ML11290A007

Report of Nonroutine Event Discovery and Occurrence and Removal of Impingement of Shortnose Sturgeon

ML11290A007
Person / Time
Site:	Salem
Issue date:	10/05/2011
From:	Wagner L Public Service Enterprise Group
To:	Document Control Desk, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
References
LR-E11-0129
Download: ML11290A007 (8)

Text

PSEG Nuclear LLC P.O. Box 236, Hancocks Bridge, NJ 08038-0236 OCT 0 5 2011 LR-E 11-0129 0 PSEi CERTIFIED MAIL Nuclear LLC RETURN RECEIPT REQUESTED ARTICLE NUMBER: 7008 1830 0004 1876 1853 U. S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Document Control Desk Washington, DC 20555 REPORT OF IMPINGEMENT OF SHORTNOSE STURGEON SALEM GENERATING STATION UNIT NO. 1 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 three (3) 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 information regarding the observance and retrieval of the sturgeon. Attachment 3, is a National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) Sturgeon Salvage Form, which provides more specific information regarding the observance and retrieval of the sturgeon.

There are no commitments contained in this letter.

If you have any questions or require additional information, please do not hesitate to contact Jeffrey Pantazes, Manager - Nuclear Environmental Affairs at (856) 339-7900.

Sincerely, Larry Wagner Plant Manager - Salem PSEG Nuclear LLC Attachments (3)

OCT 0 5.2011 LR-El1-0129 Document Control Desk C

Mr. William Dean, Administrator - Region I U. S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission 475 Allendale Road King of Prussia, PA 19406 Mr. R. Ennis, 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. P. Mulligan, Manager IV Bureau of Nuclear Engineering 33 Arctic Parkway P. O. Box 415 Trenton, NJ 08625-0415 Ms. Lynn Lankshear National Marine Fisheries Service Protected Resources Division 55 Great Republic Drive, Suite 04-400 Gloucester, MA 01930 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 Salem Commitment Coordinator Mail Code X25

OCT 0 5 2011 LR-E11-0129 Document Control Desk BC Salem Site Vice President Salem Plant Manager Nuclear Environmental Affairs Manager Records Management

LR-E 11-0129 ATTACHMENT 1 Page 1 of 2 INCIDENTAL TAKE OF SHORTNOSE STURGEON OCCURRENCE DATE:

September 9, 2011 FACILITY:

Salem Generating Station, Unit 1 PSEG Nuclear LLC Hancocks Bridge, NJ 08038 IDENTIFICATION OF OCCURRENCE:

A shortnose sturgeon (Acipenser brevirostrum) was removed from the Circulating Water System (CWS) Intake trash racks at the Salem Generating Station. The sturgeon was recovered on September 9, 2011. Shortnose sturgeon are federally listed as "endangered" species under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended.

CONDITIONS PRIOR TO OCCURRENCE:

September 9, 2011 Unit 1 85 - 100 percent power Unit 2 100 percent power DESCRIPTION OF OCCURRENCE:

DATE TIME STATUS INTAKE FORK TOTAL WEIGHT BAY LENGTH LENGTH (KG)

(MM)

(MM) 09/9/11 1430 Deceased Unknown 615 715 1.24 During routine cleaning of the trash racks, Maintenance Common personnel recovered the sturgeon, which was deceased and starting to decompose.

Environmental Consulting Services Inc. (ECSI) confirmed the identification of the sturgeon as a Shortnose Sturgeon and notified Salem Operations and Nuclear Environmental Affairs.

LR-E11-0129 ATTACHMENT 1 Page 2 of 2 The sturgeon was transported to ECSI headquarters. There it was examined, measured, weighed and scanned for Passive Integrated Transponder (PIT) tags.

No response was obtained when the sturgeon was scanned for PIT tags.

The U. S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) and the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) where 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 the site. Adult Shortnose sturgeon may move into the surrounding 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 severely weakened (or deceased) condition may be subject to impingement.

ANALYSIS OF OCCURRENCE Between 1978 and 2008, a total of twenty-one (21) 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, one in 2004, one in 2007, one in 2008 and two in 2011.

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. Since the Shortnose sturgeon was not recovered alive and it is not likely that the facility caused the death, it is felt that the measures in place are sufficient and no other actions are warranted at this time.

LR-E11-0129 ATTACHMENT 2 Page 1 of 1 REPORTING REQUIREMENTS Appendix II 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: Maynard McAllister, John Pugliese - PSEG Nuclear LLC, Maintenance Common Reporters full name:

Jeffrey Pantazes - Nuclear Environmental Affairs - Manager Species identification: Shortnose Sturgeon (Acipenser brevirostrum)

Site of impingement: Salem Generating Station - CWS Trash Racks Date and time impingement was observed:

09/9/11 1420hrs Date and time of animal was collected:

09/9/11 1420 hrs Tidal stage at time of collection:

Out going tide Date and time of last observation of screen:

09/9/11 1420 hrs Water temperature at site at time of impingement:

25.40 (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 - 85 percent power Unit 2 -

100 percent power Condition of animal:

Deceased Shortnose Sturgeon Measurements:

Fork Length:

615 mm Total Length:

715 mm Weight:

1.24 kg Remarks:

The sturgeon was found during routine cleaning of the CWS Intake trash racks. The sturgeon was deceased at the time of capture.

STURGEON SALVAGE FORM For use in documenting dead sturgeon in the wild under ESA permit no. 16 14 (veriorn 07-20-2009)

INVESTIGATQRS'S CONTACT INFORMATION Name: First Willan Last Bkigs Agency Alftliation Email Wllln.Bl__*k epsg.com Address P.O. Box 236 WC M18 Hancocks Orkdie NJ. 08038 UNIQUE IDENTRUIR CAssiped by NNFS)

AbrO9001201 NJ DATE REPORTED:

Month 09 Day09 Year 2011 DATE EXANNED:

Month [][] Day[][] Year 20[]--

Area cdaI*tone number (86 339-2070 SPECIES: (check one)

E[ shortaos sturfgeon E] Atlertisturgeoo 0I tridanfladiAdpenw rsGdes Me*ud V"lldnfifurvgfaim.

See ruvo.

sidde ofibtis form for add laldend~atofle.

LOCATION FOUND:

[-]Ofshom (At1anu or Gulf beach) 0lnshore (bay, (iyer, sound, Nolet g RkertBody of Water m

Ci*.

State__

DescrIptke location (be specific)

Cooling wewr Inuke at the Salem Nuclear Generafln

_ctmt-nn Latitude N (pat Dog s)

Longitude W (Dec. Doegros)

CARCASS CONDITIfON at dime exu~nind: (check one)

L-1I 1=Freshdead

[K 2 =1Mcxiwsty?

acompood E] 3= Siaaelroiycormposed

[L1

= Driedcaircass E] 5 = Skaletail, scules & cardlaleg SEX:

0 Undetarmined Li Fonda [L] Male How was sox deaominad?

LE NOCopsy EgisMit present vhoen pressed S9oreosope MEASUREMENTS:

Crcle amit Fbrklgngth 615 mM Total length 715 mm Length N adtua EL estmato, Mbh w~d4h (tndsiflpeipseermrnmes) m Iint Imterorbital width (soete a

______ cm tin Weight MEclua l Eestimto 124 sq TAGS PRESENT? ExvmndforetemailtoplIncludlno dpag Yesf[--

No Scazined]lorPrtagp? [ Yes E] No Tag #

Tag TV pe Location of tag on carcass Norm None CARCASS DISPOSmON: (check one or more)

Carcass Necropsled?

PHOTODOCUMENTATION:

E'i 1= Loftl ohee fownd

[]Yes [jNo Phoosfvte taken? N Yes [] No

[12 = 130ed Ei3 = Co0bc~d for feanpw/saivaO e

Date Nocropsiad:

Disposition of PhotoVideo:

M4 = Frzen br later axaiminhaln On ale at she E16 = Other (cbscribo)

Necmpsy Load:

SAMPLES COLLECTED? E] Yes E No Sample How preserved Disposition (person, afillalion, use)

Comments:

Sbtrason was shiWned o NIFS In Gloucester MA. In Senptn-*r.

Distinguishing Characteristics of Atlantic and Shortnose Sturgeon (version 07-20-2009)

Characteristic Atlantic Sturgeon, Acipenser oxyrinchus Shortnose Sturgeon, Acipenser brevirostrum Maximum length

> 9 feet/ 274 cm 4 feet/ 122 cm Mouth Football shaped and small. Width inside lips < 55% of Wide and oval in shape. Width inside lips > 62% of bony interorbital width bony interorbital width

• Pre-anal plates Paired plates posterior to the rectum & anterior to the 1-3 pre-anal plates almost always occurring as median anal fin.

structures (occurring singly)

Plates along the Rhombic, bony plates found along the lateral base of No plates along the base of anal fin anal fin the anal fin (see diagram below)

Habitat/Range Anadromous; spawn in freshwater but primarily lead a Freshwater amphidromous; found primarily in fresh marine existence water but does make some coastal migrations ATLANTIC Bony plates Describe any wounds / abnormalities (note tar or oil, gear or debris entanglement, propeller damage, etc.). Please note if no wounds I abnormalities are found.

Hard to determine due to fish condition.

Data Access Policy: Upon written request, information submitted to National Marine Fisheries Service (NOAA Fisheries) on this form will be released to the requestor provided that the requestor credit the collector of the information and NOAA Fisheries. NOAA Fisheries will notify the collector that these data have been requested and the intent of their use.

Submit completed form (Within 390 days of date of investigationo:

sesiiesscaPfruden, eeid 4e0fIeestk,!6n3

great, Phone:. 97& 282f-84&2~~:98-81-34;E M i4~cda~6