IR 05000219/1973001
| ML20126F146 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Oyster Creek |
| Issue date: | 01/11/1973 |
| From: | Plumlee K NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION I) |
| To: | |
| References | |
| 50-219-73-01Q, 50-219-73-1Q, NUDOCS 8103090318 | |
| Download: ML20126F146 (6) | |
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,I UNITED ST ATES d
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g ATOMIC ENERGY COMMISSION
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pa RECTOR ATE OF REGULATORY OPER ATIONS
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REGION 9
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970 BRO AD STREET
NEWARK. NEW JERSCY 07102
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RO Inquiry Report No. 50-219/73-01Q Licensee:
Jersey Central Power.& Light Co.
Madison Avenue at Iunch Bowl Road Morristown, New Jarsey 07960 License No.:
DPR-16 Facility:
. Oyster Creek Forked River, New Jersey i
Title:
Fish Kill from Decrease in Cooling
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Water Temperature Prepared by:
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K. E. Plumlee, Reactor Inspector
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Date
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Date and Mar.er C' was Informed:
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At 4:40 p.m. an D tuary 8, 1973 a representative of the Department of 2.;p ironmental Protection of the State of
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New Jersey advised RO:I by telephone that a fish kill had l
been reported at Oyster Creek downstream from the nuclear.
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power plant.
i On January 9 and 10, 1973, RO:I received additional infor-
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mation from a station representative, l
On January 10, 1973, RO:I representatives called a
. fisheries biologist for the Station of New Jersey to obtain information on the State's study of the fish kill.,
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Description of Particular Event or Circumstance:
The licensee's representative stated that their consultant had inspected the cooling water discharge canal and had reported seeing a few fish in apparent distress on December 29, 1972, a few hours after the plant shutdown.
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t JHIS DOCUMENT CONTAINS P00R QUAUTY PAGES
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The plant remained shutdown until January 10, 1973, with approximately 460,000 gym cooling water flow discharging into the canal. The licensee's representative stated that
he personally observed a hundred or so dead fish on January 8, 1973 and that the consultant had again inspected and had reported ' counting, on January 9,1973, some 900 dead fish in four lagoons,-and that he found no dead fish in the main streams. or bay outlets. The cause of death was stated to be the cold water environment. The licensee's i
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representative stated that a few dead menhaden were also found on the intake screen.
The dead fish were mostly menhaden (sometimes called moss-bunkers) ranging from 2 to 10 inches'in length; however, the licensee's consultant apparently had found some bay anchovies frozen into ice. in. a shallow area. Newspaper accounts * reported a "sheepshead" bass _ and five cr six fish
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of an unidentified species among hundreds (or thousands, according to one article *) of dead menhaden.
Menh'aden are reported to be unabic to survive in water as cold as 39 F and normally migrate to warm water regions
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during cold weather.
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The water temperature in the discharge canal was reported by the licensee to have declined from above 540 F when the
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j plant operated to approximately 40 F soon after the plant shut down. A further decline occurred with colder weather
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commencing on January 5.
Typical water temperatures reported by the licensee's representative were 430 F on the 5th, 40 F on the 6th, and 33 F with ice forming on the surface during the 7th through the lith of January,1973.
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Sea gull activity was reported to be noticeable and consistent with the observations of dead fish, and less l
than during a previous fish kill (January 28, 1972).
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- Enclosure - Copy of article from the Asbury Park, N. J.
l Evening Press dated January 9, 1973, i
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The licensee's representative stated that no release ~of chemicals or of radioactive effluents exceeding environmental-or AEC guidelines had occurred. Ile also stated that the dilution pumps were not used during the time December 28, Ir>72 to January 11, 1973; that oxygen content in the water was adequate; that examination.of dead fish showed scales were intact.and there was no~ mucus on the gills; and that no evidence was found of toxic materials.
- C. -Action by Licensee:
The licensee is continuing studies of this matter.using the services of consultants who have been studying the fish
kill problem. The stated purposes of.these studies is to find a long range solution to the problem. The licensee stated that the. consultant was planning additional field studies at Oyster Creek. The. licensee's representative
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stated that their consultant is preparing a report.of the
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studies being conducted, i
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Ocean County News
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' Classified 30-37 Legels
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~ Lost and Found
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915 DAY, JANtJARY 9,1973 i
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Qbii Plant Is Being Prohed
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WARETOWN A two.
Mr. Kurtz said manymore the plant at the point in 15
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f pronged investigation by biol-menbaden will float to the fall when the fish wou t
i ogists was to begin today to surface when the ice melts
.i determine what caused the and that only a small per-leave the area. Then the
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mally migrate so they wo r!d L
Q death of several thousand centace were frozen in the plant wou!d start t:p afar
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fish found dead yesterday in ice. Ile also said one sheeps-the fish left.
(a Oyster Creek. They were dis-head fish, a member of the t
ccvered cither frozen in the bass family, and five or six Mr. Mallic said menhafn
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ice or Boating in the creek of another unidentified spe-normally depart from tte f
within a mile of the Jersey cies were also found.
area in late September er
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nuclear power generating size up to 10 or 12 inches in Mr. Mallic, who saH ha Central Power & Light Co's.
October, dep:ning on Ina t.
The menhaden ranged in terrperature.
- /,s plant.
j,q The hsh kill was similar to length, about twice the size has lived here permanut!v
- I J the one last January that de-of the menhaden killed last since 197 and never sax 'a
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stroyed thousands of menhad-year. He said some seagulls fish kill t ntil after the p?r.t
.2 g ca and, as was the caselast were so gorged on dead fish, began operating. said t.u i
they refused to touchsevcral
) car, the nuclear plant was thrown to them.
temperature of tne ac- !n !
{l shut down for maintenance the creek is abou!29dc;rces at the time.
Charles Amato, an engi. hi;her than the un'c in
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Edum Sherra f f, regional necr in the state Department Barriegat Bay and in nearby n.
director of pubhc relations of Ensironmental PJctection, creeks.
j dg for Jctsey Central Power & said the lish kill appears to Mr. Kurtz, owne: cf the Light Co., said the plant has be a repetition of last year's Oyster Creek Marina, end
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been shut down for 11 days-condition, but that he hadin.
Mr. Mallie, c&owrer of the f
/j Indicating the hsh survived formation as to the cause.
Briarwood Yacht Eas:n. are
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until the big drop in temper 31 the fd kill was two of four marina oxners
f ature over the past weekend.'
reported withm N hours aft-along the creek who red
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n ja p;a su LA Biologists from the compa.
{*jg hlco a damage suit a:amst ny and the state Department
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ut JCP&L. claimm': dbchrc e of Environm(ntal 1 d
be from the plant has char.:c.!
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class is were to join in the m,'rotection h,8}
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the cr'eek from a fre.sh. rer de d c
vestiga-Photo)
tion of the latest fish kill.
Mr.
Sherratt said that alream to a salt. water chr-The situation was reported since last year's ki!1 biolo-nel and caused dama;e h by Henry Kurtz and Charles. gists from the National Mar.
their progrty and their ha B. Nathe, marina operators ine Fishery Service of the nesses.
along Oyster Creek. who said National Occame and Atmos-They claim the sah v.:Mr the dead fish nere discov.
pherie Administration hae attracts shipworms and r.n-l l D They O. ered yesterday mormne.
been studying the migratory ine borers w hich du'a their untreated bunha a also reported huge habits of the snenbaccn to Mitchell floc,ks of seagulls were seen determine at what water and pihngs and damage em continu. in the area Sunday.
ternperature, menhaden leave tomers' boats.
ilundreds of the dead fish the area.
!?ntirrr. mental.s's and rc
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dents th) ep:wsed the em-n, were frozen m the we in h,ur lie said the study, uluch
, red to lagoons W Eay parbay that began last summer, is to be plant le.re tcsen years c struction of the $1f4rni% n roperty runs parallel to the creek.
completed later this month raHed it a danter to rmrue 1g ele-Mr. Kurtz said rnost of thvse 3rpora-in the main stream of the or early in Fe!,ruary.
hfe. They beheve lho !&
ie ne creek had been eaten by the Mr. Enerrait said company if Edu. seagulls, ofhcials are considenn;' the ceased temp-:fure e' f" e ater ra m ers inh r f punibihty of ekur
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oyster thcither frozen in the f
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of another umdentiliad spe-area in late September err
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cov p i October, depending on the
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"r gee Ofloating in the creek cies were also found{i...ged in
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q terrperature with... a mile of the Jersey
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size up to 10 or 12 inchesin has lived here permanently
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nuclear power generating length, about twice the size since 1957 and never saw a
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of the menhaden killed last fish kill until after the phnt plant.The fish kill wassimilarto year. He said some scagulls began operating, said the hj the one last January that de-were so gorged on dead fish, temperature of the water in
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stroyed thousands of menhad-they refused to touch several the creek is about20de;; tees
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e and, as wa:, the case last thrown to them, iiigher than the water in i
year, the nuclear plant was Charles Amato, an engj.
Barnegat Bay and in neuby
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donn fur maintenance neer in the state Department creeks.
shut at the time.
~'1 Edwin Sherratt, regional of Environmental Protection, Mr. Kurt7.. owner of the
Creek Marina, a~f said the fish kill appears to Oyster director of public relations for Jersey Central Power & be a repetition of last 3 car's Mr. Mallie, co owner of the
/ Y,i condition, but that he had in.
Briarwood Yacht Basin, are f
Light Co., said the plant has formation as to the cause.
two of four marina owners j
taeen shut down for 11 days, Last year the fish killwas along the creek who recently indicating the fish survived bnd the big drop sn temper-reported withm 24 hours2.777778e-4 days <br />0.00667 hours <br />3.968254e-5 weeks <br />9.132e-6 months <br /> aft.
filed a damage smt a;'ainst
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I sh t JCP&L. claiming discharge
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atme over the p:.st weekend.
ygy,he n 1cfntenan,bt from the plant has enan;;d
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Biologists from the compa.
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this year it was 10 days be-the creek from a fresh-wa:er
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ny and the state Department
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were to jom in theinvestiga-
. M r. Sherratt said that. alream to a s of Environmental Protection fore dead fish were reported.
L aa nel and caused dama;'e to
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tion r*! the latest fish kill.
smce last year's kill, biolo-their property and their b:ui.
Phot'o)
The situation was reported gists from the National Mar-nesses.'
by Henry Kurtz and Charles ine Fishery Service of the They claim the salt water B. Mallie, marina operators National Oceanic and Atmos-attracts shipworms and mar.
Aiministration have ine borers which destrc y along Oyster Creek, who said pheric their untreated bulkheads the dead itsh were decov-been studying the migratory and pilings and dama;c cus.
habits,o! the menhaden to y 6 cred yesterday morning.
determme at what water tomers' boats.
also reported hu;'e Environmentalists and resi-D Theyflocks of t.cagulls were seen temperature, menhaden leave dents who opposed the cen-Mitche!! in the area Sunday.
Hundreds o[ the dead fish lie said the study, which struction of the $104mi!!ien the area.
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were frozen m the ice in four began last summer, is to be
plant here seven years.%o.
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,orp. a called it a danger to marine
' lagoons off Bay parkway that completed later this month life. They believe the in-
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runs parallel to the creek. or early in February, creased temperature of the Mr. Kurtz said most of those Mr. Sherratt said company wate'r endarrers fish and
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creek had been eaten by the possibihty of closing down l
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'$e the scagulls,
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a few of many found dead yesterdoy in Oyster C<
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umum ars in BoardPlannine to Introduce b
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t e., Tuesday. January 9,1973
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New fish lall
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N1 By HERBERT B. FISHUERG 60 degrees fahrenheit. B
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the plant's operation s'
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nearly a year in waters be-hind,a nuclear generating sta-discharges Gn stop, w
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cc:.N mean a sudden w
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LJ tion m Ocean County occurred
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temperature drop f om
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yesterday morning.
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~h-Hundreds of mossbunkus, minutes, depending en
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a type of warm water her, low the air temperatfre
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N;{"C <-e;A ring, were found lying be-he explained. The se
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. neath the ice-covered lagoons drop in tempe.rature traps
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Township according to by shock from the sut
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}-1 Charles Malley, the owner of temperature change. he >
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n..; - f8 The plant is oned by Jer-ga sey Central Power and Light
'Ite bunkers, which un
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i smoldering trol when firefighters bulldozed tons of dirt on it. A Co.
migrate south to the Caro; metropolitan fire department spokesman said the fire was caused by Malley, who reported the 810ctober remaine
%s~, Cred becam a; under con-spontaneous ignition of oil rags in the dump.
kill to township heahh offi-cials and the police, said that artificially produced w he observed dead fish as far temperatures, Bennett ss, Ston and Jer-County officials said at the Hudson County Police Chief as 1% miles from the plant.
A spokesman for Je tat other per-time that they felt they had Fred Kropke, former Port Central denied yesterdaf
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[a first claim b the money Authority of New York and operatfons
D.W. Bennett, conservation an He ide a clag smce it was from the people New Jersey Commissioner director for the American tributed the kill to nat of Hudson County that the William Sternkopf. former Littoral Society, a national causes - the arctic ( that there money was, taken. Stern said Jersey City Business Adminis-conservation group with temperatures expene:
multitude of then that m his opinion the trator Phillip Kuaz former offices in Sandy Hook, pointed this week and last Jan;:r iney surfaced IRS had first claim to the Jersey City Purchasing Agent to the power plant's operation He peinted out that
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I u hen Stern m ney.
Bernard Murphy and former as the direct cause of both plant was closed for r.
i 9.593 to the In addition to Whelan, liudson County Treasurer yesterday's fish kill and one maintenance on Dec. S l
the Hudson Kenny and Wolfe. convictions J seph Stapleton.
involving the same fish the latest fish kill dd l'
tic Organiza-were handed out to former A!! except Wolfe, who got species last January 29 in the occur until more inan a v County gov. Jersey City Council President a suspended sentence, are in same location.
later.
Thomas Flaherty, former prison.
Both fish kills occurred Last year's fish kill
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while the plant was shut reported the day after
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down for maintenance.
plant closed.
I Bennett said that the warm Bennett explamed that j
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yhh water discharged from the week's air ternperatures 1
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plant during its operation warmer than yesterday 5 attracts the bunkers, which lowing the water temi t " practice" ed the probation report as abused the good I was at. normally thrive in water ture to cool siow!r after L
- crt Soung. etcimmg that some persons tempting to do."
temperatures no lower than plant closed.
m er New in the area " complained bit.
Cuti!!o testified at the ;
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j Jctsey~ frc. terly" about Miele's activit. trial that he was a regis ;
g g g g3 gg]
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ics and charged that one tered nurse. But according.
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irney main. " purchased a u atchdog to to the gournment. CutiUo '
SLACK SETS, SLf,CKS & TOPS
"notonous" keep Dr M:etc3 chentele was impersonatig a nurse gq g p/Q opp f
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avit:es tbt oi! his prem:ses "
while workm:: for Miele and '
I r.e area be-Miele, who c! aimed that he had been rcpnmanded by the,
'e4 and has had a "drinkmq" problem Wtc Board of Nursm:t for im t JR, &
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l h an utent oser Ib. past 10 > cars, told personatin;: a registered !
MISSY DRESSES & LONGS a number the court yesterd v he was nurse.
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l honor hu "scry. scry sorry" about the L.le stdl faces sentenemg.
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situati0n. but m.nntamri it on a chaue in Essex Co mty
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