RA-07-030, Sea Turtle Incidental Take Report 2007-2

Sea Turtle Incidental Take Report 2007-2

ML072900467
Person / Time
Site:	Oyster Creek
Issue date:	10/11/2007
From:	Randich J AmerGen Energy Co
To:	Document Control Desk, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
References
RA-07-030
Download: ML072900467 (5)

Text

AmerGen Energy Company www.exeloncorp.com AmerGen. An Exelon Oyster Creek Company US Route 9 South, P.O. Box 388 Forked River, NJ o8731-0388 October 11, 2007 RA-07-030 US Nuclear Regulatory Commission Document Control Desk - NRC Washington, DC 20555 Oyster Creek Nuclear Generating Station Facility Operating License No. DPR-16 NRC Docket No. 50-219

Subject:

Sea Turtle Incidental Take Report 2007-2 This report provides detailed information regarding the recent incidental take of a juvenile Kemp's ridley sea turtle at the Oyster Creek Nuclear Generating Station (OCNGS). The turtle was taken alive on September 16, 2007, from the dilution water intake structure trash bars. As indicated on the attached incident report, the turtle was promptly turned over to the custody of the Marine Mammal Stranding Center (MMSC) in Brigantine, NJ for examination and subsequent release. After MMSC personnel confirmed the turtle was in good physical condition, they placed tags on the turtle and released it to the Atlantic Ocean near the MMSC on September 20, 2007.

If you have any questions or require additional information, please do not hesitate to contact Mr. Malcolm Browne at (609) 971-4124.

Very truly yours, ame s Randich Plant Manager JR/MEB Enclosure NI2A,

US Nuclear Regulatory Commission Page 2 of 2 cc: Julie Crocker U.S. Department of Commerce National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration National Marine Fisheries Service Northeast Region Protected Resources Division One Blackburn Drive Gloucester, MA,01930 Pasquale Scida U.S. Department of Commerce National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration National Marine Fisheries Service Northeast. Region Protected Resources Division One Blackburn Drive Gloucester, MA 01930 Samuel J. Collins, Administrator, Region 1 US Nuclear Regulatory Commission 475 Allendale Road King of Prussia, PA 19406 Edward G. Miller Senior Project Manager US Nuclear Regulatory Commission Mail Stop 8-B1 Washington, DC 20555 Mark Ferdas Senior Resident Inspector.

Oyster Creek Generating Station PO Box 388 Forked River, NJ 08731 Jeanette Bowers-Altman NJ Department of Environmental Protection Division of Fish, Game, and Wildlife P.O. Box. 400 Trenton, NJ 08625-0400 Regulatory Assurance File No. RA-07-030

OYSTER CREEK GENERATING STATION Sea Turtle Incidental Take Report 2007-2 At approximately 0803 hours0.00929 days <br />0.223 hours <br />0.00133 weeks <br />3.055415e-4 months <br /> on Sunday September 16, 2007, an Oyster Creek Generating Station (OCNGS) operator noticed a live sea turtle among the materials being removed from the trash racks while performing a routine trash rack cleaning of Bay # 4 of the dilution water intake structure. The turtle appeared to be healthy and moving about normally. OCNGS Environmental personnel who took custody of the turtle confirmed it to be a juvenile Kemp's ridley sea turtle (Lepidochelys kempi). The water temperature at the time of the incidental take was approximately 69.8 F (21.0 C) and OCNGS was in operation at 100% power with four circulating water pumps and two dilution pumps in operation.

Although it is impossible to say precisely how long the turtle had been on the trash bars prior to removal, what is presumed to be the same turtle was spotted earlier that morning at approximately 0100 hours0.00116 days <br />0.0278 hours <br />1.653439e-4 weeks <br />3.805e-5 months <br /> swimming away from the circulating water intake structure which is located on the opposite bank of the intake canal from the dilution water intake structure.

The turtle measured 11.5 in (29.3 cm) carapace length straight line and weighed 9.4 lb (4.3 kg). No tags were present on the turtle when captured. USNRC and NMFS personnel were notified of the incidental take within 24 hours2.777778e-4 days <br />0.00667 hours <br />3.968254e-5 weeks <br />9.132e-6 months <br />.

'The turtle was taken to the Marine Mammal Stranding Center (MMSC) in Brigantine, NJ at approximately 1-130 hours on September 16, 2007. At the MMSC, the turtle was examined, measured, fed, and briefly held for observation prior to release. Because the turtle appeared to be in very good physical condition, it was released into the nearby Atlantic Ocean by MMSC personnel on September 20, 2007, after tagging.

SEA TURTLE STRANDING AND SALVAGE NETWORK - STRANDING REPORT OBSERVER'S NAME I ADDRESS / PHONE: STRANDING DATE:

First Bill M.I._ Last Deerr Year20 07 Month 09 Day 16 Affiliation Marine Mammal Stranding Center Turtle number by day 01 Address PO Box 773, 3625 Brigantine Blvd., Brigantine, NJ 08203 Field ID# MMSC-07-123 Coordinatormust be notified within 24 hrs; this Area code/Phone number (609) 266-0538 was done by iphone (609)266-0538

[Eemail [ fax SPECIES: (check one) STRANDING LOCATION: []Offshore (Atlantic or Gulf beach) *nshore (bay, river, sound, inlet, etc)

[n CC = Loggerhead State New Jersey County Ocean E1 CM = Green Descriptive location (be specific) Forked River, Oyster Creek Nuclear Power Plant,

[1 DC = Leatherback i El = Hawksbill LK = Kemp's Ridley Impinged on -rate

[1 LO = Olive Ridley Latitude 39.81417*N Longitude 74.20700*W

[1 UN = Unidentified.

Check Unidentifiedif not positive. Do Not Guess. CONDITION: (check one) FINAL DISPOSITION: (check)

N 0 =Alive ["11 = Left on beach where found; painted? lEYes E-No(5)

[1 1 = Fresh dead [12 = Buried: 0 on beach / 0 off beach; Carcass necropsied? ['YesENo [E 2 =Moderately decomposed carcass painted before buried? [I Yes* El No Photos taken? EYes E-No [E 3 =Severely decomposed [13 =Salvaged: El all / [E part(s), what/why?

ecies verified by coordinator?

Yes E] No El 4 = Dried carcass

[E 5 =Skeleton, bones only

[114 =Pulled up on beach/dune; painted? []Yes* []No HiO =Alive, released SEX: TAGS: Contact coordinatorbefore =Alive, taken to rehab. facility, where? MMSC Undetermined disposingof any tagged animal!!

Female []Male Checked for flipper tags? f Yes [E No [8 = Left floating, not recovered; painted? []Yes* E]No Does tail extend beyond carapace?

i Yes; how far?

No cm I in Check all 4 flippers. Iffound, record tag number(s) / tag location / return address

[19 = Disposition unknown, explain

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __whatcolor?

lf painted, what color?

How was sex determined?

[I Necropsy El Tail length (adult only) CARAPACE MEASUREMENTS: (see drawing)

PIT tag scan? f Yes [E No Using calipers Circle unit Iffound, reord number/ tag location Straight length (NOTCH-TIP) 29.3 J /in Minimum length (NOTCH-NOTCH) cm / in Coded wire tag scan? [1 Yes [ No Straight width (Widest Point) 27.8 H / in Ifpositive response, record location (flipper) Using non-metal measuring tape Circle unit Unable to check for Curved length (NOTCH-TIP) cm / in Checked for living tag? EYes [1 No Minimum length (NOTCH-NOTCH) cm / in Iffound, record location (scute number &side) Curved width (Widest Point) cm / in Circle unit Weight E actual / [1 est. 9.4 kg if Mark wounds / abnormalities on diagrams at left and describe below (note tar or oil, gear or debris entanglement, propeller damage, epibiota, papillomas, emaciation, etc.). Please note if no wounds / abnormalities are found.

Alive; lethargic during transport but body temp. was cool; slight bruising on plastron and underside of fliDDers: small wound on rear of caraDace aDDrox. 1/2 cm diameter almost completely healed@ became active when placed in rehab. pen: swimming, diving, and eatina normally: taaoed and released on 9/20/07 at 38.-i Street and beach Briaantine.

................  ! w. "1 .........

Tagged RFF with metal tag # SSL119 PIT Tagged LFF # 4360634A05

\X \ V~&

IA> A t t4sx.

A) 7> K 44 N

'4472 ~

>4

~ J

'4- 4 -

~ 4.,

A>'

S

• 1 4

4~ N 0*24 44 S

-. 4y~ *~4. aWA. ,~ 4M 4

• '- *4 4< -

I

-'1 4- 4

[2 <1<"~"~

'44444 7, A ("4 - 4 6--- ~ '4- 44 I