ML18100B234
| ML18100B234 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Salem  |
| Issue date: | 07/22/1994 |
| From: | Miltenberger S Public Service Enterprise Group |
| To: | NRC OFFICE OF INFORMATION RESOURCES MANAGEMENT (IRM) |
| References | |
| NLR-E94166, NUDOCS 9408010266 | |
| Download: ML18100B234 (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 CERTIFIED MAIL RETURN RECEIPT REQUESTED ARTICLE NUMBER: Z 691 525 183 JUL 2 21994 NLR-E94166
- 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 the 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 loggerhead 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 the observance and retrieval of the sea turtle.
Should you have a questions regarding this transmittal, please feel free to contact us.
Attachments (2) 9408010266 940722 PDR ADOCK 05000272 S
PDR Sincerely, v
.Document Control Desk NLR-E94166 c
Mr. J. c. Stone Licensing Project Manager Mr. c. Marschall Senior Resident Inspector 2
Mr. T. Martin, Administrator Region I Ms. Laurie Silva National Marine Fisheries Service Habitat Conservation Branch One Blackburn Drive Gloucester, MA 01930-2298 Mr. Kent Tosch, Manager IV New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection Division of Environmental Quality Bureau of Nuclear Engineering CN 415 Trenton, NJ 08625-0415 Mr. Dave Jenkins New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection Endangered and Nongame Species Program P. o. Box 236 Tuckahoe, NJ 08250 Mr. Lawrence J. Niles, Chief New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection Endangered and Nongame Species Program CN-400 Trenton, NJ 08625-0400 JUL 2 21994*
NLR-E94166 ATTACHMENT 1 INCIDENTAL TAKE OF LOGGERHEAD SEA TURTLE OCCURRENCE DATE:
June 24, 1994 FACILITY:
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 trash rack llA of the Circulating Water System (CWS) intake trash racks at the Salem Generating Station.
The sea turtle was retrieved on June 24, at approximately 0445 hours0.00515 days <br />0.124 hours <br />7.357804e-4 weeks <br />1.693225e-4 months <br />.
Loggerhead sea turtles are federally listed as "threatened" species under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended.
CONDITIONS PRIOR TO OCCURRENCE:
June 24, 1994 Unit 1 Unit 2 DESCRIPTION OF OCCURRENCE:
55 percent power 100 percent power The loggerhead sea turtle was recovered from trash rack llA of the cws intake on June 24, 1994 at 0445 hours0.00515 days <br />0.124 hours <br />7.357804e-4 weeks <br />1.693225e-4 months <br />.
The turtle was recovered by Operations Department personnel during the routine inspection of the trash racks.
They used the stokes basket to remove it from the intake bay.
The turtle was recovered alive and undamaged.
It was placed in an 800 gallon holding tank for observation.
Dr. Burt Paluch, DVM documented the physical condition of the turtle, drew a blood sample, and drilled a 3/16 inch hole in the right postcentral scute.
The blood was sent to a medical laboratory 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 flipper tagged and released at the mouth of Stow Creek in the Delaware Bay.
The following agencies have been notified regarding this occurrence:
U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission U.S. National Marine Fisheries Service New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection Marine Mammal Stranding Center (MMSC) of Brigantine
2 APPARENT CAUSE OF OCCURRENCE:
Sea turtles are summer migrants, common to the Delaware Bay.
Small numbers typically occur in the lower Delaware River near the 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 throughout the year.
This accumulated debris is periodically removed.
Any sea 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 vicinity of the plant.
Of the 87 turtles collected at the intake, sixty-one (70.1%) have been loggerhead sea turtles, twenty-four (27.6%) were Kemp's ridley sea turtles, and two (2.3%) green sea turtles.
CORRECTIVE ACTION:
Between June 1 and October 15, the trash racks at Salem are observed every two hours, twenty-four (24)* hours a day and cleaned at least once per day.
The specified time period represents the peak migratory movement of sea turtles into and out of the Delaware River.
Observations are made specifically for sea turtles and sturgeon during this time.
During the remaining months the trash rack is inspected daily for debris load and cleaned as necessary.
Any sea turtle occurrence is observed at this time.
Resuscitation procedures will be attempted on all unconscious turtles.
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.
NLR-E94166 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:
Salem Operations Reporters full name:
Dave Hurka - Environmental Licensing Species Identification:
Loggerhead Sea Turtle (Caretta caretta)
Site of Impingement:
SGS CWIS llA Trash Rack Date and time impingement was observed: 06/24/94 0445 hrs Date and time animal was collected:
Tidal stage at time of observation:
06/24/94 0445 hrs Ebb Tide Date and time of last observation of screen: 06/24/94 0300 hrs Water temperature at site and time of impingement:
79.7 (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 -
55 percent Unit 2 -
100 percent Condition of animal:
Live and vigorous. Ate five blue crabs before release on 6/27/94.
sea Turtle Measurements:
carapace Length:
curved:
carapace Width:
curved:
Weight:
18.43 kg Tag number:
QQP976 and QQP977 Straight: 47.4 cm (18.6 in)
Straight: 41.7 cm (16.4 in)
Remarks:
The sea turtle was tagged and released at the mouth of Stow Creek in the Delaware Bay.
It was equipped with tracking equipment to follow its movements in the bay.