ML18100A542
| ML18100A542 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Salem  |
| Issue date: | 08/12/1993 |
| From: | Miltenberger S Public Service Enterprise Group |
| To: | NRC OFFICE OF INFORMATION RESOURCES MANAGEMENT (IRM) |
| References | |
| NLR-E93233, NUDOCS 9308180194 | |
| Download: ML18100A542 (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 609-339-4199 Vice President and Chief Nuclear Officer CERTIFIED MAIL RETURN RECEIPT REQUESTED ARTICLE NUMBER: P 346 404 607 AUG 121993 NLR-E93233 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.
sincerely, Attachments (2)
Document Control Desk NLR-E93233 c
Mr. J. c. Stone Licensing Project Manager Mr. T. Johnson Senior Resident Inspector Mr. T. Martin, Administrator Region I Ms. Colleen Coogan 2 -
National Marine Fisheries Service Habitat Conservation Branch One Blackburn Drive Gloucester, MA 01930-2298 Mr. Lawrence J. Niles, Acting Chief NJ Department of Environmental Protection & Energy Endangered and Nongame Species Program CN 400 Trenton, NJ 08625-0400 Mr. Kent Tosch, Chief New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection Division of Environmental Quality Bureau of Nuclear Engineering CN 415 Trenton, NJ 08625 AUG 121993
FACILITY:
ATTACHMENT 1 IMPINGEMENT OF SEA TURTLE Salem Generating Station, Units 1 and 2 Public Service Electric and Gas Company Hancocks Bridge, NJ 08038 IDENTIFICATION OF OCCURRENCE:
One Kemp 1 s ridley sea turtle* (Lepidochelys kempi) was recovered from the Circulating Water System (CWS) intake trash racks at Salem Generating Station.
The sea turtle was retrieved on July 17, 1993.
The Kemp's ridley is federally listed as "endangered" under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended.
CONDITIONS PRIOR TO OCCURRENCE:
July 17, 1993 -
Unit 1 -
3% power.
Unit 2 -
100%
DESCRIPTION OF OCCURRENCE:
A Kemp's ridley sea turtle was recovered from trash rack 22a of the CWS intake on July 17, 1993, at 0800 hours0.00926 days <br />0.222 hours <br />0.00132 weeks <br />3.044e-4 months <br />.
The turtle was recovered by Operations Department and 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 and undamaged.
It was placed in an 800 gallon holding tank for observation and was swimming vigorously.
Dr. Burt Paluch DMV, documented the physical condition of the turtle and drew a blood sample. The blood was sent to a medical laboratory for analysis of normal blood parameters.
The turtle was flipper tagged and released approximately three and one half miles southeast of SGS and one half mile offshore in twenty feet of water.
The foilowing agencies have been notified regarqing this occurrence:
U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission U.S. National Marine Fisheries service New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection & Energy
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 Ju~e thro~gh 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 tq 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 91 sea turtles (plus three recaptures) have been collected at or in the immediate vicinity of the plant.
Of the 71 turtles collected at the intake, fifty (70%) have been loggerhead sea turtles, twenty (28%) were Kemp's ridley sea turtles and two (2%) green sea.turtles.
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 Generating Station Observers full name:
Jef"f-S't:evens - Nuc1-e-ar-Equi-pment-opera-tor*-------1 Reporters full name:
Mike Haberland - Licensing & Regulation Species Identification:
Kemp*s'ridley (Lepidochelys kempi)
Site of impingement:
Salem Generating station - Unit 2 Circulating water System; Trash Rack #22a Date and time impingement was observed: 7/17/93, 0800 hours0.00926 days <br />0.222 hours <br />0.00132 weeks <br />3.044e-4 months <br /> Date and time animal was collected: 7/17/93, 0820 hours0.00949 days <br />0.228 hours <br />0.00136 weeks <br />3.1201e-4 months <br /> Tidal stage at time of observation:
3.5 feet on flooding tide Date and time of last observation of screen:
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:
80.l °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 -
O -
3%
Unit 2..,.
100%
Condition of animal:
Very good. Ate six blue crabs before release on 7/20/93.
Sea Turtle Measurements (indicate cm. or in.):
Carapace length: curved:
Straight: 24.6 cm (9.7 in)
Carapace width:
curved:
Straight: 22.3 cm (8.8 in)
Tag number and location, if tagged:
QQP956 (R) & QQP957 (L)
Loran coordinates: 27389.8 / 43053.7 Latitude 39° 24.94 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 2.05 kilograms (4.5 lbs).
Results of necropsy (include stomach contents): Not applicable.