ML25338A066
| ML25338A066 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Salem  |
| Issue date: | 11/11/2025 |
| From: | Heun R Public Service Enterprise Group |
| To: | Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards, US Dept of Commerce, National Marine Fisheries Service |
| References | |
| LR-E25-0121, EEP25050 | |
| Download: ML25338A066 (0) | |
Text
SEND VIA EMAIL November 11, 2025 LR-E25-0121 EEP25050 National Marine Fisheries Service Greater Atlantic Regional Fisheries Office ATTN: Section 7 Coordinator 55 Great Republic Drive Gloucester, MA 01930 Nmfs.gar.incidental-take@noaa.gov SALEM AND HOPE CREEK GENERATING STATIONS BIOLOGICAL OPINION GAR 2020-02842 OCTOBER 13, 2025 KEMPS RIDLEY SEA TURTLE NECROPSY REPORT The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (USNRC) and the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) concluded formal consultation under Section 7 of the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended, on April 17, 2023, with NRCs issuance of a Biological Opinion for Continued Operations of Salem and Hope Creek Nuclear Generating Stations and Incidental Take Statement (ITS) to PSEG.
Terms and Conditions (T&C) 13 of the ITS states that necropsy reports should be submitted to the NMFS with the annual review of incident reports or, if available, within 60 days of the incidental take. Pursuant to T&C 13, PSEG hereby provides two necropsy reports performed by the Marine Mammal Standing Center in Brigantine, NJ for the incidental take of a Kemps ridley sea turtle that occurred on October 13, 2025.
If you have any questions or require additional information, please do not hesitate to contact me at Ronald.heunjr@pseg.com.
Sincerely, Ron Heun Environmental Compliance and Program Manager Heun Jr, Ronald B.
Digitally signed by Heun Jr, Ronald B.
Date: 2025.11.11 16:05:13
-05'00'
National Marine Fisheries Service 11/11/2025 LR-E25-0121 CC :
United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission endangeredspecies@nrc.gov Brian Neilan New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection Department of Fish and Wildlife Brian.Neilan@dep.nj.gov Heather Corbett New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection Department of Fish and Wildlife Heather.Corbett@dep.nj.gov Daniele Dyson New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection Danielle.Dyson@dep.nj.gov (Distribute via email)
OBSERVER'S NAME AND CONTACT INFORMATION:
First M.I. Last Email Affiliation Responding organization Phone number ( )
CIRCUMSTANCES OF ENCOUNTER: (check one)
Traditional Stranding Nesting Related Found washed ashore or washing ashore Caught under boardwalk/dune crossover Found floating/struggling at water surface Caught in moveable beach structure Found underwater Hit by a car Trapped in jetty rocks Wandered landward of dune (not hit by car)
Incidental Capture Trapped in man-made rock formation Caught by recreational fisherman Trapped in a natural rock formation Found in the intake canal of power plant Fell off of/overturned by seawall Found in dredge equipment Trapped by collapsed dune/scarp Entangled in line of pot/trap buoy Caught in commercial hook/line fishery Post-hatchling Washback Caught in commercial net fishery Captured during relocation efforts Cold-stunning Captured during research efforts Other SEA TURTLE STRANDING AND SALVAGE NETWORK STRANDING REPORT STRANDING DATE: Use two digits for date fields.
Year 20 Month Day Turtle number by day Use three digits.
State coordinators must be notified within 24 hrs; this was done by:
phone (978)282-8470 email Kate.Sampson@NOAA.gov report entered online (seaturtlestranding.com)
SPECIES: (check one)
Loggerhead (CC)
Kemps ridley (LK)
Green turtle (CM)
Olive ridley (LO)
Leatherback (DC)
Unidentified Hawksbill (EI)
Check unidentified if not positive. Do not guess.
EXAMINATION DETAILS:
Type of examination: (check one)
In-person exam by STSSN participant Other Evaluated from photographs submitted by the public Completeness of body: (check all that apply)
Complete Missing head Missing all or most (>50%) of one or more flippers Missing 50% or more of the shell (body)
Not determined Mouth checked? YES NO UNKNOWN STRANDING LOCATION:
State County Latitude Longitude Location description CONDITION: (check one)
Alive Fresh dead or mildly decomposed Moderately decomposed Severely decomposed Dried carcass Skeletal FATE OR FINAL DISPOSITION:
If the stranded turtle was alive, choose one of the following:
Alive: immediately released or unable to recover Alive, taken to rehabilitation facility; where?
Died before reaching rehabilitation facility If the turtle was found dead or died, choose one of the following:
Dead and left where found; marked? YES NO If marked, describe:
Dead; buried, rendered, or otherwise disposed of Dead and salvaged; location of salvaged remains?
Salvaged for necropsy?
YES NO TAGS:
Contact state coordinator before disposing of a tagged turtle!
Flipper tags found? YES NO Check all 4 flippers. If found, record tag number & location.
- 1.
- 2.
- 3.
PIT tag scan performed? YES NO Check all 4 flippers. If found, record tag id & location.
- 1.
- 2.
Possible tag scars? YES NO Check all locations of possible tag scars:
Front left Front right Rear left Rear right Living tag found? YES NO If found, photograph & record scute number & side.
Tracking gear found? YES NO If present, describe.
Do not dispose of turtle or remove gear; consult STSSN coordinator.
CARAPACE MEASUREMENTS:
Measurements were: Actual Estimated Using calipers Choose unit Straight length (notch-tip) cm in Minimum length (notch-notch) cm in Straight width (widest point) cm in Using non-metal measuring tape Choose unit Curved length (notch-tip) cm in Minimum length (notch-notch) cm in Curved width (widest point) cm in WEIGHT: (do not estimate weight)
Choose unit Measured weight:
kg lb PHOTOS: (submit photos to state coordinator)
YES (indicate below the completeness of photo series)
NO Dorsal aspect visible Ventral aspect visible A complete photo series includes photographs of the dorsal and ventral aspects of the turtle, and all injuries or anomalies.
TAIL MEASUREMENT:
Did the tail extend past the carapace?
At least 5cm/2in (LK or LO), 10cm/4in (CC, CM, EI),
or 15cm/6in (DC)
Choose unit YES, directly measured:
cm in YES, estimated NO NOT DETERMINED Nuchal NOTCH Posterior Marginal TIP Posterior NOTCH 23Jul24 OMBControlNo.06480496 Exp.Date:31May2027 Revised:
Clear Form Vanessa Tenety stranding1@mmsc.org Marine Mammal Stranding Center (NJ) 609 2660538 2
5 1
0 1
3 0
0 2
NJ Salem 39.4617868
-75.5370552 Lower Alloways, Salem Nuclear Power Plant Power plant found and collected from the trash rack.
24.3 21.5 Marine Mammal Stranding Center (NJ)
ANTHROPOGENIC MATERIAL Was there any man-made material found on the turtle (e.g., fishing gear, tar, or oil)? YES NO If yes, were photos taken? YES NO If man-made material was present, please answer the following questions. (check all that apply)
Were any fishing hooks present on the turtle? YES NO Where were the hooks located? Mouth Head Neck Carapace If yes, was the gear collected? YES NO Plastron Front flipper Rear flipper Tail Was line <0.5 cm dia. present on the turtle (fishing line)? YES NO Where was the line located? Mouth Head Neck Carapace If yes, was the gear collected? YES NO Plastron Front flipper Rear flipper Tail Cloaca Was the turtle entangled in line 0.5 cm dia. (nautical rope)? YES NO Where was the line located? Head Neck Carapace If yes, was the gear collected? YES NO Plastron Front flipper Rear flipper Tail Was the turtle entangled in fishing net? YES NO Where was the net located? Head Neck Carapace Plastron If yes, was the gear collected? YES NO Front flipper Rear flipper Tail Was there any tar or oil present? YES NO Where was the tar or oil located? Mouth Head Neck Carapace If yes, were any samples collected? YES NO Plastron Front flipper Rear flipper Tail Was there any other man-made material present? YES NO Where was the material located? Mouth Head Neck Carapace Please describe the material:
Plastron Front flipper Rear flipper Tail INJURIES Were any injuries externally evident? YES NO If yes, were photos taken? YES NO If injuries were evident, please answer the following questions. (check all that apply)
Were there any definitive vessel-strike injuries evident? YES NO Where were these injuries located? Head Neck Carapace Plastron Front flipper Rear flipper Tail Were there any blunt force injuries evident? YES NO Where were these injuries located? Head Carapace Plastron Were there any shark-bite injuries evident? YES NO Where were these injuries located? Head Neck Carapace Plastron Front flipper Rear flipper Tail Were any healed amputations of unknown cause evident? YES NO Where were these amputations located? Front left flipper How many amputations were present?
Front right flipper Rear left flipper Rear right flipper Was there an incised wound evident? YES NO Where was the wound located? Head Neck Carapace (e.g., clean cuts, as created by knife; typically longer than wide)
Plastron Front flipper Rear flipper Tail Was there a perforating or penetrating wound evident? YES NO Where was the wound located? Head Neck Carapace (a wound that is typically deeper than wide)
Plastron Front flipper Rear flipper Tail Was there a wound indicative of entanglement or ingestion YES NO Where was the wounds located? Head Neck Carapace of anthropogenic material without this material being present?
Plastron Front flipper Rear flipper Tail Was there a furrow on the edge of the beak? YES NO Was there some other type of injury evident (not already described)? YES NO Please describe:
DISEASES AND LEECHES Were any diseases or leeches externally evident? YES NO If yes, were photos taken? YES NO If diseases or leeches were evident, please answer the following questions. (check all that apply)
Were there any fibropapilloma-like tumors present? YES NO If yes, were photos taken? YES NO Were eye tumors present? YES NO Were mouth tumors present? YES NO Did any of the tumors have a papillary texture? YES NO Were there any non-fibropapilloma-like tumors present? YES NO If yes, were photos taken? YES NO Please describe:
Were there any external skin lesions evident? YES NO If yes, were photos taken? YES NO Which of the following best describes the lesions? Superficial crusts on the skin surface Deep lesions exposing underlying tissue Both superficial crusts and deep lesions were present Neither Which best describes the extent of superficial crusts? Found only in single area or in a few small, isolated areas Found over large areas Where were the superficial crusts found? Head Neck Carapace Plastron Front flipper Rear flipper Tail Which best describes the extent of the deep lesions exposing underlying tissues?
Found only in single area or in a few small, isolated areas Found over large areas Where were the deep lesions found? Head Neck Carapace Plastron Front flipper Rear flipper Tail Were there any leeches or leech eggs evident? YES, small isolated egg patches or few adults If yes, were photos taken? YES NO YES, large egg patches or many adults NO ADDITIONAL COMMENTS:
MMSC-25-150 Dead, code 2. Scutes peeling from carapace, skin beginning to slough, bloated, eyes intact. No obvious injury or cause of death.
Collected by power plant staff from the trash rack. Appeared to be traditional stranding. Carcass frozen and picked up by MMSC staff for necropsy.
IDENTIFICATION SEA TURTLE STRANDING AND SALVAGE NETWORK - GROSS NECROPSY REPORT
- 1. STSSN #: 2. Other identifier(s)/#: 3. Rehab:
- 4. Found dead:
- 5. If no, date of death leave blank if unknown (Use mm/dd/yyyy for dates)
- 6. Euthanized: 7. Frozen/Thawed: 8. Condition at necropsy: 1 2 3 4 5
- 9. Date necropsied: 10. Examiner: 11. Affiliation:
- 12. Necropsy description: External & internal examination External examination only Incomplete carcass
- 13. Disposition of carcass: Buried on beach Buried off site Rendered Incinerated Other
- 15. Sex: Male Female Undetermined EXTERNAL EXAMINATION 16a. Body weight: kg lb 16b. actual est. 17. Eyes sunken: 18. Skeletal features prominent:
- 19. Heavily encrusted w/ epibiota: 20. Leeches: 21. Gooseneck barnacles:
- 22. Epibiota coverage: 22a. Head/appendages: % 22b. Carapace: % 22c. Plastron: %
- 23. External Trauma/evidence of Human Interaction (T/HI): Yes CBD (If yes, complete 25) Use STSSN scale Other anomalies: Yes CBD (If yes, complete 26) CBD - Cannot Be Determined PHOTOGRAPHS TAKEN
- 24.
ANATOMIC LOCATION CODES: Head (H) Neck(N) Eyes(E) Mouth(M) Carapace(C) Plastron(P) Tail(T) Vent(V)
Use for 25a & 26a Front flipper - Right(R) Left(L) Rear flipper - Right(F) Left(G) All appendages(Y) Pectoral girdle(J) Pelvis(I) 25a. T/HI-Type:(check all that apply and diagram in 25c)
Enter anatomic codes in blanks: (Example: Parallel slicing wounds(1)_C_)
Parallel slicing wounds(1) Blunt/crushing(2)
Non-parallel/single linear wounds(3) Dislocations(4)
Partial/complete amputation(5) Paint transfer(6)
Fractures/Broken bones(7) Puncture(8)
Probable bite wound(9) Tar in mouth(10)
Ligature/entanglement-type(11) a Entangling material attached(12) a Hook and/or line present (13) a a If yes, complete 25d Other(14) describe under 25c 25b. T/HI-
Description:
(check all that apply)
Enter 25a. + anatomic codes: (Example: Exudate/fibrin _1C_)
Exudate/fibrin Fibrous tissue formation Bone formation/remodeling Hemorrhage Encapsulated sand/debris Blood clots Completely healed Other describe under 25c Diagram wounds/measurements 25c Use STSSN scale in photos PHOTOGRAPHS TAKEN 3 Standard photos: 1. Perpendicular to wound(s) with scale 2. Wound margins (close-up)
- 3. Head, neck, shoulder region 25c. T/HI-Comments & External Diagram (cont. pg 4):
Parallel slicing wounds (cm):
Straight (chord) cut length Maximum: Example:
Minimum:
Single linear wounds (cm):
Wound length:
Width: Depth:
0 0
0 5.00
MMSC-25-150
10/16/2025 Vanessa Tenety/JayPagel MMSC
Decomposing, scutes sloughing and some bloating. Eyes present. Mouth empty. No obvious injuries or cause of death. Carcass was frozen and thawed before necropsy.
EXTERNAL EXAMINATION (CONT.)
25d. T/HI-Fisheries/Entanglement data: (Fisheries gear, other entangling material)
Gear type:
Line & pot Line & buoy Line, buoy & pot Unknown gear/line Netting Hook Monofilament Braided line Other Number of wraps around body part:, location: 1 (use anatomic codes)
Additional areas:, 2 ;, 3 ;, 4 ;, 5 (Example: _4_,_R_)
Material removed prior to necropsy Ligature injury: (additional comment under 25c)
Ligature - mild, non-penetrating Ligature - skin incised/ulcerated Ligature - full thickness (deep tissue/bone exposed)
Ligature - partially/completely healed T/HI-Material collected*: Disposition of material:
Gear description (color, shape, size):
Gear identification information:
26a. External anomalies-Type: (check all that apply and diagram in 25c)
Enter anatomic codes in blanks: (Example: Ulcers(16)_Y_)
Fibropapillomas/Papillomas(15) Ulcers(16)
Crust/exudate(17) Masses (non-FP or uncertain)(18)
Other(19) describe under 26c PHOTOGRAPHS TAKEN 26b. Other anomalies-Description: (check all that apply)
Extent of observation: (Refer to Pap Map for FP turtles)
Enter 26a. + anatomic codes: (Example: 10-25% affected_16Y_)
<5% surface affected 10-25% affected
>25-50% affected >50% affected Visual field involved Both eyes Mouth obstructed Cloaca obstructed 26c. Anomalies-Comments (cont. pg 4):
INTERNAL EXAMINATION (comments extended to page 4 - optional)
NUTRITIONAL CONDITION - INTERNAL
- 27. Muscle status: Well-muscled/No atrophy Mild to moderate atrophy Severe atrophy
- 28. Fat status: Abundant/No atrophy Mild to moderate atrophy Severe atrophy PHOTOGRAPHS TAKEN 29a. MUSCULOSKELETAL (internal) - EXAMINED 29b. Joint Fluid: No findings Cloudy/solid material Blood-tinged 29c. Skeletal Findings: No findings Fractures Dislocation Avulsions Deformities Other (note location(s) in comments) 29d. Musculature findings: No findings Trauma Hemorrhage Pallor Necrosis Other 29e. MUSCULOSKELETAL-Findings/Comments:
30a. COELOMIC CAVITY - EXAMINED 30b. Coelomic Fluid Volume: ml 30c. actual est.
30d. Coelomic Fluid: No findings Cloudy/solid material Blood-tinged Blood clots Fibrin Other 30e. Coelomic Lining: No findings Masses (<2mm) Masses (>2mm) Hemorrhage Adhesions Other 30f. COELOMIC CAVITY-Findings/Comments:
31a. CARDIOVASCULAR SYSTEM (heart/major vessels) - EXAMINED 31b. Blood in Heart chambers:
31c. Pericardial Fluid: No findings Cloudy/solid material Blood-tinged Blood clots Fibrin Other 31d. CV Findings: No findings Trauma Endocarditis/arteritis Blood clot(s) Vessels thickened Adhesions Other 31e. CV-Findings/Comments:
32a. HEPATOBILIARY SYSTEM (liver and gall bladder) - EXAMINED 32b. Liver Findings: No findings Pallor Atrophy (shrunken, black) Trauma Masses (<2mm) Masses (>2mm) Other 32c. Biliary Findings: No findings Gall bladder thickened Bile ducts thickened Ulcers Exudate Stones Other 32d. HB-Findings/Comments:
No significant findings. Photos taken.
No significant findings.
No significant findings. Bubbles found in lining may be related to freezing/thawing and or decomposition processes.
Gall bladder not examined. Organs autolized. No significant findings.
INTERNAL EXAMINATION (CONT.)
ANATOMIC LOCATION CODES: Mouth(O) Esophagus(Es) Stomach(St) Small intestine(Si) Colon(Co) Cloaca(Cl) 33a. ALIMENTARY SYSTEM - EXAMINED 33b. GI-Findings: (check all that apply) Enter anatomic codes in blanks: (Example: Ulcers(20)_Co_)
Ulcers(20) Perforation (21) Masses(22) Impaction(23)
Obstruction(24) Intussusception(25) Plication(26) Other(27) 33c. GI-percentage of affected area: Enter 33b. + anatomic codes: (Example: >25-50 affected_20 Co_)
<5% 10-25% >25-50% >50% N/A 33d. GI-Foreign material: (if yes, complete 33k) 33e. Injury/lesion associated with foreign material: If yes, give entry for 33b: (Example: _21,St_)
GI-Contents(include & note any biotic impacted material):
33f. Esophagus: Empty Contents, describe:
33g. Stomach: Empty Contents, describe:
33h. Small intestine: Empty Contents, describe:
33i. Colon: Empty Contents, describe:
33j. GI-Findings/Comments:
33k. GI-Foreign material - type: PHOTOGRAPHS TAKEN Hook(29) Line(30) Hard plastic(31) Plastic bag(33) Misc soft plastic(33) Balloon(34) Tar(35) Other(36)
Material/lesion location(s): (use anatomic codes)
Material collected*: Disposition of material:
Foreign material-Description of material & comments:
34a. SPLEEN - EXAMINED 34b. Spleen Findings: No findings Trauma Enlarged Masses Other 34c. PANCREAS - EXAMINED 34d. Pancreas Findings: No findings Trauma Masses Congested Other 34e. SPLEEN/PANCREAS-Findings/Comments:
35a. UROGENITAL SYSTEM (kidneys, reproductive, urinary bladder) - EXAMINED 35b. Kidneys Findings: No findings Trauma Enlarged Asymmetrical Masses Other 35c. Gonads identified as: Testes(complete 35d-f
) Ovaries(complete 35g-i
) Unknown (Indicate sex on Page 1, Field 15) 35d. Testes-characterization: Cylindrical Ellipsoidal Flat 35e. Testes-size: length x width (cm) 35f. Epididymis-characterization: Not expanded from wall Distinct ridge Pendulous Obvious white coils 35g. Ovaries-characterization: All follicles <4mm Developing follicles (4-24mm) Corpus luteum (>7mm) Corpus albicans 35h. Ovary length: (cm) 35i. Oviduct-characterization: White, straight (<3mm diameter) Partially convoluted (3-15mm diameter)
Very convoluted (>15mm diameter) Contains eggs (>24mm) Optional fields by state 35j. UG-Findings/Comments:
36a. RESPIRATORY SYSTEM - EXAMINED 36b. Foam/froth in trachea:
36c. If froth present: Anterior to bifurcation Posterior to bifurcation 36d. Froth amount: Small Moderate Copious 36e. Sand/sediment in trachea: 36f. Trachea/bronchi: No findings Exudate Masses Ulceration Other 36g. Lungs Findings: No findings Wet/frothy Hemorrhage Trauma Exudate Masses (<2mm) Masses (>2mm) Aspirated debris Other 36h. RESP-Findings/Comments:
small amount of grains of dark sand crab parts and brown disgesta
Photos taken. No parasites found. Stomach lining became liquidy upon examination.
No significant findings.
No significant findings.Kidneys pale in color and didn't hold their form when removed.
No significant findings. Trachea empty.
INTERNAL EXAMINATION (CONT.)
37a. CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM - Brain EXAMINED 37b. Spinal Cord EXAMINED 37c. Brain findings: No findings Trauma Hemorrhage Necrosis Exudate Blood fluke eggs Other 37d. Spinal cord findings: No findings Trauma Hemorrhage Necrosis Exudate Blood fluke eggs Other 37e. CNS-Findings/Comments:
- 38. Other Comments (include any continuation from previous sections & label notes by data field number (e.g. 25c):
Specimen (label w/ ID#)
Fixed Frozen-bagged Frozen-Foil Other (specify)
Location DISCLAIMER