SCH07-139, Report of Impingement of Shortnose Sturgeon

Report of Impingement of Shortnose Sturgeon

ML073531871
Person / Time
Site:	Salem
Issue date:	12/07/2007
From:	Gibson C Public Service Enterprise Group
To:	Document Control Desk, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
References
SCH07-139
Download: ML073531871 (6)

Text

PSEG Nuclear LLC P.O. Box 236, Hancock Bridge, NJ 08038-0236 0 PSEG NuclearLLC DEC 0 .7 2007 SCH07-139 CERTIFIED MAIL RETURN RECEIPT REQUESTED ARTICLE NUMBER: 7006 0100 0004 0656 7680 U. S. Nuclear Regulatory. Commission Document Control Desk Washington, DC 20555 Gentleman:

REPORT OF IMPINGEMENT OF SHORTNOSE STURGEON SALEM GENERATING STATION UNIT NO. 1 DOCKET NO. 50-272 In accordance with Section 5.4.2 of Appendix B, Environmental Protection Plan, to the Operating License for the Salem Generating Station, PSEG Nuclear LLC (PSEG) hereby transmits notification of a nonroutine event discovery, and documents the occurrence and removal of a shortnose sturgeon from the Salem Generating Station circulating water intake sAructure.

Enclosed please find two (2) attachments. Attachment 1 gives a narrative description of the event, as requested by the -Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC). Attachment 2, requested by the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), provides more specific information regarding the observance and retrieval of the sturgeon.

Should you have any questions regarding this transmittal, please feel free to contact us.

Sincere y, Clift D. Gibson Salem Radwaste & Environmental Supervisor - -3 Attachments (2)

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DEC 07 2007 SCH07-139 2 Document Control Desk C Mr. S. Collins, Administrator - Region I U. S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission 475 Allendale Road King of Prussia, PA 19406 Mr. R. Ennis, Licensing Project Manager - Salem U. S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission One White Flint North 11555 Rockville Pike Mail Stop 0-4D-3 Rockville, MD 20852 USNRC Senior Resident Inspector - Salem Mail Code X24 Mr. P. Mulligan, Manager IV Bureau of Nuclear Engineering 33 Arctic Parkway P. O. Box 4.15 Trenton, NJ 08625-0415 Ms. Carrie Upite National Marine Fisheries Service Protected Resources Division One Blackburn Drive Gloucester, MA 01930-2298 Mr. Michael Ludwig National Marine Fisheries Service 212 Rogers Avenue Milford, CT 06460 Mr. Dave Jenkins Endangered and Nongame Species Program 7A Van Sykel's Road Hampton, NJ 08827

DEC 0 7 2007 SCH07-139 3 Document Control Desk

/cdg BC Salem Site Vice President Salem Plant Manager CFAM J. Valeri esq.

Env. File No. 4.7.2 SGS Records Management

SCH07-139 ATTACHMENT 1 INCIDENTAL TAKE OF SHORTNOSE STURGEON OCCURRENCE DATE: November 28, 2007 FACILITY: Salem Generating Station, Unit 1 PSEG Nuclear LLC Hancocks Bridge, NJ 08038 IDENTIFICATION OF OCCURRENCE:

A shortnose sturgeon (Acipenserbrevirostrum)was removed from the Circulating Water System (CWS) Intake trash racks at the Salem Generating Station. The sturgeon was recovered on November 28, 2007. Shortnose sturgeon are federally listed as "endangered" species under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended.

CONDITIONS PRIOR TO OCCURRENCE:

November 28, 2007 Unit 1 100 percent power Unit 2 100 percent power DESCRIPTION OF OCCURRENCE:

DATE TIME STATUS INTAKE FORK TOTAL WEIGHT BAY LENGTH LENGTH (KG)

(MM) (MM) 11/28/07 0950 Deceased 12B Not Avail. 674 Approx.

4.5 During routine cleaning of the trash racks, Site Services personnel recovered the sturgeon, which appeared to have wounds similar to the result from a boat impact. Personnel from Environmental Consulting Services responded and confirmed the identification of the sturgeon as an Atlantic Sturgeon. During examination an ID tag fell from the decaying carcass. The tag manufacturer was contacted to request identification of the tag owner. On December 5, 2007 at 14:46 the owner of the tag, ERC contacted the station indicating this fish was

,tagged by them in 'November 2002 as a female Shortnose Sturgeon (Weight

-3kg, length -175 mm).

SCH07-139 ATTACHMENT 1 2 The sturgeon was examined, measured, weighed and scanned for Passive Integrated Transponder (PIT) tags. No response was obtained when the sturgeon was scanned for PIT tags. The sturgeon was discarded when it was identified as an Atlantic Sturgeon on November 28, 2007.

The U. S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) and the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) have been notified regarding this occurrence.

APPARENT CAUSE OF OCCURRENCES Based on historical and recent records, shortnose sturgeon appear to utilize the entire Delaware estuary-river complex, from the river mouth to New Hope, Pennsylvania (0-238 river kilometer - rkm). Spawning occurs north of Trenton, 128 rkm upstream from the Salem and Hope Creek Generating Stations. It is unlikely that larval or post-larval fish would travel the distance downstream to the site. Adult Shortnose sturgeon may move into the surrounding area during fall migration to wintering grounds. Healthy adult and juvenile shortnose sturgeon are strong enough swimmers that they should be able to escape from intake velocities typically encountered at the trash bars. Sturgeon that are in a weakened (or deceased) condition may be subject to impingement.

ANALYSIS OF OCCURRENCE Between 1978 and 2007, a total of eighteen (18) Shortnose sturgeon have been collected at the CWS intake, two in 1978, one in 1981, three in 1991, two in 1992, two in 1994, three in 1998, one in 1999, one in 2000, one in 2003, one in 2004 and this occurrence in 2007.

CORRECTIVE ACTIONS The trash racks are required to be inspected every two hours from June 1 through October 15, cleaned three times per week from May 1 and November 15, and as mentioned above, are required to be cleaned daily between June 1 and October 15. Observations are made specifically for sea turtles and sturgeon during this time. During the remaining months the trash racks are inspected daily for debris load and cleaned as necessary. Since the Shortnose sturgeon was not recovered alive and it is not likely that the facility caused the death, it is felt that the measures in place are sufficient and no other actions are warranted at this time.

SCH07-139 ATTACHMENT 2 REPORTING REQUIREMENTS Appendix II to Section 7 Consultation Photographs should be taken and the information requested below should be collected in association with all protected species (sea turtles and shortnose sturgeon) impingements. This documentation should be sent to the:

National Marine Fisheries Service Habitat Conservation Branch One Blackburn Drive Gloucester, MA 01930-2298 Protected Species Impingements Salem and Hope Creek Generating Stations Observers full name: Maynard McAllister, Jerry Nazar - PSEG Nuclear LLC, Facility Services Reporters full name: Clifton Gibson - PSEG Nuclear LLC, Salem Chemistry, Radwaste &

Environmental Species identification: Shortnose Sturgeon (Acipenser brevirostrum)

Site of impingement: Salem Generating Station - CWS Trash Racks Date and time impingement was observed: 11128/07 0950hrs

-Date and time of animal was collected: 11/28/07 0950 hrs Tidal stage at time of collection: Flood Date and time of last observation of screen: 11/28/07 1007 hrs Water temperature at site at time of impingement: 6.1° (C)

Average percent of power generating capacity achieved per unit over the 48 hours5.555556e-4 days <br />0.0133 hours <br />7.936508e-5 weeks <br />1.8264e-5 months <br /> previous to impingement: Unit 1 - 100 percent power Unit 2 - 100 percent power Condition of animal: Deceased Shortnose Sturgeon Measurements:

Fork Length: Not Available Total Length: 674 mm Weight: -4.5 kg Remarks: The sturgeon was 'found during routine cleaning of the CWS Intake trash racks. The sturgeon was deceased at the time of capture.