ML19064B216

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Data Report or Intake Screen Sampling at Peach Bottom Atomic Power Station in 2015
ML19064B216
Person / Time
Site: Peach Bottom  Constellation icon.png
Issue date: 12/31/2015
From:
Normandeau Associates
To:
Exelon Generation Co, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
Hayes B, NRR-DMLR 415-7442
Shared Package
ML19064B212 List:
References
Download: ML19064B216 (5)


Text

DATA REPORT ON AMERICAN SHAD SAMPLING AT PEACH BOTTOM ATOMIC POWER STATION IN2015 December 2015

DATA REPORT ON AMERICAN SHAD SAMPLING AT PEACH BOTTOM ATOMIC POWER STATION IN 2015 Prepared for PEACH BOTTOM ATOMIC POWER STATION Delta, Pennsylvania 17314 Prepared by NORMANDEAU ASSOCIATES, INC.

1921 River Road Drumore, Pennsylvania 17518 Normandeau Associates' Project Number 2344./.002 December 2015

2015 Data Report on Intake Screen Sampling at the Peach Bottom Atomic Power Station

1.0 INTRODUCTION

Normandeau Associates, Inc. (Normandeau) was contracted by Exelon Corporation to conduct sampling for juvenile American Shad at the outer intake screens at Peach Bottom Atomic Power Station (PBAPS) during November 2015. The study objective was two-fold: it fulfills Exelon's obligation to support the Susquehanna River's American shad restoration program as stated in the 2015 annual work plan, and it provides juvenile American shad specimens to the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission (PFBC) for otolith analysis, which compares the overall contribution of hatchery and wild fish to the population.

2.0 METHODS After fall refueling outage activities were completed, outer intake screen sampling was performed three days per week, (Monday, Wednesday, and Friday), with a two-person crew, from 2 to 25 November, 2015. A total of 11 sampling events were conducted at the outer screen house during this portion of the juvenile American shad outmigration period. Normandeau personnel contacted PFBC personnel throughout the study period to keep them updated on collection/sampling activities.

Peach Bottom control room personnel were contacted before and after each sampling event. The outer intake screens were operated on an as needed basis during the sample period, and prior to each trash bin being pulled from the collection pit and the contents available for sampling. Peach Bottom personnel hoisted the trash bins out of the screen house to facilitate sampling and ensure the safety of the work crew. All fish observed in the trash bins (both Units 2 and 3) were identified and counted (if possible). In 2015, sub-sampling of certain species, (gizzard shad), was not necessary as large numbers of fish or heavy debris loads occurred infrequently throughout the study period. Juvenile American shad that were suitable for analysis, (head and body intact), were counted, measured (nearest mm total length), and preserved (frozen) prior to delivery to PFBC personnel.

3.0 RESULTS A total of 33,410 fish of29 taxa was collected; 12,625 from Unit 2 and 20,785 from Unit 3 (Table 1).

Gizzard shad (25,585), bluegill (5,986), and white perch (1,014) comprised nearly 98% of the total, while all other species combined accounted for about 2% of the total fish collected. Other species common in the collections were channel catfish (290) and green sunfish (112).

A total of 62 American shad was collected at PBAPS and provided to the PFBC for analysis during this sampling period (Table 2).

4.0

SUMMARY

Outer intake screen sampling was conducted during the November portion of the historical juvenile American shad outmigration period (October/November) in Conowingo Pond. No sampling occurred prior to November 2, 2015 due to a refueling outage at the PBAPS. At this time, it is uncertain when these juvenile shad collected at the PBAPS moved downstream into Conowingo Pond since the weekly haul seine project conducted by Normandeau for the PFBC, in the vicinity of Columbia, PA, from mid-September through mid-November 2015, did not result in the collection of any juvenile American shad. Relatively low, stable river flows occurred throughout the sampling period with no discernible freshets which would move fish downstream. The river water temperature during the 2015 study ranged from 45.9° F to 56.9° F, conducive for triggering outmigration behavior of juvenile American shad. A total of62juvenile American shad were collected and provided to the PFBC from sampling activities at the PBAPS in 2015. For reference, a total of 49 and 0 juvenile American shad were collected and provided to the PFBC from sampling activities at the PBAPS in 2013 and 2014, respectively.

PBA~ uvAm. sha:l-0~015 Normaidea.J Ass:x:ictes, Inc.

Table 1 Number of fish collected during intake screen sampling by unit at Peach Bottom Atomic Power Station, 2 to 25 November 2015.

Species Unit2 Unit3 Total American eel 3

4 American shad 29 33 62 Alewife (residualized) 4 5

Alosa sp. (decapitated) 0 1

Gizzard shad 9,755 15,830 25,585 Common carp 9

42 51 Golden shiner 4

3 7

Comely shiner 64 22 86 Spottail shiner 0

2 2

Spotfin shiner 2

3 Quill back 0

1 Shorthead redhorse 3

4 Channel catfish 150 140 290 Flathead catfish 3

12 15 Banded killifish 13 17 30 White perch 242 772 1,014 Striped bass 2

2 4

Rock bass 4

12 16 Green sunfish 29 83 112 Pumpkinseed 2

2 4

Bluegill 2,286 3,700 5,986 Smallmouth bass 18 19 Largemouth bass 5

29 34 White crappie 5

14 19 Black crappie 2

13 15 Tessellated darter 6

7 13 Yell ow Perch 2

12 14 Ch. Logperch 5

6 11 Walleye 0

2 2

Greenside darter 0

1 TOTAL 12,625 20,785 33,410

Table 2 Number of juvenile American shad collected during intake screen sampling by unit at Peach Bottom Atomic Power Station, 2 to 25 November, 2015.

Date Unit2 02 Nov 7

04 Nov I

06 Nov 4

09Nov 6

II Nov 3

13 Nov 0

16Nov 0

18 Nov 0

20 Nov 0

23 Nov 6

25 Nov 2

TOTAL 29 UnitJ 0

13 2

2 I

I 4

5 3

33 Total 7

14 5

8 5

1 4

11 5

62