RA-08-086, Sea Turtle Incidental Take Report 2008-6
| ML082950484 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Oyster Creek |
| Issue date: | 10/10/2008 |
| From: | Randich J AmerGen Energy Co |
| To: | Document Control Desk, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation |
| References | |
| RA-08-086 | |
| Download: ML082950484 (5) | |
Text
N AmerGen S AmerGen Energy Company Oyster Creek US Route 9 South, P.O. Box 388 Forked River, NJ 08731 www.exeloncorp.com An Exelon Company 50 CFR 402.14(i)(3)
October 10, 2008 RA-08-086 US Nuclear Regulatory Commission Document Control Desk Washington, DC 20555-0001 Oyster Creek Nuclear Generating Station Facility Operating LI.icense No. DPR-1 6 NRC Docket No. 50-219
Subject:
Sea Turtle Incidental Take Report 2008-6 The attached report provides detailed information regarding the recent incidental take of a severely decomposed juvenile Kemp's ridley sea turtle at Oyster Creek Nuclear Generating Station (OCNGS). This turtle was incidentally taken late in the evening of September 12, 2008.
As indicated in the attached incident report, the turtle was turned over to the custody of the Marine Mammal Stranding Center (MMSC) for examination and to conduct a necropsy if possible. Note that this turtle had A severe, deep Wound across the top of its carapace (possibly inflicted by a boat propeller) and was severely decomposed arthe-time of the incidental'take atOCNGS.
Subsequent to examination of the turtle by MMSC personnel, it was buried at Brigantine, NJ.
If you have any questions or require additional information, please do not hesitate to contact our environmental scientist, Malcolm Browne at (609) 971-4124.
Sincerely,
'1~
"'A\\ Q'pKT
¶ James Randich Plant Manager, Oyster Creek Nuclear Generating Station
Enclosures:
- 1.
Sea Turtle Incidental Take Report 2008-6 with photograph
- 2.
MMSC-08-127 Sea Turtle Stranding and Salvage Network - Stranding Report
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 G. Edward 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. 07024 OYSTER CREEK NUCLEAR GENERATING STATION Sea Turtle Incidental Take Report 2008-6 (Field #: MMSC-08-127)
At approximately 2112 hours0.0244 days <br />0.587 hours <br />0.00349 weeks <br />8.03616e-4 months <br /> on Friday, September 12, 2008, an Oyster Creek Nuclear Generating Station (OCNGS) Intake Operator who was manually removing materials from the upstream face of the trash rack in Bay # 6 of the dilution water intake noticed a sea turtle upside-down among the debris he was removing from the trash rack. The operator promptly recovered the turtle in accordance with station safe turtle handling instructions. The water temperature at the time of the incidental take was approximately 79.6 degrees F (26.4 C) and OCNGS was in operation at 100% power with four circulating water pumps and two dilution pumps in operation. Rain was occurring at the time and there were light grassing conditions.
The turtle appeared to have a partially crushed carapace and a deep, narrow slice wound typical of boat propeller wounds. The turtle was severely decomposed, its skull was skeletonized and it was missing one eye. It had many of its scutes missing. OCNGS Environmental personnel who took custody of the turtle confirmed it to be a juvenile Kemp's ridley sea turtle (Lepidochelys ke_.i. Although it is impossible to say precisely how long the turtle had been in the intake bay prior to removal, the dilution water trash racks had been inspected less than four hours prior to the take at 1720 hours0.0199 days <br />0.478 hours <br />0.00284 weeks <br />6.5446e-4 months <br /> the same evening. The trash racks had last been cleaned approximately 24 hours2.777778e-4 days <br />0.00667 hours <br />3.968254e-5 weeks <br />9.132e-6 months <br /> prior to the take.
The turtle was handed over to personnel from the Marine Mammal Stranding Center (MMSC) in Brigantine, NJ at approximately 0945 hours0.0109 days <br />0.263 hours <br />0.00156 weeks <br />3.595725e-4 months <br /> on September 13, 2008. At the MMSC, the turtle was examined and measured.
A stranding/necropsy report was completed in which MMSC personnel reported that the animal had suffered severe trauma to its carapace and head, including a "large prop cut' indicative of a boating accident. The turtle of undetermined sex measured only 24.5 cm carapace length straight line and weighed an estimated 5 pounds. No flipper tags were present on the turtle when inspected. 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 />. Due to the severe decomposition of the turtle, MMSC personnel were unable to perform a detailed necropsy, but did perform a cursory necropsy that was documented on Sea Turtle Stranding and Salvage Network - Stranding Report, Field ID # MMSC-08-127 (attached).
Following completion of the necropsy, MMSC personnel buried the turtle at the north end of Brigantine Island, New Jersey.
SE AjIURTLE STRANDING AND SALVAGE NETWORK - STRANDING REPORT OBSERVER'S NAME I ADDRESS I PHONE:
First Brandi -
M.I.
Last Biehl Affiliation Marine Mammal Stranding Center Address PO Box 773, 3625 Brigantine Blvd., Brigantine, NJ 08203 Area code/Phone number (609) 266-0538 STRANDING DATE:
Year 20 08 Month 09 Day 1j3 Turtle number by day 01 Field ID # MMSC-08-127 Coordinator must be notified within 24 hrs; this was done by [phone (609)266-0538 E email E[fax SPECIES: (check one)
O CC = Loggerhead 0 CM = Green
-- DC =.Leatherback El El = Hawksblll
[
LK = Kemp's Ridley F1 LO = Olive Ridley 0
UN = Unidentified Check Unidentified If not positive. Do Not Guess.
STRANDING LOCATION: []Offshore (Atlantic or Gulf beach) NInshore (bay, river, sound; inlet, etc)
State New Jersey County Ocean Descriptive location (be specific) Oyster Creek Nuclear Generator Station., Forked River Latitude 39.81417"N Longitude 74.20700"W Carcass necropsied? []YesnNo Photos taken? EYes E]No Species verified by coordinator?.
Z Yes [0 No CONDITION: (check one)
El 0 = Alive 0 1 =Fresh dead
[] 2 = Moderately decomposed Z 3 = Severely decomposed.
[] 4 = Dried carcass
[] 5 = Skeleton, bones only FINAL DISPOSITION: (check)
[01 = Left on beach where found; painted? ElYes* []No(5) 02 - Buried: 0 on beach / [I off beach; carcass painted before buried? 0l Yes* Z No 013 = Salvaged: E0 all 1 [ part(s), what/why?
E14 = Pulled up on beach/dune; painted? E]Yes* E]No 0-6 = Alive, released
[]7 = Alive, taken to rehab. facility, where?
[08 = Left floating, not recovered; painted? EOYes* D No 019 = Disposition unknown, explain
'if painted, what color?
SEX:
0 Undetermined D Female 0 Male Does tail extend beyond carapace?
E] Yes; how tar?
cm I in 0 No How was sex determined?
[] Necropsy El Tail length (adult only)
,.4&
Nuchal TAGS: Contact coordinator before disposing of any tagged animaill Checked for flipper tags? 0 Yes E0 No Check all 4 flippem. If found, record tag number(s) / tag location / return address PIT tag scan? [] Yes 0 No If found, record number / tag location
'Coded wire tag scan? []'Yesr'[No If positive response, record location (flipper)
Unable to check for Checked for living tag? []Yes Z No If found, record location (scute number & side)\\
CARAPACE MEASUREMENTS: (see drawing)
Using calipers Straight length (NOTCH-TIP)
Minimum length (NOTCH-NOTCH)
Straight width (Widest Point)
Using non-metal measuring tape Curved length (NOTCH-TIP)
Minimum length (NOTCH-NOTCH)
Curved width (Widest Point)
Weight [0 actual / 0 est.
Circle unit, 24.5 Zcmr ]in
___-cm[in 23.6 Mcm []in Circle unit I0 [--cm Min
__.[-cm D in 10 1/2 [-]cm Min Circle unit 5__[1kg Slb Mark wounds I 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 I abnormalities are found.
Dead. Severely decomposed. This turtle was found dead on the power plant's intake grate. The skull was skeletonized. and it's right eye was missing. The skutes are missing or peeling off. There was a large prop cut across the carapace. The turtle was buried on the north end of Brigantine.
Photos and measurements by MMSC.