ML14034A245

Report of Impingement of Atlantic Sturgeon

ML14034A245
Person / Time
Site:	Salem
Issue date:	01/23/2014
From:	Wagner L Public Service Enterprise Group
To:	Document Control Desk, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
References
LR-E14-0012
Download: ML14034A245 (10)

Text

PSEG Nuclear LLC RO. Box 236, Hancocks Bridge, NJ 08038-0236 0 PSEG NuclearLLC LR-E14-0012 EPP 5.4.2 Appendix B JAN 2 3 20%4 U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission ATTN: Document Control Desk Washington, DC 20555-0001 CERTIFIED MAIL RETURN RECEIPT REQUESTED ARTICLE NUMBER: 7011 3500 0000 5084 9735

SUBJECT:

REPORT OF IMPINGEMENT OF ATLANTIC STURGEON SALEM GENERATING STATION DOCKET NO. 50-272 The Nuclear Environmental Event Report, "Report of Impingement of Atlantic Sturgeon" is being submitted pursuant to the requirements of Section 5.4.2 of Appendix B, Environmental Protection Plan, to the Operating License for the Salem Generating Station, PSEG Nuclear LLC (PSEG).

Please find enclosed a letter and two attachments with further information regarding this impingement event.

If you have any questions or require additional information, please do not hesitate to contact Kenneth Strait, Manager - Biological Programs at (856) 339-3929.

Sincerely, Lawrence M. Wagr Plant Manager- SE PSEG Nuclear LLC Attachments (2)

LR-E14-0012 Document Control Desk REPORT OF IMPINGEMENT OF ATLANTIC STURGEON 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, and documents the occurrence and removal of an Atlantic sturgeon (Acipenser oxyrhinchus) from the Salem Generating Station circulating water intake structure trash bars.

Consultation pursuant to Section 7 of the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (ESA) between NRC and the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) on the effects of the operation of Salem Station on threatened and endangered species has been ongoing since 1979. The most recent revision to the Biological Opinion and Incidental Take Statement issued in January 1999 exempts the specified annual take of shortnose sturgeon and sea turtles. In advance of relicensing for Salem Station, consultation pursuant to Section 7 of the ESA between NRC and NMFS was reinitiated in 2009. On April 6, 2012, the NMFS listed five Distinct Population Segments of Atlantic sturgeon as threatened or endangered under the ESA. In May 2012, NRC requested consultation on the effects of the continued operation of Salem Station on Atlantic sturgeon. The NMFS issued a draft Biological Opinion and Incidental Take Statement (ITS) in July 2012 that, when finalized, will authorize a specified incidental take of both Atlantic sturgeon and shortnose sturgeon associated with operation of the Salem Station circulating water intake system.

Pursuant to Section 5.4.2 of the Environmental Protection Plan for Salem Station, nonroutine events which require reporting to other federal agencies shall be reported in accordance with the other agencies' reporting requirements. Accordingly, enclosed please find two (2) attachments. Attachment 1 provides the information requested by the NMFS in Appendix II to the current ITS and in Appendix B, Part 2, to the revised draft ITS. Attachment 2 is a copy of a Sturgeon Salvage Form verbally requested by the NMFS.

There are no commitments contained in this letter.

Page 2 of 4

LR-E14-0012 Document Control Desk cc: Mr. William Dean, Administrator - Region I U. S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission 2100 Renaissance Blvd., Suite 100 King of Prussia, PA 19406-2713 Mr. John Hughey, 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 Bureau of Nuclear Engineering New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection PO Box 420 Mail Code: 33-01 Trenton, NJ 08625-0420 Ms. Lynn Lankshear National Marine Fisheries Service Protected Resources Division 55 Great Republic Drive, Suite 04-400 Gloucester, MA 01930 Ms. Karen Greene National Marine Fisheries Service 74 Magruder Road Highland, NJ 07732-4054 Mr. Dave Jenkins Endangered and Nongame Species Program New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection 1 Van Syckels Road Clinton, NJ 08809 Salem Commitment Coordinator Mail Code X25 Page 3 of 4

LR-E1 4-0012 Document Control Desk bc: Salem Site Vice President Salem Plant Manager Director - Regulatory Affairs Manager - Nuclear Environmental Affairs Regulatory Assurance Manager - Salem Records Management Page 4 of 4

ATTACHMENT 1 (Sturgeon)

Observer's full name: James L. Carli Reporter's full name: James L. Carll Species Identification (Key attached): Atlantic Sturgeon (Acipenser oxyrinchus)

Site of Impingement (Unit 1 or 2, CWS or DWS, Bay #, etc.): SGS Unit 1; CWI bay 12A Date animal observed: 01/06/2014 Time aninmal observed: 13:30 Date animal collected: 01/06/2014 Time animal collected: 13:30 Date rehab facility contacted: Time rehab facility contacted:

Date animal picked up: Time animal picked up:

Environmental conditions at time of observation (i.e., tidal stage, weather):

Air temp.- 3.50C; sal.- 8.Oppt; wind- NW; Sky- partly cloudy; wave-moderate;tide-Flood slk.(93.5ft)

Date and time of last inspection of screen: 01/06/14 @ 10:41am Water temperature (°C) at site and time of observation: 4.0"C Number of pumps operating at time of observation: Unit 1 6 Unit 2 5 Average percent of power generating capacity achieved per unit at time of observation:

Unit 1 100 Unit 2 100 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 observation: Unit 1 100 Unit 2 100 Sturgeon Information:

Species Atlantic Sturgeon (Acipenser oxyrinchus)

Fork length (or total length) 523mm (FL)/61 1mm (TL) Weight .927kg Condition of specimen/description of animal Dead specimen observed and retrieved by Salem Yard Crew during routine trash rack cleaning at Salem CWIB. Initial observations revealed the existence of a deep laceration extending ventrally between and just behind the ventral fins, and slight damage to the dorsal scutes, prior to the dorsal fin. Wounds appear fresh and minimal decomposition indicate specimen has been deceased for a short period of time.

Fish Decomposed: N[ SLIGHTLY MODERATELY SEVERELY Fish tagged: YES a Please recordall lag numbers. Tag #

Photograph attached: YES / NO (please label species, d5-T. geographic site and vessel name on back of photograph)

ATTACHMENT I (Sturgeon) continued Photographs View showing size and condition of the deceased Atlantic Sturgeon (Acipenser oxyrinchus),

collected on 01/06114 by Salem Yard Crew personnel during routine trash rack cleaning at the Salem CWIB (01/06/14).

Ventral view of specimen, showing close-up of mouth and head (01/07/14).

ATTACHMENT I (Sturgeon) continued Photographs View showing the complete ventral view of the specimen with damage to the posterior portion of the body (01/07/14).

View showing a close-up of existing damage to the posterior section of the specimen observed at the time of collection. The deep laceration, which extends across the ventral portion of the body immediately behind the ventral fins, appears fresh and shows no immediate indications of decomposition, The exact cause of death is unknown (01/06/14).

ATTACHMENT 1 (Sturgeon) continued Draw wounds, abnormalities, tag locations on diagram and briefly describe below L R L '-i t~

P e7C -'C

&Ctti v, Ven(

Description of fish condition:

Alarge, deep skin laceration was observed in the posterior region of the body, extending ventrally between and just behind the ventral fins. Slight damage to the dorsal scutes, just prior to the dorsal fin, was also observed. The wounds appear to be fresh, and minimal decomposition has occurred. Based on these observations, it appears that the specimen has been deceased only a short period of time however there is no Indication that the death was caused by plant operations prior to or at the time of collection.

STURGEON SALVAGE FORM For use in documenting dead sturgeon in the wild under ESA permit no. 1614 (version 05-16-2012)

INVESTIGATORS'S CONTACT INFORMATION Name: First Douglas Last Potts IUNIQUE IDENTIFIER (Assigned by NMFS)

Agency Affiliation PSEG subcontractor Email dpotts(,ecsi-del.com DATE REPORTED:

Address 100 South Cass Street, Middletown, DE 19709 Month 01 Day 06 Year 2014 Area code/Phone number (302) 378-9881 DATE EXAMINED:

Month 01 Day 06 Year 2014

-. I SPECIES: (check one) LOCATION FOUND: E]Offshore (Atlantic or Gulf beach) Sinshore (bay, river, sound, inlet, etc) 17 shortnose sturgeon River/Body of Water Delaware River City Hancocks Bridge State NJ 0 Atlantic sturgeon Descriptive location (be specific Removed from Circulating Water Intake Structure (CWIS)

O Unidentified Acipenser species intake trash racks, intake bay 12A, during routine trash rack cleaning at the Salem Generating Check TUnidentifled" ifuncertain.

See reverse side of this form for Station, PSEG Nuclear LLC.

aid in identification. Latitude 390 27'38.17 N (Dec. Degrees) Longitude 750 32'110.08 W (Dec. Degrees)

CARCASS CONDITION at SEX: MEASUREMENTS: circle unit time examined: (check one) 0 Undetermined Fork length 52.3 cm 0 1 =Fresh dead El Female El Male Total length 61.1 cm El 2=Moderately decomposed How was sex determined?

Length 0 actual E] estimate S3 = Severely decomposed [3 Necropsy El Eggs/milt present when pressed Mouth width (inside lips, see reverse side) 1.7 cm 0] 4 = Dried carcass Interorbital width (see reverse side) 4.0 cm O 5= Skeletal, scutes &cartilage [E Borescope Weight 0 actual E] estimate 0.927kg TAGS PRESENT? Examined for external tags including fin clips? M Yes 0 No Scanned for PIT tags? Z Yes E] No Tag # Tag Type Location of tag on carcass CARCASS DISPOSITION: (check one or more) Carcass Necropsied? PHOTODOCUMENTATION:

[E1 =Left where found r]Yes [No Photos/vide taken? ] Yes -I No

[]2 = Buried 03 = Collected for necropsy/salvage Date Necropsied: Disposition of PhotosNideo:_

04 = Frozen for later examination El5 =Other (describe) Necropsy Lead:

SAMPLES COLLECTED? [I Yes [ No Sample How preserved Disposition (person, affiliation, use)

Comments: The deceased Atlantic Sturgeon was collected from the Salem Circulating Water Intake Structure during routine trash rack cleaning on January 6, 2014. Positive identification was made by Environmental Consulting Services personnel at 13:30pm.

Photos and length measurements were made and inspection for external tags and fin clips was made, but none were found. The State of New Jersey DEP. Division of Fish and Wildlife, and National Marine Fisheries (NMFS) have been notified of the incidental take. The fish was transported back to the ECSI main office in Middletown, DE, and preserved (frozen). At the request of the NMFS.

Delaware DNREC was directed to take posession of the specimen. Transfer of custody, from ECSI to DNREC, occured on 01/08/14, at 12:59pm.

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

• From Vecsei and Peterson, 2004 ATLANTIC Interorbital width S NBo nyplates SHORTNOSE I7.

Describe any wounds / abnormalities (note tar or oil, gear or debris entanglement, propeller damage, etc.). Please note if no wounds /

abnormalities are found.

The specimen was deceased at the time of initial observation and collection by Salem Yard Crew. A large, and deep skin laceration was observed in the posterior region of the body, extending ventrally between and just behind the ventral fins. Slight damage to the dorsal scutes, just prior to the dorsal fin, was also observed. The wounds appear to be fresh, and minimal decomposition has occurred. Based on these observations, it appears that the specimen has been deceased only a short period of time however there is no indication that the death was caused by plant operations prior to or at the time of collection.

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.