ML20211J170

Forwards Sea Turtle Incidental Capture Rept 97-1 Which Provides Detailed Info Re Recent Capture of Subadult Kemp Ridley Sea Turtle at Plant

ML20211J170
Person / Time
Site:	Oyster Creek
Issue date:	10/02/1997
From:	Roche M GENERAL PUBLIC UTILITIES CORP.
To:	Moulton J NRC
References
6530-972-1751, NUDOCS 9710080011
Download: ML20211J170 (3)

Text

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GPU Nuclear,Inc.

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U S. Route #9 South NUCLEAR

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fork 6J Revet. NJ 087310388 Tel 609 971-4300 6530 972 1751 October 2. 1997 Mr. John Moulton U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commissiou i

One White Flint North 11555 Rockville Pike Rockville, MD 20832

Subject:

Oyster Creek Nucicar Generating Station Docket 50 219 Sea Turtle incidental Capture Report 97-1 This report piovides detailed information regarding the recent incidental capture of a subadult Kemp's ridley sea turtic at the Oyster Creek Nuclear Generating Station. He turtle was captured dead during the early inorning of September 4,1997, at the dilution structure trash racks. As indicated on the attached incident report, the turtle has been kept in a freezer for temporary storage at our on-site biological laboratory. This is the first incidental capture of a sea turtle at Oyster Creek since July of 1994, if you have any questions or require additional information, please do not hesitate to contact Mr. Malcolm Browne of our Environmental Affairs Department at (609) 971-4124.

Very truly yours, h

b Michael D. Roche

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V. P. & Director OCNGS MAB/mnij Enclosase

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Ms. Kim Thounhurst l

U.S. Department of Commerce National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration t

National Marine Fisherics Service Habitat and Prote:ted Resources Division Gloucester, MA 01930 2298

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One Blackburn Drive g,.,,,.9710000011 971002 P

PDR AD0CK 05000219' P

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I Mr. John Moulton 6$30 9721751.

Pasc 2 0f 2 October 2, 1997

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Administrator, Region I i

OCNGS NRC Project Manager i

Document Control Desk NRC

- US Nuclear Regulatory Commission i

i One White Flint North i

115$$ Rockville Pike

. Rockville, MD 20832 j

l Mr. Dave Jenkms j

NJ Department of Environmental Protection Division of Fish, Game, and Wildlife I

P.O. Box 236 Tuckahoe, N.J. 082$0 j

OCNUS NRC Resident inspector, OC SEB i

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o a Oy ster Creek Nuclear Generating Station Sea Turtle incidental Capture Report 97 1 Sintsmher 4.1997 i

At approximately 0318 hours0.00368 days <br />0.0883 hours <br />5.257936e-4 weeks <br />1.20999e-4 months <br /> on Thursday, September 4,1997, an Oyster Crcck Nuclear Ocncrating Station (OCNGS) operator removing celgrass from the dilution trash racks noticed a sea turtle among the debris in front of the trash rack in Day # 6 of the dilution intake structure. De turtle was carefully removed as quickly as possible using a dip net arxi found to be limp, inunobile and with no apparent breathing.

OCNGS Environmental Affairs personnel who took custody of the tuttic confirmed it to be a subadult Kemp's ridley (Lepideshdn kcmpi). The water temperature at the tirne of the incidental capture was approsinate!y 73.2 F (22.9 C) arxl OCNGS was in operation at full power with four circulating water pumps and Iwo dilution pumps in operation. Although it is impossible to say precisely how long the turtle had been on the intake stmeture prior to removal, the dilution trash racks had been mechanically cleaned less than five hours earlier (i c., September 3 at 2230 hours0.0258 days <br />0.619 hours <br />0.00369 weeks <br />8.48515e-4 months <br />).

%c turtic incasured 19.0 in (48.8 cm) carapace length straight line and weighed 40 lb (18.1 kg). Sex was not detennined. No tags were present on the turtle when captured. The only external damage exhibited was two dorsal scutes that were broken or missing. The damage to the dorsal scutes may have occurred during removal of the turtle from the dilution intake area or it may have occurred prior to capture. USNRC and NMFS persormel were notified of the capture within 24 hours2.777778e-4 days <br />0.00667 hours <br />3.968254e-5 weeks <br />9.132e-6 months <br /> on September 4,1997, After the turtle was examined by Emironmental AITairs personnel, it was placed in a freezer for temporary storage at our on-site biological laboratory,

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