ML18106A781

NPDES Noncompliance Notification:On 980727,dead Sea Turtle Was Removed from Circulating Water Sys Intake Trash Racks. Based on Turtle Being Badly Decomposed,Licensee Disposed of Turtle in Trash Dumpster

ML18106A781
Person / Time
Site:	Salem
Issue date:	07/23/1998
From:	Dawn Powell Public Service Enterprise Group
To:	NRC OFFICE OF INFORMATION RESOURCES MANAGEMENT (IRM)
References
LR-E980351, NUDOCS 9807310143
Download: ML18106A781 (5)

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Public Service ,Electric and Gas Company P.O. Box 236 Hancocks Bridge, New Jersey 08038-0236 Nuclear Business Unit JUL 2 31998 LR-E980351 CERTIFIED MAIL RETURN RECEIPT REQUESTED ARTICLE NUMBER: P 462 770 243 U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Document Control Desk Washington, DC 20555 Gentlemen:

REPORT OF IMPINGEMENT OF SEA TURTLE SALEM GENERATING STATION, UNIT NOS.1AND2 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 .dead 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 NRG. Attachment 2, requested by the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), provides more specific information regarding the observance and retrieval of the sea turtle.

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

Sincerely,

• '**. : ..1. '*~.! \.) ....'l D. R. Powell Director-Licensing/Regulation & Fuels Attachments (4) 9807310143 980723 PDR ADOCK 05000272 S PDR The power is in your hands.

95-2168 REV. 6/94 L

Document Control Desk 2 JUL 2 3 1998 LR-E980351 C Mr. Hubert J. Miller, Administrator - Region I U. S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission 475 Allendale Road King of Prussia, PA 19406 Mr. Patrick Milano, Licensing Project Manager - Salem U. S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission One White Flint North 11555 Rockville Pike Mail Stop 14E21 Rockville, MD 20852 Mr. Scott Morris (X24)

USNRC Senior Resident Inspector - Salem Mr. Doug Beach National Marine Fisheries Service Habitat Conservation Branch One Blackburn Drive Gloucester, MA 01930-2298 Ms. Nancy Haley National Marine Fisheries Service 212 Rogers Avenue Milford, CT 06460 Mr. Kent Tosch, Manager IV New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection Bureau of Nuclear Engineering 33 Arctic Parkway P. 0. Box415 Trenton, NJ 08625-0415 Mr. Dave Jenkins Endangered and Nongame Species Program P. 0. Box 236 Tuckahoe, NJ 08250 Mr. Lawrence J. Niles, Chief New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection Endangered and Nongame Species Program P. 0. Box 400 Trenton, NJ 08625-0400

LR-E980351 ATTACHMENT 1 INCIDENTAL TAKE OF SEA TURTLE OCCURRENCE DATE: June 27, 1998 FACILITY: Salem Generating Station, Units 1 and 2 Public Service Electric and Gas Company Hancocks Bridge, NJ 08038 IDENTIFICATION OF OCCURRENCES:

A dead sea turtle was removed from the Circulating Water System (CWS) Intake trash racks at the Salem Generating Station. The sea turtle was recovered on June 27, 1998. The sea turtle was badly decomposed with no head and only one rear and front flipper. The outer shell was missing and the carapace was in several pieces.

Identification was impossible, however due to the estimated size, the sea turtle was probably a Loggerhead (Caretta caretta). Due to the badly decomposed condition, this sea turtle was clearly not related to plant operation. Loggerhead sea turtles are federally listed as "threatened" species under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended.

CONDITIONS PRIOR TO OCCURRENCES:

June 27, 1998 Unit 1 100 percent power Unit2 90 percent power DESCRIPTION OF OCCURRENCES:

The dead sea turtle was recovered from trash rack 21 B of the CWS intake on June 27, 1998 at approximately 1250 hours0.0145 days <br />0.347 hours <br />0.00207 weeks <br />4.75625e-4 months <br />. The turtle was seen floating during routine inspections. Site Services personnel recovered the turtle using the Stokes Basket. The turtle was badly decomposed, with no head, one front flipper and one rear flipper. The outer scutes of the shell were missing. Only portions of the bony plate remained. The carapace was in several pieces.

The following agencies have been notified regarding this occurrence:

U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC)

U.S. National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS)

New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP)

Marine Mammal Stranding Center (MMSC)

Based on the poor physical condition of the dead sea turtle, it was disposed of in a trash dumpster. A necropsy of the sea turtle was not possible.

• 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 93 sea turtles (plus three recaptures) have been collected at or in the vicinity of the plant. Of the 89 turtles collected at the intake, sixty-three (70.8%) have been loggerhead sea turtles, twenty-four (27.0%) were Kemp's ridley sea turtles, and two (2.2%) 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, a necropsy will be performed on all exceptable dead turtles and injured specimens will be held under appropriate conditions and may be turned over to the MMSC.

Due to the poor condition of the dead sea turtle, a necropsy was not possible and the turtles remains were placed into a trash dumpster.

• LR-E980351 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 Blackbird Drive Gloucester, MA 01930-2298 Protected Species Impingements Salem and Hope Creek Generating Stations Observers full name: Brian Shavor - Salem Operations Reporters full name: Robert Boot - PSE&G Environmental Licensing Species Identification: Loggerhead Sea Turtle ( Caretta caretta)

Site of Impingement: Salem Generating Station - CWS Intake 21 B Date and time impingement was observed: 06/27/98 1250 hrs Date and time animal was collected: 06/27/98 1250 hrs Tidal stage at time of observation: Flood Tide Date and time of last observation of screen: 06/27/98 1250 hrs Water temperature at site and time of impingement: 81.56° (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 percent Unit 2 - 90 percent Condition of animal: Dead, badly decomposed Sea Turtle Measurements:

Carapace Length: Curved: N/A Straight: N/A Carapace Width: Curved: N/A Straight: N/A Weight: NA Remarks: The sea turtle was recovered during trash rack observations. The turtle was very badly decomposed with no head and the carapace in several pieces. Only one rear and front flipper remained. The outer scutes on the shell were missing. Proper identification was impossible, however due to the estimated length, the turtle was probably a Loggerhead.

Due to the badly decomposed condition, this sea turtle was clearly not related to plant operation.