3F0808-04, Sea Turtle Mortality Report

Sea Turtle Mortality Report

ML082260340
Person / Time
Site:	Crystal River
Issue date:	08/06/2008
From:	Westcott D Progress Energy Florida
To:	Document Control Desk, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
References
3F0808-04, LRP08-0030
Download: ML082260340 (2)

Text

Progress Energy Crystal River Nuclear Plant Docket No. 50-302 Operating License No. DPR-72 August 6, 2008 3F0808-04 U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Attn: Document Control Desk Washington, DC 20555-0001

Subject:

Crystal River Unit 3 - Sea Turtle Mortality Report

Dear Sir:

Florida Power Corporation (FPC), doing business as Progress Energy Florida, Inc., hereby provides a copy to the NRC of a sea turtle mortality report that was submitted to the U. S. National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS). The report to the NMFS is required by NMFS's Crystal River - Unit 3 (CR-3) Biological Opinion, dated August 8, 2002, Terms and Conditions, Item 2. Reporting to the NRC is required by the CR-3 Operating License, Appendix B - Part II, Environmental Protection Plan (Non-Radiological) Technical Specifications, Section 4.0, Environmental Conditions, Item 4.1, Significant Environmental Events.

This letter establishes no new regulatory commitments.

If you have any questions regarding this submittal, please contact Mr. Lee Hughes, Superintendent, Environmental and Chemistry at (352) 563-4715.

Sincerely, Dan Westcott Supervisor, Licensing & Regulatory Programs Crystal River Nuclear Plant DRW/ff Attachment xc: Regional Administrator, Region II Senior Resident Inspector NRR Project Manager Progress Energy Florida, Inc.

Crystal River Nuclear Plant 15760 W. Powerline Street Crystal River, FL 34428 ,jZ4

1Progress Energy August 6, 2008 LRP08-0030 U.S. National Marine Fisheries Service South East Regional Office Attn: Assistant Regional Administrator Protected Resources Division 263 13th Avenue, South Saint Petersburg, Florida 33701

Subject:

Crystal River Unit 3 - Sea Turtle Mortality Report

Dear Sir:

The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), Nuclear Regulatory Commission, and the Crystal River Energy Complex (CREC) completed an Endangered Species Act Section 7 formal consultation process. In the Biological Opinion, issued August 8, 2002 by the NMFS, terms and conditions were included which required that if any listed species are apparently injured or killed in the CREC intake canal or the Crystal River Unit 3 (CR-3) bar racks, a report summarizing the incident must be provided to the NMFS within 30 days of the incident.

On July 8, 2008, a Loggerhead turtle (Caretta caretta) was recovered from the CR-3 intake bar racks. The Loggerhead turtle exhibited evidence of significant chronic pre-existing illness as indicated by severe emaciation. A necropsy was performed to assist in determining the cause of death.

The necropsy concluded that the turtle had a large number of parasites and exhibited evidence of a poor nutritional status. The circumstances of carcass discovery and the presence of abundant fluid in the lungs and airways support drowning as the most likely cause of death. The excellent postmortem condition indicates that the turtle was recovered soon after death. Therefore, the determination is that the death is causally related to CR-3 plant operations.

This is the second causally related turtle mortality for CR-3 due to CR-3 plant operations in 2008.

Progress Energy continues to implement the reasonable and prudent measures described in the current incidental take statement to minimize impacts on sea turtles from facility operations.

If you have any questions regarding this submittal, please contact Mr. Lee Hughes, Superintendent, Environmental and Chemistry at (352) 563-4715.

Sincerely, Dan Westcott Supervisor, Licensing & Regulatory Programs Crystal River Nuclear Plant DRW/ff xc: NOAA Progress Energy Florida, Inc.

Crystal River Nuclear Plant 15760 W. Powerline Street Crystal River, FL 34428