ML18093A279

Ro:On 870714,16 & 20,respectively,loggerhead Sea Turtles Impinged on Circulating Water Sys (CWS) Intake Trash Bars. Caused by Large Seasonal Influx of Turtles in Vicinity of CWS Intake Approach Velocity.Trash Bars Cleaned & Monitored

ML18093A279
Person / Time
Site:	Salem
Issue date:	07/31/1987
From:	Corbin McNeil Public Service Enterprise Group
To:	NRC OFFICE OF ADMINISTRATION & RESOURCES MANAGEMENT (ARM)
References
NLR-E87312, NUDOCS 8708060312
Download: ML18093A279 (4)

Text

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. Pub.fie Service Electric and Gas Company Corbin A. McNeil!, Jr. Public Service Electric and Gas Company P.O. Box236, Han cocks Bridge, NJ 08038 609 339-4800 Senior Vice President -

Nuclear July 31, 1987 NLR-E.8 7 312 United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission Document Control Desk Washington, DC 20555 Gentlemen:

REPORT OF IMPINGEMENT OF SEA TURTLES SALEM GENERATING STATION, UNIT NO. 2 DOCKET NO. 50-311 This report is being submitted pursuant to the requirements of Salem Unit 2 Environmental Technical Specifications, Sections 4.1.1 and 5.4.2.a, b and c. This report is required within

• thirty (30) days of discovery . .

Sincerely, Attachment C Mr. D. C~ Fisher USNRC Licensing Project Manager ,

Mr. T. J. Kenny USNRC Senior Resident Inspector Mr. W. T. Russell, Administrator USNRC Region I Mr .. D. M. Scott, Chief Bureau of Nuclear Engineering Department of Environmental Protection 380 Scotch Road Trenton, NJ 08628 Mr. Richard Delgado New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection 87080b0312 870731 fDR ADOCK 05000311

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IMPINGEMENT OF SBA TURTLES REPORT: July 27, 1987 OCCURRENCE DATE: July 14, 16 and 20, 1987 FACILITY-: Salem Generating Station, Uni ts 1 and 2 Public Service Electric and _Gas Company Hancocks Bridge, New Je~sey 08038 IDENTIFICATION OF OCCURRENCE:

Impingement of three Loggerhead (Caretta caretta) sea turtles on the Circulating Water System (CWS) intake trash bars. The loggerhead is federally listed as a threatened" species under th~ Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended.

CONDITIONS PRIOR TO OCCURRENCE July 14, 1987 - Unit 1, 94%; Unit _2, 100% power July 16, 1987 - Unit 1, 93%; Unit 2, 100% power July 20, 1987 - Unit 1, 95%; Unit 2, 100% power DESCRIPTION OF OCCURRENCES On July 14, 1987, at 0800 hours0.00926 days <br />0.222 hours <br />0.00132 weeks <br />3.044e-4 months <br />, a Loggerhead sea turtle was reported on the trash bars of the CWS intake. Both units were at or near.full power and eleven circulating pumps were in operation at the time the turtle was foutid. The turtle was captured during the cleaning 6f the trash racks and was in good shape when recovered. The specimen had a carapace length (CL) and width (CW) of 40.6 and 38.1 centimeters, respectively. Weight was estimated to be 13.~ kilograms.

In accordance with the usual procedure, the turtle was turned over to R. Schoelkopf of the Marine Mammal Stranding Center (MMSC), of Brigantine, New Jersey, for observation and was released on July 18, 1987.

On July 16, 1987, at 0930 hours0.0108 days <br />0.258 hours <br />0.00154 weeks <br />3.53865e-4 months <br />, a Loggerhead sea _turtle was reported on the trash bars of the CWS intake. Both units were n~ar full power and eleven circulating pumps were in operation at the time the turtle was found. The turtle was captured during the cleaning of the trash racks and was in good condition when recovered. The specimen had a carapace length*(CL) and width (CW) of 40.5 and 35.5 centimeters, respectively. Weight was estimated to be 11.3 kilograms.

In accordance with the usual procedure, the turtle was turned over to R. Schoelkopf of the Marine Mammal Stranding Center (MMSC), of Brigantine, New Jersey, for observation and was released on July 18, 1987.

~ .

• On July 20, 1987, at 1000 hours0.0116 days <br />0.278 hours <br />0.00165 weeks <br />3.805e-4 months <br />, a Loggerhead sea turtle was reported on the trash bars of the CWS in~ake. B~th units were near full power and eleven circulating pumps were in operation at the time the turtle was found. The turtle was captured during the cleaning of the trash racks and was in good condition when recovered. The specimen had a carapace length (CL) and width (CW) of 69.0 and 54.0 centimeters, respectively. Weight was estimated to be 36 kilograms. In accordance with the usual procedure, the turtle was turned over to R. Schoelkopf of the Marine Mammal Stranding Center (MMSC), of Brigantine, New Jersey, for observation and will be released by the end of July.

In each instance the Senior Shift Supervi~o~ was notified of the event by the on-duty intake operator. The following age-ncies were notified after each occurrence (the U. s. Environmental Protection Agency requested that they be removed fro~ the notification list since U.S. National Marine Fisheries Service was being notified) .

Nuclear Regulatory Commission (Resident Inspector)

u. s. National Marine Fisheries s~rvice U. S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region II New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control APPARENT CAUSE OF OCCURRENCES Sea .turtles are a summer migrant, common to Delaware Bay.

Small numbers typically occur in the lower Delaware River near Salem during July through September. Past experience indicates that &ealthy sea turtles are usually able to ~void the approach velocity of the CWS intake, although occasionally one will become impinged on the trash bars.

ANALYSIS OF OCCURRENCE The CWS intake is monitored for the accumulation of debris, which is periodically removed. Any turtles which a~e observed impinged against the trash bars are recovered immediately. Between 1979 and present, a total of 26 sea turtles have been_ collected at or in the immediate vicinity of the plant. Of these, seven (27%) were Atlantic ridleys and 19 (73%) were Atlantic loggerheads. Of the total turtles collected, 8 (32%) were alive when recovered.

CORRECTIVE ACTION The trash bars are observed at least once per 8 hour9.259259e-5 days <br />0.00222 hours <br />1.322751e-5 weeks <br />3.044e-6 months <br /> shift and cleaned at least once per day. Any sea turtle observed on the trash bars is removed immediately. Resuscitation will be attempted if the turtle is not unquestionably dead.

In accordance with standard procedure, all specimens will be held under appropriate conditions and turned over to the Marine Mammal Stranding Center.