ML17228B332

Assessment of Impacts of St Lucie Nuclear Generating Plant on Sea Turtle Species Found in Nearshore Waters of Florida.

ML17228B332
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Issue date:	11/30/1995
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Assessment OfTheImpactsOfTheSt.LucieNuclearGenerating PlantOnSeaTurtleSpeciesFoundInTheNearshore WatersOfFlorida((~s$3<gjy))~r7tIiI'.~"4izc7(GPreparedBy:FloridaPowerckLightCompanyNovember, 19959511280326 951120IIPDR'DOCK'05000335'-

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BIOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT SECTIONS1.0SummaryandConclusions

2.0 Introduction

2.12.22.32.42.53.0Site3.1'.23.3PurposeEndangered SpeciesActJurisdiction ofNationalMarineFisheries ServiceJurisdiction ofU.S.FishandWildlifeServiceChronology ofEventsLeadingtothisAssessment Description LocationIndianRiverenvironment AtlanticOceanenvironment 3.3.1Salinity3.3.2Temperature 3.3.3Topography 3.3.4Waveconditions andTurbidity 3.3.5ReefSystemSt.LuciePlantDescription 4.14.24.2.6GeneralDescription Circulating WaterSystem4.2.1IntakeStructures andVelocityCaps4.2.2IntakePipes4.2.3HeadWallsandCanalSystem4.2.4HighwayBridgesandUnderwater Intrusion System4.2.5IntakeWells,TrashRacksandTraveling ScreensDischarge SystemThermalPlume5.0Information onSeaTurtleSpecies5.1Loggerhead SeaTurtle(Carettacaretta)5.1.1Description 5.1.2Distribution 5.1.3Behavior5.1.4FoodHabits 5.25.1.55.1.65.1.7Green5.2.15.2.25.2.35.2.45.2.55.2.6NestingNumerical Abundance Mortality FactorsandDiseasesSeaTurtle(Chelouia midas)Description Distribution BehaviorFoodHabitsNestingNumerical Abundance 5.35.2.7Mortality FactorsandDiseases1>>1l~hl5.3.1Description 5.3.2Distribution 5.3.35.3.4BehaviorFoodHabits5.45.3.5Nesting5.3.6Numerical Abundance 5.3.7Mortality FactorsandDiseasesk1'l1[~hl5.4.1Description 5.4.2Distribution 5.4.3Behavior5.4.45.4.55.4.65.5Kemp's5.5.15.5.2FoodHabitsNumerical Abundance Mortality FactorsandDisease'dl1l~dh1~kDescription Distribution 5.5.3Behavior5.5.4FoodHabits5.5.5Numerical Abundance 5.5.66e0SeaTurtleMortality FactorsandDiseaseConservation Activities attheSt.LuciePlant 6.1SeaTurtleCaptureProgram6.1.1Entrapment andImpingement ofTurtles6.1.2BarrierNets6.26.36.46.57.0Asse7.16.1.2.1PastConfiguration 6.1.2.2PresentConfiguration 6.1.2.3FutureConfiguration 6.1.3Underwater Intrusion Detection System6.1.4IntakeWellInspection andRemoval6.1.5NettingProgram6.1.6HandCaptureandDipNetting6.1.7Residence Time6.1.8TaggingandHealthAssessment Activities 6.1.9NecropsyandRehabilitation Activities SeaTurtleNestingProgram6.2.1Jurisdiction ofU.S.FishandWildlifeService/Department ofEnvironmental Protection 6.2.2Description ofProgramSeaturtleStranding ProgramTurtleWalkProgramAssistance toOtherOrganizations 6.5.1Description ofAssistance 6.5.2ListofOrganizations AssistedssmentofPresentOperations DirectandIndirectImpactsofContinued Operation oftheCirculating WaterSystemoftheSt.LucieNuclearGenerating StationonSeaTurtlePopulations 7.1.1ImpactsDuetoEntrapment andEntanglement NetsintheCanalSystem7.1.1.1ImpactstoLoggerhead Turtles7.1.1.2ImpactstoGreenTurtles7.1.1.3ImpactstoLeatherback Turtles7.1.1.4ImpactstoHawksbill Turtles7.1.1.5ImpactstoKemp'sRidleyTurtles7.1.2ImpactsDuetoImpingement onBarrierNetsandtheIntakeWells7.1.2.1ImpactstoLoggerhead Turtles 7.1.2.2ImpactstoGreenTurtles7.1.2.3ImpactstoLeatherback Turtles7.1.2.4ImpactstoHawksbills 7.1.2.5ImpactstoKemp'sRidleyTurtle7.2OtherPotential StationImpacts7.2.1ThermalEffects7.2.2Chlorination 7.2.3Lights7.2.4TaproggeCleaningSystem7.2.5DredgingoftheIntakeCanal7.3Cumulative ImpactofContinued Operation oftheCirculating WaterSystemoftheSt.LucieNuclearGenerating StationonSeaTurtlePopulations 7.4OverallAssessment 8.0References LISTOFBIOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT TABLESTable1AListofthreatenorendangered speciesentrapped attheSt.LucieNuclearPowerPlant.Table2Totalnumberofseaturtlecapturesandnumberofdeadturtles(numbersinparenthesis) removedfromtheSt.LucieIntakeCanal.Table3SeaturtlescapturedfromtheSt.LuciePlantintakecanalforthefirst6monthsof1995,tablualted byspeciesandmonth.Numbersinparenthesis aremortalities.

Table4GreenturtlecapturesummaryattheSt.LuciePlant,1/1/95-6/30/95.Numbersinparenthesis aremortalities.

Table5Turtlewalksconducted byFPLduringthetimeperiod19821995.Table6Seaturtlemortalities intheSt.Lucieintakecanalsystemtabulated byspeciesandprobablecauseofdeath.Dataaregivenfortheperiods1976-1989and1990June30,1995.

LISTOFBIOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT FIGURESFigure1LocationoftheSt.LuciePlantontheeastcoastofFlorida.TheplantislocatedonSouthHutchinson Island,abarrierisland,andisabout7miles(11.3km)southofFt.Pierceandabout7miles(11.3km)northofStuart.Figure2DesignoftheSt.LuciePlantshowingtherelationship betweenUnits1and2andtheconfiguration ofthecoolingwaterintakeanddischarge systemwithkeyfeatureslabeled.Figure3Diagramoftheintakestructures located1200feet(365m)offshoreoftheshoreline attheSt.LuciePlant.Figure4DiagramoftheUnderwater Intrusion Detection SystemattheSt.LuciePlant.Figure5DiagramofanintakewellattheSt.LuciePlant.Figure6DiagramoftheTaproggesystem,formaintaining condenser cleanliness.

Figure7DiagramoftheturtlebarriernetusedintheintakecanaloftheSt.LuciePlant.ThisnetislocatedattheA1Abridge(seeFigure2).Figure8Sizefrequency distribution of140turtlescapturedintheintakecanaloftheSt.LuciePlantin1976-1978.

Ameshsizeof8inch(20.3cm)squaremeshwouldexclude95%oftheentrapped turtlesfrompassingthroughthissizebarriernet.Figure9Greenturtlecapturedin1977-1995 (throughJune30,1995)fortheSt.LuciePlant.

s Figure10Allspeciesofturtlescapturedin1976-1995 (throughJune30,1995)fortheSt.LuciePlant.Figure11Conceptual designfora5inch(12.7cm)squaremeshbarriernettobeinstalled intheintakecanaloftheSt.LuciePlant.Figure12Sizedistribution ofgreenseaturtles(n=414)capturedintheintakecanalduringthefirstsixmonthsof1995.Abarriernetof5inch(12.7cm)squaremeshor7inch(18cm)stretchmeshwouldexclude100%oftheturtlesfrompassingthroughthisnet.Figure13Turtleentrapment, mortality, andcountermeasures takentoreduceturtlemortality intheSt.LuciePlantintakecanalduringtheperiod1984-1990.

Figure14Designation andlocationofnine1.25kmsegmentsand361-kmsegmentssurveyedforseaturtlenesting,southHutchinson Island,1971-1994.

Figure15Loggerhead turtlemortality intheSt.LuciePlantintakecanalsystem,expressed asapercentage ofcaptures, 1976-1994.

Figure16Greenturtlemortality intheSt.LuciePlantintakecanalsystem,expressed asapercentage ofcapture,1977-1994.Nogreenswerecapturedin1976.

ASSESSMENT OFTHEIMPACTSOFTHEST.LUCIENUCLEARG1M"RATING PLANTONSEATURTLESPECIESFOUNDINTHENEARSHORE HATERSOFFLORIDA.Preparedby:FloridaPower&LightCompanyNovember1995

1.0 SUMMARYANDCONCLUSIONS

Thisdocumentprovidesabiological assessment ontheimpactsofcontinued operation oftheFloridaPower&LightCompany(FPL)St.LucieNuclearPowerPlantonfivespeciesoffederally listedseaturtlesasrequiredbySection7oftheEndangered SpeciesAct(ESA)of1973,asamended.ThefacilityislocatedonsouthHutchinson Island,Florida.Theturtlespeciesencountered indecreasing numerical abundance are:loggerhead, green,Kemp'sridley,leatherback, andhawksbill.

Thescientific namesandtheirlevelofendangerment aregiveninTablel.ThesefivespeciesofseaturtlesenterthecanalsystemoftheSt.LuciePlantalongwithwaterthatisdrawnfromthenearshore watersoftheAtlanticOceanforcondenser cooling.The=turtlescannotescapeandmustberemovedfromthecanalsystemthroughacaptureprogram.FPLhasworkedwithfederalandstateagenciestopromoteseaturtleconservation effortsthroughstewardship effortssuchasnotinghealth,tagging,notingrecapture incidents, obtaining morphometric data,rehabilitating injuredindividuals, nestingstudies,conducting turtlewalks,assisting withseaturtlestranding

networks, andcollaborating withresearchorganizations.

Theintakestructures andvelocitycapsforSt.LucieUnits1and2serveasanartificial reef,sincethestructures aretheonlysignificant physicalfeatureinthisnearshore environment.

Theturtlesencounter thisstructure intheirnormalrangingactivities andfeedonorganisms growingonthestructure orseekthestructures forshelter.Basedonthewatervelocities intheintakestructure, onceaturtlepassestheverticalplaneofthevelocitycap,itissweptintotheintakepipelineand,aftera3-5minutepassagethroughthepipeline, itenterstheintakecanal.Tofacilitate thecaptureofentrapped turtlesandtorestrictturtlesfrommovingdownthecanalsystemtowardstheplant,abarriernetwaserectedin1978.Therationale forthemeshsizeofthisbarriernetwasbasedonthesizefrequency of140turtles

capturedintheintakecanalbeforeMarch,1978.An8inch(20.3cm)squaremeshwaschosensinceitwouldexclude95%oftheturtles.Intheoriginalevaluation oftheenvironmental impactofSt.LucieUnit1,turtleentrapment andimpingement werenotanticipated (U.S.AtomicEnergyCommission, 1974).Aninitialbiological assessment andESASection7consultation werecompleted in1982aspartofthelicensing ofSt.LucieUnit2.Thisassessment resultedinanojeopardyopinionattheestimated levelofentrapment, buthadnoprovisions formortality.

Thisassessment wasbasedontheentrapment historyoftheplantfrom1976through1981,whichaveragedapproximately 150turtlesayear.Aspartofthisevaluation, the8inch(20.3cm)squaremeshbarriernetwasdetermined tobeappropriate toexcludeturtlesfromtheplant'sintakewells.Additionally, aresearchprogramtoinvestigate methodstophysically orbehaviorally excludeturtlesfromtheintakestructures wasconducted aspartoftheEnvironmental Protection PlanofSt.LucieUnit2duringtheinitialyearsofoperation.

Thisstudyconcluded thattherewascurrently nopractical methodtoexcludeturtlesfromenteringtheintakestructures inthenearshore environment (FloridaPower&Light,1985).Since1993,FPLhasdocumented asignificant increaseinnumbersofentrapped turtles,whichnowexceed600ayear.Aprincipal component ofthisincreaseisthenumberofjuvenilegreenturtles(carapace widthlessthan12inches(30cm)).Over400juvenilegreenturtleshavebeencapturedinthetimeperiodofJanuary1,1995throughJune30,1995.Thisincreaseisbelievedtobeindicative ofanincreaseinpopulation ofgreenturtlespresentinthenearshore watersoftheAtlanticOcean.Withtheincreaseinthenumberofturtlesentrapped intheintakecanalsince1991andthedecreaseinsizeoftheentrapped turtles,acertainpercentage ofgreenturtleshavebeenabletopenetrate theexisting8inch(20.3cm)meshbarriernetandpassdownthecanaltobeimpingedontheintakewellstructure ofthe

plant.Inthefirstsixmonthsof1995,23%oftheturtlescapturedwereremovedfromtheintakewellsoftheplant.Toexcludeturtlesfromtheplant'sintakewells,FPLisproposing toinstallasmallermeshbarriernetintheintakecanal.Thenewnetwillexclude100%ofturtlesinthesizerangeencountered in1995.Thisnetwillbe5inch(12.7cm)squaremesh,oradiagonalmeasurement of7inches(18cm).Thesizeofthemeshisbasedonthesizefrequency distribution of414greenturtlesencountered in1995.Asadditional conservation measuresforseaturtles,FPLisproposing tocontinueasummerturtlewalkprogramwherethepublicistakenonthebeachatnighttoobserveanestingfemale.Thisactivity, whichhandledapproximately 1000peoplein1995,willincreasepublicunderstanding andappreciation forseaturtles.FPLisalsoproposing tocontinueassistance totheFloridaDepartment ofEnvironmental Protection intheirindexbeachnestingsurveyforseaturtlesalongthebeachesofsouthHutchinson Island.Thislong-term monitoring programwillestablish trendsinseaturtlenestingpopulations inFlorida,sincethebeachesofsouthHutchinson Islandareakeyturtlenestingrookery.FPLisalsoproposing tocontinuetocooperate withtheFloridaDepartment ofEnvironmental Protection intheirseaturtlestranding networkwhendeador1iveturtlesarewasheduponthebeach.Personnel examinedeadturtlesandrecordpertinent information tohelpunderstand thecauseofdeathortransport liveturtlestorehabilitation facilities formedicaltreatment.

Withthenewbarriernetinplaceandthecommitment totheconservation activities ofthenestingsurvey,turtlewalks,andparticipation inthestranding network,thecontinued operation oftheSt.LucieNuclearGenerating Plantwillnotjeopardize thecontinued existence ofseaturtlesinFlorida.

2.0INTRODUCTION

2.1PurposeThisbiological assessment, forfivespeciesofseaturtlefoundattheFloridaPower6LightCompany(FPL)St.LucieNuclearPowerPlant,issubmitted totheNationalMarineFisheries Service(NMFS)bytheU.S.NuclearRegulatory Commission (NRC)tocomplywithSection7oftheEndangered SpeciesActof1973,asamendedand50CFR402,Interagency Cooperation.

Previously, aninformalconsultation withNMFSwasconducted in1982(Bellmund etal.,1982).ThisreportprovidestheNRC'supdatedbiological assessment, whichpredictstheimpactfromthecontinued operation ofUnits1and2oftheSt.LucieNuclearPowerPlantonfivespeciesofseaturtlesaslistedinTable1.Thisassessment isbasedonthemonitoring datacollected byFPLanditsconsultants andareviewofpertinent literature.

2.2Endangered SpeciesActThepurposeoftheEndangered SpeciesActis:"...toprovidefortheconservation ofendangered andthreatened speciesoffish,wildlife, andplants,andforotherpurposes."

OneoftheAct'sprinciple featuresiscontained inSection7oftheAct,whichprovidesforinteragency cooperation inthat,"...eachFederalagencyshall,inconsultation withandwiththeassistance oftheSecretary, insurethatanyactionauthorized, funded,orcarriedoutbysuchagency('agencyaction')doesnotjeopardize thecontinued existence ofanyendangered speciesorthreatened speciesorresultindestruction oradversemodification ofhabitatofsuchspecies...."

2.3Jurisdiction oftheNationalMarineFisheries ServiceTheNMFShasjurisdiction overallspeciesofseaturtlesinthewatersoftheUnitedStates.

2.4Jurisdiction oftheU.S.FishandWildlifeServiceTheU.S.FishandWildlifeService(FWS)hasjurisdiction overallspeciesofseaturtlesintheterrestrial environment.

Anytimeseaturtlesventurefromthewaterontoland,principally fornesting,andduringtheincubation andthehatchingofyoung,theFWShasjurisdiction.

2.5Chronology ofEventsLeadingtothisAssessment In1974,theAtomicEnergyCommission intheirFinalEnvironmental Assessment fortheConstruction PermitforSt.LucieUnit1,described variousbiological communities foundinthenearshore AtlanticOceanofftheplant(USAEC,1974).Asacondition ofFPL'slicensetooperateUnit1,FPLwasrequiredtoconductamonitoring program.ThisactivitybeganinDecember1975andmonitored biological communities inthevicinityoftheplant.SeveralspeciesofseaturtleswhereknowntoinhabitthewatersadjacenttotheplantandtonestonthebeachesofHutchinson Island.Theresultsofthemonitoring

programs, including dataonseaturtles,weresummarized yearlyandpresented inannualenvironmental monitoring reports(AppliedBiology,1976,1977a,1978,1979,1980,1981).In1981,theNRCrequested aninformalconsultation withtheNMFSandtheFWSregarding thelicensing ofSt.LucieUnit2.Fivespeciesofseaturtleswereidentified bytheNMFSasinhabiting theAtlanticOceannearshore areaoftheSt.LuciePlant.In1982,theNRCcompleted abiological assessment andconcluded thattheoperation oftheplantwouldnothaveanadverseimpactonthecontinued existence oftheseturtlespecies(Bellmund etal.,1982).Therewereseaturtlemonitoring requirements placedintheEnvironmental Protection PlanofUnit2,whichrequiredrelocation ofturtlenestsfoundwithinthebeachconstruction zoneduring1982,removalofentrapped seaturtlesfromtheintakecanaloftheplant,astudytoevaluatemethodstoreduceentrapment, acontinuous evaluation ofmethodstocaptureentrapped turtles,andnestingsurveysofHutchinson Islandforthetimeperiod1982-1987.

Theseresultswerepresented inyearlyannualreportstotheNRC(AppliedBiology,1982,1983a,1983b,1984,1985,1986,1987,19881989,1990,1991,1992,1993,Quantum,1994).

3.0 SITEDESCRIPTION

3.1LocationTheSt.LucieNuclearPowerPlantislocatedona1129acre(460ha)siteonSouthHutchinson Island,St.LucieCounty,FL(Figure1).Theplantisapproximately 7miles(11.3km)southofFt.Pierce,FLandapproximately 7miles(11.3km)northofStuart,FL.3.2IndianRiverLagoonEnvironment SouthHutchinson IslandisatypicalbarrierislandofeasternFloridaboundedontheeastbytheAtlanticOceanandonthewestbytheIndianRiverLagoon.Theislandis23.3miles(37.5km)longandreachesitsmaximumwidthof1.1miles(1.7km)attheplantsite.Thisbarrierislandhasaflattopography andisvegetated bymangroves, coastalhardwoodhammocks, andsalttolerantbeachspecies.Atthesite'soceanshore,thelandrisesslightlytoaduneorridgeofapproximately 19feet(5.8m)abovemeansealevel.TheIndianRiverLagoonisashallowembayment thatisboundedonthewestbythemainlandpeninsula ofFloridaandontheeastbythenarrowbarrierislandslocatedalongthecoastofFlorida.TheIndianRiverLagoonoriginates inBrevardCountyintheCapeCanaveral areaandterminates intheStuartarea.SeveralinletsalongthecoastconnectthelagoonwiththeAtlanticOcean.Manyriversanddrainagecanalsemptyintotheentirestretchofthelagoonandgreatlyinfluence thesalinityandnutrientlevelsofthewaterbody.Inmanyareasofthelagoon,extensive seagrassbedsexistandsupportawidediversity offishbiota(Gilmore1977).3.3AtlanticOceanEnvironment Baselineandpre-operational studiesoftheSt.LuciePlantarereportedinaseriesofpublications entitled"Nearshore MarineEcologyatHutchinson Island,Florida:1971-1974" bytheMarineResearchLaboratory oftheFloridaDepartment ofNaturalResources

(FDNR,1977,1979).Thesereportscontaintenparts:1)Introduction andRationale; 2)Sediments; 3)PhysicalandChemicalEnvironment; 4)Lancelets andFishes;5)Arthropods; 6)PlanktonDynamics1971-1973; 7)Phytoplankton 1971-1973; 8)Zooplankton 1971-1973;9)DielPlankton1973-1974; 10)Benthic AlgaeSpeciesList.3.3.1SalinityThesalinityoftheoceaninthevicinityoftheplantisinfluenced bytwomainwatermasses:thewatersofthecontinental shelf,whichreceivefresh-water outflowsfromvariousinlets,andtheFloridacurrent,whichisoceanicinnature.Thesalinityofthewateradjacenttotheplantisapproximately 36o/ooandvariesplusorminus2o/oo.Thevariation isdependent ontheextensive fresh-water outpourings undercertainweatherconditions frominletslocatedatFt.PierceandStuart(AppliedBiology,1981).TheFloridacurrentsweepswithin12miles(19km)oftheshoreline undercertainconditions, but'moretypically isfound24miles(39km)offshore.

ThesalinityoftheIndianRiverLagoonvarieswidelyfromlessthan20o/ooduringtherainyseasonwhentherearelargefresh-water discharges to34o/ooduringfloodtideandlowfresh-waterdischarges (WilcoxandGilmore,1976).3.3.2Temperature Ambientwatertemperature oftheAtlanticOceanattheplantsiterangesfromaJanuaryminimumof57F(14C)toaSeptember maximumof84F(29C)(AppliedBiology,1981).Howeverundercertainwindandupwelling conditions commonduringthesummermonths,theambientwatertemperature of78-81F(25-27C)candropprecipitously to70-73F(21-23C)forseveraldays(AppliedBiology,1993;Quantum,1994).'03.3.3Topography Theoceanbottomwithin5miles(8km)oftheplantconsistsentirelyofsandandshellsediments withnoreeforrockoutcroppings, outsideofthesurfzone.Thebottomreliefslopes

,verygradually untilabout14miles(22km)offshore, wherethewaterdepthsare120-150feet(36-45m),andthenthecontinental slopebegins.Waterdepthsof30-60feet(9-18m)arefoundupto6miles(9.6km)offshoreoftheplant.t3.3.4WaveConditions andTurbidity Waveconditions inthevicinityoftheplantareextremely variable.

BecauseofthelocationoftheplantontheAtlanticOcean,theareacanbesubjecttohurricanes, northeasters, anddistantstormsystems,withassociated waveandsurfconditions thatcanexceed16feet(4.9m).Underfairweatherconditions, theoceancanbeflatcalm.Thewaterclarity/turbidity intheplant'svicinityalsovarieswiththewaveconditions, theapproximate distancetotheFloridacurrent,andfresh-water outpourings fromtheinlet(AppliedBiology,1981).Underheavysurfconditions, waterclarityupto1mile(0.6km)offshoreislessthan1foot(0.3m);undercalmconditions, waterclaritycanbe50feet(15m).3.3.5ReefSystemApproximately 0.8miles(1.3km)southoftheplant'sintakestructures, anextensive wormreefcommunity isfoundalongtheshoreline andwithinthesurfzone.Thisreefsystemprovidesextensive habitatforawidevarietyoffishandinvertebrate species(AppliedBiology,1977b).Acoquinoid rockformation parallels muchofisland'soceanshoreline andprovidessuitablesubstratum forthesewormreefs.Therobustness ofthiswormreefisseasonally dependent andthereismajoraccretion duringthecalmsummermonths.Thewormreefhasasmallerprofileduringthewintermonthsduetothedestructiveness ofheavysurfaction.Therearenomajorreefsystemsoutsideofthesurfzonewithin6miles(9.6km)oftheplant.However,thereareseveralshoalscomposedofsandandshellhash2-5miles(3.2-8km)fromtheplant.Theseshoalshaveareliefofabout10-15feet(3-4.5m)andarefound2-3miles(3.2-4.8km)offshoreinabout30-35feet(9.1-10.7 m)ofwater.

4.0ST.LUCIENUCLEARPLANTDESCRIPTION 4.1GeneralDescription TheSt.LuciePlantconsistsoftwoPressurized WaterReactors(Units1and2),eachratedat839MWe.Unit1begancommercial operation inFebruary, 1977andUnit2begancommercial operation inAugust,1983.Thelocationoftheunitsinrelationship tothesitelayoutisshowninFigure2.Thereactorcontainment.

domesarethetalleststructures ontheplantsiteandare225.5feet(69m)abovemeanlowwater.TheAtlanticOceanprovidescoolingandreceiving watersforeachunit'scondenser andauxiliary coolingsystems.Theunitsshareacommonintakeanddischarge canalandoceanpipingsystemasshowninFigure2.Majorcomponents ofthesecanalsandoceanpipingsystemsare:1)threeoceanintakestructures locatedapproximately 1200feet(365m)fromtheshoreline;2)threeburiedintakepipelines toconveywaterfromtheintakestructure totheintakecanal(onepipelineis16feet(4.9m)indiameter; twoare12feet(3.65m)indiameter);

3)acommonintakecanaltoconveyseawatertoeachunit'sintakewellstructure; 4)individual unitintakewellstructures; 5)discharge structures foreachunit;6)acommondischarge canal;7)onedischarge pipeline(12feet(3.65m)diameter) toconveywatertoa"Y"diffuserapproximately 1200feet(365m)offshoreandanotherpipeline(16feet(4.9m)diameter) toconveywatertoamultiport diffuser(solidpipelinefromshoreline toapproximately 1200feet(365m)offshoreandthenthemultiport diffusersegmentfromapproximately 1200to2400feet(365-730m)offshore)

(Figure2).ThedesignunitflowforUnits1and2is1150cubicfootpersecond(32.6cms)perunitwithmaximumandnormaltemperature riseacrossthecondensers of31Fand25F(17-13C),respectively (Bellmund etal.,1982).10

4.2Circulating WaterSystem4.2.1IntakeStructures andVelocityCapsThreeintakestructures andvelocitycapsarelocatedapproximately 1200feet(365m)offshoreandabout2400feet(731m)southofthedischarge structures.

Theintakestructures haveaverticalsectiontominimizesandintake,avelocitycaptominimizefishentrapment, butnoscreensorgratesareusedtodenyorganisms accesstotheintakepipes.Thetopsoftheintakestructures areapproximately 7feet(2.1m)belowthesurfaceatmeanlowwater.Thevelocitycapforthe16foot(4.9m)diameterpipeis70feet(6.5m)square,is5feet(l.5m)thick,andhasaverticalopeningof6.25feet(1.9m).Thevelocitycapforthetwo12foot(3.65m)diameterpipesis52feet(4.8m)square,is5feet(1.5m)thick,andhasaverticalopeningof6.5feet(2.0m).In1991-1992, allthreevelocitycapswererebuiltduetothefailureofseveralpanelscomprising thecaps.Thisfailurewasduetothestressesfromtheharshoceanenvironment andwaveaction.Therelativepositionofthethreeintakestructures andvelocitycapsisshowninFigure3.Theflowvelocities atvariouslocations ofthevelocitycapandintakestructures havebeencalculated undervariouslevelsofbiological fouling.Theminimumandmaximumhorizontal intakevelocities atthefaceoftheoceanintakestructures forthe12foot(3.65m)diameterpipeiscalculated at0.37-0.41feetpersecond(11.2-12.

6cm/sec)andforthe16foot(4.9m)diameterpipeiscalculated at0.92-1.0footpersecond(28.3-30.5cm/sec).Asthewaterpassesunderthevelocitycap,flowbecomesverticalandthevelocityincreases toapproximately 1.3feetpersecond(40.2cm/sec)forthe12foot(3.65m)diameterpipeand6.2feetpersecond(206cm/sec)forthe16foot(4.9m)diameterpipe(Bellmund etal.,1982).4.2.2IntakePipesFromtheoceanintakestructures, waterflowsthroughthethreeburiedpipelines, approximately 1200feet(365m)inlength,11 andemptiesintotheopenintakecanalbehindtheduneline(Figure2).Theflowthroughthesepipelines willvaryfrom4.2-6.8feetpersecond(127-206cm/sec)depending onthepipelineandthedegreeoffouling.Transittimeforanobjecttotravelthisdistanceisapproximately 180-300seconds(3to5minutes).

Duetothedifferences inthediameterofthepipelines andfrictionofthepipelinewalls,.thecalculated volumethroughthetwo12foot(3.65m)diameterlinesisapproximately 20%eachandapproximately 60%forthe16foot(4.9m)diameterpipeline(Bellmund etal.,1982).4.2.3.Headwalls andCanalSystemApproximately 450feet(138m)behindtheprimarydunelinetheintakepipesdischarge theirwaterattwoheadwallstructures intotheintakecanal(Figure2).Theheadwallstructure forthetwo12foot(3.65m)diameterpipesisacommonverticalconcretewall.Theheadwallforthe16foot(4.9m)diameterpipeisaseparatestructure.

The300foot(91m)wideintakecanalhasamaximumdepthofapproximately 25feet(7.6m)andcarriesthecoolingwater5000feet(1525m)totheintakewellstructures.

Theflowrateinthecanalvariesfrom0.9-1.1feetpersecond(27-32cm/sec),depending ontidalstage.4.2.4HighwayBridgeandUnderwater Intrusion SystemTheintakecanaliscrossedbytwopermanent structures (Figure2).OneisabridgeownedbytheFloridaDepartment ofTransportation andispartofU.S.HighwayA1A.Theroadwayissupported byaseriesofconcretepilingsdrivenintothebottomoftheintakecanal.Theotherbarrieristheunderwater intrusion detection system(UIDS),whichisrequiredforsecurityreasons.Thissystemhasanetwitha9inch(23cm)squaremeshtoprevent,humanintrusion intothesecureareaoftheplant(Figure4).12 4.2.5IntakeWells,TrashRacks,andTraveling ScreensEachunithasaseparateintakewellstructure consisting offourbays.Eachbay(Figure5)containstrashracks("grizzlies"

)thatareverticalbarswithapproximately 3inch(7.6cm)spacingstocatchlargeobjectssuchasflotsam.Nextaretraveling screenswitha3/8inch(1cm)meshtoremovesmallerdebris,andfinallyacirculating waterpump.Approachvelocities toeachbayarecalculated tobelessthan1footpersecond(30.5cm/sec),butincreasetoapproximately 5feetpersecond(150cm/sec)atthetrashracks.Thetrashracksareperiodically cleanedbyamechanical rakethatisloweredtothebottomoftherack.Theteethoftherakefitintothe3inch(7.6cm)verticalopeningsofthestructure.

Thisrakeispulledvertically upbyawinchandcableandcollectsanydebristhatmayhaveaccumulated onthestructures.

Thisdebrisisemptiedintoatroughatthetopoftheintakebayforsubsequent disposal.

Thedebristhatiscollected onthetraveling screensiswashedfromthescreenbyaseriesofsprayjets.Thisdebrisisalsoemptiedintothetroughatthetopoftheintakebayfordisposal.

Afterthewaterhaspassedthroughthetrashracks,thetraveling screens,andthecirculating waterpump,ittravelsthroughthecondenser, whichcontainsthousands of7/8inch(1cm)diametertubes.Condenser heatistransferred tothiswater,whichisthenexpelledintothedischarge canal.IntheFallof1995,FPLwillinstallonUnit2a"Taprogge" cleaningsystemtomaintaincondenser tubecleanliness (Figure6).Thissamesystemwillbeinstalled onUnit1inthespringof1996.TheTaproggesystemutilizessmallspongeballs,someofwhicharecoatedwithabrasive, andareapproximately 7/8inch(2.3cm)indiameter.

Theballsareinjectedintothecondenser inletandpassthroughthecondenser tubeswiththecondenser coolingwater.Thispassagescoursthecondenser tubesandkeepsthemfreeofmineralscaleandbiological fouling.Uponemergence fromthe13

condenser outlet,theballsarerecovered withastrainerandmovedtothecondenser inletforanotherpass.4.2.6Discharge SystemsEachunitdischarges itscondenser coolingwaterintothedischarge canalthatisapproximately 300feet(91m)wideand2200.feet(670m)long(Figure2).Thecanalterminates attwoheadwallstructures approximately 450feet(137m)behindtheprimaryduneline.Onestructure supportsa12foot(3.65m)diameterpipelinethatisburiedundertheoceanfloorandrunsapproximately 1500feet(460m)offshorewhereitterminates intoatwo-port"Y"nozzle.Theotherstructure supportsa16foot(4.9m)diameterpipelinethatisburiedundertheoceanfloorandrunsapproximately 3375feet(1030m)offshore.

Thelast1400feet(425m)ofthispipelinecontainsamultiport diffusersegmentwith58discharge ports.Tominimizeplumeinterference, theportsareorientedinanoffshoredirection onalternating sidesofthepipeline.

Thevelocityofthewaterinsidethispipelineaveragesabout5.7feetpersecond(174cm/sec)andthejetvelocityofthedischarge waterateachportaveragesapproximately 13feetper"second(400cm/sec)toensurequickdissipation ofthethermalload(Bellmund etal.,1982).4.2.7ThermalPlumeFPLhadthethermalplumemodeledfortwo-unitoperation.

Theresultsindicated thatthemaximumsurfacetemperatures arestronglydependent onambientoceanconditions.

Themaximumsurfacedifferential temperature ispredicted tobelessthan4.9F(2.7C)andtheresulting 2F(1.1C)surfaceisothermisestimated at963acres(390ha)(Bellmund etal.,1982).14

5.0 INFORMATION

ONSEATURTLESPECIES5.1Loggerhead SeaTurtle(Carettacaretta)5.1.1Description Carettacaretta,ortheloggerhead seaturtle,isdistinguished byareddish-brown carapaceandadullbrowntoyellowish plastron.

Thecarapaceiscomposedoffivepairsofcostalscutes,elevenortwelvepairsofmarginalscutes,andfivevertebral scutes.Theskullisbroadandmassive.Adultloggerh'eads inthesoutheastern UnitedStateshaveameanstraightcarapacelengthofabout36inches(92cm)andameanbodyweightofabout250pounds(113kg).Dodd(1988)providesacompletemorphological description ofthespecies.5.1.2Distribution Loggerhead turtlesarecircumglobal indistribution butrestricted tosubtropical andtropicalwaters.Theyarefoundinestuarine watersandthecoastalwatersofthecontinental shelvesandareuncommonfarfrommainlandshores.Individuals havebeenfoundinlatitudes ashighas50'nboththenorthernandsouthernhemispheres.

Loggerheads areawidelydispersed speciesandhatchlings andsmalljuveniles fromsoutheastern U.S.beachesmayspend3-5yearscircumnavigating theAtlanticincurrentgyres(Carr,1986).AdultsnestingonFloridaeastcoastbeachesarefoundinforagingareasthroughout theGulfofMexicoandCaribbean (Meylanetal.,1983).Adultfemalesareseasonally moreabundantinareasadjacenttonestingbeachesduringthesummerseason,butseasonalmigration patternsforadultmalesandjuvenileloggerheads arelargelyunknown.5.1.3BehaviorLoggerhead turtlesaresolitary, althoughtheymayformaggregations atseaorinthevicinityofnestingbeaches.Nestingisalsosolitaryandoccursatnight.Loggerheads areactivediurnalforagersandmakesdivesofmoderatedepthandduration.

15 Theloggerhead matingsystemispolyandrous, withoutelaborate courtship.

5.1.4FoodHabitsLoggerhead turtlesareprimarily carnivorous, feedingonawidevarietyofinvertebrates, mollusksandcrustaceans, althoughcoelenterates andcephalopods predominate inthedietsofjuveniles (Dodd,1988).Atallages,loggerheads commonlyingestnon-fooditemssuchasplasticsandtar.5.1.5NestingLoggerhead turtlesfavorhighenergymainlandbeachesasnestingsites.Steeplyslopingbeacheswithgradually slopedoffshoreapproaches arepreferred.

Dodd(1988)givesacompletedescription ofthenestingprocess.Thenestingbehaviorisstereotyped andthereisverylittleindividual variation.

Thenestingprocessmaybeinterrupted atanypointuptotheactualdeposition oftheeggs,resulting inwhatistermeda"falsecrawl".Floridaloggerheads nestfromApriluntilSeptember, whilefarthernorththenestingseasonisrestricted tomid-summer.

Meanclutchsizevariesfromabout100to126eggs.Loggerheads areknowntonestfrom1-6timesinanestingseason,withaninternesting intervalofabout14days.Incubation timevarieswithtemperature andistypically 50-60days.Hatchlings emergeasagroupatnightandareorientedtothewaterbypositivephototaxis ofnaturallightreflecting offthewatersurface.5.1.6Numerical Abundance Loggerheads arethemostabundantspeciesofseaturtleinU.S.coastalwaters.Themostwidelycitedpopulation estimateforthesoutheastern U.S.population isgivenbyMurphyandHopkins(1984)at14,150adultfemales.Thispopulation numberwasendorsedbyEhrhart(1989)andisalsocitedinthe1991NMFS/FWSrecoveryplanfortheloggerhead turtle(National MarineFisheryServiceandU.S.FishandWildlifeService,1991).Dataonadult16

malesandsubadults arenotsufficient toestimatetotalpopulation size,andthereisnoreliableestimateoftheworldpopulation ofloggerheads.

Fromananalysisoftrendsinnestingdata,theNationalResearchCouncil(1990)concludes thatthereisevidenceofapopulation declineforloggerheads inthenorthernportionoftheirrange,whilepopulations inFloridaappearstableorpossiblyincreasing.

5.1.7Mortality FactorsandDiseasesMortality factorsarecommonlyseparated intotwocategories:

naturalmortality andhumaninducedmortality.

Causesofnaturalmortality includeabioticfactorssuchasdestruction ofnestsbybeacherosionoraccretion, tidalinundation oflow-lying nests,hypothermia ofjuveniles andadultsduringsudden,severecoldspells,andbioticfactorssuchaspredation, parasitism, anddisease.Loggerhead eggsarepreyeduponbyraccoons, ghostcrabs,hogs,foxes,ants,crows,vulturesandotherbirds.Hatchlings fallpreytoawidevarietyofbirdsandpredatory fish.Largerjuveniles andadultsarepreyeduponbylargecoastalsharks,~particularly thetigershark.Loggerhead mortalities mayalsobecausedbyvegetation.

Seaoatandthebeachmorninggloryrootsystemscaninvadeturtlenestsandcauseeggmortality, androotsystemscangrowoveranestandblockescape.Additionally, hatchlings andnestingfemalescanbecomefatallyentangled invegetation.

Littleis'nownaboutdiseasesinloggerhead turtlesortheimpactthesediseaseshaveonpopulation levels.Strandedloggerheads havebeenfoundtobeinfestedwithbloodflukes,whichresultinemaciation andanemia.Additionally, avarietyofbacterial andfungalpathogens arebelievedtocausemortality ofloggerhead embryos.Humaninducedmortality factorshavebeenextensively studiedfrombothresearchandmanagement perspectives.

TheNationalResearchCouncil(1990)providesadetaileddescription andanalysisofthesevariousmortality factors.17 Suitability ofbeachesfornestingcanbecompromised bybeacharmoring, whichimpedesaccesstonestingsitesandpromoteserosionofadjacentbeaches.Thewidespread practiceofbeachrenourishment cancreatechangesinbeachcharacteristics thatmakethemlesssuitablefornesting(NelsonandDickerson, 1984).Artificial lightingonthebeachfront bothdisorients hatchlings.

anddetersnestingfemalesfromcomingashore(Hitherington, 1990).Highlevelsofhumanactivityonthebeachat'nightanduseofrecreational equipment onbeachescandestroynests,contribute toerosion,runoveremergenthatchlings, causehatchling disorientation anddeternestingfemales(National ResearchCouncil,1990).Exoticvegetation, particularly theAustralian pine,mayreduceorimpedeaccesstonestingsites,affectincubation temperature byshading,andmayoccasionally trapnestingfemalesinexposedrootsystems(SchmelzandHezich,1988).Themostimportant sourceofhumaninducedmortality tojuvenileandadultloggerheads istheshrimpfishery,whichinrecentyearshasaccounted forthedeathofbetween5,000and50,000loggerhead turtlesperyearinU.S.waters(National ResearchCouncil,1990).Othertypesoffishinggearsuchasgillnets,fish.traps,andlonglinescollectively accountforabout10%ofthemortality associated withtheshrimpfishery,constituting thesecondlargestsourceofmortality tojuveniles andadults.Harbor,inletandnavigational channeldredginghasbeendocumented tocausesignificant turtlemortality.

From1980to1990,maintenance dredgingoftheCapeCanaveral andKingsBayentrancechannelskilled149turtles,90%ofthetotalbeingloggerheads (National ResearchCouncil,1990).Boatcollisions arealsoasignificant sourceofmortality inFlorida,with6-9%ofstrandings, oranaverageof150turtlesperyear,showingevidenceofboatcollisions (National ResearchCouncil,1990).Directedtakeofeggsandadultsbyhumansisasignificant factoraffecting turtlepopulations worldwide,butisdifficult toquantify.

Althoughloggerhead meatisnothighlyprized,itiscertainly eaten.DirectedtakeisillegalintheUnitedStatesand18

manyCaribbean countries, andratesofillegaltakearelargelyunknown.Plasticdebrisandtararecommonlyfoundinthedigestive tractsofstrandedturtlesandingestion ofthesesitemscausesintestinal blockageandreleasestoxicchemicals.

InaTexasstudy,26%of'allstrandedloggerheads hadplasticdebrisortarinthegutuponnecropsy(Stanleyetal.,1988).Theexactroleofingesteddebrisinthedeathofstrandedturtles,however,isoftenunclear.Entrapment inpowerplantintakepipeswasmentioned intheNationalResearchCouncil's reportasarelatively minorsourceofturtlemortality.

Addingthewell-documented datafromtheSt.LuciePlanttoestimates fromotherfacilities fromNewYorktoTexas,theCouncilestimates that57loggerheads peryeararekilledbypowerplantentrapment (National ResearchCouncil,1990).5.2GreenSeaTurtle(Chelonia midas)5.2.1Description Chelonia~mdas,orthegreenseaturtle,isthelargesthard-shelledseaturtle,withFloridaadultsaveraging 40inches(101.5cm)incarapacelengthand300pounds(136.2kg)inweight.Theyaredistinguished fromtheloggerhead byamuchsmaller,roundedheadandacarapacewithfourpairsofcostalscutes,andasinglepairoffrontalscalesonthehead.Pritchard (1979)givesacompletedescription andlifehistoryofthegreen.5.2.2Distribution Thegreenturtleiscircumglobal indistribution, butrestricted tothetropics.U.S.populations occurintheVirginIslandsandPuertoRico,theGulfofMexico,andtheeasternseaboard, occasionally asfarnorthasMassachusetts.

Theprimaryhabitatofadultgreenturtlesisshallow,protected waters,supporting growthofbenthicalgaeandseagrasses.

Theirpreferred nestinghabitatsareonhigh-energy islandbeaches,andatleastonepopulation ofgreenturtlesregularly migratesover620miles19 (1000km)betweenfeedingandnestinghabitats.

Somegreenturtlenestingoccursinthecontinental U.S.,mostlyinFloridabetweenVolusiaandBrowardcounties.

Populations ofimmaturegreenturtlesarefoundyearroundintheIndianRiverLagoon,FloridaBayandHomosassa BayareasofFlorida.5.2.3BehaviorLiketheloggerhead, thegreenturtledoesnotformsocialgroupsandisasolitarynocturnal nester.Greenturtlesarediurnal,feedingduringthedayandoftenreturning toaparticular ledgeorcoralheadtosleepeachnight.Thegreenturtleismoredifficult toapproachthantheloggerhead andtheirmatingbehaviorissimilartotheloggerhead.

5.2.4FoodHabitsTheadultgreenturtleistheonlyspeciesofseaturtlewhichisprimarily herbivorous.

Intheposthatchling, pelagicstage,greenturtleshaveanomnivorous orcarnivorous diet.Uponenteringbenthicfeedinggrounds(atabout8-10inches(20-25cm)length),theyshifttoadietofalgaeandseagrasses.

Greenturtlesareselective grazers,favoringgrowingshootsofseagrasses andavarietyofalgae,andasaconsequence ofeatingalowprotein,highfiberdiettheirgrowthisslow.Theresultofthislowgrowthisthatgreenseaturtlesreachsexualmaturitylater,andhaveasmallerreproductive outputthanotherseaturtles(Bjorndal, 1982).5.2.5NestingMajorwesternhemisphere nestingbeachesforgreenturtlesareAscension Island,AvesIsland,Surinam,andCostaRica.Arangeof60to800nestsarerecordedeachyearontheAtlanticcoastofFloridasouthofCapeCanaveral.

Thenestingprocessisverysimilartotheloggerhead, exceptthatthegreenturtleexcavates amuchdeeperbody-pitandproducesahighernestmound.Asaresult,eggsareburiedconsiderably deeperthaninloggerhead nests.Meanclutchsizeis110-115eggs,andfemalesdepositfrom20 onetoseven(usuallytwoorthree)clutchespernestingseason(Witherington andEhrhart,1989a).5.2.6Numerical Abundance Sufficient datadonotexisttoaccurately assessthecurrentpopulation orpopulation trendofgreenturtles.Basedonhistorical accountsofthe16thand17thcentury,presentdaypopulations arecertainly onlyasmallfractionofhistorical levels.With60to2,000nestsayear,Floridasupportsonlya'mallpercentage oftheCaribbean andsoutheast Atlanticgreenturtlepopulation, estimated byCarr(1978)at69,000adults.TheNationalResearchCouncil(1990)concluded thattherewasnotsufficient information toassesstrendsingreenturtlepopulation, butnotedthatHutchinson Island,Floridanestinglevelshaveincreased overtheperiod1971-1979.

Datafrom1979-1994 showstrendsofmodestlyincreasing nestingstatewide bythegreenturtleandconcludes thattheFloridanestinga'ggregation ofgreenturtlesrepr'esent asignificant contribution tothewesternAtlanticgreenturtlepopulation (Meylanetal.,1995).5.2.7Mortality FactorsandDiseaseMortality factorsforthegreenturtlearesimilartothosediscussed inSection5.1.7fortheloggerhead, withafewmajordifferences duetothespeciesbiological anddistributional differences.

Naturalmortality factorsimpacting eggsandhatchlings areasdescribed fortheloggerhead, exceptthatgreenturtlenestsarelesssusceptible toraccoonandothersmallmammalpredation duetothegreaterdepthoftheeggcavity.Greenturtlesaremorevulnerable tocoldstunning(hypothermia).

InaseriesofcoldstunningeventsintheIndianRiverLagoon,Florida,greenturtleswerebyfarthemostcommonspeciesfoundaffected, andmortality ratesamonggreenturtleswerehigherthanloggerheads (Witherington andEhrhart,1989b).Greenturtlesaresubjecttoalargelyspeciesspecificdiseasecalledfibropapillomatosis.

Thecondition isthoughttobeviralinorigin,althoughaspecificpathogenisyettobe21 0

isolated.

Thecondition ischaracterized bytumorous~artsontheskinandinsidethebodycavity.Thesetumorsrestrictmovement, causeblindness, promoteparasiteinfestation, andincreasethelikelihood ofentanglement.

Greenturtlesarenotcommonlytakeninshrimptrawls,butarequitevulnerable toentanglement inothervarieties offishinggearsuchasgillnets.Directedtakehashistorically beenthegreatestthreattogreenturtlepopulations, butpresentlevelsofdirectedtakearedifficult toquantify(National ResearchCouncil,1990).Otherhumaninducedgreenturtlemortality factorsareasdescribed aboveinsection5.1.7.3.3h3kklt~h5.3.1Description h3hhkt~ht')'d3'hdhkh absenceofthekeratinized scutesinthecarapace, thelackofclawsorscalesinadults,andsignificant skeletaldifferences.

Thecarapaceisraisedintosevenlongitudinal ridgesandcoveredwiththinblackskinwithnumerouswhitespots.Theleatherback isthelargestlivingseaturtle,attaining acarapacelengthof59-67.inches(150-170cm)andamaximumweightof1100-1980 pounds(500-900kg)(Pritchard, 1979).5.3.2Distribution Theleatherback isfoundworldwide,fromthetropicstohighlatitudes.

Althoughfoundincoastalwaters,theleatherback ismainlypelagic,andiscapableoftraveling greatdistances betweennestingandforaginggrounds.Preferred feedinghabitatsarepelagic,temperate zonewatersthatsupportlargepopulations ofjellyfish, theleatherback's mainpreyitem.Preferred nestinghabitatsaretropicalmainlandshoreswithasteepbeachprofileanddeepwaterclosetoshore.22 Al

.5.3.3BehaviorAsaconsequence oftheirpelagicnature,littleisknownaboutleatherback behavior.

Likeotherseaturtles,theyarenothighlysocialandaresolitary, nocturnal nesters.Incontrasttootherspecies,whicharebenthicfeedeis,leatherbacks feedinthewatercolumn.Theyarecapableofdivesinexcessof3,000feet(1,000m)toreachfood.5.3.4FoodHabitsJellyfish andothercoelenterates arethemajorfooditemforleatherbacks andtheyhaveseveraladaptations forthishighlyspecialized diet,suchasahighlyexpandable oralcavity,scissor-likejawsandanesophagus linedwithstiffspinesthatprojectbackwardtoaidinholdingandswallowing prey.Jellyfish arealowenergysourceandlargequantities mustbeconsumedtomaintainthislargeturtle.Theleatherback willmovevertically throughthewatercolumninsearchofconcentrations ofjellyfish.

Pritchard (1979)reportedthatyoungleatherbacks incaptivity consumedt~icetheirweightinjellyfish daily.5.3.5NestingLeatherback nestingisalmostexclusively tropical.

ThelargestnestingcoloniesarefoundinNewGuinea,Indonesia, CentralAmerica,northeastern SouthAmerica,andthesouthernPacificcoastofMexico.Somenestingoccursoutsidethetropics,notablyinSouthAfricaandFlorida.Floridarecords38-188leatherback

'nestsannually.

Leatherbacks nestevery2or3years,withasmanyastennestingsperseason,andaninternesting intervalofabout10days.Leatherback eggsarelarge,about2.5inches(6cm)indiameter.

Floridaclutchsizeisfrom60-90eggsandincludesavariablenumberofundersized yolklesseggs,typicalofonlyleatherbacks.

Incubation timeisabout65days,andhatchingsuccessfromundisturbed nestsistypically high(Pritchard, 1979).23 5.3.6Numerical Abundance Estimates fortotalworldpopulation ofnestingfemaleleatherbacks rangefrom70,000(Mrosovsky, 1983)to115,000(Pritchard, 1982).FreteyandGirondot(1990)reportthatpreviousestimates ofabout15,000nestingfemalesfromtheFrenchGuiananestingcolonymaybeanunderestimate.

TheNationalResearchCouncil(1990)concluded thatalthoughdataarescarce,leatherback populations worldwideappeartobestable.5.3.7Mortality FactorsandDiseasesLikegreenturtlesandincontrasttologgerhead nests,leatherback nestsareresistant topredators becauseofthedepthoftheeggcavity,butthesteep,highenergybeachestheyfavorfornestingareverypronetostormerosion.Thepelagicnatureoftheleatherback insulates itfrommanyhumancausedsourcesofmortality liketrawling,

dredging, andboatcollisions, buttheleatherback isvulnerable toplasticingestion, particularly polyethylene bags,whichtheymistakeforjellyfish.

Despiteawidespread beliefthatleatherback meatisinedible, harvestofnestingfemalesiscommoninGuyana,Trinidad, andColumbia.

Nospecificdiseasepathogens arereportedforleatherbacks.

5.4kb'llkli~bi5.4.1Description hhkb'lli~b'&*bythick,overlapping carapacescuteswithboldstreaksofbrownandblackonanamberbackground.

Theheadisnarrow,withatapering, curved,"hawk'sbill."Thehawksbill isarelatively smallseaturtle,withnestingfemalesaveraging 32inches(81cm)incarapacelength.Witzell(1983)providesasynopsisofbiological dataonthehawksbill.

5.4.2Distribution Hawksbills arecircumtropical indistribution, almostalwaysincloseassociation withcoralreefhabitats.

Hawksbills aremore24 sedentary thanotherspeciesasadults,andincontrasttologgerheads, hawksbills donotdisperseashatchlings intothenorthAtlanticgyre(Witzell, 1983}.Hawksbills nestontropicalislandsandmainlandshoresofthetropicsworldwide.

Typicalnestingbeachesarelow-energy narrowbeachesoftenwithvegetation growingalmosttothewater'sedge.Nestinginthecontinental U.S.isextremely rare.5.4.3BehaviorHawksbills maintainaforagingterritory thatshiftswithage,movingtodeeperwaterastheanimalmatures.Thehawksbill isabenthicforagerinshallowwateroutto300feet(100m)(Meylan,1989).5.4.4FoodHabitsAlthoughawidevarietyoffooditemshavebeendocumented infeedingstudies(Wiztell, 1983),hawksbills exhibitspecialized feedingonafewgeneraof'siliceous sponges.Thesharpsilicatespiculesofthisspongearetolerated bythedigestive systemofthehawksbill (Meylan,1988).5.4.5Numerical Abundance Duetotheirremote,dispersed nestinghabitats, noreliablepopulation estimates existforthehawksbill.

NestingsurveysinSurinamover15yearsshowapositivetrendinincreasing population size,butthesamplesizeisverysmall(National ResearchCouncil,1990).5.4.6Mortality FactorsandDiseaseThemortality factorsdiscussed insection5.1.7onloggerheads alsoapplytothehawksbill.

Becauseoftheirassociation withreefhabitatwheretrawlingisimpractical, hawksbills arenotoftentakeninshrimptrawls.Themajorthreattohawksbill populations isdirectedtakefortortoiseshellproductsandstuffedspecimens.

Between1970and1986,anestimated 250,000Caribbean hawksbill shellswereimportedbyJapan25 alone(Donnelly, 1989).Localharvestandsalesarehardertoquantifythaninternational trade,butthereislittledoubtthetotaltakeisaclearthreattothespeciessurvival.

~.~p'dlyi~kghl~k5.5.1Description hp'*'dly(~dhk~k'lg'~hyolivegreencarapace, oftenwiderthanlong,withfivepairsofcostalscutesandfivevertebral scutes.Adultsmeasure25inches(62.70cm)inaveragecarapacelengthandweigh77-100pounds(35-45kg).Pritchard (1979)givesacompletedescription andlifehistoryoftheKemp'sridley.5.5.2Distribution Kemp'sridleysarelargelyconfinedtotheGulfofMexico,withafewoccurring.

alongtheU.S.easternseaboardasfarnorthasLongIslandSound.Within'he GulfofMexico,juveniles arefarmorecommoninthenorthernGulf,particularly incoastalwatersfromTexastoFlorida.Foraginghabitatsforjuveniles andadultsarethecoastalwatersoftheGulfofMexico,wheretheyfeedonawidevarietyofcrustacea andotherinvertebrates.

Nestinghabitatisalmostexclusively confinedtoasinglebeachatRanchoNuevo,Mexicoataboutlatitude23'orthinthestateofTamaulipas.

5.5.3BehaviorKemp'sridleyturtlesshowahighdegreeofsocialbehavior.

Theyaggregate offshoreofthenestingbeaches,sometimes fordays,andthenallemergesynchronously inan"arribada" tonest(i.e.groupnesting),

usuallyduringdaylight.'n otherbehavioral aspects,theyaresimilartotheloggerhead.

5.5.4FoodHabitsKemp'sridleysconsumeavarietyofprey,buttheirdietisdominated bythebluecrab.Thetypesofitemsfoundinthestomachsofstrandedspecimens suggesttheymaycommonlyfeedon26 theunwantedfishandcrabsdumpedoverboard byshrimptrawlers(ShoopandRuckdeschel, 1982).5.5.5Numerical Abundance SincetheKemp'sridleyhasarestricted distribution and,forthemostpart,nestsonasinglebeach,population estimates aremoreaccuratethanforotherspecies.Estimates ofthetotalpopulation ofnestingfemalesrangefrom350-620(National ResearchCouncil,1990).Basedonamotionpicturefrom1947,inwhichanestimated 40,000femalesnestedinasingledayatRanchoNuevo,thecurrentpopulation isperhaps1%ofwhatitwaslessthan50yearsago.5.5.6Mortality FactorsandDiseaseMortality factorsaffecting nestsandhatchlings fortheKemp'sridleyaresimilartothosediscussed fortheloggerhead insection5.1.7.Humaninducedmortality factorsforadultandjuvenileKemp'sridley'sarealso'similartothosefortheloggerhead.

Shrimptrawlinghasbeenconclusively showntobethemostimportant threattothesurvivaloftheKemp'sridley(National ResearchCouncil,1990).Thesmallpopulation andrestricted distribution oftheKemp'sridleymakeitparticularly vulnerable tocatastrophic population

declines, andshrimping effortisveryheavythroughout itsrange.Therearenospecificpathogens reportedfortheKemp'sridley,althoughbacterial andfungalinfection areamajorcauseofeggmortality inthecloselyrelatedoliveridley.27

6.0 SEATURTLECONSERVATION

ACTIVITIES 6.1SeaTurtleCaptureProgramTheintakestructures andvelocitycapsforSt.LucieUnits1and2,locatedinthenearshore watersoftheAtlanticOcean,serveasanartificial reef,sincethestructures aretheonlysignificant physicalfeatureinthislocalenvironment.

Fivespeciesofseaturtlesinhabitthisareaforallorpartoftheyear.Theturtlesencounter thesestructures intheirnormalrangingactivities andfeedontheorganisms growingonthestructure orseekthestructures forshelter.Onceaturtlepassestheverticalplaneofthevelocitycap,itissweptintotheintakepipelinebywaterbeingusedforcoolingbytheSt.LuciePlantand,aftera3-5minuteridethroughthepipeline, theturtleemergesintheintakecanalandcannotescapeonitsown.Thisiscalledentrapment.

Loggerhead turtleswereencountered assoonasUnit1becameoperational in1977.Biological consultants performing monitoring workattheplantimmediately beganacaptureprogramforturtlesintheintakecanal.Fromitsinception in1977,theprogramhasusedlarge-mesh tanglenetsthatarerectangular inshapetocaptureturtles.Thesetypeoftanglenetshavebeenusedtocaptureturtlessincethe1800's.Thenetisdeployedintothewatercolumnandtheturtles,in.theirfree-ranging activities, swimintothenetandbecomeentangled.

Theturtlesareremovedbypersonnel monitoring thenets..Tofacilitate thecaptureofentrapped turtlesandtominimizeturtlesfrommovingdownthecanalsystemtowardstheplant,alarge-mesh barriernetwaserectedin1978.Therationale forthe8inch(20.3cm)meshsizeofthisbarriernetwasbasedonthesizefrequency of140turtlescapturedintheintakecanalbeforeMarch1978.Thismeshsizewouldexclude95%oftheturtlesencountered.

Since1993,FPLhasdocumented asignificant increaseinnumbersofentrapped turtles,withcatchesexceeding 600ayear.28 Thisincreaseisprincipally duetothenumberofjuvenilegreenturtlesencountered andisbelievedtobeindicative ofanincreaseinpopulation ofgreenturtlespresentinthenearshore watersoftheAtlanticOcean.Withthisincreaseinthenumberofturtlesentrapped intheintakecanalsince1991andthedecreaseinsizeoftheturtles,acertainpercentage ofgreenturtleshavebeenabletopenetrate theexisting8inch(20.3cm)meshbarriernetandpassdownthecanaltobeimpingedontheintakewellstructures oftheplant.Inthefirstsixmonthsof1995,approximately 25%oftheturtlescapturedwereremovedfromtheintakewellsoftheplant.Toenhancetheexclusion ofturtlesfromtheplant,FPLisproposing toinstallin1995asmallermeshbarriernetintheintakecanal.Thenewnetisexpectedtoexclude100%ofturtlesinthesizerangeencountered in1995.Therationale fortheseaturtlecaptureprogramattheSt.LuciePlantistoquicklyremoveentrapped turtlesfromtheintakecanalsystemoncetheyhaveenteredthesystem.FPL,inconjunction withAppliedBiology,Inc,andQuantumResources, Inc.,former.andcurrentcontractors forseaturtleconservation andmonitoring activities, havedeveloped procedures andmethodsforhandlingmarine,turtlesentrapped orimpinged(AppliedBiology,1993;Quantum,1994).Overtheprogram's history,varioussizenets(lengthanddepth),variousfloatation devices,differing weighting techniques ofthenetbottom,andvariousmeshsizeshavebeenevaluated toachievethemosteffect'ive meansofcapturing

'turtleswiththeleastamountofharm.Since1990,personnel havealsobeenabletocaptureanumberofturtlesbyhandwhentheyaresnorkeling orSCUBAdiving.Thistechnique isonlyeffective whenthereissufficient watervisibility toseetheturtles,andthisoccurs,onlyoccasionally duringthewintermonthsandmanytimesduringthesummermonthswhentheseaiscalm.Anintensive researchprogramtoinvestigate methodstophysically orbehaviorally excludeturtlesfromtheintakestructures wasconducted aspartoftheEnvironmental Protection 29 PlanofUnit2andconcluded thattherewasnopractical methodtoaccomplish thisgoal(FloridaPower&Light,1985).6.1.1Entrapment andImpingement ofTurtlesEntrapment occurswhenanorganismentersaconfinedareaandcannotescape.Therefore, turtlesbecomeentrapped whentheyenterthecanal.Impingement occurswhenanorganismiscarriedbycurrentsandpinnedtoawaterintakewellstructure orbarrier,andinthecaseofapowerplant,thetrashracksand/orthetraveling screenssystemlocatedintheintakewells.Intheoriginalevaluation oftheenvironmental impactofSt.LucieUnit1,turtleentrapment andimpingement ofturtleswerenotanticipated (U.S.AtomicEnergyCommission, 1974).Thecurrentthinkingisthattheintakestructures andvelocitycapsserveasanartificial reef,sincethestructures aretheonlysignificant physicalfeatureinthisimmediate nearshore environment.

Theturtlesencounter thesefeaturesintheirnormalrangingactivities andfeedontheorganisms growingonthestructures orseekthestructures forshelter.Basedontheintakevelocities oftheintakestructures, onceaturtlepassestheverticalplaneofavelocitycap,itisquicklysweptintotheintakepipeline.

Aftera3-5minuteridethroughthepipeline, itemergesintheintakecanal(seeSections4.2.1and4.2.2).Theentrapment historyoftheSt.LuciePlantfrom1976-December31,1994isgiveninTable2.Allfivespeciesofturtlespresentinthenearshore watersofFloridahavebeenentrapped andtotalof3199turtleshavebeenremovedfromtheintakecanaloftheSt.LuciePlant.Loggerheads arethedominantturtleinnumbers(n=2394),greensarenext(n=751),followedbyKemp'sridley(n=24),leatherback (n=17),andhawksbill last(n=13).Theentrapment historyoftheSt.LuciePlantfromJanuary1,1995-June30,1995isgiveninTable3.Atotalof609turtlesoffourspecieshavebeenhandled.Greensandloggerheads arethedominantspeciesencountered.

30 6.1.2BarrierNets6.1.2.1PastConfiguration Tofacilitate thecaptureofentrapped turtlesandtominimizethenumberofturtlesmovingdowntheintakecanaltowardtheplant,alarqe-mesh barriernet(8inch(20.3cm)squaremesh)waserectedattheAlAbridgein1978(Figure2).Thenetwassuspended acrossthecanalandwasanchoredatthebottomwithweightsandsupported atthetopbycablesandfloats(Figure7).Thenetwashungsothatithada3:1slope,withthebottomanchorsbeingpositioned upstreamofthesurfacefloats.Thisconfiguration preventsbowingofthenetinthecenterandminimizes theriskofaninjuredorlethargic turtlefrombeingpinnedagainstthenetbycurrentsanddrowning.

Byconfining mostturtlestothecanalareaeastoftheA1Abridge,thenetcaptureofturtlesinthispartofthecanalwasenhanced.

Anyturtlewithacarapacewidthof11.3inches(28.7cm)orgreaterwasexcludedfrompassingthroughthenetandmovingdownthecanaltowardstheintakestructures whereitcouldbeimpinged.

Therationale forthebarriernettohavean8inch(20.3cm)squaremesh,oradiagonalmeasureof11.3inches(28.7cm),wasbasedonthesizefrequency distribution of140turtlescapturedintheintakecanalbeforeMarch1978.The8inch(20.3cm)squaremeshwaschosentoexclude95%oftheturtlescapturedbeforethatdate(Figure8).Thenethasbeenrehungseveraltimes(e.g1985,1988,1990)tomaintainits3:1slopeandtoclosegapsbetweenthecanalbottomandthecanalsides.Becauseof,thedeterioration ofthisnetovertime,anewnetwiththesame8inch(20.3cm)meshwasinstalled in1987.6.1.2.2PresentConfiguration Thebarriernetpresently inplacewasinstalled in1987according tothespecifications giveninSection6.1.2.1andhasan8inch(20.3cm)squaremeshconfiguration (Figure7).In1990,thenetheadcableattachedtothetopofthenetwasgivenmore31 supportbyattaching aseriesoffloatation rafts,whichwouldkeepthetopofthenetatorabovethesurfaceofthewaterundervaryingwaterlevels.Thisconfiguration keepsturtlesfromswimmingoverthetopofthenet.Waterlevelcanchangeasaresultoftidesoroperations ofthegenerating units(e.g.ifaunitisnotoperating, thewaterlevelinthecanalrisesabout4feet(1.2m))-Thenetisinspected, approximately quarterly, toensureitsintegrity throughout thewatercolumn,itssides,anditsbottom.Repairsaremadeasnecessary andifthefootofthenetisburiedby.abuildupofsediment, thematerialisremoved.6.1.2.3FutureConfiguration Theentrapment rateforgreensandloggerheads hasincreased in1993and1994(Quantum, 1994),andthistrendiscontinuing in1995(seeFigures9and10).Duetounexpected increases inimpingement ratesandsubsequent mortality attheintakewellsoftheplant(seeTable4),FPLisproposing toinstallasmallermeshbarrierneteastofthepresentbarriernet(seeFigure2).Duetopotential foulingsituations fromjellyfish orseaweed,thetopofthenetwillhavethecapability ofbeingquicklyreleasedsothatitcandroptothebottomofthecanal.Themeshofthisnetwillbe5inches(12.7cm)square,oradiagonalmeasurement of7inches(18cm).According toasizefrequency distribution of414greenturtlesentrapped intheintakecanalduring1995,100%ofallturtlesencountered shouldbeexcludedfrommovingdownthecanaltowardstheplant(Figure12).Thenetwillbeinspected onaquarterly basistoensureitsintegrity andtoprovidenecessary cleaningandmaintenance asrequired.

Maintaining theintegrity ofthenetwillensurethatnoturtlespassthisbarrierand,therefore, thenumbersofseaturtlesimpingedontheintakewellstructures shouldapproachzero.Planscallforthepresent8inch(20.3cm)meshbarriernettobemaintained initsexistingplacetoserveasabackupincasethereisafailureofthe5inch(12.7cm)meshnetorifthe32 5inch(12.7cm)netneedstobetemporarily removedbecauseoffoulingfrom)ellyfish, seaweedorflotsam.6.1.3Underwater Intrusion Detection SystemIn1986theunderwater intrusion detection system(UIDS)wasinstalled topreventhumanentrytotheplantviathecanalsystemandtoprovidefurthersecurityfortheplant.Thissystemalsoprovidesanadditional barrierforturtlesthathavebroachedthebarriernetattheA1Abridge.Thebarrierislocatedonthenorth-south armofthecanal(Figure2)andconsistsofarigidnetwitha9inch(22.9cm)mesh(Figure4).Thisnetishungatapproximately a0.9:1slopewiththebottomofthenetdownstream ofthetop.Thisnetisinspected onanperiodicbasisbysecuritypersonnel andseveralturtles,bothliveanddead,havebeenremovedfromthisareain1994and1995.6.1.4.IntakeWellInspection andRemovalInDecember1994andtodatein1995,FPLhasprovidedfortheinspection oftheintakewellsatleastonceeverythreehoursovera24hourperiod.Thisincreaseinsurveillance wasnecessitated duetoincreased turtlepresenceandmortality inthisarea(Table4)Plantpersonnel, securitypersonnel, andseaturtlebiologists inspectthewellsforanyturtlesthatmaybeimpingedorswimminginthisarea(Figure5).Anyplantorsecuritypersonnel whoseeaturtleareinstructed tonotifyaturtlebiologist throughabeepersystem;thebiologist respondswithinanhour.Aseaturtlebiologist thencapturestheturtlewithalong-handle dipnetandplacesitinapaddedholdingboxfortransport.

6.1.5NettingProgramSeaturtlesareremovedfromtheintakecanalbymeansoflarge-mesh entanglement netsfishedbetweentheintakeheadwallandthebarriernetlocatedattheA1Abridge(Figure2).From1976throughthepresent,thisnettingprogramhasbeenconstantly evaluated andcontinuously improvedtominimizetraumatoturtles33

andtomaximizecaptureefficiency.

Netspresently usedarefrom100-120feet(30-37m)long,9-12feet(2.7-3.7m)deep,andcomposedof16inch(41cm)stretch-mesh multifilament nylon.Largefloatsareattachedtothetopofthenettoprovidebuoyancyandthebottomofthenetisunweighted.

PriortoApril1990,turtlenetsweredeployedonMondaymorningsandretrieved onFridayafternoons.

Duringperiodsofdeployment, thenetswereinspected forcapturesatleasttwiceeachday(e.g.morningsandafternoons).

Additionally, plantpersonnel andsecuritypersonnel checkedthenetperiodically andbiologists werenotifiedifacapturehadoccurred.

Seaturtlebiologists werealsooncall24hoursperdaytoretrieveturtles.Beginning inApril1990,afterconsultation withNMFS,netdeployment wasscaledbacktodaylighthoursonly.Concurrently, surveillance oftheintakecanalandthenetswasincreased, withnetsbeingcontinuously monitored byseaturtlebiologists.

Thismea'suredecreased responsetimeforremovalofentangled turtlesfromthenetsanddecreased mortalities fromaccidental drowning(Figure13).Thepresenceofabiologist alsoprovidedadailyassessment ofturtlenumbersinthecanalandanindication astowhentheturtlewasfirstsighted.Biologists werethenabletoestimatetheresidence time,whichisthenumberofdaysfromthefirstobservation tocaptureandrelease.6.1.6HandCaptureandDipNettingInadditiontotheuseoftanglenetstocaptureturtles,dipnetsandhandcapturesbysnorkelandSCUBAdiversareused(Table4).Long-handle dipnetsusedfromsmallboatsandfromthecanalbanksandheadwalls aremoderately effective incapturing turtleswi'thcarapacelengthof12inches(30.5cm)orless.Handnetshavealsobeenusedtodipdeadandfloatingsmallgreenturtlesfromvariousareasinthecanalsystemandthisfactaccountsforthelargemortality associated withthisrecoverysystem(Table4).Undergoodwatervisibility conditions, divershaveproventobeveryeffective incapturing turtlesofallsizes,particularly inactiveturtlespartially buriedinthesedimentinthevicinity34 ofthebarriernetorsleepingindividuals throughout thecanal.Thesehandcaptureshavehadasignificant impactinreducingresidence timesforturtlesinthecanal(seeSection6.1.7).6.1.7Residence TimeNettingmethodologies havebeenundercontinual reviewandrefinement asnetmaterials, configuration andplacement havebeenvariedinanefforttominimizeseaturtleentrapment times.Fortheperiodforwhichresidence timedataareavailable (July1-December31,1994),about76%oftheturtlesenteringthecanalwerecaughtwithin24hoursoffirstsighting(Quantum, 1994).Becauseofdifferences insize,loggerheads typically resideinthecanalforshorterperiodsthanthesmallergreenturtles.IntheJuly-December, 1994period,100%ofallloggerheads werecapturedwithinoneweekoffirstsighting, withameanresidence timeof1.5days.Overthatsameperiod,greenturtles,whichweresmallerandlesseasilyentangled inthelargemeshnets,hadameanresidence timeof2.0days.Forthegreenturtles,96.9%werecapturedwithinoneweekoffirstsighting.

Betterutilization ofcurrentsandeddies,adjustments totethering lines,multi-net deployment andincreased effortstohandcaptureturtleshavecontributed toreducedresidence timeduringrecentyears(Quantum, 1994).Residence timesmaybeextendedforturtlesslippingpasttheA1Abarriernet(AppliedBiology,1987).BecausecaptureeffortswestoftheA1Abarriernetwerelesseffective thaneastofthebarrier,mostturtlesthatbreachthebarriernetwerenotcaughtuntiltheyenteredtheintakewellsofUnit1or2.Becauseoftheirrelatively smallsize,virtually alloftheturtlesreachingtheintakewellsaregreenturtles.During1994,49ofthe194greencaptures(25.2%)occurredattheintakewells(Quantum, 1994)andduringthefirstsixmonthof1995,23%(95outof414)ofthecapturesoccurredattheintakewells(Table4).Dur'ing1994,84.2%ofallturtlesentrapped inthecanalwerecapturedeastoftheAlAbarriernet,253bytanglenetand51byhandordipnetcapture.Theeffective confinement ofmostturtles35 eastofthebarriernethasbeenamajorcontributor tothehighcaptureefficiency achievedduring1994(Quantum, 1994).6.1.8TaggingandHealthAssessment Activities Regardless ofcapturemethod,allturtlesremovedfromtheSt.LuciePlantintakecanalsystemareidentified tospecies,measured, weighed,tagged,andexaminedforoverallhealthandcondition (wounds,abnormalities, parasites, missingappendages).

Healthyturtlesarereleasedintotheoceannorthorsouthoftheintakestructure onthedayofcapture.SeeSection6.1.9foradiscussion onrehabilitation ofsickorinjuredturtles.Beginning July1,1994,allturtlescapturedarephotographed dorsallyandventrally priortorelease,andthephotographs retainedforfuturereference.

TagssuppliedbytheNMFSareappliedtotheproximaledgeoftheforeflipper; amonelorstainless-steel cattleeartagisappliedtooneflipperandarototagisappliedtotheotherflipper.Thetagnumbers,thespecies,andmorphometrics ofeachturtlearereportedonamonthlybasistotheFloridaDepartment ofEnvironmental Protection (DEP).Ifaturtlehasbeenpreviously taggedeitherattheSt.Luciefacilityorelsewhere, thisisnotedinthemonthlydatasheetandreported.

Thesedataareforwarded byDEPtotheNMFSforinclusion intheirdatabase.Overtheperiodofturtleentrapment attheSt.LuciePlant(1976-1994),177recaptures (150loggerhead and27greenturtles)haveoccurredandanumberofturtleshavebeenrecaptured morethanonce(Quantum, 1994).Oneloggerhead, inparticular, hasbeenrecaptured 11times.Severalotherturtleswithtagscarshavealsobeenrecovered, indicating thattheactualnumberofrecaptures maybehigher.Occasionally, turtlesarecapturedthathavebeentaggedbyotherresearchers; onesuchcaptureoccurredin1994,afemaleleatherback withtagsfromFrenchGuiana.6.1.9NecropsyandRehabilitation Activities Ifaturtlehadrecentlydiedandconditions warrant,resuscitation techniques wereused.Beginning in1982,necropsies 36 wereconducted ondeadturtlesfoundinfreshconditions; threenecropsies wereperformed in1994byDEPpersonnel.

Lethargic orslightlyinjuredturtlesaretreatedandoccasionally heldforobservation priortorelease;iffurthertreatment iswarranted, theDEPisnotifiedandadecisionismadeastowhichfacilitywouldprovideadditional veterinarian treatment.

6.2SeaTurtleNestingPrograms6.2.1Jurisdiction ofFishandWildlifeService/Department ofEnvironmental Protection

.TheFWShasjurisdiction overallspeciesofnestingseaturtlesandtheirhatchlings andFPLhasbeenconducting nestingstudiesaspartoftheSt.LucieUnit1andUnit2reporting requirements.

Inaddition, FWSandDEPhavestartedalong-term nestingindexsurvey,andthedatagenerated byFPLsince1971areanintegralpartofthisprogram.6.2.2Description ofProgramFPLhasbeenconducting seaturtlenestingprogramsonsouthHutchinson Islandsince1971andreportshavebeensummarized onayearlybasis(AppliedBiology,1976-1993; Quantum,1994).Methodologies usedduringthe1994nestingsurveysonHutchinson Islandaredescribed intheAnnualOperating ReportforSt.LucieUnit2(Quantum, 1994).Upthrough1986,theturtlenestingprogramwasarequirement oftheEnvironmental Protection PlanofSt.LucieUnit2,butafterthatdate,FPLelectedtovoluntarily continuethenestingmonitoring programthroughthepresent.Forthe1994nestingseason,nestsurveyswereconducted onadailybasisfromApril15-September 15.Biologists usedsmalloffroadmotorcycles tosurveytheislandearlyinthemorning,generally completing thesurveybefore10AM.Newnests,non-nestingemergences (falsecrawls),andnestsdestroyed bypredators arerecordedforeachofthe0.62mile(1km)surveyareas(Figure15).The0.78mile(1.25km)longsurveysestablished inearlierk37

studieswerealsomonitored socomparisons couldbemadewithpreviousstudies.Theonlysignificant changeinnestingsurveymethodsfrompreviousyearswasthat,beginning July1,1994onlyareasA-SweresurveyedbyQuantumResources biologists (Figure14).AreasT-JJweresurveyedbybiologist fromEcological Associates andthesedataarecombinedtoprovide1994wholeislandnestingtotals.6.3SeaTurtleStranding ProgramIncooperation withDEP,QuantumResourcepersonnel arealsooncall24hoursadaytohandleliveordeadturtlestrandings (e.g.turtlesthathavewasheduponthebeach)onsouthHutchinson Islandorelsewhere, uponrequest.Standarddatasheetsareused,whichrecordthedate,location, species,size,condition oftheturtle,injuries, andcauseofdeath,ifpossible.

Thesedataareroutinely providedtotheDEPandNMFSthroughtheSeaTurtleStranding andSalvageNetwork.Iftheturtleisseverelydecomposed, itisburiedonthebeach.Ifitisasmallgreen,thecarcassmightbesalva'ged forfurtherexamination.

Iftheturtleisalive,itistakentothenearestrehabilitation centerformedicaltreatment.

6.4TurtleWalkProgramAsapublicservice,FPLhasbeenconducting turtlewalkprogramsforthepublictoviewnestingloggerhead seaturtlesonthebeachesoftheSt.LuciePlantsince1982.Thewalksareconducted bypermitted FPLandQuantumResources personnel duringthesummermonthsofJuneandJulywhenloggerhead nestingisatapeak.Anorientation programisprovidedbeforethewalkbeginsandthiseducatestheparticipant (upto50peopleperwalk)aboutseaturtlebiologyandconservation issues.Ascoutonasmalloffroadmotorcycle runsthebeachlookingforanestingturtleandradiostheguidethatitisappropriate tobringtheparticipants onthebeachandtoobservetheturtlenesting.1nthesummerof1995,threewalksperweekwereconducted overthe9weeksofpeak38 nesting.Thesewalkshavegrowninpopularity andattendance asshowninTable5.6.5Assistance toOtherOrganizations 6.5.1Description ofAssistance FPL,throughitscontractors AppliedBiology,Inc.andQuantumResources, Inc.,providedassistance toavarietyoffederal,state,local,privateandacademicinstitutions onseaturtleissues.Thisassistance hasconsisted ofsuchactivities as:providing turtlesaffectedwithfibropapillomas toresearchcentersforstudyandtreatment; taggingturtlesforcaptureandreleaseprograms; providing information ontagreturns;providing adultandhatchling turtlesforresearchpurposes; providing tissuesamplesandbloodforanalysis; providing dataonturtleabundance andnestingactivities.

6.5.2ListofOrganizations AssistedSincetheprogrambeganin1976,data,specimens, and/orassistance havebeengiventotheFloridaDepartment ofEnvironmental Protection, NationalMarineFisheries Service,U.S.FishandWildlifeService,U.S.ArmyCorpsofEngineers, Smithsonian Institution, SouthCarolinaWildlifeandMarineResources

Division, theArchieCarrCenterforSeaTurtleResearchattheUniversity ofFlorida,FloridaAtlanticUniversity, University ofCentralFlorida,TexasA&MUniversity, University ofRhodeIsland,University ofSouthCarolina, University ofIllinois, University ofGeorgia,VirginiaInstitute ofMarineScience,WesternAtlanticTurtleSymposium, SouthAtlanticFisheries Management Council,FloridaMarineFisheries Commission, HarborBranchOceanographic Institution andtheNationalResearchCouncil.39

7.0 ASSESSMENT

OFPRESENTOPERATIONS 7.1DirectandIndirectImpactsoftheContinued Operation oftheCirculating WaterSystemoftheSt.LucieNuclearGenerating StationonSeaTurtlePopulations 7.1.1ImpactsDuetoEntrapment andEntanglement NetsintheCanalSystemPotential directeffectsofentrapment andentanglement netcaptureinthecanalsysteminclude:drowningintheintakepipes,injuriessustained inthepipesandthecanal,injuriessustainduringcanaldredging(hydraulic andclamshell),lossofcondition duetolongentrapment, exposuretopredators intheintakecanal,injuriesandstresssustained duringcapture,anddrowninginfishgillnetsandturtlecapturenets.Potential indirecteffectsinclude:interruption ofmigration, lossofnestingopportunities foradultfemales,andlossofmatingopportunities foradultmalesandfemales.Table6presentsthenumbersofmortalities andprobablecauseofdeathofseaturtles,byspecies,throughthe1976-June30,1995operating historyoftheSt.LuciePlant.Itisdividedintotheperiods1976-1990whenthecapturenetsweredeployedbutnottendedcontinuously and1990-June30,1995,whenthenetsweredeployedandcontinuously tended.Duringconditions oflowflowratesintheintakepipes,drowningintheintakepipeswasidentified asaprobablemortality factor(AppliedBiology,1987).Lowflowconditions werevirtually eliminated whenSt.LucieUnit2wasbroughtonlineinAugust,1983,andtransittimesthroughtheintakepipes(3-5minutes)aresuchthatdrowningintheintakepipesisunlikely.

SinceUnit2startedoperation, nodeadindividuals havebeenrecovered fromtheintakecanalthatareindicative ofthistypeofmortality.

Asmallnumberofturtlescapturedshowrecentsuperficial scrapes,usuallytotheanteriorcarapaceorplastron, whichmaybeduetocontactwithencrusting organisms inthepipeline.

Inthelastyearofoperation (July1,1994-June30,1995),14of361turtlescapturedhadsignificant

injuries, mostofwhichwereold40

andwellhealed(Quantum, 1994).Oneloggerhead wascapturedin1994withafreshpenetrating crackinthecarapace.

Itisnotknownwhetherthisinjurywassustained intheintakepipesorbeforeentrapment, possiblybyboatcollision.

Duetolongresidence timesinthecanalsometurtleslackappropriate foodandloosebodyweight.Thislossofcondition wasidentified byBellmundetal.(1982)asaconcern,buttheyconcluded thatresidence timesaveraging 44dayshadlittledetrimental effectsonturtles.In1994,residence times,calculated fromvisualobservations, wereestimated at1.5daysforloggerheads and2.0daysforgreenturtlesand100%ofallloggerheads and97%ofallgreenturtleswerecapturedwithinoneweekoffirstsighting(Quantum, 1994).Bellmundetal.(1982)concluded thatpredation intheintakecanalwasnotasignificant mortality factor.Informalvisualcensusoffishpopulations inthecanalinrecentyears(1993-1995) revealfivetotenlarge(220+pounds(100+kg))jewfish,notconsidered beforeinpreviousanalysis, whichmaypresentasignificant hazardtosmallerturtles,especially greens.Otherpossiblepredators includenumbersofgreatbarracuda andoccasionally blacktipandspinnersharks.Thereisnowaytoquantifytheextentofthispredation byfishspecies,butitdoesoccuratalowlevel.Injuriessustained duringcapturehaveallbeensuperficial.

Typically theyinvolvesmallcutsfromnetstrandsandminorabrasions sustained duringhandling.

Nonehaveeverrequiredveterinary attention orrehabilitation.

Stressisdifficult toquantify, buteffortsaremadetominimizehandlingtime(generally underonehalfhourtoobtainbiological information andtotagtheanimal)andtokeepturtlesshadedandcoolpriortorelease.Drowningincapturenetshasoccurredoccasionally throughout thehistoryoftheSt.LuciePlant'scaptureprogramduringtheperiod1976-June30,1995.Sincetheprogrambegan7loggerheads (7mortalities outof2583capturesor0.3%),13greenturtles(13mortalities outof1165capturesor1.1%),and1Kemp'sridley(1mortality outof29capturesor3.5%)drownedincapturenets (Tables',

3and6).Leatherback andhawksbill hadnoincidents ofdrowning.

Turtlescandrownwhentheybecome,tightlyentangled, whenthenetbecomesfouledonthebottom,orwhenasmallturtlebecomestangledwithalargeturtleandisheldunderwater.

SinceApril1990,whenthenetshavebeenconstantly tendedduringdaylighthours,therehavebeenzerologgerheads and3greensdrownedincapturenets(Table6).Oftheindirecteffects,interruption ofmigration isthemostdifficult toevaluate, sincethemigratory habitsatthelifestagesofthevariousspeciesarepoorlyunderstood.

Aslongasentrapment timesinthecanalareheldtoaminimum,nosignificant impactisexpected.

Lossofnestingopportunities foradultfemalesmaybeexpectedwhenentrapment timeduringnestingseasonexceedstheinternesting interval.

Therehavebeenseveralinstances ofturtlesemergingfromthecanalandnestingonthecanalbank.Inatleastonecase,thenestwasnotdiscovered andhatchlings enteredthecanal,wheremostwerekilledbecausetheywerecarriedbycurrentstotheplant(B.Peery,pers.comm.,1995).However,byminimizing residence timeforadultturtlesinthecanal,thisfactorcanbecontrolled.

Lossofmatingopportunities canoccurwhenanadultistrappedinthecanalwithoutaccesstotheoppositesexinthematingseason.Thedurationofthematingseasonsforthevariousspeciesispriortotheonsetofnesting.Thus,byminimizing residence timeinthecanal,thisfactorcanalsobecontrolled.

Basedoncapturedata,approximately 95%ofturtlesareingoodrelativecondition basedonweight,activity, parasiteinfestation, barnaclecoverage, wounds,injuriesandotherabnormality.(e.g.

lossofanappendage) whichmightaffectoverallvitality.

Howevertheother5%oftheturtlepopulation fromthecanalareinpoorcondition andprobablyenteredthecanalinthatcondition (Quantum, 1994).Someofthemortalities reportedasunknownfloating(Table6)areputintothiscategorybecauseacauseofdeathcouldnotbedetermined.

However,theturtles42 0'I condition isverypoorbasedonvisualobservation (e.gtheanimalisunderweight, isbarnaclecoverage, andlacksmuscletone).,7.1.1.1ImpactstoLoggerhead TurtlesTables2and3showthetotalcapturesandtotalmortalities forloggerheads throughout thehistoryofthecanalcaptureoperation.

Figure15showsthedecreasing mortality forloggerheads expressed asapercentage ofcaptures, reflecting improvements inmaterials andmethodsemployedinthecanalcaptureprogram.Sincetheevaluation oflow-flowconditions in1984,andsincethedeployment ofaneffective barriernetin1987,drowninginbarriexnetandunknowncausesaretheonlysignificant identifiable sourcesofentrapment relatedmortalities forloggerheads (Table6).Injuriessustained byloggerheads intransitthroughtheintakepipesandinthecanalareminoranddonotsignificantly impactloggerheads.

Intheperiod1976-1990,therewere7mortalities associated withhydraulic andclamshelldredginginthecanaland2mortalities associated withfishgillnettingrequiredforaseparatebiological monitoring program(Table6).Thefishgillnettingprogramhasbeendiscontinued sothiswillnolongerbeasourceofmortality.

Withtherecenthydraulic dredgingoftheintakecanalin1994andtheuseofatemporary 4inch(10.2cm)barriernettoisolatethedredgingarea,therewasnomortality associated withthisprogram.Thusanyfuturedredgingprograminthewesternpartofthecanalshouldnotbeaproblemwiththeinstallation ofthe5inch(12.7cm)netbeingplannedbyFPL.Becauseoftheirsize(subadult oradult),predation riskisalsoconsidered insignificant.

Injuryandstressduringcaptureisalsolikelyinsignificant becauseoftheefforttominimizehandlingtime.Effectson'theinterruption ofmigration areunknown,butareminimized bytheshortresidence timestypicalforloggerheads.

Since1983,anaverageof25adultfemaleloggerheads peryearhavebeencapturedinthecanal.Theirtypically short43 residence times(meanresidence timeof1.5days;Section6.1.7)renderslossofnestingandmatingopportunities insignificant.

Currentpermitconditions callforincreased captureefforttobeemployedwheneveranadultturtleremainsinthecanallongerthan7days.Undertheseconditions, netsaredeployed7daysaweekupto12hoursadaytominimizeresidence timefortheseadultanimals.Nosignificant impacttologgerhead turtlepopulations isexpectedfromthecontinued operation oftheSt.LuciePlant.7.1.1.2ImpacttoGreenTurtlesTables2,3and4showsthetotalcapturesandtotalmortalities forgreenturtlesthroughout thehistoryofthecanalcaptureoperation.

Figure16showsthetrendingreenturtlemortality expressed asapercentage ofcaptures.

Incontrasttothesituation withtheloggerhead, thedeployment ofbarriernetshasnotbeeneffective inconfining allgreenturtletotheportionofthecanaleastofA1A.Greenturtlessmallerthanabout11.3inches(28cm)inwidthcanpassthroughthebarriernet,whichcangreatlyincreaseresidence times.Residence timesforgreenturtlespassingtheA1Abarrierareunknownandmaybesignificant.

Calculated residence timesarebasedonlyonturtlessightedeastofAlA,whereobservations aresufficiently rigorous.

Turtlesrecovered westofA1Aaremoreoftenunderweight, whichmayreflectlongresidence times.Forthefirstsixmonthsin1995,95or23%ofthegreenscapturedintheintakecanalpassedthroughtheexisting8inch(20.3cm)barriernetandweretakenattheintakewells(Table6).Basedonthisfinding,FPLproposedusingasmallermeshnet(5inchor12.7cm)topreventthesesmallersizeturtlesfrommovingdowntheintakecanaltowardstheplant.Basedonthesizefrequency distribution of414greenturtlescapturedin1995(Figure12),100%ofallgreenturtlesshouldtheoretically beprevented fromreachingtheintakewells.Exposuretopredators maybesignificantly affecting greenturtles.Thelargejewfishobservedinthecanalhavebeen44

documented tofeedonsmallseaturtles(Randall, 1967).Thereisnowaytoquantifythispredation byjewfishorotherlargepredatory fishinthecanal,-butitdoesoccuratalowlevel.Drowningincapturenetshasoccurredthroughout thehistoryoftheprogram(Section7.1.1,13greenturtlemortalities intheperiod1976-June30,1995;seeTable6),evenafterthepresentsystemofconstantly tendednetswasinstituted in1990.Mortality canbeexpectedtocontinueatlowlevels.Lossofnestingandmatingopportunities forgreenturtlesisnotassignificant asforloggerheads, sincefewadultgreensareentrained (10adultsin18years).Drowningintheintakepipes,injuriessustained duringpassageintheintakepipesorfromthecaptureprogram,andinterruption ofmigration donotpresentsignificant impactstogreenturtlesunderpresentoperating conditions.

Nosignificant impacttogreenturtlepopulations isexpectedfromthecontinued operation oftheSt.LuciePlant.7.1.1.3ImpactstoLeatherback TurtlesLeatherback capturesareinfrequent attheSt.LuciePlant,withonly18capturedsincemonitoring beganin1976(Tables2and3).Noleatherback mortalities havebeenrecordedattheSt.LuciePlant(Tables2,3and6).Residence timesforleatherbacks areextremely short,nevermorethanafewhoursfromfirstsightingtocapture.Theonlyimpactstoindividual leatherbacks areinjuries'sustained intheintakepipesandinthecanal,andinjuriesand'stress sustained duringcapture.Duetotheirlackofahardshellandtheirdelicateskin,leatherbacks invariably sustaincutsfromthecapturenetsandfromcontactwithhardsurfacesinthecanal.Allinjuriesweresuperficial, andnonehaverequiredveterinary attention.

Nosignificant impacttoleatherback turtlepopulations isexpectedfromthecontinued operation oftheSt.LuciePlant.45 7.1.1.4ImpactstoHawksbill TurtlesOnly13hawksbill turtleshavebeencapturedattheSt.LuciePlantintheperiod1976-June30,1995,andnomortalities havebeenrecorded(Tables2,3and6).Nosignificant impacttohawksbill turtlepopulations isexpectedfromthecontinued operation oftheSt.LuciePlant.7.1.1.5ImpactstoKemp'sRidleyTurtlesAtotalof29Kemp'sridleyturtleshavebeencapturedattheSt.LuciePlantsince1976(Tables2and3),allbutoneofwhichwerejuveniles orsub-adults.

TherehavebeenfourKemp'sridleymortalities (Tables2,3and6).Potential entrapment impactstoKemp'sridleysinclude:lossofbodycondition duetolongresidence times,exposuretopredators anddrowningincapturenets.Interruption ofmigration forthisspeciesisunclear,butlikelynotsignificant.

Lossofmatingornestingopportunities isnotconsidered significant, sinceadultsareextremely uncommon.

Duetotheirsmallaveragesize,Kemp'sridleyshaveoftenbeenabletopenetrate thebarriernets,contributing to.longerresidence times.Theirsmallsizealsosubjectsthemtoahigher,butunknown,riskofpredation.

OneKemp'sridleywasfoundtohavedrownedin'capturenetin1986.Modifications tocaptureprocedures sincethen(e.g.thenetsdonothaveleadlinesandtheyaremonitored whenevertheyarefished)havelessenedthelikelihood ofthisimpact.TheKemp'sridleyhasthehighestoverallmortality rateofanyspeciesinthecanalsystemat13.8%(4mortalities from29captures)

.Withthe5inch(12.7cm)meshbarriernetbeingproposedbyFPL,allKemp'sridleysshouldbeprevented frommovingdownthecanalsystemtowardstheplant.Nosignificant impacttotheKemp'sridleyturtlepopulations isexpectedfromthecontinued operation oftheSt.LuciePlant.

7.1.2ImpactsDuetoImpingement onBarrierNetsandtheIntakeWellsImpactsduetoimpingement/entanglement onbarriernetsandintheplant'sintakewellscannotbeeasilycharacterized.

Deadturtlesinthecanalthatdriftwiththecurrentwillberecovered atthesesitesbut,exceptforcasesofobviousentanglement inbarriernetsormechanical injuriesintheintakewells,thecauseofdeathgenerally cannotbedetermined andisclassified asunknown(Table6).BarriernetdesignshaveimprovedmarkedlyoverthehistoryoftheSt.LuciePlant'soperation, andhavecontributed totheoverallreduction inmortality since1990(Table6).Increased effortstohandcaptureturtlesarealsoeffective incapturing sick,injuredorotherwise inactiveturtlesthatareathigherriskofimpingement.

Mechanical injuriesintheintakewellscanoccurwhentherakesusedtoremovelargedebrisfromtheintakewellsstrikeorcrushaturtle.Carefulobservation byequipment operators priortoloweringtherakeminimizes thissourceofmortality.

Withthe5inch(12.7cm)meshbarriernetbeingproposedbyFPL,allturtlesshouldbeprevented frommovingdownthecanalsystemtowardstheplantandbeingexposedtothistypeofmechanical injuryintheintakewells.7.1.2.1ImpactstoLoggerhead TurtlesSincebarriernetimprovements werecompleted in1990,oneloggerhead hasbeenfoundentangled inthebarriernets,andsixloggerheads havebeenrecovered floatingat,butnotentangled in,thebarriernet(Table6).Nologgerhead hasbeencapturedattheintakewellssincethebarriernetimprovements havebeencompleted.

Nosignificant impacttologgerhead turtlepopulations isexpectedfromthecontinued operation oftheSt.LuciePlant.47 7.1.2.2ImpactstoGreenTurtlesSmallgreenturtlesofcarapacewidthsmallerthan11.3inches(28.7cm)havebeenabletopenetrate thecurrentbarriernetandabletoreachtheplant'sintakewells.Dailychecksoftheintakewellsinstituted inJanuary,1995areusefulinremovingturtlesfromtheseareasbeforetheybecomeexhausted swimmingagainstthecurrentsandimpingedagainstthetrashracks.Thisprocedure hasreducedbutnoteliminated mortalities altogether (Table4).TurtlesthatbreachtheA1AbarriernetandarenotstrongenoughtoswimawayfromtheUIDSbarrierareimpinged.

ThedesignoftheUIDSbarrier(seeSections4.2.5and6.1.3)issuchthatitismorelikelytoresultindrowningofanimpingedturtlethantheA1Abarriernet.Barriernetimprovements scheduled in1995shouldeliminate impingement attheintakewellsandattheUIDSbarrier.Noimpacttogreenturtlepopulations isexpectedfromthecontinued operation oftheSt.LuciePlant.7.1.2.3ImpactstoLeatherback TurtlesNoimpingement effectstoleatherback turtleshavebeenexperienced orareexpected, andtherefore thereisnosignificant impacttoleatherback turtlepopulations fromthecontinued operation oftheSt.LuciePlant.7.1.2.4ImpactstoHawksbill TurtlesNosignificant impingement effectstohawksbill turtleshavebeenexperienced orareexpected, andtherefore thereisnosignificant impacttohawksbill turtlepopulations fromthecontinued operation oftheSt.LuciePlant.7.1.2.5ImpactstoKemp'sRidleyTurtlesImpingement impactstoKemp'sridleyturtlesareessentially thesameasthosediscussed aboveinsection7.1.2.2forgreenturtlesbecauseofsimilarsizes.Barriernetimprovements scheduled for1995willalsobeeffective inreducingthepotential forKemp'sridleyimpingement mortality.

48 I

i.,Nosignificant impacttoKemp'sridleyturtlepopulations isexpectedfromthecontinued operation oftheSt.LuciePlant.7.2OtherPotential StationImpacts7.2.1ThermalEffectsSea'turtlenestingstudiesconducted since1971attheSt.LuciePlanthavefoundnosignificant effectsofthethermaldischarge orotheraspectsofplantoperation onseaturtlenestingonHutchinson Island(Quantum, 1994).Astudytoassesstheimpactofthermaldischarges onemerginghatchlings swimmingnearthedischarge concluded thattheSt.LuciePlantoperation doesnotaffectswimmingperformance (O'ara,1980).Nosignificant thermalimpactstoseaturtlesareanticipated fromcontinued operation oftheSt.LuciePlant.7;2.2Chlorination Chlorination isusedtocontrolbiofouling inthecondenser tubes,heatexchangers, andotherauxiliary equipment.

Inaccordance withwater-discharge permitrequirements, totalresiduallevelsinthedischarge canaldonotexceed0.1mg/1.Giventhatchemicalbreakdown ofsodiumhypochlorite inseawaterisrapid,andmixingwithambientseawateristhoroughattheoffshoredischarge, chlorination isnotanticipated toimpactseaturtles.Withtheoperation oftheTraprogge cleaningsysteminbothUnits(Section7.2.4),theuseofchlorineforcondenser cleanliness willbegreatlyreducedoreliminated.

Nosignificant impactstoseaturtlesasaresultofchlorination areanticipated fromcontinued operation oftheSt.LuciePlant.7.2.3LightsAvegetative lightscreenandshielding ofsecuritylightingisemployedtoeliminate directlightingofthebeach.Thelackofdocumented hatchling disorientation incidents oncompanypropertyindicatethatthesemeasuresareeffective.

Highratesofnesting attheplantsiteindicates thatadultfemalesarenotdeterredfromusingtheplantsitebeaches.Nosignificant impactstoseaturtlesonthebeachorinthewaterasaresultofplantlightingareanticipated fromthecontinued operation oftheSt.LuciePlant.7.2.4TaproggeCleaningSystemTheTaproggecleaningsystemwillbeinstalled onUnit2inthefallof1995andonUnit1inthespringof1996.Thissystemutilizessmallspongeballs(approximately 7/8inch(2.3cm)indiameter).

Someoftheballsareabrasively coated.Theseballsareinjectedintothecondenser inletandpassthroughthecondenser tubestokeepthemfreeofmineralscaleandbiological fouling(Figure6).Thesystembeinginstalled attheSt.LuciePlantisanupgradedversionandthedesignincludesaninlet.20inch(5mm)debrisfilteranda.20inch(5mm)ballcollection screenonthedischarge sideofthecondenser.

Thescreening systematthecondenser outletrecoverstheballssothattheycanbereused.Becausethisupgradedsystemincludesaninletdebrisscreen,itisexpectedthattheoutletscreenwillnothavetobecleanedasfrequently asasystemwithonlyanoutletballcollection screen.Theprimaryreasonforballlossiswhentheo'utletballcollection screenisopenedtoflushdebristhatcollectsonthecollection screen.Earlierversionsofthesystemdidnotincludetheinletdebrisscreens.Themanufacturer, TaproggeAmericaCorp.(pers.comm.,1995)indicated totheapplicant, thatdesignballlossfromthesystemiszero,butballlosshasbeendocumented fromothersystemsinFlorida.Manycoastalpowerplantsemploysimilartypeofcleaningsystem.Inthattheballsareneutrally buoyant,anyballsthatescapethecollection systeminthecondenser outletmayescapetotheocean.Thesespongeballshavebeenfoundinfishstomachsanditispossiblethatseaturtlescouldalsomistaketheseobjectsasafoodsource.Itappears,however,thatnosignificant impact50 fromingestion fromthesespongeballshavebeennotedforseaturtlesfromtheeastcoastofFloridawherethereisextensive seaturtleactivity(DEP,pers.comm.,1995).Nosignificant impactstoseaturtlesareanticipated fromcontinued operation oftheSt.LuciePlantusingthiscleaningsystem.7.2.5DredgingoftheintakecanalWiththeinstallation ofthe5inch(12.7cm)barriernetintheintakecanalattheSt.LuciePlant,anyimpacttoturtleswestofthisbarriernetduetodredgingoperations willbeminimalbecausethenetshouldexcludeallturtles.AnyfuturedredgingactivityintheareawestofAlAwillincorporate theseaturtlemonitoring staffattheplant.Thesepersonnel willbeperforming dailyvisualsurveysofthecanalbetweenthe5inch(12.7cm)barriernetandtheintakewellstructures.

Additionally, theoperating personnel ofthedredgewillalsobetrainedtowatchforseaturtles,andtheywillshutdownanydredgingifaseaturtleisseeninthevicinityofthework.Theinstallation ofthe5inch(12.7cm)barrierneteastoftheA1Abridgeinthefallof1995willrequiretherelocation ofapproximately 1,500to2,000cubicyards(1,150-1,530cubicm)ofsand.Thisworkisnecessary torestorethebottomcontourtoitsoriginalconfiguration sothatthenetcanbeanchoredcorrectly andhavenogapsalongthebottom.FPLobtainedanU.S.ArmyCorpsofEngineers GeneralPermitSAJ-17I199506056 (GP-TM)toallowthisdredging.

OnOctober25,1995,FPLsentalettertoNMFSrequesting aninformalconsultation onthispermitregarding seaturtlesandoutlinedmeasurestominimizeimpactstoseaturtles(Bouska,pers.comm.,1995).OnOctober26,1995,theNMFSresponded andconcluded thatthesafeguards described intheBouskaletterwereadequateandtheactionswereunlikelytoadversely affectthreatened orendangered seaturtlesundertheNMFSpurview(Kemmerer, pers.comm.,1995).51 Anyfuturedredgingeastofthe5inch(27.3cm)barriernetoratthisbarriernetwillrequireaseparateendangered speciesconsultation withtheNMFS.7.3Cumulative ImpactoftheContinued Operation oftheCirculating WaterSystemoftheSt.LucieNuclearGenerating StationonSeaTurtlePopulations Theescalating catchratesforgreenseaturtlesattheSt.LuciePlantexperienced in1994and1995makefuturecatchprojections tenuous.BasedoncapturedatafromJanuarythroughJune30,1995,andfactoring inhistorical dataonseasonalpatternsincatchratesofthedifferent species,FPLestimates the1995totalyearcatchat400loggerheads, 850greenturtles,2leatherback, 10Kemp'sridleys,and1hawksbill.

Thesecatchratesareusedinthecalculations ofanticipated lethaltakepresented below.Minimumexpectedlethaltakeiscalculated bymultiplying the1990-June30,1995mortality rate(Tables2and3)foreachspeciesbytheprojected catchforthatspecies.Thistimeperiodwaswhendeployednetswereconstantly tendedand,thus,thechancesforturtledrowningwasminimized.

Forloggerheads, atamortality rateof0.83%(7mortalities outof842captures),

thisyieldsaminimumexpectedlethaltakeofthreeannually.

Forgreenturtlesatamortality rateof2.6%(23mortalities outof879captures),

theminimumexpectedlethaltakeis22annually.

Minimumexpectedlethaltakeforleatherbacks, Kemp'sridleys,andhawksbills iszero.Maximumexpectedlethaltakeiscalculated bymultiplying the1976-June30,1995mortality rate(Tables2and3)foreachspecies'by theprojected catchforthatspecies.Thistimeperiodwaswhendeployednetswerenotconstantly tended(i.e.especially duringthe1976-1990timeperiod)and,thus,thechancesforturtledrowningwasmaximized.

Themaximumrateforloggerheads (5.1%;131mortalities outof2583captures) yieldsamaximumexpectedlethaltakeof20annually.

Themaximumrateforgreenturtles(3.4%;40mortalities outof1165captures) yieldsa52 maximumexpectedlethaltakeof29annually.

ThemaximumrateforKemp'sridley(13.8%;4mortalities outof29captures) yieldsamaximumexpectedlethaltakeofoneannually.

Maximumexpectedlethaltakesforleatherbacks andhawksbills arezero,butrealistically shouldbesetatone.Intheabsenceofreliabledataonthepopulations andpopulation trendsofseaturtlespecies,ananalysisoftheeffectsoftheabovelevelsoftakeonseaturtlepopulations isproblematical, buttakeassociated withoperation oftheSt.LuciePlantisunlikelytosignificantly affectseaturtlepopulations.

Thevarioussub-lethal impactsdiscussed insection7abovearealsobelievedtoposenosignificant impacttoseaturtlepopulations.

7.4OverallAssessment Therefinements totheseaturtlecaptureprogramoveritshistoryattheSt.LuciePlanthavesignificantly reducedmortality ratesforentrapped seaturtles.Withtheinstallation ofthe5inch(12.7cm)barriernetintheintakecanal(Figure2),'theoverallimpacttoseaturtlesfromentrapment andimpingement willbediminished evenfurther.Stewardship programsbeingconducted byFPL,suchasturtlewalks,assistance withDEPindexbeachnestingsurveys,andassistance withtheDEPseaturtlestandingnetwork,areconservation measuresthatwillhelptorecovertheseaturtlepopulations ofsoutheastern UnitedStates.Itisconcluded thatthecontinued operation oftheSt.LucieNuclearGenerating Plantwillhavenosignificant impactonseaturtlespeciesfoundinthenearshore watersofFlorida..53

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Witzell,W.N.1983.Synopsisofthebiological dataonthehawksbill turtleEretmochel simbricata (Linneaus 1766).FAOFish.Synop.137:58 REPTILESLatinName~hmreiiaCommonNameloggerhead turtlegreenturtleleatherback turtlehawksbill turtleKemp'sridleyturtleStatusT=threatened E=endangered E'endangered, Floridapopulation onlyTable1.Alistofthreatened orendangered speciesentrapped attheSt.LucieNuclearPowerPlant.

YEARLoerheadGreenSeclesLeatherback Hawksbill Kem'sridleTotal197619771978197919801981198219831984198519861987198819891990199119921993199433(4)80(5)138(19)172(13)116(5)62(5)101(16)119(4)148(3)157(4)195(27)175(11)134(6)111(4)112(1)107(1)123(2)1471645(2)6(1)3(1)10(3)32(2)823(4)69(2)1422(1)3542(2)17(1)20(2)1261(2)179(1)193(4)6(2)5(2)233(4)86(7)148(20)175(14)126(8)97(7)110(16)142(8)220(5)172(4)220(28)218(13)181(10)133(5)132(3)121(1)187(4)337(1)361(4)TotalAnnualMean2394(130)131.2(7.2)751(28)41.7(1.6)170.9130.724(4)1.3(0.2)3199(162)175.9(9.0)'xcludes1976(partialyearofplantoperation).

Table2.Totalnumberofseaturtlecapturesandnumberofdeadturtles(numbersinparenthesis) removedfromtheSt.LucieIntakeCanal,1976-1994 MonthLoggerhead GreenKemp'sridleyHawksbill Leatherback TotalJanuary2859(2)89February1964(3)83March2583(4)108April4464(2)110May39(1)92(1)133June345286Total189L1)~41412}0609Table3.SeaturtlescapturedfromtheSt.LuciePlantintakecanalforthefirst6monthsof1995,tabulated byspeciesandmonth.Numbersinparenthesis aremortalities' MethodofCaptureNumberofTurtlesCaptureNets*HandCaptures"DipNet263(1)36('t)20(4)IntakeWells95(6)Total414(12)Thesecapturemethodsareoccasionally employedtorecoverdeadturtlesanddidnotcausetheassociated mortalities.

Table4.GreenturtlecapturesummaryattheSt.LuciePlant,1/1/95-6/30/95.Numbersinparenthesis aremortalities.

Year19821983NumberofWalksPeopleAttending 245225198434619851468419861570219871382419881480119896001990147801991157892088319932197519942711841995271030Total21110,068Table5.Turtlewalksconducted byFPLduringthetimeperiod1982-1995.

YEARSPECIESLoggerhead DROWNINGDROWNINGCAPTURENETSBARRIERNETSDROWNINGGILLNETSDREDGEINTAKEWELLUNKNOWNINJURYINJURYFLOATING80UNKNOWNINTAKEWELLS15UNKNOWNOTHER101976Green10throughKemp'sridley1989Leatherback Hawksblll Loggerhead 1990GreenthroughKemp'srldleyJune301995Leatherback Hawksblll Table6.Seaturtlemortalities intheSt.Lucieintakecanalsystemtabulated byspeciesandprobablecauseofdeath.Dataaregivenfortheperiods1976-1989and1990-June30,1995.

FLORIDAIGULFOFMEXICOOIl5d.STLUCIEPLANTAOF+4,>a+-<<'ri'g.'Plv,V"';;i.',"I+~)%<<PD)+gp'w

%$p,.*54~/+gQpg~OKEECHOBEE Q~(tKtNSOQSF tRO)Figure1.LocationoftheSt.LuciePlantontheeastcoastofFlorida.TheplantislocatedonSouthHutchinson Xsland,abarrierisland,andisabout7miles(11.3km)southofFt.Pierceandabout7miles(11.3km)northofStuart.

h+4HUTCHINSON

>glSLAND.".INDIANRIVER4,INDIANRIVER,~<P"'l~'BIGMUD"'REEKINTAKEWELLSUIDSBARRIERDISCHARGE CANAI.INTAKECANALFNEWBARRIERNETA1ABARRIERNET(IKlN5D42$

FP-RO)'.INTAKESTRUCTURES

.;WITHVELOCITYi>CAPSINTAKEHEADWALL".',.r~PrDRAWINGNOTTOSCALEFigure2.DesignoftheSt.LuciePlantshowingtherelationship betweenUnits.1and2andtheconfiguration ofthecoolingwaterintakeanddischarge systemwithkeyfeatureslabeled.

ST.LUCIEPLANTINTAKEVELOCITYCAPSSUPPORTCOLUMNSUNDERSLAB70x~lJTNPIIl~/lII19'ISUPPORT15PIPECOLUMNSUNDERSLAB12'IPEFLOWLOWTIDEOCEANLEVELPLANFLOWSUPPORTCOLUMNSPYPICAL)5I9.5'~CEAN BOTTOMDRAWINGNOTTOSCALEELEVATION (QtU95042SF3 RO)Figure3.Diagramoftheintakestructures located1200feet(365m)offshoreoftheshoreline attheSt.LuciePlant.

ST.LUCIEPLANTUNDERWATER INTRUSION DETECTION SYSTEM(TYPICALSECTION)BARRIERNETSECTlON.C'r"'r"'r'."r>'r.'r.':.

STRUCTURE Cr',',Q'.C,;'..,CU;;.'CQ'.85'.85':;:::0::::Cg:

jc,qc~r,'c'.C.Q.

"..:,:.'::0,.;

r'..'c'~gg:.'r':

",;r,;Q','c, CONCRETEANCHORFigure4.DiagramoftheUnderwater Intrusion Detection SystemattheSt.LuciePlant.

ST.LUCIEPLANTINTAKEWELLSTRUCTURE (SIDEVIEW)TRASHTROUGHCIRCULATING WATERPUMPSTOPLOGGUIOE~r'r'o~TRASHRACK(GRIZZLY)

INTAKECOOLINGWATERPUMPFLOWMIN.WATERLEVELEL.-10.50'RAVELING SCREEN'0r5:r,;~WATERFLOW;~':ghtQ9$042$.FSROjFigure5.DiagramofanintakewellattheSt.LuciePlant.

CONDENSER ST.LUCIEPLANTTAPROGGECONDENSER ON-LINECLEANINGSYSTEMSIMPLIFIED FLOWDIAGRAMCLEANINGBALLTRAVELING THROUGHCONDENSER TOKEEPTUBESFREEOFFOULINGANDSCALINGCLEANINGBALLINJECTIONMECHANISM CLEANINGBALLRECYCLECLEANINGBALLRECOVERYSTRAINERCIRCULATING WATERFLOWTOTHECONDENSER TODISCHARGE CANALFigure6.DiagramoftheTaproggesystemformaintaining condenser cleanliness.

260'C$.~9.'540'$'OLYPROPYLENE ROPENETS'QUARE GRIDFLOATSSTAINLESS CABLESCBLK1"~ANCHORBLOCKSFigure7.DiagramoftheturtlebarriernetusedintheintakecanaloftheSt.LuciePlant.ThisnetislocatedattheAlAbridge(seeFigure2) n=140x=52.3cmwidth20.0SIZERANGEOFGREENTURTLECAPTURESSIZERANGEOFLOGGERHEAD TURTLESCAPTUREDSIZERANGEOFLEATHERBACK TURTLECAPTURES15.0IllQXKIllNCo10.0ICI-CLO~O5.0DzIUz0DI-6)CoxIII+OIt)QQO4IIIIC)0QICIIllO0QQ0QIt)NOIllIAQOIllIllIt)OIllIAIA0It)ICIIll04QQO0QQOIllCtj+Oh,(rjCII~h'CII~h;~CtI~N~CIICtjh~CIIItjh'tjCIICIIh'tjCIICj&CIICIICtj&CjÃgsj&ttjCIIOh(jCII~Iv-ttjOl~CtlItjCtlICjC9CtlÃItjCOCl4CIIZttjC0)0C9IllCtj0OIDC9ehIOOh.<h,hN~CCIWCt)Co0)~0)Itj0)CtjCtlCVCtlC9C9C9W'ct'lOIOCCICOCCIWWWCOCOCO0)CtlCDIll/%~F8.ROCARAPACENIDTHS(CM)Figure8.Sizefreequency distribution of140turtlescapturedintheintakecanaloftheSt.LuciePlantin1976-1978.Ameshsizeof8inch(20.3cm)squaremeshwouldexclude95%oftheentrapped turtlesformpassingthroughthissizebarriernet.

450.400350---300O250I-CPy2000cE~150R10050~y~I~cc-.I-I-YearCBTFigure9.Greenturtlescapturedfrom1976-1995(throughJune30,1995)fortheSt.LuciePlant.

700600500ClCL400o300E200LOL-I-COWcOCDC)hhcOCDCbCDCDCDYearcDo~olcocIllCOCDCDCDOlOlCDOlCDCDCDCDCDCDFigure10.Allspeciesofturtlescapturedfrom1976-1995(throughJune30,1995)fortheSt.LuciePlant.

lJ POLEBASEANDWINCHSYSTEMFORDROPPINGNETS.S.STRANDEDAIRCRAFTCABLECATENARYANDSUPPORTS(TYP)

EO<CANALSLOPEsees'(oQogoQsoo geJesoeoo~4~JQsgo$sgoQ~~ooosooosos5'ET~@~gCANALSLOPE<Po0<CONCRETEANCHORSPYP)~seeseegoeooooo~eoooooososoo

~ege/ogeooogoooepoooo e,oQQsQs'(ego%

o~Oooeooegap Qe%gKQ9$04%F1f~)Figure11.Conceptual designfora5inch(12.7cm)sguaremeshbarriernettobeinstalled intheintakecanaloftheSt.LuciePlant.

908070e60,.50Ez~40302520..10.0I-I~15-18-21-24-27-30-17.920.923.926.929.932.9-I-33-36-39-35.938.941.942-45-48->5144.947.950.9Straighthllaxlmum CarapaceWidth(cm)Figure12.Sizedistribution ofgreenseaturtles(n=414)capturedintheSt.LuciePlantintakecanalduringthefirstsixmonthsof1995.Abarriernetof5inches(12.7cm)squaremeshor7inches(18cm)stretchmeshwouldexclude100%oftheturtlesfrompassingthroughthisnet.

TURTLEENTRAPMENTS-PSLINTAKECANAL60198419851986198719881989199050403020100JAJ0JAJ0JAJ0JAJ0JAJ0JAJ0JAJ0TURTLEENTRAPMENT MORTALITIES

-PSLINTAKECANAL1984198519861987198819891990ACTIONUMIT~6scACTIONUMIT=41989TARGET~1IJAJ0JAJ0JAJ0JAJ0JAJ0JAJ0JAJ0TURTLENESTINGSEASON:MAY-AUGUST~COUNTERMEASURE TOREDUCEMORTALITY Cg>INSTALLNEWBARRIERNET(5/87)~ADJUSTBARRIERNET(11/88)Cg>VISUALMONITORING OFTANGLENET(4/90)LUUPGRADESBARRIERNET(11/90)<5>ADJUSTBARRIERNET(8/85)Cg>CUTHOLESINBARRIERNET(10/86)cINSTALLINTRUSION BARRIER(1/87-PERNRCREQUIREMENT}

CQ>REMOVEBARRIERNET(3/87)IO4.CNS042$

F13-R0)Figure13.Turtleentrapment, mortality, andcountermeasures takentoreduceturtlemortality intheSt.LuciePlantintakecanalduringtheperiod1984-1990.

SO4FT.PIERCEINLETN-A1O~EISTATEHWYA1AKOPaQFPLST.LUCIEPLANTLIMITOFCURRENTSURVEYwgX6p,'C~Cg~ST.LUNTIERIVER88CCDDEQEFFGGpllgST.LUCIEINLETORAWINGNOTTOSCAI.E~RKUiÃ042$

F15RO)Figure14.Designation andlocationofnine1.25-kmsegmentsand361-kmsegmentssurveyedforseaturtlenesting,southHutchinson Island1971-1994.

18-16141210.OCO80COOlVICOC7lIClQlICOOl-I""I""==I-'CTIQ)I""---I-"---I-"-"-'I CACOCOCOCOCOCOOlQlOlOlFigure15.Loggerhead mortality intheSt.LuciePlantintakecanalsystem,expressed asapercentage ofcaptures, 1976-1994.

45403530.>25O20~O40---=-----~10t~t197719781979198019811982198319841985198619871988198919901991199219931994YEARFigure16.Greenturtlemortality intheSt.LuciePowerPlantintakecanalsystem,expressed asapercentage ofcaptures, 1977-1994.Nogreenturtleswerecapturedin1976.

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