RA-09-056, Sea Turtle Incidental Take Report 2009-1

Sea Turtle Incidental Take Report 2009-1

ML092090264
Person / Time
Site:	Oyster Creek
Issue date:	07/17/2009
From:	Massaro M Exelon Nuclear
To:	Document Control Desk, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
References
RA-09-056
Download: ML092090264 (5)

Text

Oyster Creek Generating Station www.exelonCOTP.COM Exekrn.

Route 9 South Nuclear PO Box 388 Forked River, NJ 08731 10 CFR 50.4 July 17, 2009 RA-09-056 US Nuclear Regulatory Commission Document Control Desk Washington, DC 20555-0001 Oyster Creek Nuclear Generating Station Facility Operating License No. DPR-16 NRC Docket No. 50-219

Subject:

Sea Turtle Incidental Take Report 2009-1 This report required by Section 3.5.2 of Appendix B to Facility Operating License No. DPR-16 provides detailed information regarding the recent incidental take of a live juvenile Kemp's ridley sea turtle at Oyster Creek Nuclear Generating Station on June 23, 2009, from an intake bay of the dilution water system. As indicated on the attached incident report, the turtle was promptly turned over to the custody of the Brigantine Marine Mammal Stranding Center (MMSC) for examination and tagging. The animal was active with no major injuries, and was tagged and released later the same day by MMSC personnel.

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

Sincerely, Michael J. Massaro Vice President Oyster Creek Nuclear Generating Station

Enclosures:

1. Sea Turtle Incidental Take Report 2009-1 with photograph

2. MMSC 09-102 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. 09024

OYSTER CREEK NUCLEAR GENERATING STATION Sea Turtle Incidental Take Report 2009-1 At approximately 1010 hours0.0117 days <br />0.281 hours <br />0.00167 weeks <br />3.84305e-4 months <br /> on Tuesday, June 23, 2009, an Oyster Creek Nuclear Generating Station (OCNGS) operator noticed a live sea turtle in Bay # 5 of the dilution water intake. The water temperature at the time of the incidental take was approximately 70.7 degrees F (21.5 C) and OCNGS was in operation at 100% power with four circulating water pumps and two dilution pumps in operation. Skies were cloudy.

The turtle appeared to be healthy and was very active. OCNGS Environmental personnel who took custody of the turtle confirmed it to be a juvenile Kemp's ridley sea turtle (Lepidochelys kerni). Although it is impossible to say precisely how long the turtle had been on the trash bars prior to removal, the dilution water trash racks had been inspected earlier the same morning without the turtle being observed. The previous dilution trash rack cleaning occurred late the prior evening and the turtle was likewise not observed during that cleaning.

The turtle measured only 30 cm carapace length straight line and weighed 7.6 lb. 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 handed over to personnel from the Marine Mammal Stranding Center (MMSC) in Brigantine, NJ at approximately 1145 hours0.0133 days <br />0.318 hours <br />0.00189 weeks <br />4.356725e-4 months <br /> on June 23, 2009. At the MMSC, the turtle was examined, measured, fed, and tagged. MMSC personnel reported that the animal was very active and suffered no major injuries. Only minor bruising was present on plastron and ventral surfaces of its flippers. The animal began eating immediately upon arrival at MMSC. Because of the very good condition of the animal, MMSC personnel chose to release it on the north end of Brigantine Island, NJ on June 23, 2009.

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

First Jay - M.I._ Last Pagel Year20 09 Month 06 Day 2 3 Affiliation Marine Mammal Stranding Center Turtle number by day 01 Address PO Box 773. 3625 Briaantine Blvd.. Briaantine. NJ 08203 Field ID# MMSC-09.102 Coordinatormust be notified within 24 hrs; this was done by [ phone (609)266.0538 Area code/Phone number (609) 266-0538 Elemail 1lfax SPECIES: (check one) STRANDING LOCATION: []Offshore (Atlantic or Gulf beach) Zlnshore (bay, river, sound, inlet, etc)

El CC =Loggerhead State New Jersey County Ocean El CM = Green Descriptive location (be specific) Forked River, Oyster Creek Nuclear Power rl DC =Leatherback Plant El El = Hawksbill 0 LK =Kemp's Ridley Latitude 39.81417'N Longitude 74.20700'W

"- LO = Olive Ridley 0l UN = Unidentified Check Unidentified if not positive. Do Not Guess. CONDITION: (check one) FINAL DISPOSITION: (check)

Z 0 = Alive -1 = Left on beach where found; painted? E]Yes* E]No(5)

[] 1 = Fresh dead E[2 = Buried: [E on beach / El off beach; Carcass necropsied? r-YesoNo El 2=Moderately decomposed carcass painted before buried? E] Yes* El No Photos taken? [Yes -No El 3 = Severely decomposed E13 = Salvaged: El all / El part(s), what/why?

Species verified by coordinator? El 4 = Dried carcass 0 Yes Fl No El 5 = Skeleton, bones only 0-4 = Pulled up on beach/dune; painted? ElYes* r]No 06 = Alive, released 1]7 = Alive, taken to rehab. facility, where?

SEX: TAGS: Contact coordinatorbefore N Undetermined disposing of any taggedanimal!! 18 = Left floating, not recovered; painted? E]Yes* E]No C] Female El Male Checked for flipper tags? 0 Yes El No [--9 = Disposition unknown, explain Does tail extend beyond carapace? Check all 4 flippers. Iffound, record tag r7 Yes;:how far? cm / in number(s) / tag location / return address *Ifpainted, what color?

El No How was sex determined?

PIT lag scan? 0D Yes Li No

[0 Necropsy Iffound; record number I tag location E3 Tail lenqth (adult only) CARAPACE MEASUREMENTS: (see drawing)

Coded wire tag scan? -' Yes Z No Using calipers Circle unit Ifpositive response, record location (flipper) Straight length (NOTCH-TIP) 30 _ cm Elin Unable to check for Minimum length (NOTCH-NOTCH) -ElcmEl]in Straight width (Widest Point) 26.7 ncm E]in Checked for living tag? ZYes E] No Iffound, record location (scute number &side)\ Using non-metal measuring tape Circle unit Curved length (NOTCH-TIP) ____Elcm lin Minimum length (NOTCH-NOTCH) ____ cm lin Curved width (Widest Point) ___[cm Elin Circle unit Weight Z actual I [] est. 7.6 1lkg Z1b 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.

Incidental capture on intake grate at nuclear power plant. Turtle was active and alert. there were minor abrasions on plastron. There was a small amount of algae and a small chip on the carapace.

Tagged and released on north end of Brigantine on 6/23/09.

metal tag RFF # SSL128 PIT ta- LFF #4313496662 IIlhjl l IIIIIIII IIIIIIIIIIII IIIIlI 4313496662