ML18096A113

NPDES Noncompliance Notification:On 910605 & 910611,two Loggerhead Sea Turtles Impinged on Circulating Water Sys Intake Trash Racks.Caused by Habits of Turtles.Any Turtles Found on Racks Will Be Removed Immediately.Turtles Released

ML18096A113
Person / Time
Site:	Salem
Issue date:	07/01/1991
From:	Miltenberger S Public Service Enterprise Group
To:	NRC OFFICE OF INFORMATION RESOURCES MANAGEMENT (IRM)
References
NLR-N91113, NUDOCS 9107100076
Download: ML18096A113 (6)

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Public Service Electric and Gas Company Steven E. Miltenberger Public Service Electric and Gas Company P.O. Box 236, Hancocks Bridge, NJ 08038 609-339-1100 Vice President and Chief Nuclear Officer JUL O 1 1991 NLR-N91113 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 In accordance with Section 5. 4. 2 of Appendix B, Environmental Protection Plan, to the Operating License for Salem Generating Station, Public Service Electric and Gas Company (PSE&G) hereby transmits notification of two nonroutine event discoveries, and documents the occurance and removal of sea turtles from the Salem Generating Station circulating water intake structure.

Please find included two (2) attachments. Attachment 1 gives a narrative discription of the events, as requested by the NRC.

Attachment 2, requested by the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) , provides more specific information regarding observance and retreval of the sea turtles.

Should you have any questions regarding this transmittal, please feel free to contact us.

Attachments 910710007A 910701 f DR ADocR 05000272

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Document Control Desk 2 NLR-N91113 C Mr. J. C. Stone Licensing Project Manager Mr. T. Johnson Senior Resident Inspector Mr. T. Martin, 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 Ms. Colleen Coogan National Marine Fisheries Service Habitat Conservation Branch One Blackburn Drive Gloucester, MA 01930-2298

• v NLR-N91113 Attachment 1 IMPINGENENT OF SEA TURTLE REPORT: June 19, 1991 OCCURRENCE DATES: June 5 and 11, 1991 FACILITY: Salem Generating Station, Units 1 and 2 Public Service Electric and Gas Company Hancocks Bridge, NJ 08038 IDENTIFICATION OF OCCURRENCE:

Two Loggerhead (Caretta caretta) sea turtles were impinged on the Circulating Water System (CWS) Unit 1 intake trash racks at Salem Generating Station; one on June 5, another on June 11, 1991. The Loggerhead *is federally listed as a "threatened" species under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended.

CONDITIONS PRIOR TO OCCURRENCE:

June 5, 1991 - Units 1 and 2, 100 percent power June 11, 1991 - Units 1 and 2, 100 percent power DESCRIPTION OF OCCURRENCE:

On June 5, 1991 at 0830 hours0.00961 days <br />0.231 hours <br />0.00137 weeks <br />3.15815e-4 months <br />, one Loggerhead sea turtle was reported on the 21b trash rack of the CWS intake. On June 11, 1991 at 0815 hours0.00943 days <br />0.226 hours <br />0.00135 weeks <br />3.101075e-4 months <br />, another Loggerhead sea turtle was reported on the 12a trash rack of the cws intake.

Both turtles were recovered during the cleaning of the trash racks by Site Services personnel. The Senior Shift Supervisor, Licensing and Regulation personnel, and the Marine Mammal Stranding Center (MMSC) of Brigantine, New Jersey were immediately notified.

The first turtle was tagged and released approximately two miles southeast of SGS and 0.5 miles offshore in 20 feet of water. The turtle had a carapace length of 49. 5 centimeters (19. 5 inches) and width of 41.9 centimeters (16.5 inches). It weighed approximately 20.4 kilograms (45 pounds).

The second turtle was taken to the MMSC were it was tagged and held over night for observation. The following day the turtle was released back into the Delaware Bay at the mouth of Stow Creek. The turtle had a carapace length of 4 6. 8 centimeters (18.4 inches) and weighed approximately 15.9 kilograms (35 pounds).

NLR-N91113 2 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:

Sea turtles are summer migrants, common to Delaware Bay. Small numbers typically occur in the lower Delaware River near Salem Generating Station from June through September. Heal thy sea turtles are strong swimmers and are usually able to avoid the approach velocity of the cws intake. Turtles which are in a weakened condition due to injury by boats or commercial fishing operations are subject to impingement. Apparently healthy turtles which become impinged may not be able to escape the approach velocity due to exhaustion or small size. Also, apparently healthy turtles may be foraging in the intake channel.

While feeding they may surf ace in the intake bays and if observed by plant personnel will be removed as if impinged.

ANALYSIS OF OCCURRENCE:

The cws intake is monitored for accumulation of debris, which is periodically removed. Any turtles which are observed in the area of the trash racks are recovered immediately. Between 1979 and present, a total of 51 sea turtles have been collected at or in the immediate vicinity of the plant. Of the 45 turtles collected at the intake, thirty (67%) were Loggerhead sea turtles and fifteen (33%) were Kemp's Ridley sea turtles.

CORRECTIVE ACTION:

The trash racks at Salem are observed every two hours, twenty-four (24) hours a day specifically for sea turtles and cleaned at least once per day. Any sea turtle observed on the trash rack 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.

NLR-N91113 Attachment 2 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: Pat Gore - Nuclear Equipment Operator Reporters full name: Jennifer Griffin - Licensing & Regulation Species Identification: Loggerhead (Caretta caretta)

Site of impingement: Unit 2, Circulating Water System Trash Rack #21b Date and time impingement was observed: 6/5/91; 0830 hours0.00961 days <br />0.231 hours <br />0.00137 weeks <br />3.15815e-4 months <br /> Date and time animal was collected: 6/5/91; 0845 hours0.00978 days <br />0.235 hours <br />0.0014 weeks <br />3.215225e-4 months <br /> Tidal stage at time of observation: Ebb; 3.4 feet Date and time of last observation of screen: 6/5/91; 0800 hours0.00926 days <br />0.222 hours <br />0.00132 weeks <br />3.044e-4 months <br /> Water temperature at site and time of impingement: 75 F 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: Units 1 and 2 - 100%

Condition of animal: Good Sea Turtle Measurements (indicate cm. or in.):

Carapace length: curved: straight: 49.5 cm.

Carapace width: curved: Straight: 41.9 cm.

Tag number and location, if tagged: Tag #'s PPX907 and PPX908; Loran Coordinates - 27390.4 / 43052.6 Remarks: The turtle was tagged and released approximately two miles southeast of Salem Generating Station, one half mile off shore in twenty feet of water. The turtle weighed approximately 45 pounds.

Results of necropsy (include stomach contents if available at the time of the report, or as soon as possible): Not applicable

{" L ' .J NLR-N91113 2 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: Mel McCracken - Hoist Operator Reporters full name: Jennifer Griff in - Licensing & Regulation Species Identification: Loggerhead (Caretta caretta)

Site of impingement: Unit 1, Circulating Water System Trash Rack #12a Date and time inpingement was observed: 6/11/91; 0815 hours0.00943 days <br />0.226 hours <br />0.00135 weeks <br />3.101075e-4 months <br /> Date and time animal was collected: 6/11/91; 0830 hours0.00961 days <br />0.231 hours <br />0.00137 weeks <br />3.15815e-4 months <br /> Tidal stage at time of observation: Flood; 2.7 feet Date and time of last observation of screen: 6/11/91; 0800 hours0.00926 days <br />0.222 hours <br />0.00132 weeks <br />3.044e-4 months <br /> Water temperature at site and time of impingement: 75 F 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: Units 1 and 2 - 100%

Condition of animal: Good Sea Turtle Measurements (indicate cm. or in.):

carapace length: curved: straight: 46.8 cm.

Carapace width: curved: Straight:

Tag number and location, if tagged: Tag # PPX909;

. Loran Coordinates - 27458.0 / 43029.8 Remarks: The turtle was tagged at the Marine Mammal Stranding Cente_r and released approximately nine miles southeast of Salem Generating station at the mouth of stow Creek. The turtle weighed 35 pounds.

Results of necropsy (include stomach contents if availanle at the time of the report, or as soon as possible): Not applicable