ML20029C712

Forwards Assessment of Impacts of Oyster Creek Nuclear Generating Station on Kemps Ridley (Lepidochelys Kempii) & Loggerhead (Caretta Caretta) Sea Turtles

ML20029C712
Person / Time
Site:	Oyster Creek
Issue date:	04/20/1994
From:	J. J. Barton GENERAL PUBLIC UTILITIES CORP.
To:	NRC OFFICE OF INFORMATION RESOURCES MANAGEMENT (IRM)
Shared Package
ML20029C713	List: ML20029C712 ML20029C714
References
6530-94-2046, NUDOCS 9404270082
Download: ML20029C712 (1)

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{{#Wiki_filter:n: 1 i OPb Muclear Corporation C U Nuclear =i= 88 Fehd River, New Jersey 08731-0388 609 971 4000 Writer's Direct Dial Number: 6530-94-2046 l~ April 20,1994 { l ) U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Attn: Document Control Desk Washington, DC 20555

Subject:

Dyster Creek Nuclear Generating Station Docket No. 50-219 Sea Turtle Assessment Report Enclosed please find one copy of the following report prepared by GPU Nuclear Corporation: ASSESSMENT OF THE IMPACTS OF THE OYSTER CREEK NUCLEAR GENERATING STATION ON KEMP'S RIDLEY (Lepidochelys kemoii) AND LOGGERHEAD i (Caretta caretta) SEA TURTLES. L This report was previously submitted to Mr. Michael Masnik of the USNRC on March 14, 1994. If you should have any questions or require additional information, please do not hesitate to contact Mr. Malcolm Browne of our Environmental Controls Department at 609-971-4124. Vt y 1

ours,

/ M ~ Johr J. Bt on Vic Presi nt and Director ter Cr k JJB/BD:jc enclosure 2 9404270082 940420 PDR ADOCK 05000219 ah l GPU Nuclear Corporation is a subsidiary of General Public Utilities Corporation

a ASSESSMENT OF THE IMPACTS OF THE OYSTER CREEK NUCLEAR GENERATING STATION ON KEMP'S RIDLEY (Lepidochelys,kempii) AND LOGGERHEAD (Caretta caretta) SEA TURTLES Prepared by GPU Nuclear Corporation March 1994 e f --a ea

I L { TABLE OF CONTENTS Section Pace No. - 1.0 Summary and Conclusions............................. 1-1 2.0 Introduction........................................ 2-1 2.1 Purpose........................................ 2-1 2.2 Endangered Species Act......................... '2-1 2.3 Chronology of Events Leading Up To This Assessment............................. 2-1 3.0 Site Description.................................... 3-1 3.1 Location....................................... 3-1 r 3.2 Barnegat Bay Morphology and Bathymetry......... 3-1 3.3 Hydrology of Barnegat Bay...................... 3-2 3.3.1 Influence of Barnegat Inlet Modifications on Barnegat Bay Hydrology............................ 3-2 3.4 Barnegat Bay Salinity.......................... 3-3 3.5 Water Temperature in Barnegat Bay.............. 3-3 3.6 Water Transparency in Barnegat Bay............. 3-4 4.0 Oyster Creek Nuclear Generating Station Description......................................... 4-1 4.1 Oyster Creek Nuclear Generating Station........ 4-1 4.1.1 Circulating Water System............. 4-1 4.1.1.1 Circulating Water System Intake Structure..................... 4-1 4.1.1.1.1 Trash Bars........................... 4-2 4.1.1.1.2 Traveling Screens.................... 4-2 4.1.1.1.3 Circulating Water Pumps.............. 4-3 4.1.1.1.4 Other Equipment...................... 4-3 4.1.1.2 Condensers........................... 4-3 4.1.2 Dilution Water System................ 4-4 4.1.2.1 Dilution Water System Intake Structure..................... 4-4 4.1.2.1.1 Trash Bars........................... 4-4 4.1.2.1.2 Other Equipment...................... 4-4 4.1.3 Thermal Plume Studies................ 4-4 5.0 Information on Sea Turtle' Species 5.1 General Sea Turtle Information................. 5-1 5.2 Loggerhead (Caretta garetta)................... 5-3 ~ 5.2.1 Description.......................... 5-3 5.2.2 Distribution......................... 5-3 5.2.3 Food................................. 5-4 5.2.4 Nesting.............................. 5-4 5.2.5 Population Size...................... 5-5 5.3 Kemp's Ridley (Lepidochely_a kempii)............ 5-6 5.3.1 Description.......................... 5-6 5.3.2 Distribution......................... 5-6 5.3.3 Food................................. 5-7 i

Pace No. Section 5.3.4 Nesting.............................. 5-7 5.3.5 Population S12e...................... 5-7 5.4 Green Turtle (Chelonia mvdas).................. 5-8 5.4.1 Description.......................... 5-8 5.4.2 Distribution......................... 5-9 5.4.3 Food................................. 5-9 5.4.4 Nesting.............................. 5-9 5.4.5 Population Size...................... 5-9 5.5 Leatherback Turtle 5-10 (Dermochelys coriacea)......................... 5.5.1 Description.......................... 5-10 5.5.2 Distribution......................... 5-10 5.5.3 Food......................... 5-10 5.5.4 Nesting.............................. 5-10 5.5.5 Population Size...................... 5-11 5.6 Sea Turtles In Coastal Waters of New Jersey........................... 5-11 5.6.1 Sea Turtles in Barnegat Bay.......... 5-12 6.0 Onsite Information 6.1 Occurrence of Sea Turtles at Oyster Creek Nuclear Generating Station........ 6-1 6.1.1 Annual Comparison.................... 6-1 6.1.2 Species Composition.................. 6-1 6.1.3 Seasonal Distribution of Occurrences....................... 6-1 6.1.4 Condition of Turtles captured at Intake Structures........ 6-2 7.0 Assessment of Present Operations................... 7-1 7.1 Impacts of Continued Operation of Oyster Creek Nuclear Generating Station on Sea Turtle Populations............................ 7-1 7.1.1 Impacts Due to Incidental Capture (Impingement) of Turtles on Circulating Water Cystem and Dilution Water System Intake Trash Racks................... 7-1 7.1.1.1 Assessment of Impact on Loggerhead Sea Turtle Populations.......................... 7-1 7.1.1.2 Assessment of Impact on Kemp's Ridley Sea Turtle Populations.......................... 7-2 7.2 Other Potential Station Impacts on Sea Turtles.................................... 7-3 7.2.1 Acute Thermal Effects................ 7-3 7.2.2 Chronic Thermal Effects.............. 7-4 7.2.3 Cold Shock........................... 7-4 7.2.4 Biocides............................. 7-5 ( 11 ] !J

Section Pace No. 7.3 Mitigating Measures............................ 7-5 7.3.1 Inclusion in Procedure for Notification of Station Events....... 7-5 7.3.2 Sea Turtle llandling and Reporting.... 7-6 7.3.3 Postings for Sea Turtle Identification and Proper Sea Turtle Resuscitation................. 7-7 7.3.4 Annual Review of Sea Turtle Related Responsibilities............. 7-7 7.3.5 Surveillance of Intake Structures.... 7-7 7.3.6 Proposed Additional Surveillance of Intake Structures................. 7-8 7.4 Discussion of General Impacts on Sea Turtle Populations......................... 7-8 8.0 References W iii

SECTION 1.0

SUMMARY

AND CONCLUSIONS This " biological assessment" was prepared by GPU Nuclear Corporation (GPUN) for submittal to the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission and the National Marine Fisheries Service to comply with Section 7 of the Endangered Species Act (the Act). The purpose of this assessment is to examine the potential impacts associated with the continued operation of the Oyster Creek Nuclear Generation Station (OCNGS) on sea turtle species protected under the Act. OCNGS is located along the western shore of Barnegat Bay between the South Branch of Forked River and Oyster Creek, in Ocean County, New Jersey. Monthly mean salinity values observed in western Barnegat Bay near OCNGS vary seasonally from approximately 18.5 ppt to over 28 ppt. Monthly mean ambient water temperatures in this portion of the Bay range from a winter mean of 1 C (33.8'F) to approximately 28 C (82.4*F) during the summer (Kennish and Lutz, 1984). OCNGS consists of a single boiling water nuclear reactor with an electrical capacity of approximately 650 megawatts. When OCNGS is in operation, water flows from Barnegat Bay into Forked River and OCNGS, where some of the flow is used to cool the powerplant condensers. Heated water discharged from OCNGS flows eastward in Oyster Creek back into Barnegat Bay. OCNGS has two water intake structures, the circulating water system intake and the dilution water system intake. During normal operation, the circulating water system moves approximately 0.46 million gallons per minute of water through the main condensers for cooling purposes. Additionally, up to two dilution pumps (each with a 260,000 gallons per minute capacity) divert water from the intake canal to the discharge canal to reduce the temperature of the circu'.ating water discharge (Kennish, 1978). Both intakes utilize trash racks to remove debris from the water. The circulating water system intake has vertical traveling screens which have been the modified with Ristroph fish buckets and a fish return system. Four species of sea turtles have been reported from coastal New Jersey waters. These sea turtle species are: loggerhead (Caretta caretta), Kemp's ridley (Lepidochelys kemoli), green turtle (chelonia mvdas), and leatherback (Dermochelys coriacea). Two of these sea turtles species, Kemp's ridley and leatherback, are listed as endangered and two, the loggerhead and green turtle are listed as threatened. Only the loggerhead and Kemp's ridley-turtles have been captured at the OCNGS. The loggerhead sea turtle is the most common sea turtle in the coastal waters of the United States and occurs in many other locations throughout the world. Population numbers along the south 1-1

Atlantic Coast (North Carolina to Florida) have been estimated at 387,594 turtles (NMFS 1987). The loggerhead population in the southeast is considered to be stable by most investigators but the population is threatened by reductions in nesting and foraging habitat due to the continued development of coastal areas and losses resulting from incidental capture in shrimp trawls. An estimated 5,000 to 50,000 turtles have been lost annually from trawling without the use of turtle exclusion devices (TED's) (NMFS d9la). The Kemp's ridley is the most endangered of the sea turtle species. There is only a single known colony of this species, almost all of which nest near Rancho Nuevo, Mexico and represent the world population for this species. The population level has been estimated at 2,200 turtles (M&rquez 1989). The ridley population is also impacted by coastal development and shrimp trawling. Incidental take by the shrimp industry has been identified as the largest source of mortality (between 500 and 5,000 killed annually) for L. kemoii (Magnuson et al. 1990). However, subsequent to the implementation of the NMFS TED regulations in 1989, strandings of drowned sea turtles have been dramatically lower and nesting activity has increased (Crouse et al. 1992). Sea turtles have been observed and incidentally captured at OCNGS during 1992 and 1993, but were never captured during more than 10 years of field sampling associated with the station since 1969. Their scarcity in Barnegat Bay is largely attributable to the fact that access to the bay is extremely limited. The only direct access to Barnegat Bay from the Atlantic Ocean is via a single, narrow inlet, approximately 1,000 feet wide. A total of 4 sea turtles have been impinged at OCNGS during more than 24 years of operation. At the circulating water intake, one live loggerhead and one live Kemp's ridley were captured. One loggerhead, apparently dead on arrival due to boat prop wounds, and one Kemp's ridley, recently deceased, were collected from the dilution structure trash racks. The cause of death of the Kemp's ridley is unknown, pending the completion of a necropsy, but may have been the result of drowning. All specimens captured at OCNGS were subadults or juveniles. The occurrence of four sea turtles at the OCNGS during 1992 and

1993, when none had been observed before, despite intensive sampling efforts, may be attributable to at least two factors.

Modifications to Barnegat Inlet, completed in 1992, have resulted in significant increases in the depth of the inlet and the volume of water passing through the inlet during each tidal exchange. These changes may have made the inlet more accessible to sea turtles migrating up the Atlantic coast. In addition, sea turtle population levels may have increased as a result of the implementation of the NMFS TED regulations in 1989. It remains to be seen whether or not the changes to Barnegat Inlet will be permanent or, as has happened in the past, shoaling will 1-2

occur over time, reducing access to Barnegat Bay via the inlet. Similarly, additional data on sea turtle populations and commercial fishing by-catch must be gathered in order to fully evaluate the effectiveness of the TED regulations on reducing sea turtle mortality. The primary concern with sea turtles at OCNGS is whether or not any station-related losses of these endangered or threatened species " jeopardizes their continued existence." Federal regulation defines this term as engaging in an action that reasonably would be

expected, directly or indirectly, to reduce appreciably the likelihood of both the survival and recovery of the listed species in the wild by reducing the reproduction, numbers, or distribution of that species."

A comparison was made of sea turtle losses at OCNGS, assuming worst case losses, with population estimates for both species. This worst case estimate of losses includes a turtle that died prior to becoming impinged at the OCNGS intake as well as two turtles captured alive at OCNGS and returned to the wild. Calculated accordingly, the maximum, estimated, annual loss of loggerheads at the station is two turtles, which represents approximately 0.0005 percent of the popula*. ion in the southeast U.S. The estimated, worst-case annual loss of Kemp's ridleys at OCNGS is one to two turtles, which would represent 0.05 to 0.09 percent of the population. It is unlikely that losses at these levels would " appreciably reduce" the distribution or numbers of either species. Losses to reproduction would be restricted to " production foregone' due to the loss of juvenile /subadult animals which could potentially be recruited into the breeding population at some time in the future. Thermal impacts from the operation of OCNGS, such as acute and chronic thermal impacts and coldshock, are not a concern. The thermal effluent from the station forms only a shallow thermal plume within Barnegat Bay. Both species of sea turtles, which have strong swimming ability, can avoid thermally affected areas which exceed their temperature preferences. In addition, no sea turtles have ever been observed within the discharge canal. Mitigating measures which have been instituted to ensure the timely removal of turtles from the intake and optimize their chances for survival include: development of reporting / notification procedures for threatened and endangered species; providing operations personnel with information to assist them in identifying sea turtles; the placement of postings at the circulating water and dilution water system intakes that provide station employees with information on sea turtle identification and resuscitation; and around-the-clock once per 8-hour wer % shift inspections of the circulating and dilution intake structures during the sea turtle season. GPUN has also proposed additional intake structure ~ surveillance activities for implementation in 1994. These include increasing the frequency of intake inspections to twice per 8-hour shift subsequent to the first observation or capture of a sea turtle and increasing the inspection frequency to twice per 8-hour 1-3

shift during the month of October, when both incidental captures of Kemp's ridleys have occurred. In summary, GPUN concludes that the continued operation of OCNGS will not jeopardize the continued existence of either the loggerhead or Kemp's ridley sea turtle. The estimated losses of these species attributable to the operation of the station, particularly the water intakes, wi.ll not " appreciably reduce" the distribution or numbers of either species. Losses to reproduction would be restricted to " production foregone" due to the loss of juvenile or subadult animals which could potentially be recruited into the breeding female population in the future. O i 1-4 l .1

SECTION

2.0 INTRODUCTION

2.1 PURPOSE This " biological assessment" is submitted to the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) by GPU Nuclear Corporation (GPUN) in compliance with Section 7 of the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (as amended) [the Act). The purpose of this assessment is to examine the potential impacts associated with the continued operation of GPUN's Oyster Creek Nuclear Generating Station (OCNGS) on sea turtle species protected under the Act. The primary species of concern are the Kemp's ridley (Lepidochelys kemoii) and loggerhead (Caretta caretta) sea turtles, both of which have been captured on the circulating water or dilution intake trash racks at OCNGS. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, " List of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants," lists the status of the Kemp's ridley sea turtle as endangered and the loggerhead sea turtle as threatened (50 CFR 17.11). The Atlantic green turtle (Chelonia mvdas) and the leatherback turtle (Dermochelvs coriacea) are also listed as endangered in U.S. waters and are known to occur in New Jersey waters, but have not been observed at OCNGS. The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) has jurisdiction for these species (50 CFR 222.23(a) and 50 CFR 227.4(b)). 2.2 ENDANGERED SPECIES ACT This " biological assessment" is part of the formal consultation process provided under Section 7 of the Endangered Species Act. Detailed procedures for this consultation process are defined in 50CFR402. 2.3 CHRONOLOGY OF EVENTS LEADING UP TO THIS ASSESSMENT A review of the sea turtle strandings at OCNGS was recently requested in a letter from the NMFS to the NRC in November 1993 (Mantzaris 1993). This letter followed communications between GPUN, NRC and NMFS regarding the capture of sea turtles at OCNGS during 1992 in spite of OCNGS having operated for many years (1969-1991) prior to any being taken. The issue of sea tur".les at OCNGS was initially addressed in 1992 when sea turtles were first observed at the station's circulating water and dilution structure intake trash racks. The mattor was discussed jointly by GPUN,

NRC, and NMFS (informal Section 7-review).

Subsequent to an a611tional sea turtle being captured in 1993, NMFS advised NRC that a formal consultation process including preparation of a Biological Assessment would be required (Mantzaris 1993). GPU Nuclear requested that they be authorized to prepare the Biological Assessment. 2-1

i l This document is GPUN's " Assessment of the. Impacts of the oyster Creek Nuclear Generating Station on Kemp's ridley (LeDidochelys kempii) and Loggerhead (caretta caretta) Sea Turtles." 4 N 2-2 i 1

SECTION 3.0 SITE DESCRIPTION 3.1 LOCATION GPUN's Oyster Creek Nuclear Generating Station is located along the eastern edge of the coastal pine barrens of New Jersey in Lacey and Ocean Townships, Ocean County. The plant site is part of approximately 1,416 acres of land owned by Jersey Central Power and Light Company. The OCNGS site is located to the west of U.S. Route 9, and is bounded on the north by the South Branch of Forked River and on the south by Oyster Creek. Barnegat Bay forms the eastern site boundary (Figure 3-1) and the Garden State Parkway the western site boundary. Figure 3-2 is an aerial photograph of the OCNGS site and environs. The power plant structures are situated approximately midway between Oyster Creek and the South Branch of Forked River and about 1,400 feet west of Route 9. The station site is approximately 35 miles north of Atlantic City, New Jersey and 45 miles east of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Approximately 9.5 miles north of the site are several small residential communities: Toms River, South Toms River, Beachwood, Pine Beach, Ocean Gate, Island Heights and Gilford Park. West of the Garden State Parkway the land is primarily undeveloped woodland, and wooded wetlands are found along the banks of small creeks to the north, south and west of the site. East of the station along the shoreline of Barnegat

Bay, the land is characterized by alternating sections of residential development and undeveloped coastal wetlands and adjacent uplands.

The terrain surrounding the site is relatively flat along the shoreline to gently rolling inland. 3.2 BARNEGAT BAY MORPHOLOGY AND BATHYMETRY The OCNCS utilizes Barnegat Bay as a source of cooling water, via the south branch of Forked River, and the bay serves as the receiving water body for thermal discharges, via Oyster Creek (Figure 3-1). Barnegat Bay is a shallow, lagoon-type estuary typical of the back bay systems of barrier island coastlines. The long axis of Barnegat Bay extends approximately 30 miles (50 km) in roughly a north-south direction and parallels the mainland, forming an irregular tidal basin ranging from 0.6 miles to 4 miles (1 to 6 km) in width and 1 foot to 20 feet (0.3 to 6.m) in depth (Kennish and Olsson 1975; Kennish 1978). The bay is bordered on the west by-the New Jersey mainland, on the north by Point Pleasant and Bay Head _, on the east by Island Beach and Long Beach Island, and on the south by Manahawkin Causeway. Island Beach and Long Beach Island j comprise a barrier island complex breached only at Barnegat Inlet, j which is located 6.5 miles (10.5 km) southeast of OCNGS. This .l single, relatively narrow inlet, provides the only direct access to the bay from the Atlantic Ocean (Figure 3-1). The surface area atd volume of Barnegat Bay have been estimated to be 64.5 square miles (1.67 x 10' m ) and 8.40 x 10' f t2 2 3-1

2 (2.38 x 10' m ), respectively (U.S. Atomic Energy Commission 1974 ). About 73% of the estuary is less than 6 feet (2 m) deep at mean low l water, which is characteristic of lagoon-barrier island systems (Barnes 1980). The bay's eastern perimeter is shallower (less than 3 feet (0.9 m)) than the central and western sectors which are 3 to 13 feet (0.3 to 4.0 m) deep,.with extensive shoal areas exposed at low tide (Chizmadia et al. 1984). The greatest depths of.10 to 13 ) feet (3 to 4 m) occur along the Intracoastal Waterway, a narrow channel traversing the length of.the bay. The Intracoastal Waterway is heavily utilized by both recreational boaters and commercial fishing

boats, and is maintained at a

depth of approximately 6 feet (0.6 m) for navigation purposes by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Marcellus 1972). 3.3 HYDROLOGY OF BARNEGAT BAY The bay communicates with Manahawkin Bay to the south and, via the Bay Head-Manasquan Canal, with the Manasquan River to the north (Chizmadia et al. 1984). The primary exchange of ocean and bay water occurs through Barnegat

Inlet, where Carpenter (1963) estimated an exchange rate of 7% per tide and a net discharge rate o f 5 6. 7 m'/sec.

The salinity regime and circulation patterns within the bay are affected by the inflow of relatively high salinity waters originating in the Atlantic Ocean which enter the northern and central bay via the Bay Head-Manasquan Canal and Barnegat Inlet, respectively. Because the proportion of bay water which escapes seaward each tidal cycle is relatively small, Chizmadia et al. (1984) estimate that 96 tidal cycles are required for complete turnover of estuarine water to take place. Marcellus (1972) reported a mean tidal current thrc$ ugh Barnegat Inlet of 1.1 m/sec during flood tide and 1.3 m/sec during ebb tide. Ashley (1988) measured peak flood tido flow velocities of 1.1 m/sec (3.6 ft/sec) and peak ebb velocities of 1.0 m/sec (3.3 ft/sec). 3.3.1 INFLUENCE OF BARNEGAT INLET MODIFICATIONS ON BARNEGAT BAY HYDROLOGY Beginning in 1988, a multi-year project-by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers was undertaken to re-align the south jetty at Barnegat Inlet and to dredge accumulated sediments from within the inlet. The new alignment of the inlet's south jetty so that it is.nearly parallel to the north jetty was completed in.1991. The new jetty configuration has not changed the effective width of the'. inlet, which remains approximately 1,000 feet wide (305 meters), through which Atlantic Ocean waters can enter Barnegat Bay. The mean tidal range at Barnegat Inlet was reported by Ashley (1988) to be approximately 1.8 ft (0.6 m) prior to the jetty modifications, and the tide range became progressively damped in a landward direction. The small size of Barnegat Inlet and the shallowness of the bay both restrict tidal flow and attenuate tidal energy, thereby minimizing tidal fluctuations. The depth of the inlet. was significantly increased via dredging recently, which permits a 3-2

freer interchange of ocean and bay waters. The less restricted tidal flow due to recent dredging and jetty modifications has resulted in a significantly greater volume of water passing through Barnegat Inlet during a given tidal cycle (Table 3-1). Preliminary j-U.S. Army Corps of Engineers data indicates that the average tidal prism has more than doubled since completion of the modifications, and the mean tide range at Barnegat Inlet has increased by over 30% (Gebert 1994). 3.4 BARNEGAT BAY SALINITY Maximum Barnegat Bay salinities of over 30 ppt are found near Barnegat Inlet due to the input of Atlantic Ocean water. Most freshwater, however, entern the estuary from surface runoff and ground water s,eepage along the western shore of the bay (Chizmadia et al. 1984). Several tributaries which drain the New Jersey Pine Barrens provide a mean surf ace runof f of 10.2 m'/sec. Toms River 3 provides the greatest freshwater input (5.7 m /sec) to the estuary, l and Cedar Creek provides an additional 3.1 m'/ sec (U.S. Atomic Energy Commission 1974). Other significant tributaries of the bay include the Metedeconk River, Kettle Creek, Forked River, Oyster Creek, and Manahawkin Creek (Figure 3-1). The freshwater input l from these tributaries creates a slight salinity gradient from west i to cast. The salinity of the central bay, in the vicinity of the l OCNGS, is typically about 25 ppt (Chizmadia et al. 1984). l A relatively pronounced salinity gradient occurs along the nor+h-l south axis of the bay due to the freshwater input of Pine Barrens I streams in the northwestern portion and the location of Barnegat Inlet in the southern portion of the bay (Figure 3-3). Relatively high salinity waters entering the northernmost section of the bay through the Bay Head-Manasquan Canal result in elevated salinities in that portion of the bay (Chizmadia et al. 1984), 3.5 WATER TEMPERATURE IN BARNEGAT BAY Barnegat Bay is a meteorological transition zone between the continent and the ocean. The temperature extremes of both the summer and winter seasons are moderated within the bay by the proximity of the ocean. On an average annual basis, the warmest ) months of the year are July and August, and the coldest months are J January and February. Tatham et al. (1977) reported winter water temperatures in western Barnegat Bay as low as -1.5"C and summer temperatures approaching-30*C. Periods of relatively rapid temperature change occur in spring and fall. Atlantic Ocean water that enters the estuary exhibits a somewhat less extreme annual range of temperature. Ice typically forms each winter adjacent to the shoreline of Barnegat Bay, but more extensive ice covering across a major portion of the bay has occurred only during the coldest of recent winters. Periodically, during winter or early spring, ice from Barnegat Bay is drawn into the OCNGS intake canal. 3-3

3.6 WATER TRANSPARENCY IN BARNEGAT BAY Water transparency in Barnegat Bay, as measured by Secchi depth, ranges from 0.7 to 8.2 ft-(0.2 - 2.5 m). The annual average Secchi -depth in the vicinity of Oyster Creek is 3.7 ft (1.14 m) -(Vouglitois 1983). 4 4 3-4

Table 3-1. Barnegat_ Inlet average tidal prisms, adjusted to L. mean tidal conditions (from'Ashley, 1988; Gebert, 1994). l~ Date Average Tidal Prism 7 2 (10 m) June 1932 2.29 December 1940 3.21 April 1941 3.45 November 1941 3.31 September 1943 2.12 June 1945 2.01 May 1968 1.39 March 1980 1.17 September 1987 1.17 June 1993 2.55*

• Based upon preliminary U.S. Army. Corps of Engineers data (Gebert 1994).

NOTE: New south jetty constructed 1988-1991; most recent maintenance dredging in Barnegat Inlet completed 1993. e 3-5

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l l .' %YA (r. Q+ n,%'~' ' go.f.rl..s;.sMy)-D tt m t 3, v.y. _4 .s ~.. u,c e gr -a ,,x Y, .l 5 - n hf., AQ..~:' g ggy '.;. j ~ p,.' % v )%. t er - "4 ll ' t', L. ,q~ 0,, .. J / L e o h ~ _f, c m ) W 'y ', V. A. '..jf' rrrer,,me> I,t., [.; .h .' %,4 .t',' ~ g~ r-w,. :, ~ p. . * )W c - ;- - .g M 4 f m[ - Dr (k; k\\ .l 1 g, / j# g ~ . s i ,/ C. ',.,.j I ~ rmm j ,9 {, sne so m oa'n 7,:,. ,e-l j_ nj _ j/ / - .N w k1 kh -Yh,. '4," 4 24 .g A. : pea N ] -,-,<,*4 .. n r y.z p r . r a,... :< Figure 3-2. Aerial Photo of Oycter Creek NGS and Vicinity. (After U.S. Atomic Energy Commission 1974), 3-7

I. 2 ti ' aI-27 a'l 29 30 3l3t Nla 15 17 / is//Il/ ~ ' a 3-i 4-5 AueusT / i 'I' Ni 2h 29 4' ')d ti 22 $32'4 W!4 5' 2 3-4 IS.16 AUGUST V / s' u / j>, 2 m m,,,,,, J. / .I \\. 4-21 23 AUGUST Y' 425f2fff 0 29 3I uil 4-27 AUGUST it'll' 2dM41'S ad 7 28 al 30 al l, /lff(( lj 3-4- 2 stPTEMSEn 0 1A 1taak 'tjs 2 to 16 } aliin is gab y y 2 4-t4 is stPTtusen TOMS RIVER MANAHAWKIN BAY-l Figure 3-3. Salinity profile of Barnegat Bay from Toms River to (~- Manahawkin Bay for August and September 1963. (After Carpenter, 1963). I 3-8 l-

SECTION 4.0 OYSTER CREEK NUCLEAR GENERATING STATION DESCRIPTION 4.1 OYSTER CREEK NUCLEAR GENERATING STATION Oyster Creek Nuclear Generating Station (OCNGS) consists of a boiling water nuclear reactor with an electrical capability of approximately 650 megawatts. OCNGS began commercial operation late in 1969. l The containment structure housing the reactor and the turbine, auxiliary and service buildings for OCNGS are located on a semicircular plot of land bounded by the intake and discharge canals and by U. S. Route 9 (Figure 4-1). Two separate intake structures withdraw water from the intake canal. The circulating I water system intake (CWS) provides cooling water for the main condensers and also provides cooling water for safety-related heat l exchangers and other equipment within the station (Figures 4-2 through 4-5). The dilution water system (DWS) minimizes the l thermal effects on the discharge canal and Barnegat Bay by ) " thermally diluting" the circulating water from the condenser with colder water drawn from the intake canal. Water from both systems is discharged via discharge tunnels to the head of the discharge canal, located immediately west of the plant. 4.1.1 CIRCULATING WATER SYSTEM The once-through CWS is designed to remove waste heat from the stations main condensers. The CWS withdraws cooling water from the j intake canal, routes it to the condensers, and returns warmed water to the discharge canal (Figure 4-2). During normal plant operation, four 115,000 gallons per minute (gpm) circulating water pumps withdraw a total of 460,000 gpm. The typical temperature rise across the condensers in this operating mode is 20*-23*F (11*-13*C). The maximum permissible average intake velocity for water approaching the CWS intake ports is 1 ft/sec (30 cm/sec) while actual measured values are typically 0.56-0.66 ft/sec (17-20 l cm/sec) during normal operating conditions. 4.1.1.1 CIRCULATING WATER SYSTEM INTAKE STRUCTURE The CWS intake consists of six separate, independent intake bays or port cells (Figures 4-3 and 4-4). Each intake port is equipped with its own trash bars and traveling screens. Provisions for stop logs are made within each port. Originally, the circulating water intake structure consisted of trash racks followed by conventional traveling screens whose primary purpose was to collect and remove debris from intake water. Traveling screens were intermittently cleaned via a front wash, high pressure spray system activated by differential pressure, a timer, or manual intervention. 4-1

To mitigate fish impingement losses, modifications have been made to the original installation by adding: horizontal, water-filled fish survival buckets on the traveling screen baskets (Ristroph modification); a low pressure rear spray wash fish removal system; and a modified fish and trash sluiceway system specifically designed to gently return fish to the discharge canal. 4.1.1.1.1 TRASH BARS Six sets of trash bars protect each of the six intake ports from large debris, mats of eel grass, marine algae or detritus entrained in the intake water flow. The bar assemblies are 24 ft (7.3 m) high and extend from elevation +6.0 ft MSL (mean sea level) to the bottom of each CWS intake port, elevation -18.0 ft MSL, and are approximately 10 ft (3 m) wide. Constructed of 0.5 in. (1.27 cm) wide steel bars on 3.5 in. (8.9 cm) centers, the trash bar racks have a slot size of 3 in. (7.6 cm) wide. The trash bars are inspected at least once per 8-hr shift, and The debris is removed as needed by a mobile mechanical trash rake. rake is self-contained and traverses the entire intake width on rails; it contains a trash hopper which transports the material removed from the bars to a debris container at the south end of the intake. trash rake is 10 feet wide and is controlled by a single The operator from a manual pushbutton control panel which is mounted on the unit's frame assembly. The trash rake unit consists of an integral frame assembly which houses the traversing drive, hoisting The hoisting machinery, hopper and hydraulic control assemblies. machinery includes a cable-operated raking device which is designed to remove large floating or submerged objects that may accumulate on the trash bar racks. Wide-flanged wheels permit the raking device to travel along the inclined bar rack which guides the cleaning device over the vertical trash bars. 4.1.1.1.2 TRAVELING SCREENS Each intake cell is equipped with a vertical traveling screen. Each traveling screen unit contains thirty-five, stainless steel mesh (3/8 inch; 0.95 cm) fish-removal type screen panels. Each screen panel has a 2 inch (5.1 cm) wide lip, which creates a water-filled bucket (Figures 4-6 and 4-7). As the screen is raised through and out of the water, most impinged organisms drop off the screen into the bucket, which prevents them from falling bcck into the screen well and becoming reimpinged. These organisms are subsequently washed into a fish-return system which gently returns them to the discharge canal. Normally the screens operate at a speed of 2.5 ft/sec (75 cm/sec). They can be operated at an alternate speed of 10 ft/sec (300 cm/sec) in order to accommodate large debris loads. 1 4-2

i For maximum fish survival, the screen wash operates with both low-l pressure and high-pressure spray headers. As the screen basket travels over the head sprocket, organisms slide onto the screen face and are washed by one low-pressure spray header located outside the screen unit, and two low-pressure spray headers located inside the screen unit, into an upper sluice. This spray wash is designed to minimize descaling and other injuries that would occur with conventional high-pressure spray headers. Subsequently, heavier debris is washed into a lower sluice by two high-pressure spray headers (Figure 4-6). l 4.1.1.1.3 CIRCULATING WATER PUMPS 1 There are four circulating water pumps located on the CWS intake structure. They are vertical wet-pit type pumps rated at 115,000 gpm (6.9 x 10' liters per minute) which discharge through 66 inch i lines to the main condensers and ultimately to a 10 foot 6 inch ) square concrete discharge tunnel. The once-through cooling system l piping running from the intake to the discharge is approximately j 650 ft (200 m) in length. A 60 inch concrete recirculation pipe for ice control runs below the water level from the discharge tunnel back to the intake structure. The area in close proximity to the CWS intake is kept from freezing due to the intake deicing system and the turbulence induced by the circulating water and dilution pumps. 4.1.1.1.4 OTHER EQUIPMENT Screen Wash and Fish-Return Systems The high pressure and low pressure screen wash systems remove marine life and debris from the CWS intake traveling. screens. The 3 contents of the upper fish and lower debris sluices are returned to the discharge canal through return sluices'at the CWS intake. The fish-return system has been designed to return the fish and marine life washed from the traveling screens as gently and gradually as possible to the plant's receiving waters. 4.1.1.2 CONDENSERS I There are three sections to the main condenser, one located immediately below each low pressure turbine (Figure 4-8). There are 14,560 tubes in each main condenser section carrying circulating water from the intake canal. This provides 2 approximately 141,000 f t (13,000 m ) of cooling surf ace area. Each section is 40 feet long by almost 20 feet wide and 32 1/2 feet high. Two 72 inch diameter pipes deliver circulating water to each section of the main condensers. The discharge piping from the main condenser is joined through 66 inch lines into a common 126 inch (3.2 meter) square concrete 4-3

... ~. - ' J l~ discharge tunnel. The discharge tunnel transports the condenser cooling water across the site to the discharge canal (Figure 4-8). 4.1.2 DILUTION WATER SYSTEM The dilution water system (DWS) is intended to minimize thermal ef fects on the environment by withdrawing ambient temperature water from the intake canal and routing it to the discharge canal where it mixes with the main condenser discharge flows. During normal plant operation, two of the station's three 260,000 gpm dilution pumps withdraw a total of 520,000 gpm. The average intake velocity in front of the DWS intake, with two pumps in operation, is approximately 2.4 ft/sec (73 cm/sec). 4.1.2.1 DILUTION WATER SYSTEM INTAKE STRUCTURE The DWS intake is a reinforced concrete structure located on the west side of the intake canal. It consists of six intake bays. Each intake bay is fitted with trash bars of an identical design to those of the circulating water system intake (Figure 4-5). 4.1.2.1.1 TRASH BARS The DWS trash bars are 0.5 inch wide (1.3 cm) steel bars set on 3.5 inch (8.9 cm) centers. There are six DWS trash bar assemblies, each 10 ft (3 m) wide. The DWS is fitted with a mobile mechanical trash rake similar in design and operation to the trash rake used at the CWS intake (Figure 4-5). 4.1.2.1.2 OTHER EQUIPMENT Floatina Debris / Ice Barrier A floating barrier has been designed and installed upstream of the-CWS and DWS intake structures to divert floating debris such as wood, eelgrass or ice away from the CWS intake and towards the DWS intake. The barrier is intended to prevent excessive amounts of debris or ice from accumulating on the CWS traveling screens or trash bars. The floating barrier is of wooden construction and extends approximately two feet (60 cm) below the surface from just upstream of the CWS intake to just upstream of the DWS intake (Figure 4-2). 4.1.3 THERMAL PLUME STUDIES Heated condenser cooling water discharged from the CWS and ambient temperature intake canal water discharged from the DWS meet and mix in the discharge canal and ultimately are returned to Barnegat Bay via the discharge canal (Figure 4-1). The cooling water discharged from OCNGS has been studied on several occasions to determine the distribution, geometry, and dynamic behavior of the thermal plume. Dye studies as well as real-time 4-4 '~

mobile mapping of the plume track have been performed (Starosta et - al. 1981; Carpenter 1963; JCP&L 1986). Three rather different thermal regimes can be observed in Oyster Creek and Barnegat Bay. In Oyster Creek, initial mixing of the condenser discharge with dilution water produces a reduction in discharge temperature of between 2.8 to 6.1"C (5 to 11*F) depending upon whether one or two dilution pumps is operating; little temperature decay is observable east of U.S. Route 9 until the discharge reaches Barnegat Bay. Minimal horizontal or vertical temperature change occurs in Oyster Creek between U.S. Route 9 and the bay because of the relatively short residence time and the lack of turbulence or additional dilution. In Barnegat

Bay, temperatures are rapidly reduced as substantial mixing with ambient temperature bay water and heat rejection to the atmosphere occurs.

In the bay, the plume spreads on the surface, thereby abetting atmospheric heat rejection. Thus, there is a very small area near l the OCNGS condenser discharge of relatively high excess temperature in which turbulent dilution mixing produces rapid temperature reductions; a somewhat larger area in Oyster Creek between OCNGS I and Barnegat Bay in which little further temperature reduction occurs; and a still larger area in the bay in which the plume spreads on the surface. About 165 yards (150 m) east of the mouth of Oyster Creek the water depth decreases from approximately 11 ft to five feet (3.4 to 1.5 m) causing turbulence and mixing and directing the plume toward the surface. In general, excess temperatures'do not impinge on the bottom of the bay except in the area immediately adjacent to the mouth of Oyster Creek. Shoreline plumes may extend from the surface to the bottom since the water depths are usually less than five feet (1.5 m). In Barnegat Bay, the plume occupies a relatively large surface area with low excess temperatures where the balance of the heat discharged by OCNGS is dissipated to the atmosphere or diluted by entrained bay water. The surface excess temperature isotherm of 2.2*C (4*F) under all operating conditions is contained in a rectangle approximately one mile (1.6 km) along the east-west axis and 3.5 miles ( 5. 6 km) along the north-south axis bounding the mouth of Oyster Creek. For the 0.8*C (1.5*F) isotherm, the rectangle is 1.5 mi (2.4 km) by 4.5 mi (7.2 km). All I measured plumes exhibited a plume length of approximately two to l three times their width (JCP&L 1986). E 4-5 ( l f.

8J "w N L FORKID RIVER 3 f g W pt Am cRSI e =- m 018I - pg, Dit.UTIC / h ., A i / s I km g Figure 4-1. Flow characteristics at Forked River, Oyster Creek, and adjacent bay localities. (After Kennish and Olsson, 1975). j-0 4-6

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.i SECTION 5.0 INFORMATION ON SEA TURTLE SPECIES l 5.1 GENERAL SEA TURTLE INFORMATION l Living sea turtles are taxonomically represented by tvo families, five genera, and seven species (Hopkins and Richardson 1984; Carr 1952). The family Cheloniidae is comprised of four genera and six distinct species. These species are Caretta caretta (loggerhead), Chelonia mydas (green turtle), Chelonia depressa (flatback), Eretomochelys imbricata (hawksbill), Lepidochelys kemoii (Kemp's ridley), and L. olivacea (olive ridley). The family Dermochelyidae is comprised of only one genus and species, Dermochelys coriacea, commonly referred to as the leatherback sea turtle. Most of these seven sea turtle species are distributed throughout all of the tropical oceans.

However, the loggerhead occurs primarily in temperate latitudes, and the leatherback, although nesting in the tropics, frequently migrates into cold waters at higher latitudes because of its unique physiology (Mager 1985).

Sea turtles are believed to be descended from species known from the late Jurassic and Cretaceous periods that were included in the extinct family Tha11assemyidae (Carr 1952; Hopkins and Richardson 1984). Modern sea turtles have

short, thick, incompletely retractile necks, and legs which have been modified to become flippers (Bustard 1972; Carr 1952).

All species, except the leatherback, have a hard, bony carapace modified for marine existence by streamlining and weight reduction (Bustard 1972). Chelonians have only a thin layer of bone covered by overlaying scutes and Dermochelvs has a smooth scaleless black skin and soft carapace with seven longitudinal keels -(Carr 1952). These differences in structure are the principal reason for their designation as the only species in the monotypic family Dermochelidae (Carr 1952). Sea turtles spend most of their lives in an aquatic environment and males of many species may never leave the water (Hopkins and Richardson 1984; Nelson 1988). The recognized life stages for these turtles are egg, hatchling, juvenile /subadult, and adult (Hirth 1971). A generalized sea turtle life cycle is presented in Figure 5-1. Reproductive cycles in adults of all species involve some degree of migration in which the animals return to nest at the same beach year after year (Hopkins and Richardson 1984). Nesting generally begins about the middle of April and continues into September (iiopkins and Richardson 1984; Nelson 1988; Carr 1952). Mating and copulation occur just off the nesting beach and it is theorized that sperm from one nesting season may be stored by the female and thus fertilize a later season's eggs (Ehrhart 1980). A nesting female moved shoreward by the surf lands on the beach and crawls.to a point above the high water mark (Carr 1952). She then proceeds to excavate a shallow body pit by' twisting her body in the sand 5-1

(Bustard 1972). After digging the body pit she proceeds to excavate an egg chamber using her rear flippers (Carr 1952). Clutch size, egg size, and egg shape are species specific (Bustard 1972). Incubation periods for loggerheads and green turtles average 55 days but range from 45 to 65 days depending on local conditions (Nelson 1988). Hatchlings emerge from the nest at night, breaking the egg shell and digging their way out of the nest (Carr 1952). They find their way across the beach to the surf by orienting to light reflecting off the breaking surf (Hopkins and Richardson 1984). Once in the surf, hatchlings exhibit behavior known as " swim frenzy," during which they swim in a straight line for many hours (Carr' 1986 ). Once into the waters off the nesting beach, hatchlings enter a period known as the " lost year." Researchers are presently trying to determine where young sea turtles spend their earliest years, what habitat (s) they prefer at this age, as well-as typical survival rates during the " lost year" (i.e., during their post-hatchling early pelagic stage). It is currently believed the period encompassed by the " lost year" may actually turn out to be several years and various hypotheses have been put forth regarding sea turtle activities during this period. One is that hatchlings may become associated with floating sargassum rafts offshore. These rafts provide shelter and are dispersed randomly by the currents (Carr 1986). Another hypothesis is that the " lost year" of some species may be spent in a salt marsh / estuarine system (Garmon 1981). The functional ecology of sea turtles in the marine and/or estuarine ecosystem is varied. The loggerhead is primarily carnivorous and has jaws well-adapted to crushing molluscs and crustaceans and grazing on encrusted organisms attached to reefs, pilings and wrecks; the Kemp's ridley is omnivorous and feeds on swimming crabs and crustaceans; the green turtle is a herbivore and - grazes on marine grasses and algae; and, the leatherback is a specialized feeder preying primarily upon jellyfish. Until

recently, sea turtle populations were relatively large and subsequently played a significant role in the marine ecosystem.

This role has been greatly reduced in most locations as a result of declining turtle populations. These population declines were a result of, among other things, natural factors such as disease and predation, habitat loss, commercial overutilization, commercial fishing by-catch mortality and the lack of comprehensive regulatory mechanisms to ensure their protection throughout their geographic range. This has led to several species being threatened with extinction. Due to changes in habitat use during different life history stages and seasons, sea turtle populations are difficult to census (Meylan 1982). Because of these problems, estimates of population numbers have been derived from various indices such as numbers of. nesting females, numbers of hatchlings per kilometer of nesting beach and number of subadult carcasses (strandings) washed ashore (Hopkins and Richardson 1984). Six of the seven extant species of sea 5-2

turtles are protected under the Endangered Species Act. Three of the turtles, Kemp's ridley, hawksbill and leatherback, are listed as endangered. The Florida nesting population of green turtle and Mexican west coast population of olive ridley are also endangered. All of the remaining populations of green turtle, olive ridley and loggerhead are threatened. The only unlisted species is the i locally protected Australian flatback turtle (Hopkins and Richardson 1984). Only two species of sea turtles, loggerheads and Kemp's ridleys, occur in Barnegat Bay and coastal waters near OCNGS. Leatherbacks do occur in coastal New Jersey waters but typically are found at considerable distances offshore. Green turtles have only been sporadically reported from the New Jersey coast. Regional sea turtle distribution will be discussed in more detail later in this section. 5.2 LOGGERHEAD (Caretta caretta) 5.

2.1 DESCRIPTION

The adult loggerhead turtle has a slightly elongated, heart-shaped carapace that tapers towards the posterior and has a broail triangular head (Pritchard et al. 1983). Loggerheads normally weigh ap to 450 pounds (200 kilograms) and attain a carapace length (straight line) up to 48 inches (320 centimeters) (Pritchard et al. 1983). Their general coloration is reddish-brown dorsally and cream-yellow ventrally (Hopkins and Richardson 1984). Morphologically, the loggerhead is distinguishable from other sea turtle species by the following characteristics:

1) a hard shell;

2) two pairs of scutes on the front of the head; 3) five pairs of lateral scales on the carapace; 4) plastron with three pairs of enlarged scutes connecting the carapace; 5) two claws on each flipper; and, 6) reddish-brown coloration (Nelson 1988; Dodd 1988; Wolke and George 1981).

Loggerhead hatchlings are brown above with light margins below and have five pairs of lateral scales (Pritchard et al. 1983). 5.2.2 DISTRIBUTION Loggerhead turtles are circumglobal, inhabiting continental shelves, bays, lagoons, and estuaries in the temperate, subtropical and tropical waters of the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans (Dodd 1988; Mager 1985). In the western Atlantic Ocean, loggerhead turtles occur from Argentina northward to Newfoundland including the Gulf of Mexico ( and the Caribbean Sea (Carr 1952; Dodd 1988; Mager 1985; Nelson i 1988; Squires 1954). Sporadic nesting is reported throughout the l ~ tropical and warmer temperate range of distribution, but the most i important nesting areas are the Atlantic coast of Florida, Georgia ) l and South Carolina (Hopkins and Richardson 1984). The Florida f nesting population of loggerheads has been estimated to be the second largest in the world (Ross 1982). i L 5-3 -____-__-__w

r The foraging range of the loggerhead sea turtle extends throughout the warm waters of the U.S. continental shelf (Shoop et al. 1981). On a seasonal basis, loggerhead turtles are common as far north as the Canadian portions of the Gulf of Maine (Lazell 1980), but during cooler months of the year, distributions shift to the south (Shoop et al. 1981). Loggerheads frequently forage around coral reefs, rocky places and old boat wrecks; they commonly enter bays, lagoons and estuaries (Dodd 1988). Aerial surveys of loggerhead turtles at sea indicate that they are most common in waters less than 50-meters in depth (Shoop et al. 1981), but they occur pelagically as well (Carr 1986). 5.2.3 FOOD Loggerheads are primarily carnivorous (Mortimer 1982). They eat a variety of benthic organisms including molluscs, crabs, shrimp, jellyfish, sea urchins, sponges, squids, and fishes (Nelson 1988). Adult loggerheads have been observed feeding in reef and hard bottom areas (Mortimer 1982). In the seagrass lagoons of Mosquito Lagoon, Florida, subadult loggerheads fed almost exclusively on horseshoe crab (Mendonca and Ehrhart 1982). Loggerheads may also eat animals discarded by commercial trawlers (Shoop and Ruckdeschel 1982). This benthic feeding characteristic may contribute to the capture of these turtles in trawls, 5.2.4 NESTING The nesting season of the loggerhead is confined to the warmer months of the ye'r in the temperate zones of the northern hemisphere. In se c. Florida nesting may occur from April through September but usue.ily peaks in late June and July (Dodd 1988; Florida Power & Light Company 1983). Loggerhead females generally nest every other year or every hird year (Hopkins and Richardson 1984) but multi-annual remigration intervals ranging from one to six years have been reported (Bjorndal et al. 1983; Richardson et al. 1978). When a loggerhead nests, it usually will lay 2 to 3 clutches of eggs per season and will lay 35 to 180 eggs per clutch (Hopkins and Richardson 1984). The eggs hatch in 46 to 68 days and hatchling emerge 2 or 3 days later (Crouse 1985; Hopkins and Richardson 1984; Kraemer 1979). Hatchling loggerheads are a little less than 2 inches (5 cm) in length when they emerge from the nest (Hopkins and Richardson 1984; Florida Power & Light Company 1983). They emerge from the nest as a group at night, orient themselves seaward and rapidly move towards the water (Hopkins and Richardson 1984). Many hatchlings fall prey to sea birds and other predators following emergence. Those hatchlings that reach the water quickly move offshore and exist pelagically (Carr 1986). Nesting by loggerheads is reported to have occurred at two locations along the New Jersey coast in recent years - Ocean City, NJ and Island Beach State Park (Schoelkopf 1993). 5-4 \\l

1 J 5.2.5 POPULATION SIZE l-Loggerhead sea turtles are the most common sea turtle in the f coastal waters of the United States. Based on numbers of nesting i I i females, numbers of hatchlings per kilometer of nesting beach and l-number of subadult carcasses (strandings) washed ashore, the total number of mature loggerhead females in the southeastern United States has been estimated to be from 35,375 to 72,520 (Hopkins and i Richardson 1984; Gordon 1983), Adult and sub-adult (shell length greater than 60 centimeters) population estimates have also been based on aerial surveys of I pelagic animals observed by NMFS during 1982 to 1984. l Based on these studies the current estimated number of adult and { sub-adult loggerhead sea turtles from Cape Hatteras, North Carolina l to Key West, Florida is 387,594 (NMFS 1987). This number was 1 arrived at by taking the number of observed turtles and converting { it to a population abundance estimate using information on the amount of time loggerheads typically spend at the surface. Some sea turtles. which die at sea wash ashore and are found stranded. The NMFS Sea Turtle Salvage and Stranding Network collects stranded sea turtles along both the Atlantic and Gulf ) Coasts (NMFS 1988). Using 1987 data as an example, over 2,300 j loggerhead turtles were reported by the network (Figures 5-2 and 5-3). The largest portion was collected from the southeast Atlantic Coast (1,414 turtles) followed by the Gulf Coast (593 turtles) and northeast Atlantic Coast (347 turtles). Although one researcher has suggested that loggerhead turtle nesting populations in the U.S. have been declining (Frazer 1986), positive steps have recently been taken to reverse that trend. In September of 1989, NMFS regulations requiring the use of turtle excluder devices (TED's) on commercial ' shrimp trawls were implemented. Onboard observation of offshore shrimp trawling by NMFS in the southeast Atlantic estimated that over 43,000 loggerheads are captured in shrimp trawls annually. The number of loggerhead mortalities from this activity wa's estimated to be 9,874 turtles annually (NMFS 1987). An esti'nated 5,000 to 50,000 loggerheads were killed annually during commercial shrimp fishing activities prior to regulations requiring the use of TED's (NMFS 1991a). The use of TED's may reduce sea turtle mortality in shrimp trawls by as much as 97% (Crouse et al. 1992). Since the implementation of the TED requirement, strandings of drowned threatened and endangered sea turtle species, in areas where strandings were historically high, have been dramatically lower l (Crouse et al. 1992). Sea turtle nesting activity on two key beaches also increased considerably subsequent to the implementation of the TED regulations (Crouse et al. 1992). In addition to the apparent success of the TED

program, restrictions on development in coastal areas have become more 5-5

widespread in recent years and may reduce the rate of habitat loss for sea turtles. Based on these data, it is evident that a large population of loggerhead sea turtles does exist in the southeast Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico and that effective meaeures have been taken to mitigate a major source of loggerhead mortality. Various populations estimates suggest that the number of adult and subadult turtles is probably in the hundreds of thousands in the southeastern United States alone. In addition, large populations of loggerheads occur in many other parts of the world (Ross and Barvani 1982; NMFS 1991a). These facts suggest that although this species needs to be conserved, it is not in any immediate risk of becoming endangered. 5.3 KEMP'S RIDLEY (LeDidochelys kemDii) 5.

3.1 DESCRIPTION

The adult Kemp's ridley has a circular-shaped carapace and a medium sized pointed head. Ridleys are the smallest of extant sea turtles. They normally weigh up to 90 pounds (42 kilograms) and attain a carapace length (straight line) up to 27 inches (70 cm) (Pritchard et al. 1983). Their general coloration is olive-green dorsally and yellow ventrally (Hopkins and Richardson 1984). Morphologically, the Kemp's ridley is distinguishable from other sea turtle species by the following characteristics: 1) a hard shell; 2) two pairs of scutes on the front of the head; 3) five pairs of lateral scutes on the carapace; 4) plastron with four pairs of scutes, with pores, connecting the carapace; 5) one claw on each front flipper and two on each back flipper;

and, 6) olive-green coloration (Pritchard et al.

1983; Pritchard and Marquez 1973). Kemp's ridley hatchlings are dark grey-black above and white below (Pritchard et al. 1983; Pritchard and Marquez 1973). 5.3.2 DISTRIBUTION Kemp's ridley turtles inhabit sheltered coastal areas and frequent larger estuaries, bays and lagoons in the temperate, subtropical and tropical waters of the northwestern Atlantic Ocean and Gulf of Mexico (Mager 1985). The foraging range of adult Kemp's ridley sea turtles appears to be restricted to the Gulf of Mexico. However, juveniles and subadults occur throughout the warm coastal waters of the U.S. Atlantic coast (Hopkins and Richardson 1984; Pritchard and Marquez 1973). Atlantic juveniles /subadults travel northward with vernal warming to feed in the productive coastal waters of Georgia through New England, but return southward with the onset of winter to escape the cold (Henwood and Ogren 1987; Lutcavage and Musick 1985; Morreale et al. 1988; Ogren 1989). 5-6

l l 5.3.3 FOOD i i Kemp's ridleys are omnivorous and feed on crustaceans, swimming f 4 crabs, fish, jellyfish and molluscs (Pritchard and Marquez 1973). 5.3.4 NESTING j Nesting of Kemp's ridleys is mainly restricted to a stretch of beach near Rancho Nuevo, Tamaulipas, Mexico (Pritchard and Marquez 1973; Hopkins and Richardson 1984). Occasional nesting has been reported in Padre Island, Texas and Veracruz, Mexico (Mager 1985). The nesting season of the Kemp's ridley is confined to the warmer months of the year primarily from April through July. Kemp's j ridley females generally nest every year to every third year 4 1 (M&rquez et al. 1982; Pritchard et al. 1983). They will lay 2 to 3 clutches of eggs per season and will lay 50 to 185 eggs per clutch. The eggs hatch in 45 to 70 days and hatchling emerce 2 or 1 3 days later (Hopkins and Richardson 1984). Hatchling ridleys are a little less than 2 inches (4.2 cm) in length when they emerge from the nest (Hopkins and Richardson j 1984). They emerge from the nest as a group at night, orient I themselves seaward and rapidly move towards the water (Hopkins and l Richardson 1984). Following emergence, many hatchlings fall prey i to sea birds, raccoons and crabs. Those hatchlings that reach the l water quickly move offshore. Their existence after emerging is not !l well understood but is probably pelagic (Carr 1986). The post-pelagic stages are commonly found dwelling over crab-rich sandy or l muddy bottoms. Juveniles frequent bays, coastal lagoons, and river ] mouths (NMFS 1992b). l i I 5.3.5 POPULATION SIZE 'l Kemp's ridley sea turtles are the most endangered of the sea turtle species. There is only a single known colony of this species, almost all of which nest near Rancho Nuevo, Tamaulipas, Mexico. An estimated 40,000 females nested on a single day in 1947, but between 1978 and 1990 there have been less than 1,000 nests per l season (Figures 5-4 and 5-5). Based on nesting information from Rancho Nuevo, Ross (1989) estimated that the population was declining at a rate of approximately 3 percent per year. In 1991 however, more than 1,100 nests were observed at Rancho Nuevo, and more Kemp's ridley nests were laid in 1990 and 1991 than in any l previous year on record since 1978 (Figure 5-5). It has been E suggested that this recent increase in nesting activity reflects ) the reduction in shrimp trawl related mortality realized since the I implementation of the NMFS TED' regulations in September of 1989 ) (Crouse et al. 1992). The adult Kemp's ridley population has been estimated by M&rquez (1989) to be approximately 2,200 adults based on the numbers of nests produced at Rancho Nuevo, this species' I nesting cycle, male-female ratios, and fecundity. 1 5-7

Population estimates of immature L. kemnii are difficult to develop. Increases have been noted in the number of juvenile captures during the late 1980's and early 1990's in long-term tagging studies in the northeast Gulf of Mexico (ogren, unpubl. data). If this increase is indicative of an overall increase in the juvenile population, additional recruitment into the adult population should occur in the future (NMFS 1991a). Kemp's ridleys also die at sea and wash ashore. The NMFS Sea Turtle Salvage and Stranding Network collects stranded sea turtles along both the Atlantic and Gulf Coasts (NMFS 1988). Based on 1987 data, 767 ridleys were reported by the network (Figures 5-2 and 5-3). The largest portion was collected from the Gulf Coast (103 turtles) and mostly the western portion of the Gulf. Nearly equal numbers of ridleys were reported from the northeast and southeast Atlantic Coasts (64 and 50, respectively). Onboard observation of offshore shrimp trawling by NMFS in the southeast Atlantic indicated that over 2,800 ridleys are captured in shrimp trawls annually. The number of ridley mortalities attributable to this activity was estimated to be 767 turtles annually and most of these (65 percent) occurred in the western portion of the Gulf of Mexico (NMFS 1987). Magnuson et al. (1990) estimated the annual shrimp trawl by-catch mortality to be between 500 and 5,000 individuals. As discussed above, significant reductions in this source of mortality, by as much as 97 percent, have been achieved as a result of the implementation of the TED regulations by the NMFS in 1989 (Crouse et al. 1992). Despite the apparent reduction in mortality afforded by the use of l TED's, these data suggest that this population remains at critically low levels. The species was listed as endangered in 1970 and is considered the most endangered of all sea turtles (NMFS 1991a; Burke et al. 1994). 5.4 GREEN TURTLE (Chelonia mydas) 5.

4.1 DESCRIPTION

The green turtle is a medium to large sea turtle with a nearly cval carapace and a small rounded head (Pritchard et al. 1983). Its carapace is smooth and olive-brown in color with darker streaks and spots. Its plastron is yellow. Full grown adult greens normally weigh 220 to 330 pounds (100 to 150 kg) and attain a carapace length (straight line) of 35 to 40 inches (90 to 100 cm) (Pritchard et al. 1983; Hopkins and Richardson 1984; Witherington and Ehrhart 1989). Morphologically, this species can be distinguished from the other sea turtles by the following characteristics: 1) a relatively smooth shell with no overlapping scutes; 2) one pair of scutes on the front of the head; 3) four pairs of lateral scutes on the carapace; 4) plastron with four pairs of enlarged scutes connecting the carapace; 5) one claw on each flipper;

and, 6)

olive, dark-brown mottled coloration (Nelson 1988; Pritchard et al. 1983; Carr 1952).

I 5-8

5.4.2 DISTRIBUTION Green turtles are circumglobally distributed mainly in waters between the northern and southern 20 C isotherm (Mager 1985). In the western

Atlantic, several major assemblages have been identified and studied (Parsons 1962; Pritchard 1966; Schulz 1975; 1982; Carr et al. 1978).

In the continental U.S., however, the only known green turtle nesting occurs on the Atlantic coast of Florida (Mager 1985). In U.S. Atlantic waters, green turtles are found around the U.S. Virgin

Islands, Puerto Rico, and the continental United States from Texas to Massachusetts (NMFS, 1991b).

5.4.3 FOOD Once green sea turtles leave their pelagic habitat phase and enter benthic feeding grounds (upon reaching a carapace length of 20 to 25 cm), they are primarily herbivores that eat sea grasses and algae (NMF$ 1991b). Other organisms living on sea grass blades and algae add to their diet (Mager 1985). 5.4.4 NESTING Green turtle nesting occurs on the Atlantic coast of Florida from June to September (Hopkins and Richardson 1984). Mature females may nest one to seven times per season at about 10 to 18 day intervals (Carr et al. 1978). Average clutch sizes vary between 100 and 200 eggs that hatch usually within 45 to 60 days (Hopkins and Richardson 1984). Hatchlings emerge, mostly at night, travel quickly to the water, and swim out to sea. At this point, they enter a period which is poorly understood but is likely spent pelagically in areas where currents concentrate debris and floating vegetation such as sargassum (Carr 1986). 5.4.5 POPULATION SIZE The number of green sea turtles that existed before commercial exploitation and the total number that now exists are not known. Records show drastic declines in the Florida catch during the 1800's and similar declines occurred in other areas where they were commercially harvested in the past, such as Texas (Hildebrand 1982 c Hopkins and Richardson 1984). The elimination or deterioration of many nesting beaches and less frequent encounters with green turtles provide inferential evidence that stocks are generally declining (Mager 1985; Hopkins and Richardson 1984). 5-9

y 5.5 LEATHERBACK TURTLE (Dermochelys coriacea) 5.

5.1 DESCRIPTION

The leatherback turtle is the largest of the sea turtles. It has an elongated, somewhat triangularly shaped body with longitudinal ridgen or keels. It has a leathery blue-black shell composed of a thick layer of

oily, vascularized cartilaginous

material, strengthened by a mosaic of thousands of small bones.

This blue-black shell may also have variable white spotting (Pritchard et al. 1983). Its plastron is white. Leatherbacks normally weigh up to 660 pounds (300 kg) and attain a carapace length (straight line) of 55 inches (140 cm) (Pritchard et al. 1983; Hopkins and Richardson 1984). Specimens as large as 2,000 pounds (910 kg) have been observed. Morphologically this species can be easily distinguished from the other sea turtles by the following characteristics: 1) its smooth unscaled carapace; 2) carapsce with seven longitudinal ridges; 3) head and flippers covered with unscaled skin; and, 4) no claws on the flippers (Nelson 1988; Pritchard et al. 1983; Pritchard 1971; Carr 1952). 5.5.2 DISTRIBUTION Leatherbacks have a circumglobal distribution and occur in the Atlantic, Indian and Pacific Oceans. They range as far north as Labrador and Alaska to as far south as chile and the Cape of Good Hope. Their occurrence f arther north than other sea turtle species is probably related to their ability to maintain a warmer body 1 temperature over a longer period of time (NMFS 1985). Thompson (1984) reported that leatherbacks prefer water temperatures of about 20'c (15* ) and were likely to be associated with cooler, more productive waters than the Gulf Stream. Aerial surveys have shown leatherbacks to be present from April to November between North Carolina and Nova Scotia, but most likely to be observed from the Gulf of Maine south to Long Island during summer (Shoop et al. 1981). a 5.5.3 FOOD The diet of the leatherback consists primarily of soft-bodied animals such as jellyfish and tunicates, together with juvenile

fishes, amphipods and other organisms (Hopkins and Richardson 1984).

5.5.4 NESTING Leatherback turtle nesting occurs on the mid-Atlantic coast of Florida from late February or March to September (Hopkins and Richardson 1984; NMFS 1992a). Mature females may nest one to nine times per season at about 9 to 17 day intervals. Average clutch 5-10

sizes vary between 50 and 170 eggs that hatch usually within 50 to 75 days (Hopkins and Richardson 1984; Tucker 1988). Hatchlings emerge, mostly at night, travel quickly to the water, and swim out to sea. The life history of the leatherback is poorly understood since juvenile turtles are rarely observed. 5.5.5 POPULATION SIZE The world population estimates for the leatherback have been revised upward to over 100,000 females in recent years due to the discovery of nesting beaches in Mexico (Pritchard 1983). 5.6 SEA TURTLES IN COASTAL WATERS OF NEW JERSEY Four species of sea turtles are known to occur in the coastal marine and estuarine waters of New Jersey, based on the records of sea turtle strandings compiled by the Marine Mammal Stranding Center (Schoelkopf 1993). The Marine Mammal Stranding Center (MMSC) is a member of the Northeast Sea Turtle Salvage and Stranding Ne+ work supported by NMFS. The records of the MMSC include strandings of sea turtles along the seaside beaches of New Jersey as well as New Jersey's coastal embayments and estuaries such as Barnegat Bay and Delaware Bay. The four species of sea turtles reported from these areas include loggerhead, leatherback, Kemp's ridley, as well as green sea turtles. The MMSC has reported 458 sea turtle strandings in coastal New Jersey, from Delaware Bay to Sandy Hook between 1977 and 1992 (Tables 5-1 and 5-2). Only four of these strandings occurred at OCNGS; the details of these strandings are discussed in Section 6.0. Loggerheads were the most commonly stranded turtle, comprising almost two-thirds of the strandings between 1977 and 1992. Kemp's ridleys and leatherback were less common (7 and 27 percent of the strandings, respectively). Less than one percent of the reported strandings were green sea turtles (Schoelkopf 1993). j The majority of the strandings and/or sightings reported by MMSC have occurred between June and October (Table 5-2), although they j can occur virtually all year. 4 Stomach content analyses from dead turtles have shown that primary food items for loggerheads are often blue crab and horseshoe crab. Blue crab occur during most of the year in the OCNGS intake and discharge canals and adjacent areas of Barnegat Bay. Horseshoe crab move into Barnegat Bay to lay eggs in the spring and summer, which coincides with the northward seasonal movement of loggerheads along the coast. Kemp's ridley stomachs which have been examined also often contain primarily blue crab. From a functional ecological viewpoint, loggerhead and Kemp's ridleys would be secondary consumers. They are not likely to be an important link in the Barnegat Bay food web, however, because of their apparently low abundance. 5-11

5.6.1 SEA TURTLES IN BARNEGAT BAY A considerable body of evidence exists which indicates that sea turtles are not commonly found in Barnegat Bay. From 1975 to 1985, GPUN and its environmental consultants conducted an intensive biological monitoring program designed to qualify and quantify the marine biota of Barnegat Bay. The program included sampling i organisms impinged upon the CWS travelling screens and entrained in the cooling water flow of the condenser and dilution pump intakes at the OCNGS. In addition, thousands of trawl, seine and gill-ne+ samples were collected in Barnegat Bay, Forked River and Oystt J Creek (Danila et al. 1979; Ecological Analysts, Inc. 1981; EA Engineering, Science and Technology, Inc. 1986; EA Engineering, Science, and Technology, Inc.1986a; Jersey Central Power and Light Company 1978; Tatham et al. 1977; Tatham et al. 1978). Impingement and entrainment sampling involved the presence of 2 to 4 biologists at the intake structures during day and night sampling l periods. No sea turtles were captured or observed during more than l 20,000 hours of sampling. Nearly 3,000 trawl samples were collected during day and night sampling periods. These samples consisted of 5-minute hauls of a 4.9 meter semiballoon otter trawl. The trawl had a 3.8 cm stretch mesh body, a 3.2 cm stretch mesh cod end and a 1.3 cm stretch mesh inner liner. No sea turtles were found in any of_these samples. More than 2,000 seine samples were collected during day and nite periods using 12.2 meter and 45.7 meter seines with 0.6 cm and 1.3 cm stretch mesh, respectively. No sea turtles were found in any of these samples. Gill-net samples were collected using a 91.4 x 1.8 meter net consisting of

three, 30.5 cm panels of 38, 70 and 89 mm monofilament stretch mesh or a 61.0 meter net, identical to that described above but without the 70 mm mesh panel.

Several hundred samples were collected during day and night periods. No sea turtles were captured in these gill nets. The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, Division of Fish, Game and Wildlife, has conducted periodic trawl and seine sampling in Barnegat Bay since 1971 (NJDEP 1973; Makai 1993; McLain 1993) and have reported no sea turtle captures. Similarly, Rutgers University reports that only one loggerhead-turtle was captured during more than 5 years of periodic trawl sampling in Great Bay and Little Egg Harbor, estuaries located immediately south of_ Barnegat Bay (Able 1993). The scarcity of sea turtles 17, Barnegat Bay is not surprising considering the fact that th: <> 1y direct access to the bay from the Atlantic Ocean is through

• Angle, narrow inlet, approximately.

1,000 feet wide. By contrL :, the inlet to Delaware Bay is approximately 11 miles wide (Figure 5-6), providing unrestricted access from the Atlantic Ocean. Largely as a result of this accessibility, sea turtles have been much more common in Delaware 5-12

Bay. At the Salem Nuclear Generating Station located on upper Delaware Bay, Public Service Electric and Gas (1989) has captured sea turtles in the vicinity of their cooling water intakes since 4 1980, only three years after the first of two generating units began operating. As many as 10 sea turtles have been captured at that facility in a single year. The location of the generating station relative to the inlet from the ocean, as well as the rate and velocity of the cooling water flows should also be considered when comparing incidental capture rates at the Salem and Oyster Creek generating stations. The OCNGS is located much closer to Barnegat Inlet than Salem Generating Station is to the mouth of Delaware Bay. However, a sea turtle entering Barnegat Bay must trav el along several miles of narrow, relatively shallow navigation channels, characterized by very heavy boat ' traf fic, and pass through the wooden support structures of 3 bridges, in order to ret.ch the OCNGS (Figure 5-7). The rate of cooling water withdrawal for either the CWS or the DWS for OCNGS (approximately 500,000 gpm) is about 25 percent of that for the cooling water system at Salem (approximately 2,000,000 gpm). Similarly, the intake velocity at the OCNGS CWS intake (0.56-0.66 ft./sec) is approximately 25% of that at Salem (2.0-2.4 ft./sec). The intake velocity at the DWS intake for OCNGS (2.4 ft./sec) is similar to that at Salem's cooling water intake. These factors play an important role in minimizing the number of incidental takes, as well as the potential for drowning, at the OCNGS intakes. The occurrence of 3 sea turtles at the OCNGS during 1992 and one in 1993, when none had been observed before despite intensive sampling ef forts, may be attributable to recent changes in the accessibility of Barnegat Bay and increases in sea turtle population levels. The modifications to Barnegat Inlet that were completed in 1991 resulted in a significant increase in the depth of the inlet, and concomitant increase in the volume of water moving through the inlet during each tidal cycle. Recent prel3minary data indicate that the average tidal prism after completion of the modifications is approximately 2.5 times greater than during.the 1980's prior to i the modifications (Gebert 1994). In addition, the removal of shoals near the inlet entrance reduced the amount of turbulence associated wit.h breaking surf. These changes may have made the inlet more accessible to sea turtles migrating along the Atlantic coast. ~ Dramatically smaller numbers of strandings of drowned sea turtles and increases in sea turtle nesting activity on two key beaches have been attributed to the implementation of the NMFS TED i requirements in September of 1989 (Crouse et al. 1992). The use of TED's has apparently resulted in a significant reduction in shrimp trawl by-catch mortality, possibly by as much as 97 percent. 5-13 a

a v According to NMFS estimates (NMFS 1991a), shrimp trawls may have killed as many as 5,000 to 50,000 loggerhead and more than 700 Kemp's ridley turtles each. year, prior to the use of TED's. This relatively recent reduction in sea turtle mortality may have resulted in an increase in the number of individualc migrating up the Atlantic coast and moving into the estuaries. This theory is supported by recent trends in incidental sea turtle captures at the Salem Generating Station. From 1980 through 1988, sea turtles were captured at Salem at a rate of approximately 4.2 per year (PSE&G 1989). The rate of capture increased to more than 9 per year during the 1989-1993 period, following implementation of TED's by commercial shrimp trawlers. It is difficult to predict future trends in the occurrence of sea turtles at the OCNGS. If the number of individuals migrating up and down the Atlantic coast is the major determining factor, incidental captures may continue to occur if the TED regulations are as effective as they seem to be after the first few years of experience. If accessibility to Barnegat Bay is the most important factor, the frequency of incidental captures at OCNGS may decline with time. Barnegat Inlet is notoriously dynamic, the position of-the channel shifting frequently and the volume of the tidal prism continuously decreasing due to ' sedimentation (Table 3-1; Ashley 1988). As a result, accessibility to the bay through the inlet was probably at its maximum following the completion of the inlet modifications and associated dredging in 1993 and is likely to decrease with time. 4 - l 5-14 i

TABLE 5-1 SEA TURTLE STRANDINGS IN NEW JERSEY COASTAL AND ESTUARINE WATERS REPORTED BY MARINE MAMMAL STRANDING CENTER, 1977-1992. (SCHOELKOPF 1993) ANNUAL DISTRIBUTION YEAR' LOGGERHEAD . RIDLEY LEATHERBACK GREEN 1977 1 0 1 0 1978 4 0 2 0 1979 11 0 10 0 1980 9 0 2 0 1981 4 0 13 0 1982 2 0 13 0 1983 8 4 9 0 1984 8 0 2 0 1985 22 1 7 0 1986 15 0 2 0 1987 37 1 33 0 1988 13 0 6 0 1989 17 7 3 0 1990 26 0 9 1 1991 55 4 13 2 1992 39 5 5 1 TOTALS 305 22 127 4 a 5-15

TABLE 5-2 SEASONAL OCCURRENCE OF SEA TURTLE STRANDINGS IN NEW JERSEY COASTAL AND ESTUARINE WATERS REPORTED BY MARINE MAMMAL STRANDING CENTER AND PUBLIC SERVICE ELECTRIC AND GAS, 1977-1992. (PSE&G 1989; SCHOELKOPF 1993) MONTHLY DISTRIBUTION (*) MONTH LOGGERHEAD RIDLEY LEATHERBACK GREEN JAN 1(0) 0 2(0) 0 FEB 0 0 1(0) 0 MAR 0 0 1(0) 0 APR 0 0 1(0) 0 MAY 0 0 2(0) 0 JUN 31(1) 3(0) 4(0) 0 JUL 86(0) 5(0) 10(0) 0 AUG 65(0) 7(0) 23(0) 2(0) SEP 77(1) 13(0) 43(0) 1(0) OCT 37(0) 3(2) 33(0) 0 NOV 5(0) 1(0) 8(0) 1(0) DEC 0 0 2(0) 0 TOTALS 302(2) 32(2) 132(0) 4(0)

• Number of incidental captures at OCNGS in parentheses.

4 k i 5-16

TERRESTRIAL STAGES = Nests i r Nesting Hatchlings Females n v E Adult Ha tc hlings ~* Females n i f Adult Sub-Adult Early Males and Juvenile Immature Stages PELAGIC STAGES Figure 5-1. Generalized sea turtle life cycle (After PSE&G 1989).

STAllSTICAL ZONES STATISTICAL ZONE 44 f 43 44 KEMP'S RIDLEY ~ O t<w roax 4i L 41 m I OlllER 40 40 m I i ' enmsttvun 39 I oino U 39 38 i L x 38 37 s I wv 37 36 I I Y' 35 m 1 vac,,, 36 34 [ i ~ e4o cenairag_ 35 33 I I h [ 34 l so. j C'8 " '"^ 33 30 m . _ El.~ 1 ],," ccoaca 32 / 31 27 i --f\\ 30 26 i \\ 29 25 7 3 \\ 28 24 i 4 rt\\ 27 i i i i 1 _1__,_ - ) - 26 = 0 50 100 150 200 250 300 350 .f 25 24 NUMBER OF REPORTED STRANDINGS Figure 5-2. Sea Turtle Strandings, U.S. Atlantic Coast'1987-(After NMFS 1988).

(- I w ) MS AL GA T \\ TX LA DN 1 11 ws si ~ e p_ /re- 'd 18 17 16 15 14 e / 19 L_., 5 (20 J 4 % 21 3 GULF OF MEXICO 2li GULF OF MEXICO 120 in 3 ALL SPECIES (N = 436) 100 O KEMP'S RIDLEY (N = 103) E 80 E ? 60 Ox o 40 5 3 3 20 5 o n EE_m _O -unn 212019181716151413121110 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 STATISTICAL ZONE. Figure 5-3. Sea Turtle Strandings, U.S. Gulf of Mexico 1987 (After NMFS 1988). 5-19

50,000 - Kemps Ridley 'l \\ Detail Decline This Decade 3 % / Year 40,000 - 3oo. 700* 600-E 500-g 30,000 - 400-2 300-k la t \\ 1978 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 3 20 000 - .h \\ a W \\ 10,000 - \\ s % % m. 1,000 - ~ + .i 1947 50 60 70-' 80 90 - Year Figure 5-4. Estimated Annual Number of Nesting Female Kemp's Ridley Sea Turtles (After Ross 1989). 5-20

l l f 1200 ' l l I l 1000-o o o i o O i O j. 4 800- .it ~ k M C o 4 g[ .a e Y I: 4 7 ..4 o e u A -t. 4 -y 3 4 5 '-'!! l-( '-* O Pre-TED Implementation BOO-i 2 1 4 -1 1 + y o E Post-TED Implementation 1 a a f g; .g ~A 4 = ..t s - y + 7 y + ,F s e ,y -g-c. c 7 q r 5 l s i r t. 4,- a 0 i i. i i i i i i i i e i T 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 Figure 5-5. Number of Kemp's Ridley Nests at Rancho Nuevo Before and After Implementation of TED Regulations in 1989 (After Crouse et al. 1992). L.__. _.'__u r__-___________________.____.m ___-___m h___.m___~.s. ,_s.--.- ___meAh_h- .a-

.. ~. l .,,.,..,..: ~ r. .I ISLAND I + e BEACH %r'%r .l BARNEGAT BAY l e Qup, n ~ 2km BOX ^ WILMINGTON P(i ( g q~s ~2 C&D. [ g.Yl" ' . CANAL .NEW a eP G-LJERSEYn a s,m. -e ,e r .. tP-k g 6 3 +l,_ ..,x.. w A;'t' .s i [

p. W

'1 s .a a ,y-DELAWARE BAY - BOWERS BEACH es ep .~ y .T $,5. - .,y CAPE MAY 3 s DELAWAREi ~ c.7 CAPE. -lj i. [LEWES J HENLOPEN ATLANTIC-P . '. gyps ;a %. OCEAN w - n', w.um:w2 M%s,' ~ M Figure 5-6. Relative widths of the mouth of Delaware Bay and Barnegat Inlet. Inset shows Barnegat Inlet vicinity in greater detail. 5-22 l .. y, : 4 n

NJ /:.1 ~ 1 ,) mm, f \\._ l ')% ( l l / h W j f \\l 0 \\ ( -I JQui ~ ) ~ ( /, / OY Creek / / _ f,' f g '/ ( g /- ~ Genereung g/ l f stenon \\ 81 \\ (N

• • t)

I / ," 4) / 1 ,s / EeYn / D s \\(% Q';5 -Q c.:=g d> Attentic c I dR Oceen fK i naviaaeon cuanner ' ~ e y p~r g ) c-l B i 's A g \\ iN \\\\ g i '\\ O eQ %"s semegetee, Bamegat y a 6 l Bamegat g => Scale s Ught 1 mile ' #8 1km j b i Figure 5-7. . Probable pathway of sea ttirtles moving from the Atlantic Ocean to OCNGS via Barnegat Inlet. im r-' +m' um ra

SECTION 6.0 ONSITE INFORMATION 6.1 OCCURRENCE OF SEA TURTLES AT OYSTER CREEK NUCLEAR GENERATING STATION As discussed in Section 5.0, despite intensive sampling efforts, no sea turtles were observed during the 23 years of OCNGS operation prior to 1992; four sea turtles have been captured since 1992 (Tables 5-2 and 6-1). Three sea turtles were taken in 1992: a dead loggerhead with deep boat propeller wounds was impinged on June 25, 1992; a live loggerhead taken twice in September 1992; and a live Kemp's ridley turtle was taken October 26, 1992. During 1993, the only sea turtle observed at OCNGS was a dead subadult Kemp's ridley turtle taken on October 17, 1993 (Table 6-1). 6.1.1 ANNUAL COMPARISON During any particular year the number of sea turtles collected at the Oyster Creek CWS and DWS intakes ranged from zero (in all years prior to 1992) to three during 1992 (Table 6-2). The actual number of loggerheads incidentally captured on the intake ranged between zero and two animals annually. The actual number of Kemp's ridleys incidentally captured on the intake ranged between zero and one animal annually. Given the very small number of sea turtles captured at OCNGS and the fact that they have only occurred during 1992 and 1993, it is difficult to predict how many may be captured in the future. However, based on the levels of incidental capture observed at the intake to date, it is estimated that zero to three loggerheads and zero to two Kemp's ridleys could be expected to be taken from the OCNGS intake during any given year. 6.1.2 SPECIES COMPOSITION Two loggerhead sea turtles (Caretta caretta) and two Kemp's ridleys (Lepidochelys kempii) have been captured at the circulating and dilution water intakes. The loggerheads were both juveniles or subadults. Carapace lengths (straight length) were 35.5 and 46.7 centimeters with a mean of 41.1 centimeters (Figure 6-1). The ridleys were also juveniles or subadults. Their carapace lengths (straight length) ranged from 26 to 32 centimeters with a mean of 29 centimeters (Figure 6-1). 6.1.3 SEASONAL DISTRIBUTION OF OCCURRENCES One out of four sea turtle strandings at the OCNGS were reported during June, one out of four during September, and two out of four during October. No turtles were collected during the winter months (Table 6-3). 6-1

The timing of sea turtle occurrences at OCNGS corresponds well with the available information on the seasonal movements of these animals. Based on aerial surveys of pelagic turtles (Shoop et al. 1981), sea turtles, loggerheads in particular, migrate up the coast from the southeast in the spring and summer months. They move into the bays and coastal waters as water temperatures reach suitable levels and forage on crabs and other preferred foods (Keinath et al. 1987; Morreale and Standora 1989). As the temperatures of the bays and coastal waters start to decline, these animals move southward to the warmer water of the southeast Atlantic Coast. Recapture information from tagged animals provides evidence for such movements in loggerheads and ridleys (Shoop et al. 1981; Henwood 1987; PSE&G 1989). 6.1.4 CONDITION OF TURTLES CAPTURED AT INTAKE' STRUCTURES Of the four stranded turtles captured at the OCNGS intakes, two were dead and two were alive and subsequently released (Tables 6-1 and 6-2). The single dead loggerhead taken had deep boat propeller wounds and was partially decomposed when impinged at the dilution water system intake structure at OCNGS. The only other loggerhead taken at l

OCNGS, a juvenile, was removed alive from the CWS intake and released into the discharge canal in good condition on September 9, 1992.

The same individual was subsequently recaptured at the CWS intake on September 11, 1992. The turtle was delivered to the Marine Mammal Stranding Center where it was examined, found to be healthy and released into the Atlantic Ocean. One of the two ridleys was alive when captured and was successfully l released into the Atlantic Ocean in North Carolina'by the Marine l Mammal Stranding Center after observing its behavior for several days. The dead ridley, a juvenile, appeared to be fresh dead. This specimen was sent to Dr. Steven Morreale of the Center for the Environment, Cornell University, who will perform a necropsy on it. Because the necropsy has not yet been completed, the cause of death remains uncertain but may be attributable to drowning. Information collected at Salem Generating Station has shown that both anthropogenic and natural causes of death contribute to sea turtle mortalities in. local estuaries (PSE&G 1989). Furthermore, based on other necropsy information available from the Marine Mammal Stranding Center, boat-related injuries appear to be common l occurrences in both stranded loggerheads and ridleys in Delaware Bay'and coastal New Jersey (Schoelkopf 1993). This is consistent with NMFS findings which show boat-related injuries as a common carcass anomaly (NMFS 1988). l 6-2

TABLE 6-1 OYSTER CREEK NUCLEAR GENERA 11NG STATION SEA TURTLE INCIDENTAL CAirfURES COLLECTION SPECIES AND LIFE STAGE CARAPACE LENGTH CAFTURED AT CAFTURED FRESH BOAT FROP RELEASE SITE DATE Inches (Cenumeters) CWS OR DWS? ALIVE? DEAD? WOUNDS? 6/25/92 leggerhead 14.0 (35.5) Dilution Water No No Yes N/A juvenile System 9/9/92 Loggerhead 18.4 (46.7) Circulating Yes N/A No New Jersey juvenile Water System I cs b 9/11/92* Loggerhead 18.4 (46.7) Circulating Yes N/A No New Jersey juvenile Water System 10/25/92 Kemp's ridley 12.6 (32.0) Circulating Yes N/A No North Carolina subadult Water System i 10/17/93 Kemp's ridley ' 10.3 (26.0) Dilution Wates-No Yes No N/A juvenile System NOTE: No sea turtles were captured during the first 22 full years of OCNGS operation, 1970-1991.

• Loggerhead captured on 9/11/92 was the same turtle that was captured on 9/9/92.

9 TABLE 6-2 MORTALITY OF SEA TURTLES CAPTURED FROM INTAKE TRASH BARS AT OYSTER CREEK NUCLEAR GENERATING STATION (LIVE / DEAD) YEAR LOGGERHEAD RIDLEY TOTALS 1969 0/0 0/0 0/0 1970 0/0 0/0 0/0 1971 0/0 0/0 0/0 1972 0/0 0/0 0/0 1973 0/0 0/0 0/0 1974 0/0 0/0 0/0 1975 0/0 0/0 0/0 1976 0/0 0/0 0/0 1977 0/0 0/0 0/0 1978 0/0 0/0 0/0 1979 0/0 0/0 0/0 1980 0/0 0/0 0/0 1981 0/0 0/0 0/0 1982 0/0 0/0 0/0 1983 0/0 0/0 0/0 1984 0/0 0/0 0/0 1985 0/0 0/0 0/0 1986 0/0 0/0 0/0 1987 0/0 0/0 0/0 1988 0/0 0/0 0/0 1989 0/0 0/0 0/0 1990 0/0 0/0 0/0 1991 0/0 0/0 0/0 ~ 1992 1/1 1/0 2/1 1993 0/0 0/1 0/1 TOTALS 1/1 1/1 2/2 6-4

TABLE 6-3 SEASONAL OCCURRENCE OF SEA TURTLES AT OYSTER CREEK NUCLEAR GENERATING STATION INTAKES MONTHLY DISTRIBUTION MONTH LOGGERHEAD RIDLEY TOTALS JAN O O O FEB 0 0 0 MAR 0 0 0 APR 0 0 0 MAY 0 0 0 JUN 1 0 1 JUL 0 0 0 AUG 0 0 0 SEP 1 0 1 OCT 0 2 2 NOV O O O DEC 0 0 0 TOTALS 2 2 4-r 4 6-5

SEA TURTLE LENGTH FREQUENCY DISTRIBUTION CARAPACE LENGTH, STRAIGHT L!NE MEASUREMENT (CM) 4 3 ~ 2 m L / y g 1 $$$l@ I~ is E BMW) 9$$$is)l'M y 0 21-25 26-30 31-35 36-40 41-45 46-50 51-55 L. kempii Bel 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 C. caretta 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 L. kempii = Kemp's ridley C. caretta = Loggerhead Figure 6-1. Frequency Distribution of Carapace Lengths for Loggerhead and Kemp's Ridley Sea Turtles Captured from Intake Structures at OCNGS.

SECTION

7.0 ASSESSMENT

OF PRESENT OPERATIONS The primary concern with sea turtles at OCNGS is whether or not any station related losses of these endangered or threatened sea turtle species " jeopardizes their continued existence." Federal regulation (50 CFR 402) defines " jeopardizes the continued existence" as " engaging in an action that reasonably would be expected, directly or indirectly, to reduce appreciably the likelihood of both the survival and recovery of the listed species in the wild by reducing the reproduction,

numbers, or distribution of that species."

Therefore, the question relative to OCNGS is: Do the activities associated with the operation of Oyster Creek Nuclear Generating Station " appreciably reduce" the reproduction, numbers or distribution of either the loggerhead or Kemp's ridley sea turtles? 7.1 IMPACTS OF CONTINUED OPERATION OF OYSTER CREEK NUCLEAR GENERATING STATION ON SEA TURTLE POPULATIONS 7.1.1' IMPACTS DUE TO INCIDENTAL CAPTURE (IMPINGEMENT) OF TURTLES ON CWS AND DWS INTAKE TRASH RACKS Four sea turtles have been retrieved from either the circulating water or dilution water system intake at OCNGS during 1992 and 1993. Two of these turtles were alive and returned to the Atlantic Ocean by Marine Mammal Stranding Center (MMSC) personnel. One of the live sea turtles was released near the MMSC in Brigantine, New Jersey. The other was transported by MMSC personnel to warmer Atlantic Ocean waters for release near Kure Beach, North Carolina due to the cold and falling ocean water temperatures in New Jersey at the time. Two of the turtles removed from the intake were dead. Of these, one exhibited severe boat prop wounds and was moderately decomposed indicating that its death occurred prior to encountering the intake. The intake trash bars routinely capture floating debris during normal operation; dead and injured turtles which wash ashore, buoyed by the gases of decomposition, would be expected to be'part of the debris load in the intake canal removed by the station. Therefore, it is apparent that there has been only one dead turtle removed from the intake since the plant began operation in 1969 whose cause of death was uncertain and may have been contributed to by the plant. o Based on these levels of incidental capture at the intake, it is ~ estimated that zero to three loggerheads and zero to two Kemp's ridleys would be expected to be taken from the intake during any given year. 7.1.

1.1 ASSESSMENT

OF IMPACT ON LOGGURHEAD SEA TURTLE POPULATIONS The annual number of loggerheads incidentally captured at OCNGS has ranged from zero to two turtles. One of the two loggerheads captured'was alive and released back into the wild. The single dead loggerhead taken was moderately decomposed when collected, suggesting death prior to involvement with the station. Carapace 7-1

-~--- o e wounds suggested that damage from boat propellers caused the death of this loggerhead. Therefore, if live and long dead animals are i removed from the assessment of impact, the OCNGS has had no impact on loggerhead sea turtle populations to date. Adult and subadult loggerhead sea turtle populations have been recently estimated to be approximately 387,000 in the southeast United States (see Section 5.0). The estimated number of mature females in this same area has been estimated to range between 35,000 and 72,000 turtles. In order to determine if any future losses attributable to OCNGS " appreciably reduce" the reproduction, numbers or distribution of loggerheads, it is necessary to compare on-site information with breeding information, population estimates, and distribution information for this species. Although two loggerhead nests were reported from New Jersey in the 1980's (Schoelkopf 1993), loggerhead nesting in the United States primarily occurs along coastal beaches in Florida, Georgia, South Carolina and North Carolina. Also, both loggerheads incidentally captured from the CWS and DWS intakes were juveniles or subadults, which are more prevalent along the mid Atlantic coast than adults. Therefore, based on the immaturity of the specimens captured and the fact that loggerhead nesting does not typically occur in New Jersey, the only loss to loggerhead reproduction would be from production foregone due to the loss of juvenile /subadult animals on the intake which could potentially be recruited into the breeding female population at some time in the future. The observed worst case incidental catch level for loggerheads at OCNGS has been two turtles during any given year, with no mortality attributable to the OCNGS. However, for the purposes of this as" sment we will assume that two deaths per year is a worst case ate of loggerhead mortality associated with the OCNGS. If we es' cor.,.re this with the estimated population size of 387,000 animals, this mortality would represent 0.0005 percent of the population in the southeast U.S. It should be kept in mind that the population estimate on which this percentage is based does not include juveniles or subadults in the region or populations from areas other than the U.S. This means that the population size is probably underestimated and the worst case estimate of losses attributable to OCNGS is overestimated. Mortality.at this level will not " appreciably reduce" the distribution or numbers of loggerhead sea turtles along the Atlantic Coast of the United States. 7.1.

1.2 ASSESSMENT

OF IMPACT ON KEMP'S RIDLEY SEA TURTLE POPULATIONS The number of Kemp's ridleys incidentally captured at OCNGS during 1992 and 1993 has been one each year. One of the two ridleys captured was alive and was successfully released back into the l I 7-2

l l wild. The only dead Kemp's ridley taken appeared to be f resh dead. If the live animal is removed from the annual estimate, the annual average less of Kemp'r -idleys that may be attributable to OCNGS is less than one animal per year. L-In order to determine if OCNGS " appreciably reduces" the reproduction, numbers or distribution of ridley sea turtles, it is i l necessary to compare on-site information with breeding information, population estimates, and distribution information for this species. The adult Kemp's ridley sea turtle population has recently been estimated to be approximately 2,200 turtles based on breeding females observed in Mexico (see Section 5.0). Since this breeding colony is the only known colony in the world, this estimate apparently represents the worldwide breeding population for Kemp's ridleys. Both specimens captured at OCNGS were juveniles or subadults. Therefore, based on the immaturity of the specimens captured and the fact that ridley nesting does not occur in New Jersey, the only loss to ridley reproduction would be from production foregone due to the mortality of juvenile /subadult animals on the intake which could potentially be recruited into the breeding female population at some time in the future. If we assume a worst case incidental catch at OCNGS of one to two ridley sea turtles during any given year and compare it with the estimated population size of 2,200, they would represent 0.05 to 0.09 percent of the population. This population estimate does not include juveniles and subadults and therefore underestimates the actual population size. It is unlikely that losses at this level would " appreciably reduce" the distribution or numbers of Kemp's ridley sea turtles along the Atlantic Coast of the United States. 7.2 OTHER POTENTIAL STATION IMPACTS ON SEA TURTLES 7.2.1 ACUTE THERMAL EFFECTS The discharges from the circulating water and dilution water systems of OCNGS are located 150 feet and 450 feet (45 and 105 i raters) west of the reactor building, respectively (Figure 4-2). discussed in Section 4.0, the temperature rise of the CWS ischarge is typically about 20*F (11*C) over ambient intake canal cemperatures. Because of the relatively high discharge velocities (2.1-3.1 feet /second; 65-95 cm/sec), a sea turtle is not likely to remain in the immediate vicinity of the condenser discharge for any_ length of time. Furthermore, turtles in the area would easily be able to avoid entrainment in the thermal discharge flow by swimming away. Downstream of the condenser discharge, complete mixing with ambient temperature water from the DWS occurs, reducing the discharge canal water temperatures by approximately ll'F (6.l*C) when two dilution pumps are operating. The resulting water j temperature of approximately 10*F above ambient should not be stressful for any sea turtle species. Therefore, it is concluded that no adverse acute thermally-related impacts will be sustained by either sea turtle species. 7-3

7.2.2 CHRONIC THERMAL EFFECTS The thermal discharge from Oyster Creek Nuclear Generating Station will not adversely impact the reproduction or migratory behavior of sea turtles inhabiting Barnegat Bay or coastal oceanic waters in -the vicinity of OCNGS. Because the vast majority of reproduction occurs in the southeastern United States in the case of the loggerhead and Mexico in the case of the Kemp's ridley, no reproductive impacts are expected. The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection and Energy evaluation of the impact of the OCNGS thermal plume on Barnegat Bay concluded that the effects on fish distribution and abundance were small and localized with few or no regional consequences (Summers et al. 1989). Similarly, due to the shallow nature of the plume, the relatively small area affected, and the small temperature increases within Barnegat Bay, the movements of sea turtles in the bay should not be adversely impacted. The areal extent of the thermal

plume, as measured by the 1.1*C excess temperature isotherm, depends upon prevailing wind conditions and tidal stage but has been estimated to be less than 5,300 feet (1.6 km) in an east-west direction by 18,500 feet (5.6 km) in a north-south direction, under all conditions (Starosta et al.1979,- JCP&L 1986).

More importantly, as discussed in Section 4.1.3.1, outside of the immediate vicinity of the mouth of Oyster Creek, the plume is primarily a surface phenomenon. As such, it is easily avoidable by sea turtles which move freely about in the water column, spending a large portion of their time foraging on the bottom. 7.2.3 COLD SHOCK Cold shock mortalities of fishes have occurred at the OCNGS in the past. These events occurred when migratory species, attracted to the heated condenser discharge, remained in the discharge canal after they would normally have migrated out of Barnegat Bay in response to falling autumn water temperatures. Subsequent station outages, after ambient water temperatures had fallen below 50*F (10*C), resulted in cold-shock fishkills. The number and severity of these events has been reduced as a result of the operation of two dilution pumps in the fall, when ambient water temperatures began to drop, to decrease the attractiveness of the discharge. canal as overwintering habitat (Summers et al. 1989). Cold-shock mortality of sea turtles has not been observed and is not expected to occur at the OCNGS for a number of reasons. The area where sea turtles could overwinter is extremely limited, including only the immediate vicinity of the condenser discharge, prior to any mixing with the DWS flow. Winter water temperatures in the discharge canal, downstream of the area where CWS and DWS flows mix,' routinely fall below 45*F (7.2*C). 7-4

The small area where winter water temperatures would be suitable for overwintering sea turtles is characterized by a relatively high discharge velocity of 2.1-3.1 feet per second (65-95 cm/sec). This would require continuous swimming activity, 24 hours per day, in order for a sea turtle to maintain its position in the heated discharge flow. Food availability in the potential overwintering area would be extremely limited and probably insufficient to support the amount of swimming activity required to maintain a turtle in the heated discharge flow throughout the winter. Their preferred food, blue crabs and horseshoe crabs, would not be found in this area during the winter months. In addition, the canal bottom has a very hard substrate in the vicinity of the condenser discharge, and does not support a wide variety of benthic organisms that might serve as sea turtle forage. 7.2.4 BIOCIDES Low level, intermittent chlorination is used to control biofouling in the OCNGS service water system and circulating water systems. New Jersey Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NJPDES) permit conditions limit chlorine discharge levels to a maximum daily concentration of 0.2 mg/l or a maximum daily chlorine usage of 41.7 kg/ day. The main condenser cooling water is chlorinated for approximately 2 hours per day. The chlorine demand in the main condenser discharge consumes almost all remaining free chlorine and results in essentially no chlorine being released to the discharge canal. Given the very small quantities of chlorine applied, the short duration of the application periods, the fact that residual chlorine levels in the condenser discharge are at or near zero, and the fact that the condenser discharge is combined with unchlorinated DWS flow, the use of this biocide will not have any impact on sea turtles that may occur in the discharge canal or Barnegat Bay. 7.3 MITIGATING MEASURES In order to minimize the potential impact of station operations on threatened or endangered sea turtles, a variety of mitigating measures have been instituted at OCNGS and are described in this section. 7.3.1 INCLUSION IN PROCEDURE FOR NOTIFICATION OF STATION EVENTS Because two species of endangered or threatened sea turtles are known to occur in the vicinity of the powerplant, OCNGS procedure 126, entitled Notification of Station Events, has been revised to include reporting to regulatory agencies (NRC and NMFS) of all sightings or captures of sea turtles. The Notification Table and related documents found in this procedure are in the control room of OCNGS and are used by control room personnel to determine what 7-5

t events require reporting. The Table also refers the personnel to specific references which clearly define the administrative procedures for specific events. Endangered and threatened species are specifically identified in Section 9 of the Table, which also identifies the Environmental Controls Department as being responsible to assist with proper sea turtle recovery efforts and for reporting such events. 7.3.2 SEA TURTLE HANDLING AND REPORTING When a turtle is observed at the intake, the operator's first action is to attempt to remove the animal from the water to the operating level of the intake. Once the turtle has been retrieved, the operator notifies the control room personnel who in turn follow the administrative procedures referred to in section 7.3.1. The trash rake procedure discussed in Subsection 4.1.1.1.1 is one way larger sea turtles nay be removed from the trash racks at the circulating water system intake at OCNGS. Smaller turtles may be removed by a long handlad dip net.

Recently, the OCNGS Environmental Controls Department has designed and f abricated a sea turtle rescue sling.

The purpose of this device is to provide for the gentle removal of large sea turtles from the station's intake structures. When notified by the control room of a sea turtle observation or

capture, the Environmental Controls Department dispatches an Environmental Scientist to the station.

The Environmental Scientist will verify the identification of the turtle as being an endangered or threatened species and attempt resuscitation if necessary. If the turtle is alive, it will be kept out of the direct sun if it is a bright sunny day. The Environmental Controls representative will notify the local affiliate of the Sea Turtle Salvage and Stranding Network (Marine Mammal Stranding Center) to arrange for the removal of the turtle from the site and its subsequent safe return to the ocean. The NMFS and the NRC will be notified of all incidental captures within 24 hours. The disposition of any dead sea turtles is determined on a case by case basis af ter consultation with the NMFS and the NRC. The Group Shift Supervisor helps coordinate the tasks necessary to properly handle the captured sea turtle and documents the completion of the notifications required by Procedure 126. A separate report is prepared by the Environmental Controls Department within 30 days of the event and submitted to the NRC and NMFS in accordance with Procedure 126. This report provides the details of the sea turtle incidental capture including the time and place of capture; the length, weight and condition of the turtle; the disposition of the turtle and any other pertinent information. 7-6 1

7.3.3 POSTINGS FOR SEA TURTLE IDENTIFICATION AND PROPER SEA TURTLE RESUSCITATION Large color posters which illustrate the distinguishing features of sea turtles have been placed in prominent locations at both the circulating water system and dilution water system intake structures. The posters are intended to assist employees in distinguishing sea turtles from terrapins and direct any station personnel finding a sea turtle to notify control room and Environmental Controls Department personnel as soon as possible (Figure 7-1). This infor nation is also published in the OCNGS employee newspaper each spring in order to increase the level of awareness just prior to the period when sea turtles are likely to occur. Additional color posters have been displayed prominently at the CWS and DWS intake structures which illustrate the proper techniques to resuscitate any sea turtles which are recovered from the intakes but are not moving about normally when recovered (Figure 7-2). 7.3.4 ANNUAL REVIEW OF SEA TURTLE RELATED RESPONSIBILITIES Over the last two years, the Environmental Controls Department has worked closely with the Station Operations Department, whose personnel clean and inspect the trash bars, to increase their awareness of the potential for sea turtle strandings at the intakes. Information has been distributed to Station Operations and other station personnel which contains drawings of the threatened and endangered sea turtles which can occur in the vicinity of OCNGS. It also provides the names and phone numbers of Environmental Controls and Environmental Licensing personnel who can assist with the

handling, resuscitation and regulatory reporting necessary following a sea turtle stranding. Of fice, home and pager telephone numbers for key Environmental Controls personnel have been provided to Operations personnel and are listed in the Notification Procedure (Procedure 126).

This information will be redistributed on an annual basis in order to maintain the level of awareness regarding sea turtles. 7.3.5 SURVEILLANCE OF INTAKE STRUCTURES During the months when sea turtles are known to occur in the vicinity of OCNGS (June through October), Operations Department personnel conduct surveillances of the trash racks at the circulating water and dilution water intake structures around the clock at least once per 8 hour workshift. Because the sea turtle season typically coincides with the period of greatest debris loading at the intakes, additional inspections of the intakes are often made during this period to ensure that the intakes are being kept suf ficiently clean of debris. The cleaning of the entire f ace of the circulating water and dilution water intakes and all their 7-7

component trash racks may take several hours or an entire shift (8 hours) when debris levels are high. These additional activities at the intakes provide further opportunities for plant personnel to sight and retrieve sea turtles from the intakes. Sea turtles may be spotted either on the water surf ace or when the tines of the trash rake exit the water with the debris. Sea turtles can be removed from the rake just prior to the point that the debris is dumped into the hopper or they can be removed with a long handled dip net. The specially designed rescue sling can be used for larger sea turtles. This device consists of large-mesh netting on a rigid metal frame with ropes attached to each corner. 7.3.6 PROPOSED ADDITIONAL SURVEILLANCE OF INTAKE STRUCTURES The ongoing measures to mitigate the impact of sea turtle impingement at the CWS and DWS intake structures appear to be adequate. A single loggerhead juvenile was captured and released in excellent condition twice during a three day period in September of 1992, indicating that the ongoing frequency of surveillance of the intake structures is sufficient to prevent sea turtle l drownings. As of this writing, there have been no confirmed cases of sea turtle drownings on the intake structures at OCNGS.

However, the most recently captured Kemps ridley was freshly killed.

Pending the results of the necropsy, drowning cannot be ruled out as the cause of death. Therefore, GPUN proposes the following changes to our intake structure surveillance program: 1) Inspections of the CWS and DWS intake structures will continue to be conducted on a once per 8-hour shift basis during the June - September period. However, after the first sea turtle is observed or

captured, inspection frequency will be increased to twice per 8-hour shift for the duration of the period.

2) Because both of the incidental captures of Kemps ridley sea turtles have occurred during the month of October, CWS and DWS intake inspections will be performed twice per 8-hour shift during that month. l-7.4 DISCUSSION OF GENERAL IMPACTS ON SEA TURTLE POPULATIONS Five factors have been listed by the federal government as factors contributing to the decline in sea turtle populations (43 FR 146:32800-32811): 1. Destruction or modification of habitat; 2. Overutilization for commercial, scientific or educational purposes; 3. Inadequate regulatory mechanisms; 7-8

4. Disease and/or predation; and, 5. Other natural or man-made sources. The destruction and/or modification of habitat from coastal development and losses due to incidental capture during commercial fishing are likely the two major factors impacting sea turtle populations along the Atlantic Coast of the United States. The continued development of beachfront and estuarine shoreline areas is likely to be impacting foraging and nesting grounds for several sea turtle species. Incidental capture (take) is defined as the capture of species pther than those towards which a particular fishery is directed. As implied by this definition, the commercial fishing industry has been implicated in many of the turtle carcass strandings on southeast U.S. beaches. The annual catch of sea turtles by shrimp trawlers in the southeast alone has been estimated by Henwood and Stuntz (1987) to be nearly 48,000 turtles (primarily loggerheads), resulting in over 11,000 turtle deaths per year., In a study conducted for Congress, the National Academy of Sciences concluded that incidental drowning in shrimp trawls " kills more sea turtles than all other human activities combined...", and may result in as many as 55,000 sea turtle drownings annually in U.S. waters (Magnuson et al. 1990). The drowning of sea turtles in commercial fishing nets is not the only anthropogenic source of mortality. Other human-related causes include injuries from encounters with boats, plastic ingestion, and entanglement in trash. In New Jersey and New York, boat related damage is a commonly observed injury in stranded turtles. The loggerhead, because it is the most abundant sea turtle in U. S. coastal waters, is the species most frequently encountered by fishermen and other boat operators. More research needs to be conducted to identify all of the sources of sea turtle mortality and to develop methods of mitigating those losses. The unintentional entrapment of sea turtles during non-fishery related industrial processes, such as the generation of electricity, is another source of incidental capture and mortality. We have documented the capture of 4 sea turtles at the OCNGS during more than 24 years of operation. Only one of these turtles may have died as a result of its encounter with the station's DWS intake. Relative to losses from other sources, such as commercial fishery by-catch, this loss is extremely small. Even though any loss of any individual of an endangered or threatened species is important, the magnitude of the potential losses.of loggerhead and Kemp's ridley sea turtles from Oyster Creek Nuclear Generating Station would not be expected to significantly impact the U.S. Atlantic coast populations of these sea turtle species. 7-9

- ~._.-..---_ l Figure 7-1. Sea Turtle Identification Poster Placed at 1 l OCNGS intake Structures. $gg gege. ) E.kette HansuulmmingSneor W r il Heati Unstdotofully1stif> i' chaur heatiknekteof aheE. i . ggnimurn Astutt cangroupto over Size three feetleslengtfL ts e Top View ./ 1 l Bottom View - ~ l,' g e Sn Tur:Ls a NMh hY@Qo)[M i U Idequ00w4 ttgrgidaar(ugjgagir#)gg rn om MasOmnisadma l a-oe o @@m820e(13GiH3$ l e a a l tunnsateer. l \\ 7-10

Figure 7-2. Sea Turtle Resuscitation Poster Placed at OCNGS Intake Structures, k (,1 ,, ~ ' SEA TURTLE i.,.. .. 1:t'ESUSCITATION STEP PtAcE rHE roRrLE oN iTS I BACK AND GENTLY PUMP i THE BREA5TPLATE. THis MAY SilMULA,TE THE ANIMAL TO BREATHE AND ALLOW WATER TO DRAIN. j. bIhh QN.lTS BREASTPLATE, RAISE THE' HIND-1 QU ARTERS. THE DEGREE OF ELEV AT10N IS OREATERFOR LARGER TURTLE S. , 9 BTEP xEEe inE rVRTLE SH ADED l l AND MOIST AND OBSERVE FOR 24 HOURS. 4 ~ 7-11 l J

SECTION

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