ML18093A839
| ML18093A839 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Salem  |
| Issue date: | 12/31/1987 |
| From: | Miltenberger S Public Service Enterprise Group |
| To: | NRC OFFICE OF ADMINISTRATION & RESOURCES MANAGEMENT (ARM) |
| References | |
| NLR-E88179, NUDOCS 8805310035 | |
| Download: ML18093A839 (19) | |
Text
., '..
1987 ANNUAL ENVIRONMENTAL OPERATING REPORT (NON-RADIOLOGICAL)
January 1 through December 31, 1987 SALEM GENERATING STATION UNIT NOS. 1 AND 2 Docket Nos. 50-272 and 50-311 Operating License Nos. DPR-70 and DPR-75 PUBLIC SERVICE ELECTRIC AND GAS COMPANY P.O. Box 236 Hancocks Bridge, New Jersey May 31, 1988 08038 r-*--*-**~ -
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8E:05310035 87 l 23 i PDR ADOCK 0~000?7?
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Section l~O 2.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 2.1 2.1.1 2.1.2 2.1.3 2.1.4 2.2 2.2.1 2.2.2 2.2.3 2.3 1987 ANNUAL ENVIRONMENTAL OPERATING REPORT (NON-RADIOLOGICAL)
SALEM GENERATING STATION TABLE OF CONTENTS Title GENERAL...................................
INTRODUCTION............................
SUMMARY
CONCLUSION..............................
ENVIRONMENTAL SURVEILLANCE:
BIOTIC.......
DIAMONDBACK TERRAPIN NESTING STUDY......
Study Area..............................
Materials and Methods...................
Data Reduction..........................
Results and Discussion..................
OSPREY AND BALD EAGLE SURVEY..............
Study Area........................*.....
Materials and Methods...................
Results and Discussion..................
LITERATURE CITED..........................
i 1
1 1
2 3
3 4
4 4
5 7
7 7
8 10
Figure 2.1-1 1987 ANNUAL ENVIRONMENTAL OPERATING REPORT (NON-RADIOLOGICAL)
SALEM GENERATING STATION LIST OF FIGURES Title Locations of diamondback terrapin study beaches, osprey nests, and bald eagle sightings in 1987..............
ii 11
Table 2.1-1 2.1-2 2.2-1 1987 ANNUAL ENVIRONMENTAL OPERATING REPORT (NON-RADIOLOGICAL)
SALEM GENERATING STATION LIST OF TABLES Title Summary of nesting, depredation, and hatching data for diamondback terrapin on Sunken Ship Cove Beach, New Jersey in 1987......................
Summary of nesting, depredation, and hatching data for diamondback terrapin on Liston Point Beach, Delaware in 1987..
Summary of osprey nesting activity near Artificial Island in 1987................
iii 12 13 14
1.1 INTRODUCTION
SECTION 1.0 GENERAL This report is submitted in accordance with Section 5.4.1 of the Salem Generating Station, Unit No. 2, Environmental Technical Specifications, Part II-Non-Radiological, (Appendix B to Facility Operating License DPR-75, Docket No. 50-311).
Included are the results of non-radiological environmental monitoring progra~s required by Section 3.1.2 of the Salem Generating Station, Unit No. 1, Environmental Technical Specifications, (Appendix B to Facility Operating License DPR-70, Docket No. 50-272).
Much of the equipment and resources utilized by Salem Unit No. 1 are shared by Salem Unit No. 2.
Although differences in Environmental Technical Specifications (ETS) reporting requirements for both units exist, no distinction is made for the purpose of assessing environmental impacts.
This report covers Salem Unit No. 1 and Salem Unit No. 2 for the period from January 1 through December 31, 1987.
1.2
SUMMARY
During 1987, Salem Unit No. 1 generated 6,211,441 megawatt-hours of net electrical energy, while Salem Unit No. 2 generated 6,171,973 megawatt-hours.
Pursuant to the requirements of Section 5.3 of the Salem Unit No. 2 ETS, all 1987 recommended design changes for Salem Generating Station Unit Nos. 1 and 2 were reviewed for potential environmental impact.
None would involve a change in the applicable ETS if implemented, or pose an unreviewed environmental question.
The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) issued a revised final New Jersey Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NJPDES)/Discharge to Surface Water (DSW) Permit Number NJ005622 for Salem Generating Station on December 1, 1985.
The final NJPDES/DSW permit imposes several additional monitoring requirements and contains items that Public Service Electric and Gas Company believes are excessively restrictive.
1
Accordingly, pursuant to N.J.A.C. 7:14A-8.6, a request was filed with the NJDEP, Division of Water Resources, for an adjudicatory hearing.
No response was received during 1987.
Both the NJPDES/DSW permit and the request for adjudication were forwarded to the NRC in accordance with Section 5.4.1 of the Salem Unit No. 2 ETS.
Copies of monthly NJPDES Discharge Monitoring Reports (DMRs) were also submitted to the NRC for the year 1987 in accordance with Section 5.4.2.d of the Salem Unit No. 2 ETS.
No major changes to the other Salem Generating Station environmental permits occurred in 1987.
Two (2) environmentally-related non-routine reports were submitted to the NRC during 1987.
Both of these reports involved the impingement of sea turtles on the circulating water intake trash bars.
Three (3) Loggerhead sea turtles (Caretta caretta) were recovered from the trash bars on, July 14, 16 and 20, 1987.. All specimens were in good condition when recovered and were transported to the Marine Mammal Standing Center (MMSC) in Absecon, New Jersey for observation and release.
Three Kemp's ridley (Lepidochelys kempi) sea turtles.were recovered from the intake trash bars on September 24 and 30, 1987.
These ipecim~ns were also transported to the MMSC for observation and release.
One turtle was dead upon recovery, one died under observation, and the third turtle was subsequently flown to Florida for release.
The proper authorities were notified by telephone of each event and written reports followed.
Meteorological monitoring data for 1987, as required by Section 3.1.1.6 of the Salem Generating Station, Unit No. 1 ETS, was submitted to the NRC as part of the Radio-logical Environmental Operating Report, in April 1988.
1.2 CONCLUSION
No significant environmental impacts attributable to the operation of Salem Gener~ting Station Unit Nos. 1 and 2 were observed during 1987.
The required biotic monitoring (i.e., for diamondback terrapin and osprey/eagle) was conducted.in accordance with the Salem Generating Station, Unit No. 1 ETS.
No apparent changes in terrestrial ecology in the vicinity of' the Salem Generating Station were observed.
Section 2.0 of this report contains the details of the terrestrial ecology studies and results.
2
SECTION 2.0 ENVIRONMENTAL SURVEILLANCE:
BIOTIC 2.1 DIAMONDBACK TERRAPIN NESTING STUDY (ETS Section 3.1.2.1)
The study objective is to monitor nesting by diamondback terrapin at typical beaches in the vicinity of Artificial Island.
Northern diamondback terrapin, Malaclemys terrapin terrapin, inhabit brackish water along the Atlantic Coast from Cape Cod to Cape Hatteras.
Nesting usually begins by early to mid-June and continues through July.
Hatching usually begins in mid-to late August and may continue through November.
With the onset of cold weather, hatchlings which have not emerged from the nest will hiberriate and emerge the following spring (Carr, 1952; Lawler and Musick, 1972).
In 1987, diamondback terrapin nesting activity was monitored at two beaches on the Delaware River within 4.8 km of Salem during the period May 28 through November 5.
Nesting was recorded from June 4 through late July and evidence suggests greatest activity in late June.
The level of activity varied greatly between sites but remained within the range recorded annually since 1975.
Number of females estimated to utilize each beach was 140 at Liston Point beach and 54 at Sunken Ship Cove beach.
Three females were marked at Liston Point beach and none were marked at Sunken Ship Cove beach.
Age of the marked turtles probably exceeded 20 years.
One previously marked turtle was recaptured at Liston Point Beach.
Tracks of hatchlings from nests laid in 1987 were noted in August, September, and early October.
The occurrence of hatchling tracks at both beaches in May and June is evidence of eggs and/or hatchlings which overwintered in or near nests laid in 1986.
Track evidence indicated a similar assemblage of predators as recorded in previous years, with raccoon, red and/or gray fox and striped skunk and/or mink accounting for most nest depredation.
3
2.1.1 2.1.2 2.1.3 Study Area Observations were made from May 28 through Novem-ber 5, 1987 at Sunken Ship Cove beach, New Jersey, and Liston Point beach, Delaware (Fig. 2.1-1).
FoT a description of these locations see Volume 2 of the 1977 Annual Environmental Operating Report (PSE&G, 1978).
Materials and Methods Searches for evidence of nesting were conducted during daylight hours weekly from late May through August, bi-weekly in September and October and once in November.
Effort was made to minimize site disturbance and to allow females to finish nesting before being examined.
Nesting females were caught by hand, and the length and width of the carapace and plastron were measured.
Each turtle was marked with an individual binary-code which consisted of holes drilled in one or more of the 10 post-dorsal marginal laminae.
These plates are situated so that they can be easily drilled with little or no injury to the turtle.
The marking program provides information on nesting-beach fidelity, growth, and movements.
For further description of the study methods see Volume 2 of the 1977 Annual Environmental Operating Report (PSE&G, 1978).
Data Reduction The following formula was developed to provide a relative estimate of the number of nesting females (N) utilizing each site:
R-S N = (S +-2-) D 3V where S is the number of turtles sighted, R is the number of pairs of tracks counted, D is the estimated number of days of nesting activity, 3 is the estimated mean number of nests laid per female during the nesting season (based on Hildebrand, 1932), and Vis the number of times the beach was visited over the nesting period.
4
2.1.4 Results and Discussion Nesting, as inferred from the presence of adult tracks, in 1987 at Sunken Ship Cove beach was first noted on June 4 and last noted on July 9 (Table 2.1-1).
At Liston Point beach, adult tracks were first noted on June 4 and were last noted on July 21 (Table 2.1-2).
Nesting activity, also inferred from the number of adult tracks, varied over time but generally was highest in late June.
Daily and seasonal nesting activity remained within the range recorded in previous years.
The annual estimate of nesting terrapins was, as in previous years, higher at Liston Point beach, with 140 (S=O; R=l40; D=48; and V=8), while at Sunken Ship Cove beach it was 54 (S=O; R=54; D=36; and V=6).
These estimates are, by nature of the program, conservative (low).
The data collected on nesting activity at Sunken Ship Cove beach is quite sparse.
Sunken Ship Cove beach is a popular fishing spot and this activity probably disturbed normal nesting behavior and may have deterred some turtles from nesting.
An indication of egg production at each site can be inferred from egg shell counts from depredated nests and counts of eggs from viable nests.
A total of 333 nests were recorded during 1987; these contained approximately 2,837 eggs and/or remnants.
Liston Point beach had the higher egg counts, with ca. 2,818 from 331 nests; while Sunken Ship Cove beach had ca. 19 from two nests.
Depredated nests, which are much easier to det~ct than viable nests, aqcounted for 99.l percent of the observed nests at Liston Point beach and none at Sunken Ship cove beach.
Two additional nests which contained a total of 11 hatchlings were found at Sunken Ship Cove beach in late August.
One nest had been partially depredated; which may account for the death of three of the six hatchlings.
5
Track evidence in 1987 indicated an assemblage of predators similar to previous years.
At Liston Point beach, raccoon, Procyon lotor; red fox, Vulpes fulva and/or gray fox, Urocyon cinereoargenteus and striped skunk, Mephitis mephitus and/or mink, Mustela vision, were common.
Raccoon and Norway rat, Rattus norvegicus were common at Sunken Ship Cove beach.
Other probable hatchling predators include gulls, Larus spp.; crows, Corvus spp.
and herons (Ardeidae).
Three terrapins were marked with a binary-code in 1987; all were captured at Liston Point beach.
These, plus the one recaptured turtle, were all females with a mean length and width of 19.l cm by 15.1 cm on the carapace, and 17.0 cm by 10.0 cm on the plastron.
The one recaptured turtle from Liston Point beach had been tagged with a numbered spaghetti tag.
At some time prior to recapture, the tag had pulled free of the turtle leaving a single hole in the shell.
These tags were used prior to 1980 which means the turtle had been tagged for at least 8 years.
The age of the 4 nesting females probably exceeded 20 years.
Exact age determination of these older specimens is difficult since the ridged annuli on the carapace scutes become less distinct in older specimens.
Eventually, the shell becomes completely smooth which may indicate age to perhaps 40+ years (Hildebrand, 1932).
A total of 58 sets of hatchling tracks were noted from May 28 to October 13; 24 at Liston Point beach and 34 at Sunken Ship Cove beach.
The hatch-ling tracks noted in late May and June at both beaches came from hatchlings which overwintered in nests laid during the 1986 nesting season (Table 2.1-1).
Tracks of terrapin hatched from nests laid in 1987 were first noted on August 13 at both beaches and last noted on October 13, again at both beaches.
Incubation period for a nest laid at Sunken Ship Cove beach on July 17 was at least 52 days.
A nest laid at Liston Point beach on or before June 23 was incubated for at least 42 days.
Mean length and width of the 11 hatchlings found at Sunken Ship Cove beach was 2.56 cm by 2.29 cm on the carapace, and 2.25 cm by 1.58 cm on the plastron.
6
---~--
On September 10, one young snapping turtle was found on Liston Point beach just above the high tide line.
This turtle recently had hatched from a nest laid somewhere in this general area.
It should be noted that snapping turtle tracks can be easily differentiated from terrapin tracks by the prominent drag mark left by the snappers much larger tail.
2.2 OSPREY AND BALD EAGLE SURVEY (ETS Section 3.1.2.l)
The study objectives are to record the occurrence of osprey and bald eagle and to monitor nesting of osprey in the vicinity of Artificial Island.
The North American osprey, Pandion haliaetus carolinensis, had been federally classified as "status undetermined" (USDI, 1973) but has since been deleted from the list.
It was historically listed as endangered by the State of New Jersey but was down-listed to threatened in 1985 (NJAC 7:25-4.17 as amended May 6, 1985).
The State of Delaware does not include osprey on its Endangered and Threatened species list (DE DNREC 1981).
The southern bald eagle, Haliaeetus leucocephalus leucocephalus, is federally classified as "endangered" (USDI, 1979)~
Osprey were observed in the study area from March 26_through August 17.
Twelve nests were occupied and appeared active, eight of which fledged a total of 15 young.
Due to the absence of bald eagle nesting in the study area, no special study program* was established.
In 1987, no bald eagles were observed in the survey area.
2.2.l Study Area Observations were made at and in the vicinity of actual and potential osprey nesting sites in the general area shown in Figure 2.1-1.
The region extends roughly 16 km north, 13 km south, and*
8 km east and west from Salem Generating Station.
The area features bay, riverine, marsh, upland f~eld and wooded habitats.
Duck blinds, pilings, navigation range markers and powerline towers are common features.
7
- 2. 2. 2 2.2.3 Materials and Methods Known osprey nests were observed by helicopter monthly.in March, April, July and August and twice in June.
During flights the area was surveyed for new osprey nesting sites.
The numbers of adults and eggs or young in each nest was recorded.
To avoid undue stress on the birds, the helicopter approached to a discrete distance {>50 yds) from the nest and paused only briefly to allow the nest to be viewed with binoculars.
Bald eagle sightings during the course of osprey nesting flights were to be recorded.
Results and Discussion In 1987, osprey were sighted in the area from March 26 through August 17, typically on or near nesting structures.
The greatest numbers of adults sighted during monthly flights were in April {n=23) and July (n=22) at the height of the egg laying and fledging periods, respectively.
Twenty nests were located; 12 were occupied and appeared active, two were occupied by nesting great horned owls with a total of 4 young, while the remainder may have been constructed as house-keeping nests by sexually immature birds or as secondary nests by adjacent breeding adults {Table 2.2-1).
Of the total number of nests, 18 were in electrical transmission-line towers, one was in a navigational rangelight tower and one was in a dead cedar tree {Fig. 2.1-1).
Of the 12 active nests, it is estimated that 8 were successful and fledged a total of 15 young.
This compared with 9 fledged in 1986, and is. weli within the range {4 to 23) and substantially above the mean {9.8) for the previous 13 years of study
{1974 through 1986).
Osprey nesting activity on towers in the new Salem-Deans Transmission line has i~creased each year since its completion in the latter part of 1984.
In 1985, the first breeding season, the line was available to osprey, no nesting activity was observed.
In 1986, one osprey nest was built on a line tower but no young were fledged.
In 1987, two nests were observed which fledged a total of 3 young.
8
The addition of the Deans line has increased the number of potential nesting sites for osprey in the Salem, New Jersey area and may, in.time facilitate an increase in the number of osprey nests and number of young osprey fledged in the study area.
No bald eagles were sighted in the study area during 1987.
9
2.3 LITERATURE CITED Carr, A. 1952.
Handbook of turtles.
Cornell Univ. Press, Ithaca, NY Comstock Publishing Assoc.,.
542 p.
DEDNREC (Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environ-mental Control).
1981.
List of endangered and threatened species (potentially found) in Delaware 1 p.
Hildebrand, S. F. 1932.
Growth of diamondback terrapins, size attained, sex ratios and longevity.
Zoologica 9(15):551-563 Lawler, A. R. and J. A. Musick.
1972.
Sand beach hibernation by a northern diamondback terrapin, Malaclemys terrapin terrapin (Schoepf£).
Copeia 1972(3):389-390.
NJAC.
1984.
New Jersey Administrative Code 7:25-4.17 as amended May 6, 1985.
PSE&G (Public Service Electric *and Gas Co.).
1978.
environmental surveillance. Vol. 2 of 3, Annual operating report (nonradiological).
SNGS -
Unit January 1 through December 31, 1977.
- 679 p.
Biotic environmental No. 1, USDI (U.S. Departmerit of Interior).
1973.
Threatened wildlife of the U.S. Bureau Sport Fish and Wildlife Resource Publ.
114.
289 p.
1979.
and plants.
List of endangered and threatened wildlife Federal Register 44(12).
10
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- p Locations of diamondback terrapin study beaches and osprey nests, 1987.
Figure 2.1-1
I-'
N TABLE 2.1-1 Summary of nesting, depredation, and hatching data for diamondback terrapin on Sunken Ship Cove Beach, New Jersey in 1987.
Period of No.
Nt;liili EGGS Turtles 1'urtle Tracks Non-Depredated Depredated IH11ti:blio1ul in Observed Observation Visits Partial Total Nop-Depredated pepredoted Area Adult Hati;hlini Nesting Period Hay 16-31 0
0 0
0 0
0 0
3 June 1-15 2
0
.o 0
0 0
0 13 0
16-30 3
2 0
0 19 0
0 39 1
July l-15 2
0 0
0 0
0 0
2 0
16-31 2
0 0
0 0
0 0
0 0
Subtotal JO 2
0 0
19 0
0 54 4
Hatching Period August 1-15 2
0 0
0 0
0 0
0 6
16-31 2
(I)*
(1) 0 (8)*
(l) 0 0
21 September 1-15 0
0 0
0 0
0 0
0 16-30 0
0 0
0 0
0 0
2 October 1-15 0
0 0
0 0
0 0
16-31 0
0 0
0 0
0 0
0 November 1-15 0
0 0
0 0
0 0
0 Subtotal 9
0 (8)
(3) 0 0
30 Total 19 2 (1)
(1) 0 19 (8) 0 (3) 0 54 34
- Numbers in parentheses Indicate nests which contained hatchlings or number of hatchllngs in a nest.
e
Pedod of Ql1111a:1111U1111 Nesting Period Hay 16-31 June 1-15 16-JO July 1-15 f-"'
16-ll w
Subtotal Hatching Perlod August 1-15 16-31 September 1-15 16-30 October 1-15 16-31 November 1-U Subtotal Total TABLE 2.1-2 Summary of nesting, depredation, and hatching data for diamondback terrapin on Liston Point Beach, Delaware in 1987.
No.
U£SDi EGGS Turtles Tu rt le Tracke Non-Depredated Depredated Oll!tGhlingsl in Observed llhitll
~UL ill I11t11l U1111-1!111m:sl11t11sl 1!111m:sl11t11sl A[H Adult Hatchli11g 0
0 0
0 0
0 0
2 0
0 10 0
]j 0
29 5
3 3
0 210 36 1,918 0
104 0
2 0
0 14 0
581 0
5 0
2 0
0 1
0 45 0
2 0
10 3
0 301 36 2,619 0
140 6
2 0
0 0
0 0
0 0
5 2
0 0
27 0
161 0
0 5
0 0
0 0
0 0
0 4
0 0
0 0
0 0
0 2
' 1 0
0 0
0 0
0 0
2 1
0 0
0 0
0 0
0 0
0 0
0 0
0 0
0 0
9 0
0 27 0
161 0
0 18 19 l
0 328 36 2,782
- o 140 24
'l e
Table. 2.. 2~L. Summary of osprey nesting activity near Artificial Island in 1987.
Numbers indicate young fledged; N*Nest present, may have been active or constructed as housekeeping nests; A*Active.nest, eggs observed or adults appeared to be incubating eggs and defending nest.
Owl-great horned owl nesting in former osprey nest.
Number in parenthesis indicate number of owls fledged.
NEST LOCATION NEW JERSEY Transmission-Line Towers Salem Keeney:
Tower #12/l 11/3 9/3 4/3 4/2 Hope Creek-New Tower #6/1 4/2 3/4 3/3 Salem-Deans2:
Tower #4/1 2/3 1
Freedom :
Salem-New Freedom3:
Tower #5/1 3/2 2/3 Raccoon Ditch/Stow Creek:
Dead Cedar Tree DELAWARE.
Transmission Line Towers:
DP&L #5015/47 Delaware River:
Texaco-Rangelight Tower Activity 1
N N,N 2
Owl(2)
N,A N
3 A
1 2
N,3 Owl(2)
A A
1 2
SUMMARY
Total Osprey Nests Active Nests Successful (i.e., young fledged) nests Fledglings Fledglings/active nest Successful/active nest 1
2Formally referred to as New Freedom:North.
3New transmission line, completed in 1984.
Formally referred to as New Freedom:South.
14 18 12 a
15
. 1.25 0.67
Public Service Electric and Gas Company Steven E. Miltenberger Vice President -
Public Service Electric and Gas Company P.O. Box 236, Hancocks Bridge, NJ 08038 609 339-4199 Nuclear Operations Document Control Desk U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Washington, D.C.
20555 Gentlemen:
May 23, 1988 NLR-E88179 1987 ANNUAL ENVIRONMENTAL OPERATING REPORT (NON-RADIOLOGICAL)
SALEM GENERATING STATION, UNIT NOS. 1 AND 2 FACILITY OPERATING LICENSE NOS. DPR-70 AND DPR-75 DOCKET NOS. 50-272 and 50-311 The enclosed report is submitted in accordance with Section 5.4.1 of the Salem Generating Station, Unit No. 2, Environmental Technical Specifications, Part II-Non-Radiological, (Appendix B to Facility Operating License DPR-75, Docket No. 50-311).
Included are the results of non-radiological environmental monitoring studies required by Section 3.1.2 of the Salem Generating Station, Unit No. 1, Environmental Technical Specifications, (Appendix B to Facility Operating License DPR-70, Docket No. 50-272).
Shou_ld you or your staff require any additional information, please contact Mr. Bruce A. Preston, Manager - Licensing and Regulation at (609) 339-5129.
Attachment C
Mr. W. T. Russell, Administrator USNRC Region I Mr. D. C. Fischer USNRC Licensing Project Manager Mr. R. W. Borchardt USNRC Senior Resident Inspector Mr. D. M. Scott, Chief Sincerely, Bureau of Nuclear Engineering Department of Environmental Protection