ML19208A681

Nonroutine Environ Operating Rept 50-219/79-5:on 790803, Up to 100 Dead Fish Observed Floating Along Shore.Possibly Caused by High Water Temp of Low Dissolved Oxygen.Load Reduction Made & Ambient Temp Lowered

ML19208A681
Person / Time
Site:	Oyster Creek
Issue date:	09/10/1979
From:	JERSEY CENTRAL POWER & LIGHT CO.
To:
Shared Package
ML19208A679	List: ML19208A678 ML19208A681
References
NUDOCS 7909170248
Download: ML19208A681 (3)

Text

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Madison Avenue at Punch Bow! Road Morristown, New Jersey 07960 (201)455-8200 OYSTER CREEK NUCLEAR GENERATING STATION Forked River, New Jersey 08731 Nonroutine Environmental Operating Report No. 50-219/79-5 Report Date September 10, 1979 Occurrence Date August 3, 1979 Time of Occurrence Prior to 10:00 a.m.

Identification of Occurrence Fifty to one-hundred dead fish were observed in Barnegat Bay, south of the mouth of Oyster Creek, floating along the shore. This report responds to condition 4.5 of the Environmental Technical Specifications.

Conditions Prior to Occurrence During August 2, 1979, the plant was operating at full power, but at 2:00 p.m.

began reducing load to comply with discharge temperature LCO's. By 10:00 p.m.,

the plant was down to 533 MWe. No stressed or dead fish were observed in Oyster Creek during August 2, 1979 up to 5:45 p.m. During August 2, 1979, intake temperatures at the plant averaged 87.5*F., with a range of 84.9*F. to 90.4*F. Peak intake temperatures above 90*F. occurred between 5: 15 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. Discharge of water tracing dye, Rhodamine WT (Dupont) began at 2:45 p.m. on August 2, 1979 Concentrations measured in Oyster Creek later on August 2, 1979 were about 0.5 ppb. Dye pumping stopped on August 3, 1979 at about 5:00 p.m. at the completion of the experiment.

Description of Occurrence On August 3, 1979, at 10:00 a.m., about fifty to one-hundred dead fish were observed floating in Barnegat Bay on the south side of the mouth of Oyster Creek. An actual count was not possible due to weather and site conditions.

A number of species were present, although only northern puffer and striped bass were accessible to the observers in a boat. Northern puffer was the most common species. Two specimens were collected along the banks of Oyster Creek between the mouth and U.S. Route #9 after 1:00 p.m. Two specimens were collected west of Route #9 af ter 1:30 p.m. Two specimens were collected in Barnegat Bay. , , ,

Jersey Central Power & Light Company is a Member of the General Pubhc Ut.hties System 7969/7029Y

Nonroutine Environmental Operating Report No. 50-219/79-5 Page 2 September 10, 1979 All specimens found had been dead for some time as they showed evidence of gull or crab attack. Striped bass and northern puffer specimens showed no evidence of hemorrhaging in the gills or eyes.

Six specimens were sent to Radiation Hanagement Corporation for identification, length and weight measurements (Appendix i).

Apparent Cause of Occurrence The exact cause of the fish kill is uncertain, although at least two possibilities are likely:

1. Water temperatures exceeding lethal temperature for species.

2. Low dissolved oxygen condition.

Analysis of Occurrence The two potential causes could have acted singly or in concert.

Reference to the Oyster Creek-Forked River 316 report indicates the intake temperatures were potentially lethal to striped bass and northern puffer and, thus, water temperature should be considered the prime causal agent. No unusually low oxygen concentrations were observed during the morning of August 2, 1979 in the intake canal, although diurnal variations in dissolved oxygen are possible. During this week, other fish kills were reported from New Jersey coastal waters (Sandy Hook and Cape May) apparently caused by low dissolved oxygen levels in conjunction with unusually high water temperatures.

Loss of these fish should not adversely affect the population of the four species identified in Appendix l.

Corrective Action Load reduction of the plant was made during August 2,1979 Similar high ambient temperatures were not observed again after August 2 and 3,1979 ObNO('i

Appendix l - Fish Specimens Collected on August 10, 1979

• Species Length (cm) Weight (9.)

1) Striped Bass 44 863.9

2) Striped Bass 47 874.2

3) Striped Bass 34 408.9

4) Goose Fish ** **

5) Northern Puffer ** **

6) Tautog ** **

• Identifications and measurements made by D. L. Thomas of Radiation Management Corporation.

• 5 Length and weight measurements not taken due to fish parts missing.

MBR (8/20/79)

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