ML19347D086
| ML19347D086 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Surry  |
| Issue date: | 12/13/2019 |
| From: | Briana Grange Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards |
| To: | |
| Briana Grange 301-415-1042 | |
| References | |
| Download: ML19347D086 (2) | |
Text
Teleconference with Matthew Balazik, Ph.D., Regarding James River Shortnose and Atlantic Sturgeon Research Section 7 Consultation for Surry Power Station, Units 1 and 2 Proposed License Renewal December 13, 2019 TELECONFERENCE DATE December 13, 2019 PARTICIPANTS Briana Grange, Conservation Biologist & ESA Consultation Coordinator, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC)
Matthew Balazik, Ph.D., Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) Rice Rivers Center BACKGROUND The NRC is currently reviewing an application from Dominion Energy Virginia to renew the operating licenses for Surry Power Station, Units 1 and 2 (Surry) for an additional 20 years.
In connection with that application, the NRC and the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) are engaged in consultation under Section 7 of the Endangered Species Act (ESA) to address potential impacts on shortnose (Acipenser brevirostrum) and Atlantic sturgeon (A. oxyrinchus oxyrinchus), and Atlantic sturgeon critical habitat.
Julie Crocker, Endangered Fish Branch Chief, NMFS, suggested that the NRC contact Dr. Balazik to discuss current sturgeon research efforts on the James River because he is leading expert on sturgeon and heads the Virginia Sturgeon Restoration Team.
TELECONFERENCE NOTES In February 2018, Dr. Balazik captured a gravid female shortnose sturgeon in the James River.
Tagging information indicates that the individual left the James River and spawned in the Delaware River.
The information on this individual supports the scientific communitys current understanding that shortnose sturgeon only occur transiently in the James River and that the species does not spawn in the river.
Even if shortnose were to spawn in the James River, Dr. Balazik indicated that such spawning would occur well upstream of Surry. For instance, the Atlantic sturgeon spring population spawns at and above Sturgeon Point, and the fall population spawns farther upstream than the spring population closer to Osborne Landing.
In fall 2018, Dr. Balazik was involved in a trawl survey effort during which researchers collected juvenile Atlantic sturgeon. This was the first collection of juvenile Atlantic sturgeon on the James River since VCU began sampling efforts nearly 10 years ago.
Dr. Balazik confirmed that no formal scientific publications are yet available on the results of these surveys.
Ms. Grange asked whether Dr. Balazik believes that juvenile Atlantic sturgeon could be susceptible to impingement at Surry given that juveniles are now known to occur in the area.
Dr. Balaziks expert opinion is that juvenile Atlantic sturgeon are not expected to be impinged at Surry. By the time juveniles travel as far downstream as Surry, they are at least 300 millimeters (or longer) and are capable of withstanding Surrys cooling water intake velocity (0.98 feet per second). Additionally, juveniles typically occur in the main channel or deeper areas of the river, so they are not likely to occur immediately near the intake where they would experience the intake structures draw.
With respect to Atlantic sturgeon spawning, Dr. Balazik confirmed that the conditions in the James River near Surry do not support spawning.
Spawning has only been documented well upriver, as indicated previously.
The substrate near Surry is sand and mud and does not contain the hard bottom substrates required for egg settlement and development.
The required salinity conditions (less than 0.5 parts per thousand) are also not consistently present in this region of the river.
Dr. Balazik was provided an opportunity to review and comment on this teleconference summary prior to its finalization.