist & Crocodile Technical Support Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC)
Ryan Ford, Crocodile Response Coordinator Florida Power & Light Company (FPL)
Jodie Eldridge, Environmental Services Senior Manager Michael Lloret, Wildlife Biologist Christine Raininger, Wildlife Biologist Mary-Jo Hernandez, Environmental Specialist - Water Quality and Monitoring Andre Harper, Plant Senior Supervisor - Land Utilization Robert Hess, Turkey Point Licensing Manager University of Florida (UF)
Frank Mazzotti, Professor & Crocodile Researcher Avishka Godahewa, Rafael Crespo Conservation Intern BACKGROUND Term and Condition (T&C) 1 of the FWSs July 25, 2019, biological opinion1 for Turkey Point Nuclear Generating Units 3 and 4 (Turkey Point) states that [e]very two years, FPL, the Service [FWS], the NRC, and any relevant researchers will meet to discuss the monitoring methods and the need for continuation.
On August 10, 2021, and in partial fulfillment of the above requirement, the FWS, FWC, and NRC participated in a site visit at Turkey Point. Participants toured crocodile sanctuary sites and crocodile nests as well as least tern nesting habitat and experimental seagrass plots.
During the tour, FPL staff described the status of each of its related environmental programs 1 Available online at Agencywide Documents Access and Management System (ADAMS) Accession No. ML19221B583.
and summarized recent water quality monitoring trends.
The September 29, 2021, teleconference was scheduled to discuss specific results of crocodile monitoring in fulfillment of T&C 1.
MEETING AGENDA
- 1. Status of the Turkey Point Cooling Canal System (Mary-Jo Hernandez)
- 2. Nesting and hatchling data for Turkey Point crocodiles (Mike Lloret)
- 3. Capture and spatial distribution data (Frank Mazzotti)
- 4. Data discussion (All)
- 5. Crocodile crossing signs, eastern indigo snake signs, speed limit signs, and FPLs Wildlife Safety and Training video (Mike Lloret)
- 6. USFWS discussion on take limits (FWS)
- 7. Final Discussion (All)
MEETING SLIDES See the enclosure for meeting slides.
MEETING NOTES Ms. Hernandez, Mr. Lloret, and Dr. Mazzotti presented water quality monitoring data, crocodile nest and hatchling data, and crocodile capture and spatial distribution data, respectively. These data are summarized in the enclosed meeting slides.
Participants discussed the need for continued blood sampling. Based on the results of sampling, which do not show marked differences between crocodiles on the Turkey Point site and those at other sites, participants preliminarily determined that this sampling is no longer needed. Furthermore, UF researchers expressed confidence that they can assess body health based off of body condition alone. FWS agreed to discuss further internally and then follow up with FPL, FWC, FU, and NRC on this item.
FWC informed FPL of updated contact information for reporting crocodile injuries and mortalities and other wildlife-related incidents that require formal notification per the biological opinion. For those wildlife incidents or concerns, FPL can call the Statewide Nuisance Alligator Program (SNAP) hotline at 866-392-4286. In addition, for crocodile incidents, FPL can report directly to Ryan Ford.
FWS informed participants that the Miami law enforcement number in the biological opinion is no longer in use. FPL should contact David Pharo via email at david_pharo@fws.gov to report crocodile deaths or injuries. FPL can also contact Mr. Pharo via his cell number (previously provided to FPL) if the event is urgent or require immediate attention.
Participants watched FPLs Wildlife Safety & Training video. The video is available online at:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=0zgFIn4aM-E.
FPL showed participants the locations of speed limit and crocodile crossing signs on a map of the Turkey Point site.
FWS informed participants that following internal discussion, it has determined that the April 21, 2021 vehicle collision with a crocodile likely resulted in that animals subsequent death. Assuming such causality, FPL has exceeded the incidental take limit set forth in the FWSs biological opinion. As a result, FWS recommended that NRC request to reinitiate formal consultation.
NRC agreed to reinitiate consultation and stated that the staff will work on a reinitiation request with the goal of issuing the request within 30 days.
As part of a reinitiated consultation, FWS stated that it may consider:
o Reviewing the environmental baseline to ensure that the baseline captures the current status of the crocodile population, particularly for hatchlings, which have increased in abundance in recent years.
o Reviewing the action area to ensure that the boundaries appropriately capture the action of continued operation of Turkey Point.
o Updating FWS and FWC contact information listed in the Monitoring and Reporting Requirements section of the biological opinion.
o Revising allowable take of crocodiles in the incidental take statement.
FOLLOW UP ACTIONS FWS will discuss internally the preliminary decision made during the meeting to discontinue future blood sampling. FWS will circle back with FPL and NRC once they have made a final determination concerning this testing.
NRC will prepare a request to reinitiate formal consultation with the FWS.
NRC will prepare a summary of the teleconference for the administrative record.
Enclosure:
Turkey Point Biannual Agency Meeting Slides Docket Nos.: 50-250 and 50-251 ADAMS Accession No. ML21285A041 FWS, FWC, FPL, and UF were provided an opportunity to review and comment on this meeting summary prior to its finalization.
Proprietary & Confidential 1
September 29, 2021 Turkey Point Biannual Agency Meeting
Proprietary & Confidential 2
Reporting year average salinity was 39.2 PSU (6/1/2021-5/31/2021); lowest annual average salinity since the 1980s CCS temperatures have remained stable despite rising ambient temperatures CCS Water Quality Improvements FPL operates an expansive network of surface water, groundwater and ecological monitoring with over 85 sites all within an 8-mile radius of the site.
20.00 30.00 40.00 50.00 60.00 70.00 80.00 90.00 100.00 110.00 1/1/2015 1/1/2016 1/1/2017 1/1/2018 1/1/2019 1/1/2020 1/1/2021 Average Salinity (PSU) 0.00 5.00 10.00 15.00 20.00 25.00 30.00 35.00 40.00 45.00 1/1/2015 1/1/2016 1/1/2017 1/1/2018 1/1/2019 1/1/2020 1/1/2021 Average Temperature (C)
Proprietary & Confidential 3
Planting began Fall 2018 with an additional planting event in 2019 after the successful establishment of plants Over 100,000 individual seagrass (Ruppia maritima) plants have been installed in the CCS totaling over 7 acres Quarterly monitoring events continue to show seagrasses expanding and flowering Seagrass Restoration Regular monitoring show seagrass has adapted well to conditions in the CCS and is expanding
Proprietary & Confidential 4
Proprietary & Confidential 5
2 1
0 1
0 1
2 2
3 4
3 6
8 6
12 11 11 15 16 15 11 15 17 14 17 17 19 24 24 21 28 24 16 15 18 25 25 9
8 8
14 27 22 27 0
5 10 15 20 25 30 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 Number of successful nests Year American Crocodile (Crocodylus acutus)
Data from Turkey Point Power Plant 1978 - 2021
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20 30 0
18 0
0 34 21 6
30 49 100101108 154 180 153 307 231 278 103 300298 227 291295 133 282 340332 510 548 196 268 229 429 409 119127 46 225 365 316 564 0
100 200 300 400 500 600 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 Number of captured hatchlings Year American Crocodile (Crocodylus acutus)
Data from Turkey Point Power Plant 1978 - 2021
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0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 1.7 1.9 2.1 2.3 2.5 2.7 2.9 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 Number of Crocodiles Salinity (ppt)
Body Condition (K)
Annual Body Condition, Mean Salinty, and 3rd Quarter Abundance at Turkey Point Power Plant Annual Mean Body Condition Mean Salinity Surveys Q3 Abundance
Blood Parameters Year Glucose (mg/dL)
Triglycerides (mg/dL)
Hydroxybutyrate (mmol/L)
Sodium (mmol/L)
Chloride (mmol/L)
Corticosterone (ng/mL)
Gamma Globulins (g/dL)
% Gamma Globulins 2018 (n=23) 73.74 +
3.91 155.13 +
25.22 6.00 + 1.22 149.48 +
1.90 123.74 +
2.18 19.67 + 4.33 0.48 + 0.03 9.25 + 1.45 2019 (n=48) 68.67 +
2.56 120.15 +
15.58 1.18 + 0.11 148.85 +
1.20 123.63 +
1.34 25.36 + 2.74 0.57 + 0.03 10.0 + 0.43 2020 (n=29) 63.55 +
3.95 93.14 +
19.98 1.14 + 0.15 143.64 +
1.11 118.68 +
1.81 17.56 + 3.60 0.49 + 0.03 10.37 +
0.59
Areas Blood Parameters Cooling Canals (n=29)
Biscayne Bay (n=10)
Everglades National Park (n=30)
Glucose (mg/dL) 63.55 + 3.95 60.90 + 3.39 68.26 + 3.64 Triglycerides (mg/dL) 93.14 + 19.98 145.0 + 50.71 129.0 + 29.10 Hydroxybutyrate (mmol/L) 1.14 + 0.15 0.69 + 0.18 0.70 + 0.10 Sodium (mmol/L) 143.64 + 1.11 148.20 + 3.29 147.94 + 1.44 Chloride (mmol/L) 118.68 + 1.81 119.0 + 1.97 118.55 + 1.22 Corticosterone (ng/mL) 17.56 + 3.60 7.72 + 1.64 8.79 + 1.76 Gamma Globulins (g/dL) 0.49 + 0.03 0.36 + 0.06 0.43 + 0.03
% Gamma Globulins 10.37 + 0.59 8.52 + 0.47 8.53 + 0.50
Proprietary & Confidential 10
Proprietary & Confidential 11 All employees and vendors are required to watch the Wildlife Safety & Training Video biannually Wildlife Safety & Training Video
Proprietary & Confidential 12 Current Reporting Requirements FPL would like clarification on all reporting requirements Reporting Requirements Scenario Biological Opinion 10 CFR 50.72 Dead or injured crocodile or indigo snake within the power complex or along an access road This includes the following categories of take:
Dead causal Dead non-causal Injured causal Injured non-causal The FWS interprets power complex or along an access road to mean the action area, as described in the biological opinion on p. 14 and in Figure 1.
(a) 24-hr notifications apply as follows.
PHONE Notify FWS Vero Beach at (772) 562-3909.
EMAIL Notify NRC by email at endangeredspecies@nrc.gov.
Notify FWS and/or FWC by email.(b)
For crocodiles, notify FWS and FWC at Lindsay_Nester@fws.gov, John_Wrublik@fws.gov, Laura_Brandt@fws.gov, and Ryan.Ford@myFWC.com.
For indigo snakes, notify FWS at Lindsay_Nester@fws.gov.
Include a detailed description of the incident, the condition of the crocodile, a map indicating where the incident occurred, and photographs of the crocodile and project site, when possible.(c) 4-hr ENS report applies because FWS is notified.
Proprietary & Confidential 13 Current Reporting Requirements Continued Discovery of a dead, injured, or sick threatened or endangered species This includes all non-causal deaths, injuries, or sickness of any listed species including, but not limited to, crocodiles and eastern indigo snakes.
The FWS interprets this requirement to apply to the action area.
(a)
Notify FWS Vero Beach and FWS law enforcement by phone at (772) 562-3909 and (305) 526-2994, respectively.
Notify NRC by email at endangeredspecies@nrc.gov.
Notify FWC by phone at (800) 282-8002.
4-hr ENS report applies because FWS and FWC are notified.
Any event or situation, related to []
protection of the environment, for which a news release is planned or notification to other government agencies has been or will be made.
Biological opinion reporting requirements also apply if an event falls into one of the above categories.
4-hr ENS report applies.
(a) The FWS made this clarification in a May 3, 2021, teleconference, and a May 17, 2021, email from Lindsay Nester, FWS, to Briana Arlene, NRC.
(b) Although not explicitly stated in the biological opinion, in an email from Lindsay Nester, FWS, to Briana Arlene, NRC, dated May 17, 2021, the FWS has requested that FPL also notify certain FWS and FWC staff members by email when a dead or injured crocodile or indigo snake is discovered in the action area.
(c) Although not explicitly stated in the biological opinion, in an email from John Wrublik, FWS, to Michael Lloret, FPL, dated May 14, 2021, the FWS requested that FPL include this information when reporting a dead or injured crocodile or indigo snake is discovered in the action area.
Reporting Requirements Scenario Biological Opinion 10 CFR 50.72 FPL would like clarification on all reporting requirements