RA-09-063, Sea Turtle Incidental Take Report 2009-5

Sea Turtle Incidental Take Report 2009-5

ML092520203
Person / Time
Site:	Oyster Creek
Issue date:	09/02/2009
From:	Massaro M Exelon Nuclear
To:	Document Control Desk, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
References
RA-09-063
Download: ML092520203 (4)

Text

Oyster Creek Generating Station www.exeloncorp.com Exeklon Route 9 South Nuclear PO Box 388 Forked River, NJ o8731 10 CFR 50.2 September 2, 2009 RA-09-063 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 2009-5 This report provides detailed information regarding the recent incidental take of a live juvenile Kemp's ridley sea turtle at Oyster Creek Nuclear Generating Station (OCNGS) on August 15, 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 release. The animal did not have external evidence of major injuries when examined by MMSC personnel.

Because of the excellent condition of this turtle, it was promptly released by MMSC personnel after confirming that the turtle had normal swimming and feeding behaviors.

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:

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1. Sea Turtle Incidental Take Report 2009-5 with photograph

2. MMSC 09-117 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 2009-5 At approximately 1825 hours0.0211 days <br />0.507 hours <br />0.00302 weeks <br />6.944125e-4 months <br /> on Saturday, August 15, 2009, an Oyster Creek Nuclear Generating Station (OCNGS) operator noticed a sea turtle in Bay # 1 of the dilution water intake while removing debris from trash grates. The water temperature at the time of the incidental take was approximately 83.9 degrees F (28.8 C) and OCNGS was in operation at 100% power with four circulating water pumps and two dilution pumps in operation. No precipitation was occurring at the time of the incidental take.

The turtle was quite active and alert when retrieved from the intake bay. The turtle appeared to be healthy and had no signs of physical trauma other than some minor abrasions on the plastron and minor bruising noted near the base of the rear flippers. OCNGS Environmental personnel who took custody of the turtle confirmed it to be a juvenile Kemp's ridley sea turtle (Lepidochelys kemiji). 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 less than four hours and raked about seven hours earlier the same day without the turtle being observed.

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 2215 hours0.0256 days <br />0.615 hours <br />0.00366 weeks <br />8.428075e-4 months <br /> on August 15, 2009. The turtle measured 30.7 cm carapace length straight line and weighed 10.2 lb. No tags were present on the turtle when examined. MMSC personnel held the turtle briefly for observation and confirmed that it was diving and feeding regularly and was in very good health and physical condition. After tagging the turtle, MMSC personnel released it alive on August 17, 2009, at Brigantine Island, NJ.

Information regarding the turtle was recorded on Sea Turtle Stranding and Salvage Network Stranding Report # MMSC-09-117 (enclosed).