ML030070692
| ML030070692 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Oyster Creek |
| Issue date: | 12/26/2002 |
| From: | Harkness E AmerGen Energy Co |
| To: | Mcdaniel C Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation, US Dept of Commerce, National Marine Fisheries Service |
| References | |
| 2120-022-2745, 2130-02-20353 | |
| Download: ML030070692 (17) | |
Text
-- A AmerGen S AmerGen Energy Company, LLC An Exelon/British Energy Company Oyster Creek US Route 9 South P.O. Box 388 Forked River, NJ o8731-0388 December 26, 2002 2130-02-20353 2120-022-2745 National Marine Fisheries Service Northeast Region Protected Resources Division One Blackburn Drive Gloucester, MA 01930 Attention: Carrie McDaniel
Subject:
OYSTER CREEK GENERATING STATION DOCKET NO. 50-219 ANNUAL SEA TURTLE INCIDENTAL CAPTURE REPORT - 2002 Enclosed is a copy of the 2002 Annual Sea Turtle Incidental Capture Report for the Oyster Creek Generating Station (OCGS). The report is submitted in accordance with Condition 10 of the Incidental Take Statement of the OCGS Endangered Species Act Biological Opinion.
If you have any questions concerning this submittal, please contact Mr. John Rogers, Licensing Engineer at 609-971-4893 or Mr. Malcolm Browne, Environmental Scientist, at 609-971-4124.
Sincerely, Ernest J. Harkness P.E., Vice President Oyster Creek Generating Station EJH/MEB/JJR Enclosure Attachments cc: NRC Document Control Desk Administrator, Region I NRC Project Manager Senior Resident Inspector V">
OYSTER CREEK GENERATING STATION LICENSE NO. DPR-16 DOCKET NO. 50-219 ANNUAL REPORT OF SEA TURTLE INCIDENTAL CAPTURES 2002 Prepared by:
AMERGEN ENERGY COMPANY December 2002
2130-02-20353 2120-022-2745 Enclosure Page 2 The Annual Report of Sea Turtle Incidental Captures provides a summary of the incidental captures of all species of sea turtles at the Oyster Creek Generating Station (OCGS) during the past year. The report is required by Condition 10 of the Incidental Take Statement of the OCGS Endangered Species Act, Section 7 Consultation, Biological Opinion. This report covers all incidental captures which occurred during the year 2002.
Incidental Capture Reports documenting the circumstances of incidental captures of sea turtles are completed following any OCGS sea turtle incidental capture and are provided to NMFS and USNRC. Incident reports concerning the capture of endangered sea turtles entitled "Sea Turtle Incidental Capture Report 2002-1" and "2002-2" are provided as Attachments I and II, respectively. The circumstances surrounding the two incidental captures that occurred during 2002 are summarized below. In all cases the incidental captures were reported to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission and the National Marine Fisheries Service within 24 hours2.777778e-4 days <br />0.00667 hours <br />3.968254e-5 weeks <br />9.132e-6 months <br /> of capture.
Inspections and cleaning of cooling water intake trash bars continue to be conducted in accordance with Conditions 1 and 4 of the Incidental Take Statement.
2130-02-20353 2120-022-2745 Enclosure Page 3 Annual Summary of Sea Turtle Incidental Takes A juvenile Kemp's ridley sea turtle was captured alive in front of the circulating water system trash racks during the morning of June 29, 2002 after it was observed swimming in front of the circulating water intake structure trash bars. NRC and NMFS were notified within 24 hours2.777778e-4 days <br />0.00667 hours <br />3.968254e-5 weeks <br />9.132e-6 months <br /> of the capture and the turtle was taken to the Marine Mammal Stranding Center (MMSC) in Brigantine, NJ by OCGS Environmental personnel. MMSC personnel observed and fed the turtle and found it to be active. A scar of unknown origin was observed on the right side of the carapace but determined not to be a significant concern by MMSC personnel because the turtle was initially eating on its own and appeared healthy. The turtle subsequently died while in MMSC care and a necropsy was performed.
During the morning of July 3, 2002, a juvenile Kemp's ridley sea turtle was gently removed from in front of the dilution water system intake structure. The turtle was alive and apparently healthy at the time of capture. Although there were no obvious boat propeller wounds on the turtle or any open wounds which would have been life-threatening, the turtle had a small scrape on one of its dorsal scutes. Environmental personnel transported the turtle to MMSC the same morning and held there for care, feeding, and observation. The turtle was subsequently tagged and released July 9, 2002 near Brigantine, NJ by MMSC personnel.
Regarding trends in the number of incidental sea turtle captures at the OCGS, two incidental captures occurred during 2002 which is slightly less than the longterm average of slightly over two incidental captures per year recorded over the last decade. The annual total of two incidental captures during 2002 is a reduction from the total of three sea turtles incidentally captured at OCGS during 2001. However, the annual abundance of sea turtles in this vicinity appears to be highly variable, unpredictable, and unrelated to the operation of the OCGS. There are several factors that may influence the number of sea turtle incidental captures which occur at the OCGS.
Barnegat Inlet, the only tidal inlet in the vicinity of Oyster Creek, which provides access to Barnegat Bay from the Atlantic Ocean, was deepened during dredging operations in the early 1990's. Completion of the Barnegat Inlet dredging operation resulted in an increase in the tidal prism, or volume of water entering and exiting the inlet on a single tidal cycle, as well as a slightly greater tidal range at Oyster Creek. The deepening of Barnegat Inlet and associated waterway channels was completed immediately prior to 1992, when incidental captures of sea turtles began to occur at OCGS, and may partially explain the occurrence of the turtles.
It is likely that the local variability of sea turtle abundance is also related to biological factors including the abundance of organisms on which sea turtles prefer to feed, such as blue crabs, horseshoe crabs, and calico crabs. Physical factors, such as an oceanic front or an oceanic gyre occurring unusually close to Barnegat Inlet, may also play a part in the prevalence of sea turtles near Oyster Creek because oceanic fronts have been shown to be used as a migratory and forage habitatrby sea turtles (Polovina et al, 2000).
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2130-02-20353 2120-022-2745 Enclosure Page 4 Experience has also shown that the passage of a severe storm or pressure system near Bamegat Inlet can cause major increases in winds, waves, tides and tidal prism in shallow estuarine waters such as Barnegat Bay. These events could increase the likelihood of slowly swimming organisms such as sea turtles occurring in the estuary.
Many years of environmental sampling conducted near the OCGS have repeatedly demonstrated that the abundance of various marine organisms can vary considerably from year to year, often by orders of magnitude. This is particularly true for seasonal migrants, whose abundance in Barnegat Bay is highly dependent upon physical and biological factors along the migratory route.
Therefore, the observed annual variation in sea turtle incidental captures at the OCGS from a minimum of zero to a maximum of five per year is not considered particularly significant. The ultimate goal of the considerable effort being put forward at the OCGS for the protection of sea turtles is to protect the turtles that do arrive at the plant, and to release as many turtles as possible to safety. The OCGS program for the protection of threatened and endangered sea turtles can be considered to be quite successful because most of the sea turtles incidentally captured at OCGS since 1992 have subsequently been released alive and well, to the Atlantic Ocean in locations free from potential cold-shock, due to the efforts of OCGS personnel.
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2130-02-20353 2120-022-2745 Enclosure Page 5 References Polovina, J.J., D.R. Kobayashi, D.M. Ellis, M.P. Seki, and G.H. Balazs. 2000. Turtles on the edge: Movement of loggerhead turtles (Caretta caretta) along oceanic fronts in the central North Pacific, 1997-1998. Fish. Oceanogr., 9: 71-82.
ATTACHMENT I SEA TURTLE INCIDENTAL CAPTURE REPORT 2002-1
AmerGen Energy Company. LLC An Exelon/British Energy Corpany Oyster Creek US Route 9 South PO. Box 388 Forked River. NJ 08731-0388 July 2, 2002 Correspondence No. 2002-0188 File No. 02051 US Nuclear Regulatory Commission Document Control Desk Washington, DC 20555
Subject:
Oyster Creek Generating Station Docket 50-219 Sea Turtle Incidental Capture Report 2002-1 This report provides detailed information regarding the recent incidental capture of a juvenile Kemp's ridley sea turtle at the Oyster Creek Generating Station. The turtle was captured alive during the morning ofJune 29, 2002, after it was observed swimming in front of the circulating water intake structure trash bars. As indicated on the attached incident report, the turtle was taken to the Marine Mammal Stranding Center in Brigantine, NJ for examination, care, and eventual safe release.
If you have any questions or require additional information, please do not hesitate to contact Mr. Jay Vouglitois at (609) 971-4021.
Very truly yours, Ron J. DeGregorio Vice President, Oyster Creek RJD/JJV/JJR Enclosure cc: Ms. Carrie McDaniel U.S. Department of Commerce National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration National Marine Fisheries Service Northeast Region Protected Resources Division One Blackburn Drive Gloucester, MA 01930
Page 2 of 2 cc: Mr. Hubert Miller, Administrator, Region 1 US Nuclear Regulatory Commission 475 Allendale Road King of Prussia, PA 19406 Mr. Peter Tam US Nuclear Regulatory Commission Senior Project Manager Washington, DC 20555 Mr. James Wilson, Mailstop 0-11 -Fl US Nuclear Regulatory Commission Washington, DC 20555 Senior Resident Inspector Oyster Creek Generating Station PO Box 388 Forked River NJ 08731 Mr. Dave Jenkins NJ Department of Environmental Protection Division of Fish, Game, and Wildlife P.O. Box 400 Trenton, NJ 08625-0400
OYSTER CREEK GENERATING STATION Sea Turtle Incidental Capture Report 2002-1 At approximately 0200 hours0.00231 days <br />0.0556 hours <br />3.306878e-4 weeks <br />7.61e-5 months <br /> on Saturday June 29, 2002, an Oyster Creek Generating Station (OCGS) operator performing a routine inspection of the trash racks noticed a sea turtle swimming freely in Bay #5 and Bay #6 of the circulating water intake structure. The turtle was carefully dip-netted from Bay #6 as quickly as possible and found to be apparently healthy and moving about normally. OCGS Environmental personnel who took custody of the turtle confirmed it to be a juvenile Kemp's ridley sea turtle (Lepidochelys kerpi). The water temperature at the time of the incidental capture was approximately 79.2 F (26.2 C) and OCGS was in operation at full power with four circulating water pumps and two dilution pumps in operation. Although it is impossible to say precisely how long the turtle had been in the vicinity of the intake structure, the circulating water trash racks had been cleaned approximately four hours prior to the turtle's capture, at 2200 hours0.0255 days <br />0.611 hours <br />0.00364 weeks <br />8.371e-4 months <br /> on June 28. The turtle was not observed during that trash rack cleaning process.
The turtle measured 10.0 in (25.4 cm) carapace length straight line and 9.5 in (24.1 cm) carapace width straight line. Sex was not determined. A scar was observed on the right side of the carapace; no tags were observed on the animal. USNRC and NMFS personnel were notified of the capture within 24 hours2.777778e-4 days <br />0.00667 hours <br />3.968254e-5 weeks <br />9.132e-6 months <br /> on June 29, 2002.
The turtle was taken to the Marine Mammal Stranding Center (MMSC) in Brigantine, NJ at approximately 0455 hours0.00527 days <br />0.126 hours <br />7.523148e-4 weeks <br />1.731275e-4 months <br /> on June 29. At the MMSC, the turtle was examined and fed. The wound on the carapace was determined not to be a significant concern. The turtle will be held at the MMSC for a few days before it is tagged and released into near-shore waters around Brigantine, NJ.
SEP-17-02 TUE 2:23 PM MARINE MAMMAL STR CTR FAX NO. 6092666300 P. 2 SEA TURTLE STRANDING AND SALVAGE NETWORK - STRANDING REPORT PLEASE PRINT CLEARLY AND FILL IN ALL APP.ICASLE MANWS, Use (coliper) and/or over 1he curve (tape measure). Measure length from codes below. Measuremints rmo 7 be stroaght line Ihe center at she nuehot notch jo the fip of 111e most posterior marginal. Measure Width of the widest point of carapce. CIRCL THE UNITS USE, . Sat diogrom below. P laos!
give a specific Icolion description, INCLUDE LATITUDE AND LONGITUDE.
Observer's Full 'me__HIANE 061cyvr' Ful YWAM4ALMc~- STF'ANDXNG CENTER _1rond;,,Dot,_02_ -_0O - 29 Address / Affiliolion firir.ancine, N.J. Fie# W.,AM dot Area Code /Phone Number 609-266-0538 species LK Turtle Nuvmbcrbyoy 02-055 Rcdiobllly of 1.0.: (CIRCLE) Uniurc Proboblcý A~asv Species Verified byStaoi Coordinotor? Yesj Noo Sex: (CIRCLE) 0 Maole Undetrcmiered HOW wa$ sox delermined? _ necropsy Stale NEt? JERSEY County _0c e an tocollon (be specific and Include closest ltown) Pnrked Rivpr; on th* intake pipA at
.Oyster ereek Nuclear Power Plant Latitude 39e 48' 56.3"N 12126.61$ .74 Cond;sion of Turtle (use codesi) 0 Finol Dispositon of Turtle (use codes) 7 Tog Number(s) (include-log return address and disposilion of log)
Remarrks (note If lurtle was Involved with lot or oil. geot or debr~i entanglement.
wouod* or mutllaions, propellor domage,.
popilomos. op;zco, "0c.) conl;ive on bock It necessary Turtle had a crack on the dorsal right side of Its carapace.
It was eatigg on Its won, and appeared to be swimming well..
It was found dead In theppen, and necropsy was performed (over)
Field # 02-055 MEASUREMENTS; CIRCLE UNITS _ _
CODES.,
SPECIES:
Siroighi Lenglh .. cn* CC aa Loggerheod CM 9 .7 5 (es+-I) Green Straight Width _'
-,. DC a teciherback I El or Howksblli C'jrved Length tK* a emp's ridley cra/in Nolch UN a Unidenllfied Curved Viidth .erain CONDITION OF TURTlE:
0 a Alive I = Ftesh deod 2 = Moderotely decomposed Murk*wouds,4 3 Severely decompozed
, rue~d carcass Mark wounds.
5 Skttlalon, bones only and tog locations FINALIdDISPOSITION OF TURTLE:
cPointed, lelt on beach 2 Suried: on beach / ofI beach S
Salvaged spa*mer: oal / part 4 Pulled up on beach or dune Posler;or .6 Unpainted, left on beach Morginal Tip 6 Alve, eelearoed
, Alive, taken )o a holding facility
-ooP -1 SEP-17-02 TUE 2:24 PM MARINE MAMMAL STR CTR FAX NO. 6092666300 P. 3 All tissues surrounding the cracked area were necrotic.
ATTACHMENT II SEA TURTLE INCIDENTAL CAPTURE REPORT 2002-2
AmerGen Energy Company, LLC An Exelon/British Energy Company Oyster Creek US Route 9 South P.O. Box 388 Forked River. NJ o8731-0388 July 8, 2002 2130-02-20189 US Nuclear Regulatory Commission Document Control Desk - NRC Washington, DC 20555
Subject:
Oyster Creek Generating Station Docket 50-219 Sea Turtle Incidental Capture Report 2002-2 This report provides detailed information regarding the recent incidental capture of a juvenile Kemp's ridley sea turtle at the Oyster Creek Generating Station. The turtle was captured alive during the morning of July 3, 2002 after it was observed swimming in front of the dilution water intake structure trash bars. As indicated on the attached incident report, the turtle was taken to the Marine Mammal Stranding Center in Brigantine, New Jersey for examination, care, and eventual safe release.
If you have any questions or require additional information, please do not hesitate to contact Mr. Malcolm Browne at (609) 971-4124.
Veytrulyy. urs, S4r.
Ron J. DeGregorio Vice President, Oyster Creek RJD/MEB/JJR Enclosure cc: Ms. Carrie McDaniel U.S. Department of Commerce National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration National Marine Fisheries Service Northeast Region Protected Resources Division One Blackburn Drive Gloucester, MA 01930
Page 2 of 2 cc: Mr. Hubert MillerAdministrator, Region 1 US Nuclear Regulatory Commission 475 Allendale Road King of Prussia, PA 19406 Mr. Peter Tam US Nuclear Regulatory Commission Senior Project Manager Washington, DC 20555 Mr. James Wilson, Mailstop 0-11-7F1 US Nuclear Regulatory Commission Washington, DC 20555 Senior Resident Inspector Oyster Creek Generating Station PO Box 388 Forked River, NJ 08731 Mr. Dave Jenkins NJ Department of Environmental Protection Division of Fish, Game, and Wildlife P.O. Box 400 Trenton, NJ 08625-0400
OYSTER CREEK GENERATING STATION Sea Turtle Incidental Capture Report 2002-2 At approximately 0755 hours0.00874 days <br />0.21 hours <br />0.00125 weeks <br />2.872775e-4 months <br /> on Wednesday July 3, 2002, an Oyster Creek Generating Station (OCGS) operator performing a routine inspection of the trash racks noticed a sea turtle swimming freely in Bay # 5 of the dilution water intake structure. The turtle was carefully dip netted from Bay #5 as quickly as possible and found to be apparently healthy and moving about normally. OCGS Environmental personnel who took custody of the turtle confirmed it to be a juvenile Kemp's ridley sea turtle (Lepidochels kgmpi). The water temperature at the time of the incidental capture was approximately 82.8 *F (28.2 °C) and OCGS was in operation at 100%
power with four circulating water pumps and two dilution pumps in operation. Although it is impossible to say precisely how long the turtle had been on the trash bars prior to removal, the dilution water trash racks had been cleaned earlier the same day at 0500 hours0.00579 days <br />0.139 hours <br />8.267196e-4 weeks <br />1.9025e-4 months <br />. The turtle was not observed during that trash rack inspection and cleaning.
The turtle measured 14.0 in (35.6 cm) carapace length straight line and weighed 13.3 lb (6.0 kg).
Sex was not determined. A small scrape less than 1 cm long was observed on one of the dorsal scutes of the carapace. No tags were present on the turtle when captured. USNRC and NMFS personnel were notified of the capture within 24 hours2.777778e-4 days <br />0.00667 hours <br />3.968254e-5 weeks <br />9.132e-6 months <br /> on July 3, 2002.
The turtle was taken to the Marine Mammal Stranding Center (MMSC) in Brigantine, NJ at approximately 1015 hours0.0117 days <br />0.282 hours <br />0.00168 weeks <br />3.862075e-4 months <br /> on July 3. At the MMSC, the turtle was examined and fed. The scrape on the carapace was determined not to be a significant concern. The turtle will held at the MMSC for a few days before it is tagged and released into near-shore waters around Brigantine, NJ.
SEP-17-02 TUE 2:24 PM MARINE MAMMAL STR CTR FAX NO. 6092665300 P.4 SEA TURTLE SYRANDING AND SALVAGE NETWOR K - STRAND)ING RE:PORT PLEASE PRINT MIAW~L AND FILL IN AU. APPLICABLE 13LANKS. Use COdas&
(caisper) and/or over the cwtva Cia p. meeasure). Measure length from, below- Measureminis moy be straight in the center of th. nuchol noich to the t ip of the most posterkor inrsrgincl. Measure width at the Widesi point Of COroPact. CI$RCLF THE giva pecifi location descrption. INCLUDE LATITUDE AND LONGITUDE. UNITS USED. See die gior below. p. 0040 observer's Full Nor~se ~ADN ETRStrandingro,. -!MEIA~A02 - 07 - 03 Address / Affiliation lDrigan iine, N.J. V*91 Mhr% q Area Code / Phone Number 609-266-0538 Specie 1Turtle NumnboatByDO y 02-057 Reliability Of I.D.; (CIRCLE) Unsure Probablef~ Species Verified by StateCoordinaor?, YesK NoD Sex: (CIRCLE) <2Fernale Malo Undeleirmined How was *or. dclerm;ncd? tail 1 en9th Soe NEA*! JERSEY , County_.... Ocean Locolion (be specific and Inducleclosest town) Forked River, on the intakeDff dilUtion trash racks-at Oyster Creek Power Plant (Ofiiuda 399 48'56.3'"N Longitude 74IV12125.B"*W Condi lion of Turtle (use codes) 0 FInol Dispos~ilon of Turtle. (use codes) 7 Tog Number(s) (include log return address a-nd disposition Of log)
Remark, (0ote it turfle was Inv~ivad with of1 or Oil, geaor or debris entanglI,.cnt, wounds of mutugotion&, propellor damage,.
popiltomost, VPiZoo, etC.) Continue on bovk of necessary
$1light -knock on- left side of carapace-near hbud,, Active and$ aleI rt, Swimming, and eating we~ll. Tagged monellear tag 15S1127 right ron flipper and released on- 9 July 2002 in Brigantine, Nj Field 0 02-057 MEASUREMENTS: CIRCLE UNITS SPECIES: ODS Stroighl Lengsth 34 ~C CCi: oggerheod Straight Width ~32.5l 32.5 DC v toolhotback owsbl Curved Le gt - Kernp's rid tey Curved Length mINocUNxnietfd C urv d Wi ih c /inC O N DITION O F TURT I.E:
0 aAlive IFresh dead 2 Moderately decomposed 3 =Severely, decomposed Mork *woundi. 4 ac Dried carcass 5 r Skteleton, bones only a bnormenlitie s, and log locolions FINAL DISPOSITION OF TURTLE; IPointed, left on beech 2 5bveled, on biocls / off beach 3 =Salvyaged specimen- all / port A Pulled vp on bcach or dunc Posterior, 53 Umpeinled, left on 6coch Matgimol Tip 6 *Alive, releastc!
____________________________________________7 Alive. folt'vn to a holding facility