ML18096A834
| ML18096A834 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Salem  |
| Issue date: | 07/14/1992 |
| From: | Miltenberger S Public Service Enterprise Group |
| To: | NRC OFFICE OF INFORMATION RESOURCES MANAGEMENT (IRM) |
| References | |
| NLR-E92199, NUDOCS 9207200291 | |
| Download: ML18096A834 (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 1 4 1992 NLR-E92199 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 nonroutine 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. gives a narrative description of the events, as requested by the NRC., requested by the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), provides more specific information regarding observance and retrieval of sea turtles.
Should you have any questions regarding this transmittal, please feel free to contact us.
Attachments (J"'*
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c; UlH; OJ 920720029i. 92-0714--
PDR ADOCK 05000272 S
PDR Sincerely,
Document Control Desk NLR-E92199 c
Mr. J. c. Stone Licensing Project Manager Mr. T. Johnson Senior Resident Inspector Mr. T. Martin, Administrator Region I Mr. Kent Tosch, Chief 2 -
New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection Division of Environmental Quality Bureau of Nuclear Engineering CN 415 Trenton, NJ 08625 Ms. Jo Ann Frier-Murza, Chief NJ Department of Environmental Protection & Energy Endangered and Nongame Species Program CN-400 Trenton, NJ 08625-0400 Ms. Colleen Coogan National Marine Fisheries Service Habitat Conservation Branch One Blackburn Drive Gloucester, MA 01930-2298 JUL 14 1992
REPORT:
OCCURRENCE DATES:
FACILITY:
ATTACHMENT 1 IMPINGEMENT OF SEA TURTLE 9 July 1992 18 June 1992 Salem Generating Station, Units 1 and 2 Public Service Electric and Gas Company Hancocks Bridge, NJ 08038 IDENTIFICATION OF OCCURRENCE:
One loggerhead sea turtle (Caretta caretta) was recovered from the Circulating Water System (CWS) intake trash racks at Salem Generating Station.
The loggerhead was retrieved on June 18, 1992.
The loggerhead is federally listed as a "threatened" species under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended.
CONDITIONS PRIOR TO OCCURRENCE:
June 18, 1992 -
Unit 1 -
0% power.
Unit 2 -
100% at 1100, down to 30% at 2000.
DESCRIPTION OF OCCURRENCE:
A loggerhead sea turtle was recovered from trash rack 22b of the cws intake on June 18, 1992, at 2010 hours0.0233 days <br />0.558 hours <br />0.00332 weeks <br />7.64805e-4 months <br />.
The turtle was recovered by Fire Department personnel who used a stokes basket to remove it from the intake bay.
The Senior Shift Supervisor, Licensing and Regulation personnel, and the Marine Mammal Stranding Center (MMSC) of Brigantine, New Jersey were notified.
The turtle was recovered alive, undamaged and vigorous, and placed in an 800 gallon holding tank for observation.
Dr. Burt Paluch DMV, arrived on June 19 to document physical appearance of the turtle, draw a blood sample, and drill a 3/16 inch hole in the left postcentral scute.
The blood was sent to Dr. Bob George DMV, for analysis of normal blood parameters.
The hole in the scute was used for attachment of transmitters to allow tracking of this turtle upon release.
The turtle was also flipper tagged and 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 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 surface 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 75 sea turtles (plus two recaptures) have been collected at or in the immediate vicinity of the plant.
Of the 69 turtles collected at the intake, forty-nine (71%) were loggerhead sea turtles, nineteen (21.5%) were Kemp's ridley sea turtles and one (1.5%) a green sea turtle.
CORRECTIVE ACTION:
During the period of June 1 thru September 31, the trash racks at Salem station 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 turtles will be necropsied by a qualified individual and injured specimens will be held under appropriate conditions and may be turned over to the MMSC.
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:
Brian Barnish - Nuclear Equipment Operator Reporters full name:
Mike Haberland - Licensing & Regulation Species Identification:
Loggerhead (Caretta caretta)
Site of impingement:
Salem Generating Station - Unit 2 Circulating Water System; Trash Rack #22b Date and time impingement was observed: 6/18/92, 2010 hours0.0233 days <br />0.558 hours <br />0.00332 weeks <br />7.64805e-4 months <br /> Date and time animal was collected: 6/18/92, 2020 hours0.0234 days <br />0.561 hours <br />0.00334 weeks <br />7.6861e-4 months <br /> Tidal stage at time of observation: 0.8 feet on flooding tide Date and time of last observation of screen:
1800 hours0.0208 days <br />0.5 hours <br />0.00298 weeks <br />6.849e-4 months <br /> Water temperature at site and time of impingement: 75.5 °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 -
0.0%
Unit 2 -
92.5% (30% at time of collection)
Condition of animal:
Good.
Ate three blue crabs at 2215 hours0.0256 days <br />0.615 hours <br />0.00366 weeks <br />8.428075e-4 months <br /> Sea Turtle Measurements (indicate cm. or in.):
Carapace length: curved:
straight: 53.3 cm (20.9 in)
Carapace width:
Curved:
Straight: 46.0 cm (18.1 in)
Tag number and location, if tagged:
QQP938 (RF) & QQP939 (LF)
Loran coordinates: 27389.2 / 43050.9 Latitude -
39° 24.70 Longitude -
75° 28.27 Remarks:
The turtle was tagged and released approximately three and one half miles southeast of Salem Generating station, one half mile offshore in twenty feet of water.
The turtle weighed 21.4 kilograms (47 lbs).
Results of necropsy (include stomach contents): Not applicable.