ML18096A114

NPDES Noncompliance Notification:On 910615,Loggerhead Sea Turtle Removed from Area of Circulation Water Sys Intake Trash Bars.Caused by Habits of Turtles.Trash Bars Observed Every Two Hours & Cleaned Once Per Day.Turtle Released

ML18096A114
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-N91111, NUDOCS 9107100086
Download: ML18096A114 (5)

Text

• Public Service Electric and Gas Company

)

Steven E. Miltenberger Public Service Electric and Gas Company P.O. Box 236, Hancocks Bridge, NJ 08038 609-339-1100 Vice President and Chief Nuclear Officer JUL O 1 1991 NLR-N91111 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 a nonroutine event discovery, and documents the occurrence and removal of a sea turtle from the Salem Generating Station circulating water intake structure.

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

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

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

Sincerely, Attachments

• JUL O 1 1991 Document Control Desk 2 NLR-N91111 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

'!'renton, NJ 08625 Mr. Richard Delgado NJ Department of Environmental Protection Ms. Colleen Coogan National Marine Fisheries Service Habitat Conservation Branch One Blackburn Drive Glouster, MA 01930-2298

NLR-N91111 Attachment 1 IMPINGEMENT OF SEA TURTLE REPORT: June 19, 1991 OCCURRENCE DATES: June 15, 1991 FACILITY: Salem Generating station, Units 1 and 2 Public Service Electric and Gas Company Hancocks Bridge, NJ 08038 IDENTIFICATION OF OCCURRENCE:

A Loggerhead (Caretta caretta) sea turtle was removed from the area of the Circulating Water System (CWS) Unit 2 intake trash bars at Salem Generating Station, on June 15, 1991. The Loggerhead is federally listed as a "threatened" species under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended.

CONDITIONS PRIOR TO OCCURRENCE:

June 15, 1991 - Unit 1, 100 percent power Unit 2, 93 percent power DESCRIPTION OF OCCURRENCE:

On June 15, 1991 at 0745 hours0.00862 days <br />0.207 hours <br />0.00123 weeks <br />2.834725e-4 months <br />, a Loggerhead sea turtle was reported in the vicinity of the CWS intake trash bars (Attachment 2). The turtle was removed 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 transported to the MMSC where it was tagged, held for observation and released offshore the following day by Mr.

Schoelkopf, of the MMSC. The animal had a carapace length of 70.1 centimeters (27.60 inches) and weighed 31.75 kilograms (70 pounds).

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. Healthy sea

NLR-N91111 2 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 surface 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 bars are recovered immediately. Between 1979 and present, a total of 52 sea turtles have been collected at or in the immediate vicinity of the plant. Of the 46 turtles collected at the intake, thirty one (67%) were Loggerhead sea turtles and fifteen (33%) were Kemp's Ridley sea turtles.

CORRECTIVE ACTION:

The trash bars at Salem are observed every two hours, twenty-four

( 24) hours a say specifically for sea turtles 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. NLR-N91111

NLR-N91111

-:~'. *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: Dave *Finlaw - Nuclear Equipment Officer Reporters full name: Jennifer Griff in - Licensing & Regulation Species Identification: Loggerhead (Caretta caretta)

Site of impingement: Unit 2, Circulating Water System Trash Rack #21b Date and time impingement was observed: 6/15/91; 0745 hours0.00862 days <br />0.207 hours <br />0.00123 weeks <br />2.834725e-4 months <br /> Date and time animal was collected: 6/15/91; 0800 hours0.00926 days <br />0.222 hours <br />0.00132 weeks <br />3.044e-4 months <br /> Tidal stage at time of observation: Slack; 3.3 feet Date and time of last observation of screen: 6/15/91; 0600 hours0.00694 days <br />0.167 hours <br />9.920635e-4 weeks <br />2.283e-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: Unit 1 - 100%

Unit 2 - 93%

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

Carapace length: curved: Straight: 70.1 cm.

Carapace width: curved: Straight:

Tag number and location, if tagged: TPX910 Loran coordinates - 26977.0 / 43063.7 Remarks: The sea turtle was delivered to the Marine Mammal Stranding Center in Brigantine, NJ where it was tagged, observed for 24 hours2.777778e-4 days <br />0.00667 hours <br />3.968254e-5 weeks <br />9.132e-6 months <br />, and released off shore. The animal weighed 70 pounds.

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