ML20212C861

Ro:On 860705,Kemps Ridley Sea Turtle Discovered Floating Near Trash Bars of Cooling Water Sys Intake.Caused by Summer Migration.Intake Monitored for Debris & Turtles.Sea Turtle Turned Over to Mammal Ctr

ML20212C861
Person / Time
Site:	Salem
Issue date:	07/18/1986
From:	Corbin McNeil Public Service Enterprise Group
To:	Murley T NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION I)
References
NLR-E86105, NUDOCS 8608120166
Download: ML20212C861 (4)

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l Public Service Electric and Gas Company Corbin A. McNeill, Jr. Public Service Electric and Gas Company P.O. Box 236, Hancocks Bridge, NJ 08038 609339-4800 Vice President -

Nuclear July 18, 1986 NLR-E86105 t

U. S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Region I 631 Park Avenue King of Prussia, PA 19406 Attention: Dr. Thomas E. Murley, Regional Administrator Gentlemen:

REPORT OF IMPINGEM2.!T OF SEA TURTLE SALEM GENERATING STATION UNIT NO. 2 DOCKET NO. 50-311 This report is being submitted pursuant to the requirements of Salem Unit 2 Environmental Technical Specifications, Sections 4.1.1.

and 5.4.2.a, b and c. This report is required within thirty (30) days of discovery.

Sincerely, Attachment I

C Mr. Donald C. Fischer Licensing Project Manager i l

Mr. Thomas J. Kenny Senior Resident Inspector Mr. Richard Delgado New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection kB JP <4 , ,

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IMPINGEMENT OF SEA TURTLES REPORT: July 10, 1986 OCCURRENCE DATE: July 5, 1986 FACILITY: Salem Generating Station, Units 1 and 2 Public Service Electric and Gas Company -

Hancocks Bridge, New Jersey 08038 IDENTIFICATION OF OCCURRENCE Impingement of one Kemp's ridley (Lepidochelys kempi) sea turtle on the Circulating Water System (CWS) intake trash bars. The Kemp's ridley is federally listed as an endangered species under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended.

CONDITIONS PRIOR TO OCCURRENCES July 5, 1986 - Unit 1, 90% power; Unit 2, 100% power DESCRIPTION OF OCCURRENCES On July 5, 1986, at 0745 hours0.00862 days <br />0.207 hours <br />0.00123 weeks <br />2.834725e-4 months <br />, a Kemp's ridley turtle was found floating near 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. An initial attempt was made to resuscitate the animal by pumping of the plastron but it quickly became apparent that the turtle had been dead for several days. The specimen had a carapace length and width of 18.7 and 16.5 centimeters, respectively. Weight was estimated to be 1 kilogram. In accordance with usual procedure, the turtle was turned over to R. Schoelkopf of the Marine Mammal Stranding Center (MMSC), of Brigantine, New Jersey, for autopsy and disposal. The autopsy suggested that the animal had been dead for approximately a week prior to its occurrence at the CWS intake.

The Senior Shift Supervisor was notified of the event by the on-duty intake operator. On July 8 the following agencies were notified:

Nuclear Regulatory Commission (Resident Inspector)

National Marine Fisheries Service U. S. Environmental Protection Agency N. J. Department of Environmental Protection Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control

1 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. Past experience indicates that healthy sea turtles are usually able to avoid the approach velocity of the CWS intake, although occasionally one will become impinged on the trash bars.

ANALYSIS OF OCCURRENCES 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 23 sea turtles have been collected at or in the immediate vicinity of the plant. Of these, seven (30%) were Atlantic ridleys, and 16 (70%) were Atlantic loggerheads. Of the total turtles collected, 17 (78%) were dead when recovered.

CORRECTIVE ACTION The trash bars are 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 observed on the trash bars are removed immediately. Resuscitation will be attempted if the turtle is not unquestionably dead. In accordance with standard procedure, all specimens will be held under appropriate conditions and turned over to the Marine Mammal Stranding Center.

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