ML20335A112
| ML20335A112 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Surry  (DPR-032, DPR-037) |
| Issue date: | 12/07/2020 |
| From: | Briana Grange, Vaughn Thomas Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards, Division of Operating Reactor Licensing |
| To: | |
| Briana Grange 301-415-1042 | |
| References | |
| Download: ML20335A112 (4) | |
Text
Meeting with the National Marine Fisheries Service and Dominion Energy, Inc. Regarding Atlantic Sturgeon Capture at Surry Power Station December 7, 2020 TELECONFERENCE DATE November 30, 2020 PARTICIPANTS U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC)
Briana Grange, Conservation Biologist & ESA Consultation Coordinator Vaughn Thomas, Project Manager National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS)
Julie Crocker, Endangered Fish Recovery Branch Chief Lynn Lankshear, Atlantic Sturgeon Coordinator Dominion Energy, Inc. (Dominion)
Gary Miller, Consulting Engineer, Corporate Licensing Jacob Dietrich, Surry Licensing Richard Philpot, Licensing Manager Kim Ritchie, Environmental Compliance Coordinator BACKGROUND On October 26, 2020, Dominion personnel discovered an Atlantic sturgeon on Surry Power Stations lower level intake trash racks. Divers removed the sturgeon, which was alive but entangled, and released it back to the river. Following release, the sturgeon swam away.
On October 27, 2020, Dominion notified relevant Federal and State agencies of the incident, including the NRC, NMFS, the Virginia Marine Resources Commission, the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources, and the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality.
NRC and NMFS are currently coordinating to determine the appropriate next steps under the Endangered Species Act (ESA).
MEETING NOTES Dominion summarized the Atlantic sturgeon capture event as follows:
On October 26, 2020, station personnel identified an Atlantic sturgeon on the lower level intake structure trash racks. Divers entered the water to remove the fish. The maintenance supervisor and divers reported that the sturgeons back fin was
NMFS and Dominion were provided an opportunity to review and comment on this teleconference summary prior to its finalization.
entangled in a crab pot line. The line was hooked into the back fin and tightly wound around the fish. The other end of the line was tangled on components of the trash rake such that the fish was unable to swim away. However, the divers reported the fish as healthy and breathing. The divers untangled the sturgeon, brought it to the surface, and used a plastic sheet to transport the fish back to the water for release along the side of the low-level intake structure. Once released, the sturgeon swam away.
NMFS asked Dominion how sure it was that the line entangling the sturgeon was a crab pot line. Dominion stated that its personnel that responded to the event are avid fisherman that are familiar with various types of line. However, crab pot line should be considered a best guess.
NMFS asked Dominion to further characterize how much line was wrapped around the sturgeon and how impaired its swimming ability appeared. Dominion described the line as being wound tightly enough around the fishs back fin to impair its ability to swim. Because the line was also tangled around components of the trash rake, the sturgeon would not have been able to escape without intervention.
Other than some cuts and scrapes on the back fin associated with entanglement, Dominion confirmed that the sturgeon otherwise appeared healthy.
NMFS stated that it will consider the information it has on this event and determine whether the incident is (a) a one-off occurrence that is unlikely to occur again in the future or (b) evidence that additional captures of Atlantic sturgeon at the Surry intake could occur.
Based on its determination, NMFS will discuss with the NRC whether reinitiation of ESA Section 7 consultation is necessary.
FOLLOW UP ACTIONS
- 1. NMFS will consider the information it has gathered on the capture event and then reach out to the NRC to discuss the appropriate next steps.
- 2. NRC will keep Dominion informed of the agencies determination regarding the need for ESA Section 7 consultation.
ATTACHMENTS Photographs of Atlantic sturgeon Docket No.: 50-280 and 50-281 ADAMS Accession No. ML20335A112