ML14107A071

Report of Impingement of Shortnose Sturgeon

ML14107A071
Person / Time
Site:	Salem
Issue date:	04/10/2014
From:	Wagner L Public Service Enterprise Group
To:	Document Control Desk, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
References
LR-E14-0059
Download: ML14107A071 (9)

Text

I PSEG Nuclear LLC P.O. Box 236, Hancocks Bridge, NJ 08038-0236 0 PSEG Nuclear LLC LR-E14-0059 EPP 5.4.2 Appendix B APR 1 0 2014 U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission ATTN: Document Control Desk Washington, DC 20555-0001 CERTIFIED MAIL RETURN RECEIPT REQUESTED ARTICLE NUMBER: 7011 3500 0000 5084 7946

SUBJECT:

REPORT OF IMPINGEMENT OF SHORTNOSE STURGEON SALEM GENERATING STATION UNIT NO. I DOCKET NO. 50-272 The Nuclear Environmental Event Report, "Report of Impingement of Shortnose Sturgeon" is being submitted pursuant to the requirements of Section 5.4.2 of Appendix B, Environmental Protection Plan, to the Operating License for the Salem Generating Station, PSEG Nuclear LLC (PSEG).

Please find enclosed a letter and two attachments with further information regarding this impingement event.

If you have any questions or require additional information, please do not hesitate to contact Kenneth Strait, Manager - Biological Programs at (856) 339-3929.

Sincerely, Lawrence M. Wagner Plant Manager - Salem PSEG Nuclear LLC Attachments (2)

LR-E1 4-0059 Document Control Desk REPORT OF IMPINGEMENT OF SHORTNOSE STURGEON 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, and documents the occurrence and removal of a shortnose sturgeon (Acipenser brevirostrum) from the Salem Generating Station circulating water intake structure trash bars.

Consultation pursuant to Section 7 of the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (ESA) between NRC and the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) on the effects of the operation of Salem Station on threatened and endangered species has been ongoing since 1979. The most recent revision to the Biological Opinion and Incidental Take Statement issued in January 1999 exempts the specified annual take of shortnose sturgeon and sea turtles. In advance of relicensing for Salem Station, consultation pursuant to Section 7 of the ESA between NRC and NMFS was reinitiated in 2009. On April 6, 2012, the NMFS listed five Distinct Population Segments of Atlantic sturgeon as threatened or endangered under the ESA. In May 2012, NRC requested consultation on the effects of the continued operation of Salem Station on Atlantic sturgeon. The NMFS issued a draft Biological Opinion and Incidental Take Statement (ITS) in July 2012 that, when finalized, will authorize a specified incidental take of both Atlantic sturgeon and shortnose sturgeon associated with operation of the Salem Station circulating water intake system.

Pursuant to Section 5.4.2 of the Environmental Protection Plan for Salem Station, nonroutine events which require reporting to other federal agencies shall be reported in accordance with the other agencies' reporting requirements. Accordingly, enclosed please find two (2) attachments. Attachment 1 provides the information requested by the NMFS in Appendix II to the current ITS and in Appendix B, Part 2, to the revised draft ITS. Attachment 2 is a copy of a Sturgeon Salvage Form verbally requested by the NMFS.

There are no commitments contained in this letter.

Page 2 of 4

LR-E14-0059 Document Control Desk CC: Mr. William Dean, Administrator - Region I U. S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission 2100 Renaissance Blvd., Suite 100 King of Prussia, PA 19406-2713 Mr. John Hughey, Licensing Project Manager 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 Ms. Jessica Pruden National Marine Fisheries Service Protected Resources Division Jessica. Pruden@noaa.gov Mr. Dave Jenkins Endangered and Nongame Species Program New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection Dave.Jenkins@DEP.State.NJ.US Ms. Jeanette Bowers Department of Fish and Wildlife New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection Jeanette.Bowers@DEP.State.NJ. US Salem Commitment Coordinator Mail Code X25 Page 3 of 4

ATTACHMENT 1 (Sturgeon)

Observer's full name: Matthew S. Parris Reporner's fuill name: Matthew S. Parris Species Identification (Key attached): Shortnose Sturgeon (Acipenser brevirostrum)

Site of Impingement (Unit I or 2, CWS or DWS, Bay #, etc.): SGS Unit 1; CWl 12A Date animal observed: 3/13/14 Time animal observed: 09:35am Date animal collected: 3/13/14 Time animal collected: 09:35am Date rehab facility contacted: Time rehab facility contacted:

Date animal picked up: Time animal picked up:

Environmental conditions at time of observation (i.e., tidal stage, weather):

Air temp.-(-5.0°C);sal.-1 0.Oppt;wind-NW;sky-partly cloudy;wave-moderate;tide-Flood slack(90.5ft)

Date and time of last inspection of screen: 3/13/14 at 0843am Water temperature (°C) at site and time of observation: 2.5°C Number of pumps operating at time of observation: Unit 1 6 Unit 2 5 Average percent of power generating capacity achieved per unit at time of observation:

Unit I 100 Unit 2 100 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 observation: Unit 1 100 Unit 2 100 Sturgeon Information:

Species Shortnose Sturgeon (Acipenser brevirostrum)

Fork length (or total length) 889mm(FL)/946mm(TL) Weight 4.1kg Condition of specimen/description of animal The sturgeon was deceased at the time of retrieval by Salem Yard Crew. It appears that the specimen has been dead for a prolonged period of time based on the severe decomposed condition (exposed canial bones, rotting flesh, foul odor). State of NJ DEP & National Marine Fisheries (NMFS) were contacted at 10:42 and 10:39 respectively. Specimen has been preserved (frozen) for lgr..gxamination.

Fish Decomposed: NO SLIGHTLY MODERATELY rSEVERELY)

Fish tagged: YES 0 Please r'ecordall tag numbers. Tag #

Photograph attached: .E)/ NO (please label species, date, geographicsite and vessel name on back of photograph)

ATTACHMENT 1 (Sturgeon) continued Photographs Dorsal view showing size and condition of the deceased Shortnose sturgeon (Acipenser brevirostrum), retrieved on 3/13/14 at 09:35am, by Salem Yard Crew personnel during routine trash rack cleaning at the Salem CWIB (3/14/14).

A left lateral view of the specimen, which shows the extent of decay occurring over the entire body (3114/14).

ATTACHMENT 1 (Sturgeon) continued Photographs A ventral view of the same specimen (3/14/14).

This ventral view of the rostrum provides additional detail of the advanced state of decomposition of the specimen (3/14/14).

ATTACHMENT 1 (Sturgeon) continued Draw wounds, abnormalities, tag locations on diagram and briefly describe below L. R Description of fish condition:

At the time of retrieval, the condition of the sturgeon was poor. No direct damage (cuts, lacerations, abrasions, etc.) to the body was observed, however evidence of the advanced stages of decomposition were apparent. The specimen was transported to the Environmental Consulting Services office and preserved (frozen) waiting further direction from NMFS. After a three week period of holding, and no response from NMFS, the specimen was discarded at the direction of PSEG Nuclear Environmental Affairs.

STURGEON SALVAGE FORM For use in documenting dead sturgeon in the wild under ESA permit no. 1614 (version 05-16-2012)

INVESTIGATORS'S CONTACT INFORMATION Name: First Douglas Last Potts [UIQUE IDENTIFIER (Assigned by NMFS)

DATE REPORTED:

I Agency Affiliation PSEG subcontractor Email dpottslecsl-del.com Address 100 South Cass Street, Middletown. DE 19709 Month 03 Day 13 Year 2014 Area code/Phone number (302) 378-9881 DATE EXAMINED:

Month 03 Day 13 Year 2014 SPECIES: (check one) LOCATION FOUND: IOffshore (Atlantic or Gulf beach) Rlnshore (bay, river, sound, inlet, etc) 0 shortnose sturgeon River/Body of Water Delaware River City Hancocks Bridge State NJ Fl Atlantic sturgeon Descriptive location (be specific Removed from Circulating Water Intake Structure (CWIS)

Fe Unidentified Acipenserspecies Intake trash racks, Intake bay 12A, during routine trash rack cleaning at the Salem Generating Check Llnldentif ted' ifuncertain.

See reverse side of this form for Station, PSEG Nuclear LLC.

aid InIdentification. Latitude 390 27'38.17 N (Dec. Degrees) Longitude 750 32'10.08 W (Dec. Degrees)

CARCASS CONDITION at SEX: MEASUREMENTS: Circle unit time examined: (check one) [0 Undetermined Fork length 88.9 cm El 1 = Fresh dead El Female El Male Total length 94.6 cm How was sex determined?

El 2 =Moderately decomposed Length M actual El estimate 0R 3 =Severely decomposed El Necropsy E] Eggs/milt present when pressed Mouth width (inside lips, see reverse side) 4.5 cm D] 4 =Dried carcass Interorbital width (see reverse side) 6.7cm El 5 =Skeletal, scutes &cartilage [] Borescope Weight 0 actual [] estimate 4.1 kg TAGS PRESENT? Examined for external tags Including fin clips? E- Yes 0 No Scanned for PIT tags? 0 Yes El No Tag # Tag Type Location of tag on carcass CARCASS DISPOSITION: (check one or more) Carcass Necropsled? PHOTODOCUMENTATION:

E1 =Left where found L-Yes [No Photos/vide taken? [ Yes El No 1712 = Buried E13 = Collected for necropsylsalvage Date Necropsied: Disposition of Photos/Video PSEG Nuclear 04 = Frozen for later examination Environmental Affairs and Nuclear E15 = Other (describe) Necropsy Lead: Regulatory Affairs personnel.

SAMPLES COLLECTED? El Yes 0 No Sample How preserved Disposition (person, affiliation, use)

C;omments: ine deceased Snortnose sturgeon was collected Trom the Salem Circulating Water IntaKe Structure during routine trash rack cleaning on 3113114. Positive Identification was made by Environmental Consulting Services personnel at 10:30am. The specimen was measured, photograhed, and Inspected for tags, but none were found. The State of New Jersey DEP, Division of Fish and Wildlife, and National Marine Fisheries (NMFS) were contacted In regards to the incidental take at 10:42 and 10:39am respectively. Upon completion of processing, the fish was transported back to the ECSI main office In Middletown, DE, and preserved (frozen), waiting further Instruction of final disposition from NMFS.

After a three week period of holding, with no response from NMFS, the specimen was discarded at the direction of PSEG Nuclear Environmental Affairs.

Distinguishing Characteristics of Atlantic and Shortnose Sturgeon (version 07-20.2009)

Characteristic Atlantic Sturgeon, Acipenser oxyrlnchus Shortnose Sturgeon, Acipenser brevirostrum Maximum length >9 feet/ 274 cm 4feet/ 122 cm Mouth Football shaped and small. Width inside lips <55% of Wide and oval inshape. Width inside ips > 62% of bony interorbltal width bony interorbital width

'Pre-anal plates Paired plates posterior to the rectum &anterior to the 1-3 pre-anal plates almost always occurring as median anal fin. structures (occurring singly)

Plates along the Rhombic, bony plates found along the lateral base of No plates along the base of anal fin anal fin the anal fin (see diagram below)

HabitatlRange Anadromous; spawn infreshwater but primarily lead a Freshwater amphidromous; found primarily infresh marine existence water but does make some coastal migrations

• From Vecsei and Peterson, 2004 ATLANTIC