View source for RA-11-097, Annual Sea Turtle Incidental Take Report - 2011

{{Adams
| number = ML12011A032
| issue date = 12/21/2011
| title = Annual Sea Turtle Incidental Take Report - 2011
| author name = Massaro M
| author affiliation = Exelon Nuclear
| addressee name = Crocker J
| addressee affiliation = NRC/NRR, US Dept of Commerce, National Marine Fisheries Service
| docket = 05000219
| license number = DPR-016
| contact person = 
| case reference number = RA-11-097
| document type = Annual Operating Report, Letter type:RA
| page count = 21
}}

=Text=
{{#Wiki_filter:Oyster Creek Generating Station Exelon.
Route 9 South www.exeloncorp.com                                      ucea PO Box 388 Forked River, NJ 08731 50 CFR 402.14(i)(3)
December 21, 2011 RA-1 1-097 Julie Crocker NOAA, National Marine Fisheries Service Northeast Region Protected Resources Division 55 Great Republic Drive Gloucester, MA 01930 Oyster Creek Nuclear Generating Station Renewed Facility Operating Ucense No. DPR-1 6 NRC Docket No. 50-219

==Subject:==
ANNUAL SEA TURTLE INCIDENTAL TAKE REPORT - 2011

==Dear Ms. Crocker:==

Enclosed Is a copy of the 2011 Annual Sea Turtle Incidental Take Report for the Oyster Creek Nuclear Generating Station. The report is submitted in accordance with Terms and Conditions No. 8 of the Incidental Take Statement of the 2006 Endangered Species Act Section 7 Consultation Biological Opinion.
If you have any questions concerning this submittal, please contact Malcolm Browne, Environmental Scientist, at (609) 971-4124.
Sincerely, Michael J. Ma saro Vice President Oyster Creek Nuclear Generating Station Enclosure cc:         NRC Document Control Desk Administrator, Region I NRC Senior Project Manager NRC Senior Resident Inspector

Enclosure to RA-1 1-097 Annual Report of Sea Turtle Incidental Takes - 2011 Oyster Creek Nuclear Generating Station Renewed Facility Operating Ucense No. DPR-1 6 Docket No. 50-219 Prepared by:
Malcolm Browne, Senior Environmental Scientist James Kerr, Senior Regulatory Specialist Exelon Corporation December 2011

Enclosure to RA-1 1-097 Page 2 of 4 Introduction The Annual Report of Sea Turtle Incidental Takes provides a summary of the Incidental takes of all species of sea turtles at the Oyster Creek Nuclear Generating Station (OCNGS) during the past year. The report Is required by Terms and Conditions (T&C) # 8 of the Incidental Take Statement (ITS) of the OCNGS Endangered Species Act Section 7 Consultation Biological Opinion. This report covers all incidental takes and sightings of sea turtles that occurred during 2011.
Incidental Take Reports documenting the circumstances of Incidental takes of sea turtles were completed following eight (8) OCNGS sea turtle incidental takes during 2011 and were provided to the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) and the United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission (US NRC) within 30 days of each Incidental take. Sea Turtle Incidental Take Reports 2011-1 though 2011-8 are summarized In Attachment 1. Photographs of three of the eight turtles have already been supplied with the individual reports and therefore are not included In this report. Photographs of turtles 2011-3 through 2011-7 (i.e., those incidentally taken during August 2011 and not previously provided) are included with this report In . There was a delay In OCNGS receiving these photos from the Marine Mammal Stranding Center (MMSC) due to MMSC having to evacuate many of their animals and personnel from their facility because of the passage of Hurricane Irene.
Take             Date / Time (condition and soecles) 2011-1           Tuesday, June 7, 2011/ 0915 (Live juvenile Kemp's ridley) 2011-2           Thursday, June 9, 2011/ 1734 (Dead juvenile Kemp's ridley) 2011-3           Saturday, August 13, 2011/ 0055 (Live juvenile Green sea turtle) 2011-4           Monday, August 22, 2011/ 0040 (Live juvenile Kemp's ddley) 2011-5           Saturday, August 27, 2011/0030 (Live juvenile Kemp's ridley) 2011-6           Saturday, August 27, 2011/ 1630 (Live juvenile Kemp's ridley) 2011-7           Tuesday, August 30, 2011/ 0945 (Live juvenile Loggerhead) 2011-8           Wednesday, September 28, 2011/ 1434 (Dead juvenile Kemp's ridley)
Slohtino         Date / Time (species) 2011-SI          Wednesday, August 10, 2011/ 1230 (Live sea turtle; species unknown)
Comoarison of Annual Sea Turtle Incidental Takes With Prior Years Regarding trends in the number of incidental sea turtle takes at the OCNGS, a total of eight sea turtle Incidental takes occurred during 2011. All but two of the sea turtles incidentally taken at OCNGS during 2011 were alive and in good condition when Incidentally taken and were subsequently released after they were confirmed to be feeding well and moving about normally.
The only two sea turtles that were not alive when incidentally taken at the OCNGS were partially decomposed when taken, and the necropsies conducted on them concluded that they were likely to have died prior to arriving at OCNGS.

Enclosure to RA-1 1-097 Page 3 of 4 The eight OCNGS incidental takes during 2011 Is greater than the long-term average of approximately three incidental takes per year recorded over the last twenty years; however, the annual abundance of sea turtles in this vicinity appears to be highly variable, unpredictable, and unrelated to the operation of OCNGS. There are several factors that may influence the number of sea turtle Incidental takes that occur at the OCNGS. Barnegat Inlet, the only tidal Inlet in the vicinity of Oyster Creek, which provides access to Bamegat Bay from the Atlantic Ocean, was deepened during dredging operations in the early 1990s. Completion of the Bamegat Inlet dredging operation resulted in an Increase in the tidal prism, or volume of water entering and exiting the inlet on a single tidal cycle, as well as a slightly greater tidal range at Oyster Creek.
The deepening of Barnegat Inlet and associated waterway channels was completed immediately prior to 1992, when Incidental takes of sea turtles began to occur at OCNGS, and may partially explain the occurrence of the turtles. Increased regulatory protection of sea turtles under the Endangered Species Act also began in the early 1990's.
Physical factors, such as an oceanic front or an oceanic eddy occurring unusually close to Bamegat Inlet, may also play a part in the prevalence of sea turtles near Oyster Creek because oceanic fronts have been shown to be used as a migratory and forage habitat by sea turtles (Polovina et al, 2000). Experience has also shown that the passage of a severe storm or pressure system near Bamegat Inlet can cause major Increases in winds, waves, tides and tidal prism in shallow estuarine waters such as Bamegat Bay. These events could increase the likelihood of slowly swimming organisms such as sea turtles occurring in the estuary. In this regard, it Is noteworthy that three of the sea turtles incidentally taken at Oyster Creek during 2011 occurred within days of the passage of Hurricane Irene. It is likely that the local variability of sea turtle abundance is also related to biological factors including the abundance of organisms on which sea turtles prefer to feed, including crabs such as blue crabs, horseshoe crabs, and calico crabs, as well as sponges and various types of algae. The higher than average number of incidental takes in 2011 may have been an anomaly based on favorable physical conditions or prey abundance. However, an analysis of the number of Incidental takes at OCNGS indicates that there has been a gradual increase in the average annual number of Incidental takes in recent years in comparison to the previous decade. For example, a total of twenty sea turtle incidental takes occurred at OCNGS between 1992 and 2001 (an average of two takes per year) but 56 Incidental takes occurred between 2002 and 2011 (an average of over five takes per year). This recent trend of Increasing OCNGS incidental takes parallels a similar trend of generally increasing sea turtle strandings reported during that period by the Sea Turtle Stranding and Salvage Network (STSSN) along the Atlantic coast. The conduct of operations at the OCNGS intakes have not been changed in any manner that would explain the recent increase in takes. However, the increase may reflect the long-term success of turtle legislative and conservation measures such as Turtle Excluder Device (TED) implementation, nest and egg protection at sea turtle nesting sites, and turtle headstarting programs.
The massive oil plume released into the Gulf of Mexico during 2010 following the fire on the BP offshore drilling rig may also have a future effect on the number of sea turtles incidentally taken at OCNGS. Although the BP oil plume was probably not an important factor in 2011, it remains to be seen whether it may ultimately slow the general trend of increasing numbers of Atlantic coast sea turtle sightings and incidental takes.

Enclosure to RA-1 1-097 Page 4 of 4 Many years of environmental sampling conducted near OCNGS have repeatedly demonstrated that the abundance of various marine organisms can vary considerably from year to year, often by orders of magnitude. This is particularly true for seasonal migrants, whose abundance in Bamegat Bay is highly dependent upon physical and biological factors along the migratory route. Therefore, the observed annual variation in sea turtle Incidental takes at OCNGS from a minimum of zero to a maximum of eleven per year Is not considered particularly significant. The ultimate goal of the considerable effort being put forward at OCNGS for the protection of sea turtles is to protect the turtles that do arrive at the plant, and to release as many turtles as possible back to the environment. The OCNGS program for the protection of threatened and endangered sea turtles can be considered to be quite successful because most of the sea turtles Incidentally captured at OCNGS since 1992 (with some in distress prior to being taken) have subsequently been rehabilitated and released alive and well to the Atlantic Ocean in warmer water locations further south due to the efforts of OCNGS and MMSC personnel.
The eight incidental takes of sea turtles during 2011 at the OCNGS did not exceed the ITS limit, which is currently a maximum of eight total turtles per year. There were two incidental takes of dead Kemp's ridley sea turtles at the OCNGS during 2011. The necropsies for those turtles by MMSC determined that both were postmortem Impingements, so their deaths were apparently unrelated to the operation of OCNGS.
OCNGS expects ongoing support from the Marine Mammal Stranding Center in Brigantine, New Jersey for both transfers of live sea turtles for rehabilitation and as the primary facility for necropsies. OCNGS has noted the exceptional efforts by the dedicated and capable MMSC staff in the care and rehabilitation of sea turtles transferred to the Brigantine facility, which was especially apparent during 2011 when support by MMSC personnel was provided to Oyster Creek despite severe weather conditions prior to and following the passage of Hurricane Irene.
References Polovina, J.J., D.R. Kobayashi, D.M. Ellis, M.P. Seki, and G.H. Balazs. 2000. Turtles on the edge: Movement of loggerhead turtles (Caretta caretta) along oceanic fronts in the central North Pacific, 1997-1998. Fish. Oceanogr., 9: 71-82.

Enclosure to RA-1 1-097 ATTACHMENT 1 2011 Incidental Take Reports

Attachment I to RA-11-097, Oyster Creek Nuclear Generating Station Annual Sea Turtle Incidental Take Report -2011
_________________          Incidental Take 2011-1          Incidental Take 2011-2       Incidental Take 20114 PERATIONS DEPARTMENT:                 .                                                       ,    , _, ,,,     ____-___,..._
Observer's full name:                             William Tolbert                  William Tolbert              Daniel Megill Reporter's full name:                               David Shaffer                      Brian Now                 Mark Baratta pecies Identification (Key attached):            Kemp's Ridley                   Kempfs Ridley                    Green Site of Impingement (CWS or DWS):                        DWS                              DWS                         CWS i'Bay Number.                                              1                                4                            5 Date animal observed:                                 7-Jun-11                         9-Jun-11                   13-Aug-I1 lime animal observed:                                  9:.15                            17:34                        0:55
   'ate animal collected:                             7-Jun-1I                         9-Jun-Il                   13-Aug-11 ime animal collected:                                  9:15                             17:34.                       0:55 ONDrrlONS AT COLLECTION:.               '-:         '
idal Stage:                                         Ebb Tide                         High Tide                   High Tide Cloud conditions:                                   Partly Cloudy                        Sunny                        Clear Precipitation:                                           None                             None                        None Intake water temperature:                          70.30F i 21.3&deg;C                  80.80F 127.1&deg;C              83.8"F 128.80C Other conditions                                   None Recorded                   None Recorded        Wind 3.8MPH fmrm 259 deg.
umber of CW pumps running:                              4                                4                            4 umber of DW pumps running:                              2                                2                            2 eactor power level at observation:                    100%                             100%                        100%
eactor power previous 48-hours:                       100%                             100%                        100%
ate of last screen inspection:                     7-Jun-1I                          9-Jun-Il                   12-Aug-1I rime of last screen inspection:                          8:10                             16:15                       20:18 Date of last trash raking:                            7-Jun-1I                          9-Jun-1I                   12-Aug-11 Time of last trash raking:                               9:11                             17:00                        0:42 ATTACHMENT I - Page I of 9

Attachment I to RA-11-097, Oyster Creek Nuclear Generating Station Annual Sea Turtle Incidental Take Report - 2011 Incidental Take 2011-1           Incidental Take 2011-2      Incidental Take 2011-3 ENVIRONMENTAL DEPARTMENT:                                         .
Date Brigantine MMSC contacted:                   7-Jun-1 1                        9-Jun-11                  13-Aug-1I Time Brigantine MMSC contacted:                     10:07                             17:45                     1:32 ate Animal picked up by MMSC:              ,     7-Jun-11                         9-Jun-1I                  13-Aug-1I ime Animal picked up by MMSC:                      11:30                             19:50                     3:20 State of animal when first observed:                Ailve                             Dead                      Alive Scrape rear center top of shell.
tate of animal when collected:      Turtle was alive, active, no     Piece of shell missing front              Alive visible scars or punctures.      center. Turtle was not responsive.
State of animal when picked up:                     Alive                             Dead                      Alive State of animal arriving at MMSC:                   Alive                             Dead                      Alive ATTACHMENT 1 - Page 2 of 9

Attachment I to RA-11-097, Oyster Creek Nuclear Generating Station Annual Sea Turtle Incidental Take Report - 2011 Incidental Take 2011-1             Incidental Take 2011-2            Incidental Take 2011-3 Necropsied at MMSC and burl Alive and released at north end Final disposition of animal:                          Released at Brigantine, NJ
__N_____o____Brigantine,____________NN                       at north end of Brigantine Island          of Brigantine, NJ Carapace Length - Curved                                           28.1 cm                          22.5 cm                           23.1 cm Carapace Length - Straight                                         26.1 cm                          21.5 cm                           22.0 cm Carapace Width - Curved:                                           29.1 cm                          22.3 cm                           19.6 cm arapace Width - Straight.                                        25.1 cm                          19.3 cm                           18.2 cm eight - lbs (kgs)                                           6.4 lbs (2.9 kg)                 3.0 lbs (1.4 kg)                  3.1 lbs (1.4 kg) sting Tag Number                                                 None                             None                             None hotograph attached                                                 Yes                                Yes                             Yes iagram of wounds, abnormalities, tag                               None                               Yes                             Yes ocations attached                                 ____________
Alive and active Juvenile.      Deceased juvenile Kemp's ddley Juvenile, Indeterminant sex.
sea turtle, determined by         Alive, active, and responsive.
necropsy to be female             Eating on Its own. Animal was Ir scription of Animal                                                                                                 good condition. Good weight with minor scrapes to plastron.
All information sent to: National Marine Fisheries Service. Northeast Region; Protected Resources Division; Attention:                             Yes                                Yes                             Yes Endangered Species Coordinator, One lackbum Drive; Gloucester, MA 01930 ATTACHMENT 1 - Page 3 of 9

Attachment I to RA-11-097, Oyster Creek Nuclear Generating Station Annual Sea Turtle Incidental Take Report - 2011
                                          'Incidental Take 20114             Incidental Take 2011-5                  Incidental Take 2011-6 PERATIONS DEPARTMENT:                -                                     V     ~ -'.
Observer's full name:                          Chris McNamer                      James Labant                          Rich Harshburger Reporter's full name:                          Chris McNamer                   Andrew Zuchowsld                          Steven Johnston pecies Identification (Key attached):         Kemps Ridley                      Kemp's Ridley                           Kemp's Ridley ite of Impingement (CWS or DWS):                   CWS                               CWS                                     DWS Bay Number                                             6                                  1                                      4 Date animal observed:                             22-Aug-1I                         27-Aug-1                                27-Aug-1I rime animal observed:                              0:26                               0:30                                   16:10 ate animal collected:                           22-Aug-1I                         27-Aug-1I                               27-Aug-1I ime animal collected:                              0:40                               0:30                                   16:30 CONDITIONS AT COLLECTION:                                                ...                "__,       _..__...._...                      _..
dal Stage:                                      Low tide                          Ebb Tide                                Low Tide loud conditions:                               Partly cloudy          Prior to Hurricane Irene, calm                   Hurricane Irene Precipitation:                                       None                              None                                    Rain Intake water temperature:                      82.6F / 28.1"C                    82.4"F / 28.0&deg;C                          78.3&deg;F / 25.7 0C Other conditions                             Wind WSW 9 mph                      None Recorded                             Wind 13 mph INumber of CW pumps running:                           4                                 4                                       4 Number of DW pumps running:                            2                                 2                                       2 Reactor power level at observation:                  100%                              100%                                    30%
Reactor power previous 48-hours:                     100%                          approx. 85%                             approx. 90%
Date of last screen Inspection:                   21-Aug-11                         27-Aug-11                               27-Aug-1I lime of last screen inspection:                     20:10                              0:00                                   13:00 jDate of last trash raking:                       21-Aug-11                         27-Aug-1I                               27-Aug-1I rime of last trash raking:                            1:22                              0:00                                   13:00 ATTACHMENT 1 - Page 4 of 9

Attachment I to RA-11-097, Oyster Creek Nuclear Generating Station Annual Sea Turtle Incidental Take Report - 2011 Incidental  Take 2011-4          ,Incidental Take 2011-5 Incidental Take 2011-6 ENVIRONMENTAL DEPARTMENT:                   -  .     ..........
Date Brigantine MMSC contacted:            22-Aug-1 1                         27-Aug-11             27-Aug..11 Time Brigantine MMSC contacted:               1:30                                1:45                 17:57 ate Animal picked up by MMSC:             22-Aug-1I                          27-Aug-1I             28-Aug-1_1 Time Animal picked up by MMSC:               3:44                                7:30                 12:55 State of animal when first observed:          Alive                              Alive                 Alive tate of animal when collected:               Alive                              Alive                 Alive State of animal when picked up:               Alive                              Alive                 Alive State of animal arriving at MMSC:             Alive                              Alive                 Alive ATTACHMENT 1 - Page 5 of 9

Attachment I to RA-1 1-097, Oyster Creek Nuclear Generating Station Annual Sea Turtle Incidental Take Report - 2011 Incidental Take 201 1-4           Incidental Take 2011-5                Incidental Take 20114 Alive and of released at NJ Brigantine, north end Alive andof released Brigantine,atNJ north end               released at north end of Alive and Brigantine, NJ Carapace Length - Curved                               34.1 cm                           33.6 cm                               33.3 cm Carapace Length - Straight                            32.7 cm                           32.0 cm                                32.0 cm Carapace Width - Curved:                              33.5 cm                           33.0 cm                                34.3 cm Carapace Width - Straight                             30.1 cm                           29.4 cm                                30.4 cm eight - lbs (kgs)                               10 lbs (4.5 kg)                   8.8 lbs (4.0 kg)                      11.2 lbs (5.1 kg)
Existing Tag Number                                    None                              None                                   None Photograph attached                                      Yes                                Yes                                   Yes Diagram of wounds, abnormalities, tag                    Yes                                Yes                                   Yes locations   attached___________________________
Juvenile, Indeterminant sex.      Juvenile, Indeterrninant sex.      Juvenile, Indetermlnant sex. Alert Swimming and active when          Active and alert when taken and    and active upon arrival to MMSC.
Incidentally taken. Turtle was    upon arrival at MMSC. There        There were scrapes on the plastron.
Description of Animal                   lethargic upon arrival at MMSC. were scrapes on plastron. Turtle   Old scar on shell. Small section of There was bruising and scrapes    was eating on its own.             left rear flipper missing. Turtle eating on plastron. Eating on its own.                                      on Its own.
[NI information sent to: National Marine Fisheries Service, Northeast Region; Protected Resources Division; Attention:                 Yes                                Yes                                   Yes Endangered Species Coordinator, One Biackbum Drive; Gloucester, MA 01930 ATTACHMENT 1 - Page 6 of 9

Attachment I to RA-11-097, Oyster Creek Nuclear Generating Station Annual Sea Turtle Incidental Take Report - 2011 Incidental Take 2011-7                IncIdental Take 2011-8 PERATIONS DEPARTMENT:                 ,
bserver's full beprter's  full name:
name:                               Megill Dan Megill                             Gary NealWinider Miler pecies Identification (Key attached):         Loggerhead                             Kemp's Ridley Ste of Impingement (CWS or DWS):                  CWS                                    DWS Bay Number:                                           5                                       2 ate animal observed:                           30-Aug-11I                              28-Sep-11 lime animal observed:                             9:45                                   14:29 ate animal collected:                          30-Aug-1 I                              28-Sep-11 me animal collected:                             9:45                                   14:34 CONDITIONS AT COLLECTION:                     -           -
Tidal Stage:                                     Flood tide                               Ebb Tide Cloud conditions:                                  Clear                                 Overcast Precipitation:                                      None                                   None Other conditions Intake   water temperature:                   73.0&deg;F  / 22.8&deg;C                        77.90F R~eactor startup in progress                  None 125.50C Reported,.
Number of CW pumps running:                          4                                       4 Number of DW pumps running:                           2                                       2 Reactor power level at observation:                 65%                                    100%
eactor power previous 48-hours:       Reactor startup In progress                        100%
ate of last screen Inspection:                 30-Aug-I I                              28-Sep-11 ime of last screen inspection:                    8:01                                   14:23 Date of last trash raking:                       30-Aug-1I                               28-Sep- 1 lime of last trash raking:                         8:01                                   14:23 ATTACHMENT 1 - Page 7 of 9

Attachment I to RA-11-097, Oyster Creek Nuclear Generating Station Annual Sea Turtle Incidental Take Report - 2011 Incidental Take 2011-7              Incidental Take 2011-4 NVIRONMENTAL DEPARTMENT:
ate Brigantine MMSC contacted:            30-Aug-11                             28-Sep-1 I me Brigantine MMSC contacted:               9:55                                   14:44 ate Animal picked up by MMSC:             30-Aug-11                              28-Sep-1I Time Animal picked up by MMSC:               12:45                                  16:45 tate of animal when first observed:          Alive                                  Dead Dead. Minor scrapes on top and bottom. Per MMSC necropsy, the tate of animal when collected:               Alive               impingement appears to have been postmortem based on the observed initial level of decomposition.
State of animal when picked up:               Alive                                  Dead State of animal arriving at MMSC:             Alive                                  Dead ATTACHMENT 1 - Page 8 of 9

Attachment I to RA-1 1-097, Oyster Creek Nuclear Generating Station Annual Sea Turtle Incidental Take Report - 2011 Incidental  Take 2011-7              Incidental Take 2011-8 Final disposition of animal:                Taken to Virginia Marine Science          Buried at Brigantine, NJ.
Center for long term rehabilitation.
Carapace Length - Curved                                 64.7 cm                                 27.2 cm Carapace Length - Straight                               61.4 cm                                 25.7 cm Carapace Width - Curved:                                 64.0 cm                                 27.5 cm Carapace Width - Straight                                54.1 cm                                 23.3 cm Weight - lbs (kgs)                                  81.4 lbs (36.9 kg)                       6.2 lbs (2.8 kg)
Exsting Tag Number                                         None                                   None Photograph attached                                         Yes                                    Yes Diagram of wounds, abnormalities, tag                      Yes                                     Yes locations attached Subadult, Indeterminant sex. Many      Juvenile, died prior to incidental take.
barnacles on shell, neck and flippers. Some organs not identifiable during Right front flipper missing outer half  necropsy due to decompositon but Description of Animal                    and infected (prm-existing wound).         sex determined to be female.
Two severe bites on right front         Scrapes on carapace and plastron.
flipper. Tooth rakes from shark.           Undigested blue crab parts in stomach and GI tract I information sent to: National Marine Fisheries Service. Northeast Region; Protected Resources Division; Attention:                   Yes                                     Yes ndangered Species Coordinator; One Blackburn Drive; Gloucester, MA 01930 ATTACHMENT 1 - Page 9 of 9

Enclosure to RA-1 1-097 ATTACHMENT 2 Turtle Photos from Incidental Takes 2011-3,4,5,6,7

Incidental Take 2011-3 ATTACHMENT 2 - Page 1 of 5

Incidental Take 2011-4 I
ATTACHMENT 2 - Page 2 of 5

Incidental Take 2011.5 ATTACHMENT 2 - Page 3 of 5

Incidental Take 2011-6 m"
ATTACHMENT 2 - Page 4 of 5

Incidental Take 2011-7 ATTACHMENT 2 - Page 5 of 5}}