Maybe I'm wrong, but I was always under the assumption that manatees are a
nonindigenous species.

That is a popular argument but they do come up with manatee bones from
thousands of years ago. One could say that only proves manatee came here by
accident and froze to death but I imagine the reality is they are supposed to
migrate here in the summer and go back south in the winter. In that respect the
FPL plant is altering the natural behavior on a listed species and in violation
of the ESA. I suppose that is why they need a permit to pollute the river with
their hot water. It is also interesting that SMC sent an action alert out to
it's members when FPLs permit came up for review. FPL now has the ability to
discharge less hot water because of the new high efficiency plant, perhaps not
heating the water high enough to support manatee but SMC forces them to
artificially heat the water in the winter. That is violating the intent of
their permit.