ML043100569
| ML043100569 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Salem  |
| Issue date: | 10/28/2004 |
| From: | Eggers J Public Service Enterprise Group |
| To: | Document Control Desk, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation |
| References | |
| LR-E04-0491 | |
| Download: ML043100569 (7) | |
Text
PSEG Nuclear LLC P.O. Box 236, Hancocks Bridge, New Jersey 08038-0236 80 PSEG OCT 2 8 2004 NuclearLLC LR-E04-0491 CERTIFIED MAIL RETURN RECEIPT REQUESTED ARTICLE NUMBER: 7003 0500 0003 4469 4652 U. S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Document Control Desk Washington, DC 20555 Gentleman:
REPORT OF IMPINGEMENT OF SHORTNOSE STURGEON SALEM GENERATING STATION UNIT NO. I DOCKET NO. 50-272 In accordance with Section 5.4.2 of Appendix B, Environmental Protection Plan, to the Operating License for the Salem Generating Station, PSEG Nuclear LLC (PSEG) hereby transmits notification of a nonroutine event discovery, and documents the occurrence and removal of a shortnose sturgeon from the Salem Generating Station circulating water intake structure.
Enclosed please find two (2) attachments. Attachment 1 gives a narrative description of the event, as requested by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC). Attachment 2, requested by the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), provides more specific information regarding the observance and retrieval of the sturgeon.
Should you have any questions regarding this transmittal, please feel free to contact us.
Since rely, J;ggers Super s'r--
Environmental Licensing Attachments (2) 95-2168 REV. 7/99
OCT 2 8 2004 LR-E04-0491 2
Document Control Desk C
Mr. S. Collins, Administrator - Region I U. S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission 475 Allendale Road King of Prussia, PA 19406 Mr. D. Collins, Licensing Project Manager - Salem U. S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission One White Flint North 11555 Rockville Pike Mail Stop 0-4D-3 Rockville, MD 20852 USNRC Senior Resident Inspector - Salem Mail Code X24 Mr. K. Tosch, Manager IV Bureau of Nuclear Engineering 33 Arctic Parkway P. 0. Box 415 Trenton, NJ 08625-0415 Ms. Carrie Upite National Marine Fisheries Service Protected Resources Division One Blackburn Drive Gloucester, MA 01930-2298 Mr. Michael Ludwig National Marine Fisheries Service 212 Rogers Avenue Milford, CT 06460 Mr. Dave Jenkins Endangered and Nongame Species Program 7A Van Sykel's Road Hampton, NJ 08827 Mr. Lawrence J. Niles, Chief New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection Endangered and Nongame Species Program P. 0. Box 400 Trenton, NJ 08625-0400
OCT 28 2004 LR-E04-0491 3
Document Control Desk
/dkh BC Vice President - Site Operations Vice President - Nuclear Assessment Nuclear Plant Manager - Salem E. J. Keating NBS RM - N64 Env. File No. 4.7.2 SGS Nuclear File No. 1.2.1 SGS
LR-E04-0491 ATTACHMENT I INCIDENTAL TAKE OF SHORTNOSE STURGEON OCCURRENCE DATE:
October 1, 2004 FACILITY:
Salem Generating Station, Unit 1 PSEG Nuclear LLC Hancocks Bridge, NJ 08038 IDENTIFICATION OF OCCURRENCE:
A shortnose sturgeon (Acipenserbrevirostrum) was removed from the Circulating Water System (CWS) Intake trash racks at the Salem Generating Station. The sturgeon was recovered on October 1, 2004. Shortnose sturgeon are federally listed as "endangered" species under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended.
CONDITIONS PRIOR TO OCCURRENCE:
October 1, 2004 Unit 1 Unit 2 100 percent power 100 percent power DESCRIPTION OF OCCURRENCE:
DATE TIME STATUS INTAKE FORK TOTAL WEIGHT BAY LENGTH LENGTH (KG)
(CM)
(CM) 10/01/04 1007 ALIVE BUT 12A 64.6 73.7 1.1 DIED SHORTLY AFTER RECOVERY During routine cleaning of the trash racks, Site Services personnel recovered the sturgeon alive but appeared weak and lethargic. The sturgeon died shortly after recovery. Personnel from Environmental Consulting Services responded and confirmed the identification of the sturgeon.
2 The sturgeon was examined, measured, weighed and scanned for Passive Integrated Transponder (PIT) tags. The sturgeon had no obvious injuries but appeared weak and underweight for it's size. No response was obtained when the sturgeon was scanned for PIT tags. The sturgeon was frozen pending disposition of the carcass in accordance with the terms and conditions of the current Incidental Take Statement.
The U. S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) and the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) have been notified regarding this occurrence.
APPARENT CAUSE OF OCCURRENCES Based on historical and recent records, shortnose sturgeon appear to utilize the entire Delaware estuary-river complex, from the river mouth to New Hope, Pennsylvania (0-238 river kilometer - rkm). Spawning occurs north of Trenton, 128 rkm upstream from the Salem and Hope Creek Generating Stations. It is unlikely that larval or post-larval fish would travel the distance downstream to Artificial Island. Adult shortnose sturgeon may move into the Artificial Island area during fall migration to wintering grounds. Healthy adult and juvenile shortnose sturgeon are strong enough swimmers that they should be able to escape from intake velocities typically encountered at the trash bars. Sturgeon that are in a weakened condition may be subject to impingement.
ANALYSIS OF OCCURRENCE The CWS intake trash bars are required to be cleaned daily between June 1 and October 15. The sturgeon was recovered during this cleaning. Due to the heavy rains from the remnants of hurricane Ivan that fell at the end of September, the flooding on the main stem Delaware River was the worst since August 1955.
Even before the rains arrived from Ivan, the Delaware River at Montague and Trenton, N.J. was flowing at 298 percent and 265 percent of normal, respectively, for the first half of September. It is believed that these heavy flow conditions may have been a contributing factor in the taking of this sturgeon. Between 1978 and 2003, a total of sixteen (17) shortnose sturgeon have been collected at the CWS intake, two in 1978, one in 1981, three in 1991, two in 1992, two in 1994, three in 1998, one in 1999, one in 2000, one in 2003 and this occurrence in 2004.
3 CORRECTIVE ACTIONS The trash racks are required to be inspected every two hours from June 1 through October 15, cleaned three times per week from May 1 and November 15, and as mentioned above, are required to be cleaned daily between June 1 and October 15. Observations are made specifically for sea turtles and sturgeon during this time. During the remaining months the trash racks are inspected daily for debris load and cleaned as necessary. As the shortnose sturgeon was initially recovered alive but appeared underweight and in a weakened condition, it is felt that the measures in place are sufficient and no other actions are warranted at this time.
LR-E03-0209 ATTACHMENT 2 REPORTING REQUIREMENTS Appendix 11 to Section 7 Consultation Photographs should be taken and the information requested below should be collected in association with all protected species (sea turtles and shortnose sturgeon) impingements. This documentation should be sent to the:
National Marine Fisheries Service Habitat Conservation Branch One Blackburn Drive Gloucester, MA 01930-2298 Protected Species Impingements Salem and Hope Creek Generating Stations Observers full name:
Dale Boleslawski, John Pugliese - PSEG Nuclear LLC, Facility Services Reporters full name:
David Hurka - PSEG Nuclear LLC, Environmental Licensing Species identification: Shortnose Sturgeon (Acipenserbrevirostrum)
Site of impingement: Salem Generating Station - CWS Trash Racks Date and time impingement was observed:
10/01/04 1007 hrs Date and time of animal was collected:
10/01/04 1007 hrs Tidal stage at time of collection:
Flood Date and time of last observation of screen:
10/01/04 1007 hrs Water temperature at site at time of impingement:
21.30 (C)
Average percent of power generating capacity achieved per unit over the 48 hours5.555556e-4 days <br />0.0133 hours <br />7.936508e-5 weeks <br />1.8264e-5 months <br /> previous to impingement:
Unit 1 -
100 percent power Unit 2 -
100 percent power Condition of animal:
Alive but appeared weakened and underweight Shortnose Sturgeon Measurements:
Fork Length:
64.6 cm Total Length:
73.7 cm Weight:
1.1 kg Remarks:
The sturgeon was found during routine cleaning of the CWS Intake trash racks. The sturgeon was recovered alive but appeared weak and lethargic. The sturgeon died shortly after recovery.