DCL-2009-519, National Marine Fisheries Service Marine Mammal and Marine Turtle Stranding Reports for Two Dead Newborn Harbor Seals Discovered in Diablo Canyon Power Plant Intake Structure
| ML091680382 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Diablo Canyon  |
| Issue date: | 05/27/2009 |
| From: | Peters K Pacific Gas & Electric Co |
| To: | Cordaro J Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation, US Dept of Commerce, National Marine Fisheries Service |
| References | |
| DCL-2009-519 | |
| Download: ML091680382 (4) | |
Text
Pacific Gas and Electric Company' Diablo Canyon Power Plant P. 0. Box 56 Avila Beach, CA 93424 PG&ELetter DCL-2009-519 May 27, 2009-Joseph G. Cordaro Wildlife Biologist National Marine Fisheries Service 501 West Ocean Blvd.., Suite 4200 Long Beach, California 90802-4213
Dear Mr. Cordaro:
Certified/Return Receipt
- 7007-2680-0000-5565-4117 Enclosed are two National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) Marine Mammal and Marine Turtle Stranding Reports for two dead new-born harbor seals (Phoca vitulina) discovered in the Diablo Canyon Power Plant (DCPP) intake structure. The harbor seals were.'-.'
discovered by Environmental Operations staff divers on April 20, 2009.: One harbor seal",
was found on Unit 1 bar racks, while the second was found on Unit 2 bar racks.
As authorized in a letter dated June 3, 1994 from NMFS, DCPP removed both dead harbor seals from the intake structure and transported them to Marine Mammal Center personnel for necropsies. The harbor seals were estimated to be about 2 feet in length, and were relatively fresh with very little decomposition. There were no obvious indications of the cause of death.
It is likely that these animals died of natural complications at or near birth and drifted into the power plant intake structure. It is very bnlikely that the Diablo Canyon intake structure was a factor in these harbor seal's deaths, as intake flow velocity is low enough that. healthy animals can easily swim against it. Marine Mammal*Center personnel agreed that the harbor seals most likely died due to abandonment or parenting problems before:drifting onto DCPP's bar racks.
Verbal notification of this incident was reported to NOAA Fisheries on April 20, 2009 (the day of discovery).
Should you have any-questions or concerns regarding the enclosed reports, or require additional information, please contact Jim Kelly of my staff at (805) 545-3194.
Sincerely, Stat' n Director - Diablo Canyon Power Plant 2009519/jlk Enclosure (2)
PG&E Letter DCL-2009-519 Joseph G. Cordaro, NMFS May 27, 2009 Page 2 cc w/enclosures:
Alan B. Wang NRR Project Manager U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission One White Flint North Mail Stop 08B1 11555 Rockville Pike Rockville, MD 20852-2738 Resident Inspector, Michael S. Peck U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Diablo Canyon Power Plant 104/5 Regional Administrator U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Region IV 612 E. Lamar Blvd., Suite 400 Arlington, TX 76011-4125
_JJ S-NuclearReg ulatory1-ommis6sion2 Document Control Desk Washington, D.C. 20555-0001 Kathy Hill California Department of Fish and Game 1416 9th Street, Room 1341 Sacramento, CA 95814
MARINE MAMMAL AND MARINE TURTLE STRANDING REPORT S ID#__
(NMFS USE)
FIELD NO.:
NMFS REGISTRATIONNO.
COMMON NAME:
Harbor Seal GENUS:
Phoca SPECIES:
vitulina EXAMINER Name:
Janes L. Kelly Agency: Pacific Gas & Electric Co.
Phone:
(805) 545-3194 Address:
DCPP P.O. Box 56, Avila Beach, CA 93424 LOCATION LOCATION State:
CA County:San Luis Obispo Zity:
Avila Beach Locality Details:
9-Miles NW of Avila Beach - Diablo Canyon Power Plant (DCPP)
TYPE OF OCCURRENCE Mass Stranding: (Yes) /_Animals one (1)
Human Interaction: (Yes)-/
/ (?)
Check one:
- 1. Boat colli 0Toi
- 2.
Shot
-4. Fishery interaction x5. Other Apparently Natural Death.
How determined:
Other Causes (if known): No external sign of cause of death.
Likely died of parental abandonment,or neglect (pup less than Intake Cove
- Latitude: 35" 12' 44"
- Longitude: 1200 51' 13" I _ _ _
N W
three days old).
DATE OF INITIAL OBSERVATION:
DATE OF EXAMINATION:
Yr 2009 Mo 04 Day 20 Yr 2009*
Mo 04 Day 20 CONDITION: Check one:_l.Alive CONDITION: Cheeck one:-l.Alive
_x2.Fresh dead
_X_2.Fresh dead 3.Moderate decomp.
3.Moderate decomp.
_4.Advanced decomp.
4.Advanced decomp.
5.Mummified 5.Mummified
? Unknown
-?.Unknown LIVE ANIMAL -
Condition and Disposition:
TAGS APPLIED?: (Yes)
/
Check one
_l.Released at site TAGS PRESENT?:
(Yes) /)2oJ\\
or more: _2.Sick
- 3. Injured Dorsal Left Right
_4.Died
__5.Euthanized ag No.(s):
6.Rehabilitated and released
? Unknown..
Color(s):
Transported to:
Type:
(Died) / (Released) Date:
Placement Front/Rear Front/Rear CARCASS Disposition,.check one:
MORPHOLOGICAL DATA:
Check one: _l.Left at site Sex -
Check one:
l.Male
_2.Buried
- 2. Female
_3.Towed
? Unknown
__4.Sci. collection (see below)
__5.Edu. collection (see below)
Straight Length:
80.5
.M/(in)/(est) ix6.Other N~rrnpqy - Mint,'Mannal Centtr h
- Weight:
8.5 g
(lb)/(est?)
Unknown PHOTOS TAKEN?
(Yes) /
O ECROPSIED? IYs-
/
(No)
REMARKS:
The harbor seal pup was found by Plant Environmental Operations Divers on Unit 1 intake bar racks.
dISPOSITION OF'TISSUE/SKELETAL MATERIAL:
OMB#0648-.0l78 It is estimated that completion of this form requires 20 minutes.
MARINE MAMMAL AND MARINE TURTLE STRANDING REPORT SID#L (NMFS USE)
FIELD NO.:
COMMON NAME:
Harbor Seal GENUE NMFS REGISTRATION NO.
Phoca SPECIES:
vitulina EXAMINER Name:
James L. Kelly Agency: Pacific Gas & Electric Co.
Phone:
(805) 545-3194 Address: DCPP P.O. Box 56, Avila Beach, CA 93424
[LOCATION LOCATION State:
CA County: San Luis Obispo city:
Avila Beach Locality Details:
9-Miles NW of Avila Beach - Diablo Canyon Power Plant (DCPP) tYPE OF OCCURRENCE Kass Stranding: (Yes) /
N Animals Cn Human Interaction: (Yes)-k
/ (?)
Check one:
-1. Boat collision
- 2. Shot
- 4. Fishery interaction x 5. Other Apparently Natural Death e (1)
Q Intake Cove How determined:
Other Causes (if known): No external sign of cause of death.
Likely died of parental abandonment or neglect (pup less than
- Latitude: 350 12' 44"
._N
- Longitude: 1200 51' 13" W
three days old).
DATE OF INITIAL OBSERVATION:
Yr 2o09 Mo 04 Day 20 CONDITION: Check.one:_l.Alive
_x.2.Fresh dead 3.Moderate decomp.
__4.Advanced decomp.
-5.Mummified
_?
Unknown DATE OF EXAMINATION:
Yr 2009 Mo 04 Day 20 CONDITION: Check one:
l.Alive
.x_2.Fresh dead 3.Moderate decomp.
44.Advanced decomp.
5.Mummified
? Unknown LIVE ANIMAL - Condition and Disposition:
TAGS APPLIED?:
(Yes)/
Check one
_i.Released at site TAGS PRESENT?:
(Yes) /
or more:
_2.Sick
- 3. Injured Dorsal Left Right
__4.Died 5
aEuthanized ag No.(s):
-6.Rehabilitated and released
_?
Unknown Color(s):
Transported to:
Type:
(Died) / (Released) Date:
Placement Front/Rear Front/Rear CARCASS -
Disposition, check one:
MORPHOLOGICAL DATA:
Check one: _l.Left at site Sex -
Check one: X l.Male
_2.Buried 2.Female
_3.Towed
,_? Unknown
__4.Sci. collection (see below)
_5.Edu. collection (see below).
Straight Length:.
90.0 m
(in)/(est)
- .__X6.Other Npc-.rnpqy
-Marinp Mamimn1
('ntpr
_x_;OherN~~y ~
i
- a1:c~n~r*Weight:_
14.ý6
(-b)/(est?)'
Un4_
known PHOTOS TAKEN?
(Yes) /
NECROPSIED? Oe'/
(No)
REMARKS:
The harbor seal pup was found by Plant Environmental Operations Divers on Unit 2 intake bar racks.
dISPOSITION OF'TISSUE/SKELETAL.MATERIAL:
It is estimated that completion of this form requires 20 minutes.
OMB#0648-.0178