r)

May 27, 1997

'LICENSEE: Florida Power and Light Company

FACILITY: St. Lucie, Units 1 and 2

SUBJECT: SUMMARY OF MEETING ON May 7, 1997, REGARDING ASSESSMENT ON IMPACTSTO SEA TURTLES AT THE ST. LUCIE SITE (TAC NOS. H92014 AND H92015)

On Hay 7, 1997, representatives of the Florida Power and Light Company (FPL),licensee for St. Lucie Plant, Units 1 and 2, met with members of the NRC staffand a representative of the Florida Department of Environmental Protection atthe St. Lucie site to discuss a study required by a condition of theIncidental Take Statement of a Biological Opinion issued by the NationalMarine Fisheries Service (NMFS) concerning sea turtle entrapment in theplant's intake canal. Clarifying discussions on other conditions in theopinion were also held. A representative of NMFS was unable to attend themeeting due to an unanticipated schedule conflict. Enclosure 1 is a list ofattendees. Enclosure 2 contains copies of the agenda and handouts distributedat the meeting.

The licensee presented an overview of the site cooling water layout and adescription of the FPL turtle protection program. The licensee described theactions taken to protect the turflres and the positive results, in terms ofincreased nesting sites, of the FPL actions. ' description, including avideo, of the intake velocity cap and underwater environment was provided asan introduction to a discussion of the required study. FPL indicated that thestudy, item 7 in the Terms and Conditions of the Incidental Take Statement,proposed a video study that was not feasible. A discussion of alternatives tothe proposed study was conducted. Additionally, conditions 4, 6 and 10 of theTerms and Conditions of the Incidental Take Statement were identified asneeding clarification and/or

changes.'he

meeting concluded with the licensee assuring the attendees that, with theexception of issues discussed during the meeting, FPL had implemented theprovisions of the Incidental Take Statement. A listing of the licensee'sactions is included with the handouts. After the concluding remarks, theattendees toured the intake head wall area to observe the various turtleprotection mechanisms and activities.

origina1 signed by L.Miens

L. A. Wiens, Senior Project ManagerProject Directorate II-3Division of Reactor Projects - I/IIOffice of Nuclear Reactor Regulation

Docket Nos.C5049 Q 50-389

Enclosures: l. Attendance List IjFIIIg PQ2. Handoutscc: See next pageDOCUMENT NAME: G:itSTLUCIEiMEETGSUM.BIO

To receive a copy of this document, indicate in the box: "C" - Copy withoutattachment enclosure "E" = Co y with attachment/enclosure "N" = No co yOFFICE PDI I-3/PHNAME LWiensDATE 05/ 7

PDII-3/LABClayton05 ~ /97

PDI I-3/D CFHebdon

05/ I /97

,OFFICIAL RECORD COPY9706020i84 970527

PDR ADOCK 05000335P PDR

I

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+~ ~O++*++

UNITED STATESNUCLEAR REGULA|'ORY COMMISSION

WASHINGTON> D.C. 2055&4001,

May 27, 1997

LICENSEE: Florida Power and Light Company

FACILITY: St. Luci e, Units 1 and 2

SUBJECT: SUMMARY OF MEETING ON May 7, 1997, REGARDING ASSESSMENT ON IMPACTSTO SEA TURTLES AT THE ST. LUCIE SITE (TAC NOS. M92014 AND M92015)

On May 7, 1997, representatives of the Florida Power and Light Company (FPL),licensee for St. Lucie Plant, Units 1 and 2, met with members of the NRC staffand a representative of the Florida Department of Environmental Protection atthe St. Lucie site to discuss a study required by a condition of theIncidental Take Statement of a Biological Opinion issued by the NationalMarine Fisheries Service (NMFS) concerning sea turtle entrapment in theplant's intake canal. Clarifying discussions on other conditions in theopinion were also held. A representative of NMFS was unable to attend themeeting due to an unanticipated schedule conflict. Enclosure 1 is a list ofattendees. Enclosure 2 contains copies of the agenda and handouts distribut'edat the meeting.

The licensee presented an overview of the site cooling water layout and adescription of the FPL turtle protection program. The licensee described theactions taken to protect the turtles and the positive results, in terms ofincreased nesting sites, of the FPL actions. A description, including avideo, of the intake velocity cap and underwater environment was provided asan introduction to a discussion of the required study. FPL indicated that thestudy, item 7 in the Terms and Conditions of the Incidental Take Statement,proposed a video study that was not feasible. A discussion of alternatives tothe proposed study was conducted. Additionally, conditions 4, 6 and 10 of theTerms and Conditions of the Incidental Take Statement were identified asneeding clarification and/or changes.

The meeting concluded with the licensee assuring the at'tendees that, with theexception of issues discussed during the meeting, FPL had implemented theprovisions of the Incidental Take Statement. A listing of the licensee'sactions is included with the handouts. After the concluding remarks, theattendees toured the intake head wall area to observe the various turtleprotection mechanisms and activities.

Docket Nos. 50-335.and 50-389

Enclosures: 1. Attendance List2. Handouts

( bvHL. A. Wiens, Senior Project ManagerProject Directorate II-3Division of Reactor Projects - I/IIOffice of Nuclear Reactor Regulation

cc: See next page

Florida Power and Light Company

I

CC:Senior Resident InspectorSt. Lucie PlantU.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission7585 S. Kwy A1AJensen Beach, Florida 34957

Joe Hyers, DirectorDivision of Emergency PreparednessDepartment of Community Affairs2740 Centerview DriveTallahassee, Florida 32399-2100

H. S. Ross, AttorneyFlorida Power & Light CompanyP.O. Box 14000Juno Beach, FL 33408-0420

John T. Butler, EsquireSteel, Hector and Davis4000 Southeast Financial CenterHi ami, Florida 33131-2398

Hr. Thomas R.L. KindredCounty AdministratorSt. Lucie County2300 Virginia AvenueFort Pierce, Florida 34982

Mr. Bill PassettiOffice of Radiation ControlDepartment of Health and

Rehabilitative Services1317 Winewood Blvd.Tallahassee, Florida 32399-0700

ST. LUCIE PLANT

Regional Administrator, Region IIU.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission61 Forsyth Street, SW., Suite 23T85Atlanta, GA 30303-3415,

H. N. Paduano, ManagerLicensing 5 Special ProgramsFlorida Power and Light CompanyP.O. Box 14000Juno Beach, Florida 33408-0420

J. A. Stall, Site Vice PresidentSt. Lucie Nuclear Plant6351 South Ocean DriveJensen Beach, Florida 34957

J. ScarolaPlant General HanagerSt. Lucie Nuclear Plant6351 South Ocean DriveJensen Beach, Florida 34957

Hr. Kerry LandisU.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission61 Forsyth Street, SW., Suite 23T85Atlanta, Georgia 30303-3415

Hr. T. F. PlunkettPresiden't - Nuclear DivisionFlorida Power and Light CompanyP.O. Box 14000Juno Beach, Florida 33408-0420

E. J. WeinkamLicensing ManagerSt. Lucie Nuclear Plant6351 South Ocean DriveJensen Beach, Florida 34957

Heetin Summar Memoranda

HARD COPYt

DocketPUBLICSt. Lucie ReadingOGC

ACRSL, Wiens

E-MAIL

S. Collins/F. Hiraglia (SJCl, FJH)R. Zimmerman (RPZ)S. Varga (SAV)F. Hebdon (FJH)B. Clayton (BAC2)D. Ross (e-mail to SAH)C. Craig (CHCl)M, Masnik (HTM2)G. Tracy (GMT)J. Johnson,

0I

MEETING ATTENDEES

MAY 7 1997

NAME

Jonathan Gorham

Dennis Faddan

Winifred Perkins

Claudia Craig

Len Wiens

George Madden

Mitchell Ross

Kim Svaboda

Hike Masnik

Beth Morford

Nick Whiting

Gary Bouska

ORGANIZATION

quantum Resources, Inc.

FPL Services, Manager

FPL Envir. Services

NRC/NRR/PGEB

NRC/NRR/PDII-3

FPL Licensing

FPL Law Department

FPL/Corp. Comm.

NRCgNRRgPDND

Fla. Dept. of Environ. Prot.

FPL, Plant Services

FPL, Land Utilization

ENCLOSURE 1

NRC-FPL Meeting Regarding Sea Turtle Protection

May 7, 1997

Copy of Overheads Presented by Gary Bouska on

Site Overview

History of the Biological Opinion

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Sea Turtle ConsultationKemps ridley, Loggerhead, Atlantic Green, and Leatherback Sea Turtles

Endangered Species Act (ESA) Section 7

Activities Leading to the Section 7 Consultation

C

12/20/94 to The Plant experienced four small green sea turtle mortalities in the intake12/25/94 structures within a few days increasing the concern of the Florida Department of

Environmental Protection's (FDEP) Tequesta Office that additional protectivemeasures needed to be instituted as soon as possible.

12/29/94 After a site visit by local FDEP personnel, a letter was issued to Dr. JonathanGorham, FPL's turtle capture permit holder, listing several short term correctiveactions that were instituted immediately.

1/95 Additional meetings and phone calls held between FPL, NMFS, and FDEPcontinuing to discuss solutions and alternatives to the number ofsmaller greenturtles getting through the existing 8-inch mesh barrier net. The possibility ofreplacing the net with one with a 4-inch mess size is discussed and becomes the

~ key to solving the problem.

2/8/95 Meeting held at St. Lucie Plant between FPL personnel involved in sea turtle and

environmental issues. Ross Wilcox of the FPL Environmental AffairsDepartment states that NMFS feels the small mesh net is necessary for FPL toavoid other regulatory actions in regard to the mortalities and that the desired

completion date is December 1, 1995. Preliminary plans are made regardingmilestones and funding in order to support that schedule.

2/10/95 , In a phone conversation with NMFS St. Petersburg office, Ross Wilcoxcommitted to the installation of the new small mesh net by December 1, 1995.

The need for a fatal take allowance was also discussed, and the possibility ofa

Section 7 Consultation with the NRC is discussed as the desired means ofaccomplishing that allowance.

I ~

Sea Turtle ConsultationKemps ridley, Loggerhead, Atlantic Green, and Leatherback Sea Turtles

Endangered Species Act (ESA) Section 7

4/23/95 NRC Project Manager notified FPL that NRC would like to discuss preparationsand plans for a meeting at FPL St. Lucie Site for an ESA Section 7 consultationfor Sea Turtles.

5/10/95 NRC issued letter to FPL requesting a formal ESA Section 7 consultationregarding sea turtles at St. Lucie Units 1 and 2 with the National Marine FisheriesService(NMFS), NRC, Florida Department ofEnvironmental Protection(FDEP)and FPL . The request was based on the increasing number ofsea turtles beingremoved from the St. Lucie intake canal as reported in the 1994 AnnualEnvironmental Operating Report Volume 1, conversations with FPLEnvironmental Department ( Dr. Ross Wilcox) and NRC (Dr. Michael Masnik),and the April23, 1995 conference call.

5/11/95 NRC issued letter to NMFS SE Regional Office requesting a formal ESA Section7 consultation based on the same information discussed in the letter to FPL.Requested meeting on 5/23/95 at St. Lucie.

5/23/95 Initial meeting with NRC, NMFS, FDEP, and FPL to determine the scope andschedule for the consultation. Included a plant tour of the affected areas includingthe intake wells and intake canal nets. FPL pioposed the smaller 4x4 inch net tobe placed before the8x8 inch net too keep all turtles east of the A1Abridgeexcluding them from the intake wells where most of the mortalities occur.

8/1/95 FPL provided draft copy of the Biological Assessment to NRC, FDEP, and NMFSfor comment.

10/19/95 Meeting in St. Petersburg FL at SE Regional Office ofNMFS. NMFS providedcomments on the Draft Biological Assessment. FPL committed to update theinformation in the Biological Assessment based on comments &omNRC, FDEP,and NMFS.

11/20/95 FPL submitted the Biological Assessment to the NRC for review.

2/7/96 NRC transmits the Biological Assessment to the SE Regional Director ofNMFS.NRC agrees with the actions by FPL and the determinations of the BiologicalAssessment. NRC anticipates NMFS willrender its Biological Opinion withinthe next several months.

JULY96 NMFS issues draft Biological Opinion for comment to FPL. Item 3 of theconservation recommendations was that FPL should reexamine engineeringsolutions to prevent or reduce entrainment at the ocean intake structures.Possibilities may include redesigning the intake structures or examining thepotential role of the cooling water discharge in attracting turtles to the site. Norequirement for the study in the draft incidental take permit requirements.

8/13/96 FPL (Gary Bouska) provided FPL comments on the draft Biological Opinion and

incidental take permit. FPL recommended deletion of recommendation 3 because

the recommendation is subject to broad range of interpretation and is extremelyopen ended. In addition, FPL examined engineering solutions during the 1991

refurbishment ofthe ocean intake velocity caps.

8/16/96 SE Region NMFS letter to FPL (Gary Bouska) response to FPL comments onDraft Biological Opinion. Intent ofconservation recommendation is to enhancethe required conservation measures with measures that allow latitude in their

"implementation. Although they acknowledge the positive actions by FPL, furtherinvestigation may be beneficial. Recommendation willbe rewritten to clearlyexpress wide latitude in actual implementation. NMFS cannot agree to removeconservation recommendation ¹3,

2/7/97 NMFS issued Biological Opinion to NRC. The opinion is based on best availableinformation and concludes that continued operation ofPlant may adversely affect,but is not likely to jeopardize, the continued existence of listed species.Conservation recommendation ¹3 changed to Incidental Take Statementrequirement ¹7. Specifically FPL to design and implement a study to collectinformation on the behavior of turtles at the intake structures by remotevideography or similarly designed methodology that willnot interfere with turtlebehavior. FPL submit plan by 6/30/97 and once approved complete study andsubmit final report by 12/31/98.

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ST. LUCIE INLET

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Figure i4. Designation and location of nine 1.25-km segments and36 1-km segments surveyed for sea turtle nesting, southHutchinson island 1971 — 1994.

9000

8000

7000

6000

5000

~ 4000

3000

2000

19- 72 74 76 78 80 82

YEAR

86 88 90 92 96

Figure 6. Number of loggerhead turtle nests, Hutchinson Island 1971 through 1996. Values for 1971 through 1979 are estimates (see text), values for1981 through 1996 are from whole Island surveys.

4

140

120

100

m80

40

20

19 - 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96

YEAR

- Flguro 8. Number of green turtle nests, Hutchison Island, 1971 through 1996. Values for 1971 through 1979 are estimates (see text). Values for 1981- through 1996 are from whole island surveys.

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60

50

40

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R20

10

19 - 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96

YEAR

e yFigure 9. Number of leatherback turtle nests, Hutchinson Island, 1971 through 1996. Values for 1971 through 1979 are estimates (see text). Values for

1981 through 1996 are from whole Island surveys.I

r ~

~LOGGERHEAD ~GREEN

a 400

L- 300

1 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96

9-

YEAR

~ flgu;~ 10. Number of loggerhead and green turtles removed each year from the intake canal, St. Lucie Plant, 1976 through 1996.

GREEN TURTLE MORTALITlESEXPRESSED AS APERCENTAGE OF TOTALCAPTURES 1977 - 4996

40

35

30

25

15

10

h CQ CD OCO CQ CO 'Q CO CO

Ol Ol Ol CD Ql Ol Ol CD CDV 1 V V 0 l l t T

CO hCO CO

OlT

YEAR

Ql O v- C4 CQCO CD Ol Ql Ol CD CD IQl CD Ol Ol Ol CD CD CD

LOGGERHEAD MORTALITIESEXPRESSED AS APERCENTAGE OF TOTALCAPTURES 1976 - 1996.

14

10

0cg M co c7) g ~ At 'o g IA ICD CD CD CD Ol Ql CD CB CD CO CO

1 V

YEAR

CO 0) O ~ blCO CO Ch Ch Cb0) ql Ol CD CBI

Table 5. Turtle walks conducted by FPL during the time period 1982-1995

Year

19&2

1983

Numher of Walks People Attending

225

1985

1986

1987

1988

1989

1990

1991

1992

1993

1994

1995

14

15

14

14

15

20

21

27

27

684

?02

824

801

600

780

789

883

1184

1030

Total 211 10,06&

fC'$ '

Actions FPL Has Taken to Date in Responseto the Biological Opinion

on.e ati n Rec mmendation .

1. FPL should continue to carry out or assist in research to determine the subsequentdispersal ofcaptured and released turtles through its tagging program and throughcooperation with properly permitted scientists.

Dr. Gorham and other personnel working in the capture program have presentedposter displays on population dynamics and tag retention at the last two annual seaturtle symposiums.

B. Several additional topics for potential future research papers are beingdeveloped.

C. Dr. Gorham has made presentations at local colleges and universitiesoffering our turtle capture data to students or advanced degree candidatesthat would like to use it for thesis material.

D. FPL continues to provide all tagging and stranding data to the state for usein their data bases.

2. FPL should continue efforts to improve residence time estimates. These efforts mayinclude directed studies ofresidence time, so long as research permits are obtained fromthe proper authority.

A. With the position of the new 5-inch mesh barrier net several hundred feeteast of the old net's location, the area that turtles can occupy has been cutroughly in half allowing more accurate residence time estimates since it iseasier to visually locate the turtles.

B. No directed residence time studies have been undertaken. The only logicalmethodology that has been thought of to date would be to recapture a taggedturtle that is released back into the canal. FPL feels this would only increasestress to the turtle, and with the smaller area they can occupy, it is also feltthat residence times are no longer a problem.

ncid ntal ke t temen uir ment

1. Install and maintain a 5-inch mesh barrier net. The new net must receive regularinspection, maintenance, and repairs on at least a quarterly basis. Any holes promptlyrepaired.

New net placed in service on January 16, 1996. Inspections have been averagingeither monthly or more often. Any holes are repaired immediately.

2. Retain the existing 8-inch mesh barrier net as a back up in case the 5-inch net is lowereddue to actual or potential fouling. Inspect and maintain the existing net at least quarterly.Any holes repaired promptly.

The existing 8-inch mesh net is in place and is being inspected and maintained~ quarterly. The new net has not been lowered since it was placed in service due to

fouling.

3. FPL must continue its current program to capture and release turtles from the intakecanals through permits issued by FDEP.

The turtle capture program continues to operate as before under FDEP permits thatare renewed annually.

4. Capture netting shall be conducted with surface floating tangle nets with unweighted leadline. The nets must be inspected hourly from a boat. Netting to be conducted 8 hours aday, 5 days a week except during other specified times when it is done daylight to dark or12 hours per day, 7 days a week.

Netting continues to be conducted in the prescribed manner and for 12 hours a day,7 days a week except during inclement weather.

5. Ifa turtle is seen west of the 8-inch barrier net directed efforts shall be undertaken tocapture the turtle before it enters the plant intakes.

Since the installation of the new barrier net, we have had very few turtles west of the8-inch net. None of these were seen west of the net and their presence was notapparent until they were seen in the intake wells.

The gratings at each ofthe intake wells shall be visually checked for turtles at least 8

times each 24 hour period. Ifa turtle is sighted in the well, dip nets or other non-injurious methods should be used to remove turtles.

A.

B.

Both Operations and Security personnel have standing procedures to inspectthe wells during their normal shift rounds which would be every 2 to 3 hours.FPL turtle capture personnel also inspect the wells as time permits.Dip nets and specially padded holding boxes are positioned at each intakestructure with instructional signs mounted on the boxes to help peopleproperly handle the t'urtles until capture personnel can come and pick themUp,

'7. Since the increasing numbers of turtles entering the intake canal could become financially

'burdensome to FPL and little is known about the factors causing the turtles to be attractedto our intake structures, FPL must design and implement a study to collect information onthe behavior of turtles at the velocity caps. The recommended method is remotevideography. Submittal ofa plan required by 6/30/97. Once initiated, quarterly progressreports are required with a final report by 12/31/98.

To date some preliminary planning has been accomplished. The purpose of thismeeting is to present that preliminary plan for concurrence and to provide furtherdirection and guidance.

8. FPL must continue to participate in the STSSN under proper permits and authority inorder to assess any possible delayed lethal impacts ofcapture as well as to providebackground data on the mortality sources and health of local sea turtles.

FPL continues to be a part of the stranding and salvage network as required.

9. FPL should continue to conduct beach nesting surveys and public service turtle walks.

FPL continues to conduct these programs as before. Nesting surveys commenced onApril15 and reservations are currently being taken for this year's turtle walks.

10. Monthly reports covering sea turtle entrapment, capture efforts, turtle mortalities,available information on barrier net inspections and maintenance, and the Taproggecleaning system operation and any sponge ball loss at St. Lucie Plant shall be furnished toNMFS. An annual report discussing these topics willbe furnished to NMFS. A meetingbetween FPL, the NRC, and NMFS to discuss endangered and threatened species willbeheld approximately every two years beginning January 1998.

A.

B..

C.

D.

Monthly reports covering turtle activities and net maintenance willbeprovided pending transmittal of the Biological Opinion to the site by theNRC.Monthly reports on the Taprogge system and sponge ball loss have beenprovided to NMFS starting with the April, 1997 report.NMFS willreceive a copy of the annual report for 1996 covering these topics,with the exception of net maintenance. Net maintenance willbe added tonext year's and subsequent reports.The first meeting willbe scheduled as required.