ML18094B126

Ro:On 890923,one Kemp'S Ridley Sea Turtle Impinged on Circulating Water Sys Unit 1 Intake Trash Bars.Trash Bars Observed at Least Once Per 8 H Shift & Cleaned at Least Once Per Day

ML18094B126
Person / Time
Site:	Salem
Issue date:	10/13/1989
From:	Miltenberger S Public Service Enterprise Group
To:	NRC OFFICE OF INFORMATION RESOURCES MANAGEMENT (IRM)
References
NLR-N89206, NUDOCS 8910230127
Download: ML18094B126 (4)

Text

'*\ Public Service Electric and Gas Company Steven E. Miltenberger Public Service Electric and Gas Company P.O. Box 236, Hancocks Bridge, NJ 08038 609-339-4199 Vice President and Chief Nuclear Officer L' :. ~ 1009:

NLR-N89206 U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Document Control Desk Washington, DC 20555 Gentlemen:

REPORT OF IMPINGEMENT OF SEA TURTLE SALEM GENERATING STATION, UNIT NOS. 1 AND 2 DOCKET NO. 50-272 AND 50-311 This report is being submitted pursuant to the requirements of Salem Unit Nos. *1 and2 Environmental Protection Plan, Section 5.4.2 ("Nonroutine Reports"). This report is required within thirty (30) days of discovery.

Sincerely, Attachment 47/!J y '/!

I I '

Document Control Desk OCT 1 3 1989 NLR-N89206 c Mr. J. C. Stone Licensing Project Manager Ms. K. Halvey Gibson Senior Resident Inspector Mr. W. T. Russell, Administrator Region I Mr. Kent Tosch, Chief New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection Division of Environmental Quality Bureau of Nuclear Engineering CN 415 Trenton, NJ 08625 Mr. Richard Delgado NJ Department of Environmental Protection

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' IMPINGEMENT OF SEA TURTLE REPORT: October 5, 1989 OCCURRENCE DATES: September 23, 1989 FACILITY: Salem Generating Station, Units 1 and 2 Public Service Electric and Gas Company Hancocks Bridge, NJ 08038 IDENTIFICATION OF OCCURRENCE:

One Kemp's Ridley (Lepidochely's kempi) sea turtle was impinged on the Circulating Water System (CWS) Unit 1 intake trash bars at Salem Generating Station on September 23~ 1989 . . The Kemp's Ridley_is federally listed as an "endangered" species under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended.

CONDITIONS PRIOR TO OCCURRENCE:

September 23, 1989 - Unit 1, 55 percent power DESCRIPTION OF OCCURRENCE:

On September 23, 1989 at 1745 hours0.0202 days <br />0.485 hours <br />0.00289 weeks <br />6.639725e-4 months <br />, one Kemp's Ridley sea turtle was reported on the trash bars of the CWS intake.

The turtle was recovered during the cleaning of the trash racks by the on-duty intake operator. The Senior Shift Supervisor,

_Licensing and Regulation personnel, and the Marine Mammal Stranding Center (MMSC) of Brigantine, New Jersey were immediately notified. The turtle was then brought to the MMSC were it was fed and maintained until it was released. The turtle had a carapace length of 30 cm and weighed 10 lb. 12 oz. at the time it was brought to the MMSC. It was released offshore of Moores Beach, New Jersey on October 2, 1989.

The following agencies have been notified regarding these occurrences:

U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission U.S. National Marine Fisheries Service New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection APPARENT CAUSE OF OCCURRENCE:

~ea turtles are summer migrants, common to Delaware Bay. Small numbers typically occur in the lower Delaware River near Salem during July through September. Past experience indicates that healthy sea turtles are usually able to avoid the approach velocity of the CWS intake. Apparently healthy turtles which become impinged may not be able to escape the approach velocity due to exhaustion or small size. Turtles which are in a weakened condition due to injury by boats or commercial fishing operations are also subject to impingement.

ANALYSIS OF occulENCE:

The CWS intake is monitored for accumulation of debris, which is

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periodically removed. Any turtles which are observed in the area

• of the trash bars are recovered immediately. Between 1979 and present, a total of 49 sea turtles have been collected at or in the immediate vicinity of the plant. Of the forty-three turtles collected at the intake, twenty-eight (65%) were Loggerhead sea turtles and fifteen (35%) were Kemp's Ridley sea turtles.

CORRECTIVE ACTION:

The trash bars are observed at least once per eight hour 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 MMSC.