ML18096A260

NPDES Noncompliance Notification:On 910824,one Loggerhead Sea Turtle Impinged on Circulation Water Sys Intake Trash Racks.Turtle Recovered Alive,Undamaged & Vigorous.Turtle Released one-half Miles Offshore in 20-ft of Water

ML18096A260
Person / Time
Site:	Salem
Issue date:	09/06/1991
From:	Miltenberger S Public Service Enterprise Group
To:	NRC OFFICE OF INFORMATION RESOURCES MANAGEMENT (IRM)
References
NLR-E91214, NUDOCS 9109190032
Download: ML18096A260 (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 SEP o6 1991 NLR-E91214 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 NOS. 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 non-routine event discovery, .and documents the occurrence and removal of one sea turtle from the Salem Generating Station circulating water intake structure.

Enclosed please find two (2) attachments. Attachment 1 gives a narrative description 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 retrieval of the sea turtle.

Should you have any questions regarding this transmittal, plea~e feel free to contact us.

Sincerely, Attachments

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SEP o6 1991 Document Control Desk 2 NLR-E91214 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 ~rotection 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

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SER._ o 6 1991 NLR-E91214 ATTACHMENT 1 IMPINGEMENT OF SEA TURTLE REPORT: August 28, 1991 OCCURRENCE DATES: August 24, 1991 FACILITY: Salem Generating Station, Units 1 and 2 Public Service Electric and Gas Company Hancocks Bridge, NJ 08038 IDENTIFIC~TION OF OCCURRENCE:

One loggerhead (Caretta caretta) sea turtle was impinged on the Circulating Water System (CWS) intake trash racks at Salem Generating Station on August 24, 1991. The loggerhead is federally listed as a "threatened" species under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended.

CONDITIONS PRIOR TO OCCURRENCE:

August 24, 1991 - Unit 1, 53 percent power Unit 2, 100 percent power DESCRIPTION OF OCCURRENCE:

On August 24, 1991, one loggerhead sea turtle was recovered from the CWS intake at 0500 hours0.00579 days <br />0.139 hours <br />8.267196e-4 weeks <br />1.9025e-4 months <br /> from the 21a trash rack. The turtle was recovered by Nuclear Equipment Operators using the trash rake cleaning mechanism. The Senior Shift Supervisor and Licensing and Regulation personnel were notified immediately. The Marine Mammal Stranding Center (MMSC) of Brigantine, New Jersey was notified on Monday, August 26.

The turtle was recovered alive, undamaged and vigorous. A tag on its left front flipper indicated it had been recovered from the Salem CWS structure earlier this summer. The animal was released approximately three and one half miles southeast of SGS and one half mile offshore in twenty feet of water.

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

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. *SEP o 6 1991 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 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 large, 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, tagged and released.

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 67 sea turtles (plus two recaptures) have been collected at or in the immediate vicinity of the plant. Of the 61 turtles collected at the intake, forty-five (74%) were loggerhead sea turtles and sixteen (26%) 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 dead or injured specimens will be held under appropriate conditions and turned over to the MMSC.

. \,.

SEP o6 1991 NLR-E91214 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: Denis Harrigan - Nuclear Equipment Operator Reporters full name: Jennifer Griffin - Licensing & Regulation Species Identification: Loggerhead (Caretta carettal Site of impingement: Salem Generating Station - Unit 2 Circulating Water System; Trash Rack #21a Date and time impingement was observed: 8/24/91; 0440 hours0.00509 days <br />0.122 hours <br />7.275132e-4 weeks <br />1.6742e-4 months <br /> Date and time animal was collected: 8/24/91; 0500 hours0.00579 days <br />0.139 hours <br />8.267196e-4 weeks <br />1.9025e-4 months <br /> Tidal stage at time of observation: 1.0 ft. flooding tide Date and time of last observation of screen: 0400 hours0.00463 days <br />0.111 hours <br />6.613757e-4 weeks <br />1.522e-4 months <br /> Water temperature at site and time of impingement: 79.7 OF 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 - 53%

Unit 2 - 100%

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

Carapace length: curved: Straight: 53.9 cm (21.2 in)

Carapace width: curved: Straight: 46.4 cm (18.3 in)

Tag number and location, if tagged: PPX919 Second release Loran coordinates: 27390.7 / 43051.4 Remarks: This turtle was a recapture. It was originally tagged and released on 7/09/91, approximately three and one half miles southeast of Salem Generating Station, one half mile offshore in twenty feet of water. On 8/26/91 the turtle weighed 23.1 kilograms (51 lbs). The turtle increased in weight, length and width.

Results of necropsy (include stomach contents): Not applicable.