ML20132H261

Ro:On 850608,11 & 24,sea Turtles Found Impinged on Trash Bars of Circulating Water Sys Intake.Caused by Above Average Water Temp & Salinity.Trash Bars Will Be Observed at Least Once Per 8 H Shift

ML20132H261
Person / Time
Site:	Salem
Issue date:	07/05/1985
From:	Corbin McNeil Public Service Enterprise Group
To:	Murley C NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION I)
References
NUDOCS 8507190577
Download: ML20132H261 (4)

Text

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f Pubhc Service '

Electric and Gas Company i

, Cor31n A. McNeill, Jr. Public Service Electoc and Gas Company P.O Box 236. Hancocks andge. NJ 08338 609 339 4800

- Vice President -

Nuciear 3

July 5, 1985 l

Dr. Thomas E. Murley, Regional Administrator {

l Region 1 '

U. S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission ,

I 631 Park Avenue  !

3 King of Prussia, PA 19406  ;

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Dear Dr. Murley:

SALEM GENERATING STATION

UNIT NO. 2 1 DOCKET NO. 50-311 i

REPORT OF IMPINGEMENT OF SEA TURTLES  !

JUNE 8, 11 AND 24, 1985 ,

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3 This report is being submitted pursuant to the requirer. tents '

1 of Salem Unit 2 Environmental Technical Specifications, - Sections 4.1.1. and 5.4.2.a, b and c. This report is ,

i required within thirty (30) days of discovery.

i

] Sincerely, j l k  ;

1 I 85071 577 850705 .~

i PDR K 05000311 B PDR:

Attachment '

4 i C Mr. Donald C. Fischer I

Licensing Project Manager ,

l Mr. Thomas J. Kenny J

Senior Resident Inspector Mr. Richard Delgado~

New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection [d3 '

I \

> .3-Report Date: June 25, 1985 Occurrence Date: June 8, 11, and 24, 1985 Facility:- Salem Generating Station, Units 1 and 2 Public Service Electric and Gas Company Hancocks Bridge, New Jersey 08038 IDENTIFICATION OF OCCURRENCE:

Impingment.of one Atlantic loggerhead (Caretta caretta) and two Atlantic ridley (Lepidochelys kempi) sea turtles on the Circulating Water System (CWS) intake trash bars. The

- Atlantic loggerhead is federally listed as a threatened species and the Atlantic ridley as an endangered species under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended.

CONDITIONS PRIOR TO OCCURRENCE:

June 8, 1985 - Unit 1, 100% power; Unit 2, 100% power June 11, 1985 - Unit 1, 100% power; Unit 2, 100% power June 24, 1985 - Unit 1, 100% power; Unit 2, 100% power DESCRIPTION OF OCCURRENCE:

On June 8, 1985 at 1900 hours0.022 days <br />0.528 hours <br />0.00314 weeks <br />7.2295e-4 months <br />, an Atlantic loggerhead turtle was found impinged on the trash bars of the CWS intake.

Both Units were at full power and all circulating pumps were in operation at the time the turtle was found. The turtle was estimated to have been dead for approximately one day prior to impingement. It had a large crack along the left margin of the carapace indicative of a ship propeller cut.

The specimen had a carapace length and width of 19 and 14

. inches, respectively. Weight was estimated to be 15 to 20 pounds. In accordance with usual procedure, the specimen was removed by a representative of the Marine Mammal Stranding Center (MMSC) of Brigantine, New Jersey, for autopsy and disposal. The Senior Shift Supervisor and the Nuclear Regulatory Commission were notified of the event on June 9. On June 10, the following agencies were notified:

National Marine Fisheries Service, U. S. Environmental Protection Agency, N. J. Department of Environmental Protection, Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control, Delaware River Basin Commission, and the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

On June 11, 1985, at 1115 hours0.0129 days <br />0.31 hours <br />0.00184 weeks <br />4.242575e-4 months <br />, an Atlantic ridley turtle was found impinged on the CWS trash bars. Both Units were at full power and all circulating water pumps were in operation at the time the turtle was found. The turtle was alive and in excellent condition. It had no apparent injuries with the exception of several small abrasions which likely occurred during retrieval. Carapace length and width were 10 and 9.5 inches, respectively. Weight was estimated to be 5 pounds. The turtle was transported to the MMSC on the afternoon of June 11, where it was held for observation and released. All of the state and federal agencies cited above, with exception of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, were notified of the event on June 11.

The U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service had been deleted from the notification list pursuant to the June 10, 1985 request of that agency's representative.

On June 24, 1985, at 0830 hours0.00961 days <br />0.231 hours <br />0.00137 weeks <br />3.15815e-4 months <br />, a second Atlantic ridley turtle was found impinged on the CWS trash bars. Both Units were full power and all circulating water pumps were in operation at the time of recovery. The turtle was dead when found. Carapace length and width were 11 and 10 inches,

, respectively. Weight was estimated to be 4 pounds. The I specimen was removed by the MMSC on the afternoon of June l 24. An autopsy performed by the HMSC showed the cause of death to be suffocation. All required in-house and agency notifications were made on June 24.

APPARENT CAUSE OF OCCURRENCE:

Sea turtles are a summer migrant, common to Delaware Bay.

Small numbers typically occur in the lower Delaware River near Salem during July through September. The present occurrences in June, which are earlier than usual, are likely related to above average water temperature and salinity. Past experience indicates that healthy sea turtles are usually able to avoid the approach velocity of the CWS intake, although occassionally one will become impinged on the trash bars.

ANALYSIS OF OCCURRENCE:

1 The CWS intake is monitored for the accumulation of debris, '

which is periodically removed. Any turtles which are observed impinged against the trash bars are recovered immediately. Between 1979 and present, a total of 21 sea turtles have been collected at or in the immediate vicinity 1 of the plant. Of these, eight (38%) were Atlantic ridleys and 13 (62%) were Atlantic loggerheads. Of the total turtles collected, 13 (62%) were dead when recovered.

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CORRECTIVE ACTION:

l The trash bars will be observed at least once per 8 hour9.259259e-5 days <br />0.00222 hours <br />1.322751e-5 weeks <br />3.044e-6 months <br />

! shift and cleaned at least once per day. Any sea turtles l observed on the trash bars will be removed immediately.

Resuscitation will be attempted if the turtle is not l unquestionably dead. In accordance with standard procedure, l all specimens will ~ be : held under appropriate conditions and

! turned over to the Marine Mammal Stranding Center.

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