ML11262A275

E-mail from L. Perkins to B. Hurley, Earthtech on Salem/Hope Creek Dseis - Chapter 2

ML11262A275
Person / Time
Site:	Salem, Hope Creek
Issue date:	09/27/2010
From:	Perkins L T Division of License Renewal
To:	Perkins L T Division of License Renewal
References
FOIA/PA-2011-0113
Download: ML11262A275 (137)

Text

{{#Wiki_filter:Perkins, Leslie From: Perkins, Leslie Sent: Monday, September 27, 2010 6:32 PM To: Perkins, Leslie; Bobbie.Hurley@earthtech.com

Subject:

RE: Salem\Hope Creek DSEIS- Chapter 2 Attachments: Chapter 2 V 5.docx Bobbie, This is follow-up to my previous email. I will be out of the office in training Tues-Thursday this week, so included the specific comments that I need to address in the attachment. You will find the comments on or about pages 41, 93, 94, and 100. Any assistance or clarification you can provide to help address these comments would be appreciated. I will be checking my email in evenings and periodically checking my voicemail during the day Tues-Thursday. Please provide any feedback you may have by email so I can make the appropriate changes. If you there is any comment or question that you need further clarification, leave a message on my phone and I will give you a call you during one of my breaks.Any assistance you can offer would be appreciated. Thanks, Leslie 301-415-2375 (w)From: Perkins, Leslie Sent: Monday, September 27, 2010 4:17 PM To: 'Bobbie.Hurley@earthtech.com'

Subject:

Salem\Hope Creek DSEIS- Chapter 2 Bobby, I attached is the Chapter 2 of the DSEIS for Salem\Hope Creek. As Bo mentioned we have some questions regarding certain sections of the write up. I will give you a call in a few minutes.Thanks, Leslie Perkins Project Manager Division of License Renewal Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission 301-415-2375 I 1 2.0 AFFECTED ENVIRONMENT 2 Salem Nuclear Generating Station (Salem) and Hope Creek Generating Station (HCGS) are 3 located at the southern end of Artificial Island in Lower Alloways Creek Township, Salem 4 County, New Jersey. The facilities are located at River Mile 50 (RM 50; River Kilometer 80 [RK 5 80]) and RM 51 (RK 82) on the Delaware River, respectively, approximately 17 miles (mi; 27 6 kilometers [km]) south of the Delaware Memorial Bridge. Philadelphia is about 35 mi (56 km)7 northeast and the city of Salem, New Jersey is 8 mi (13 km) northeast of the site (AEC, 1973).8 Figure 2-1 shows the location of Salem and HCGS within a 6-mi (10 km) radius, and Figure 2-2 9 is an aerial photograph of the site.10 Because existing conditions are partially the result of past construction and operation at the 11 plants, the impacts of these past and ongoing actions and how they have shaped the 12 environment are presented in this chapter. Section 2.1 of this report describes Salem and 13 HCGS as a combined site (site), the individual facilities, and their operations; Section 2.2 14 discusses the affected environment; and Section 2.3 describes related Federal and State 15 activities near the site.16 2.1 Facility and Site Description and Proposed Plant Operation During the 17 Renewal Term 18 Artificial Island is a 1,500-acre (ac; 600 hectare [ha]) island that was created by the U.S. Army 19 Corps of Engineers (USACE) beginning in the early 20th century. The island began as buildup 20 of hydraulic dredge spoils within a progressively enlarged diked area established around a 21 natural sandbar that projected into the river. The island is characterized by low and flat tidal 22 marsh and grassland with an average elevation of about 9 feet (ft; 3 meters [m]) above mean 23 sea level (MSL) and a maximum elevation of about 18 ft (5.5 m) above MSL (AEC, 1973).24 Public Service Enterprise Group Incorporated Nuclear, LLC (PSEG) owns approximately 740 25 ac (300 ha) on the southern end of Artificial Island. The Salem and HCGS facilities occupy 373 26 ac (150 ha; 220 ac [89 ha] for Salem and 153 ac [62 ha] for HCGS) in the southwestern corner 27 of the island. The remainder of Artificial Island is undeveloped. 28 The remainder of the island is owned by the U.S. Government and the State of New Jersey.29 The northern portion of Artificial Island, a very small portion of which is within the State of 30 Delaware boundary, and a 1-mi (1.6-km) wide inland strip of land abutting the island are owned 31 by the U.S. Government (AEC, 1973). The State of New Jersey owns the remainder of Artificial 32 Island, as well as much of the nearby inland property. The distance to the PSEG property 33 boundary from the two Salem reactor buildings is approximately 4,200 ft (1,300 m). Distance to 34 the PSEG property boundary from the HCGS reactor building is 2,960 ft (902 m).35 There are no major highways or railroads within about 7 mi (11 km) of the site. Land access is 36 provided via Alloway Creek Neck Road to Bottomwood Avenue. The site is located at the end 37 of Bottomwood Avenue and there is no traffic that bypasses the site. Barge traffic has access to 38 the site by way of the Intracoastal Waterway channel maintained in the Delaware River 39 (AEC, 1973).40 Figures 2-3 and 2-4 show the property boundaries and facility layouts for the Salem and HCGS 41 facilities, respectively. September 2010 2-1 Draft NUREG-1437, Supplement 45 Affected Environment-I,--Msnlngo MOlsA. e, Mw 01-(mC , n-w.0.. eh Sl 633 65 Ok F.,I Eolbmi 624 623 660 H Miles do-- C ouny ounar i Primary H ighw -wt L e A-- t L oal H.Rg.GTadP R Th. lofte S 292 e r i St io 4Si , wi a a/ n Cubelod.N. bkd County Bondr-rimary Highway with Limited A ess-Secondarynd Roa rr~g Atee 24alguem -1Loatio Hofe thee SlmNula Generating Stations an Hope Cree 25oGeneating Statincie, ihna6Ml ais(ore SG 09;2 Draft NUREG-1 437, Supplement 45 2-2 September 2010 K) -tj"0 0 N o o Hope Creek Generating Station 0.o 0 S- He Salem Generating Station co z,- ,ee' 0 0.125 0.25 0.5 c: LeedMiles 00 rn PSEG Boundary ,C SSalem Building>t- -CA C CD CD:3 0.9h CD c C.ý t CD C tj-4 m C4-) 0.n0 CA Cr CO (D !(D CD a.Legend Discharge Salem Facility-, PSEG Boundary 0 0.05 0.1 0.2 Miles C C Cr CD -0'. 0 CD (D 0 to CO)0-n 0 ma G)CO m 5 (D-0*Ln Legend 0 0.05 0.1 0.2 0.3 ii Miles Discharge m Hope Creek Facility PSEG Boundary (D CD Q-m 3 (DýL Affected Environment 1 2 3 4 Three metropolitan areas lie within 50 mi (80 km) of the PSEG site: Wilmington, DE, the closest city, approximately 15 mi (24 km) to the northwest; Philadelphia, PA, approximately 35 mi (56 km) to the northeast; and Baltimore, MD, approximately 45 mi (72 mi) to the southwest (Figure 2-5 shows a map of the site within a 50-mi [80 km] radius).5 6 7 Figure 2-5. Location of the Salem Nuclear Generating Station and Hope Creek Generating Station Site, within a 50-Mile Radius (Source: PSEG, 2009a; 2009b)Draft NUREG-1437, Supplement 45 2-6 September 2010 Affected Environment 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 Industrial activities within 10 mi (16 km) of the site are confined principally to the west bank of the Delaware River, north of Artificial Island, in the cities of Delaware City, New Castle, and Wilmington. There is no significant industrial activity near the site. With little industry in the region, construction and retail trade account for nearly 40 percent of the revenues generated in the Salem County economy (USCB, 2006). Smaller communities in the vicinity of the site (Haddock's Bridge, NJ; Salem, NJ; Quinton, NJ; and Shenandoah, DE) consist primarily of small retail businesses. Much of the surrounding marshland is owned by the U.S. Government and the State of New Jersey and is further described in section 2.2.1.Located about 2 mi (3 km) west of the site on the western shore of the Delaware River is the Augustine State Wildlife Management Area, a 2,667-ac (1,079 ha) wildlife management area managed by the Delaware Division of Fish and Wildlife (Delaware Division of Fish and Wildlife, 2010a). Southwest of the site, also on the Delaware side of the Delaware River, is the Appoquinimink Wildlife Area. Located less than a mile (less than one km) northeast of the site is the upper section of the Mad Horse Creek Fish and Wildlife Management Area. This is a noncontiguous, 9,500-ac (3,800 ha) wildlife area managed by the New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife (NJDFW) with sections northeast, east, and southeast of the site (NJDFW, 2009a).Recreational activities at these wildlife areas within 10 mi (16 km),of the site consist of boating, fishing, hunting, camping, hiking, picnicking, and swimming..1.-. Deleted: of I 19 2.1.1 Reactor and Containment Systems 20 2.1.1.1 Salem Nuclear Generating Station 21 Salem is a two-unit plant, which uses pressurized water reactors (PWR) designed by 22 Westinghouse Electric. Each unit has a current licensed thermal power at 100 percent power of 23 3,459 megawatt-thermal (MW[t]). Salem Units 1 and 2 entered commercial service June 1977 24 and October 1981, respectively. At 100 percent reactor power, the currently anticipated net 25 electrical output is approximately 1,169 megawatt-electric (MW[e]) for Unit 1 and 1,181 MW(e)26 for Unit 2. The Salem units have once-through circulating water systems for condenser cooling 27 that withdraws brackish water from the Delaware Estuary through one intake structure located 28 at the shoreline on the south end of the site. An air-cooled combustion turbine peaking unit 29 rated at approximately 40 MW(e) (referred to as "Salem Unit 3") is also present (PSEG, 2009a;30 2009b).31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 In the PWR power generation system (Figure 2-6); reactor heat is transferred 'from the primary coolant to a lower pressure secondary coolant loop, allowing steam to be generated in the steam supply system. The primary coolant loops each contain one steam generator, two centrifugal coolant pumps, and the interconnected piping. Within the reactor coolant system (RCS), the reactor coolant is pumped from the reactor through the steam generators and back to the reactor inlet by two centrifugal coolant pumps located at the outlet of each steam generator. Each steam generator is a vertical, U- tube-and-shell heat exchanger that produces superheated steam at a constant pressure over the reactor operating power range. The steam is directed to a turbine, causing it to spin. The spinning turbine is connected to a generator, which generates electricity. The steam is directed to a condenser, wherethe steam is coole-d andcondensed back injiquid water. This cooled water is then cycled back to the steam generator, completing the loop.j Deleted: it-(Deleted: s Deleted: converts SDeleted: to J September 2010 2-7 Draft NUREG-1437, Supplement 45 Affected Environment Containment Structure 1 2 Figure 2-6. Simplified Design of a Pressurized Water Reactor 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 The containment building serves asa biologicalladiation and a pressure container for the e Delted both------ ---- ---- -- -- -- ------- -----(.-rn -thick-- flt Dleed RCS. The reactor containment structures are a vertical cylinders with 16-ft_(4.9-m) thick fla ---- Deleted: foundation mats and 2- to 5-ft (0.6- to 1.5-m) thick reinforced concrete slab floors topped with Deleted: is hemispherical dome roofs. The side walls of each containment building are 142 ft (43.3 m) high and the inside diameter is 140 ft (43 m). The concrete walls are 4.5 ft (1.4 m) thick and the containment building dome roofsare 3.5 ft (1.1 m) thick. The inside surface of the reactor -_ _.- -Deleted: is building is lined with a carbon steel liner with,varying thickness ranging fron-01.25 inch (0.64 .-.-- Deleted: a centimeter [cm]) to 0.5 inch (1.3 cm) (PSEG, 2007a). Deleted: of The nuclear fueled cores of the Salem reactors are moderated and cooled byapqoderator. -- Deleted: A whichýslows the speed of neutrons thereby increasing the likelihood of fission of an uranium-235 atom in the fuel. The cooling water is circulated by the reactor coolant pumps. --t Deleted: These pumps are vertical, single-stage centrifugal pumps equipped with controlled-leakage Deleted: or as shaft seals (PSEG, 2007b). Deleted:iss Both Salem units use slightly enriched uranium dioxide (U0 2) ceramic fuel pellets in zircaloy Deleted, cladding (PSEG, 2007b). Fuel pellets are loaded into fuel rods, and fuel rods are joined together in fuel assemblies. The fuel assemblies consist of 264 fuel rods arranged in a square array. Salem uses fuel that is nominal enriched to 5.0 percent (percent uranium-235 by weight).The combined fuel characteristics and power loading result in a fuel burn-up of about 60,000 megawatt-days (MW [d]) per metric ton uranium (PSEG, 2009a).3 uutron absorber, ubstance that 22 The original Salem steam generators have been replaced. In 1997, the Unit 1 steam generators 23 were replaced and in 2008 the Unit 2 steam generators were replaced (PSEG, 2009a).24 2.1.1.2 Hope Creek Generating Station Draft NUREG-1437, Supplement 45 2-8 September 2010 Affected Environment 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 HCGS is a one-unit station, which uses a boiling water reactor (BWR) designed by General Electric. The power plant has a current licensed thermal power output of,3_,840 _MW(t)_withan ---. Deleted: at 100 percent power of electrical output estimated to be approximately 1,083 MW(e) (73 FR 13032). HCGS has a closed-cycle circulating water system for condenser cooling that consists of a natural draft cooling tower and associated withdrawal, circulation, and discharge facilities. HCGS withdraws brackish water with the service water system (SWS) from the Delaware Estuary (PSEG, 2009b).In the BWR power generation system (Figure 2-7), heat from the reactor causes the cooling water which passes vertically through the reactor core to boil, producing steam. The steam is directed to a turbine, causing it to spin. The spinning turbine is connected to a generator, which generates electricity. The steam is directed to a condenser, where the steam is coolpd andis _ .. -Deleted: it condesned back irlicquid water. T7hiswNater is then cycled_back to the retorcore __ompleing _ -Deleted: the loop. ' converts The containment is the reactor building. The structure serves asa biological radiation shield -' -Deleted: to and a pressure container for the entire RCS. The reactor building is a vertical cylinder with 14-ft , Deleted: cool (4.3-m) thick flat foundation mats and 2- to 5-ft (0.6- to 1.5-m) thick reinforced concrete slab Det:bo floors. The side walls of the cylinder are approximately 250 ft (76 m) high, topped with a Dt : torispherical dome roof, and surrounded by a rectangular structure that is 132 ft (40 m) tall (PSEG, 2006a).The HCGS reactor uses slightly enriched U0 2 ceramic fuel pellets in zircaloy cladding (PSEG, 2007b). Fuel pellets are loaded into fuel rods and fuel rods are joined together in fuel assemblies. HCGS uses fuel that is nominal enriched to 5.0 percent (percent uranium-235 by weight) and the combined fuel characteristics and power loading result in a fuel burn-up of about 60,000 MW(d) per metric ton uranium.September 2010 2-9 Draft NUREG-1437, Supplement 45 Affected Environment Emergency Wa~ter 1 L- " ..2 Figure 2-7. Simplified Design of a Boiling Water Reactor 3 2.1.2 Radioactive Waste Management 4 Radioactive wastes resulting from plant operations are classified as liquid, gaseous, or solid.5 Liquid radioactive wastes are generated from liquids received directly from portions of the RCS 6 or were contaminated by contact with liquids from the RCS. Gaseous radioactive wastes are 7 generated from gases or airborne particulates vented from reactor and turbine equipment 8 containing radioactive material. Solid radioactive wastes are solids from the RCS, solids that 9 came into contact with RCS liquids or gases, or solids used in the RCS or steam and power 10 conversion system operation or maintenance. 11 The Salem and HCGS facilities include radioactive waste systems which collect, treat, and 12 provide for the disposal of radioactive and potentially radioactive wastes that are byproducts of 13 plant operations. Radioactive wastes include activation products resulting from the irradiation of 14 reactor water and impurities therein (principally metallic corrosion products) and fission products 15 resulting from defective fuel cladding or uranium contamination within the RCS. Radioactive 16 waste system operating procedures ensure that radioactive wastes are safely processed and 17 discharged from the plant within the limits set forth in Title 10 of the Code of Federal Draft NUREG-1437, Supplement 45 2-10 September 2010 Affected Environment 1 Regulations (CFR) Part 20, "Standards for Protection against Radiation," and 10 CFR Part 50, 2 "Domestic Licensing of Production and Utilization Facilities." 3 When reactor fuel has exhausted a certain percentage of its fissile uranium content, it is referred i 4 to as spent fuel. Spent fuel assemblies are removed from the reactor core and replaced with 5 fresh fuel assemblies during routine refueling outages, typically every 18 months. Spent fuel 6 assemblies are stored in the spent fuel pool (SFP). Salem's SFP storage capacity for each unit 7 is 1,632 fuel assemblies, which will allow sufficient storage up to the year 2011 for Unit 1 and 8 2015 for Unit 2 (PSEG, 2009a). The HCGS SFP facility is designed to store up to 3,976 fuel 9 assemblies (PSEG, 2009b).10 In 2005, the NRC issued a 10 CFR Part 72 general license to PSEG, which authorizedthat ... --Deleted: zing 11 spent nuclear fuel could be stored at an independent spent fuel storage installation (ISFSI) at 12 the PSEG site. The general license allows PSEG, as a reactor licensee under 10 CFR Part 50, 13 to store spent fuel from both HCGS and Salem at the ISFSI, provided that such storage occurs 14 in approved casks in accordance with the requirements of 10 CFR Part 72, subpart K (General 15 License for Storage of Spent Fuel at Power Reactor Sites) (NRC, 2005). At this time, only 16 HCGS spent fuel is stored at the ISFSI. However, transfers of spent fuel from the Salem SFP to 17 the ISFSI are expected to begin approximately one year before the remaining capacity of the 18 pool is less than the capacity needed for a complete offload to spent fuel pool (PSEG, 2009b).19 2.1.2.1 Radioactive Liquid Waste 20 Both the Salem and HCGS facilities operate systems to provide controlled handling and 21 disposal of small quantities of low-activity, liquid radioactive wastes generated during station 22 operation. However, because the Salem units are cooled by a once-through RCS and the 23 HCGS unit is cooled by a closed-cycle RCS, the management of potentially radioactive liquids is 24 different. Potentially radioactive liquid waste streams at the Salem facility are managed by the 25 radioactive liquid waste system (RLWS) and the chemical and volume controlled system 26 (CVCS). At HCGS, potentially radioactive liquid waste streams are managed under the liquid 27 waste management system (LWMS).28 The bulk of the radioactive liquids discharged from the Salem RCS are processed and retained 29 inside the plant by the CVCS recycle train. This minimizes liquid input to the RLWS. Liquid 30 radioactive waste entering the RLWS is released in accordance with NRC regulations. Prior to 31 release, liquids are collected in tanks, sampled, and analyzed. Based on the results of the 32 analysis, the waste is processed to remove radioactivity before releasing it to the Delaware 33 Estuary via the circulating water system and a permitted outfall. Discharge streams are 34 monitored, and safety features are incorporated to preclude releases in excess of the limits 35 prescribed in 10 CFR Part 20, "Standards for Protection Against Radiation" (PSEG, 2009a).36 In 2003, PSEG identified tritium in groundwater from onsite sampling wells near the Salem Unit 37 1 fuel handling building (FHB). The source of tritium was identified as the Salem Unit 1 SFP. In 38 November 2004, the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP), Bureau of 39 Nuclear Engineering (BNE) approved a groundwater remediation strategy and by September 40 2005, a full-scale groundwater recovery system (GRS) had been installed (PSEG, 2009a). The 41 GRS pulls groundwater toward the recovery system and away from the site boundary.September 2010 2-11 Draft NUREG-1437, Supplement 45 Affected Environment 1 Since 2005, tritium-contaminated groundwater from the GRS is transferred to the LWMS where 2 it mixes with other liquid plant effluent before being discharged into the Salem once-through, 3 condenser cooling water system discharge line. The recovered groundwater is sampled prior to 4 entering the discharge line to demonstrate compliance with offsite dose requirements. The 5 water is subsequently released to the Delaware Estuary via a permitted outfall in accordance 6 with plant procedures and NRC requirements for the effluent release of radioactive liquids.7 Surface water sampling as part of the radiological environmental monitoring program (REMP)8 does not show an increase in measurable tritium levels since the GRS was initiated. 9 Potentially radioactive liquid wastes entering the HCGS LWMS are collected in tanks in the 10 auxiliary building. Radioactive contaminants are removed from the wastewater either by 11 demineralization or filtration. This ensures that the water quality is restored before being 12 returned to the condensate storage tank (CST) or discharged via the cooling tower blowdown 13 line to the Delaware Estuary via a permitted outfall. If the liquid is recycled to the plant, it meets 14 the purity requirements for CST makeup. Liquid discharges to the Delaware Estuary are 15 maintained in compliance with 10 CFR Part 20, "Standards for Protection Against Radiation" 16 (PSEG, 2009b).17 Radioactivity removed from the liquid wastes is concentrated in the filter media and ion 18 exchange resins, which are managed as solid radioactive wastes.19 2.1.2.2 Radioactive Gaseous Waste 20 The Salem and HCGS radioactive gaseous waste disposal systems process and dispose of 21 routine radioactive gases removed from the gaseous effluent and released to the atmosphere. 22 Gaseous wastes are processed to reduce radioactive materials in gaseous effluents before 23 discharge to meet the dose limits in 10 CFR Part 20 and the dose design objectives in Appendix 24 I to 10 CFR Part 50.25 At both facilities, radioactive gases are collected so that the short-lived gaseous isotopes 26 (principally air with traces of krypton and xenon) are allowed to decay. At Salem, these gases 27 are collected in tanks in the auxiliary building and released intermittently in a controlled manner.28 At HCGS, gases are held up in holdup pipes prior to entering a treatment section where 29 adsorption of gases on charcoal provides additional time for decay. At HCGS, gases are then 30 filtered using high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters before being released to the 31 atmosphere from the north plant vent.32 2.1.2.3 Radioactive Solid Waste 33 Solid radioactive waste generated at the Salem and HCGS facilities are managed by a single 34 solid radioactive waste system. This system manages radioactive solid waste, including 35 packaging and storage, until the waste is shipped offsite. Offsite wastes are processed by 36 volume reduction and/or shipped for disposal at a licensed disposal facility. PSEG provides a 37 quarterly waste storage report to the Township of Haddock's Bridge.38 The State of South Carolina's licensed low level waste (LLW) disposal facility, located in 39 Barnwell, has limited the access from radioactive waste generators located in States that are 40 not part of the Atlantic Interstate Low-Level Radioactive Waste Compact. New Jersey is a Draft NUREG-1437, Supplement 45 2-12 September 2010 Affected Environment 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 member of the Atlantic Interstate Low-Level Radioactive Waste Compact. ,Tocontrol releases to the environment, these wastes are packaged in the Salem and HCGS auxiliary buildings. The PSEG low-level radwaste storage facility (LLRSF) supports normal dry active waste (DAW)handling activities for HCGS and Salem. DAW consists of compactable trash, such as contaminated or potentially contaminated rags, clothing, and paper. This waste is generally bagged, placed in Sea-van containers, and stored prior to being shipped to a licensed offsite vendor for volume reduction. The volume-reduced DAW is repackaged at the vendor and shipped for disposal at a licensed LLW disposal facility (PSEG, 2009a; 2009b). DAW and other non-compactable contaminated wastes are typically shipped to the Energy Solutions' disposal facility in Clive, UT.Deleted: and has access to Barnwell.Shipments to Barnwell include spent resins from the demineralizers and filter cartridges (wet processing waste).11 The LLRSF also maintains an NRC-approved process control program. The process control 12 program helps to ensure that waste is properly characterized, profiled, labeled, and shipped in 13 accordance with the waste disposal facility's waste acceptance criteria and U.S. Department of 14 Transportation (DOT) and NRC requirements. The LLRSF is a large facility that was designed 15 to store and manage large volumes of waste. However, the facility is operated well below its 16 designed capacity. The facility is also designed to ensure that worker radiation exposures are 17 controlled in accordance with facility and regulatory criteria.18 2.1.2.4 Mixed Waste 19 The term "mixed waste" refers to waste that contains both radioactive and hazardous 20 constituents. Neither Salem nor HCGS have processes that generate mixed wastes and there 21 are no mixed wastes stored at either facility.22 2.1.3 Nonradioactive Waste Management 23 The Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) governs the disposal of solid and 24 hazardous waste. RCRA regulations are contained in Title 40, "Protection of the Environment," 25 Parts 239 through 299 (40 CFR 239, et seq.). Parts 239 through 259 of these regulations cover 26 solid (nonhazardous) waste, and Parts 260 through 279 regulate hazardous waste. RCRA 27 Subtitle C establishes a system for controlling hazardous waste from "cradle to grave," and 28 RCRA Subtitle D encourages States to develop comprehensive plans to manage nonhazardous 29 solid waste and mandates minimum technological standards for municipal solid waste landfills. 30 RCRA regulations are administered by the NJDEP and address the identification, generation, 31 minimization, transportation, and final treatment, storage, or disposal of hazardous and 32 nonhazardous wastes. Salem and HCGS generate nonradiological waste, including oils, 33 hazardous and nonhazardous solvents and degreasers, laboratory wastes, expired shelf-life 34 chemicals and reagents, asbestos wastes, paints and paint thinners, antifreeze, project-specific 35 wastes, point-source discharges regulated under the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination 36 System (NPDES), sanitary waste (including sewage), and routine and daily refuse (PSEG, 37 2009a; 2009b).September 2010 2-13 Draft NUREG-1437, Supplement 45 Affected Environment 1 2.1.3.1 Hazardous Waste 2 The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) classifies certain nonradioactive wastes as 3 "hazardous" based on characteristics, including ignitability, corrosivity, reactivity, or toxicity 4 (identification and listing of hazardous wastes is available in 40 CFR 261). State-level 5 regulators may add wastes to the EPA's list of hazardous wastes. RCRA provides standards for 6 the treatment, storage, and disposal of hazardous waste for hazardous waste generators 7 (40 CFR 262). The Salem and HCGS facilities generate small amounts of hazardous wastes, 8 including spent and expired chemicals, laboratory chemical wastes, and occasional 9 project-specific wastes.10 PSEG is currently a small-quantity hazardous waste generator (PSEG, 2010b), generating less 11 than 220 pounds (lb)/month (100 kilograms (kg)/month). Hazardous waste storage (180-day)12 areas include the hazardous waste storage facility, ,the combo shop, and two laydown areas -------- {Deleted: 13 east of the combo shop.14 Hazardous waste generated at the facility include: F003, F005 (spent non-halogenated 15 solvents), F001, F002 (spent halogenated solvents), D001 (ignitable waste), D002 (corrosive 16 wastes), D003 (reactive wastes), and D004-DO1 1 (toxic [heavy metal] waste) (PSEG, 2008b).17 The EPA authorized the State of New Jersey to regulate and oversee most of the solid waste 18 disposal programs, as recognized by Subtitle D of the RCRA. Compliance is assured through 19 State-issued permits. The EPA's Enforcement and Compliance History Online (ECHO)20 database showed no violations for PSEG (EPA, 2010b).21 Proper facility identification numbers for hazardous waste operations include: 22

• DOT Hazardous Materials Registration No. 061908002018QS 23
• EPA Hazardous Waste Identification No. NJD 077070811 24 0 NJDEP Hazardous Waste Program ID No. NJD 077070811 25 Under the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA), applicable 26 facilities are required to provide information on hazardous and toxic chemicals to local 27 emergency planning authorities and the EPA (Title 42, Section 11001, of the United States 28 Code [U.S.C.] [42 U.S.C. 11001]). PSEGis subject to Federal EPCRA reporting requirements, _. Deleted: 29 and thus submits an annual Section 312 (TIER II) report on hazardous substances to local 30 emergency agencies.31 2.1.3.2 Solid Waste 32 A solid waste is defined by New Jersey Administrative Code (N.J.A.C.)

7:26-1.6 as, "any 33 garbage, refuse, sludge, or any other waste material except it shall not include the following: 1.34 Source separated food waste collected by livestock producers, approved by the State 35 Department of Agriculture, who collect, prepare and feed such wastes to livestock on their own 36 farms; 2. Recyclable materials that are exempted from regulation pursuant to N.J.A.C. 7:26A;37 [and] 3. Materials approved for beneficial use or categorically approved for beneficial use 38 pursuant to N.J.A.C. 7:26-1.7(g)." The definition of solid waste in N.J.A.C. 7:26-1.6 applies only 39 to wastes that are not also defined as hazardous in accordance with N.J.A.C. 7:26G.Draft NUREG-1437, Supplement 45 2-14 September 2010 Affected Environment 1 During the site audit, the Staff observed an active solid waste recycling program. Solid waste 2 ("trash") is segregated and about 55 percent is transferred to recycling vendors (PSEG, 2009a).3 The remaining volume of solid waste is disposed at a local landfill.4 A common sewage treatment system treats domestic wastewater from both facilities. Following 5 treatment, solids (i.e., sludge) are either returned to the system's oxidation ditch or removed to a 6 sludge-holding tank, based upon process requirements. Sludge directed to the sludge-holding 7 tank is aerated and dewatered before being trucked offsite for disposal. During the site audit, 8 the Staff viewed the PSEG sewage sludge waste volumes from 2005 through 2009. The 9 average annual volume for these years was about 50,000 lbs (22,700 kg). Site officials stated 10 that the disposal volume is generally driven by the facilities' budgets.11 2.1.3.3 Universal Waste 12 In accordance with N.J.A.C. 7:26G-4.2, "Universal waste" means any of the following hazardous 13 wastes that are managed under the universal waste requirements of N.J.A.C. 7:26A-7, whether 14 incorporated prospectively by reference from 40 CFR Part 273, "Standards for Universal Waste 15 Management," or listed additionally by the NJDEP: paint waste, batteries, pesticides, 16 thermostats, fluorescent lamps, mercury-containing devices, oil-based finishes, and consumer 17 electronics. 18 PSEG is a small quantity handler of universal waste (meaning the facility cannot accumulate 19 more than 11,000 lbs (5,000 kg) of universal waste at any one time), generating common 20 operational wastes, such as lighting ballasts containing polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), 21 lamps, and batteries. Universal waste is segregated and disposed of through a licensed broker.22 Routine building space renovations and computer equipment upgrades can lead to substantial 23 short-term increases in universal waste volumes.24 2.1.3.4 Permitted Discharges 25 The Salem facility maintains a New Jersey Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NJPDES)26 permit, NJ0005622, which authorizes the discharge of wastewater to the Delaware Estuary and 27 stipulates the conditions of the permit. HCGS maintains a separate NJPDES permit, 28 NJ0025411 for discharges to the Delaware Estuary. All monitoring is conducted in accordance 29 with the NJDEP's "Field Sampling Procedures Manual" applicable at the time of sampling 30 (N.J.A.C. 7:14A-6.5 (b)4), and/or the method approved by the NJDEP in Part IV of the site 31 permits (NJDEP, 2002a).32 As discussed previously, a common sewage treatment system treats domestic wastewater from 33 both HCGS and Salem. The sewage treatment system liquid effluent discharges through the 34 HCGS cooling tower blowdown outfall to the Delaware Estuary. The residual cooling tower 35 blowdown dechlorination chemical, ammonium bisulfite, dechlorinates the sewage treatment 36 effluent (PSEG, 2009a; 2009b).37 Salem and HCGS share the nonradioactive liquid waste disposal system (NRLWDS) chemical 38 waste treatment system. The NRLWDS is located at the Salem facility and operated by Salem 39 staff. The NRLWDS collects and processes nonradioactive secondary plant wastewater prior to 40 discharge into the Delaware Estuary. The waste water originates during plant processes, such 41 as demineralizer regenerations, steam generator blowdown, chemical handling operations, and September 2010 2-15 Draft NUREG-1437, Supplement 45 Affected Environment 1 reverse osmosis reject waste. The outfall is monitored in accordance with the current HCGS 2 NJPDES Permit No. NJ0025411 (PSEG, 2009a; 2009b).3 Oily waste waters are treated at HCGS using an oil water separator. Treated effluent is then 4 discharged through the internal monitoring point, which is combined with cooling tower 5 blowdown before discharge to the Delaware Estuary. The outfall is monitored in accordance 6 with the current HCGS NJPDES Permit No. NJ002541 1.7 Section 2.1.7 of this report provides more information on the site's NPDES permits and effluent 8 limitations. 9 2.1.3.5 Pollution Prevention and Waste Minimization 10 As described in Section 2.1.3.2, PSEG operates an active solid waste recycling program that 11 results in about 55 percent of its "trash" being recycled. PSEG also maintains a discharge 12 prevention and response program. This program incorporates the requirements of the NJDEP, 13 EPA Facility Response Plan, and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)14 Natural Resource Damage Assessment Protocol. Specific documents making up the program 15 include: 16 0 Spill/Discharge Prevention Plan 17 0 Hazardous Waste Contingency Plan 18 0 Spill/Discharge Response Plan 19 0 Environmentally Sensitive Areas Protection Plan 20 PSEG also maintains the following plans to support pollution prevention and waste 21 minimization: 22 0 Discharge Prevention, Containment, and Countermeasure Plan 23 0 Discharge Cleanup and Removal Plan 24 0 Facility Response Plan 25

• Spill Prevention, Control, and Countermeasure Plan 26
• Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan 27
• Pollution Minimization Plan for PCBs 28 2.1.4 Facility Operation and Maintenance 29 Various types of maintenance activities are performed at the Salem and HCGS facilities, 30 including inspection, testing, and surveillance to maintain the current licensing basis of the 31 facility and to ensure compliance with environmental and safety requirements.

Various 32 programs and activities currently exist at Salem and HCGS to maintain, inspect, test, and 33 monitor the performance of facility equipment. These maintenance activities include inspection 34 requirements for reactor vessel materials, boiler and pressure vessel inservice inspection and 35 testing, a maintenance structures monitoring program, and maintenance of water chemistry. Draft NUREG-1437, Supplement 45 2-16 September 2010 Affected Environment 1 Additional programs include those implemented in response to NRC generic communications; 2 those implemented to meet technical specification surveillance requirements; and various 3 periodic maintenance, testing, and inspection procedures. Certain program activities are 4 performed during the operation of the unit, while others are performed during scheduled 5 refueling outages. Nuclear power plants must periodically discontinue the production of 6 electricity for refueling, periodic inservice inspection, and scheduled maintenance. Salem and 7 HCGS are on an 18-month refueling cycle (PSEG, 2009a; 2009b).8 Aging effects at Salem and HCGS are managed by integrated plant assessments required by 9 10 CFR 54.21. These programs are described in Section 2 of the facilities' Nuclear Generating 10 Station License Renewal Applications -Scoping and Screening Methodology for Identifying 11 Structures and Components Subject to Aging Management Review, and Implementation 12 Results (PSEG, 2009a; 2009b).13 2.1.5 Power Transmission System 14 Three right-of-way (ROW) corridors and five 500-kilovolt (kV) transmission lines connect Salem 15 and HCGS to the regional electric grid, all of which are owned and maintained by Public Service 16 Electric and Gas Company (PSE&G) and Pepco Holdings Inc. (PHI). Each corridor is 350 ft 17 (107 m) wide, with the exception of two-thirds of both the Salem-Red Lion and Red Lion-Keeney 18 lines, which narrow to 200 ft,(61 m)._ Unless otherwise noted, the discussion_ of the power ...Deleted: 19 transmission system is adapted from the applicant's environmental reports (ERs) (PSEG, 20 2009a; 2009b) or information gathered at the NRC's environmental site audit.21 For the operation of Salem, three transmission lines were initially built for the delivery of 22 electricity: two lines connecting to the New Freedom substation near Williamston, NJ 23 (Salem-New Freedom North and Salem-New Freedom South), and one line extending north 24 across the Delaware River terminating at the Keeney substation in Delaware (Salem-Keeney). 25 The Salem New Freedom North and South corridors pass through Salem and Gloucester 26 Counties before terminating at the New Freedom substation in Camden County, New Jersey.27 The Salem-Keeney corridor originates in Salem County, New Jersey, crosses west across the 28 Delaware River, and terminates at the Keeney substation in New Castle County, Delaware.29 After construction of HCGS, several changes were made to the existing Salem transmission 30 system, including the disconnection of the Salem-Keeney line from Salem and its reconnection 31 to HCGS, as well as the construction of a new substation (known as Red Lion) along the 32 Salem-Keeney transmission line. The addition of this new substation divided the Salem-Keeney 33 transmission line into two segments: one connecting HCGS to Red Lion and the other 34 connecting Red Lion to Keeney. Consequently, these two segments are now referred to 35 separately as Salem-Red Lion and Red Lion-Keeney. The portion of the Salem-Keeney line 36 located entirely within Delaware, Red Lion-Keeney, is owned and maintained by Pepco (a 37 regulated electric utility that is a subsidiary of PHI).38 The construction of HCGS also resulted in the re-routing of the Salem-New Freedom North line 39 and the construction of a new transmission line, HCGS-New Freedom. The Salem-New 40 Freedom North line was disconnected from Salem and re-routed to HCGS, leaving Salem 41 without a northern connection to the New Freedom transmission system. Therefore, a new 42 transmission line was required to connect Salem and the New Freedom substation; this line is 43 known as the HCGS-New Freedom line and it shares a corridor with the Salem-New Freedom September 2010 2-17 Draft NUREG-1437, Supplement 45 Affected Environment 1 North line. Prior to and following the construction of HCGS, the Salem-New Freedom South line 2 provides a southern-route connection between Salem and the New Freedom substation. 3 The only new transmission lines constructed as a result of HCGS were the HCGS-New 4 Freedom line, the line connecting HCGS and Salem (tie line), and short reconnections for 5 Salem-New Freedom North and Salem-Keeney. The HCGS-Salem tie line and the short 6 reconnections do not pass beyond the site boundary.7 Transmission lines considered in-scope for license renewal are those constructed specifically to 8 connect the facility to the transmission system (10 CFR 51.53(c)(3)(ii)(H)); therefore, the 9 Salem-New Freedom North, Salem-Red Lion, Red Lion-Keeney, Salem-New Freedom South, 10 HCGS-New Freedom, and HCGS-Salem lines are considered in-scope for this supplemental 11 environmental impact statement (SEIS) and are discussed in detail below.12 Figure 2-8 illustrates the Salem and HCGS transmission system. The five transmission lines 13 are described below within the designated ROW corridor (see Table 2-1): 14 2.1.5.1 New Freedom North Right-of-Way 15 0 Salem-New Freedom North -This 500-kV line, which is operated by PSE&G, 16 runs northeast from HCGS for 39 mi (63 km) within a 350-ft (107-m) wide corridor 17 to the New Freedom switching station north of Williamstown, NJ. This line 18 shares the corridor with the 500-kV HCGS-New Freedom line.19 0 HCGS-New Freedom -This 500-kV line, which is operated by PSE&G, extends 20 northeast from Salem for 43 mi (69 km) within the shared Salem-New Freedom 21 North corridor to the New Freedom switching station, 4 mi (6 km) north-northeast 22 of Williamstown, New Jersey. In 2008, a new substation (Orchard) was 23 constructed along this line. The Orchard substation is located approximately 4 24 mi (6 km) west of Elmer, a borough in Salem County, New Jersey, and serves to 25 divide the line into two segments, one which runs southwest from Orchard to the 26 site and is approximately 19 mi (31 km) in length, and one that runs northeast 27 from Orchard to the New Freedom substation and is approximately 24 mi (39 km)28 in length.29 2.1.5.2 New Freedom South Right-of-Way 30 Salem-New Freedom South -This 500-kV line, which is operated by PSE&G, 31 extends northeast from Salem for 42 mi (68 km) within a 350-ft (107-m) wide 32 corridor from Salem to the New Freedom substation north of Williamstown, NJ.33 This line runs approximately 2 to 3 mi (3 to 5 km) south of and somewhat parallel 34 to the New Freedom North corridor.35 2.1.5.3 Keeney Right-of-Way 36 Salem-Red Lion -This 500-kV line extends north from HCGS for 13 mi (21 km)37 and then crosses over the New Jersey-Delaware State line. It continues west 38 over the Delaware River about 4 mi (6 km) to the Red Lion substation. In New 39 Jersey, the line is operated by PSE&G, and in Delaware it is operated by PHI.Draft NUREG-1437, Supplement 45 2-18 September 2010 Affected Environment 1 Two thirds of the 17-mi (27-km) corridor is 200 ft (61 m) wide, and the remainder 2 is 350-ft (107-m) wide.3 Red Lion-Keeney -This 500-kV line, which is operated by PHI, extends from the 4 Red Lion substation 8 mi (13 km) northwest to the Keeney switch station. Two 5 thirds of the corridor is 200 ft (61 m) wide, and the remainder is 350-ft (107-m)6 wide.7 The ROW corridors comprise approximately 149 mi (240 km) and 4,376 ac (1,771 ha). Four of 8 the five lines cross within Camden, Gloucester, and Salem counties in New Jersey, with the 9 Keeney line crossing only in Camden county in New Jersey and New Castle County in 10 Delaware. All of the ROW corridors traverse the marshes and wetlands adjacent to the Salem 11 and HCGS sites, including agricultural and forested lands.12 All transmission lines were designed and built in accordance with industry standards in place at 13 the time of construction. All transmission lines will remain a permanent part of the transmission 14 system and will be maintained by PSEG and PHI regardless of the Salem and HCGS facilities' 15 continued operation (PSEG, 2009a; 2009b). The HCGS-Salem line, which connects the two 16 substations, would be de-activated if the Salem and HCGS switchyards were no longer in use 17 and would need to be reconnected to the grid if they were to remain in service beyond the 18 operation of Salem and HCGS.19 Five 500-kV transmission lines connect electricity from Salem and HCGS to the regional electric 20 transmission system via three ROWs outside of the property boundary. The HCGS-Salem 21 tie-line is approximately 2,000 ft (610 m). This line does not pass beyond the site boundary and 22 is not discussed as an offsite ROW.September 2010 2-19 Draft NUREG-1437, Supplement 45 AffAC+/-Adi FnvirnnmAnt 1 Figure 2-8. Salem Nuclear Generating Station and Hope Creek Generating Station 2 Transmission Line System (Source: PSEG, 2009b)Draft NUREG-1 437, Supplement 45 2-20 September 2010 Affected Environment 1 Table 2-1. Salem Nuclear Generating Station and Hope Creek Generating Station 2 Transmission System Components Approximate Length ROW width Approximate ROW area Line Owner kV ml (km) ft (m) ac (ha)New Freedom North ROW Salem-New Freedom North PSE&G 500 39 (63)350 (107) 1,824 (738)HCGS-New Freedom PSE&G 500 43 (69)New Freedom South ROW Salem-New Freedom South PSE&G 500 42 (68) 350 (107) 1,782 (721)Red Lion ROW Salem-Red Lion PSE&G 500 17(27) (a)200/350 (107) 521 (211)Red-Lion Keeney PHI 500 8 (13) a)200/350 (107) 249 (101)Total acreage within ROW 4,376 (1,771)(a) two-thirds of the corridor is 200 ft (61 m) wide Source: PSEG, 2009a; 2009b 3 2.1.6 Cooling and Auxiliary Water Systems 4 The Delaware Estuary provides condenser cooling water and service water for both Salem and 5 HCGS (PSEG, 2009a; 2009b). Salem and HCGS use different systems for condenser cooling, 6 but both withdraw from and discharge water to the estuary. Salem Units 1 and 2 use once-7 through circulating water system (CWS). HCGS uses a closed-cycle system that employs a 8 single natural draft cooling tower. Unless otherwise noted, the discussions below were adapted 9 from the Salem and HCGS ERs (PSEG, 2009a; 2009b) or information gathered at the site audit.10 Both sites use groundwater as the source for fresh potable water, fire protection water, industrial 11 process makeup water, and for other sanitary water supplies. Under authorization from the 12 NJDEP (NJDEP, 2004) and Delaware River Basin Commission (DRBC) (DRBC, 2000), PSEG 13 can service both facilities with up to 43.2 million gallons (164,000 cubic meters [m 3]) of 14 groundwater per month.15 Discussions on surface water and groundwater use and quality are provided in Section 2.1.7.16 2.1.6.1 Salem Nuclear Generating Station 17 The Salem facility includes two intake structures, one for the coolant water system, and the 18 other for the service water system. Both are equipped with several features to prevent intake of 19 debris and biota into the pumps (PSEG, 2006c): 20 e Ice Barriers. During the winter, removable ice barriers are installed in front of the intakes to 21 prevent damage to the intake pumps from ice formed on the Delaware Estuary. These 22 barriers consist of pressure-treated wood bars and underlying structural steel braces. The 23 barriers are removed early in the spring and replaced in the late fall.-September 2010 2-21 Draft NUREG-1437, Supplement 45 Affected Environment 1 Trash Racks. After intake water passes through the ice barriers (if installed), it flows through 2 fixed trash racks. These racks prevent large organisms and debris from entering the pumps.3 The racks are made from 0.5 inch (1.3 cm) steel bars placed on 3.5-inch (8.9 cm) centers, 4 creating a 3-inch (7.6 cm) clearance between each bar. The racks are inspected by PSEG 5 employees, who remove any debris caught on them with mechanical, mobile, clamshell-type 6 rakes. These trash rakes include a hopper that stores and transports removed debris to a 7 pit at the end of each intake, where it is dewatered by gravity and disposed of off-site.8 9 Traveling Screens. After the course-grid trash racks, the intake water passes through finer 10 vertical travelling screens. These are modified Ristroph screens designed to remove debris 11 and biota small enough to have passed through the trash racks while minimizing death or 12 injury. The travelling screens have a fine mesh with openings 0.25 inch x 0.5 inch (0.64 cm 13 x 1.3 cm). The velocity through the Salem intake screens is approximately 1 foot per 14 second (fps) (0.3 meters per second [m/s]) at mean low tide.15 16 Fish Return System. Each panel of the travelling screen has a 10-ft (3 m) long fish bucket 17 attached across the bottom support member. As the travelling screen reaches the top of 18 each rotation, fish and other organisms caught in the fish bucket slide along a horizontal 19 catch screen. As the travelling screen continues to rotate, the bucket is inverted. A low-20 pressure water spray washes fish off the screen, and they slide through a flap into a two-21 way fish trough. Debris is then washed off the screen by a high-pressure water spray into a 22 separate debris trough, and the contents of both fish and debris troughs return to the 23 estuary. The troughs are designed so that when the fish and debris are released, the tidal 24 flow tends to carry them away from the intake, reducing the likelihood of re-impingement. 25 Thus, the troughs empty on either the north or south side of the intake structure depending 26 on the direction of tidal flow.27 The CWS withdraws brackish water from the Delaware Estuary using 12 circulating water 28 pumps through a 12-bay intake structure located on the shoreline at the south end of the site.29 Water is discharged north of the CWS intake structure via a pipe that extends 500 ft (152 m)30 from the shoreline. No biocides are required in the CWS.31 PSEG has an NDPDES permit for Salem from the New Jersey Department of Environmental 32 Protection. The permit sets the maximum water usage from the Delaware Estuary to a 30-day 33 average of 3,024 million gallons per day (MGD; 11.4 million m 3/day) of circulating water. The 34 CWS provides approximately 1,050,000 gallons per minute (gpm; 4,000 m 3/min) to each of 35 Salem's two reactor units.36 37 Draft NUREG-1437, Supplement 45 2-22 September 2010 Affected Environment 1 The total design flow is 1,110,000 gpm (4,200 m 3/min) through each unit. The intake velocity is 2 approximately 1 foot per second (fps; 0.3 meters per second [m/s]) (at mean low tide, a rate that 3 is compatible with the protection of aquatic wildlife (EPA 2001). The CWS provides water to the 4 main condenser to condense steam from the turbine and the heated water is returned back to 5 estuary.6 The service water system (SWS) intake is located approximately 400 ft (122 m) north of the 7 CWS intake. The SWS intake has four bays, each containing three pumps. The 12 service-8 water pumps have a total design rating of 130,500 gpm (494 m 3/min). The average velocity 9 throughout the SWS intake is less than 1 fps (0.3 m/s) at the design flow rate. The SWS intake 10 structure is equipped with trash racks, traveling screens, and filters to remove debris and biota 11 from the intake water stream, but do not have a modified Ristroph type travelling screen or fish 12 return system. Backwash water is returned to the estuary.13 To prevent organic buildup and biofouling in the heat exchangers and piping of the SWS, 14 sodium hypochlorite was originally injected into the system. However, operational experience 15 indicated that use of sodium hypochlorite was not needed, so it is no longer injected. SWS 16 water is discharged via the discharge pipe shared with the CWS. Residual chlorine levels are 17 maintained in accordance with the site's NJPDES Permit.18 Both the Salem CWS and SWS discharge water back to the Delaware Estuary through a single 19 return that serves both systems and is located between the Salem CWS and SWS intakes. The 20 plan view of the Salem discharge structures is included as Figure 2-10. Cooling water from 21 Salem is discharged through six adjacent pipes 7 ft (2 m) in diameter and spaced 15 ft (4.6 m)22 apart on center that merge into three pipes 10 ft (3 m) in diameter (PSEG, 2006c). The 23 discharge piping extends approximately 500 ft (150 m) from the shore (PSEG, 1999). The 24 discharge pipes are buried for most of their length until they discharge horizontally into the water 25 of the estuary at a depth at mean tidal level of about 31 ft (9.5 m). The discharge is 26 approximately perpendicular to the prevailing currents. At full power, Salem is designed to 27 discharge approximately 3,200 MGD (12 million m 3/day) at a velocity of about 10 fps (3 m/s)28 (PSEG, 1999). To prevent biofouling in the heat exchangers and piping of the SWS, sodium 29 hypochlorite is injected into the system. SWS water is discharged via the discharge pipe shared 30 with the CWS.September 2010 2-23 Draft NUREG-1437, Supplement 45 Affected Environment RO goe-16.4-21.4\\.. .-20.4 .3.-41 2 Figure 2-10. Plan View of Salem discharge pipes (Source: PSEG, 1999).3 2.1.6.2 Hope Creek Generating Station 4 HOGS uses a single intake structure to supply water from the Delaware Estuary to the SWS.5 The intake structure consists of four active bays that are equipped with pumps and associated 6 equipment (trash racks, traveling screens, and a fish-return system) and four empty bays that*7 were originally intended to service a second reactor which was never built. Water is drawn into 8 the SWS through trash racks and passes through the traveling screens at a maximum velocity 9 of 0.35 fps (0.11 m/s). The openings in the wire mesh of the screens are 0.375 inches (0.95 Draft NUREG-1437, Supplement 45 2-24 September 2010 Affected Environment 1 cm) square. After passing through the traveling screens, the estuary water enters the service 2 water pumps. Depending on the temperature of the Delaware Estuary water, two or three 3 pumps are normally needed to supply service water. Each pump is rated at 16,500 gpm (62 4 m 3/min). To prevent organic buildup and biofouling in the heat exchangers and piping of the 5 SWS, sodium hypochlorite is continuously injected into the system.6 Water is them pumped into the stilling basin in the pump house. The stilling basin supplies 7 water to the general SWS and the fire protection system. The stilling basin also supplies water 8 for back-up residual heat removal service water and for emergency service water.9 The SWS also provides makeup water for the CWS by supplying water to the cooling tower 10 basin. The cooling tower basin contains approximately 9 million gallons (34,000 M 3) of water 11 and provides approximately 612,000 gpm (2,300 m 3/min) of water to the CWS via four pumps.12 The CWS provides water to the main condenser to condense steam from the turbine and the 13 heated water is returned back to Estuary (Figure 2-4).14 The cooling tower blowdown and other facility effluents are discharged to the estuary through an 15 underwater conduit located 1,500 ft (460 m) upstream of the HCGS SWS intake. The HCGS 16 discharge pipe extends 10 ft (3.0 m) offshore and is situated at mean tide level. The discharge 17 from HCGS is regulated under the terms of NJPDES permit number NJ0025411 (NJDEP, 18 2001a).19 The HCGS cooling tower is a 512-foot (156-meter) high single counterflow, hyperbolic, natural 20 draft cooling tower (PSEG, 2008a). While the CWS is a closed-cycle system, water is lost due 21 to evaporation. Monthly losses average from 9,600 gpm (36 m 3/min) in January to 13,000 gpm 22 (49 m 3/min) in July. Makeup water is provided by the SWS.23 2.1.7 Facility Water Use and Quality 24 The Salem and HCGS facilities rely on the Delaware River as their source of makeup water for 25 its cooling system, and they discharge various waste flows to the river. An onsite well system 26 provides groundwater for other site needs. A description of groundwater resources at the facility 27 location is provided in Section 2.2.8, and a description of the surface water resources is 28 presented in Section 2.2.9. The following sections describe the water use from these 29 resources. 30 2.1.7.1 Groundwater Use 31 The Salem and HCGS facilities access groundwater through production wells to supply fresh 32 water for potable, industrial process makeup, fire protection, and sanitary purposes 33 (PSEG, 2009a; 2009b). Facility groundwater withdrawal is authorized by the NJDEP and the 34 Delaware River Basin Comission (DRBC). The total authorized withdrawal volume is 43.2 35 million gallons (164,000 M 3) per month for both the Salem and HCGS sites combined (NJDEP, 36 2004; DRBC, 2000). Although each facility has its own wells and individual pumping limits, the 37 systems are interconnected so that water can be transferred between the facilities, if necessary 38 (PSEG, 2009a; 2009b). The NJDEP permit is a single permit which establishes a combined 39 permitted limit for both facilities of 43.2 million gallons (164,000 M 3) per month (NJDEP, 2004).September 2010 2-25 Draft NUREG-1437, Supplement 45 Affected Environment 1 The groundwater for Salem is produced primarily from two wells, PW-5 and PW-6. PW-5 is 2 installed at a depth of 840 ft (256 m) below ground surface (bgs) in the Upper Raritan 3 Formation, and PW-6 is installed at a depth of 1,140 ft (347 m) in the Middle Raritan Formation. 4 PW-5 has a capacity of 800 gpm (3 m 3/min), and PW-6 has a capacity of 600 gpm (2.3 m 3/min)5 (DRBC, 2000). The average water withdrawal from these two wells between 2002 and 2008 6 was 11.4 million gallons (432,000 M 3) per year (TetraTech, 2009). These wells are used to 7 maintain water volume within two 350,000 gallon (1,300 M 3) storage tanks, of which 600,000 8 gallons (2,300 M 3) is reserved for fire protection (PSEG, 2009a). In addition to these two 9 primary wells, two additional wells, PW-2 and PW-3, exist at Salem. These wells are installed 10 within the Mount Laurel-Wenonah aquifer at depths of about 290 ft (88 m) bgs (DRBC, 2000).11 These wells are classified as standby wells by NJDEP (NJDEP, 2004), and had only minor 12 usage in the period from 2002 to 2008 (TetraTech, 2009).13 The groundwater for HCGS is produced from two production wells, HC-1 and HC-2, which are 14 installed at depths of 816 ft (249 m) bgs in the Upper Potomac-Raritan-Magothy aquifer 15 (DRBC, 2000). Each well has a pumping capacity of 750 gpm (2.8 m 3/min), and the average 16 water withdrawal from the two wells between 2002 and 2008 was 96 million gallons (363,000 17 M 3) per year (TetraTech, 2009). The wells are used to maintain water supply within two 18 350,000 gallon (1,300 M 3) storage tanks. The bulk of the water in the storage tanks (656,000 19 gallons [2,500 M 3]) is reserved for fire protection, and the remainder is used for potable, 20 sanitary, and industrial uses (PSEG, 2009b).21 Overall, the combined water usage for the two facilities has averaged 210 million gallons 22 (795,000 M 3) per year, or 17.5 million gallons (66,000 M 3) per month (TetraTech, 2009). This 23 usage is approximately 41 percent of the withdrawal permitted under the DRBC authorization 24 and NJDEP permit (DRBC, 2000; NJDEP, 2004).25 2.1.7.2 Surface Water Use 26 Salem and HCGS are located on the eastern shore of the Delaware River, approximately 18 mil 27 (29 km) south of the Delaware Memorial Bridge. The Delaware River at the facility location is 28 an estuary approximately 2.5 mi (4 kin) wide. The Delaware River is the source of condenser 29 cooling water and service water for both the Salem and HCGS facilities (PSEG, 2009a; 2009b).30 The Salem units are both once-through circulating water systems that withdraw brackish water 31 from the Delaware River through a single CWS intake located at the shoreline on the southern 32 end of Artificial Island. The CWS intake structure consists of 12 bays, each outfitted with 33 removable ice barriers, trash racks, traveling screens, circulating water pumps, and a fish return 34 system. The pump capacity of the Salem CWS is 1,110,000 gpm (4,200 m 3/min) for each unit, 35 or a total of 2,220,000 gpm (8,400 m 3/min) for both units combined. Although the initial design 36 included use of sodium hypochlorite biocides, these were eliminated once enough operational 37 experience was gained to indicate that they were not needed. Therefore, the CWS water is 38 used without treatment (PSEG, 2009a).39 In addition to the CWS intake, the Salem units withdraw water from the Delaware River or the ----Deleted: 40 SWS, whichprovides cooling for auxiliary and reactor safeguard systems. The Salem SWS is 41 supplied through a single intake structure located approximately 400 ft (122 m) north of the 42 CWS intake. The Salem SWS intake is also fitted with trash racks, traveling screens, and Draft NUREG-1437, Supplement 45 2-26 September 2010 Affected Environment 1 fish-return troughs. The pump capacity of the Salem SWS is 65,250 gpm (247 m 3/min) for each 2 unit, or a total of 130,500 gpm (494 m 3/min) for both units combined (PSEG, 2009a).3 The withdrawal of Delaware River water for the Salem CWS and SWS systems is regulated 4 under the terms of Salem NJPDES Permit No. NJ005622 and is also authorized by the DRBC.5 The NJPDES permit limits the total withdrawal of Delaware River water to 3,024 MGD (11.4 6 million m 3/day), for a monthly maximum of 90,720 million gallons (342 million m 3) (NJDEP, 7 2001a). The DRBC authorization allows withdrawals not to exceed 97,000 million gallons (367 8 million m 3/day) in a single 30-day period (DRBC, 1977; 2001). The withdrawal volumes are 9 reported to NJDEP through monthly discharge monitoring reports (DMRs), and copies of the 10 DMRs are submitted to DRBC.11 Both the CWS and SWS at Salem discharge water back to the Delaware River through a single 12 return that serves both systems. The discharge location is situated between the CWS and 13 Salem SWS intakes, and consists of six separate discharge pipes; each extending 500 ft 14 (152 m) into the river and discharging water at a depth of 35 ft (11 m) below mean tide. The 15 pipes rest on the river bottom with a concrete apron at the end to control erosion and discharge 16 water at a velocity of 10.5 fps (3.2 m/s) (PSEG, 2006c). The discharge from Salem is regulated 17 under the terms of NJPDES Permit No. NJ005622 (NJDEP, 2001a). The locations of the 18 intakes and discharge for the Salem facility are shown in Figure 2-3.19 The HCGS facility uses a closed-cycle circulating water system, with a natural draft cooling 20 tower, for condenser cooling. Like Salem, HCGS withdraws water from the Delaware River to 21 supply a SWS, which cools auxiliary and other heat exchange systems. The outflow from the 22 HCGS SWS is directed to the cooling tower basin, and serves as makeup water to replace 23 water lost through evaporation and blowdown from the cooling tower. The HCGS SWS intake is 24 located on the shore of the river and consists of four separate bays with service water pumps, 25 trash racks, traveling screens, and fish-return systems. The structure includes an additional 26 four bays that were originally intended to serve a second HCGS unit, which was never 27 constructed. The pump capacit of the HCGS SWS is 16,500 gpm (62 m 3/min) for each pump, 28 or a total of 66,000 gpm (250 m /min) when all four pumps are operating. Under normal 29 conditions, only two or three of the pumps are typically operated. The HCGS SWS water is 30 treated with sodium hypochlorite to prevent biofouling (PSEG, 2009b).31 The discharge from the HCGS SWS is directed to the cooling tower basin, where it acts as 32 makeup water for the HCGS CWS. The natural draft cooling tower has a total capacity of 9 33 million gallons (34,000 M 3) of water, and circulates water through the CWS at a rate of 612,000 34 gpm (2,300 m 3/min). Water is removed from the HCGS CWS through both evaporative loss 35 from the cooling tower and from blowdown to control deposition of solids within the system.36 Evaporative losses result in consumptive loss of water from the Delaware River. The volume of 37 evaporative losses vary throughout the year depending on the climate, but range from 38 approximately 9,600 gpm (36 m 3/min) in January to 13,000 gpm (49 m 3/min) in July. Blowdown 39 water is returned to the Delaware River (NJDEP, 2002b).40 The withdrawal of Delaware River water for the HCGS CWS and SWS systems is regulated 41 under the terms of HCGS NJPDES Permit No. NJ0025411 and is also authorized by the DRBC.42 Although it requires measurement and reporting, the NJPDES permit does not specify limits on 43 the total withdrawal volume of Delaware River water for HCGS operations (NJDEP, 2003).44 Actual withdrawals average 66.8 MGD (253,000 m 3/day), of which 6.7 MGD (25,000 m 3/day) are September 2010 2-27 Draft NUREG-1437, Supplement 45 Affected Environment 1 returned as screen backwash, and 13 MGD (49,000 m 3/day) is evaporated. The remainder 2 (approximately 46 MGD [174,000 m 3/day]) is discharged back to the river (PSEG, 2009b).3 The HCGS DRBC contract allows withdrawals up to 16.998 billion gallons (64 million M 3) per 4 year, including up to 4.086 billion gallons (15 million M 3) of consumptive use (DRBC, 1984a;5 1984b). To compensate for evaporative losses in the system, the DRBC authorization requires 6 releases from storage reservoirs, or reductions in withdrawal, during periods of low-flow 7 conditions at Trenton, NJ (DRBC, 2001). To accomplish this, PSEG is one of several utilities 8 which owns and operates the Merrill Creek reservoir in Washington, NJ. Merrill Creek reservoir 9 is used to release water during low-flow conditions, as required by the DRBC authorization 10 (PSEG, 2009b).11 The SWS and cooling tower blowdown water from HCGS is discharged back to the Delaware 12 River through an underwater conduit located 1,500 ft (460 m) upstream of the HCGS SWS 13 intake. The HCGS discharge pipe extends 10 ft (3 m) offshore, and is situated at mean tide 14 level. The discharge from HCGS is regulated under the terms of NJPDES Permit No.15 NJ0025411 (NJDEP, 2001a). The locations of the intake and discharge for the HCGS facility 16 are shown in Figure 2-4.17 2.2 Affected Environment 18 This section provides general descriptions of the environment near Salem and HCGS as 19 background information and to support the analysis of potential environmental impacts in 20 Chapter 4.21 2.2.1 Land Use 22 Salem and HCGS are located at the southern end of Artificial Island located on the east bank of 23 the Delaware River in Lower Alloways Creek Township, Salem County, New Jersey. The river 24 is approximately 2.5 mi (4 km) wide at this location. Artificial Island is a man-made island 25 approximately 1500-ac (600 ha) in size consisting of tidal marsh and grassland. The island was 26 created by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), beginning early in the twentieth 27 century, by the deposition of hydraulic dredge spoil material atop a natural sand bar that 28 projected into the river. The average elevation of the island is about 9 ft (3 m) above MSL with 29 a maximum elevation of approximately 18 ft (5.5 m) MSL (AEC, 1973). The site is located 30 approximately 17 mi (27 km) south of the Delaware Memorial Bridge, 35 mi (56 kin) southwest 31 of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and 8 mi (13 kin) southwest of the City of Salem, NJ.32 PSEG owns approximately 740 ac (300 ha) at the southern end of the island, with Salem 33 located on approximately 220 ac (89 ha) and HCGS occupying about 153 ac (62 ha). The 34 remainder of Artificial Island, north of the PSEG property, is owned by the the U.S. Government 35 and the State of New Jersey; this portion of the island remains undeveloped. The land adjacent 36 to the eastern boundary of Artificial Island consists of tidal marshlands of the former natural 37 shoreline. The U.S. Government owns the land adjacent to the PSEG property and the State of 38 New Jersey owns the land adjacent to the U.S. Government-owned portion of the island. The 39 northernmost tip of Artificial Island (owned by the U. S. Government) is within the State of 40 Delaware boundary, which was established based on historical land grants (LACT, 1988a;41 1988b; PSEG, 2009a; 2009b).Draft NUREG-1437, Supplement 45 2-28 September 2010 Affected Environment 1 The area within 15 mi (24 km) of the site is primarily utilized for agriculture. The area also 2 includes numerous parks and wildlife refuges and preserves such as Mad Horse Creek Fish and 3 Wildlife Management Area to the east; Cedar Swamp State Wildlife Management Area to the 4 south in Delaware; Appoquinimink, Silver Run, and Augustine State Wildlife Management areas 5 to the west in Delaware; and Supawna Meadows National Wildlife Refuge to the north. The 6 Delaware Bay and estuary is recognized as wetlands of international importance and an 7 international shorebird reserve (NJSA, 2008). The nearest permanent residences are located 8 3.4 mi (5.5 km) south-southwest and west-northwest of Salem and HCGS across the river in 9 Delaware. The nearest permanent residence in New Jersey is located 3.6 mi (5.8 km) east-10 northeast of the facilities (PSEG, 2009c). The closest densely populated center (with 25,000 11 residents or more) is Wilmington, Delaware, located 15 mi (24 kin) north of Salem and HCGS.12 There is no heavy industry in the area surrounding Salem and HCGS; the nearest such 13 industrial area is located approximately 10 mi (16 km) northwest of the site near Delaware City, 14 Delaware (PSEG, 2009d).15 Section 307(c)(3)(A) of the Coastal Zone Management Act (16 USC 1456 (c)(3)(A)) requires 16 that applicants for Federal licenses to conduct an activity in a coastal zone provide to the 17 licensing agency a certification that the proposed activity is consistent with the enforceable 18 policies of the State's coastal zone program. A copy of the certification is also to be provided to 19 the State. Within six months of receipt of the certification, the State is to notify the Federal 20 agency whether the State concurs with or objects to the applicant's certification. Salem and 21 HCGS are within New Jersey's coastal zone for purposes of the Coastal Zone Management Act.22 PSEG's certifications that renewal of the Salem and HCGS licenses would be consistent with 23 the New Jersey Coastal Management Program were submitted to the NJDEP Land Use 24 Regulation Program concurrent with submittal of the license renewal applications for the two 25 facilities. Salem and HCGS are not within Delaware's coastal zone for purposes of the Coastal 26 Zone Management Act (PSEG, 2009a; 2009b). Correspondence related to the certification is in 27 Appendix D of this SEIS. By letters dated October 8, 2009, the NJDEP Division of Land Use 28 Regulation, Bureau of Coastal Regulation concurred with the applicant's consistency of 29 certification for Salem and HCGS.30 2.2.2 Air Quality and Meteorology 31 2.2.2.1 Meteorology 32 The climate in New Jersey is generally a function of topography and distance from the Atlantic 33 Ocean, resulting in five distinct climatic regions within the State. Salem County is located in the 34 Southwest Zone, which is characterized by low elevation near sea level and close proximity to 35 the Delaware Bay. These features result in the Southwest Zone generally having higher 36 temperatures and receiving less precipitation than the northern and coastal areas of the State.37 Wind direction is predominantly from the southwest, except in winter when winds are primarily 38 from the west and northwest (NOAA, 2008).39 The only NOAA weather station in Salem County with recent data is the Woodstown Pittsgrove 40 Station, located approximately 10 mi (16 kin) northeast of the Salem and NCGS facilities 41 (NOAA, 2010a). A summary of the data collected from this station from 1971 to 2001 indicates 42 that winter temperatures average 35.2 degrees Fahrenheit ('F) (1.8 degrees Celsius [°C]) and September 2010 2-29 S Draft NUREG-1437, Supplement 45 Affected Environment 1 summer temperatures average 74.8 *F (23.8 °C). Average annual precipitation in the form of 2 rain and snow is 45.76 inches (116 cm), with the most rain falling in July and August and the 3 most snow falling in January (NOAA, 2004).4 Queries of the National Climate Data Center database for Salem County for the period January 5 1, 1950 to November 30, 2009 identified the following information related to severe weather 6 events: 7 0 33 flood events with the majority (24) being coastal or tidal floods 8 .numerous heavy precipitation and prolonged rain events which also resulted in 9 several incidences of localized flooding, but which are not included in the flood 10 event number 11 0 five funnel cloud sightings and two tornados ranging in intensity from F1 to F2 12 0 148 thunderstorm and high wind events 13 0 14 incidences of hail greater than 0.75 inches (1.9 cm) (NOAA, 2010b)14 In 2001, unusually dry conditions were related to two wildfires that burned a total of 54 ac 15 (22 ha). In 2009, a series of brush fires destroyed approximately 15 ac (6.1 ha) of farmland and 16 wooded area in Salem County (NOAA, 2010c).17 Climate data are available for the Woodstown Pittsgrove Station from 1901 through 2004, at 18 which time monitoring at this location was ended (NOAA, 2010a). The closest facility which 19 currently monitors climate data, and has an extensive historic record, is the station located at 20 the Wilmington New Castle County Airport, located on the opposite side of the Delaware River, 21 approximately 9 mi (14 km) northwest of the facilities (NOAA, 2010d).22 2.2.2.2 Air Quality 23 Salem County is included in the Metropolitan Philadelphia Interstate Air Quality Control Region 24 (AQCR), which encompasses the area geographically located in five counties of New Jersey, 25 including Salem and Gloucester counties; New Castle County, DE; and five counties of 26 Pennsylvania (40 CFR 81.15). Air quality is regulated by the NJDEP through their Bureau of Air 27 Quality Planning, Bureau of Air Quality Monitoring, and Bureau of Air Quality Permitting 28 (NJDEP, 2009a). The Bureau of Air Quality Monitoring operates a network of monitoring 29 stations for the collection and analysis of air samples for several parameters, including carbon 30 monoxide (CO), nitrogen dioxide (NO 2), ozone, sulfur dioxide (SO 2), particulate matter (PM), 31 and meteorological characteristics. The closest air quality monitoring station to the Salem and 32 HCGS facilities is in Millville, located approximately 23 mi (37 km) to the southeast 33 (NJDEP, 2009a).34 In order to enforce air quality standards, the EPA has developed National Ambient Air Quality 35 Standards (NAAQS) under the Federal Clean Air Act. The requirements examine the six criteria 36 pollutants, including particle pollution (PM), ground-level ozone, CO, sulfur oxides (SOx), 37 nitrogen oxides (NOx), and lead; permissible limits are established based on human health 38 and/or environmental protection. When an area has air quality equal to or better than the 39 NAAQS, they are designated as an "attainment area" as defined by the EPA; however, areas 40 that do not meet the NAAQS standards are considered "nonattainment areas" and are required 41 to develop an air quality maintenance plan (NJDEP, 2010a).Draft NUREG-1437, Supplement 45 2-30 September 2010 Affected Environment 1 Salem County is designated as in attainment/unclassified with respect to the NAAQSs for 2 particulate matter, 2.5 microns or less in diameter (PM 2.5), SOx, NOx, CO, and lead. The 3 county, along with all of southern New Jersey, is a nonattainment area with respect to the 4 1-hour primary ozone standard and the 8-hour ozone standard. For the 1-hour ozone standard, 5 Salem County is located within the multi-state Philadelphia-Wilmington-Trenton non-attainment 6 area, and for the 8-hour ozone standard, it is located in the Philadelphia-Wilmington-Atlantic 7 City (Pennsylvania-New Jersey-Delaware-Maryland) non-attainment area. Of the adjacent 8 counties, Gloucester County, NJ is in non-attainment for the 1-hour and 8-hour ozone 9 standards, as well as the annual and daily PM 2.5 standard (NJDEP, 2010a). New Castle 10 County, DE is considered to be in moderate non-attainment for the ozone standards and 11 non-attainment for PM 2.5 (40 CFR 81.315).12 Sections 101 (b)(1), 110, 169(a)(2), and 301(a) of the Clean Air Act (CAA), as amended 13 (42 U.S.C. 7410, 7491(a)(2), 7601(a)), established 156 mandatory Class I Federal areas where 14 visibility is an important value that cannot be compromised. There is one mandatory Class I 15 Federal area in the State of New Jersey, which is the Brigantine National Wildlife Refuge 16 (40 CFR 81.420), located approximately 58 mi (93 km) southeast of the Salem and HCGS 17 facilities. There are no Class I Federal areas in Delaware, and no other areas located within 18 100 mi (160 km) of the facilities (40 CFR 81.400).19 PSEG has a single Air Pollution Control Operating Permit (Title V Operating Permit), 20 No. BOP080001, from the NJDEP to regulate air emissions from all sources at Salem and 21 HCGS (PSEG, 2009a; 2009b). This permit was last issued on February 2, 2005, and expired 22 on February 1, 2010. An application for a new Title V permit was submitted and the EPA review 23 was scheduled to begin on May 20, 2010 (EPA, 2010a). The facilities qualify as a major 24 source' under the Title V permit program and, therefore, are operated under a Title V permit 25 (NJDEP, 2009b). The air emissions sources regulated by permit and located at Salem. include: .- Deleted:,which are regulated underthe I lpermit 26 .a boiler for heating purposes 27

• Salem Unit 3, a 40 MW fuel-oil fired peaking unit used intermittently 28
• six emergency generators, tested monthly 29 .a boiler at the circulating water house, used for heating only in winter 30
• miscellaneous volatile organic compounds (VOC) emissions from fuel tanks Under the Title V Operating Permit program, the EPA defines a major source as a stationary source with the potential to emit (PTE) any criteria pollutant at a rate greater than 100 tons/year (91 metric tons [MT]/year), or any single hazardous air pollutant (HAP) at a rate of greater than 10 tons/year (9.1 MT/year)or a combination of HAPs at a rate greater than 25 tons/year (23 MT/year).September 2010 2-31 Draft NUREG-1437, Supplement 45 Affected Environment 1 The air emissions sources located at HCGS, which are regulated under the permit, include: 2 0 the cooling tower 3 .a boiler for house heating and use for startup steam for the BWR 4 0 four emergency generators, tested monthly 5 0 miscellaneous VOC emissions from fuel tanks 6
• a small boiler used to heat the service water house 7 Meteorological conditions at the facilities are monitored at a primary and a backup 8 meteorological tower located at the entrance of the facilities, on the southeast side of the -9 property.

The primary tower is a 300-ft (91-m) high tower supported by guy wires, and the 10 backup tower is a 33-ft (10-m) high telephone pole located approximately 500 ft (152 m) south 11 of the primary tower. Measurements collected at the primary tower include temperature, wind 12 speed, and wind direction at elevations of 300, 150, and 33 ft (91, 46, and 10 m) above ground 13 level; dew point measured at the 33-ft (10-m) level; and rainfall, barometric pressure, and solar 14 radiation measured at less than 10 ft (3 m) above the ground surface. Measurements collected 15 at the backup tower include wind speed and wind direction (PSEG, 2006b).16 2.2.3 Groundwater Resources 17 2.2.3.1 Description 18 Groundwater at the Salem and HCGS facilities is present in Coastal Plain sediments, an 19 assemblage of sand, silt, and clay formations that comprise a series of aquifers beneath the 20 facilities. Four primary aquifers underlie the facility location. The shallowest of these is the 21 shallow water-bearing zone, which is contained within the dredge spoil and engineered fill 22 sediments of Artificial Island. Groundwater is found within this zone at a depth of 10 to 40 ft (3 23 to 12 m),_belowgroundsurface(BGS) (PSEG, 2007a). The_groundwater in the shallow zone is 24 recharged through direct infiltration of precipitation on Artificial Island and is brackish.25 Groundwater in the shallow zone flows toward the southwest, toward the Delaware River 26 (PSEG, 2009b).27 Beneath the shallow water-bearing zone, the Vincentown Aquifer is found at a depth of 55 to 28 135 ft (17 to 41 m) bgs. The aquifer is confined and semi-confined beneath Miocene clays of 29 the Kirkwood Formation. Groundwater within the Vincentown Aquifer flows toward the south.30 Water within the Vincentown Aquifer is potable and accessed through domestic wells in eastern 31 Salem County, upgradient of the facility. In western Salem County, including near the facility, 32 saltwater intrusion from the Delaware River has occurred, resulting in brackish, non-potable 33 groundwater within this aquifer (PSEG, 2007a).34 The Vincentown Aquifer is underlain by the Hornerstown and Navesink confining units, which in 35 turn overlie the Mount Laurel-Wenonah Aquifer. The Mount Laurel-Wenonah Aquifer exists at a 36 depth of 170 to 270 ft (52 to 82 m) bgs and is recharged through leakage from the overlying 37 aquifers (Rosenau et al., 1969).38 Beneath the Mount Laurel-Wenonah Aquifer is a series of clay and fine sand confining units and 39 poor quality aquifers, including the Marshalltown Formation, Englishtown Formation, Woodbury 40 Clay, and Merchantville Formation. These units overlie the Potomac-Raritan-Magothy (PRM)_f Deleted: bgs Draft NUREG-1437, Supplement 45 2-32 September 2010 Affected Environment 1 Aquifer, which is found at a depth of 450 ft (137 m), with freshwater encountered to a depth of 2 900 ft (274 m) bgs at the facility location (PSEG, 2007a). The PRM Aquifer is a large aquifer of 3 regional importance for municipal and domestic water supply. In order to protect groundwater 4 resources within this aquifer, the State of New Jersey has established Critical Water-Supply 5 Management Area 2, in which groundwater withdrawals are limited and managed through 6 allocations (USGS, 2007). Critical Water-Supply Management Area 2 includes Ocean, 7 Burlington, Camden, Atlantic, Gloucester, and Cumberland counties, as well as the eastern 8 portion of Salem County. The area does not include the western portion of Salem County 9 where the facility is located, so groundwater withdrawals at the facility location are not subject to 10 withdrawal restrictions associated with this management area.11 2.2.3.2 Affected Users 12 The use of groundwater by the facility is discussed in Section 2.1.7.1. Groundwater is the 13 source of more than 75 percent of the freshwater supply within the Coastal Plain region, and 14 wells used for public supply commonly yield 500 to more than 1,000 gpm (1.9 to 3.8 m 3/min)15 (EPA, 1988). The water may have localized concentrations of iron in excess of 460 miligrams 16 per liter (mg/L) and may be contaminated locally by saltwater intrusion and waste disposal;17 however, water quality is considered satisfactory overall (NJWSC, 2009).18 Groundwater is not accessed for public or domestic water supply within 1 mi (1.6 km) of the 19 Salem and HCGS facilities (PSEG, 2009a;2009b). However, groundwater is the primary 20 source of municipal water supply within Salem and the surrounding counties. There are 18 21 public water supply systems in Salem County. New Jersey American Water (NJAW) is the 22 largest of these, providing groundwater from the PRM Aquifer to more than 14,000 customers in 23 Pennsgrove, located approximately 18 mi (29 km) north of the Salem and HCGS facilities (EPA, 24 2010e; NJAW, 2010). The other two major suppliers are Pennsville Township and the City of 25 Salem (EPA, 2010e). The City of Salem is the closest public water supply system in Salem 26 County to the facilities, but provides water from surface water sources (EPA, 201 Oe). The 27 Pennsville Township water system is located approximately 15 mi (24 km) north of the Salem 28 and HCGS facilities and supplies water to approximately 13,500 residents from the PRM Aquifer 29 (EPA, 2010e; NJDEP, 2007).30 There are 27 water systems in New Castle County, Delaware. Municipal and investor-owned 31 utilities provide drinking water to the county. The majority of the potable water supply is 32 provided from surface water sources (EPA, 2010e). The nearest offsite use of groundwater for 33 potable water supply is located approximately 3.5 mi (5.6 km) west of the site, in New Castle 34 County, Delaware (Arcadis, 2006). This water supply consists of two wells installed within the 35 Mt. Laurel aquifer, serving 132 residents (DNREC, 2003).36 2.2.3.3 Available Volume-1 -.-. Deleted: E 37 38 39 40 41 Groundwater within thePRM is an i mportant reso urce_f[or_ water supply..in a region .....extending from Mercer and Middlesex counties in New Jersey to the north, and toward Maryland to the southwest. Groundwater withdrawal from the early part of the 20th century through the 1970s resulted in the development of large-scale cones of depression in the elevation of the piezometric surface and, therefore, the available water quantity within the aquifer (Walker,_ .-Deleted: Potomac-Raritan-Magothy Deleted: a September 2010 2-33 Draft NUREG-1437, Supplement 45 Affected Environment 1 1983). Large scale withdrawals of water from the aquifer are known to influence water 2 availability at significant lateral distances from pumping centers (Walker, 1983). In reaction to 3 these observations, water management measures, including limitations on pumping, were 4 instituted by the NJDEP (although not including the Salem and HCGS facility area). As of 2003, 5 NJDEP-mandated decreases in water withdrawals had resulted in general recovery of water 6 level elevations in both the Upper and Middle PRM aquifers in the Salem County area (DePaul 7 et al., 2009).8 2.2.3.4 Existing Quality 9 Annual REMP reports document regular sampling of groundwater as required by the NRC. In 10 support of this SEIS, the annual REMP reports for 2006, 2007, and 2008 were reviewed 11 (PSEG, 2007b; 2008a; 2009c). The program includes the collection and analysis of 12 groundwater at one or two locations that may be affected by station operations. Although the 13 facility has determined that there are no groundwater wells in locations that could be affected by 14 station operations, they routinely collect a sample from one location, well 3E1 at a nearby farm, 15 as a management audit sample. These samples, collected on a monthly basis, are analyzed for 16 gamma emitters, gross alpha, gross beta, and tritium. In 2006 through 2008, no results were 17 identified which would suggest potential impacts from facility operations. 18 In 2003, a release of tritium to groundwater from the Salem Unit 1 SFP was identified. The 19 release was caused from the blockage of drains by mineral deposits. Response measures, 20 including removal of the mineral deposits and installation of additional drains, were taken and 21 the release was stopped (Arcadis, 2006).22 A site investigation was initiated in 2003, and included the installation and sampling of 29 23 monitoring wells in the shallow and Vincentown aquifers (PSEG, 2004a). The tritium was 24 released into groundwater inside of the cofferdam area that surrounds the Salem containment 25 unit. Groundwater within the cofferdam area is able to flow outside of the cofferdam through a 26 low spot in the top surface, which allowed the tritium plume to enter the flow system outside of 27 the cofferdam. From that location, the plume followed a preferential flow path along the high 28 permeability sand and gravel bed beneath the circulating water discharge pipe and, thus, toward 29 the Delaware River. Tritium was detected in shallow groundwater at concentrations up to 30 15,000,000 picoCuries per liter (pCi/L). The extent of the impact was limited to within the PSEG 31 property boundaries and no tritium was detected in the Vincentown aquifer, indicating that the 32 release was limited to the shallow water-bearing aquifer (PSEG, 2009d). The release did not 33 include any radionuclides other than tritium.34 In 2004, PSEG developed a remedial action workplan, and a GRS was approved by NJDEP 35 and became operational by September 2005. The GRS operates by withdrawing 36 tritium-impacted groundwater from six pumping wells within the plume, and a mobile pumping 37 unit that can be moved between other wells as needed to maximize withdrawal efficiency. The 38 pumping system reverses the groundwater flow gradient and stops the migration of the plume 39 toward the property boundaries. The tritium-impacted water removed from the groundwater is 40 processed in the facility's NRLWDS. As part of this system, the groundwater is collected in 41 tanks, sampled, and analyzed to identify the quantity of radioactivity and the isotopic 42 breakdown. Upon verification that the groundwater meets NRC discharge requirements, it is 43 released under controlled conditions to the Delaware River through the circulatory water system Draft NUREG-1 437, Supplement 45 2-34 September 2010 Affected Environment 1 (PSEG, 2009a). Operation of the groundwater extraction system is monitored by a network of 2 36 monitoring wells (PSEG, 2009e). This monitoring indicates that maximum tritium 3 concentrations have dropped substantially, from a maximum of 15,000,000 pCi/L to below 4 100,000 pCi/L. Some concentrations still exceed the New Jersey Ground Water Quality 5 Criterion for tritium of 20,000 pCi/L (PSEG, 2009e). However, groundwater that exceeds this 6 criterion does not extend past the property boundaries (PSEG, 2009a).7 To verify the status of the groundwater remediation program, Staff interviewed NJDEP staff 8 during the site audit in March 2010. The NJDEP staff confirmed that both NJDEP and the New 9 Jersey Geological Survey (NJGS) had been substantially involved in assisting PSEG in 10 developing a response to the tritium release, and that NJDEP conducts ongoing confirmation 11 sampling. Both NJDEP and NJGS review PSEG's Quarterly Remedial Action Progress 12 Reports, including confirmation of the analytical results and verification of plume configurations 13 based on those results. NJDEP staff confirmed that the GRS is operating in a satisfactory 14 manner.15 In response to an industry-wide initiative sponsored by the Nuclear Energy Institute (NEI), 16 PSEG implemented a facility-wide radiological groundwater protection program (RGPP) at the 17 Salem and HCGS facilities in 2006. The program, which is separate from the monitoring 18 associated with the GRS, included the identification of station systems that could be sources of 19 radionuclide releases, installation of monitoring wells near and downgradient of those systems 20 and installation of wells upgradient and downgradient of the facility perimeter. The monitoring 21 program consists of 13 monitoring wells at Salem (5 pre-existing and 8 new) and 13 wells at 22 HCGS (all new). The results of the program are reported in the facility's annual Radiological 23 Environmental Operating Reports. The wells are sampled on a semiannual basis and have 24 detected no plant-related gamma-emitters. In the 2008 annual program, tritium was detected in 25 5 of the 13 wells at Salem, and 6 of the 13 wells at HCGS. All sample results were lower than 26 1,000 pCi/L, which is less than the 20,000 pCi/L EPA drinking water standard and New Jersey 27 Ground Water Quality Criterion (PSEG, 2009c). These levels of detection are not high enough 28 to trigger voluntary reporting that would be made under the guidelines of the NEI guidance 29 (PSEG, 2009a).30 During the site audit, PSEG provided information indicating that elevated tritium concentrations 31 had been detected in six RGPP wells at the HCGS facility in November 2009. This included 32 detection of tritium at concentrations up to 1,200 pCi/L in four wells, and at approximately 33 3,500 pCi/L in two wells (wells BH and BJ). The wells were all re-sampled in December 2009, 34 and the tritium concentrations had dropped to levels of approximately 500 to 800 pCi/L, which 35 still exceeded their levels prior to November 2009. The wells involved are located at the HCGS 36 facility and are not related to the tritium plume being managed at Salem. PSEG has instituted a 37 well inspection and assessment program to identify the source of the tritium, which is thought to 38 be from either analytical error of rain-out of gaseous emissions in precipitation. Based on the 39 locations of the wells and identification of cracked caps on some wells, it is possible that 40 collection of rainwater run-on entered the wells, causing the increased concentrations. In 41 response, PSEG has replaced all well caps with screw caps and is working with NJDEP and the 42 Staff to implement a well inspection program.43 During the site audit, PSEG also provided information on a small-scale diesel pump and treat 44 remediation system being operated near Salem Unit 1 to address a leak of diesel fuel at that September 2010 2-35 Draft NUREG-1437, Supplement 45 Affected Environment 1 location. NJDEP is also involved in the operation of that system, and NJDEP staff confirmed 2 that the remediation system is operating in a satisfactory manner.3 2.2.4 Surface Water Resources 4 2.2.4.1 Description 5 The Salem and HCGS facilities are located on Artificial Island, a man-made island constructed 6 on the New Jersey (eastern) shore of the Delaware River (PSEG, 2009a; 2009b). All surface 7 water in Salem County drains to the Delaware River and Bay. Some streams flow directly to the 8 river, while others join subwatersheds before reaching their destination. The tides of the Atlantic 9 Ocean influence the entire length of the Delaware River in Salem County. Tidal marshes are 10 located along the lower stretches of the Delaware River and are heavily influenced by the tides, 11 flooding twice daily. Wetland areas, such as Mannington and Supawna Meadows, make up 12 roughly 30 percent of the county. The southwestern portion of Salem County is predominately 13 marshland, and to the north, tidal marshes are found in the western sections of the county at the 14 mouths of river systems, including the Salem River and Oldmans Creek (Salem County, 2008).15 The Division of Land Use Regulation (LUR) is managed by the NJDEP and seeks to preserve 16 quality of life issues that affect water quality, wildlife habitat, flood protection, open space, and 17 the tourism industry. Coastal waters and adjacent land are protected by several laws, including 18 the Waterfront Development Law (N.J.S.A. 12:5-3), the Wetlands Act of 1970 (N.J.S.A. 13:9A), 19 New Jersey Coastal Permit Program Rules (N.J.A.C. 7:7), Coastal Zone Management Rules 20 (N.J.A.C. 7:7E), and the Coastal Area Facility Review Act (N.J.S.A. 13:19), which regulates 21 almost all coastal development and includes the Kilcohook National Wildlife Refuge that is 22 located in Salem County (NJDEP, 2010b).23 The facilities are located at River Mile.(RM) 51 on the Delaware River. At this location, the river 24 is approximately 2.5 mi (4 km) wide. The facilities are located on the Lower Region portion of 25 the river, which is designated by the DRBC as the area of the river subject to tidal influence, and 26 between the Delaware Bay and Trenton, NJ (DRBC, 2008a). The Lower Region and the 27 Delaware Bay together form the Estuary Region of the river, which is included as the 28 Partnership for the Delaware Estuary within the EPA's National Estuary Program (EPA, 2010d).29 Water use from the river at the facility location is regulated by both the DRBC and the State of 30 New Jersey. The DRBC was established in 1961, through the Delaware River Basin Compact, 31 as a joint Federal and State body to regulate and manage water resources within the basin.32 The DRBC acts to manage and regulate water resources in the basin by: (1) allocating and 33 regulating water withdrawals and discharges; (2) resolving interstate, water-related disputes;34 (3) establishing water quality standards; (4) managing flow; and (5) watershed planning 35 (DRBC, 1961).36 As facilities that use water resources in the basin, Salem and HCGS water withdrawals are 37 conducted under contract to the DRBC. The Salem facility uses surface water under a DRBC 38 contract originally signed in 1977 (DRBC, 1977), and most recently revised and approved for a 39 25-year term in 2001 (DRBC, 2001). Surface water withdrawals by the HCGS facility were 40 originally approved for two units in 1975, and then revised for a single unit in 1985 following 41 PSEG's decision to build only one unit (DRBC, 1984a). The withdrawal rates are also regulated 42 by NJDEP, under NJPDES Permit Nos. NJ0025411 (for HCGS) and NJ005622 (for Salem).Draft NUREG-1437, Supplement 45 2-36 September 2010 Affected Environment' 1 2.2.4.2 Affected Users 2 The Delaware River Basin is densely populated, and surface water resources within the river 3 are used for a variety of purposes. Freshwater from the non-tidal portion of the river is used to 4 supply municipal water throughout New York, Pennsylvania, and New.Jersey, including the 5 large metropolitan areas of Philadelphia and New York City. Approximately 75 percent of the 6 length of the non-tidal Delaware River is designated as part of the National Wild and Scenic 7 Rivers System. The river is economically important for commercial shipping, as it includes port 8 facilities for petrochemical operations, military supplies, and raw materials and consumer 9 products (DRBC, 2010).10 In the tidal portion of the river, water is accessed for use in industrial operations, including 11 power plant cooling systems. A summary of DRBC-approved water users on the tidal portion of 12 the river from 2005 lists 22 industrial facilities and 14 power plants in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, 13 and Delaware (DRBC, 2005). Of these facilities, Salem is by far the highest volume water user 14 in the basin, with a reported water withdrawal volume of 1,067,892 million gallons (4.042 billion 15 M 3) in 2005 (DRBC, 2005). This volume exceeds the combined total withdrawal for all other 16 industrial, power, and public water supply purposes in the tidal portion of the river. The 17 withdrawal volume for HCGS in 2005 was much lower, at 19,561 million gallons (74 million M 3).18 2.2.4.3 Water Quality Regulation 19 To regulate water quality in the basin, the DRBC has established water quality standards, 20 referred to as Stream Quality Objectives, to protect human health and aquatic life objectives. 21 To account for differing environmental setting and water uses along the length of the river basin, 22 the DRBC has established Water Quality Management (WQM) Zones, and has established 23 separate Stream Quality Objectives for each zone. The Salem and HCGS facilities are located 24 within Zone 5, which extends from RM 48.2 to RM 78.8.25 The DRBC Stream Quality Objectives are used by the NJDEP to establish effluent discharge 26 limits for discharges within the basin. The EPA granted the State of New Jersey the authority to 27 issue NPDES permits, and such a permit implies water quality certification under the Federal 28 Clean Water Act (CWA) Section 401. The water quality and temperature of the discharges for 29 both the Salem and HCGS discharges are regulated by NJDEP under NJPDES Permit Nos.30 NJ0025411 (for HCGS) and NJ005622 (for Salem). In addition, industrial facilities in New 31 Jersey are required, under the New Jersey Administrative Code (NJAC) Title 7:1E -5.3, to 32 provide notification to NJDEP whenever any hazardous substance, as defined in NJAC 7:1 E 33 Appendix A is released.September 2010 2-37 Draft NUREG-1437, Supplement 45 Affected Environment 1 2.2.4.4 Salem Nuclear Generating Station NJPDES Requirements 2 The current NJPDES Permit No. NJ005622 for the Salem facility was issued with an effective 3 date of August 1, 2001, and an expiration date of July 31, 2006 (NJDEP, 2001a). The permit 4 requires that a renewal application be prepared at least 180 days in advance of the expiration 5 date. Correspondence provided with the applicant's ER indicates that a renewal application 6 was filed on January 31, 2006. During the site audit, NJDEP staff confirmed that the application 7 was still undergoing review, so the 2001 permit is still considered to be in force. No substantial 8 changes in permit conditions are anticipated. 9 The Salem NJPDES permit regulates water withdrawals and discharges associated with non-10 radiological industrial wastewater, including intake and discharge of once-through cooling water.11 The once-through cooling water, service water, non-radiological liquid waste, radiological liquid 12 waste, and other effluents are discharged through the cooling water system intake. The specific 13 discharge locations, and their associated reporting requirements and discharge limits, are 14 presented in Table 2-2.15 Stormwater discharge is not monitored through the Salem NJPDES permit. Stormwater is 16 collected and discharged through outfall discharge serial numbers (DSNs) 489A (south), 488 17 (west), and 4871487B (north). The NJPDES permit requires that stormwater discharges be 18 managed under an approved Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP) and, therefore, 19 does not specify discharge limits. The same SWPPP is also applicable to stormwater 20 discharges from the HCGS facility. The plan includes a listing of potential sources of pollutants 21 and associated best management practices (NJDEP, 2003).22 Industrial wastewater from Salem is regulated at nine specific locations, designated outfall 23 DSNs 048C, 481A, 482A, 483A, 484A, 485A, 486A, 487B, and 489A. Outfall DSN 048C is the 24 discharge system for the NRLWDS, and also receives stormwater from DSN 487B. For 25 DSN 048C, the permit establishes reporting requirements for discharge volume (in millions of 26 gallons per day), and compliance limits for total suspended solids, ammonia, petroleum 27 hydrocarbons, and total organic carbon (NJDEP, 2001a).28 Outfall DSNs 481A, 482A, 483A, 484A, 485A, and 486A are the discharge systems for cooling 29 water, service water, and the radiological liquid waste disposal system. Outfall DSNs 481A, 30 482A, and 483A are associated with Salem Unit 1, while outfall DSNs 484A, 485A, and 486A 31 are associated with Salem Unit 2. The permit establishes similar, but separate, requirements 32 for each of these six outfalls. For each, the permit requires reporting of the discharge volume 33 (in MGD), the pH of the intake, and the temperature of the discharge. The permit also 34 establishes compliance limits for the discharge from each outfall for pH and chlorine-produced 35 oxidants (NJDEP, 2001a).36 Outfall DSN 487B is the discharge system for the #3 skim tank. The permit establishes 37 reporting requirements for discharge volume (in MGD) and compliance limits for pH, total 38 suspended solids, temperature of effluent, petroleum hydrocarbons, and total organic carbon 39 (NJDEP, 2001 a).40 Draft NUREG-1 437, Supplement 45 2-38 September 2010 Affected Environment Table 2-2. NJPDES Permit Requirements for Salem Nuclear Generating Station Discharge Description Required Reporting Permit Limits DSN 048C Input is NRLWDS and Outfall Effluent flow volume None DSN 487B Total suspended solids 50 mg/L monthly average Discharges to outfall DSNs 100 mg/L daily maximum 481A, 482A, 484A, and 485A Ammonia (Total as N) 35 mg/L monthly average 70 mg/L daily maximum Petroleum hydrocarbons 10 mglL monthly average 15 mg/L daily maximum Total organic carbon Report monthly average 50 mg/L daily maximum DSNs 481A, Input is cooling water, service Effluent flow volume None 482A, 483A, water, and DSN 048C Effluent pH 6.0 daily minimum 484A, 485A, Outfall is six separate 9.0 daily maximum and 486A (the discharge pipes Intake pH None same requirements Chlorine-produced oxidants 0.3 mg/L monthly average for each) 0.2 and 0.5 mg/L daily maximum Temperature None DSN 487B #3 skim tank, and stormwater Effluent flow None from north portion pH 6.0 daily minimum 9.0 daily maximum Total suspended solids 100 mg/L daily maximum Temperature 43.3°C daily maximum Petroleum hydrocarbons 15 mg/L daily maximum Total organic carbon 50 mg/L daily maximum Discharge Description Required Reporting Permit Limits DSN 489A Oil/water separator, turbine Effluent flow None sumps, and stormwater from pH 6.0 daily minimum south portion 9.0 daily maximum Total suspended solids 30 mg/L monthly average 100 mg/L daily maximum Petroleum hydrocarbons 10 mg/L monthly average 15 mg/L daily maximum Total organic carbon 50 mg/L daily maximum DSN Outfall Combined for discharges Net temperature (year round) 15.3°C daily maximum FACA 481A, 482A, and 483A Gross temperature 46.1°C daily maximum (June to September) Gross temperature 43.3°C daily maximum (October to May)DSN Outfall Combined for discharges Net temperature (year round) 15.3°C daily maximum FACB 484A, 485A, and 486A Gross temperature 46.1°C daily maximum (June to September) Gross temperature 43.3°C daily maximum (October to May)2 September 2010 2-39 Draft NUREG-1437, Supplement 45 Affected Environment Discharge Description Required Reporting Permit Limits DSN Outfall Combined for discharges Influent flow 3,024 MGD monthly average FACC 481A, 482A, 483A, 484A, Effluent thermal discharge 30,600 MBTU/hr daily maximum 485A, and 486A MBTU/hr = million British thermal units per hour Source: NJDEP, 2001a 2 Outfall DSN 489A is the discharge system for the oil/water separator. The permit establishes 3 reporting requirements for discharge volume (in MGD) and compliance limits for pH, total 4 suspended solids, petroleum hydrocarbons, and total organic carbon (NJDEP, 2001a).5 In addition to the reporting requirements and contaminant limits for these individual outfalls, the 6 permit establishes temperature limits for Salem Unit 1 as a whole, Salem Unit 2 as a whole, and 7 the Salem facility as a whole. Outfall FACA is the combined discharge from outfalls 481A, 8 482A, and 483A to represent the overall thermal discharge from Salem Unit 1. For outfall 9 FACA, the permit establishes an effluent net temperature difference of 15.3 *C (27.5°F), a gross 10 temperature of 43.3 °C (1 10°F) from October to May, and a gross temperature of 46.1 0C 11 (115°F)from June to September (NJDEP, 2001a).12 Similarly, outfall FACB is the combined discharge from outfall DSNs 484A, 485A, and 486A to 13 represent the overall thermal discharge from Salem Unit 2. The temperature limits for outfall 14 FACB are the same as those established for outfall FACA (NJDEP, 2001 a).15 Outfall FACC is the combined results from outfall DSNs 481A through 486A, representing the 16 overall thermal discharge and flow volume for the Salem facility as a whole. The permit 17 establishes an overall intake volume of 3,024 MGD (11.4 million m 3/day) on a monthly average 18 basis, and an effluent thermal discharge limit of 30,600 million British thermal units (BTUs) per 19 hour as a daily maximum (NJDEP, 2001a).20 In addition to the outfall-specific reporting requirements and discharge limits, the Salem 21 NJPDES permit includes a variety of general requirements (NJDEP, 2001a). These include 22 requirements for the following: 23

• additives that may be used, where they may be used, and procedures for 24 proposing changes to additives 25
• toxicity testing of discharges and, depending on results, toxicity reduction 26 measures 27
• implementation and operations of intake screens and fish return systems 28
• wetland restoration and enhancement through the estuary enhancement program 29
• implementation of a biological monitoring program 30
• installation of fish ladders at offsite locations 31
• performance of studies of intake protection technologies 32
• implementation of entrainment and impingement monitoring 33 0 conduct of special studies, including intake hydrodynamics and enhancements to 34 entrainment and impingement sampling Draft NUREG-1437, Supplement 45 2-40 September 2010 Affected Environment 1 0 funding of construction of offshore reefs 2
• compliance with DRBC regulations, NRC regulations, and the NOAA Fisheries 3 Biological opinion 4 In the permit, the NJDEP reserves the right to re-open the requirements for intake protection 5 technologies (NJDEP, 2001a).6 2.2.4.5 Hope Creek Generating Station NJPDES Requirements 7 The current NJPDES Permit No. NJ0025411 for the HCGS facility was issued in early 2003, 8 with an effective date of March 1, 2003, and an expiration date of February 29, 2008 9 (NJDEP, 2003). lThe-perrmit -requires-that a renew-al application be prepared at least 180 days in 10 advance of th-e- expiration date. Correspondence provided with the applicant's ER indicates that 1 'a renewal application was filed on August 30 2007. However the current status of that renewal .. Comment [L1]: We should indicate where 12 is not provided within the ER and attached NJPDES permit (PSEG, 2009b).13 The HCGS NJPDES permit regulates water withdrawals and discharges associated with both 14 stormwater and industrial wastewater, including discharges of cooling tower blowdown 15 (NJDEP, 2003). The cooling tower blowdown and other effluents are discharged through an 16 underwater pipe located on the bank of the river, 1,500 ft (457 m) upstream of the SWS intake.17 The specific discharge locations, and their associated reporting requirements and discharge 18 limits, are presented in Table 2-3.19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 Stormwater discharge is not monitored through the HCGS NJPDES permit. Stormwater is collected and discharged through outfall DSNs 463A, 464A, and 465A. These outfalls were specifically regulated, and had associated reporting requirements, in the HCGS NJPDES permit through 2005. However, the revision of the permit in January 2005 modified the requirements for stormwater, and the permit now requires that stormwater discharges be managed under an approved SWPPP and, therefore, does not specify discharge limits. The same SWPPP is also applicable to stormwater discharges from the Salem facility.

The plan includes a listing of potential sources of pollutants and associated best management practices (NJDEP, 2003).In-u-stri-alwastewater is regulated at five-locations, designated DSNs .461A, 461 C, (missing-part D) _51(Aw/ater separator), and SLiA (sewage treatment p!ant [STP]). Dsctahge DSN 461A is the discharge for the cooling water blowdown, and the permit established reporting and compliance limits for intake and discharge volume (in MGD), pH, chlorine-produced oxidants, intake and discharge temperature, total organic carbon, and heat content in millions of BTUs per hour, in both summer and winter (NJDEP, 2003).Discharge DSN 461C is a discharge for the oil/water separator system and has established reporting and compliance limits for discharge volume, total suspended solids, total recoverable petroleum hydrocarbons, and total organic carbon (NJDEP, 2003)...--. -Comment [L2]: What Is this a requirement to? I September 2010 2-41 Draft NUREG-1437, Supplement 45 Affected Environment 1 Table 2-3. NJPDES Permit Requirements for Hope Creek Generating Station Discharge Description Required Reporting Permit Limits DSN 461A Input is cooling Effluent flow None water blowdown and Intake flow None DSN 461C Effluent pH 6.0 daily minimum Outfall is discharge

9.0 daily

maximum pipe Chlorine-produced oxidants 0.2 mg/L monthly average 0.5 mg/L daily maximum Effluent gross temperature 36.2oC daily maximum Intake temperature None Total organic carbon (effluent None gross, effluent net, and intake)Heat content (June to August) 534 MBTU/hr daily maximum Heat content (September to May) 662 MBTU/hr daily maximum DSN 461C Input is low volume Effluent flow None oily waste from Total suspended solids 30 mg/L monthly average oil/water separator 100 mg/L daily maximum Outfall is to DSN Total recoverable petroleum 10 mg/L monthly average 461A Hydrocarbons 15 mg/L daily maximum Total organic carbon 50 mg/L daily maximum DSN 462B Sewage treatment Effluent flow None plant effluent, Total suspended solids 30 mg/L monthly average discharges to 461 A 45 mg/L weekly average 83% removal daily minimum Biological oxygen demand (BOD) 8 kg/day monthly average 30 mg/L monthly average 45 mg/L weekly average 87.5 percent removal daily minimum Oil and grease 10 mg/L monthly average 15 mg/L daily maximum Fecal coliform 200 /100 ml monthly geometric 400/100 ml weekly geometric average 6 separate metal and inorganic None contaminants (cyanide, nickel, zinc, cadmium, chromium, and copper)S16A Oil/water separator 24 separate metal and inorganic None residuals from 461C contaminants 24 separate organic contaminants None Volumes and types of sludge None produced and disposed 2 Draft NUREG-1437, Supplement 45 2-42 September 2010 Affected Environment Discharge Description Required Reporting Permit Limits SLIA STP system 17 separate metal and inorganic None residuals from 462B contaminants Volumes and types of sludge None produced and disposed Source: NJDEP, 2005c 1 2 Discharge DSN 462B is the discharge for the onsite sewage treatment plant. The permit 3 includes limits for effluent flow volume, total suspended solids, oil and grease, fecal coliform, 4 and six inorganic contaminants (NJDEP, 2005c).5 Discharge 516A is the discharge from the oil/water separator system. This discharge has 6 reporting requirements established for 48 inorganic and organic contaminants, for the volume of 7 sludge produced, and for the manner in which the sludge is disposed (NJDEP, 2003).8 Discharge SLiA is the discharge from the STP system. This discharge has reporting 9 requirements established for 17 inorganic contaminants, as well as sludge volume and disposal 10 information (NJDEP, 2003).11 In addition to the outfall-specific reporting requirements and discharge limits, the HCGS 12 NJPDES permit includes a variety of general requirements. These include requirements for 13 additives that may be used, where they may be used, and procedures for proposing changes to 14 additives; and compliance with DRBC regulations and NRC regulations (NJDEP, 2003).15 In the permit, the NJDEP reserves the right to revoke the alternate temperature provision for 16 outfall DSN 461A if the NJDEP determines that the cooling tower is not being properly operated 17 and maintained (NJDEP, 2003).18 Spill Reporting under NJAC 7:1E 19 As discussed above, industrial facilities in New Jersey are required to provide notification to 20 NJDEP whenever any hazardous substance, as defined in NJAC 7:1E Appendix A, is released.21 The list of hazardous substance in NJAC 7:1E Appendix A includes almost 2,000 substances 22 that are commonly used at industrial facilities, including many chemicals that Salem and HCGS 23 are specifically permitted to use in accordance with their NJPDES permits. This includes 24 chemicals which are added to the steam systems for corrosion protection, including ammonium 25 hydroxide and hydrazine. In compliance with NJAC 7:1E -5.3, the facilities occasionally report 26 releases of these chemicals, including hydrazine, ammonium hydroxide, and sodium 27 hypochlorite, to NJDEP, and those reports are publicly available. In two recent instances, the 28 facilities have been subject to enforcement action associated with these releases. In 29 September 2005, the facilities paid a penalty of $7,500 associated with a release of 5,000 30 gallons (19 M 3) of boiler feed water containing 7 parts per million (ppm) hydrazine and 20 ppm 31 ammonia. In April 2008, they paid a penalty of $15,000 associated with the May 10, 2006 32 release of 5,000 gallons (19 M 3) of water containing hydrazine and ammonium hydroxide, and 33 with a separate release of sodium hypochlorite. A separate penalty of $8,250 was paid in 34 February 2007, associated with the same May 10, 2006 release (NJDEP,. 2010c).September 2010 2-43 Draft NUREG-1437, Supplement 45 Affected Environment 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 2.2.5 Aquatic Resources -Delaware Estuary 2.2.5.1 Estuary Characteristics Salem and HCGS are located at the south end of Artificial Island on the New Jersey shore of the Delaware Estuary, about 52 RM (84 river km) north of the mouth of the Delaware Bay (Figure 2-5). The estuary is the source of the cooling water for both facilities and receives their effluents. The Delaware Estuary supports an abundance of aquatic resources in a variety of habitats. Open water habitats include salt water, tidally-influenced water of variable salinities, and tidal freshwater areas. Moving south from the Delaware River to the mouth of the bay, there is a continual transition from fresh to salt water. Additional habitat types occur along the edges of the estuary in brackish and freshwater marshes. The bottom of the estuary provides many different benthic habitats, with their characteristics dictated by salinity, tides, water velocity, and substrate type. Sediments in the estuary near Artificial Island are primarily mud, muddy sand, and sandy mud (PSEG, 2006c).At Artificial Island, the estuary is tidal with a net flow to the south and a width of approximately 16,000 ft (5,000 m) (Figure 2-1). The USACE maintains a dredged navigation channel near the center of the estuary and about 6,600 ft (2,000 m) west of the shoreline at Salem and HCGS.The navigation channel is about 40 ft (12 m) deep and 1,300 ft (400 m) wide. On the New Jersey side of the channel, water depths in the open estuary at mean low water are fairly uniform at about 20 ft (6 m). Predominant tides in the area are semi-diurnal, with a period of 12.4 hours and a mean tidal range of 5.5 ft (1.7 m). The maximum tidal currents occur in the channel, and currents flow more slowly over the shallower areas (NRC, 1984;Najarian Associates, 2004).Salinity is an important determinant of biotic distribution in estuaries, and salinity near the Salem and HCGS facilities depends on river flow. The NRC (1984) reported that average salinity in this area during periods of low flow ranged from 5 to 18 parts per thousand (ppt) and during periods of higher flow, ranged from 0 to 5 ppt. Najarian Associates (2004) and PSEG Services Corporation (2005b) characterized salinity at the plant as ranging between 0 and 20 ppt and, in the summer during periods of low flow, as typically exceeding 6 ppt. Based on temperature and conductivity data collected by the USGS at Reedy Island, just north of Artificial Island, Najarian Associates (2004) calculated salinity from 1991 through 2002. K-corling-totheirFtguremB.6_ he_median salinity was approximately 5 ppt and salinity exceeded 12 ppt in only two years, exceeded 13 ppt in only one year, and never exceeded 15 ppt during the 11 year period. Based on these observations, the Staff assumes that salinity in the vicinity of Salem and HCGS typically ranges from 0 to 5 ppt during periods of low flow (usually, but not always, in the summer) and from 5 to 12 ppt during periods of high flow (Table 2-4). Within these larger patterns, salinity at any specific location also varies with the tides (NRC, 2007).-Comment [L3]: Who is their and what document for figure B6?Deleted: ier Draft NUREG-1437, Supplement 45 2-44 September 2010 Affected Environment 1 Table 2-4. Salinities in the Delaware Estuary in the Vicinity of Salem Nuclear Generating 2 Station and Hope Creek Generating Station Condition Salinity Range (ppt)Low Flow 0-5 High Flow 5-12 Source: NRC, 2007 3 4 Monthly average surface water temperatures in the Delaware Estuary vary with season.5 Between 1977 and 1982, water temperatures ranged from -0.9*C (30°F) in February 1982 to 6 30.5-C (86.9-F) in August 1980. Although the estuary in this reach is generally well mixed, it 7 can occasionally stratify, with surface temperatures 10 to 2°C (20 to 4°F) higher than bottom 8 temperatures and salinity increasing as much as 2 ppt per meter of water depth (NRC, 1984).9 Cowardin et al. (1979) classified estuaries into five categories based on salinity, varying from 10 fresh (zero ppt) to hyperhaline (greater than 40 ppt). They further subdivide the brackish 11 category (0.5 to 30 ppt) into three subsections: oligohaline (0.5 to 5 ppt), mesohaline (5 to 18 12 ppt), and polyhaline (18 to 30 ppt). These categories describe zones within the estuary. The 13 estuary reach adjacent to Artificial Island is at the interface of the oligohaline and mesohaline 14 zones; thus, it is oligohaline during high flow and mesohaline during low flow conditions. Based 15 on water clarity categories of good, fair, or poor, the EPA (1998) classified the water clarity in 16 this area of the estuary as generally fair (meaning that a wader in waist-deep water would not 17 be able to see his feet). The EPA classified the water clarity directly upstream and downstream 18 of this reach as poor (meaning that a diver would not be able to see his hand at arm's length).19 EPA (1998) classified most estuarine waters in the Mid-Atlantic as having good water clarity and 20 stated that lower water clarity typically is due to phytoplankton blooms and suspended 21 sediments and detritus (organic particles and debris from the beakdown of vegetation). 22 Delaware Bay is a complex estuary, with many individual species playing different roles in the 23 system. Additionally, most estuarine species have complex lifecycles, and are present in the 24 bay at different stages, so many species play several ecological roles throughout their lifecycles. 25 Changes in the abundance of these species can have far reaching effects, both within and 26 without the bay, including major trends in commercial fisheries. Major assemblages of 27 organisms within the estuarine community include plankton, benthic invertebrates, and fish.28 2.2.5.2 Plankton 29 Plankton are organisms that are moved throughout the water column by tides and currents.30 They are relatively unable to control their own movements (Moisan et al., 2007). Plankton can 31 be primary producers (phytoplankton) or consumers (zooplankton and microbes). 32 September 2010 2-45 Draft NUREG-1437, Supplement 45 Affected Environment 1 Phytoplankton 2 Phytoplankton are microscopic, single-celled algae that are responsible for the majority of 3 primary production in the water column. Primary production is typically limited to the upper 2 m 4 (7 ft) of the water column due to light limitation from high turbidity (NRC, 1984). Water quality 5 parameters such as salinity, temperature, and nutrient availability regulate species composition, 6 abundance, and distribution. Seasonal changes in these parameters cause fluctuations in the 7 density of plankton populations (Versar, 1991). Species composition also varies with water 8 quality parameters. In the highly variable, tidally influenced zone, species with a high tolerance 9 for widely fluctuating environments are found. Species composition also fluctuates seasonally 10 (DRBC, 2008b).11 Phytoplankton were sampled in the late 1960s and early 1970s as part of the pre-operational 12 ecological investigations for Salem performed by Ichthyological Associates (PSEG, 1983). In 13 1978, NJDEP agreed that Salem operation had no effect on phytoplankton populations, and 14 phytoplankton studies related to the operation of Salem Units 1 and 2 were discontinued 15 (PSEG, 1984). Versar (1991) conducted a major literature survey for the Delaware Estuary 16 Program to assess the various biological resources of the estuary and possible trends in their 17 abundance or health. This study found that phytoplankton formed the basis of the primary 18 production in the estuary. More recently, Monaco and Ulanowicz (1997) established that 19 pelagic phytoplankton in the Delaware Bay are responsible for most of the primary production. 20 Sutton et al (1996) determined that phytoplankton in the lower bay (polyhaline zone) where the 21 water is less turbid account for most of the primary production in the system. The Delaware 22 Estuary contains several hundred phytoplankton species, a few of which are highly abundant 23 (Sutton et al., 1996). Skeletonema potamos and various cyanobacteria and green algae are 24 numerically dominant in the oligohaline zone.25 NJDEP currently surveys phytoplankton in the Delaware estuary. These surveys monitor 26 harmful algal blooms by collecting samples for chlorophyll analysis. The occurrence of blooms 27 is highly variable between years, but blooms most often occur in the spring (NJDEP, 2005b).28 Algal blooms can have large consequences for the entire estuary because they can contain 29 flagellates that may make fish and shellfish inedible, and they can deplete the oxygen in the 30 water column so severely that large fish kills can result. The EPA also monitors algal blooms 31 using helicopter surveys (NJDEP, 2005a).32 Zooplankton 33 Zooplankton are heterotrophic plankton that consume phytoplankton, other types of 34 zooplankton, and detritus (Moisan et al., 2007). They serve as a vital link between the micro 35 algae, detritus, and larger organisms in the Delaware Estuary. Zooplankton are very small, 36 have limited mobility, and provide a source of food for many other organisms, including filter 37 feeders, larvae of fish and invertebrates, and larger zooplankton. They are dependent on 38 phytoplankton, detritus, or smaller zooplankton for food. In turn, they are either eaten by larger 39 organisms or contribute to the energy web by being decomposed by the detritivores after they 40 settle to the substrate. Zooplankton show seasonal and spatial variability in abundance and 41 species composition (PSEG, 1983). Their distribution can be affected by factors such as 42 currents, salinity, temperature, and light intensity (NRC, 1984).Draft NUREG-1437, Supplement 45 2-46 September 2010 Affected Environment 1 Some zooplankton spend their entire life cycle in the water column and others spend only part 2 of their life cycle in the water column. Among the former are invertebrates such as shrimp, 3 mysids, amphipods, copepods, ctenophores (comb jellies), jellyfish, and rotifers. Among the 4 animals that spend a only portion of their life cycle as plankton are larval fish and invertebrates 5 that have a planktonic stage before their development into adult forms. The planktonic stage 6 provides for these organisms an important dispersal mechanism, ensuring that larvae arrive in 7 as many appropriate habitats as possible (Sutton et al., 1996). Studies in the Salem 8 pre-operational phase found many such zooplankton in large numbers, including the larval 9 stages of the estuarine mud crab (Rhithropanopeus harrisi), fiddler crab (Uca minax), grass 10 shrimp (Palaemonetes pugio), and copepods (PSEG, 1983).11 Zooplankton were sampled by Ichthyological Associates as part of the pre-operational 12 ecological studies for Salem Units 1 and 2. Studies related to plant operations in the early to 13 mid 1970s found that two types of crustaceans, opossum shrimp and amphipods of the genus 14 Gammarus, constituted the numerical majority of the taxa collected. Due to the abundance of 15 these two taxa, they were selected by NJDEP and NRC for future ecological studies related to 16 Salem operations. They also are important as prey items for many of the fishes in the estuary.17 As a result, general studies of the zooplankton in the estuary were discontinued by PSEG in 18 favor of an approach more focused on individual species (PSEG, 1984). Studies reviewed in 19 Sutton et al (1996) did not show a major change in the zooplankton assemblage since the early 20 1960s. Copepods generally are the most abundant organisms and are a major prey resource 21 for larval and adult fish in the Delaware Estuary (Sutton et al., 1996).22 Since many of the fish species found in the Delaware Estuary are managed either Federally or 23 by individual States, there have been extensive studies of ichthyoplankton (larval fish and eggs).24 Additionally, fish have been monitored by PSEG and the States of New Jersey and Delaware 25 since before the operation of Salem Units 1 and 2. Initial ichthyoplankton studies were general 26 surveys. Later studies focused on the 11 target species established during the NPDES 27 permitting process. These studies included impingement and entrainment studies and general 28 sampling consisting of plankton tows and beach seines (PSEG, 1984). Versar (1991) reviewed 29 several studies with respect to ichthyoplankton. This review included both the power plant 30 studies and more general surveys focused on managed fish species. The review revealed that 31 ichthyoplankton of the tidal freshwater region (corresponding to the oligohaline region) had a 32 high abundance of the alosid fishes, including the American shad (Alosa sapidissima), hickory 33 shad (A. mediocris), alewife (A. pseudoharengus), and blueback herring (A. aestivalis), as well 34 as other anadromous species. Due to alosid lifecycles, both eggs and larvae have seasonal 35 peaks in abundance and distribution that vary with the species. The bay anchovy (Anchoa 36 mitchillh) is abundant in the transitional region (corresponding to the mesohaline region) in which 37 Artificial Island is located. Other common ichthyoplankton species in the Delaware Estuary 38 include the naked goby (Gobiosoma bosc), blueback herring, alewife, Atlantic menhaden 39 (Brevoortia tyrannus), weakfish (Cynoscion regalis), and Atlantic silverside (Menidia menidia).40 The number of species was highest in the spring and summer months, and bay anchovy always 41 constituted a large portion of the ichthyoplankton samples (Versar, 1991). The lifecycles, 42 habitats, and other characteristics of fish species identified among the ichthyoplankton are 43 described in Section 2.2.5.4.44 September 2010 2-47 Draft NUREG-1437, Supplement 45 Affected Environment 1 2.2.5.3 Benthic Invertebrates 2 Benthic invertebrates (or benthos) are organisms that live within (infauna) or on (epifauna) the 3 substrates at the bottom of the water column, including groups such as worms, mollusks, 4 crustaceans, and microorganisms (CAML, 2008). Parabenthos are organisms that spend some 5 time in or on the substrate but can also be found in the water column, including crabs, 6 copepods, and mysids (Versar, 1991). The species composition, distribution, and abundance of 7 the benthic invertebrate community are affected by physical conditions, such as salinity, 8 temperature, water velocity, and substrate type, and by interactions between individuals and 9 species. Substrates within the Delaware Estuary include mud, sand, clay, cobble, shell, rock, 10 and various combinations of these; those near Salem and HCGS are mostly fine-grained silts 11 and clays with small areas of sand (USACE, 1992).12 The benthic invertebrate community of the estuary performs many ecological functions. Some 13 benthic species or groups of species form habitats by building reefs (such as oysters and some 14 polychaete worms) or by stabilizing or destabilizing soft substrates (such as some bivalves, 15 amphipods, and polychaetes). Some benthic organisms are filter feeders that clean the.16 overlying water (such as oysters, other bivalves, and some polychaetes), and others consume 17 detritus. While the benthic community itself contains many trophic levels, it also provides a 18 trophic base for fish and shellfish (such as crabs) valued by humans.19 A review of benthic data for the Delaware Estuary was included in a report for the Delaware 20 Estuary Program (Versar, 1991). Benthic data have been collected in the estuary since the 21 early 1800s. Most of the earlier reports were surveys describing species; however, large 22 amounts of quantitative data were collected in the 1970s. Generally, benthic invertebrate 23 species distributions were found to be limited by salinity and substrate type (Versar, 1991).24 Additionally, localized poor water quality can have a major effect on species composition. 25 Species found in the lower bay are limited by salinity gradients; estuarine species, such as the 26 razor clam (Ensis directus) and the polychaete Heteromastus filiformis, are found throughout the 27 entire bay; and freshwater and oligohaline species, such as the clam Gemma gemma, occur in 28 lower salinity waters in the upper bay. Pre-operational studies by Ichthyological Associates also 29 concluded that species composition varied seasonally, reflecting higher diversity and 30 abundance during periods of higher salinity. The authors postulated that this was a result of 31 both recruitment dynamics and immigration from the lower bay (PSEG, 1983).32 The benthos of the tidal fresh portion (oligohaline) of the estuary includes tubificid worms, 33 chironomid larvae, sphaerid clams, and unionid mussels. These assemblages are greatly 34 influenced by anthropogenic impacts to the water quality in the area due to proximity of pollutant 35 sources on the river. Highly tolerant species are found here, often with only one extremely 36 dominant species. In the transition zone (mesohaline) oligochaetes and amphipods generally 37 are numerically dominant. The bay region (polyhaline) has abundant bivalves and polychaetes 38 (Versar, 1991). As reported in the applicant's initial environmental report (PSEG, 1983), 39 pre-operational studies for Salem Units 1 and 2 found mostly euryhaline species in the vicinity of 40 the facility, including polychaetes, oligochates, and isopods (NRC, 1984).Draft NUREG-1437, Supplement 45 2-48 September 2010 Affected Environment I Species composition and abundance of benthic organisms are often used as indicators of 2 ecosystem health. Generally, the greater the diversity of species and the more abundant those 3 species are, the healthier the system is considered. EPA collected benthic samples in the 4 Delaware Estuary between 1990 and 1993 in an effort to assess the health of the system. As a 5 result of this sampling effort, EPA determined that 93 percent of the tidal river between the 6 Chesapeake and Delaware Canal and Trenton, NJ was either degraded or severely degraded.7 South of this area, EPA classified only 2 percent of the benthic invertebrate community as 8 impaired, and none of the area was considered severely impaired (Delaware Estuary Program, 9 1995). More recently, EPA released a report describing the Delaware-Maryland-Virginia coastal 10 bays as impacted over one-fourth of their total area. In the Delaware Bay itself, EPA considered 11 the upper portion as severely impacted, the transition area as impacted, and the lower bay as 12 mostly in good condition. The report described a large central area of the bay as impacted, 13 possibly due to scouring from high currents or eutrophication resulting in high organic carbon 14 levels in the sediments (EPA, 1998).15 PSEG and its consultants conducted studies during the 1984 NPDES 316(b) permitting process 16 (PSEG, 1984). They collected over 1,000 grab samples in the Delaware Estuary and identified 17 a total of 57 taxa in 8 phyla. The most abundant species were the same as those found in 18 previous studies. General densities of benthic organisms ranged between 17,000 per square 19 meter (M 2; 183,000 per ft) and 25,000 per M 2 (269,000 per ft). As a result of the PSEG 20 studies, NJDEP determined that benthic invertebrates would not be substantially affected by 21 plant operations, and these organisms were no longer sampled as part of the monitoring effort 22 (PSEG, 1984).23 Mysids are a key biological resource in Delaware Bay because they are highly abundant and 24 are prey for many other species, especially fish. They also are important predators of other 25 invertebrates. Opossum shrimp are found in water with a salinity of 4 ppt or higher (mesohaline 26 and polyhaline regions), most often in deeper areas. They migrate vertically into the water 27 column at night and settle on the sediments during the day. Sand shrimp are more common in 28 shallower waters and play the same ecological role as opossum shrimp. Amphipods are 29 numerous in the transition region and are primarily represented by the genus Gammarus.30 These crustaceans also form a link between the smaller plankton and the larger fish species in 31 this part of the estuary (Versar, 1991).32 The benthos of the Delaware estuary also include mollusks and large crustaceans such as the 33 blue crab (Callinectes sapidus) and horseshoe crab (Limulus polyphemus). These species can 34 be difficult to sample with the equipment typically used for benthos sampling, sediment grab 35 samplers (PSEG, 1984). PSEG monitoring survey efforts often caught blue crabs in the bottom 36 trawl samples. Opossum shrimp and Gammarus spp. also are difficult to sample because they 37 often inhabit vegetation in shallow marsh areas. These species were selected as target species 38 during PSEG's early ecological studies with respect to the operation of Salem Units 1 and 2, but 39 NJDEP and PSEG later determined that they were unaffected by the facility and they were no 40 longer specifically monitored (PSEG, 1999).September 2010 2-49 Draft NUREG-1437, Supplement 45 Affected Environment 1 Several benthic invertebrate species that have been given special attention by Federal, 2 regional, or State organizations. For example, the blue crab has been extensively monitored at 3 Salem as an important species, the horseshoe crab has been the focus of several restoration 4 efforts within Delaware Bay due to its general decline and the fact that the bay is considered a 5 major nursery and spawning area for the species, and both the horseshoe crab and the oyster 6 were noted as important species by NMFS (NMFS, 2010a). These three species are discussed 7 below.8 Blue Crab 9 The blue crab is an important ecological, cultural, commercial, and recreational resource in the 10 Delaware Bay (Hill et al., 1989). Blue crabs mate in low-salinity portions of estuaries during the 11 summer, usually from May through October (ASMFC, 2004). Males can mate several times, but 12 females mate only once (ASMFC, 2004). Once the female has been fertilized, she migrates to 13 higher salinity regions to complete the spawning process. The fertilized eggs are extruded over 14 several months and remain attached to the abdomen of the female. The eggs hatch and are 15 released after 1 to 2 weeks, initiating a series of larval transitions. In the first larval stage, the 16 zoea, the larvae are planktonic filter feeders and develop in the higher-salinity waters outside of 17 the estuary. These larvae molt seven to eight times in 31 to 49 days before progressing to the 18 next stage, the megalops, which are more like crabs, with pincers and jointed legs (Hill et al., 19 1989). After 6 to 20 days, the megalops stage molts into the first crab stage, resembling an 20 adult crab. Over a period of 1 year, these juveniles migrate up the estuary into lower-salinity 21 regions until they have reached the adult stage (Hill et al., 1989). Initially, sea grass beds are 22 an important habitat, but crabs then make extensive use of marsh areas as nurseries (ASMFC, 23 2004). Natural mortality rates for the blue crab are hard to define as they vary non-linearly with 24 life stage and environmental parameters. The maximum age reached by blue crabs has been 25 estimated to be 8 years (ASMFC, 2004).26 The blue crab is an omnivore, feeding on many other commercially important species, such as 27 oysters and clams. Young blue crabs also are prey for other harvested species, especially 28 those that use the estuary as a nursery area (Hill et al., 1989). Blue crabs are important in 29 energy transfer within estuarine systems (ASMFC, 2004). They play different roles in the 30 ecosystem depending on their life stage. Zoea larvae consume other zooplankton as well as 31 phytoplankton. Megalops larvae consume fish larvae, small shellfish, aquatic plants, and each 32 other. Post-larval stages consume detritus, carcasses, fish, crabs, and mollusks. Crab eggs 33 are eaten by fish. Larval stages are eaten by other planktivores, including fish, jellyfish, and 34 shellfish. Juvenile crabs are consumed by shore birds, wading birds, and fish. Adult crabs are 35 consumed by mammals, birds, and large fish, including the striped bass (Morone saxatitlis), 36 American eel (Anguilla rostrata), and sandbar shark (Carcharhinus plumbeus) (Hill et al., 1989).37 Blue crab population estimates are difficult, as recruitment is highly variable and dependent on 38 temperature, dissolved oxygen, rainfall, oceanographic conditions, parasitism, and contaminant 39 and predation levels (Hill et al., 1989; ASMFC, 2004). Landings of blue crabs on the east coast 40 were in decline in the early 2000s, prompting a symposium led by the ASMFC in an attempt to 41 assess the status of the fishery and to assist in developing sustainable landing limits.42 Participants in the symposium theorized that declines in blue crab populations could be a result 43 of attempts to increase populations of other fisheries species that prey upon crabs (ASMFC, 44 2004).Draft NUREG-1437, Supplement 45 2-50 September 2010 Affected Environment 1 Horseshoe Crab 2 The horseshoe crab is an evolutionarily primitive species that has remained relatively 3 unchanged for 350 million years. It is not a true crab but is more closely related to spiders and 4 other arthropods (FWS, 2006). The largest spawning population in the world inhabits the 5 Delaware Bay. They migrate offshore during the winter months and return to shore in spring to 6 spawn on beaches (ASMFC, 2008a). Spawning peaks in May and June, and crabs spawn 7 repeatedly during the season (ASMFC, 2010a). Spawning occurs during high spring tides on 8 sandy beaches with low wave action (ASMFC, 2008a). The female will partially burrow into the 9 sand and deposit several thousand eggs. Eggs hatch in 3 to 4 weeks, and the larvae (which 10 resemble the adult crabs without tails) will enter the water about 1 month later (FWS, 2006).11 They spend their first 6 days swimming in shallow water, and then settle to the bottom (FWS, 12 2006; ASMFC, 1998a). Juveniles will spend their first 2 year on intertidal sand fiats. Older 13 juveniles and adults inhabit subtidal habitats (ASMFC, 2010a). Molting continues after the 14 juvenile stage, with each molt increasing the crab's size by up to 25 percent. After about 17 15 molts, or 9 to 12 years, the crabs are sexually mature (ASMFC, 2008a). Crabs can live up to 10 16 additional years after the last molt (ASMFC, 2010a). Horseshoe crabs exhibit limited beach 17 fidelity, usually returning to their native beaches to spawn (FWS, 2003). However, crabs tagged 18 in the Delaware Bay have been recaptured in New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, and Virginia 19 (ASMFC, 2008b).20 Horseshoe crabs play a major ecological role in the migration patterns of shore birds from the 21 Arctic to the southern Atlantic. Many bird species eat horseshoe crab eggs during their 22 seasonal migrations on the Atlantic flyway (ASMFC, 2008a; FWS, 2006). Juvenile and adult 23 horseshoe crabs eat mostly mollusks, such as clams and mussels, but also arthropods, 24 annelids, and nemerteans. Larvae consume small polychaetes and nematodes (ASMFC, 25 1998a). In addition to providing a rich food source for birds, eggs and larvae are consumed by 26 fish, crabs, gastropods, and loggerhead sea turtles (Caretta caretta) (ASMFC, 1998a). Seagulls 27 often eat overturned adults on the beach (FWS, 2003).28 Commercial uses for horseshoe crabs include applications in the fishing, biomedical, and 29 livestock and fertilizer industries. Fisherman use horseshoe crabs as bait in the American eel 30 and conch (Busycon carica and B. canaliculatum) fisheries. The biomedical industry uses their 31 blood to detect contaminated medicine. This fishery captures, bleeds and releases the crabs 32 (FWS 2003). At the turn of the 20th century, between 1.5 and 4 million horseshoe crabs were 33 harvested annually for use by the livestock and fertilizer industries. Variations and reductions in 34 harvests since that time are partially due to management and partially due to a decrease in 35' demand. Stock status is currently unknown due to lack of commercial fishing data. Evidence 36 from trawl surveys suggests that the population is growing in Delaware Bay, Harvests have 37 been reduced in Delaware, but are increasing in Massachusetts and New York (ASMFC, 38 2008a). The management plan for the horseshoe crab provides limits on harvet seasons for 39 male and female crabs, and for total hauls (ASMFC, 2008b).40 Threats to horseshoe crab habitat include coastal erosion, development (particularly shoreline 41 stabilization structures such as bulkheads, groins, seawalls, and revetments), sea level rise/land 42 subsidence, channel dredging, contaminants, and oil spills in spawning areas. Habitats of 43 concern include nearshore shallow water and intertidal sand fiats, and beach spawning areas 44 (ASMFC, 2010a).September 2010 2-51 Draft NUREG-1437, Supplement 45 Affected Environment 1 American Oyster 2 The American oyster is also known as the eastern oyster and the Atlantic oyster. Oysters 3 inhabit the Delaware Bay from the mouth of the bay to Bombay Hook on the Delaware side and 4 to just south of Artificial Island on the New Jersey side (USACE, 2007). There are three 5 physiological races recognized coast wide, each spawning at different temperatures. The 6 oysters in the Delaware Bay are part of the population that spawns at 20 0C (68 'F). Spawning 7 occurs in the summer months, with several events per season. During spawning events, males 8 release their sperm and a pheromone into the water column and the females respond by 9 releasing their eggs. Larvae remain in the water column for 2 to 3 weeks, dispersing with the 10 water currents. Larvae pass through several morphological changes before settling, preferably 11 on other oyster shells. Adult oysters are sessile and found in beds or reefs in dense masses.12 They often are the only large organism in the bed and can change water currents enough to 13 affect the sediment deposition rate of the local environment. They are dioecious, but are 14 capable of changing sex, with more oysters becoming female as they age. Growth is affected 15 by environmental variables, such as temperature, salinity, intertidal exposure, turbidity, and food 16 availability (Sellers and Stanley, 1984).17 Oysters are tolerant of a wide array of environmental variables, as they have evolved to live in 18 estuaries, which experience high and low temperatures, high and low salinities, submersion and 19 exposure, and clear to muddy water. Optimal temperatures for adults are between 200C and 20 30°C (68°F and 86°F). Salinities higher than 7.5 ppt are required for spawning, but adults will 21 tolerate salinities between 5 and 30 ppt. Because oysters are filter feeders, water velocity is 22 highly important. The water above a bed must be recharged 72 times every 24 hours for 23 maximum feeding. Tidal flows of greater than 5 to 8.5 fps (152 to 259 centimeters per second 24 [cm/sec]) provide for optimal growth (Sellers and Stanley, 1984).25 Oyster larvae feed on plankton. Adults are stationary filter feeders, feeding on plankton as well 26 as detritus and other particulate matter. They can filter up to 1.5 liters of water an hour, making 27 them an important ecological resource. Due to their reef building abilities, they are also 28 important because they create three-dimensional habitats, which can be home to over 300 other 29 species. A wide variety of other filter feeders eat oyster larvae. Predators of adult oysters 30 include gastropod oysterdrills (Urosalpinx cinerea and Eupleura caudata), the whelk Busycon 31 canaliculatum, the starfish Asterias forbesi, the boring sponge (Cliona sp.), the flatworm 32 Stylochus ellipticus, and crabs. Competitors for resources include slipper limpets (Crepidula 33 sp.), jingle shells (Anomia sp.), barnacles, and the mussel Brachiodontes exustus (Sellers and 34 Stanley, 1984).35 The oyster is a commercially important species that has been harvested in Delaware Bay since 36 the early 1800s (Delaware Estuary Program, 2010). By the mid 1850s, oyster fisherman had 37 begun transplanting oysters from the naturally occurring seed beds of New Jersey to other 38 areas in the bay for growth, due to concern over the smaller size of oysters being harvested. 39 The natural seed beds are now protected outside of the leasing system, as these are the 40 sources of the oysters transplanted to other beds. In the early 1900s, one to two million bushels 41 were harvested from the bay annually, concurrent with the use of the new oyster dredge.42 Production remained relatively stable until the mid 1950s when disease decimated the 43 population. Currently, the oyster harvest remains limited due mainly to diseases such as MSX 44 ("multinucleated sphere unknown," later classified as Haplosporidium nelson) and Dermo Draft NUREG-1437, Supplement 45 2-52 September 2010 Affected Environment 1 (caused by the southern oyster parasite, Perkinsus marinus). Oysters now are directly 2 harvested from the seed beds (Delaware Estuary Program, 2010).3 Delaware, New Jersey, and the USACE currently are undertaking a joint effort to reestablish 4 oyster beds and an oyster fishery in Delaware Bay. The majority of these efforts are focused on 5 increasing recruitment and sustaining a population by shell and bed planting and seeding.6 Since 2001, despite management, oyster abundance has continued to decline due to below 7 average recruitment. Recruitment enhancement is deemed important to stabilize stock'8 abundance, to permit continuation and expansion of the oyster industry, to guarantee increased 9 abundance that produces the shell necessary to maintain the bed, and to minimize the control of 10 oyster population dynamics by disease. These goals will allow the oyster to play its ecological 11 role as a filterer that enhances general water quality (USACE, 2007).12 2.2.5.4 Fish 13 The Delaware Bay, Estuary, and River make up an ecologically and hydrologically complex 14 system that supports many fish species. Most estuarine fish species have complex life cycles 15 and are present in the estuary at various life stages; thus, they may play several ecological roles 16 during their lives. Changes in the abundance of these species can have far-reaching effects, 17 both within the bay and beyond, including effects on commercial fisheries. Given the complexity 18 of the fish community of this system, the description below is based on species considered to be 19 of particular importance for a variety of reasons.20 Representative Species 21 To determine the impacts of operation from Salem and HCGS on the aquatic environment of the 22 Delaware Estuary, monitoring has been performed in the estuary annually since 1977. The 1977 23 permitting rule for Section 316(b) of the CWA included a provision to select representative 24 species (RS) to focus such investigations (the terms target species or representative important 25 species have also been used) (PSEG, 1984; 1999). RS were selected based on several criteria: 26 susceptibility to impingement and entrainment at the facility, importance to the ecological 27 community, recreational or commercial value, and threatened or endangered status. PSEG 28 currently monitors 12 species as RS: blueback herring (Alosa aestivalis), alewife (Alosa 29 pseudoharengus), American shad (Alosa sapidissima), bay anchovy (Anchoa mitchilh), Atlantic 30 menhaden (Brevoortia tyrannus), weakfish (Cynoscion regalis), spot (Leiostomus xanthurus), 31 Atlantic silverside (Menidia menidia), Atlantic croaker (Micropogonias undulatus), white perch 32 (Morone americana), striped bass (Morone saxatilis), and bluefish (Pomatomus saltatrix). 33 These species are described below.September 2010 2-53 Draft NUREG-1437, Supplement 45 Affected Environment 1 Blueback Herring and Alewife 2 The blueback herring and alewife can be difficult to differentiate and are collectively known and 3 managed as "river herring." The NMFS currently classifies both species as species of concern 4 (NMFS, 2009).5 The entire length of the Delaware River and portions of Delaware Bay are confirmed spawning 6 runs for river herring (NJDEP, 2005d). River herring are anadromous, migrating inshore to 7 spawn in freshwater rivers and streams in a variety of habitats. They are reported to return to 8 their natal rivers, suggesting a need for management more focused on specific populations as 9 opposed to establishing fishery-wide limits. Spawning migration begins in spring, with the 10 alewife arriving inshore approximately one month before the blueback herring (NMFS, 2009).11 The adults of both species return to the ocean after spawning (ASMFC, 2009a).12 Blueback herring can reach 16 inches (41 cm) long and have an average life span of 8 years.13 Males usually mature at 3 to 4 years of age, females at 5 years. Young of the year and 14 juveniles of less than 2 inches (5 cm) are found in fresh and brackish estuarine nursery areas.15 They then migrate offshore to complete their growth. The juveniles use many habitats in the 16 estuaries, including submerged aquatic vegetation, rice fields, swamps, and small tributaries 17 outside the tidal zone (NMFS, 2009). Blueback herring prefer swiftly flowing water for spawning 18 in their northern range.19 Alewife reach maturity at approximately 4 years and can live 10 years, reaching up to 15 inches 20 (38 cm) long (NMFS, 2009). They spawn over gravel, sand, detritus, and submerged aquatic 21 vegetation in slow-moving water. Spawning is more likely to occur at night, and a single female 22 may spawn with 25 males simultaneously. The eggs initially stick to the bottom, but they soon 23 become pelagic and hatch within 2 to 25 days. The yolk sac is absorbed within 5 days and the 24 larvae may remain in the spawning areas or migrate downstream to more brackish waters.25 Juveniles inhabit the brackish areas in estuaries, near their spawning location. As they develop 26 and the temperature drops, they migrate toward the ocean, completing this process in the 27 beginning of the winter months (NMFS, 2009).28 While at sea, many predators eat river herring, including marine mammals, sharks, tuna, and 29 mackerel. While in the estuaries, American eel, striped bass, largemouth bass, mammals, and 30 birds consume them. The blueback herring and alewife minimize interspecific competition using 31 several mechanisms, including the timing of spawning, juvenile feeding strategies and diets, and 32 ocean emigration timing (ASMFC, 2009a). Blueback juveniles feed on benthic organisms and 33 copepods, cladocerans, and larval dipterans at or just below the water surface (ASMFC, 34 2009a). While offshore, blueback herring feed on plankton, including ctenophores, copepods, 35 amphipods, mysids, shrimp, and small fish (NMFS, 2009). During the spawning migration 36 (unlike the alewife, which does not feed), the blueback herring feeds on invertebrates and fish 37 eggs (ASMFC, 2009a). Juveniles are opportunistic feeders on a variety of invertebrates 38 (ASMFC, 2009a). Alewife are schooling, pelagic omnivores while offshore, feeding mainly on 39 zooplankton but also small fishes and their eggs and larvae (NMFS, 2009). Alewife not only 40 migrate seasonally to spawn in response to temperatures but also migrate daily in response to 41 zooplankton availability (NMFS, 2009). Adult alewife are eaten by many other fish. Alewife are 42 also important as hosts to parasitic larvae of freshwater mussels, some species of which are 43 threatened or endangered (ASMFC, 2009a). Both species are ecologically important due to Draft NUREG-1 437, Supplement 45 2-54 September 2010 Affected Environment 1 their trophic position in both estuarine and marine habitats. As planktivores, they link 2 zooplankton to piscivores, providing a vital energy transfer (Bozeman and VanDen Avyle, 1989).3 River herring are directly consumed by humans and also are ingredients in fish meal, fish oil, 4 pet and farm animal food, and bait. The eggs (roe) are canned for human consumption. The 5 ASMFC manages the river herring fishery (ASMFC, 2009a). River herring also are often taken 6 as bycatch in other fisheries (NMFS, 2009). The river herring fishery has been active in the 7 United States for 350 years. Alewife landings peaked in the 1950s and the 1970s, then abruptly 8 declined (NMFS, 2009). Blueback herring landing data are limited, but a severe decline was 9 observed in the early 2000s. In addition to the commercial industry, there is an extensive 10 recreational fishery. Blueback herring are exhibiting signs of overfishing in several of the 11 estuary systems on the east coast, including the Delaware River (ASMFC, 2009a). River 12 herring population declines have been attributed to overfishing and the loss of historic spawning 13 habitat all along the east coast of the United States (NMFS, 2009). Reasons for habitat loss 14 include dam construction, stream bank erosion, pollution, and siltation (ASMFC, 2009a). New 15 Jersey currently has a small commercial bait fishery for river herring. Delaware also has a small 16 river herring fishery associated with the white perch fishery. Neither State has specific 17 regulations for river herring, but pending legislation in Delaware could eliminate the fishery in 18 that State (ASMFC, 2009a).19 American Shad 20 The American shad has been a commercially and culturally important species on the east coast 21 of the United States since colonial times. The entire length of the Delaware River is a confirmed 22 spawning run for the American shad. There is no confirmed information available on Delaware 23 Bay itself, although shad would have to migrate through the bay to get to the river 24 (NJDEP, 2005d). American shad adults are highly abundant in Delaware Bay, potentially 25 confirming the use of the estuary as part of the spawning run (ASMFC, 1998b).26 The American shad is a schooling, anadromous fish that migrates to freshwater to spawn in 27 winter, spring, or summer, with the timing depending on water temperature. Mature shad can 28 spawn up to six times over their lifetimes of 5 to 7 year. Preferred spawning substrates include 29 sand, silt, muck, gravel, and boulders. Water velocity must be rapid enough to keep the eggs 30 off the bottom. Eggs are spawned in areas that will allow them to hatch before drifting 31 downstream into saline waters. At 4 weeks, the larvae become juveniles and spend their first 32 summer in the freshwater systems (Mackenzie et al., 1985). The juveniles migrate toward the 33 ocean in the fall months, cued by water temperature changes. In the Delaware River, this 34 happens when the water reaches 200C (68°F), usually in October and November. The juveniles 35 will remain in the estuary until they are 1 year old (ASMFC, 1998b), then they migrate into the 36 ocean. Juveniles remain in the ocean until they are mature, approximately 3 to 5 years for 37 males and 4 to 6 years for females. Adults are likely to return to their natal rivers to spawn 38 (MacKenzie et al., 1985).39 Ecologically, the American shad plays an important role in the coastal estuary systems, 40 providing food for some species and preying on others. It also transfers nutrients and energy 41 from the marine system to freshwater areas because many shad die after they spawn (ASMFC, 42 1998b). Young American shad in the river systems feed in the water column on a variety of 43 invertebrates. While at sea, they feed on invertebrates, fish eggs, and small fish (MacKenzie et 44 al. 1985; ASMFC, 1998b). During the spawning run, shad consume mayflies and small fish.September 2010 2-55 Draft NUREG-1437, Supplement 45 Affected Environment 1 Many species prey on shad while they are small, including striped bass, American eels, and 2 birds. Seals, porpoises, sharks, bluefin tuna (Thunnus thynnus), and kingfish (Scomberomorus 3 regahni) consume larger shad (Weiss-Glanz et al., 1986). Much of the American shad's life 4 cycle is dictated by changes in ambient temperature. The peak of the spawning run and the 5 ocean emigration happen when the water temperature is approximately 20°C (68°F).6 Deformities develop if eggs encounter temperatures above 22°C (72°F) and they do not hatch 7 above 29°C (84°F). Juveniles actively avoid rises in temperature of 40C (39°F) (MacKenzie et 8 al., 1985).9 Historically, huge numbers of American shad were harvested during their annual spring 10 spawning runs. The Atlantic catch in 1896 was 50 million lbs (22,700 metric tons [MT])11 (MacKenzie et al., 1985). By the end of the 19th century, only 17.6 million lbs (8,000 MT were 12 caught, representing a severe decline in the American shad stock, and the fishery began fishing 13 in the waters of the lower bays. Several States, including Maryland, closed the American shad 14 fishery by 1985 (MacKenzie et al., 1985). The ASMFC currently manages the American shad 15 fishery. The ASMFC stock assessment (2007a) showed American shad stocks are continuing 16 to depete severley and are not recovering, with Atlantic harvests of approximately 550 tons (500 17 MT). The shad coastal intercept fishery in the Atlantic has been closed since 2005; additionally 18 there is a 10 fish limit for the recreational inshore fishery. The reasons for their decline include 19 dams, habitat lossl pollution, and overfishing (ASMFC, 2007a). A report published by the 20 ASMFC (1998a) theorized that increased predation by the striped bass is also a factor in the 21 decline of shad abundance (ASMFC, 1998b).22 Bay Anchovy 23 The bay anchovy is an abundant forage fish in Delaware Bay. It is a small, schooling, 24 euryhaline fish that grows to approximately 4 inches (10 cm) and can live for several years 25 (Morton, 1989; SMS, 2008). It lives in waters ranging from fresh to hypersaline over almost any 26 bottom type, including sand, mud, and submerged aquatic vegetation (Morton, 1989; Newberger 27 and Houde, 1995). The bay anchovy spawns almost all year, typically in waters of less than 65 28 ft (20 m) deep. In the Middle Atlantic region, spawning occurs in estuaries in water of at least 29 120C (54°F) and over 10 ppt salinity. The eggs are pelagic and hatch after about 24 hours.30 Newly hatched fish move upstream into lower-salinity areas to feed, eventually migrating to the 31 lower estuary in the fall (Morton, 1989).32 The bay anchovy is highly important both ecologically and commercially due to its abundance 33 and widespread distribution (Morton, 1989). It plays a large role in the food webs that support 34 many commercial and sport fisheries by converting zooplankton biomass into food for piscivores 35 (Morton, 1989; Newberger and Houde, 1995). Young bay anchovies feed mainly on copepods, 36 and adults consume mysids, small crustaceans, mollusks, and larval fish. Copepods are the 37 primary food source of bay anchovies in Delaware Bay. Adult bay anchovies are tolerant of a 38 range of temperatures and salinities and move to deeper water for the winter (Morton, 1989).39 There is no bay anchovy fishery, so they are not directly economically important. However, they 40 support many other commercial fisheries as they are often the most abundant fish in coastal 41 waters (Morton, 1989). Several authors count them as the most important link in the food web, 42 as they are a primary forage item for many other fish, birds, and mammals (Morton, 1989; SMS, 43 2008; Newberger and Houde, 1995). Juvenile fish and gelatinous predators such as sea nettles 44 and ctenophores consume bay anchovy eggs. Bay anchovy often account for over half the fish, 45 eggs, or larvae caught in research trawls (SMS, 2008). Striped bass are heavily dependent on Draft NUREG-1437, Supplement 45 2-56 September 2010 Affected Environment 1 bay anchovies as larvae, juveniles, and adults, especially since the menhaden and river herring 2 populations have declined in recent years (CBF, 2010).3 Atlantic Menhaden 4 The Atlantic menhaden is a small schooling fish inhabiting the Atlantic coast from Nova Scotia 5 to northern Florida in estuarine and nearshore coastal waters. It migrates seasonally, spending 6 early spring through early winter in estuaries and nearshore waters, with the larger and older 7 fish moving farther north during summer (ASMFC, 2005a). Spawning occurs offshore in fall and 8 early winter between New Jersey and North Carolina (ASMFC, 2005a). The eggs are pelagic 9 and hatch in 1 to 2 days. Once the yolk sac is absorbed at 4 days old, larvae begin to feed on 10 plankton. Larvae enter estuary nursery areas after 1 to 3 months, between October and June in 11 the Mid-Atlantic. Prejuvenile fish use the shallow, low salinity areas in estuaries as nurseries, 12 preferring vegetated areas in fresh tidal marshes and swamps, where they become juveniles 13 (Rogers and Van Den Ayvle, 1989). Juveniles spend approximately 1 year in the estuarine 14 nurseries before joining the adult migratory population in late fall (ASMFC, 2005a). Larvae that 15 entered the nursery areas late in the year may remain until the next fall. Once juveniles 16 metamorphose to adults, they switch from individual capture to a filter feeding strategy. Fish are 17 mature at age 2 or 3 and will then begin the spawning cycle (Rogers and Van Den Ayvle, 1989).18 Atlantic menhaden can live up to 8 years, but fish older than 6 years are rare (ASMFC, 2001).19 Due to its high abundance and trophic positioning in the nearshore and estuarine ecosystems, 20 the Atlantic menhaden is ecologically vital along the Atlantic coast (Rogers and Van Den Ayvle, 21 1989). It is a filter feeder that strains plankton from the water column and provides a trophic link 22 between primary producers and the larger predatory species in nearshore waters (ASMFC, 23 2005a). It also transfers energy in and out of estuary systems and on and off the coastal shelf 24 (Rogers and Van Den Avyle, 1989). It is especially important in this regard, as most marine fish 25 species cannot use plankton as a food source (ASMFC, 2001). Rogers and Van Den Avyle 26 (1989) hypothesized that due to its abundance and migratory movements, the Atlantic 27 menhaden may change the assemblage structure of plankton in the water column. Larvae in 28 the estuaries feed preferentially upon copepods and copepodites and may eat detritus as well.29 Young fish and adults filter feed on anything larger than 7 to 9 micrometers, including 30 zooplankton, large phytoplankton, and chain diatoms (Rogers and Van Den Avyle, 1989). The 31 Atlantic menhaden provides a food source for many larger fish (ASMFC, 2001; Rogers and Van 32 Den Avyle, 1989). Its filter-feeding habits also have lead to a variety of physiological 33 characteristics, such as high lipid content, which enables their survival during periods of low 34 prey availability (Rogers and Van Den Avyle, 1989).35 The Atlantic menhaden has been an important commercial fish along the Atlantic coast since 36 colonial times. It has been fished since the early 1800s, and landings increased over time as 37 new technologies developed (ASMFC, 2005a). The ASMFC manages the fishery. Currently, 38 the reduction industry uses Atlantic menhaden for fish meal and oil, and both commercial and 39 recreational fisheries use them as bait. Atlantic menhaden populations suffered in the 1960s 40 when they were severely overfished, but they recovered in the 1970s. A stock assessment 41 completed in 2003 declared that the Atlantic menhaden were not overfished, and a review in 42 2004 resulted in a decision not to require an assessment in 2006 (ASMFC, 2005a).September 2010 2-57 Draft NUREG-1437, Supplement 45 Affected Environment 1 Weakfish 2 The weakfish inhabits the Atlantic coast from Nova Scotia to southern Florida, but is more 3 common between New York and North Carolina (ASMFC, 2009b). Its growth varies 4 geographically, with northern populations becoming much larger and living longer than the more 5 southern populations. Within the Delaware Bay, the oldest females (age 9 years) were an 6 average of 28 inches (710 mm) long, and the oldest males (6 years) were an average of 27 7 inches (686 mm) long (Mercer, 1989). Spring warming induces inshore migration from offshore 8 wintering areas and spawning (ASMFC, 2009b). Spawning occurs in estuaries and nearshore 9 areas between May and July in the New York Bight (Delaware Bay to New York).(Mercer, 10 1989). The weakfish is a batch spawner that continuously produces eggs during the spawning 11 season, allowing more than one spawning event per female (ASMFC, 2002). Larval weakfish 12 migrate into estuaries, bays, sounds, and rivers to nursery habitats, where they remain until they 13 are 1 year old (ASMFC, 2009b; Mercer, 1989). Eggs are pelagic and hatch between 36 and 40 14 hours after fertilization. Larvae become demersal soon after this. Juvenile weakfish use the 15 deeper waters of estuaries, tidal rivers, and bays extensively but do not often inhabit the 16 shallower areas closer to shore. Within Delaware Bay, juvenile weakfish migrate toward lower 17 salinities in the summer, higher salinities in the fall, and offshore for the winter months. Adults 18 migrate inshore seasonally to spawn in large bays or the nearshore ocean. As temperatures 19 cool for the winter, weakfish migrate to ocean wintering areas, the most important of which is 20 the continental shelf between the Chesapeake Bay and North Carolina (Mercer, 1989).21 The weakfish plays an important ecological role as both predator and prey in the estuarine and 22 nearshore food webs (Mercer, 1989). Adults feed on peneid and mysid shrimps and a variety of 23 other fishes. Younger weakfish consume mostly mysids and other zooplankton and 24 invertebrates (Mercer, 1989; ASMFC, 2002). Weakfish are tolerant of a relatively wide variety 25 of temperatures and salinities. In Delaware Bay, weakfish have been collected in temperatures 26 between approximately 62.6°F and 82.4°F (17'C and 28°C) and salinities of 0 to 32 ppt (Mercer, 27 1989).28 The weakfish is part of a mixed stock fishery that has been economically vital since the early 29 1800s (ASMFC, 2009b). It was historically highly abundant in Delaware Bay. It topped 30 commercial landings in the State of Delaware until the 1990s and was consistently within the top 31 five species in recreational landings (DNREC, 2006a). Weakfish biomass has declined 32 significantly in recent years, with non-fishing pressures such as increased natural mortality, 33 predation, competition, and environmental variables hypothesized as the cause for the decline 34 (ASMFC, 2009b). Commercial landings have fluctuated since the beginning of the fishery, 35 without apparent trend or sufficient explanation (ASMFC, 2009b; Mercer, 1989). Landings 36 along the Atlantic coast peaked in the 1970s then declined throughout the 1980s and early 37 1990s. Management measures increased stock and commercial harvest until 1998, when the 38 fishery declined again, this time continuously until 2008 (ASMFC, 2009b). Between 1995 and 39 2004, commercial landings in Delaware dropped by 82 percent and the recreational harvest 40 dropped by 98 percent, reflecting a coast-wide drop of 78 percent (DNREC, 2006a). The results 41 of the 2009 stock assessment defined the fishery as depleted, but not overfished, with natural 42 sources of mortality listed as the cause of the low biomass levels. The ASMFC is currently 43 developing an amendment to the management plan to address the decline (ASMFC, 2009b).Draft NUREG-1437, Supplement 45 2-58 September 2010 Affected Environment 1 Soot 2 The range of spot along the Atlantic coast stretches from Maine to Florida. They are most 3 abundant from the Chesapeake Bay to North Carolina (ASMFC, 2008c). During fall and 4 summer, they are highly abundant in estuarine and near-shore areas from Delaware Bay to 5 Georgia (Phillips et al., 1989). Spot migrate seasonally, spawning offshore in fall and winter at 6 2 to 3 years of age and spending the spring months in estuaries (ASMFC, 2008c). Spawning 7 occurs offshore over the continental shelf from October to March. The eggs are pelagic and 8 hatch after approximately 48 hours, producing buoyant larvae that become more demersal and 9 migrating from the mid-depths during the day to the surface at night. The larvae move slowly 10 toward shore, entering the post-larval stages when they reach nearshore areas and developing 11 into juveniles when they reach the inlets (Phillips et al., 1989). Juveniles move into the low-12 salinity coastal estuaries, where they grow before moving into higher-salinity areas as they 13 mature (ASMFC, 2008c). Seagrass beds and tidal creeks are important nursery habitats for 14 spot, which often make up 80 to 90 percent of the total number of fish found in these habitats.15 Juveniles remain in the nursery areas for approximately a year, migrating back to the ocean in 16 September or October (Phillips et al., 1989). Spot are tolerant of a wide range of environmental 17 conditions; they inhabit water temperatures between 46.4 and 87.8°F (8 and 31°C) and 18 salinities between 0 and 61 ppt (Phillips et al., 1989).19 Due to their large numbers and use of a variety of habitats throughout their lifetimes, spot are an 20 ecologically important species as both prey and predators. Spot may significantly reduce 21 zooplankton biomass during their migration to the ocean. Juvenile and young spot eat benthic 22 invertebrates. Adult spot are also benthic feeders, scooping up sediments and consuming large 23 numbers of polychaetes, copepods, decapods, nematodes, and diatoms. Spot are important 24 prey for fish such as spotted seatrout and striped bass and for birds such as cormorants. Spot 25 make up a major portion of the fish biomass and numbers in estuarine waters of the Mid-Atlantic 26 Region (Phillips et al., 1989).27 Commercial landings of spot fluctuate widely because spot are a short-lived species (4 to 6 28 years) and most landings are composed of a single age class (ASMFC, 2008c). Commercial 29 landings varied between 3.8 and 14.5 million lbs (1.7 and 6.6 million kg) between 1950 and 30 2005 (Austin et al., 2006). In addition, spot are a large component of the bycatch in other 31 fisheries, including the south Atlantic shrimp trawl fishery (ASMFC, 2008c). Spot also are a very 32 popular recreational species, with recreational landings sometimes surpassing commercial 33 landings (Austin et al., 2006).34 Atlantic Silverside 35 The Atlantic silverside inhabits salt marshes, estuaries, and tidal creeks along the Atlantic coast 36 from Nova Scotia to Florida. It can be the most abundant fish in these habitats. Juveniles and 37 adults inhabit intertidal creeks, marshes, and shore areas in bays and estuaries during spring, 38 summer, and fall. During winter in the Mid-Atlantic Region, Atlantic silversides often migrate to 39 deeper water within the bays or offshore (Fay et al., 1983a). Spawning occurs in the intertidal 40 zones of estuaries between March and July in the Mid-Atlantic Region. Most Atlantic silversides 41 die after their first spawning season, though they may spawn between 5 and 20 times in one 42 season (NYNHP, 2009). Atlantic silverside spawning is a complex behavior in which fish swim 43 parallel to the shore until the appropriate tidal level is reached, then the school rapidly turns 44 shoreward to spawn in the shallows in areas where eggs may attach to vegetative substrates. September 2010 2-59 Draft NUREG-1437, Supplement 45 Affected Environment 1 Eggs are demersal and adhesive, sticking to eel grass, cordgrass, and filamentous algae. Eggs 2 hatch after 3 to 27 days, depending on temperature. The sex of an individual fish is determined 3 by water temperature during the larval stage -colder temperatures produce more females and 4 warmer temperatures produce more males. Larvae usually inhabit shallow, low salinity (8 to 9 5 ppt) water in estuaries and are most often found at the surface (Fay et al., 1989a). Eggs and 6 larvae tolerate a wide degree of environmental conditions. Juveniles and adults appear to 7 prefer temperatures between 64.4°F and 77°F (18°C and 25°C). The optimum salinity for 8 hatching and early development is 30 ppt, but juveniles and adults tolerate a wide range of 9 salinities (0 ppt to 38 ppt) (Fay et al., 1983a).10 Ecologically, the Atlantic silverside is an important forage fish and plays a large role in the 11 aquatic food web and in linking terrestrial production to aquatic systems. Due to their short life 12 span and high winter mortality (up to 99 percent), they play a vital part in the export of nutrients 13 to the near and offshore ecosystem. Little is known about the larval diet. Juvenile and adult fish 14 are opportunistic omnivores and eat invertebrates, fish eggs, algae, and detritus. They feed in 15 large schools over gravel and sand bars, open beaches, tidal creeks, river mouths, and 16 tidally-flooded zones of marsh vegetation. They are prey for many species of commercially and 17 recreationally important fish, crabs, and shorebirds (Fay et al., 1983a). There is no direct 18 commercial or recreational fishery for this species, although many recreational fishers net these 19 minnows for use as bait (Fay et al., 1983a).20 Atlantic Croaker 21 The Atlantic croaker is a migratory species that appears to move inshore in the warmer months 22 and southward in winter, although its movements have not been well defined (ASMFC, 2007b).23 It ranges from Cape Cod to Argentina and is uncommon north of New Jersey. Atlantic croaker 24 are estuarine dependant at all life stages, especially as postlarvae and juveniles (Lassuy, 1983).25 Spawning occurs at 1 to 2 years of age in nearshore and offshore habitats between July and 26 December (ASMFC, 2007b). Atlantic croaker can live for up to 12 years, and will spawn more 27 than once in a season. Eggs are pelagic and are found in waters of varying salinities. Larvae 28 have been found from the continental shelf to inner estuaries. Recruitment to the nursery 29 habitats in the estuaries depends largely on currents and tides and appears to have seasonal 30 peaks depending on latitude. Peak recruitment in the Delaware Estuary occurs in August 31 through October. Ages at recruitment may vary from 2 months to 10 months. Larvae complete 32 their development into juveniles in brackish, shallow habitats. Juveniles slowly migrate 33 downstream, preferring stable salinity regimes in deeper water, and eventually enter the ocean 34 in late fall as adults. They prefer mud bottoms with detritus and grass beds that provide a stable 35 food source, but they are considered generalists (ASMFC, 2005b). Adult croaker are usually 36 found in estuaries in spring and summer and offshore for the winter; their distribution is related 37 to temperature and depth. They prefer muddy and sandy substrates that can support plant 38 growth, but have also been found over oyster reefs. They are euryhaline, depending on the 39 season, and are also sensitive to low oxygen levels. Atlantic croaker are bottom feeders that 40 eat benthic invertebrates and fish. Larvae tend to consume large amounts of zooplankton, and 41 juveniles feed on detritus (ASMFC, 2005b).Draft NUREG-1437, Supplement 45 2-60 September 2010 Affected Environment 1 The Atlantic croaker is an important commercial and recreational fish on the Atlantic coast and 2 the most abundant bottom-dwelling fish in this region. It has been harvested as part of a mixed 3 stock fishery since the 1880s. Commercial landings appear to be cyclical, with catches ranging 4 between 2 million lbs and 30 million lbs (0.9 million kg and 13.6 million kg). This may be due to 5 variable annual recruitment, which appears to be dependent on natural environmental variables. 6 Recreational landings have been increasing. The 2003 stock assessment determined that the 7 Atlantic croaker was not overfished in the Mid-Atlantic Region (ASMFC, 2007b). A 2005 8 amendment to the management plan established fishing mortality and spawning stock biomass 9 targets and thresholds for this species. There are no recreational or commercial management 10 measures in this amendment, but some states have adopted internal management measures 11 for the Atlantic croaker fishery (ASMFC, 2005b).12 White Perch 13 The white perch is a member of the bass family that fills a vital trophic niche as both predator 14 and prey to many species. It is a commercially and recreationally important species inhabiting 15 coastal waters from Nova Scotia to South Carolina, with its highest abundance in New Jersey, 16 Delaware, Maryland, and Virginia (Stanley and Danie, 1983). The white perch is a schooling 17 fish that can grow up to 10 inches (25 cm) long in freshwater, 15 inches (38 cm) long in brackish 18 water, and can live up to 10 years (PFBC, 2010; MDNR, 2008). It spawns in a wide variety of 19 habitats, such as rivers, streams, estuaries, lakes, and marshes, usually in freshwater. Water 20 speed and turbidity are not important in choosing a spawning location. Rising water 21 temperature induces spawning in April through May in freshwater and in May through July in 22 estuaries (Stanley and Danie, 1983). Marine and estuarine populations migrate to freshwater 23 areas to spawn and, thus, are anadromous (PFBC, 2010). A single female spawns with several 24 males. The eggs attach to the bottom immediately. Hatchlings remain in the spawning area for 25 up to 13 days, then they drift downstream or with estuarine currents and become more 26 demersal as they grow. Larvae can tolerate up to 5 ppt salinity, and adults can tolerate full 27 seawater. Juveniles often inhabit upper estuarine nurseries, where they may stay for a year, 28 preferring habitats with silt, mud, or plant substrates. Older juveniles move to offshore beach 29 and shoal areas during the day, but return to the more protected nursery areas at night (Stanley 30 and Danie, 1983).31 Ecologically, the white perch plays several important roles in its lifecycle. It is omnivorous and 32 will feed on both plankton and benthic species, but it concentrates on fish after it is fully grown.33 Freshwater populations feed on aquatic insects, crustaceans, fishes, and detritus (Stanley and 34 Danie, 1983). Estuarine populations consume fish (such as alewife, gizzard shad, and smelt), 35 fish eggs, and invertebrates (Stanley and Danie, 1983; PFBC, 2010). White perch provide food 36 for Atlantic salmon, brook trout, chain pickerel, smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, and other 37 piscivorous fish and terrestrial vertebrates (Stanley and Danie, 1983).38 The largest commercial landings of white perch occurred at the turn of the 2 0 th century. Catch 39 levels then decreased, rising sporadically to reflect large year classes. White perch are a 40 popular recreational fish in freshwater and estuaries. They are often the most abundant species 41 caught recreationally in the northern Atlantic states (Stanley and Danie, 1983).September 2010 2-61 Draft NUREG-1437, Supplement 45 Affected Environment 1 Striped Bass 2 Striped bass inhabit the Atlantic coast from the St. Lawrence River in Canada to northern 3 Florida. They are highly abundant in both the Delaware Bay and Chesapeake Bay. Females 4 can grow up to 65 lbs (29.4 kg) and live for 29 years, whereas males over 12 years old are 5 uncommon (Fay et al., 1983b). Striped bass migrate along the coast seasonally and are 6 anadromous, spawning in rivers and estuaries after reaching an age of 2 years (males) to 4 7 years (females) (ASMFC, 2008d). There are known riverine and estuarine spawning areas in 8 the upper Delaware and Chesapeake bays. Spawning occurs in April through June in the 9 Mid-Atlantic Region, with some of the most important spawning areas found in the upper 10 Chesapeake Bay and the Chesapeake-Delaware Canal (Fay et al., 1983b). In the Delaware 11 River, the main spawning grounds are located between Wilmington, DE, and Marcus Hook, PA 12 (Delaware Division of Fish and Wildlife, 2010b). The eggs are pelagic and both eggs and larvae 13 tend to remain in the spawning area throughout the early developmental stages. Most juveniles 14 also remain in the estuaries where they were spawned until they reach adult size, tending to 15 move downstream after the first year. On the Atlantic coast, some adults leave the estuaries 16 and join seasonal migrations to the north in the warmer months, while others remain in the 17 estuaries. Some of these adults will also migrate into coastal estuaries to overwinter. 18 Reproduction is highly variable, with several poorly successful seasons between each strong 19 year class. Variability in adult and juvenile behavior and the unpredictable importance of strong 20 year classes makes management of the fishery challenging. There are four different stocks 21 identified along the Atlantic coast, including the Roanoke River-Albemarle Sound, Chesapeake 22 Bay, Delaware River, and Hudson River stocks (Fay et al., 1983b).23 Striped bass are tolerant of a wide variety of environmental variables but require specific 24 conditions for successful reproduction. Higher water flows and colder winters may produce 25 successful year classes. Eggs tolerate temperatures of between 57.2°F and 73.4°F (14°C and 26 23 °C), salinities of 0 to 10 ppt, dissolved oxygen of 1.5 to 5.0 mg/L, turbidity of 0 to 500 mg/L, 27 pH of 6.6 to 9.0, and a current velocity of 1.4 to 197 inches/sec (30.5 to 500 cm/sec). Larvae 28 are slightly more tolerant of variables outside these ranges, and juveniles are even more 29 tolerant (Fay et al., 1983b). Young and juveniles tend to inhabit sandy bottoms in shallow 30 water, but can also inhabit areas over gravel, mud, and rock. Adults use a wide variety of 31 bottom types, such as rock, gravel, sand, and submerged aquatic vegetation (ASMFC, 2010b).32 Larvae and juveniles consume invertebratesfish eggs, and small fish. Young striped bass eat 33 invertebrates and small fish. Adults are mainly piscivorous, consuming schooling bait fish as 34 well as invertebrates (Fay et al., 1983b; DNREC, 2006b). Young striped bass provide food for 35 weakfish, bluefish, white perch, and other large fishes; a variety of predators eat larvae and 36 eggs. Adult striped bass probably compete with weakfish and bluefish, and juveniles are likely 37 to compete with white perch in the nursery areas (Fay et al., 1983b). Striped bass do not feed 38 while on spawning runs (DNREC, 2006b).39 The striped bass is historically one of the most important fishery species along the Atlantic coast 40 from Maine to North Carolina, with recreational landings exceeding commercial landings 41 (ASMFC, 2003; 2008d). Its population has recovered since a sharp decline from its peak in the 42 1970s (ASMFC, 2008d). The 2007 stock assessment declared the fishery recovered, fully 43 exploited, and not overfished. This recovery is considered one of the greatest successes in 44 fisheries management (ASMFC, 2008d). The recovery of the striped bass fishery may be the 45 cause of a decline in weakfish abundance (DNREC, 2006b).Draft NUREG-1437, Supplement 45 2-62 September 2010 Affected Environment 1 Bluefish 2 The bluefish is a migratory schooling fish that inhabits estuaries and the oceans over the 3 continental shelf in tropical and temperate waters globally. It occurs in the Atlantic from Nova 4 Scotia to northern Mexico. Adults migrate north during summer between Cape Hatteras and 5 New England and spend winter in the south near Florida in the Gulf Stream. Bluefish spawn in 6 the open ocean (Pottern et al., 1989). There is a single spawning event that begins in the south 7 in the late winter and continues northward into the summer as the fish migrate (ASMFC, 1998c).8 Eggs are pelagic and larvae drift with the offshore currents until coastal waters become warmer 9 (Pottern et al., 1989; ASMFC, 1998c). Larvae transform to a pelagic juvenile stage in 18 to 25 10 days (NOAA, 2006). Spring-spawned juveniles then migrate into bays and estuaries at 1 to 2 11 months old, where they complete their development before joining the adult population in the fall 12 (Pottern et al., 1989). Summer-spawned juveniles enter the estuaries for only a short time 13 before migrating south for the winter (ASMFC, 1998c). Some juveniles will spend a second 14 summer in the estuaries (Pottern et al., 1989). Bluefish can live for up to 12 years and reach 15 lengths of 39 inches (91.4 cm) and weights of 31 lbs (14 kg) (ASMFC, 2006).16 Due to its large size and numbers, the bluefish probably plays a large role in the community 17 structure of forage species along the Atlantic coast. Larval bluefish consume large quantities of 18 zooplankton, mostly copepods, in the open ocean (Pottern et al., 1989; NOAA, 2006). Juveniles 19 in the estuaries eat small shrimp and fish. Adult bluefish are mostly piscivorous but also eat 20 invertebrates. (Pottern et al., 1989). Bluefish are highly sensitive to temperature, preferring an 21 optimum range of 64 *F to 68 'F (18 °C to 20 0C). Temperatures above or below this range can 22 induce rapid swimming, loss of interest in food, loss of equilibrium, and changes in schooling 23 and diurnal behaviors. They are found in estuaries at 10 ppt and waters of up to 38 ppt in the 24 ocean (Pottern et al., 1989).25 The bluefish has been a highly important recreational fish species since the 1800s. It is 26 harvested for human consumption but there is no commercial bluefish industry. Slightly less 27 than half the recreational catch is in inland bays and estuaries (Pottern et al., 1989). A bluefish 28 management plan was developed in 1990 due to the continuous decline in landings since the 29 early 1980s (ASMFC, 2006; 1998c). Recent numbers have been rising in response to the 30 management plan amendment developed in 1998 (ASMFC, 2006).31 Species with Essential Fish Habitat (EFH)32 In addition to the 12 species monitored by PSEG and discussed above, there are 14 species 33 that have designated EFH in the upper portion of the Delaware Estuary in the vicinity of Salem 34 and HCGS. EFH is defined as "those waters and substrate necessary to fish for spawning, .35 breeding, feeding or growth to maturity" (16 U.S.C. 1802(10); 50 CFR 600.10). This definition 36 includes all developmental stages of the particular fishes in question. Thus, EFH for a given 37 species can vary by life stage.38 The Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (MSA) was reauthorized in 39 1996 and amended to focus on the importance of habitat protection for healthy fisheries (16 40 USC 1801 et seq.). The MSA amendments, known as the Sustainable Fisheries Act, required 41 the eight regional fishery management councils to describe and identify EFH in their regions, to 42 identify actions to conserve and enhance their EFH, and to minimize the adverse effects of 43 fishing on EFH. The act strengthened the authorities of the governing agencies to protect and September 2010 2-63 Draft NUREG-1437, Supplement 45 Affected Environment 1 conserve the habitats of marine, estuarine, and anadromous fish, crustaceans, and mollusks 2 (NEFMC, 1999). EFH was defined by Congress as those waters and substrates necessary for 3 spawning, breeding, feeding, or growth to maturity (MSA, 16 USC 1801 et seq.). The National 4 Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) designates EFH. The consultation requirements of Section 5 305(b) of the MSA provide that Federal agencies consult with NMFS on all actions or proposed 6 actions authorized, funded, or undertaken by the agency that may adversely affect EFH.7 EFH is an essential component in the development of Fishery Management Plans to assess the 8 effects of habitat loss or degradation on fishery stocks and to take actions to mitigate such 9 damage. Many managed species are mobile and migrate seasonally, so some species are 10 managed coast-wide, others are managed by more than one fishery management council, and 11 still others are managed for the entire coast by a single council. In Delaware Bay, various 12 fisheries species are managed by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC), 13 the New England Fisheries Management Council (NEMFC), the Mid-Atlantic Fishery 14 Management Council (MAFMC), and the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council (SAFMC).15 Several species are regulated by the states of New Jersey and Delaware as well, in some cases 16 with more rigid restrictions than those of the regional councils.17 Salem and HCGS are located near the interface of the salinity zones classified by NMFS as 18 tidal freshwater and mixing salinity zones. The area of the Delaware Estuary adjacent to 19 Artificial Island is designated by NMFS as EFH for various life stages of several species of fish.20 The Staff considered all the designated EFH that could occur in the vicinity of Salem and HCGS 21 based on geographic coordinates; some species and life stages with EFH requirements that are 22 outside of the conditions that normally occur in the local area were eliminated from further 23 consideration. 24 NMFS identifies EFH on their website for the overall Delaware Bay (NOAA, 2010e) and for 25 smaller squares within the estuary defined by 10 minutes (') of latitude by 10_of longitude. Deleted: 26 NMFS provides tables of species and life stages that have designated EFH within the 10_by lJ --27 squares. The 10' by 10' square that includes Salem and HCGS is defined by the following Deleted: 28 coordinates: 29 North: 390 30.0'N South: 39' 20.0'N 30 East: 750 30.0W West: 750 40.0W 31 The following description of the general location and New Jersey shoreline within this square 32 confirms that it includes Artificial Island and the Salem and HCGS facilities (NOAA, 2010e): 33 Atlantic Ocean waters within the square within the Delaware River, within the mixing 34 water salinity zone of the Delaware Bay affecting both the New Jersey and Delaware 35 coasts. On the New Jersey side, these waters affect: from Hope Creek on the south, 36 north past Stoney Point, and Salem Nuclear Power Plant on Artificial Island, to the tip of 37 Artificial Island as well as affecting Baker Shoal.38 NMFS identified 14 fish species with EFH in the Delaware Estuary in the vicinity of Salem and 39 HCGS (NMFS, 2010a). These species and their life stages with EFH in this area are identified 40 in Table 2-5. Some of the species were eliminated from further consideration due to salinity 41 requirements of the species; the salinity requirements of these eliminated species and life 42 stages are provided in Table 2-6. Salinities in the vicinity of Artificial Island are described above 43 in Section 2.2.5.1 and summarized in Table 2-4. For each of these EFH species, the Staff Draft NUREG-1437, Supplement 45 2-64 September 2010 Affected Environment 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 compared the range of salinities in the vicinity of Salem and HCGS with the salinity requirements of the potentially affected life stages (Table 2-6). The salinity requirements of many of these EFH species and life stages were found to be higher than salinity ranges in the vicinity of Salem and HCGS or to overlap these salinity ranges only during periods of low flow (Table 2-6). This comparison allowed the list of species with EFH that potentially could be affected by Salem or HCGS to be further refined. If the salinity requirements of an EFH species life stage were not met in the vicinity of the Salem and HCGS facilities, the EFH for that species and life stage was eliminated from further consideration because its potential to be affected by the proposed action would be negligible. As a result, four species were identified that have potentially affected EFH for one or more life stages in the vicinity of Salem and HCGS (Table 2-7): winter flounder (Pleuronectes americanus), windowpane flounder (Scophthalmus aquosus), summer flounder (Paralichthys dentatus), and Atlantic butterfish (Peprilus triacanthus). Descriptions of these four species are included below.Table 2-5. Designated Essential Fish Habitat by species and life stage in NMFS' 10' x 10'square of latitude and longitude in the Delaware Estuary that includes Salem Nuclear Generating Station and Hope Creek Generating Station Scientific Name Common Name Eggs Larvae Juveniles. Adults Urophycis chuss Red hake Pleuronectes americanus Winter flounder X X X X Scophthalmus aquosus Windowpane flounder X X X X Pomotomus saltatrix Bluefish X X Paralichthys dentatus Summer flounder X X Peprilus triacanthus Atlantic butterfish X Stenotomus chrysops Scup n/a n/a X Centropristes striatus Black sea bass n/a X Scomberomorus cavalla King mackerel X X X X Scomberomorus maculatus Spanish mackerel X X X X Rachycentron canadum Cobia X X X X Leucoraja eglantaria Clearnose skate X X Leucoraja erinacea Little skate X X Leucoraja ocellata Winter skate X X X indicates designated EFH within this area. Blank indicates no designated EFH in this area. n/a indicates that the species does not have this life stage or has no EFH designation for this life stage.Sources: NOAA, 201 0e; NOAA, 2010f 17 18 September 2010 2-65 Draft NUREG-1437, Supplement 45 Affected Environment 1 2 Table 2-6. Potential Essential Fish Habitat species eliminated from further consideration due to salinity requirements Species, Life Stage EFH Salinity Requirement (ppt) ('I Windowpane, juvenile Windowpane, adult Windowpane, spawner Bluefish, juvenile Bluefish, adult Scup, juvenile Black sea bass, juvenile King mackerel 5.5-36 5.5-36 5.5-36 23-36>25>15>18>30 Site Salinity"' Matches Requirement low flow only low flow only low flow only no no no no no Spanish mackerel >30 no Cobia >25 no Clearnose skate, juvenile probably >22 Jb) no Clearnose skate, adult probably >22 1b) no Little skate, juvenile mostly 25-30 ic) no Little skate, adult probably >20 ic) no Winter skate, juvenile probably >20 (d) no Winter skate, adult probably >2 0 (d) no (a) Salinity data from NOAA table "Summary of Essential Fish Habitat (EFH) and General Habitat Parameters for Federally Managed Species" unless otherwise noted.(b) NOAA Technical Memorandum NMFS-NE-174 (NOAA, 2003a).(c) NOAA Technical Memorandum NMFS-NE-175 (NOAA, 2003b).(d) NOAA Technical Memorandum NMFS-NE-179 (NOAA, 2003c).(e) Salinities in Delaware Estuary in vicinity of Salem/HCGS: high flow 0-5 ppt, low flow 5-12 ppt.Table 2-7. Fish Species and Life Stages with Potentially Affected Essential Fish Habitat in the Vicinity of Salem Nuclear Generating Station and Hope Creek Generating Station Species Eggs Larvae Juveniles Adults Winter flounder X X X X Windowpane flounder X X X X Summer flounder X X Atlantic butterfish X Source: NRC, 2007 3 4 5 Draft NUREG-1437, Supplement 45 2-66 September 2010 Affected Environment 1 Winter Flounder 2 There are two major populations of winter flounder in the Atlantic: one inhabits estuarine and 3 coastal waters from Newfoundland to Georgia, the other lives offshore on Georges Bank and 4 Nantucket Shoal (Buckley, 1989). In the Mid-Atlantic, winter flounder are most common 5 between the Gulf of Saint Lawrence and Chesapeake Bay (Grimes et al., 1989). In the 6 Delaware Bay region, winter flounder spawn in coastal waters in February and March.7 Spawning occurs at depths of 7 to 260 ft (2 to 79 m) over sandy substrates in inshore coves and 8 inlets at salinities of 31 to 32.5 ppt (Buckley, 1989; NOAA, 1999a). Sexual maturity is 9 dependent on size rather than age, with southern individuals (age 2 or 3 years) reaching 10 spawning size more rapidly than northern fish (age 6 or 7 years). The eggs are demersal, stick 11 to the substrate, and are most often found at salinities between 10 and 30 ppt (Buckley, 1989).12 Larvae initially are planktonic but become increasingly benthic as they develop (NOAA, 1999a).13 Juveniles and adults are completely benthic, with juveniles preferring a sandy or silty substrate 14 in estuarine areas (Buckley, 1989). Juveniles move seaward as they grow, remaining in 15 estuaries for the first year (Buckley, 1989; Grimes et al., 1989). Water temperature appears to 16 dictate adult movements; south of Cape Cod, winter flounder spend the colder months in 17 inshore and estuarine waters and move farther offshore in the warmer months (Buckley, 1989).18 Winter flounder can live for up to 15 years and may reach 23 inches (58 cm) in length 19 (NOAA, 1999a). Winter flounder tolerate salinities of 5 to 35 ppt and prefer waters temperatures 20 of 32 °F to 77 °F (0 °C to 25 °C). Higher temperatures for extended periods can cause mortality 21 (Buckley, 1989).22 Winter flounder larvae feed on small invertebrates, invertebrate eggs, and phytoplankton 23 (Buckley, 1989; NOAA, 1999a). Adults feed on benthic invertebrates such as polychaetes, 24 cnidarians, mollusks, and hydrozoans. Adults and juveniles are an important food source for 25 predatory fish such as the striped bass (Morone saxatilis), bluefish (Pomatomus saltatrix), 26 goosefish (Lophius americanus), spiny dogfish (Squalus acanthias), and other flounders, and 27 birds such as the great cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo), great blue heron (Ardea herodias), 28 and osprey (Pandion haliaetus) (Buckley, 1989).29 Winter flounder are highly abundant in estuarine and coastal waters and, therefore, are one of 30 the most important species of the commercial and recreational fisheries on the Atlantic coast 31 (Buckley, 1989). The NEFMC and ASMFC manage the winter flounder fishery as part of the 32 groundfish fishery, which comprises 15 demersal species (NEFMC, 2010). Winter flounder also 33 are very popular recreational fish, with the recreational catch sometimes exceeding the 34 commercial catch (Buckley, 1989). Biomass in the New England Mid-Atlantic winter flounder 35 stock declined from 1981 to 1992, and the fishery was declared overexploited. As of 1999, 36 biomass remains significantly lower than prior to overexploitation (NOAA, 1999a). As part of the 37 management program, EFH has been established for the winter flounder along the Atlantic 38 coast. The Delaware Bay's mixing and saline waters are EFH for all parts of the winter flounder 39 lifecycle, including eggs, larvae, juveniles, adults, and spawning adults (NEFMC, 1998a).40 Windowpane Flounder 41 Windowpane flounder inhabit estuaries, coastal waters, and oceans over the continental shelf 42 along the Atlantic coast from the Gulf of Saint Lawrence to Florida. They are most abundant in 43 bays and estuaries south of Cape Cod in shallow waters, over sand, sand and silt, or mud 44 substrates (NOAA, 1999b). They spawn from April to December, and in the Mid-Atlantic Region September 2010 2-67 Draft NUREG-1437, Supplement 45 Affected Environment 1 spawning peaks in May and September (NOAA, 1999b; Morse and Able, 1995). The eggs are 2 pelagic and buoyant and hatch in approximately 8 days. Larvae begin life as plankton, but soon 3 settle to the bottom (at 0.39 to 0.78 inches [10 to 20 mm] in length) and become demersal. This 4 settling occurs in estuaries and over the continental shelf for spring-spawned fish, which inhabit 5 the polyhaline portions of the estuary throughout the summer. Fall-spawned fish settle mostly 6 on the shelf. Juveniles migrate to coastal waters from the estuaries as they grow larger during 7 autumn, and they overwinter in deeper waters. Adults remain offshore throughout the year and 8 are highly abundant off southern New Jersey. Sexual maturity is reached between 3 and 4 9 years of age, and length generally does not exceed 18 inches (46 cm) (NOAA, 1999b).10 Juvenile and adult windowpane flounder have similar food sources, including small crustaceans 11 and fish larvae (NOAA, 1999b). Adult windowpane tolerate a wide range of temperatures and 12 salinities, from 23 °F to 80.2 *F (0 °C to 26.8 °C), and 5.5 ppt to 36 ppt. Adults and juveniles are 13 abundant in the mixing and saline zones of Delaware Bay (NOAA, 1999b), and these zones as 14 well as the inland bays are EFH for all life stages of the windowpane flounder, including eggs, 15 larvae, juveniles, adults, and spawning adults (NEFMC, 1998b). The windowpane flounder is 16 managed by the NEFMC under the multispecies groundfish plan (NEFMC, 2010). The fishery 17 does not directly target windowpane, but groundfish trawls take them as bycatch (NOAA, 1999b;18 Morse and Able, 1995).19 Summer Flounder 20 The summer flounder is a demersal fish inhabiting coastal waters over sandy substrates from 21 Nova Scotia to Florida, but it is most abundant between Cape Cod and Cape Fear 22 (ASMFC, 2008e). It lives in bays and estuaries in spring, summer, and autumn, and migrates 23 offshore for the winter (NEFSC, 2006a). Migrating adults tend to return to the same bay or 24 estuary every year (NOAA, 1999c). Spawning occurs in autumn and early winter as the fish are 25 migrating over the continental shelf (NEFSC, 2006a; NOAA, 1999c). Eggs are pelagic and 26 buoyant, as are the early stages of larvae (NOAA, 1999c). Larvae move inshore between 27 October and May, where they develop in estuaries and bays (NEFSC, 2006a; ASMFC, 2008e).28 Larvae become demersal as soon as the right eye migrates to the top of the head, then they 29 bury themselves in the substrate while they are in the inshore nursery areas. Within the 30 estuaries, marsh creeks, seagrass beds, mud flats, and open bay areas are important habitats 31 for juveniles. Some juveniles stay in the estuary habitat until their second year, while others 32 migrate offshore for the winter. Juveniles inhabit the deeper parts of the Delaware Bay 33 throughout the winter (NOAA, 1999c). Sexual maturity is reached by age 2 years, females may 34 live up to 20 years and reach 26 lbs (12 kg) in weight, but males generally live for only 10 years 35 (NEFSC, 2006a).36 Tidal movements of juveniles may be due to the desire to stay within a desired set of 37 environmental variables, including temperature, salinity, and dissolved oxygen. Larvae and 38 juveniles live in waters with temperatures between 32 and 73 'F (0 and 23 °C) and usually 39 inhabit the higher-salinity portions of estuaries. Newly recruited juveniles live over a variety of 40 substrates, including mud, sand, shell hash, eelgrass beds, and oyster bars, but as they grow, 41 they are more often over sand. Larvae feed on invertebrates and small fish, with benthic prey 42 items becoming increasingly important with age. Adult summer flounder most often live over Draft NUREG-1437, Supplement 45 2-68 September 2010 Affected Environment 1 substrates of sand, coarse sand, or shell fragments and may occur in marsh creeks and 2 seagrass beds. Their diet consists of varioius invertebrates and fish. Large predators, such as 3 sharks, rays, and goosefish, consume adult summer flounder (NOAA, 1999c).4 The summer flounder is a highly important commercial and recreational species along the 5 Atlantic coast. Both the ASMFC and the MAFMC manage the fishery under the summer 6 flounder, scup, and black sea bass fishery management plan. The recreational harvest makes 7 up a sizeable portion of the total and is occasionally larger than the commercial harvest. In 8 1999, the summer flounder stock was considered overexploited, but as of 2005, the stock was 9 considered not overfished (NOAA, 1999c; NEFSC, 2006a). In 2009, the ASMFC increased total 10 allowable landings. Although the stock is currently considered not overfished, it has not 11 reached rebuilt status (ASMFC, 2008e).12 The Delaware Bay is important as a habitat for adults and as a nursery for juveniles, and NMFS 13 has designated EFH for summer flounder larvae, juveniles, and adults in the Delaware Bay 14 (NOAA, 2010g). Summer flounder adults and juveniles are present in the Delaware Bay in 15 salinity zones of 0.5 ppt to above 25 ppt (CCMA, 2005), which includes the vicinity of Salem and 16 HCGS.17 Atlantic Butterfish 18 The Atlantic butterfish is a pelagic schooling fish that is ecologically important as a forage fish 19 for many larger fishes, marine mammals, and birds. Its range includes the Atlantic coast from 20 Newfoundland to Florida, but it is most abundant from the Gulf of Maine to Cape Hatteras 21 (NEFSC, 2006b; NOAA, 1999d). Butterfish migrate seasonally in response to changes in water 22 temperature. During summer, they migrate inshore into southern New England and Gulf of 23 Maine waters, and in winter they migrate to the edge of the continental shelf in the Mid-Atlantic 24 Bight (Cross et al., 1999). Butterfish inhabit bays, estuaries, and coastal waters up to 200 mi 25 (322 km) offshore during the summer. Butterfish spawn offshore and in large bays and 26 estuaries from June through August. They are broadcast spawners that spawn at night in the 27 upper part of the water column in water of 15°C (59°F) or more. Eggs are pelagic and buoyant 28 (NOAA, 1999d). Butterfish eggs and larvae are found in water with depths ranging from the 29 shore to 6,000 ft (1828 m) and temperatures between 9°C (48°F) and 19°C (66°F). Juvenile 30 and adult butterfish are found in waters from 33 to 1,200 ft (10 to 366 m) deep and at 31 temperatures ranging from 3WC (37°F) to 28°C (82°F) (NMFS 2010b). Butterfish reach sexual 32 maturity by age 1, rarely live more than 3 years, and normally reach a weight of up to 1.1 lbs 33 (0.5 kg) (NEFSC, 2006b). Adult butterfish prey on small fish, squid, crustaceans, and other 34 invertebrates and in turn are preyed upon by many species of fish and squid. In summer, 35 butterfish can be found over the entire continental shelf, including sheltered bays and estuaries, 36 to a depth of 656 ft (200 m) over substrates of sand, rock, or mud (Cross et al., 1999).September 2010 2-69 Draft NUREG-1437, Supplement 45 Affected Environment 1 The Atlantic butterfish is an important commercial fish species that is also bycatch in other 2 fisheries (NEFSC, 2004; 2006b). The fishery has been in operation since the late 1800s 3 (NOAA, 1999d). U.S. commercial landings peaked in 1984 and a record low catch occurred in 4 2005 (NEFSC, 2006b). The MAFMC manages the Atlantic butterfish under the Atlantic 5 mackerel, squid, and butterfish fishery management plan (NEFSC, 2006b). Due to a lack of 6 data, it has not been established if overfishing is currently occurring, but during the last stock 7 assessment in 1993, it was established that biomass was at medium levels, the catch was not 8 excessive, and recruitment was high (NEFSC, 2004). EFH for Atlantic butterfish juveniles may 9 exist in the vicinity of Salem and HCGS. Inshore EFH for the butterfish includes the mixing or 10 saline zones of estuaries where butterfish eggs, larvae, juveniles, and adults are common or 11 abundant on the Atlantic coast, from Passamaquoddy Bay in Maine to the James River in 12 Virginia (NMFS 2010b).13 2.2.6 Terrestrial Resources 14 This section describes the terrestrial resources in the immediate vicinity of the Salem and 15 HCGS facilities on Artificial Island and within the transmission line ROWs connecting these 16 facilities to the regional power grid. For this assessment, terrestrial resources were considered 17 to include plants and animals of uplands as well as wetlands of Artificial Island and bodies of 18 freshwater located on Artificial Island or the ROWs.19 2.2.6.1 Artificial Island 20 The project site is within the Middle Atlantic coastal plain of the eastern temperate forest 21 ecoregion. This ecoregion, which runs along the eastern seaboard from Delaware to the South 22 Carolina/Georgia border, is characterized by low, flat plains with many marshes, swamps, and 23 estuaries (EPA, 2007). As discussed in Section 2.2.1, Land Use, Artificial Island, on which the 24 Salem and HCGS facilities are situated, is a man-made island approximately 3 mi (4.8 km) long 25 and 5 mi (8 km) wide that was created by the deposition of dredge spoil material atop a natural 26 sandbar. All terrestrial resources on the island have become established since creation of the 27 island approximately 100 years ago. Consequently, Artificial Island contains poor quality soils 28 and very few trees. Approximately 65 percent of the island is undeveloped and dominated by 29 tidal marsh, which extends from the higher areas along the river eastward to the marshes of the 30 former natural shoreline adjacent to the eastern boundary of Artificial Island. Terrestrial, non-31 wetland habitats of the island, which are limited and occur primarily on the periphery of the 32 developed portions of PSEG property, consist principally of areas covered by grasses and other 33 herbs with scrub/shrubs and planted trees. Almost all of the undeveloped portions of the island 34 consist of estuarine emergent wetlands (tidal), with scattered occurrences of freshwater 35 wetlands. Small, isolated, freshwater impoundments are also present, particularly along the 36 northwest shoreline. 37 The Salem and HCGS facilities were constructed on adjacent portions of the PSEG property, 38 which occupies the southwest corner of Artificial Island. The PSEG property is low and flat with 39 elevations rising to about 18 ft (5.5 m) above the level of the river at the highest point.40 Developed areas covered by facilities and pavement occupy over 70 percent of the 740 ac (300 41 ha) PSEG site (approximately 525 ac [212 ha]). Maintained areas of grass, including two 42 baseball fields, cover about 12 ac (5 ha) of the site interior. The remaining 27 percent of the Draft NUREG-1437, Supplement 45 2-70 September 2010 Affected Environment 1 Figure 2-11. Aerial Photo Showing the Boundaries of Artificial Island (dotted), PSEG Property (dashed), and Developed Areas (solid).September 2010 2-71 Draft NUREG-1437, Supplement 45 Affected Environment 1 PSEG property (approximately 200 ac [81 ha]) consists primarily of tidal marsh dominated by 2 the common reed (Phragmites australis) and several cordgrass species (Spartina spp.) (PSEG, 3 2009b).4 The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS)5 classifies all land on the project site as Urban, while the soils on the remainder of Artificial Island 6 are Udorthents consisting of dredged fine material (NRCS, 2010). The National Wetlands 7 Inventory (NWI) identifies a non-tidal inland marsh/swamp area on the periphery of the project 8 site adjacent to Hope Creek Road and two small, man-made freshwater ponds immediately 9 north of the Hope Creek reactor. NWI classifies the rest of Artificial Island as estuarine 10 emergent marsh, with the exception of the northernmost 1 mi (1.6 km) of the island, which is 11 contains freshwater emergent wetlands and freshwater ponds (FWS, 201 Oc).12 The tidal marsh vegetation of the site periphery and adjacent areas is dominated by common 13 reed, but other plants present include big cordgrass (Spartina cynosuroides), salt marsh 14 cordgrass (S. altemiflora), saltmeadow cordgrass (S. patens), and saltmarsh bulrush (Scirpus 15 robustus) (PSEG, 2009b). Fragments of this marsh community exist along the eastern edge of 16 the PSEG property. The non-estuarine vegetation on the undeveloped areas within the facilities 17 consists mainly of small areas of turf grasses and planted shrubs and trees around buildings, 18 parking lots, and roads.19 Tidal marshes in this region are commonly used by many migrant and resident birds because 20 they provide habitat for breeding, foraging, and resting (PSEG, 2004b). A total of 44 avian 21 species, including many shorebirds, wading birds, and waterfowl associated with open water 22 and emergent marsh areas of the estuary were observed within a 4-mi (6-km) radius of the 23 Salem site during preconstruction surveys conducted in 1972 (AEC, 1973). Several avian 24 species were observed on the project site, itself, including the red-winged blackbird (Agelaius 25 phoeniceus), common grackle (Quiscalus quiscula), northern harrier (Circus cyaneus), song 26 sparrow (Melospiza melodia), and yellowthroat (Geothlypis trichas) (AEC, 1973). HCGS 27 construction studies reported the occurrence of 178 bird species within 10 mi (16 km) of the 28 project site, approximately half of which were recorded within tidal marsh and the open water of 29 the Delaware River and roughly 45 of the 178 total observed species were classified as 30 permanent resident species (PSEG, 1983). Osprey (Pandion haliaetus) have used Artificial 31 Island transmission line towers and other suitable high perches on and near the site since the 32 construction of the plants (PSEG, 1983; NRC, 1984; NJDFW, 2009b). Resident songbirds, 33 such as the marsh wren (Cistothorus palustris), and migratory songbirds, such as the swamp 34 sparrow (Melospiza georgiana), use the nearby Alloway Creek Estuary Enhancement Program 35 restoration site for breeding (PSEG, 2004b).36 Mammals such as the eastern cottontail (Sylvilagus floridanus), the Norway rat (Rattus 37 norvegicus), the house mouse (Mus musculus), and raccoon (Procyon lotor) were observed on 38 and in the vicinity of the Salem and HCGS sites during preconstruction surveys (AEC, 1973).39 Other mammals likely to occur in the vicinity of the two facilities include the white-tailed deer 40 (Odocoileus virginianus), eastern gray squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis), red fox (Vulpes fulva), 41 gray fox (Urocyon cinereoargenteus), muskrat (Ondatra zibethica), opossum (Dideiphis 42 marsupialis), and striped skunk (Mephitis mephitis). 43 Twenty-six reptile species were observed during HCGS preconstruction surveys PSEG, 1983).44 Three species, the snapping turtle (Chelydra serpentina), northern water snake (Natrix sipedon), Draft NUREG-1437, Supplement 45 2-72 September 2010 Affected Environment 1 and eastern mud turtle (Kinostemon subrubrum), prefer freshwater habitats but also occur in 2 brackish marsh. The northern diamondback terrapin (Malaclemys terrapin), inhabits saltwater 3 and brackish habitats and occurs in tidal marsh adjacent to the project site. Other common 4 reptiles likely to inhabit the area include the spotted turtle (Clemmys guttata), eastern box turtle 5 (Terrapene carolina), eastern painted turtle (Chrysemys picta), and eastern garter snake 6 (Thamnophis sirtalis) (PSEG, 1983). Amphibians likely to occur in the upland and/or freshwater 7 wetland habitats of the island include the New Jersey chorus frog (Pseudoacris triseriata kalmi), 8 southern leopard frog (Rana utricularia), and Fowler's toad (Bufo woodhousil fowlen) (NJDEP, 9 2001b).10 Two Wildlife Management Areas (WMAs) managed by the New Jersey Division of Fish and 11 Wildlife are located near Salem and HCGS: 12

• Abbotts Meadow WMA encompasses approximately 1,000 ac (405 ha) and is about 4 mi 13 (6.4 km) northeast of HCGS.14 9 Mad Horse Creek State WMA encompasses roughly 9,500 acres (3,844 ha), of which the 15 northernmost portion is less than 1 mi (1.6 km) northeast of the PSEG property boundary.16 The southern portion of this WMA includes Stowe Creek, which is designated as an 17 Important Bird Area (IBA) in New Jersey. Stowe Creek IBA provides breeding habitat for 18 several pairs of bald eagles (Haliaeetus leucocephalus), which are State-listed as 19 endangered, and the adjacent tidal wetlands support large populations of the northern 20 harrier (Circus cyaneus), which also is State-listed as endangered, as well as many other 21 birds dependent on salt marsh/wetland habitats (NAS, 2010).22 Alloway Creek Wetland Restoration Site is a restoration area less than 3 mi (5 km) northeast of 23 HCGS and Salem that is owned and maintained by PSEG. Over 1,600 ac (647 ha) of wetlands 24 and uplands of the 3,096 ac (1,253 ha) Alloway Creek Wetland Restoration Site were restored 25 by PSEG between 1996 and 1999 to increase fish habitat and reduce invasive species, such as 26 Phragmites australis from spreading (PSEG 2009c). The site includes two nature trails, several 27 observation platforms, a boardwalk to the beach, and a wildlife viewing blind.28 The Supawna Meadows National Wildlife Refuge (NWR), part of the Cape May NWR Complex, 29 is located approximately 7 mi (11 km) north of the HCGS and Salem sites and, like Artificial 30 Island, consists primarily of brackish tidal marshes (FWS, 2010d). Supawna Meadows NWR is 31 adjacent to the Delaware River and estuary and is recognized as a wetland of international 32 importance and an international shorebird reserve that provides important feeding and resting 33 grounds for migratory shorebirds and waterfowl (FWS, 2010d). Black ducks (Anas rubripes), 34 mallards (Anas platyrhynchos), and northern pintails (Anas acuta) winter in the refuge, and 35 sandpipers (Actitis hypoleucos) and other shorebirds use the marshes and beaches as a 36 feeding area during summer months (FWS, 2010d).37 2.2.6.2 Transmission Line Right-of-Ways 38 Section 2.2.1 describes the existing power transmission system that distributes electricity from 39 Salem and HCGS to the regional power grid. There are four 500-kV transmission lines within 40 three ROWs that extend beyond the PSEG property on Artificial Island. Two ROWs extend 41 northeast approximately 40 mi (64 km) to the New Freedom substation south of Philadelphia.

September 2010 2-73 Draft NUREG-1437, Supplement 45 Affected Environment 1 The other ROW extends north then west approximately 25 mi (40 km), crossing the Delaware 2 River to end at the Keeney substation in Delaware (Figure 2-8).3 In total, the three ROWs for the Salem and HCGS power transmission system occupy 4 approximately 4,376 ac (1,771 ha) and pass through a variety of habitat types, including 5 marshes and other wetlands, agricultural or forested land, and some urban and residential 6 areas (PSEG, 2009a). The major land cover types crossed by these ROWs are cultivated land 7 (23 percent), palustrine forested wetland (19 percent), deciduous forest (13 percent), 8 scrub/shrub (12 percent), and estuarine emergent wetland (11 percent). Other types, such as 9 pasture/hay, urban/developed, and water, collectively cover less than 22 percent of the land 10 crossed by these ROWs (PSEG 2010). As the three ROWs exit the PSEG property, they cross 11 estuarine tidal marsh to the east and north of Artificial Island.12 The initial segments of the New Freedom North and New Freedom South ROWs traverse 13 approximately 3 mi (5 km) of estuarine emergent marsh east of the PSEG property boundary.14 This tidal marsh is part of the northern portion of the Mad Horse Creek State WMA. The middle 15 segments of the New Freedom North and New Freedom South ROWs, extend a distance of 16 approximately 30 mi (48 km) and cross a mixture of mainly agricultural and forested lands.17 The Keeney ROW turns north after exiting HCGS and traverses approximately 5 mi (8 km) of 18 emergent marsh and swamp paralleling the New Jersey shore of the Delaware Estuary before 19 crossing 8 mi (13 km) of agricultural, sparsely forested, and rural residential lands. The Keeney 20 ROW then continues west across the Delaware River approximately 3 mi (5 km) to the Red Lion 21 substation. From the substation, the Red Lion-Keeney portion of the line within the Keeney 22 ROW remains exclusively within Delaware and crosses primarily highly developed, residential 23 land.24 Animals likely to occur within the Salem and HCGS transmission line ROWs are similar to those 25 described in Section 2.2.6.1 as occurring on the Salem and HCGS sites. ,QGenerallyspecies .-Deleted: 26 that prefer open fields, agricultural areas, marshes, and forest edges are the most likely to 27 inhabit transmission line ROWs.28 Before their termination at the New Freedom substation, the New Freedom ROWs traverse the 29 New Jersey Pinelands National Reserve (PNR) for the last one-quarter of their length (NPS, 30 2006a). The New Freedom North and New Freedom South ROWs cross a total of 31 approximately 10 mi (16 km) and 17 mi (27 km) of the PNR, respectively. The PNR contains 32 the New Jersey Pinelands, also known as the Pine Barrens, which is a heavily forested area of 33 the southern New Jersey Coastal Plain that supports a unique and diverse assemblage of 34 unusual species, including orchids and carnivorous plants; low, dense forests of oak and pine; a 35 12-ac (5-ha) stand of pygmy pitch pines; and scattered bogs and marshes (NJPC, 2010). The 36 United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) designated the 37 Pinelands a U.S. Biosphere Reserve in 1988. Biosphere Reserves are areas of terrestrial and 38 coastal ecosystems with three complementary roles: conservation; sustainable development; 39 and logistical support for research, monitoring, and education (UNESCO, 2010). The PNR's 40 future development is guided by the Pinelands Comprehensive Management Plan, which is 41 implemented by the New Jersey Pinelands Commission. 42 The two New Freedom ROWs also cross the Great Egg Harbor River, a designated National 43 Scenic and Recreational River located within the PNR. This 129-mi (208-km) river system 44 (including 17 tributaries) starts in suburban towns near Berlin, NJ and meanders southeast for Draft NUREG-1437, Supplement 45 2-74 September 2010 Affected Environment 1 approximately 60 mi (97 km) and gradually widens as tributaries enter, until it terminates at the 2 Atlantic Ocean.3 PSEG vegetation management practices provide guidance to ensure that all vegetation under 4 HCGS and Salem transmission lines is regularly inspected and maintained to avoid vegetation-5 caused outages to transmission systems in accordance with regulations of the New Jersey 6 Board of Public Utilities (NJ-BPU, 2009) and standards of the North American Electric Reliability 7 Council (NERC, 2006). If removal of woody vegetation is necessary within ROWs, PSEG 8 coordinates its removal with the New Jersey BPU. In addition, PSEG follows protocol to prevent 9 impacts to wetlands and threatened and endangered species as outlined in their vegetative 10 management guidelines (PSEG, 2010c). As part of their protective measures, PSEG conducts 11 annual surveys for threatened and endangered species in its ROWs (PSEG, 2010c).12 The New Jersey Pinelands Commission regulates the maintenance of the ROW portions within 13 the PNR. The commission's Comprehensive Management Plan directs the creation and 14 maintenance of early successional habitats within ROWs that represent characteristic Pinelands 15 communities (Lathrop and Bunnell, 2009).16 2.2.7 Threatened and Endangered Species 17 This discussion of threatened and endangered species is organized based on the principal 18 ecosystems in which such species may occur in the vicinity of the Salem and HCGS facilities 19 and the associated transmission line ROWs. Thus, Section 2.2.7.1 discusses aquatic species 20 that may occur in adjacent areas of the Delaware Estuary, and Section 2.2.7.2 discusses 21 terrestrial species that may occur on Artificial Island or the three ROWs, as well as freshwater 22 aquatic species that may occur in the relatively small streams and wetlands within these 23 terrestrial areas.24 2.2.7.1 Aquatic Species of the Delaware Estuary 25 There are five aquatic species with a Federal listing status of threatened or endangered that 26 have the potential to occur in the Delaware Estuary in the vicinity of the Salem and HCGS 27 facilities. These species include four sea turtles and one fish (Table 2-8). In addition, there is 28 one fish species that is a Federal candidate for listing (NMFS, 2010b; FWS, 2010a). These six 29 species also have a State listing status of threatened or endangered in New Jersey and/or 30 Delaware (DNREC, 2008).These species are discussed below.31 Table 2-8. Threatened and Endangered Aquatic Species of the Delaware Estuary Scientific Name Common Name Federal New Jersey Delaware Reptiles Caretta caretta Loggerhead sea turtle T E E Chelonia mydas Green sea turtle T T E Lepidochelys kempli Kemp's ridley sea turtle E E E Dermochelys coriacea Leatherback sea turtle E E E Fish September 2010 2-75 Draft NUREG-1437, Supplement 45 Affected Environment Acipenser brevirostrum Shortnose sturgeon E E A. oxyrinchus oxyrinchus Atlantic sturgeon C E ( E = Endangered; T = Threatened; C = Candidate 1 Loggerhead, Green, Kemp's Ridley, and Leatherback Sea Turtles --{ Deleted: Kemp's Ridley.2 The four species of sea turtles identified by NMFS as potentially occurring in the Delaware 3 Estuary are the threatened loggerhead (Caretta caretta) and green (Chelonia mydas) and the 4 endangered Kemp's ridley (Lepidochelys kempih and leatherback (Dermochelys coriacea). 5 Kemp's ridley, loggerhead, and green sea turtles have been documented in the Delaware 6 Estuary at or near the Salem and HCGS facilities; the leatherback sea turtle is less likely to 7 occur in the vicinity (NMFS, 2010b).8 Kemp's ridley, loggerhead, and green sea turtles have a similar appearance, though they differ 9 in maximum size and coloration. The Kemp's ridley is the smallest species of sea turtle; adults 10 average approximately 100 pounds (Ibs; 45 kilograms [kg]) with a carapace length of 24 to 28 11 inches (61 to 71 centimeters [cm]) and a shell color that varies from gray in young individuals to 12 olive green in adults. The loggerhead is the next largest of these three species; adults average 13 about 250 lbs (113 kg) with a carapace length of 36 inches (91 cm) and a reddish brown shell 14 color. The green is the largest of the three; adults average 300 to 350 lbs (136 to 159 kg) with a 15 length of more than 3 ft (1 m) and brown coloration (its name comes from its greenish colored 16 fat). The leatherback is the largest species of sea turtle and the largest living reptile; adults can 17 weigh up to about 2,000 lbs (907 kg) with a length of 6.5 ft (2 m). The leatherback is the only 18 sea turtle that lacks a hard, bony shell. Instead, its carapace is approximately

1.5 inches

(4 cm)19 thick with seven longitudinal ridges and consists of loosely connected dermal bones covered by 20 leathery connective tissue (NMFS, 2010c).21 The Kemp's ridley has a carnivorous diet that includes fish, jellyfish, and mollusks. The 22 loggerhead has an omnivorous diet that includes fish, jellyfish, mollusks, crustaceans, and 23 aquatic plants. The green has a herbivorous diet of aquatic plants, mainly seagrasses and 24 algae, that is unique among sea turtles. The leatherback has a carnivorous diet of soft-bodied, 25 pelagic prey such as jellyfish and salps. All four of these sea turtle species nest on sandy 26 beaches; none nest on the Delaware Estuary (NMFS, 2010c).27 Major threats to these sea turtles include the destruction of beach nesting habitats and 28 incidental mortality from commercial fishing activities. Sea turtles are killed by many fishing 29 methods, including longline, bottom, and mid-water trawling; dredges; gillnets; and pots/traps. 30 The required use of turtle exclusion devices has reduced bycatch mortality. Additional sources 31 of mortality due to human activities include boat strikes and entanglement in marine debris 32 (NMFS and FWS, 2007a; 2007b; 2007c; NOAA, 2010i).33 Shortnose Sturgeon 34 The shortnose sturgeon (Acipenser brevirostrum) is a primitive fish, similar in appearance to 35 other sturgeon (NOAA, 2010j), and has not evolved significantly for the past 120 million years 36 (NEFSC, 2006). This species was not specifically targeted as a commercial fishery species, but 37 has been taken as bycatch in the Atlantic sturgeon and shad fisheries. As they were not easily 38 distinguished from Atlantic sturgeon, early data is unavailable for this species (NMFS, 1998).39 Furthermore, since the 1950s, when the Atlantic sturgeon fishery declined, shortnose sturgeon Draft NUREG-1 437, Supplement 45 2-76 September 2010 Affected Environment 1 data has been almost completely lacking. Due to this lack of data, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife 2 Service (FWS) believed that the species had been extirpated from most of its range; reasons 3 noted for the decline included pollution and overfishing. Later research indicated that the 4 construction of dams and industrial growth along the larger rivers on the Atlantic coast in the 5 late 1800s also contributed to their decline due to loss of habitat.6 Shortnose sturgeon can live from 30 years (males) to 67 years (females), grow up to 4.7 ft (143 7 cm) long, and reach a weight of 51 lbs (23 kg). Age at sexual maturity varies within their range 8 from north to south, with individuals in the Delaware Bay area reaching maturity at 3 to 5 years 9 for males and approximately 6 years for females (NOAA, 2010j). Shortnose sturgeon are 10 demersal and feed predominantly on benthic invertebrates (NMFS, 1998).11 The shortnose sturgeon is found along the Atlantic coast from Canada to Florida in habitats that 12 include fast-flowing rivers, estuaries, and, in some locations, offshore marine areas over the 13 continental slope. They are anadromous, spawning in coastal rivers and later migrating into 14 estuaries and nearshore environments during non-spawning periods. They do not appear to 15 make long-distance offshore migrations like other anadromous fishes (NOAA, 2010j). Migration 16 into freshwater to spawn occurs between late winter and early summer, depending on latitude 17 (NEFSC, 2006). Spawning occurs in deep, rapidly flowing water over gravel, rubble, or boulder 18 substrates, to which the demersal eggs adhere before hatching in 9 to 12 days (NMFS, 1998).19 Juveniles remain in freshwater or the fresher areas of estuaries for 3 to 5 years, then they move 20 to more saline areas, including nearshore ocean waters (NEFSC, 2006). In the Delaware Bay 21 drainage, shortnose sturgeon most often occur in the Delaware River and may be found 22 occasionally in the nearshore ocean, but little is known of the distribution of juveniles in the 23 Delaware Estuary. Their abundance is greatest in the river between Trenton, New Jersey, and 24 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Adults overwinter in large groups between Trenton and 25 Bordentown, New Jersey (USACE, 2009).26 NMFS began a status review of the shortnose sturgeon in 2007 (NMFS, 2008) which is ongoing.27 Due to its distinct population segments, the status of the species varies depending on the river 28 in question. NMFS (2008) estimated the size of the population in the Delaware River system as 29 12,047 adults based on surveys from 1999 through 2003. Current threats to the shortnose 30 sturgeon vary among rivers. Generally, over the entire range, most threats include dams, 31 pollution, and general industrial growth. Drought and climate change could aggravate the 32 existing threats due to lowered water levels, which can reduce access to spawning areas, 33 increase thermal injury, and concentrate pollutants. Additional threats include discharges, 34 dredging or disposal of material into rivers, development activities involving estuaries or riverine 35 mudflats and marshes, and mortality due to bycatch in the shad gillnet fishery. NMFS (2008)36 determined that the Delaware River population is most threatened by dredging operations and 37 water quality issues.38 Atlantic Sturaeon 39 Atlantic sturgeon supported a large commercial fishery by 1870, but the fishery crashed in 40 approximately 100 years due to overfishing. The effects of overfishing were exacerbated by the 41 fact that this species takes a very long time to reach sexual maturity. The ASMFC adopted a 42 Fishery Management Plan in 1990 that implemented harvest quotas. The current status of the 43 Atlantic sturgeon stock is unknown due to little reliable data. In 1998, a coastwide stock 44 assessment by ASMFC determined that biomass was much lower than it had been in the early September 2010 2-77 Draft NUREG-1437, Supplement 45 Affected Environment 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 1900s (ASMFC, 2009c). This assessment resulted in an amendment to the Fishery Management Plan that instituted a coastwide moratorium on Atlantic sturgeon harvest that will remain in place until 2038 in an effort to accumulate 20 years worth of breeding stock. The Federal government similarly enacted a moratorium in 1999 prohibiting harvest in the exclusive economic zone offshore (ASMFC, 2009c). Concurrent with the coastwide stock assessment, NMFS decided that listing the Atlantic sturgeon as threatened or endangered was not warranted (ASMFC, 2009c).NMFS initiated a second status review in 2005 and concluded that the stock should be broken into five distinct population segments: Gulf of Maine, New York Bight, Chesapeake Bay, Carolina, and South Atlantic stocks (ASMFC, 2009c). The Delaware River and Estuary are in the New York Bight segment. NMFS determined that three of these distinct population segments are likely (>50 percent chance) to become endangered in the next 20 years (New York Bight, Chesapeake Bay, and Carolina), and these three were recommended by NMFS for listing as threatened under the ESA. The other two population segments were determined by NMFS to have a moderate (<50 percent) chance of becoming endangered in the next 20 years and were not recommended for listing (ASMFC, 2009c; Greene et al., 2009). In October 2009, the Natural Resources Defense Council submitted a petition under the ESA to list the Atlantic sturgeon. NMFS announced in January 2010 that it agreed listing may be warranted and decided to request public comment to update the 2007 species status review before beginning a 12-month finding and determination on whether to propose listing (NOAA, 2010c).ASMFC (2009c) lists threats to the Atlantic sturgeon that include bycatch mortality, poor water quality, dredging activities, and for some populations, habitat impediments (dams blocking access to spawning areas) and ship strikes. As of 2009, NMFS designates the Atlantic sturgeon over its entire range as a species of concern and a candidate species. Reasons for the listing include genetic diversity (distinct populations) and lack of adequate estimates of the size of most population segments (NOAA, 2009b).Atlantic sturgeon inhabit the Atlantic coast in the ocean, large rivers, and estuaries from labrador to northern Florida. Populations have been extirpated from most coastal systems except for the Hudson River, the Delaware River, and some South Carolina systems (ASMFC2010c). .Formatted: SEIS Heading 5, Space After: 0 1 pt I-. ---1 Deleted: 5 I ,Atlantic sturgeon are anadromous, migrating inshore to coastal estuaries and rivers to spawn in .. -.Formatted: No underline the spring. A single fish will spawn only every 2 to 6 years (ASMFC, 2009c). Females broadcast eggs in fast-flowing, deep water with hard bottoms (ASMFC, 201 Oc). Eggs are demersal and stick to the substrate after 20 min of dispersal time. Larvae are pelagic and swim in the water column before they become benthic juveniles within 4 weeks (Greene et al., 2009).Juveniles remain where they hatch for 1 to 6 years before migrating to the ocean to complete their growth (ASMFC, 2009c). Little is known about the distribution and timing of juveniles and their migration, but aggregations at the freshwater/saltwater interface suggest that these areas are nurseries (ASMFC, 2010c). At between 30 and 36 inches (76 to 91 cm) in length, juveniles move offshore (NOAA, 2009b). Data are lacking regarding adult and sub-adult distribution and habitats in the open ocean (ASMFC, 2010c). Atlantic sturgeon can live for up to 60 years and can reach 14 ft (4.3 m) and 800 lbs (363 kg). Females reach sexual maturity between 7 and 30 years of age and by males between 5 and 24 years (ASMFC, 2009c). , _--- --------.. 4 Formatted: Font: Bold, Al I caps I Draft NUREG-1437, Supplement 45 2-78 September 2010 Affected Environment 1 Atlantic sturgeon feed predominantly on benthic invertebrates, such as mussels, worms, and 2 shrimps, as well as on small fish (ASMFC, 2009c). Juveniles consume annelid worms, isopods, 3 amphipods, insect larvae, small bivalve mollusks, and mysids. Little is known of the adult and 4 subadult feeding habits in the marine environment, but some studies have found that these life 5 stages consume mollusks, polychaetes, gastropods, shrimps, amphipods, isopods, and small 6 fish (ASMFC, 2009c).7 The Delaware River and associated estuarine habitats may have historically supported the 8 largest Atlantic sturgeon stock on the east coast. Juveniles once were caught as bycatch in 9 numbers large enough to be a nuisance in the American shad fishery. Over 180,000 females 10 spawned annually in the Delaware River before 1890. Juveniles have more recently been 11 captured in surveys near Trenton, New Jersey. Gill net surveys by the DNREC have captured 12 juveniles frequently near Artificial Island. The DNREC also tracks mortality during the spawning 13 season. In 2005 and 2006, 12 large adult fish carcasses were found with severe external 14 injuries presumed to be caused by boat strikes (Greene et al., 2009).15 2.2.7.2 Terrestrial and Freshwater Aquatic Species 16 There are five terrestrial species Federally listed as threatened or endangered that have 17 recorded occurrences or the potential to occur either in Salem County, in which the Salem and 18 HCGS facilities are located, or the counties crossed by the three ROWs (Gloucester and 19 Camden Counties, New Jersey and New Castle County, Delaware). These species include the 20 bog turtle (Clemmys muhlenbergi) and four plants (Table 2-9) (FWS, 2010a). Four of these 21 species are also listed as endangered in New Jersey, and the bog turtle is listed as endangered 22 in both New Jersey and Delaware (DNREC, 2008). In letters provided in accordance with the 23 consultation requirements under Section 7 of the Endangered Species Act, FWS confirmed that 24 no Federally-listed species under their jurisdiction are known to occur in the vicinity of the Salem 25 and HCGS facilities (FWS, 2010b). However, two of the species Federally-listed as threatened, 26 the bog turtle and swamp pink (Helonias bullata), were identified by the New Jersey Field Office 27 of FWS (FWS, 201Gb) as having known occurrences or other areas of potential habitat along 28 the New Freedom North and New Freedom South transmission line ROWs. Because the bog 29 turtle and swamp pink have the potential to occur within the transmission line ROWs, these 30 species are discussed in more detail below.September 2010 2-79 Draft NUREG-1437, Supplement 45 C)(-T Table 2-9. Listed Terrestrial and Freshwater Aquatic Species. This table lists the status of Federally listed and/or State-listed as threatened, endangered, or special concern species that may occur on the HCGS or Salem sites or within the in-scope transmission line ROWs.Status Scientific Name Common Name Federal(') New Delaware(c) County(ies) Habitat Jersey(b)Birds Co kTd) E-BR Gloucester, Salem Deciduous, coniferous, and mixed Accipiter oopei Cooper's hawk TnEe riparian or wetland forests E Open fields with high, thick Ammodramus henslowii Henslow's sparrow E Gloucester herbaceous vegetation; grassy fields between salt marsh and uplands A. savannarum grasshopper sparrow T/S sc Salem Grasslands; pastures; agricultural lands Bartramia Iongicauda upland sandpiper E E Gloucester, Salem Open meadows and fallow fields often associated with pastures SCC Deciduous, riparan, or mixed Buteo lineatus red-shouldered hawk E/T Gloucester woodlands in old growth forests;hardwood swamps with standing water E-BR Freshwater, brackish, and saline Circus cyaneus northern harder E/U Salem tidal marshes; emergent wetlands;fallow fields; grasslands; meadows E Wet meadows; freshwater marshes;Cistothorus platensis sedge wren E Salem bogs; drier portions of salt or brackish coastal marshes (D'CDC m 0 0 CL m 3 CD a Status Scientific Name Common Name New Delaware(c) County(ies) Habitat Federa(a Jersey Hayfields, pastures, grassy Dolichonyx oryzivorus bobolink T/T Salem meadows; coastal and freshwater marshes during migration Falco peregnnus peregrine falcon E SCC Camden, Gloucester, Open areas near water Salem Haliaeetus leucocephalus bald eagle -E E Gloucester, Salem Forests near water or tidal areas red-headed E Camden, Gloucester, Upland and wetland open woods Melanerpes erythrocephalus woodpecker TT Salem that contain dead or dying trees and sparse undergrowth SCC Dead trees or platforms near Pandion haliaetus osprey -T/ Gloucester, Salem coastal/inland rivers, marshes, bays, inlets Open habitats such as alfalfa fields, Passerculus sandwichensis savannah sparrow -T/T Salem grasslands, meadows, fallow fields, and salt marsh edges E-BR Freshwater marshes associated Podilymbus podiceps pied-billed grebe -E/S Salem with bogs, lakes, or slow-moving rivers Pooecetes gramineus vesper sparrow -E Gloucester, Salem Pastures, grasslands, cultivated fields, and other open areas SCC Remote, contiguous, old growth wetland forests, including deciduous Strix varia barred owl TiT Gloucester, Salem wetland forests; Atlantic white cedar swamps associated with stream corridors C m OD 3N Status Scientific Name Common Name New Delaware(c) County(ies) Habitat Sm FederaI JerseylbI Reptiles and Amphibians SCC Uplands and wetlands containing eastern tiger Ebreeding ponds, forests, and Ambystoma tignnum salamander E Gloucester, Salem burrowing-appropriate soil types such as old fields, and deciduous or mixed woods E Camden, Gloucester, Open, wet, grassy pastures or bogs Salem, New Castle with soft, muddy bottoms Deciduous upland forests or Crotalus horridus hormdus timber rattlesnake E Camden pinelands habitats, often near cedar swamps and along streambanks Specialized acidic habitats such as Camden, Gloucester, Atlantic white cedar swamps and Hyla andersoni pine barrens treefrog E Salem pitch pine lowlands with open canopies, dense shrub layers, and heavy ground cover SnCamden, Gloucester, Dry pine-oak forest types growing Pituophis me/ano/eucus northern pine snake T Salem on infertile sandy soils Invertebrates SCC Dry clearings and open areas, Callophrys irus frosted elfin T Camden savannas, power-line ROWs, roadsides Lampsilis caosa yTE Medium to large rivers, lakes and Layellow lampmussel T EGloucester ponds E Freshwater water with tidal Leptodea ochracea tidewater mucket T Camden, Gloucester influence on the lower coastal plain, pristine rivers CD1 CD 0.m 3 CD CA)01 CD Scientific Name Ligumia nasuta Lycaena hyllus Common Name eastern pond mussel bronze copper Status New Federalla) Jerseytb)T E Delaware(c) E SCC County(ies) Camden, Gloucester Salem Habitat Lakes, ponds, streams and rivers of variable depths with muddy, sandy, or gravelly substrates Brackish and freshwater marshes, bogs, fens, seepages, wet sedge meadows, riparian zones, wet grasslands, and drainage ditches C m (D, CD (A~0)Open areas, savannas, old fields, Pontia protodice checkered white T Camden vacant lots, power-line ROWs, forest edges Plants Aeschynomene vrginica sensitive joint vetch TE -Camden, Gloucester, Fresh to slightly salty (brackish) Salem tidal marshes Ap/ectrurn hyema/e putty root E -Gloucester Moist, deciduous upland to swampy forests Aristida lanosa wooly three-awn grass E Camden, Salem Dry fields, uplands, pink-oak woods, primarily in sandy soil-Shadyv nnpn-wnnd areas in wet CD CL m 0 (D Asimina triloba Aster radula Bouteloua curtipendula pawpaw low rough aster side oats grama grass E E E Gloucester Camden, Gloucester, Salem Gloucester fertile bottomlands, or upland areas on rich soils Wet meadows, open boggy woods, and along the edges; or openings in wet spruce or tamarack forests Rocky, open slopes, woodlands, and forest openings 0n (D (D 3 c, CD (D"3 00 N)Scientific Name Cacalia atriplicifolia Calystegia spithamaea Carex aquatilis C. bushii C. limosa C. polymorpha Castanea pumila Cercis canadensis Chenopodium rubrum Common Name pale Indian plantain erect bindweed water sedge Bush's sedge mud sedge variable sedge chinquapin redbud red goosefoot Status Federal(a) New Jerseytbi E E E E E E E E E Delaware(c) County(ies) Camden, Gloucester Camden, Salem Camden Camden Gloucester Gloucester Gloucester, Salem Camden Camden Habitat Dry, open woods, thickets, and rocky openings Dry, open, sandy to rocky sites such as pitch pine/scrub oak barrens, sandy roadsides, riverbanks, and ROWs Swamps; bogs, marshes; ponds;lakes; marshy meadows Dry to mesic grasslands; forest margins Fens; sphagnum bogs; wet meadows; shorelines Dry, sandy, open areas of scrub;forests; swampy woods; bank and marsh edges High ridges and slopes within mixed hardwood forests, dry pinelands, and ROWs Rich, moist wooded areas in the forest understory, streambanks, and abandoned farmlands Moist, often salty soils along the coast (D 00@m z3 C: (D m:-4 Status Scientific Name Common Name Federal(') New Delaware(c) County(ies) Habitat Jerseytbl Riverbanks, floodplains, and other Cyperus lancastriensis Lancaster flat sedge -E Camden, Gloucester disturbed, sunny or partly sunny places in mesic, or dry-mesic soils C. polystachyos coast flat sedge -E Salem Along shores; in ditches; swales between dunes Open mesic forests; stream edges;C. pseudovegetus marsh flat sedge -E Salem swamps; moist sandy areas;bottomland prairies Diodia virginiana larger buttonweed -E Camden Wet meadows; pond margins z C: Fresh, oligotrophic, often drying, X Eleocharis melanocarpa black-fruit spike-rush E Salem m sandy shores; ponds; ditches 9 E. equisetoides Fresh lakes; ponds; marshes;knotted spike-rush E Gloucester .,4 streams; cypress swamps Co E. tortilis twisted spike-rush E Gloucester Bogs; ditches; seeps CD Eriophorum tenellum rough cotton-grass E Camden, Gloucester Bogs and other wet, peaty= substrates dfn Coastal meadows; fallow fields;Eupatorium capillifolium d oghfenelE Camden flatwoods; marshes; disturbed habitat Tidal marshes; wetlands; open E. resinosum pine barren boneset E Camden, Gloucester swamps; wet ditches; sandy acidic soils of grass-sedge bogs; pocosin-savannah ecotones I I 0, 0, fj.A Scientific Name Common Name Euphorbia purpurea Darlington's glade spurge G grandis American manna Glycenia granss grass small-flower halfchaff Hemicarpha micrantha sedge o Hottonia inflata featherfoil 3-Hydrastis canadensis golden seal Hydrocotyle ranunculoides floating marsh-pennywort Hypericum adpressum Barton's St. John's-wort Status Federalla) New Delaware(c), Jerseytb)E E E E E E E County(ies) Salem Camden Camden Salem Camden Salem Salem Habitat Rich, cool woods along seeps, streams, or swamps Grassy areas Emergent shorelines, but rarely freshwater tidal shores Quiet, shallow water of pools;streams; ditches Mesic, deciduous forests, often on clayey soil Ponds; marshes Pond shore Mixed deciduous forests in second-Isotria meleoloides small-whorled pogonia T or third-growth successional stages, coniferous forests Juncus caesariensis New Jersey rush E Camden Borders of wet woods; wet springy bogs; swamps 00 J. torreyi (0 Torrey's rush E Camden Edge of sloughs; wet sandy shores;along slightly alkaline watercourses; swamps (D CL 3 CD 0 z m C) Status Scientific Name Common Name New Delaware(c) County(ies) Habitat Sm Federal Jerseylbi-Limestone edges of bluffs; rocky Kuhnia eupatorioides false boneset -E Camden wooded slopes; rocky limestone talus-Mesotrophic to eutrophic, quiet Lemna perpusilla minute duckweed -E Camden, Salem watrs waters Limosella subulata awl-leaf mudwort -E -Camden Freshwater marshes-Open, dry, sandplain grasslands or Linum intercursum sandplain flax -E Camden, Salem moors; sand barrens; mown fields;ROWs Luzula acuminate hairy wood-rush -E -Gloucester, Salem Grassy areas Fens; bottomland prairies; mesic Camden, Gloucester, upland forests; mesic upland Melanthium virginicum Virginia bunchflower -E Salem prairies; along streams and roadsides-Sandy, pine openings; dry praires;Muhlenbergia capillaries long-awn smoke grass -E Gloucester and pine oengs and exposed ledges Myriophyllum tenellum slender water-milfoil -E -Camden Sandy soil with water to 5 ft deep M. pinnatum cut-leaf water-milfoil -E -Salem Floodplain marsh-Mostly floodplains of major rivers in Nelumbo lutea American lotus -E Camden, Salem ponds, lakes, pools in swamps and marshes; backwaters of reservoirs Onosmodium virginianum Virginia false-gromwell -E -Camden, Gloucester, Sandy soils in dry open woods Salem t- Rich wooded slopes; shaded Ophioglossum vulgum m southern adder's -E Salem secondary woods; forested pycnostichum tongue bottomlands; and floodplain woods Penstemon laevigatus smooth beardtongue -E -Gloucester Rich woods; fields CD-(n (D (D 3 Status Scientific Name Common Name New Delaware(c) County(ies) Habitat Federal~a) Jerseylbl Floodplain forests; white cedar, Platanthera flava flava southern rein orchid E Camden hardwood, and cypress swamps;riparian thickets; wet meadows Moist, stream banks; deciduous Polemonium reptans Greek-valenian -E Salem woods Prunus angustifolia Woodland edges; forest openings;chickasaw plum E Camden, Gloucester, open woodlands; savannahs; Salem prairies; plains; meadows; pastures;roadsides Dry south or west facing slopes on Pycnanthemum basil mountain mint E Camden rocky soils; open oak-hickory clinopodioides forests, woodlands, or savannas with exposed bedrock Torrey's mountain Open, dry areas including red cedar P. torrei ito mE Gloucester barrens, rocky summits, roadsides.mint and trails, and dry upland woods Rich bottomlands; dry to moist Quercus imbncana shingle oak E Gloucester uplands uplands Lowlands; wet forests; streamside Q. lyrata overcup oak -E Salem forests; periodically inundated areas Rhododendron aflanticum dwarf azalea E -Salem Moist, flat, pine woods; savannas ceCamden, Glouester, Sandy and rocky stream banks;Rhynchospora globulads bearsed-rusm E Gles sink-hole ponds; upland prairies;coarsedgrass-lk ESalem open rocky and sandy areas R. knieskernii Knieskem's beaked- T E Camden Moist to wet pine barrens; borrow rush pits; sand pits Sagittana teres slender arrowhead E Camden Swamps of acid waters and sandy pool shores CL 0 0.3 CD 0L (D:3 Status Scientific Name Common Name New Delaware(c) County(ies) Habitat NFederala) Jerseylb)Acidic, sandy or peaty soils in open flatwoods; streamhead pocosins;Schwalbea americana chaffseed E E Camden pitch pine lowland forests; longleaf pine/oak sandhills; seepage bogs;palustrine pine savannahs ecotonal areas between peaty wetlands Scirpus Iongii Long's woolgrass -E Camden Marshes Scutellaria leonardii small skullcap -E Salem Fields; meadows; prairies Coastal plain marshes; swamps; dry Spiranthes laciniata lace-lip ladies' tresses -E Gloucester to damp roadsides; meadows;ditches; fields Triadenum walten Walter's St. John's -E Camden Buttonbush swamps; swamps;wort thickets; streambanks Utriculania biflora two-flower bladderwort -E Gloucester, Salem Shores and shallows Valerianella radiata beaked comsalad -E Gloucester Pastures; prairies; valleys; creek beds; wet meadows; roadsides Verbena simplex narrow-leaf vervain -E Camden, Gloucester Fields, meadows, and prairies Vemonia glauca broad-leaf ironweed -E Gloucester, Salem Dry fields; clearings; upland forests Vulpia elliotea squirrel-tail six-weeks E Camden, Gloucester, Grassy habitats grass Salem Wolffiella flondana sword bogmat -E Salem Quiet waters Low pine savanna; bogs; seeps;Xyrs fimbriarta fringed yellow-eyed-E Camden peats and mucks of pond shallows;grass sluggish shallow streams Aeschynomene virginica sensitive joint vetch T E Camden, Gloucester, Fresh to slightly salty (brackish) tidal Salem marshes Moist, deciduous upland to swampy Aplect rum hyemale putty root -E Glouester forests 0 m CD 0--(. Status Scientific Name Common Name Federal(a) New Delaware(c) County(ies) Habitat Jersey(b)Aristida lanosa wooly three-awn grass -E Camden, Salem Dry fields; uplands; pink-oak woods with sandy soil Shady, open-woods areas in wet, Asimina triloba pawpaw -E Gloucester fertile bottomlands; rich-soiled uplands Wet meadows; open boggy woods;Asterradula low rough aster -E Camden, Gloucester, wet spruce or tamarack forest openings Bout eloua curtipendula side oats grama grass -E -Gloucester Rocky, open slopes; woodlands; forest openings Cacal/ia atriplicifolia pale Indian plantain -E Camden, Gloucester Dry, open woods, thickets; rocky openings Dry, open, sandy to rocky sites such Calystegia spithamaea erect bindweed -E *Camden, Salem as pitch pine/scrub oak barrens, sandy roadsides, riverbanks, and ROWs Swamps; bogs; marshes; ponds;Carex aquati/is water sedge -E Camden lakes; marshy meadows Dry to mesic grasslands; forest C. bushii Bush's sedge -E Camden margins C./imosa mud sedge -E Gloucester Fens; sphagnum bogs; wet meadows; and shorelines Dry, sandy, open areas of scrub;C. polymorpha variable sedge -E Gloucester forests; swampy woods; bank and marsh edges High ridges and slopes within mixed Castanea pumila chinquapin -E Gloucester, Salem hardwood forests, dry pinelands, and ROWs z C: m:,, 3 (D.N~Ln Status Scientific Name Common Name Federal(') New Delaware(c) County(ies) Habitat Jerseyb)Rich, moist wooded areas in the Cercis canadensis redbud -E Camden forest understory; streambanks; abandoned farmlands Chenopodium rubrum red goosefoot E Camden Moist, often salty soils along the coast Riverbanks; floodplains; disturbed, Cyperus lancastriensis Lancaster flat sedge -E Camden, Gloucester sunny or partly sunny places in mesic, or dry-mesic soils C. polystachyos coast flat sedge -E Salem Along shores; in ditches; swales between dunes Open mesic forests; stream edges;C. pseudovegetus marsh flat sedge -E Salem swamps; moist sandy areas;bottomland prairies Diodia virginiana larger buttonweed -E -Camden Wet meadows; pond margins Eleocharis melanocarpa black-fruit spike-rush -E Salem Fresh, oligotrophic, often drying, sandy shores, ponds, and ditches Sources: DNREC 2002; DNREC 2008; FWS 2009b; FWS 2009c; NJDEP 2008b; NJDEP 2008c (a) E = Endangered; T = Threatened; C = Candidate; -= Not Listed (b) E = Endangered; T = Threatened; -= Not Listed; S = Stable species (a species whose population is not undergoing any long-term increase/decrease within its natural cycle); U = Undetermined (a species about which there is not enough information available to determine the status). SC = Species Concem (a species showing evidence of decline, may become threatened)(c) BR = Breeding Population only; E = Endangered; SCC = Species of Conservation Concern; -= Not Listed; Note that Delaware does not maintain a T&E species lists by county. Upon request, the DNREC provided PSEG the locations of species of greatest conservation need that occur within 0.5 mi (0.8 km) of the transmission corridor in New Castle County (d) State status for birds separated by a slash (/) indicates a dual status. The first status refers to the breeding population in the state, and the second status refers to the migratory or winter population in the state.1 Affected Environment Affected Environment 1 Bog Turtle 2 The bog turtle (now also referred to as Glyptemys muhlenbergi) has two discontinuous 3 populations. The northern population, which occurs in Connecticut, Delaware, Maryland, 4 Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania, was Federally listed as threatened 5 in 1997 under the ESA (16 USC 1531 et seq.). The southern population was listed as 6 threatened due to its similarity of appearance to the northern population. The bog turtle was 7 Federally listed due to declines in abundance caused by loss, fragmentation, and degradation of 8 early successional wet-meadow habitat, and by collection for the wildlife trade (FWS, 2001b).9 The northern population was listed as endangered by the state of New Jersey in 1974 (NJDFW, 10 2010a). In New Jersey, bog turtles occur in rural areas of the state, including Salem, Sussex, 11 Warren, and Hunterdon Counties, and as of 2003 were found in over 200 individual wetlands 12 (NJDFW, 2010b).13 The bog turtle is one of the smallest turtles in North America. Its upper shell is 3 to 4 in. (7.6 to 14 10.2 cm) long and light brown to black in color, and each side of its black head has a distinctive 15 patch of color that is red, orange, or yellow. Its life span is generally 20 to 30 years. In New 16 Jersey, the bog turtle is active from April through October and hibernates the remainder of the 17 year in densely vegetated areas near the edges of woody plants (FWS, 2004; NJDFW, 2010b).18 The bog turtle is diurnal and semi-aquatic, foraging on land and in water for a diet of plants 19 (seeds, berries, duckweed), animals (slugs, snails, and insects), and carrion (FWS, 2001b;20 2004; NJDFW, 2004). Northern bog turtles primarily inhabit wetlands fed by groundwater or 21 associated with the headwaters of streams and dominated by emergent vegetation. These 22 habitats typically include wet meadows with open canopies and shallow, cool water that flows 23 slowly (FWS, 2001b). Bog turtle habitats in New Jersey typically are characterized by native 24 communities of low-lying grasses, sedges, mosses, and rushes; however, many of these areas 25 are in need of restoration and management due to the encroachment of woody species and 26 invasive species such as common reed (Phragmites australis), cattail, and Japanese stiltgrass 27 (Microstegium vimineum) (NJDFW, 2010c). Livestock grazing maintains the early successional 28 stage vegetation favorable for bog turtles (NJDFW, 2010a). Areas of potential habitat for the 29 bog turtle occur along the New Freedom North and New Freedom South transmission line 30 ROWs. However, the FWS (2010) have indicated that this species is not known to occur on or 31 in the vicinity of the Salem or HCGS sites.32 Swamp Pink 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 Swamp pink historically occurred between New York State and the southern Appalachian Mountains of Georgia. ,n the species current~habits of Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, New York,-and fVirginia, -1he largest concentrations are foudn.in New Jersey (CPC, 2010). Swamp pink was Federally listed as a threatened-sp-ecies i n- 1988 due to population declines and threats to its habitat (FWS, 1991). It also was listed as endangered by the State of New Jersey in 1991 and currently is also designated as endangered in Delaware and six other states (CPC, 2010). New Jersey contains 70 percent of the known populations of swamp pink, most of which are on private lands. Swamp pink continues to be threatened by direct loss of habitat to development, and by development adjacent to populations, which can interfere with hydrology and reduce water quality (FWS, 2010e).SDeleted: y in Del eted: ly in Deleted: with Draft NUREG-1437, Supplement 45 2-92 September 2010 Affected Environment 1 Swamp pink, a member of the lily family, has smooth evergreen leaves. It flowers in April and 2 May. The flower stem is 1 to 3 ft (30 to 91 cm) tall with small leaves, and pink flowers are 3 clustered (30 to 50 flowers) at the top of the stalk (FWS, 2010e). Fruits are trilobed, heart-4 shaped, and contain many seeds (Center for Plant Conservation, 2010; FWS, 1991). Swamp 5 pink is not very successful at dispersing through seeds; rhizomes are the main source of new 6 plants (FWS, 1991). Swamp pink has a highly clumped distribution where it occurs.7 Populations can vary from a few individuals to several thousand plants and could be considered 8 colonies due to the the rhizomes connecting the plants (FWS, 1991).9 Swamp pink is a wetland plant that usually grows on hummocks in soil that is saturated but not 10 persistently flooded. It is thought to be limited to shady areas. Specific habitats include Atlantic 11 white-cedar (Chamaecypa tisthyoides) swamps, swampy forested wetlands that border small 12 streams, meadows, and spring seepage areas. It is most commonly found with other wetland 13 plants such as red maple (Acerrubrum), sweet pepperbush (Clethra alnifolia), sweetbay 14 magnolia (Magnolia virginiana), sphagnum moss (Sphagnum spp.), cinnamon fern (Osmunda 15 cinnamomea), and skunk cabbage (Symplocarpus foetidus) (FWS, 2010e; CPC, 2010).16 As of 1991, when a recovery plan for swamp pink was completed, New Jersey supported over 17 half the known populations of the species, with 71 confirmed occurrences mostly on the coastal 18 plain in pinelands fringe areas in the Delaware River drainage (FWS, 1991). In Delaware, 15 19 sites were confirmed in the coastal plain province in the counties of New Castle, Kent, and 20 Sussex (FWS, 1991). In Delaware, one occurrence of swamp pink was recorded in New Castle 21 County. Delaware does not have regulations specifically for protection of rare plant species 22 (FWS, 2008). As of 2008 in New Jersey, Salem County had 20 confirmed occurrences of 23 swamp pink, Gloucester County had 13, and Camden County had 28 (FWS, 2008). The swamp 24 pink has potential habitat occur along the New Freedom North and New Freedom South 25 transmission line ROWs. However, the FWS (2010) have indicated that this species is not 26 known to occur on or in the vicinity of the Salem or HCGS sites.27 2.2.8 Socioeconomic Factors 28 This section describes current socioeconomic factors that have the potential to be directly or 29 indirectly affected by changes in operations at Salem and HCGS. Salem, HCGS, and the 30 communities that support them can be described as dynamic socioeconomic systems. The 31 communities provide the people, goods, and services required to operate Salem and HCGS.32 Salem and HCGS operations, in turn, create the demand and pay for the people, goods, and 33 services in the form of wages, salaries, and benefits for jobs and dollar expenditures for goods 34 and services. The measure of the communities' ability to support the demands of Salem and 35 HCGS depends on their ability to respond to changing environmental, social, economic, and 36 demographic conditions. 37 h-e socioeconomic region of influence(ROI) for Salem is defined as the areas in which Salem 38 'mployees and their families reside, spend their income, and use their benefits, thereby 39 affectnng the economic conditions of the region. AThe Salem and HCGS ROI consists of a ._. -Comment [L4]: What about HCGS?40 four-county region where approximately 85 percent of Salem and 82 percent of HCGS 41 employees reside: Salem, Gloucester, and Cumberland counties in New Jersey and New Castle 42 County in Delaware. Salem and HCGS staff include shared corporate and [rnatrixed employeesj I September 2010 2-93 Draft NUREG-1437, Supplement 45 1 IThefollowing sections describe the housing, public services, offsite land use, visual aesthetics- .. -Comment [L6]: What is a matrixedt 2 and noise, population demography, and the economy in the ROI for Salem and HCGS. employee?3 Salem employs a permanent workforce of approximately 644 employees and the HCGS 4 permanent workforce includes approximately 521 employees (PSEG, 2010d). Salem and HCGS 5 share an additional 340 PSEG corporate and 109 matrixed employees. Approximately 6 85 percent of the Salem workforce, 82 percent of the HCGS workforce, and 79 percent of the 7 PSEG corporate and matrixed employees live in Salem, Gloucester, and Cumberland counties 8 in New Jersey and New Castle County in Delaware (Table 2-10). The remaining 15 percent of 9 the Salem workforce are divided among 14 counties in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and 10 Maryland, as well as one county in Georgia, with numbers ranging from 1 to 42 employees per 11 county. The remaining 18 percent of the HCGS workforce are divided among 16 counties in 12 New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Maryland, as well as one county in each of three States 13 (Delaware, New York, and Washington), with numbers ranging from 1 to 38 employees per 14 county. The remaining 21 percent of the corporate and matrixed employees reside in 13 15 counties in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Maryland' as well as one county in Delaware, one 16 county in North Carolina, and the District of Columbia. Given the residential locations of Salem 17 and HCGS employees, the most significant impacts of plant operations are likely to occur in 18 Salem, Gloucester, and Cumberland counties in New Jersey and New Castle County in 19 Delaware. Therefore, the socioeconomic impact analysis in this draft SEIS focuses on the 20 impacts of Salem and HCGS on these four counties.21 Table 2-10. Salem Nuclear Generating Station and Hope Creek Generating Station 22 Employee Residence by County Number of Number of Number of Total Percent of County Salem HCGS Corporate and Number of Total Emplyees Emplyees Matrixed Employees Employees Employees Employees Workforce Salem, NJ 253 198 189 640 39.7 Gloucester, NJ 100 74 68 242 15.0 Cumberland, NJ 73 51 35 159 -9.8 New Castle, DE 123 106 64 293 18.2 Other 95 92 93 280 17.3 Total 644 521 449 1,614 100 Source: PSEG, 2010d 23 Refueling outages at Salem and HCGS generally occur at 18-month intervals for both stations.24 During refueling outages, site employment increases by as many as 600 workers at each station 25 for approximately 23 days (PSEG, 2009a; 2009b). Most of these workers are assumed to be 26 located in the same geographic areas as the permanent Salem and HCGS Staff.27 2.2.8.1 Housing 28 Table 2-11 lists the total number of occupied and vacant housing units, vacancy rates, and 29 median value in the four-county ROL. According to the 2000 census, there were nearly 373,600 30 housing units in the ROI, of which approximately 353,000 were occupied. The median value of 31 owner-occupied units ranged from $91,200 in Cumberland County to $136,000 in New Castle Draft NUREG-1437, Supplement 45 2-94 September 2010 Affected Environment 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 County. The vacancy rate was highest in Salem County (7.1 percent) and Cumberland County (7.0 percent) and lower in New Castle County (5.3 percent) and Gloucester County (4.6 percent).By 2008, the total number of housing units within the four-county ROI had grown by approximately 28,000 units to 401,673 housing units, while the total number of occupied units grew by 17,832 units to 370,922. The median house value increased approximately $101,600 between the 2000 census and the 3-year estimation period (2006 through 2008). As a result, the vacancy rate increased from 6 percent to 8 percent of total housing units.9 Table 2-11. Housing in Cumberland, Gloucester, and Salem Counties, New Jersey, and 10 New Castle County, Delaware Cumberland Gloucester Salem New Castle ROI 2000 Total Housing Units 52,863 95,054 26,158 199,521 373,596 Occupied housing units 49,143 90,717 24,295 188,935 353,090 Vacant units 3,720 4,337 1,863 10,586 20,506 Vacancy rate (percent) 7 4.6 7.1 5.3 5.5 Median value (dollars) 91,200 120,100 105,200 136,000 113,125 2008'"1 Total Housing Units 55,261 106,641 27,463 212,308 401,673 Occupied housing units 50,648 100,743 24,939 194,592 370,922 Vacant units 4,613 5,898 2,524 17,716 30,751 Vacancy rate (percent) 8.3 5.5 9.2 8.3 7.7 Median value (dollars) 171,600 238,200 197,100 252,000 214,725 (a) Housing values for the 2008 estimates are based on 2006-2008 American Community Survey 3-Year Estimates, U.S. Census Bureau.Source: USCB, 2010a.11 2.2.8.2 Public Services 12 This section presents a discussion of public services, including water, education, and 13 transportation. September 2010 2-95 Draft NUREG-1437, Supplement 45 1 Water Supply 2 Information for the major municipal water suppliers in the three New Jersey counties, including 3 firm capacity and peak demand, is presented in Table 2-12. Population served and water source 4 for each system is also provided. The primary source of potable water in Cumberland County is 5 groundwater withdrawn from the Cohansey-Maurice watershed. In Gloucester County, the water 6 is primarily groundwater obtained from the Lower Delaware watershed. The major suppliers in 7 Salem County obtain their drinking water supply from surface water or groundwater from the 8 Delaware Bay watershed. 9 Information for the major municipal water suppliers in New Castle County, DE, is provided in 10 Table 2-13, including maximum capacity and average daily production, as well as population 11 served and water source for each system. The majority of the potable water supply is surface 12 water withdrawn from the Brandywine-Christina watershed. Draft NUREG-1437, Supplement 45 2-96 September 2010 Affected Environment I Table 2-12. Major Public Water Supply Systems in Cumberland, Gloucester, and Salem 2 Counties, New Jersey Water System Population Primary Water PDemandal D Total Capacity Served Source (MGDe (MGD)Cumberland County City of Bridgeton 22,770 GW 4.05 3.35 City of Miliville 27,500 GW 5.71 7.83 City of Vineland 33,000 GW 15.26 16.49 Gloucester County Borough of Clayton 7,155 GW 1.09 1.22 Deptford Township 26,000 (Purchased) 4.79 8.80 Borough of Glassboro 19,238 GW 4.29 6.31 Mantua Township 11,713 SW 2.19 2.74 (Purchased) Monroe Township 26,145 GW 6.22 7.15 Borough of Paulsboro 6,200 GW 1.25 1.80 Borough of Pitman 9,445 GW 0.96 1.59 Washington Township 48,000 GW 8.25 12.92 West Deptford Township 20,000 GW 4.26 7.03 Borough of Westville 6,000 GW 0.70 1.73 City of Woodbury 11,000 SW 1.76 4.32 (Purchased) Salem County Pennsville Township 13,500 GW 1.63 1.87 City of Salem 6,199 SW 1.66 4.27 MGD = million gallons per day; GW = groundwater; SW = surface water (a) Current peak yearly demand plus committed peak yearly demand.Sources: EPA, 2010c (population served and primary water source); NJDEP, 2009d (peak annual demand and available capacity)3 4 September 2010 2-97 Draft NUREG-1437, Supplement 45 1 Table 2-13. Major Public Water Supply Systems in New Castle County, Delaware Water System Population Primary Water Average Daily Maximum Served Source Production Capacity (MGD)Wate Sytem ervd Sorce(MGD) City of Middletown 16,000 GW NA NA City of New Castle 6,000 GW 0.5 1.3 City of Newark 36,130 SW 4 6 City of Wilmington 140,000 SW 29 61 GW = groundwater, SW = surface water; NA = not available Sources: EPA, 2010c (population served and primary water source); PSEG, 2009a and PSEG, 2009b (reported production and maximum capacity)2 Education 3 Salem and HCGS are located in Lower Alloways Creek School District, which had an enrollment 4 of approximately 223 students in pre-Kindergarten through 8th grade for the 2008-2009 school 5 year. Salem County has 15 public school districts, with a total enrollment of 12,012 students.6 Cumberland County has a total of 15 school districts with 26,739 students enrolled in public 7 schools in the county in 2008-2009. Gloucester County has 28 public school districts with a 8 total 2008-2009 enrollment of 49,782 students (NJDOE, 2010). There are five public school 9 districts in New Castle County, DE; total enrollment in the 2009-2010 school year is 10 66,679 students (DDE, 2010).11 Transportation 12 Figures 2.1-1 and 2.1-2 show the Salem and HCGS location and highways within a 50-mi (80 13 kin) radius and a 6-mi (10-km) radius of the facilities. At the larger regional scale, the major 14 highways serving Salem and HCGS are Interstate 295 and the New Jersey Turnpike, located 15 approximately 15 mi (24 km) north of the facilities. Interstate 295 crosses the Delaware River via 16 the Delaware Memorial Bridge, providing access to Delaware and, via Interstate 95, to 17 Pennsylvania. 18 Local road access to Salem and HCGS is from the northeast via Alloway Creek Neck Road, a 19 two-lane road which leads directly to the facility access road. Alloway Creek Neck Road 20 intersects County Route (CR) 658 approximately 4 mi (6.4 km) northeast of Salem and HCGS.21 CR 658 leads northward to the City of Salem, where it intersects New Jersey State Route 49, 22 which is the major north-south route through western Salem County and connects local traffic to 23 the Delaware Memorial Bridge to the north. Approximately 1 mi (1.6 km) east of its intersection 24 with Alloway Creek Neck Road, CR 658 intersects with CR 623 (a north-south road) and CR 25 667 (an east-west road). Employees who live to the north, northeast, and northwest of Salem 26 and HCGS, as well as those from Delaware and Pennsylvania, could travel south on State 27 Route 49, connecting to CR 658 and from there to Alloway Creek Neck Road to reach the 28 facilities. Employees from the south could travel north on CR 623, connecting to Alloway Creek 29 Neck Road via CR 658. Employees living farther south or to the southeast could use State 30 Route 49, connecting to Alloway Creek Neck Road via CR 667, and CR 658 or CR 623 (PSEG, 31 2009a; 2009b).32 Traffic volumes in Salem County are highest on roadways in the northern and eastern parts of 33 the county, where all of the annual average daily traffic counts greater than 10,000 were Draft NUREG-1437, Supplement 45 2-98 September 2010 Affected Environment 1 measured. The highest annual average daily traffic count in the county is 27,301 on Interstate 2 295 in the northeastern corner of the county. In western Salem County, in the vicinity of Salem 3 and HCGS, annual average daily traffic counts range from 236 to 1,052, while within the City of 4 Salem they range from 4,218 to 9,003. At the traffic count location closest to Salem and HCGS, 5 located on CR 623, the annual average daily traffic count is 895 (NJDOT, 2009). Level of 6 service data, which describe operational conditions on a roadway and their perception by 7 motorists, are not collected by the State of New Jersey (PSEG, 2009a; PSEG, 2009b).8 2.2.8.3 Offsite Land Use 9 This section describes offsite land use in the four-county ROI, including Salem, Gloucester, and 10 Cumberland counties in New Jersey and New Castle County in Delaware, which is where the 11 majority of Salem and HCGS employees reside. Salem and HCGS are located in western 12 Salem County adjacent to the Delaware River, which is the border between New Jersey and 13 Delaware.14 Salem County, New Jersey 15 Salem County is rural in nature, consisting of more than 338 square miles (mi 2; 875 square 16 kilometers [km 2]) of land with an estimated 66,141 residents, a 2.9 percent increase since 2000 17 (USCB, 2010a). Only 13 percent of the land area in the county is considered urban (in 18 residential, commercial, or industrial use), with development concentrated in western Salem 19 County along the Delaware River. The remaining 87 percent of the county is dedicated farmland 20 under active cultivation (42 percent) or undeveloped natural areas, primarily tidal and freshwater 21 wetlands (30 percent) and forests (12 percent) (Morris Land Conservancy, 2008). There are 199 22 farms for a total of 26,191 ac (10,600 ha), or 12 percent of the county, which have been 23 preserved in Salem County under the New Jersey Farmland Preservation Program (SADC, 24 2009).25 Two municipalities within Salem County, Lower Alloways Creek Township and the City of 26 Salem, receive annual real estate tax payments from Salem and from HCGS. Over half of the 27 land area in Lower Alloways Creek Township is wetlands (65 percent), 15 percent is used for 28 agriculture, and 8 percent is urban. The City of Salem is largely urban (49 percent), with 29 24 percent of its area wetlands and 12 percent in agricultural use (Morris Land Conservancy, 30 2006).31 Land use within Salem County is guided by the Smart Growth Plan (Rukenstein & Associates, 32 2004), which has the goal of concentrating development within a corridor along the Delaware 33 River and Interstate 295/New Jersey Turnpike in the northwestern part of the county and 34 encouraging agriculture and the preservation of open space in the central and eastern parts of 35 the county. Land development is regulated by the municipalities within Salem County through 36 the use of zoning and other ordinances. 37 Lower Alloways Creek Township has a master plan to guide development, which includes a 38 land use plan (LACT, 1992). The plan encourages development in those areas of the township 39 most capable of providing necessary services, continuation of agricultural use, and restriction on 40 development in the conservation district (primarily wetlands). The land use plan includes an 41 industrial district adjacent to Artificial Island. The master plan was updated in the 2005 Master September 2010 2-99 Draft NUREG-1437, Supplement 45 1 Plan Reexamination Report (Alaimo Group, 2005), which looked at key issues and reaffirmed 2 the importance of preserving farmland, open space, and environmental resources. 3 Cumberland County, New Jersey 4 Cumberland County, which is located to the south and east of Salem County, occupies about 5 489 mi 2 (1,300 km 2) of land along the Delaware Bay at the south end of New Jersey. In 2008, 6 the county had an estimated population of 156,830 residents, which is a 7.1 percent increase 7 since 2000 (USCB, 2010a). Over 60 percent of the land area in the county is forest (32 percent)8 or wetlands (30 percent). Approximately 19 percent is occupied by agriculture, mostly 9 concentrated in the northwestern part of the county near Salem County. Only 12 percent of 10 Cumberland County is considered urban (DVRPC, 2009). Under the New Jersey Farmland 11 Preservation Program, 117 farms, including a total of 14,569 ac (5,900 ha) of farmland, have 12 been preserved in Cumberland County (SADC, 2009).13 Cumberland County has assembled a series of planning initiatives that together provide a 14 strategic plan for the future of the county (Ortho-Rodgers, 2002). A recently completed 15 Farmland Preservation Plan for the county seeks to maintain its productive farmland in active 16 use. The Western/Southem Cumberland Region Strategic Plan (issued as a draft in 2005)17 identifies 32 existing community centers in the county for concentration of future residential and 18 commercial growth, and the county Master Plan, prepared in 1967, is in the process of being 19 updated. The municipalities within Cumberland County regulate land development through 20 zoning and other ordinances (DVRPC, 2009).21 Gloucester County, New Jersey 22 Gloucester County is located northeast of Salem County. Gloucester County has approximately 23 325 mi 2 (840 km 2) of land and in 2008, had an estimated population of 287,860 residents, which 24 represents a 12.6 percent increase since 2000 (USCB, 2010aý. It is the-fastest growing county _ .-L Comment [L7]: How? %, total increase.25 in New Jersey and has the fastest growing municipality (Woolwich Township) on the East Coast 26 (Gloucester County, 2010). Major land uses in the county are urban (26 percent) and agriculture 27 (26 percent), with 30 percent of the county land area vacant and 10 percent wetlands 28 (Gloucester County, 2009). There are 113 farms with a total of 9,527 ac (3,800 ha; 4 percent of 29 the county land area) that have been preserved in Gloucester County under the New Jersey 30 Farmland Preservation Program (SADC, 2009).31 The County Development Management Plan and its various elements provide guidance for land 32 use planning in Gloucester County. It encourages a growth pattern that will concentrate 33 development rather than disperse it, enhancing existing urban areas and preserving natural 34 resources. The Gloucester County Northeast Region Strategic Plan goals include taking 35 advantage of infill opportunities to avoid sprawl into undeveloped areas and creating compact 36 development that allows preservation of farms and open spaces. Land development is regulated 37 by the municipalities within Gloucester County through zoning and other ordinances 38 (GCPD, 2005).39 New Castle County, Delaware 40 New Castle County, the northernmost county in the State of Delaware, is located east of Salem 41 County across the Delaware River. The county encompasses slightly more than 426 mi 2 (1,100 42 km 2) and has an estimated resident population of 529,641, which is a 5.9 percent increase from 43 2000 to 2008. It is the most populous of the three counties in Delaware (USCB, 2010a). The 44 three major land uses in New Castle County are agriculture (29 percent), residential (28 Draft NUREG-1437, Supplement 45 2-100 September 2010 Affected Environment 1 percent), and forests (15 percent) (New Castle County, 2007). In 2007, the county had a total of 2 347 farms (less than 14 percent of all farms in the State) located on approximately 67,000 ac 3 (27,000 ha) of land. This reflects a decrease of 6 percent in land used for farming compared to 4 2000 (USDA, 2007).5 The New Castle County Comprehensive Development Plan addresses county policies with 6 regard to zoning, density, and open space preservation. It seeks to concentrate new growth, as 7 well as redevelopment, in established communities in order to preserve limited resources. This 8 is accomplished through the use of a future land use map. The plan proposes policies to 9 encourage development in the northern part of the county with growth in the southern portion 10 more centralized and compact (New Castle County, 2007).11 2.2.8.4 Visual Aesthetics and Noise 12 Salem and HCGS are bordered by the Delaware River to the west and south and by a large 13 expanse of wildlife management areas on the north, east, and southeast. The access road runs 14 east to west along the shoreline of Artificial Island then continues east through the wetlands.15 The immediate area is flat in relief, consisting of open water and large expanses of tidal and 16 freshwater marsh. Across the bay, in Delaware, the shoreline consists of State parks and 17 wildlife areas with low profile marshy habitats and very few structures to interrupt the view.18 Beyond the parks and wetland areas are farmlands and then small to medium sized towns, in 19 both Delaware and New Jersey.20 The main vertical components of the Salem and HCGS building complex are the HCGS natural 21 draft cooling tower (514-ft [157-m] tall), the most prominent feature on Artificial Island, and the 22 three-domed reactor containment buildings (190 to 200-ft [58 to 61-m] tall). The structures are 23 most visible from the Delaware River. Portions of the Salem and HCGS building complex can be 24 seen from many miles away, in particular the cooling tower and the plume it produces. The 25 complex can easily be seen from the marsh areas and the river itself, while in the more 26 populated areas, it is often blocked by trees or houses and can only be seen from certain 27 angles. The structures within the Salem and HCGS building complex are for the most part made 28 of concrete and metal, with exposed non-concrete buildings and equipment painted light, 29 generally neutral colors, such as brown and blue (AEC, 1973; PSEG, 1983). The overhead 30 transmission lines leading away to the north, northeast, and east can also be seen from many 31 directions as they cross over the low profile expanses of the marshes. Farther inland, portions of 32 the transmission lines are visible, especially as they pass over roads and highways.33 Sources of noise at Salem and HCGS include the cooling tower, transformers, turbines, circuit 34 breakers, transmission lines and intermittent industrial noise from activities at the facilities. 35 Noise studies were conducted prior to the operation of the Salem generating units. The 36 transformers were each estimated to produce between 82 and 85 adjusted decibels (dBA) at 6 ft 37 (1.8 m) away and the turbines were each estimated to produce 95 dBA at 3 ft (0.9 m) away.38 The combined noise from all sources was estimated at 36 dBA at the site boundary. The noise 39 from the plant at the nearest residence, approximately 3.5 mi (5.6 km) from the Salem and 40 HCGS facilities, was estimated to be approximately 27 dBA. The U. S. Department of housing 41 and urban development (HUD) criterion guidelines for non-aircraft noise define 45 dBA as the 42 maximum noise level for the "clearly acceptable" range. An ambient noise survey, within a 43 radius of 5 mi (8 kin), established that most of the existing sound levels were within New September 2010 2-101 Draft NUREG-1437, Supplement 45 1 Jersey's limits for industrial operations, as measured at residential property boundaries (PSEG, 2 1983).3 Given the industrial nature of these two stations, noise emissions are generally nothing more 4 than an intermittent minor nuisance. Noise levels may sometimes exceed the 55 dBA level that 5 the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) uses as a threshold level to protect against 6 excess noise during outdoor activities (EPA, 1974). However, according to the EPA this 7 threshold does "not constitute a standard, specification, or regulation," but was intended to 8 provide a basis for state and local governments establishing noise standards. To date, no noise 9 complaints associated with operations at Salem and HCGS have been reported from 10 neighboring communities. 11 2.2.8.5 Demography 12 According to the 2000 census, approximately 501,820 people lived within a 20-mi (32-kmý13 radius of Salem and HCGS, which equates to a population density of 450 persons per mi .This 14 density translates to a Category 4 (greater than or equal to 120 persons per mi 2 within 20 mi)15 using the generic environmental impact statement (GELS) measure of sparseness. 16 Approximately 5,201,842 people live within 50 mi (80 km) of Salem and HCGS, for a density of 17 771 persons per mi 2 (PSEG, 2009a; 2009b). Applying the GElS proximity measures, this density 18 is classified as Category 4 (greater than or equal to 190 persons per mi 2 within 50 mi [80 km]).19 Therefore, according to the sparseness and proximity matrix presented in the GELS, a 20 Category 4 value for sparseness and for proximity indicates that Salem and HCGS are located 21 in a high population area.22 Table 2-14 shows population projectionsand growth rates from 1970 to 2050 in Cumberland, 23 Gloucester, and Salem counties in New Jersey and New Castle County in Delaware. All of the 24 four counties experienced continuous growth during the period 1970 to 2000, except for Salem 25 County, which saw a 1.5 percent decline in population between 1990 and 2000. Gloucester 26 County experienced the greatest rate of growth during this period. Beyond 2000, county 27 populations are expected to continue to grow in the next decades, with Gloucester County 28 projected to experience the highest rate of growth.29 Draft NUREG-1 437, Supplement 45 2-102 September 2010 Affected Environment 1 Table 2-14. Population and Percent Growth in Cumberland, Gloucester, and Salem 2 Counties, New Jersey, and New Castle County, Delaware from 1970 to 2000 and 3 Projected for 2010 to 2050 Cumberland County Gloucester County Salem County New Castle County Year Percent Percent Percent Percent Population Growth(al Population Growthlal Population Growth(a) Population Growthla)1970 121,374 -172,681 -60,346 --- 385,856 ....1980 132,866 9.5 199,917 15.8 64,676 7.2 398,115 3.2 1990 138,053 3.9 230,082 15.1 65,294 1.0 441,946 11.0 2000 146,438 6.1 254,673 10.7 64,285 -1.5 500,265 13.2 2008 155,388 6.1 284,886 11.9 65,952 2.6 526,414 5.2 2010 157,745 7.7 289,920 13.8 66,342 3.2 535,572 7.1 2 0 2 0 (b) 164,617 4.4 307,688 6.1 69,433 4.7 564,944 5.5 2 0 3 0 (bl 176,784 7.4 338,672 10.1 74,576 7.4 586,387 3.8 2040(cl 185,421 4.9 360,845 6.5 78,351 5.1 613,116 4.6 2050(c) 194,941 5.1 385,221 6.8 82,468 5.3 638,524 4.1-= Not applicable (a) Percent growth rate is calculated over the previous decade.(b) The 2020 and 2030 population projections for Cumberland, Gloucester, and Salem counties are for 2018 and 2028, respectively.(c) Calculated. Sources: Population data for 1970 through 1990 (USCB, 1995a; 1995b); population data for 2000 (USCB, 2000d);Population estimates for 2008 (USCB, 2010a); New Jersey counties estimated population for 2009 (USCB, 2010b);New Castle County projected population for 2010 to 2040 (DPC, 2009); New Jersey counties projected population for 2018 and 2028 (CUPR, 2009).4 The 2000 demographic profile of the four-county ROI is included in Table 2-15. Persons 5 self-designated as minority individuals comprise approximately 30 percent of the total 6 population. This minority population is composed largely of Black or African American residents. September 2010 2-103 Draft NUREG-1437, Supplement 45 1 Table 2-15. Demographic Profile of the Population in the Salem Nuclear Generating 2 Station and Hope Creek Generating Station Region of Influence in 2000 Cumberland, NJ Gloucester, NJ Salem, NJ New Castle, DE ROI Total Population 146,438 254,673 64,285 500,265 965,661 Race, Not-Hispanic or Latino (percent of total population) White 58.4 85.7 79.6 70.7 73.4 Black or African American 19.2 8.9 14.4 19.9 16.5 American Indian and Alaska Native 0.7 0.2 0.3 0.2 0.3 Asian 0.9 1.5 0.6 2.6 1.9 Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander 0.03 0.02 0.02 0.03 0.03 Some other race 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 Two or more races 1.63 1.1 1.1 1.2 1.2 Ethnicity Hispanic or Latino 27,823 6,583 2,498 26,293 63,197 Percent of total population 19.0 2.6 3.9 5.3 6.5 Minority Populations (including Hispanic or Latino ethnicity) Total minority population 60,928 36,411 13,114 146,505 256,958 Percent minority 41.6 14.3 20.4 29.3 26.6 Source: USCB, 2000d 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 According to the U.S. Census Bureau's 2006-2008 American Community Survey 3-Year Estimates, minority populations were estimated to have increased by approximately 61,000 persons and comprised 30.8 percent of the four-county ROI population (see Table 2-16). Most of this increase was due to an estimated influx of Hispanic or Latinos (over 25,000 persons), an increase in population of over 39.8 percent from 2000. The next largest increases in minority populations were Black or African American and Asian populations with increases of approximately 23,000 and 9,700 persons or 14.4 and 53 percent, respectively, from 2000.Draft NUREG-1 437, Supplement 45 2-104 September 2010 Affected Environment 1 2 Table 2-16. Demographic Profile of the Population in the Salem and HCGS Region of Influence, 2006-2008 Three-Year Estimate New Region Gloucester, Salem, Castle, of Cumberland, NJ NJ NJ DE Influence Total Population 155,388 284,886 65,952 526,414 1,032,640 Race (percent of total population, Not-Hispanic or Latino)White 53.6 82.8 77.8 65.3 69.2 Black or African American 19.2 9.5 14.8 22.0 17.7 American Indian and Alaska Native 0.8 0.1 0.3 0.2 0.2 Asian 1.1 2.3 0.6 3.7 2.7 Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander 0.01 0.03 0.00 0.02 0.02 Some other race 0.2 0.1 0.3 0.2 0.2 Two or more races 1.6 1.6 0.9 1.4 1.4 Ethnicity Hispanic or Latino 36,530 10,409 3,489 37,929 88,357 Percent of total population 23.5 3.7 5.3 7.2 8.6 Minority Populations (including Hispanic or Latino ethnicity) Total minority population 72,112 48,927 14,653 182,540 318,232 Percent minority 46.4 17.2 22.2 34.7 30.8 Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2006-2008 American Community Survey (USCB, 2010a).3 4 Transient Population 5 Within 50 mi (80 km) of Salem and HCGS, colleges and recreational opportunities attract daily 6 and seasonal visitors who create demand for temporary housing and services. In 2000, in the 7 four-county ROI, 0.5 percent of all housing units were considered temporary housing for 8 seasonal, recreational, or occasional use. Table 2-17 provides information on seasonal housing 9 for the counties located within the Salem and HCGS ROI (USCB, 2000b). In 2008, there were 10 49,498 students attending colleges and universities located within 50 mi (80 km) of Salem and 11 HCGS (NCES, 2009).12 September 2010 2-105 Draft NUREG-1437, Supplement 45 1 Table 2-17. Seasonal Housing in the Salem Nuclear Generating Station and Hope Creek 2 Generating Station Region of Influence in 2000 Number of Housing Vacant Housing Units for Seasonal, County Units Recreational, or Occasional Use Percent Cumberland 52,863 826 1.6 Gloucester 95,054 274 0.3 Salem 26,158 131 0.5 New Castle 199,521 707 0.4 ROI 373,596 1,938 0.5 Source: USCB, 2000c 3 4 Migrant Farm Workers 5 Migrant farm workers are individuals whose employment requires travel to harvest agricultural 6 crops. These workers may or may not have a permanent residence. Some migrant workers may 7 follow the harvesting of crops, particularly fruit, throughout the northeastern U.S. rural areas.8 Others may be permanent residents near Salem and HCGS who travel from farm to farm 9 harvesting crops.10 Migrant workers may be members of minority or low-income populations. Because they travel 11 and can spend a significant amount of time in an area without being actual residents, migrant 12 workers may be unavailable for counting by census takers. If uncounted, these workers would 13 be "underrepresented" in U.S. Census Bureau (USCB) minority and low income population 14 counts.15 The 2007 Census of Agriculture collected information on migrant farm and temporary labor.16 Table 2-18 provides information on migrant farm workers and temporary (less than 150 days)17 farm labor within 50 mi (80 km) of Salem and HCGS. According to the 2007 Census of 18 Agriculture, 15,764 farm workers were hired to work for less than 150 days and were employed 19 on 1,747 farms within 50 mi (80 kin) of Salem and HCGS. The county with the largest number of 20 temporary farm workers (4,979 persons on 118 farms) was Atlantic County, NJ (USDA, 2007).21 Salem County had 804 temporary farm workers on 121 farms; Cumberland County had 1,857 22 temporary workers on 141 farms, and Gloucester County had 1,228 on 110 farms 23 (USDA, 2007). New Castle County reported 320 temporary workers on 52 farms.24 Farm operators were asked whether any hired workers were migrant workers, defined as a farm 25 worker whose employment required travel that prevented the migrant worker from returning to 26 their permanent place of residence the same day. A total of 453 farms in the region (within a 27 50-mi [80 km] radius of Salem and HCGS) reported hiring migrant workers. Chester County, PA 28 reported the most farms (101) with hired migrant workers. Within the four-county ROI, a total of 29 164 farms were reported with hired migrant farm workers, including Cumberland County with 65 30 farms, followed by Gloucester County with 56 and Salem County with 33. New Castle County 31 reported a total of 10 farms with hired migrant workers (USDA, 2007). , Draft NUREG-1437, Supplement 45 2-106 September 2010 Affected Environment Table 2-18. Migrant Farm Worker and Temporary Farm Labor within 50 Miles of Salem Nuclear Generating Station and Hope Creek Generating Station Farm workers Farms hiring workers workcina less than for less than 150 Farms renortina Farms with hired.... ...... ....... ...... ... .........arm re o n ...... wit hired.... .. .CountyI') 150 days days migrant farm labor farm labor Delaware: Kent 728 106 22 169 New Castle 320 52 10 81 County Subtotal 1,048 158 32 250 Maryland: Caroline 478 121 13 153 Cecil 546 87 5 128 Hartford 266 101 12 155 Kent 245 78 8 111 Queen Anne's 317 89 13 126 County Subtotal 1,852 476 51 673 New Jersey: Atlantic 4,979 118 74 163 Camden 470 43 17 52 Cape May 173 38 8 46 Cumberland 1,857 141 65 192 Gloucester 1,228 110 56 163 Salem 804 121 33 172 County Subtotal 9,511 571 253 788 Pennsylvania: Chester 2,687 403 101 580 Delaware 106 19 2 25 Montgomery 560 115 14 155 Philadelphia 5 5 County Subtotal 3,353 542 117 765 County Total 15,764 1,747 453 2,746 (a) Includes counties with approximately more than half their area within a 50-mi radius of Salem and HCGS.Source: USDA, 2007 3 2.2.8.6 Economy 4 This section contains a discussion of the economy, including employment and income, 5 unemployment, and taxes.6 Employment and Income 7 Between 2000 and 2007, the civilian labor force in Salem County decreased

4.4 percent

to 8 18,193. During the same time period, the civilian labor force in Gloucester County and September 2010 2-107 Draft NUREG-1437, Supplement 45 1 Cumberland County grew 18.5 percent and 5.8 percent, respectively, to the 2007 levels of 2 92,154 and 48,468. In New Castle County, DE, the civilian labor force increased slightly 3 (0.9 percent) to 284,647 between 2000 and 2007 (USCB, 2010c).4 In 2008, trade, transportation, and utilities represented the largest sector of employment in the 5 three New Jersey counties, followed by education and health services in Salem and Gloucester 6 counties and manufacturing in Cumberland County (NJDLWD, 2010a; 2010b; 2010c). The 7 trade, transportation, and utilities sector employed the most people in New Castle County, DE, 8 in 2008, followed closely by the professional and business services sector (DDL, 2009). A list of 9 some of the major employers in Salem County is provided in Table 2-19. The largest employer 10 in the county in 2006 was PSEG with over 1,300 employees. 11 Table 2-19. Major Employers in Salem County in 2007 Firm Number of Employees PSEG 1,300+(a)E.I. duPont 1,250 Mannington Mills 826 Memorial Hospital of Salem County 600 Atlantic City Electric 426 R.E. Pierson Construction 400+Anchor Glass 361 McLane NJ 352 Elmer Hospital 350 Wal-Mart 256 Berkowitz Glass 225 Siegfried (USA) 155 Source: Salem County, 2007 (a) PSEG (2010c) reports that Salem and HCGS employ approximately 1,165 employees and share an additional 340 PSEG corporate and 109 matrixed employees, for a total of 1,614 employees. 12 13 Income information for the four-county ROI is presented in Table 2-20. Median household 14 incomes in Gloucester and New Castle counties were each above their respective State median 15 household income averages, while Salem and Cumberland counties had median household 16 incomes below the State of New Jersey average. Per capita incomes in Salem, Gloucester, and 17 Cumberland counties were each below the State of New Jersey average, while the New Castle 18 County per capita income was above the State of Delaware average. In Salem and Cumberland 19 counties, 9.9 and 15.1 percent of the population, respectively, was living below the official 20 poverty level, which is greater than the percentage for the State of New Jersey as a whole 21 (8.7 percent). Only 7.5 percent of the Gloucester County population was living below the poverty 22 level. In Delaware, 9.9 percent of the New Castle County population was living below the 23 poverty level, while the State average was 10.4 percent. In addition, Cumberland County has 24 the highest percentage of families living below the poverty level in the ROI.Draft NUREG-1437, Supplement 45 2-108 September 2010 Affected Environment I Table 2-20. Income Information for the Salem Nuclear Generating Station and Hope 2 Creek Generating Station Region of Influence, 2008 Salem Gloucester Cumberland New New Castle Delaware County County County Jersey County Median household 61,204 72,316 49,944 69,674 62,628 57,270 income (dollars)Percapita income 27,785 30,893 21,316 34,899 31,400 29,124 (dollars)Persons below poverty level 9.9 7.5 15.1 8.7 9.9 10.4 (percent)Families below poverty level 5.9 5.7 12.6 6.3 6.1 7.1 (percent)Source: USCB, 2010a.3 4 UnemDloyment 5 In 2008, th6 annual unemployment average in Salem, Gloucester, and Cumberland counties 6 was 7.5, 6.4, and 9.6 percent, respectively, all of which were higher than the unemployment 7 average of 6.0 percent for the State of New Jersey. Conversely, the annual unemployment 8 average of 5.6 for New Castle County was lower than the State of Delaware average of 9 6.0 percent (USCB, 2010a).10 Taxes 11 The owners of Salem and HCGS pay annual property taxes to Lower Alloways Creek Township.12 From 2003 through 2009, PSEG and Exelon paid between $1,191,870 and $1,511,301 annually 13 in property taxes to Lower Alloways Creek Township (Table 2-21). During the same time 14 period, these tax payments represented between 54.2 and 59.3 percent of the township's total 15 annual property tax revenue. Each year, Lower Alloways Creek Township forwards this tax 16 money to Salem County, which provides most services to township residents. The property 17 taxes paid annually for Salem and HCGS during 2003 through 2009 represent approximately 18 2.5 to 3.5 percent of Salem County's total annual property tax revenue. As a result of the 19 payment of property taxes for Salem and HCGS to Lower Alloways Creek Township, residents 20 of the township do not pay local municipal property taxes on residences, local school taxes, or 21 municipal open space taxes; they pay only Salem County taxes and county open space taxes 22 (PSEG, 2009a; 2009b).23 In addition, PSEG and Exelon pay annual property taxes to the City of Salem for the Energy and 24 Environmental Resource Center, located in Salem. From 2003 through 2009, between 25 $177,360 and $387,353 in annual property taxes for the Center were paid to the city (Table 2-26 22).September 2010 2-109 Draft NUREG-1437, Supplement 45 1 Table 2-21. Salem Nuclear Generating Station and Hope Creek Generating Station Property Tax Paid and Percentage of z 2 Lower Alloways Creek Township and Salem County Tax Revenues, 2003 to 2009 C m Lower Alloways Creek Township Salem County Total Tax PSEG and/or Exelon PSEG and/or Exelon T P bPG d Property Property Tax as Total Property Tax Property Tax as Property Tax TowRevenuesin Percentage of Total Revenue in County Percentage of Total C Property Tax Revenue (dollars) Property Tax Revenue~(dollars) S(a(percent) (percent)CD 3 Year Salem HCGS Total Salem HCGS Total Salem HCGS Total CD 2003 748,537 464,677 1,213,214 2,099,185 35.7 22.1 57.8 34,697,781 2.2 1.3 3.5 Cn (D'CD m a 2004 764,379 474,512 1,238,891 2005 783,644 485,624 1,269,268 2006 734,841 457,029 1,191,870 2007 772,543 480,476 1,253,019 2008 745,081 463,397 1,208,478 2009 931,785 579,516 1,511,301 Source: PSEG, 2009a; PSEG, 2009b; PSEG, 2010e 2,251,474 2,325,378 2,195,746 2,310,262 2,038,467 2,644,636 34.0 21.1 55.0 33.7 20.9 54.6 33.5 20.8 54.3 33.4 20.8 54.2 36.6 22.7 59.3 35.2 21.9 57.1 36,320,365 2.1 1.3 3.4 40,562,971 1.9 1.2 3:1 43,382,037 1.7 1.1 2.7 46,667,551 1.7 1.0 2.7 49,058,072 1.5 0.9 2.5 51,636,999 1.8 1.1 2.9 0)CD CD r3 0 Affected Environment 1 Table 2-22. Energy and Environmental Resource Center Property Tax Paid and 2 Percentage of City of Salem Tax Revenues, 2003 to 2009 PSEG and/or Exelon Year Property Tax Paid by PSEG Total Property Tax Revenue Property Tax as and/or Exelon (dollars) in City of Salem (dollars) Percentage of Total Property Tax Revenue In City of Salem (percent)2003 177,360 5,092,527 3.5 2004 211,755 6,049,675 3.5 2005 220,822 6,294,613 3.5 2006 228,492 6,485,947 3.5 2007 318,910 7,389,319 4.3 2008 184,445 8,423,203 2.2 2009 387,353 8,313,289

4.7 Source

PSEG, 2009a; 2009b; 2010e 3 4 This represented between 2.2 and 4.7 percent of the city's total annual property tax revenue.5 Ownership of the Energy and Environmental Resource Center was transferred to PSEG Power 6 in the fourth quarter of 2008; therefore, Exelon is no longer minority owner of the center.7 In 1999, the State of New Jersey deregulated its utility industry (EIA, 2008). Any changes to the 8 tax assessment for Salem or HCGS would already have occurred and are reflected in the tax 9 payment information provided in Table 2-21. Potential future changes to Salem and HCGS 10 property tax rates due to deregulation would be independent of license renewal.11 The continued availability of Salem and HCGS and the associated tax base is an important 12 feature in the ability of Salem County communities to continue to invest in infrastructure and to 13 draw industry and new residents. 14 2.2.9 Historic and Archaeological Resources 15 This section presents a brief summary of the region's cultural background and a description of 16 known historic and archaeological resources at the Salem/HCGS site and its immediate vicinity.17 The information presented was collected from area repositories, the New Jersey State Historic 18 Preservation Office (SHPO), the New Jersey State Museum (NJSM), and the applicant's ER 19 (PSEG, 2009a; 2009b).20 2.2.9.1 Cultural Background 21 The prehistory of New Jersey includes four major temporal divisions based on technological 22 advancements, the stylistic evolution of the lithic tool kit, and changes in subsistence strategies 23 related to a changing environment and resource base. These divisions are as follows: 24 0 The Paleo-lndian Period (circa 12,000-10,000 years before present [BP])25 0 The Archaic Period (circa 10,000-3,000 years BP)September 2010 2-111 Draft NUREG-1437, Supplement 45 Affected Environment 1

• The Woodland Period (circa 3,000 BP-1600 AD)2
• The Contact Period (circa 1600-1700 AD)3 These periods are typically broken into shorter time intervals reflecting specific adaptations and 4 stylistic trends and are briefly discussed below.5 Paleo-Indian Period 6 The Paleo-lndian Period began after the Wisconsin glacier retreated from the region 7 approximately 12,000 years ago, and represents the earliest known occupation in New Jersey.8 The Paleo-lndian people were hunter-gatherers whose subsistence strategy may have been 9 dependent upon hunting large game animals over a wide region of tundra-like vegetation that 10 gradually developed into open grasslands with scattered coniferous forests (Kraft, 1982). The 11 settlement pattern during this period likely consisted of small, temporary camps (Kraft, 1982).12 Few Paleo-Indian sites have been excavated in the Mid-Atlantic Region. Within New Jersey, 13 Paleo-Indian sites, such as the Plenge site excavated in the Musconetcong Valley in the 14 northwestern part of the State, have largely been identified in valley and ridge zones 15 (Marshall, 1982).16 Archaic Period 17 The Archaic Period is marked by changes in subsistence and settlement patterns.

While hunting 18 and gathering were still the primary subsistence activities, the emphasis seems to have shifted 19 toward hunting the smaller animals inhabiting the deciduous forests that developed during this 20 time. Based on archaeological evidence, the settlement pattern that helps define the Archaic 21 Period consisted of larger, more permanent habitation sites. In addition to game animals, the 22 quantities of plant resources, as well as fish and shellfish remains that have been identified at 23 these sites, indicate that the Archaic people were more efficiently exploiting the natural 24 environment (Kraft, 1982).25 An example of a typical Archaic Period site in southern New Jersey is the Indian Head Site, 26 located about 35 mi (56 km) northeast of the Salem/HCGS site. The Indian Head Site is a large 27 multi-component site with evidence of both Middle and Late Archaic Period occupations. 28 Woodland Period 29 The Woodland Period marks the introduction of ceramic manufacture, as clay vessels replaced 30 the earlier carved soapstone vessels. Hunting and gathering subsistence activities persisted, 31 however, the period is notable for the development of horticulture. As horticulture became of 32 increasing importance to the subsistence economy of the Woodland people, settlement patterns 33 were affected. Habitation sites increased in size and permanence, as a larger population size 34 could be sustained due to the more efficient exploitation of the natural environment for 35 subsistence (Kraft, 1982).36 Examples of Woodland Period occupations in southern New Jersey are well documented in the 37 many Riggins Complex sites recorded in the Cohansey Creek and Maurice River drainages. 38 Contact Period 39 European exploration of the Mid-Atlantic Region began in the 16th century, and by the early 40 17th century, maps of the area were being produced (aclink.org). The Dutch ship Furtuyn 41 explored the Mullica River in 1614. The Dutch and Swedish were the first to colonize the area, Draft NUREG-1437, Supplement 45 2-112 September 2010 Affected Environment 1 though they were eventually forced to give control of lands to the British in the later part of the 2 17th century. These settlements mark the beginning of the Contact Period, a time of 3 ever-increasing contact between the Native Americans of the region and the Europeans. 4 The native groups of the southern New Jersey region were part of the widespread Algonquin 5 cultural and linguistic tradition (Kraft, 1982). Following initial contact, a pattern of 6 Indian/European trade developed and the Native Americans began to acquire European-made 7 tools, ornaments, and other goods. This pattern is reflected in the archaeological record, as the 8 artifact assemblages from Contact Period sites contain both Native American and European 9 cultural material.10 At the time of contact, the Lenni Lenape inhabited the Salem/HCGS area. The Lenni Lenape, 11 who eventually became known as the Delaware tribe, also occupied lands throughout New 12 Jersey, as well as in present-day Pennsylvania and New York (Eaton, 1899). The group 13 occupying southern New Jersey spoke the Southern Unami dialects of the Algonquin language 14 (Kraft, 2001).15 Historic Period 16 The first European settlement in the vicinity of the Salem/HCGS site occurred in 1638, when a 17 Swedish fort was established along the Delaware River in the present day town of Elsinborough 18 (CSS, 2010). This settlement was short lived, as the location was plagued with mosquitoes and 19 was eventually deemed untenable. Later attempts to settle the area by Swedish, Finnish, and 20 Dutch groups also met with limited success. In 1675, the Englishman John Fenwick and his 21 group of colonists landed along the Delaware River, north of the original Swedish settlement at 22 Elsinborough (Brown, 2007). They established "Fenwicks Colony" and the town of Salem. In 23 1790, the population of Salem County was 10,437. By 1880, the county's population had more 24 than doubled in size, reaching 24,579. Today, approximately 65,000 people inhabit Salem 25 County (USCB, 2010c).26 During the 18th and 19th century, the predominant industries in Salem County included 27 commercial fishing, shipping of agricultural products, ship building businesses, glass 28 manufacturing, and farming (DSC, 2010). In the latter part of the 19th century, the DuPont 29 Company established a gunpowder manufacturing plant in Salem County. At its peak, in the 30 early part of the 20th century, the plant employed nearly 25,000 workers. The DuPont facilities 31 continued operation into the late 1970s. In addition to generation of electric power at the Salem 32 and HCGS sites, furniture and glass manufacturing have been the predominate industries in 33 Salem County in the latter part of the 20th and the early part of the 21st centuries 2.34 2.2.9.2 Historic and Archaeological Resources at the Salem/Hope Creek Site 35 Previously Identified Resources 36 The New Jersey State Museum (NJSM) houses the State's archaeological site files, and the 37 New Jersey State Historical Preservation office (SHPO) houses information on historic 38 resources such as buildings and houses, including available information concerning the National 39 or State Register eligibility status of these resources. The NRC cultural resource team visited 2 Personal communication with B. Gallo, Editor of Today's Sunbeam, Salem County, New Jersey. March 9, 2010.September 2010 2-113 Draft NUREG-1437, Supplement 45 Affected Environment 1 the NJSM and collected site files on archaeological sites and information on historic resources 2 located within or nearby the Salem/HCGS property. Online sources were used to identify 3 properties listed on the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) in Salem County, NJ, and 4 New Castle County, DE (NRHP, 2010).5 A review of the NJSM files to identify archaeological resources indicated that no archaeological 6 or historic sites have been recorded on Artificial Island. The nearest recorded prehistoric 7 archaeological site, 35CU99, is located approximately 3.5 mi (5.6 km) southeast of the plant 8 site, in Cumberland County. 35CU99 is an Archaic Period archeological site containing stone 9 tools and evidence of stone tool making activity. The closest NRHP-listed site is the Joseph 10 Ware House, which is located 6 mi (9.6 km) to the northeast, in Hancock's Bridge. To date, 6 11 properties within a 10-mi (16 km) radius of the Salem/HCGS site in Salem County, NJ, have 12 been listed on the NRHP. A total of 17 NRHP-listed sites in New Castle County, DE, fall within a 13 10-mi radius of the Salem/HCGS site.14 Potential Archaeological Resources 15 The Salem and HCGS sites are located on a man-made island in the Delaware River. This 16 would suggest a very low potential for the discovery of previously undocumented prehistoric 17 archaeological sites on the plant property. However, given the age of the artificial island upon 18 which the generating stations were constructed, it is possible that previously undocumented 19 historic-period resources may be present. Further research would be required to determine 20 historic period land use patterns on the island during the 20th century.21 2.3 Related Federal Project Activities 22 The Staff reviewed the possibility that activities of other Federal agencies might impact the 23 renewal of the operating licenses for Salem and HCGS. Any such activity could result in 24 cumulative environmental impacts and the possible need for a Federal agency to become a 25 cooperating agency in the preparation of the Salem and HCGS SEIS.26 The Staff has determined that there are no Federal projects that would make it desirable for 27 another Federal agency to become a cooperating agency in the preparation of the SEIS.28 Federal facilities and parks and wildlife areas within 50 mi (80 km) of Salem and HCGS are 29 listed below.30 0 Coast Guard Training Center, Cape May (New Jersey)31 0 Dover Air Force Base (Delaware) 32 0 Aberdeen Test Center (Maryland) 33 0 United States Defense Government Supply Center, Philadelphia 34 (Pennsylvania) 35 0 Federal Correctional Institution, Fairton (New Jersey)36 0 Federal Detention Center, Philadelphia (Pennsylvania) 37 0 New Jersey Coastal Heritage Trail 38

• Great Egg Harbor National Scenic and Recreational River (New Jersey)39
• New Jersey Pinelands National Reserve Draft NUREG-1437, Supplement 45 2-114 September 2010 Affected Environment 1 0 Captain John Smith Chesapeake National Historic Trail (Delaware, 2 Maryland)3 0 Chesapeake Bay Gateways Network (Delaware, Maryland)4 0 Hopewell Furnace -National Historic Site (Pennsylvania) 5 0 Cape May National Wildlife Refuge (New Jersey)6 0 Supawna Meadows National Wildlife Refuge (New Jersey)7 0 Eastern Neck National Wildlife Refuge (Maryland) 8 0 Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge (Delaware) 9 0 Prime Hook National Wildlife Refuge (Delaware) 10 0 Independence National Historical Park (Pennsylvania) 11 The USACE is involved in a project that could affect resources in the vicinity of Salem and 12 HCGS. The USACE plans on deepening the Delaware River main navigation channel from 13 Philadelphia to the Atlantic Ocean to a depth of 45 ft (14 m). This channel passes close to 14 Artificial Island and the Salem and HCGS effluent discharge area. Studies determined that 15 potential minor changes in hydrology, including salinity, would be possible.

Temporary 16 increases in turbidity would be expected during construction (USACE, 2009).17 Although it is not a Federal project, the potential construction of a fourth unit at the Salem and 18 HCGS site would require action by a Federal agency. PSEG submitted an early site permit 19 application to the NRC regarding possible construction of one or two new reactor units at the 20 Salem and HCGS site on Artificial Island (PSEG, 2010f).21 The NRC is required under Section 102(2)(c) of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 22 (NEPA), as amended, to consult with and obtain the comments of any Federal agency that has 23 jurisdiction by law or special expertise with respect to any environmental impact involved. The 24 NRC consulted with the NMFS and the FWS. Federal agency consultation correspondence and 25 comments on the SEIS are presented in Appendix D.26 2.4 References 27 10 CFR Part 51. Code of FederalRegulations, Title 10, Energy, Part 51, "Environmental 28 Protection Regulations for Domestic Licensing and Related Regulatory Functions." 29 10 CFR Part 54. Code of Federal Regulations, Title 10, Energy, Part 51, "Requirements for 30 Renewal of Operating Licenses for Nuclear Power Plants." 31 10 CFR Part 20. Code of Federal Regulations, Title 10, Energy, Part 20, "Standards for 32 Protection Against Radiation." 33 10 CFR Part 50. Code of Federal Regulations, Title 10, Energy, Part 50, "Domestic Licensing of 34 Production and Utilization Facilities." 35 10 CFR Part 72. Code of Federal Regulations, Title 10, Energy, Part 72, "Licensing 36 Requirements for the Independent Storage of Spent Nuclear Fuel, High-Level Radioactive 37 Waste, and Reactor-Related Greater Thank Class C Waste." September 2010 2-115 Draft NUREG-1437, Supplement 45 Affected Environment 1 16 USC 1456. United States Code. Title 16, Chapter 33, Part 1456, "Coordination and 2 Cooperation." 3 40 CFR Part 81. Code of Federal Regulations, Title 40, Protection of the Environment, Part 81, 4 "Designation of Areas for Air Quality Planning Purposes." 5 73 FR 13032. U.S., Nuclear Regulatory Commission. Washington D.C. "PSEG Nuclear, LLC;6 Hope Creek Generating Station Final Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact; Related 7 to the Proposed License Amendment to increase the Maximum Reactor Power Level." Federal 8 Register, Vol. 73, No. 48, pp. 13032-13044., March 11, 2008.9 Co _mmission).-' 1973. Final Environmental Statement Related to the Salem 10 Nuclear Generating Station Units 1 and 2, Public Service Electric and Gas Company. Docket 11 Nos. 50-272 and 50-311, Washington, D.C., April 1973. ADAMS No. MLxxxxxxxxx. 12 Alaimo Group. 2005. "2005 Master Plan Reexamination Report, Township of Lower Alloways 13 Creek, Salem County, NJ," Approved by the Lower Alloways CreekTownship Planning Board, 14 June 22, 2005.15 Arcadis. 2006. "Site Investigation Report, Salem Generating Station," Newtown, PA, 16 July 15, 2006. ADAMS No. MLxxxxxxxxx. 17 ASMFC (Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC). 1998a. "Fishery Management 18 Report No. 32 of the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission. Interstate Fishery 19 Management Plan for Horseshoe Crab." Fishery Management Report No. 32. December 1998.20 Available URL: http:l/www.asmfc.orqlspeciesDocuments/horseshoeCrab/fmps/hscFMP.pdf 21 (accessed April 9, 2010).22 ASMFC (Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission). 1998b. "Amendment I to the Bluefish 23 Fishery Management Plan (Includes Environmental Impact Statement and Regulatory Review)24 Volume I.," Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council, ASMFC, and ASMFC in cooperation 25 with the NMFS, the New England Fishery Management Council, and the South Atlantic Fishery 26 Management Council., October 1998. Available URL: 27 http://www.asmfc.or/lspeciesDocumentslbluefishlfmpslbluefish 28 AmendmentlVoll.pdf (accessed April 9, 2010).29 ASMFC (Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission). 2001. "Amendment 1 to the Interstate 30 Fishery Management Plan for Atlantic Menhaden." Fishery Management Report No. 37. July 31 2001. Available URL: http:l/www.asmfc.orqlspeciesDocumentslmenhadenlfmpos/menhaden 32 Am%201.pdf (accessed April 9, 2010).33 ASMFC Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission). 2002. "Amendment 4 to the Interstate 34 Fishery Management Plan for Weakfish." Fishery Management Report No. 39. November 35 2002. Available URL: 36 http:l/www.asmfc.orqlspeciesDocuments/weakfishlfmps/weakfishAmendment4.pdf (accessed 37 April 9, 2010).38 ASMFC (Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission). 2003. "Amendment 6 to the Interstate 39 Fishery Management Plan for Atlantic Striped Bass." Fishery Management Report No. 41.40 February 2003. Available URL: http://www.asmfc.orq/speciesDocumentslstripedBass/fmpsl 41 sbAmendment6.pdf (accessed February 19, 2010).Draft NUREG-1437, Supplement 45 2-116 September 2010 Affected Environment 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 ASMFC (Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission). 2004. "Status of the Blue Crab (Callinectes sapidus) on the Atlantic Coast." Special Report No. 80. October 2004. Available URL: http:llwww.asmfc.orq/publications/specialReports/SR8OFinalBlueCrabStatus.pdf (accessed February 12, 2010).ASMFC (Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission). 2005a. "Species Profile: Atlantic Menhaden. Species Profile: Atlantic Menhaden -Stock Healthy Coastwide, But Questions Remain Regarding Localized Stock Condistions.". Excerpted from ASMFC Fisheries Focus, Vol.14, Issue 2, March 2005. Available URL: http:l/fishtheisland.comlSpecies/Menhaden/ menhadenProfile.pdf (accessed June 21, 2010).ASMFC Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission). 2005b. "Amendment 1 to the Interstate Fishery Management Plan for Atlantic Croaker." Fishery Management Report No. 44.November 2005. Available URL: http://www. asmfc. orq/speciesDocuments/southAtlanticSpecies/atlanticcroaker/fmps/croakerAme ndmentl .pdf (accessed February 19, 2010).ASMFC (Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission). 2006. "Species Profile: Bluefish -Joint Plan Seeks to Restore Premier Fighting Fish." Excerpted from ASMFC Fisheries Focus, Vol. 15, Issue 4, May 2006. Available URL: http://www.asmfc.orq/speciesDocuments/ bluefish/bluefishProfile.pdf (accessed April 9, 2010).ASMFC (Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission). 2007a. "Species Profile: Shad & River Herring -Atlantic States Seek to Improve Knowledge of Stock Status and Protect Populations Coastwide." Available URL: http://www.asmfc.orq/speciesDocuments/shad/speciesProfile07.pdf (accessed April 9, 2010).ASMFC (Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission). 2007b. "Species Profile: Atlantic Croaker -Amendment Seeks to Maintain Healthy Mid-Atlantic Stock Component." Exceprted from ASMFC Fisheries Focus, Vol. 16, Issue 3, April 2007. Available URL: http://www.asmfc. orq/speciesDocuments/southAtlanticSpecies/atlanticcroaker/species Profile. odf (accessed April 9, 2010).SMF (Afitlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission). 2008a,-"Spescies Profile: Horseshoe Crab -Populations-Sho-w Positive Response to Current Management Measures." 'Available URU (accessed DATE-)-.ASMFC (Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission). 2008b. "Addendum V to the Interstate Fishery Management Plan for Horseshoe Crab." Fishery Management Report No. 32e.September 2008. Available URL: http://www.asmfc.orl/speciesDocuments/horseshoeCrab/ fmps/hscAddendumV.pdf (accessed April 9, 2010).ASMFC (Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission). 2008c. "Species Profile: Spot -Short-Lived Fish Supports South Atlantic Fisheries & Serves as Important Prey Species." Excerpted from ASMFC Fisheries Focus, Vol. 17, Issue 6, August 2008. Available URL: df (accessed February 9, 2010).ASMFC (Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission). 2008d. "Species Profile: Atlantic Striped Bass -New Stock Assessment Indicates a Healthy Stock and Continued Management Success." Available URL: http://www.asmfc.orq/speciesDocuments/stripedBass/profiles/ speciesprofile.pdf (accessed February 19, 2010).-Comment [BAB8]: No valid URL provided.1 Cannot find source. I September 2010 2-117 Draft NUREG-1437, Supplement 45 Affected Environment 1 ASMFC (Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission). 2008e. "Species Profile: Summer.2 Flounder -Positive Assessment Results Yield Higher Quotas." Available URL: 3 http::/www.asmfc' orq/speciesDocuments/sfScupBSB/summerflounder/sFIounderProfile.df 4 (accessed March 2, 2010.5 ASMFC (Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission). 2009a. Amendment 2 to the Interstate 6 Fishery Management Plan for Shad and River Herring (River Herring Management). May 2009.7 Available URL: htto://www.asmfc.orq/speciesDocuments/shadlfmpslamendment2 8 RiverHerrinq.pdf (accessed April 9, 2010).9 ASMFC (Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission). 2009b. "Species Profile: Weakfish: 10 Board Initiates Addendum to Address All Time Low in Weakfish Biomass." Excerpted from 11 ASMFC Fisheries Focus, Vol. 18, Issue 7, September 2009. Available URL: 12 http:llwww.asmfc.orq/speciesDocumentslweakfishlweakfishProfile.pdf (accessed February 19, 13 2010).14 ASMFC (Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission). 2009c. "Species Profile: Atlantic 15 Sturgeon -Ancient Species' Slow Road to Recovery." Available URL:.16 http:llw/ww.asmfc.orq/speciesDocumentslsturqeon/sturqeonProfile.pdf (accessed April 13, 17 2010).18 ASMFC (Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission). 2010a. "Horseshoe Crab (Limulus 19 polyphemus): Life History and Habitat Needs." Available URL: 20 http://www.asmfc. orq/speciesDocuments/horseshoeCrablhscHabitatFactsheet.pdf (accessed 21 April 12, 2010).22 ASMFC (Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission). 2010b. "Atlantic Striped Bass (Morone 23 saxatilis): Life History and Habitat Needs." Available URL: 24 http://www.asmfc, rq/speciesDocumentslstripedBass/stripedbassHabitatFactsheet.pdf 25 (accessed February 23, 2010).26 ASMFC (Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission). 2010c. "Atlantic States Marine 27 Fisheries Commission Habitat Factsheet: Atlantic Sturgeon (Acipenser oxyrhynchus 28 oxyrhynchus)." Available URL: 29 http:/lwww.asmfc.or/lspeciesDocuments/sturqeon/habitatFactsheet.pdf (accessed April 13, 30 2010).31 Austin, B., J. Schoolfield, H. Speir, and N. Meserve. ASMFC (Atlantic States Marine Fisheries 32 Commission). 2006. 2006 Review of the Fishery Management Plan for Spot (Leiostomus 33 xanthurus). Prepared for the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission. October 24, 2006.34 Available URL: http://www.asmfc.orqlspeciesDocuments/southAtlanticSpecieslspotl 35 fmpreviews/spot06FMPreview.pdf (accessed February 19, 2010).36 Bozeman, E.L., Jr., and M.J. Van Den Avyle. 1989. "Species Profiles: Life Histories and 37 Environmental Requirements of Coastal Fishes and Invertebrates (South Atlantic) -Alewife and 38 Blueback Herring," U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Biological Report, 82(11.111), U.S. Army 39 Corps of Engineers, TR EL-82-4. Available URL: http:/lwww.nwrc.usqs.,ov/wdb/pub/ 40 species profiles/82 11-111 .pdf (accessed September 7, 2010).41 Brown, J. 2007. "A Brief History of Salem County, New Jersey." Available URL: 42 http:/lwww.rootsweb.ancestry.coml-nisalemldocumentslHistory-SalemCountv-NJ.txt (accessed 43 April 6, 2010).Draft NUREG-1437, Supplement 45 2-118 September 2010 Affected Environment 1 Buckley, J. 1989. "Species Profiles: Life Histories and Environmental Requirements of Coastal 2 Fishes and Invertebrates (North Atlantic) -Winter Flounder," U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 3 Biological Report, 82(11.87), U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, TR EL-82-4. Available URL: 4 http://www.nwrc.usas.qov/wdb/pub/species profiles/82 11-087.0df (accessed September 7, 5 2010).6 CAML (Census of Antarctic Marine Life). 2008. "Benthos." Available URL: 7 http:llwww.caml.aqlbenthos/index.html (accessed July 29, 2010).8 CBF (Chesapeake Bay Ecological Foundation, Inc.). 2010. "Ecological Depletion of Atlantic 9 Menhaden & Bay Anchovy: Effects on Atlantic Coast Striped Bass, First Year-Round Ecological 10 Study of Large Chesapeake Bay Striped Bass." Available URL: http://www.chesbay.org/ 11 articles/striped%20bass%20study(1 -09).asp (accessed February 19, 2010).12 CCMA (NOAA Center for Coastal Monitoring and Assessment). 2005. Estuarine Living Marine 13 Resources Database. Query results for summer flounder, all life stages in Delaware Bay and 14 Delaware Inland Bays. August 2005. Available URL: http:l/www8.nos.noaa.,ovlbioceo public/15 elmr.aspx (accessed March 2, 2010).16 Chesapeake Bay Program. 2009. "American Shad Harvest." November 2009. Available URL: 17 http:/lwww.chesapeakebay.net/americanshadharvest.aspx?menuitem=15315 (accessed 18 February 18, 2010).19 Clean Air Act, as amended. 42 USC 7410, 7491 (a)(2), 7601(a). 1963 20 Cowardin, L. M., V. Carter, F. C. Golet, E. T. LaRoe. 1979. Classification of Wetlands and 21 Deepwater Habitats of the United States. U. S. Department of the Interior, U.S. Fish and Wildlife 22 Service. Available URL: http://www.npwrc.usqs.qov/resource/wetlands/classwet/index.htm 23 (accessed September 6, 2010).24 CPC (Center for Plant Conservation). 2010. "CPC National Collection Plant Profile for Helonias 25 bullata," Available URL: http://www.centerforplantconservation.orq/collectionl 26 coc viewprofile.asp?CPCNum=2210 (accessed May 10, 2010).27 CSS (Colonial Swedish Society). 2010. "A Brief History of New Sweden in America." 28 Available URL: http:l/www.colonialswedes.oralHistory/History.html (accessed April 12, 2010).29 CUPR (Center for Urban Policy Research). 2009. Impact Assessment of the New Jersey State 30 Development and Redevelopment Plan. Prepared for New Jersey Department of Community 31 Affairs. December 11, 2009. Available URL: http://www.ni.gov/dca/divisions/ospq/docsl 32 dfplan proiections.pdf (accessed May 12, 2010).33 DDE (Delaware Department of Education). 2010. "State of Delaware 2009-2010 Department of 34 Education Annual Snapshot." Available URL: http://profiles.doe.k12.de.us/SchoolProfiles/State/ 35 Default.aspx (accessed May 11, 2010).36 DDL (Delaware Department of Labor). 2009. Delaware State and County Level Employment 37 and Wages by Industry for 2008. September 2, 2009. Available URL: 38 http://www.delawareworks.com/oolmi/lnformation/LMIData/QCEW/QCEW-Annual V1132.aspx 39 (accessed April 27, 2010).40 Delaware Estuary Program. 2010. "History of the Eastern Oyster." Available URL: 41 http://www.delawareestuary.orlp/ublications/factsheets/Oysterw.pdf (April 14, 2010).September 2010 2-119 Draft NUREG-1437, Supplement 45 Affected Environment 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 DePaul, V. T., R. Rosman, and P.J. Lacombe. 2009. Water-Level Conditions in Selected Confined Aquifers of the New Jersey and Delaware Coastal Plain. U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Report 2008-5145. Available URL: http:Hllubs.us-qs.qovlsir/ 2008/5145/pdf/Sl R2008-5145. pdf (accessed September 7, 2010).DNREC (Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control). 2002."Delaware's Rare Animal Species of Conservation Concern." Available URL: http://www.dnrec.state.de.us/fw/animal.htm (accessed August 31, 2010).DNREC (Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control). 2003. "Public Water Supply Source Water Assessment for Artesian Water Co. (Bayview), PWS ID: DE0000553. New Castle County, Delaware." October 2, 2003. Available URL: http://www.wr.udel.edu/swaphome old/phase2/final assess/artesianother/awc baVview.pdf (accessed February 24, 2010).DNREC (Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control). 2006a."Weakfish Tagging Project," May 2006. Available URL: http://www.fw.delaware.aov/ SiteCollectionDocuments/FW%20Gallery/WeakfishTaqqinq.pdf (accessed February 19, 2010).DNREC (Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control). 2006b."Striped Bass Food Habits Project," May 2006. Available URL: http://www.fw.delaware.gov/SiteCollectionDocuments/FW%20GallerV/StripedBassFoodHabits.p

f (accessed February 19, 2010).DNREC (Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control).

2008."Endangered Species of Delaware." Available URL: http:llwww.dnrec.state.de.us/nhp/information/endanaered.shtml (accessed August 31, 2010).DPC (Delaware Population Consortium). 2009. "The Delaware Population Consortium: Annual Projects Projections." Available URL: http:l/stateplanning.delaware.,ov/information/ dpc proiections.shtml (accessed May 12, 2010).DRBC (Delaware River Basin Commissionn). 1961. Delaware River Basin Compact, U.S. Public Law 87-328, West Trenton, NJ. Delaware River Basin Commission. ADAMS No. !MLxxxxxxOO. _- -DRBC (Delaware River Basin Commission). 1977. Contract No. 76-EP-482 Covering to Provide the Supply of Cooling Water from the Delaware River, Required for Operation of Salem Units 1 and 2 at Salem Nuclear Generating Station between the Delaware River Basin Commission and Public Service Electric and Gas Company. January 1977. ADAMS No. MMLxxxxxxxxo....... -(Comment [BAB9]: need ADAMS No.J Comment [BAB10]: need ADAMS No.I DRBC (Delaware River Basin Commission). 1984a. Revision of the Hope Creek Generating Station Project Previously Included in the Comprehensive Plan. Docket No. D-73-193 CP (Revised), West Trenton, NJ. May 1984. IADAMS No. MLxxxxxxxx,._ DRBC (Delaware River Basin Commission). 1984b. Water Supply Contract Between DRBC and PSEG Concerning the Water Supply at Hope Creek Generating Station, West Trenton, NJ.December 1984. ADAMS No. MLxxxxxxxO.- ..DRBC (Delaware River Basin Commission). 2000. "Groundwater Withdrawal," Docket No.D-90-71 Renewal, Delaware River Basin Commission, West Trenton, NJ. November 2000.ADAMS No. ML-xxx-x. ................................ .. .J Comment [BAB11]: need ADAMS No. .--- J Comment [BABZI2: need ADAMS No.J-f Comment [BAB13]: need ADAMS No.Draft NUREG-1437, Supplement 45 2-120 September 2010 Affected Environment 1 DRBC (Delaware River Basin Commission). 2001. "Approval to Revise Delaware Basin 2 Compact," Docket No. D-68-20 (Revision 20), Delaware Basin River Commission, West 3 Trenton, NJ. September 2001. ADAMS No. [MLxxxxxxxx1 ... ---(Comment [BAB14]: need ADAMS No.4 DRBC (Delaware River Basin Commission). 2005. "Year 2005 Water Withdrawal and 5 Consumptive Use by Large Users on on the Tidal Delaware River." Available URL: 6 http:/lwww.state.ni.us/drbc/waterusellarqeusers 05.htm (accessed February 15, 2010).7 DRBC (Delaware River Basin Commission). 2008a. "Delaware River State of the Basin 8 Report," Delaware River Basin Commission, West Trenton, NJ.9 DRBC (Delaware River Basin Commission). 2008b. Nutrient Criteria Strategy for the Tidal and 10 Non-tidal Delaware River. April 25, 2008. Available URL: http:llwww.state.ni.us/drbc/DRBC-11 NutiientStrateqy042508.pdf (accessed April 15, 2010).12 DRBC (Delaware River Basin Commission). 2010. "The Delaware River Basin." Available URL: 13 http://www.state.ni.usldrbclthedrb.htm (accessed February 24, 2010).14 DSC (Discover Salem County). 2010. "History of Salem County." Available URL: 15 http:/lwww.discoversalemcounty.com/history/colonialhistory.asp (accessed April 6, 2010).16 DVRPC (Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commissionon). 2009. "2009 Cumberland 17 County Farmland Preservation Plan." Available URL: http:l/www.co.cumberland.ni.us/ 18 content/1 73/251/7611294713098/2969/6996.aspx (accessed May 17, 2010).19 Eaton, H.P. 1899. "Jersey City and Its Historic Sites," The Women's Club: Jersey City, NJ.20 EIA (Energy Information Administration). 2008. Status of Electricity Restructuring by State, New 21 Jersey: Restructuring Active. September 2008. Available URL: http:l/www.eia.doe.qovlcneafl 22 electricity/paqe/restructurinq/new iersey.html (accessed April 29, 2010).23 EPRI (Electric Power Research). 2006. Technical Resource Document for Modified Ristroph 24 Travelling Screens: Model Descign and Construction Technology Installation and Operation 25 Plan. November 2006. Available URL: http:l/mvdocs.epri.com/docs/public/ 26 000000000001013308.pdf (accessed August 11, 2010).27 EPA (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency). 1974. Information on Levels of Environmental 28 Noise Requisite to Protect Public Health and Welfare with an Adequate Margin of Safety.29 Report 550/9-74-004, Wahington D.C. Available URL: http://www.nonoise.oroq/library/ 30 levels74/levels74.htm (accessed September 6, 2010).31 EPA (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency). 1988. "New Jersey Coastal Plain Aquifer Support 32 Document." May 1988. Available URL: http://www.epa.cqov/Region2/water/aquifer/coast/ 33 coastpln.htm (accessed February 24, 2010.34 EPA (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency). 1998. Condition of the Mid-Atlantic Estuaries, 35 EPA 600-R-98-147. November 1998. Available URL: http://www.epa.qov/emap/html/pubs/ 36 docs/lroupdocs/estuary/assess/cond mae.pdf (accessed September 7, 2010).37 EPA (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency). 2007. "Level III Ecoregions of the Conterminous 38 United States." Available URL: http://water.epa..ov/scitech/dataitlmodels/basins/ecoreq.cfm 39 (accessed September 7, 2010).September 2010 2-121 Draft NUREG-1437, Supplement 45 Affected Environment 1 EPA (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency). 2010a. "2010 Title V Operating Permits 2 Database: Deadlines for Public Petitions to the Administrator for Permit Objections." Available 3 URL: http://www.epa.qov/reqionO2/air/title v2010.pdf (accessed August 6, 2010).4 EPA (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency). 2010b. Enforcement and Compliance History 5 Online (ECHO). Available URL: http://www.epa-echo.-qov/echo/index.html (accessed 6 September 7, 2010).7 EPA (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency). 2010c. "Local Drinking Water Information: 8 Northeast U.S.". Available URL: http://www.epa.aovlsafewater/dwinfo/nes.htm (accessed 9 January 20, 2010).10 EPA (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency). 2010d. "Partnership for the Delaware Estuary 11 (NEP Profile)." Available URL: http://www.epa.aov/owow/estuaries/proqrams/de.html (accessed 12 February 24, 2010).13 EPA (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency). 2010e. Safe Drinking Water Information System 14 (SDWIS) for Salem County, New Jersey and New Castle County, Delaware. Available URL: 15 http://water.epa.-ov/scitech/datait/databases/drink/sdwisfed/index.cfm (accessed September 7, 16 2010.17 Fay, C.W., R.J. Neves, and G.B. Pardue. 1983a. "Species Profiles: Life Histories and 18 Environmental Requirements of Coastal Fishes and Invertebrates (Mid-Atlantic) -Atlantic 19 Silverside." U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Division of Biological Services, FWS/OBS-82/11.10. 20 U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, TR EL-82-4. Available URL: 21 http://www.nwrc.usqs.-ov/wdb/pub/species profiles/82 11-010.pdf (accessed September 7, 22 2010).23 Fay, C.W., R.J. Neves, and G.B. Pardue. 1983b. "Species Profiles: Life Histories and 24 Environmental Requirements of Coastal Fishes and Invertebrates (Mid-Atlantic) -Striped Bass." 25 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Division of Biological Services, FWS/OBS-82/11.8. U.S. Army 26 Corps of Engineers, TR EL-82-4. Available URL: 27 http://www.nwrc.usqs.-ov/wdb/pub/species profiles/82 11-008.pdf (accessed September 7, 28 2010).29 FWS (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Servicee (FWS). 1991. Swamp Pink (Helonias bullata) Recovery 30 Plan. Available URL: httrp://www.fws.gov/ecos/aiax/docs/recovery plan/910930c.pdf (accessed 31 May 9, 2010).32 FWS (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service). 2001b. Bog Turtle (Clemmys muhlenbergii), Northern 33 Population, Recovery Plan. Available URL: htto://ecos.fws.gov/docs/recovery plan/010515.pdf 34 (accessed February 26, 2010).35 FWS (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service). 2003. Delaware Bay Shorebird-Horseshoe Crab 36 Assessment Report and Peer Review. Prepared for the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries 37 Commission. Available URL: http://library.fws..ov/Bird Publications/DBshorebird.pdf (accessed 38 April 9, 2010.39 FWS (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service). 2004. "The Bog Turtle (Clemmys muhlenbergil): 40 Protecting New Jersey's Rarest Turtle." February 2004. Available URL: 41 http://www.fws.qov/northeast/nifieldoffice/Fact%20Sheets%20PDF%20holdinq/Bog turtle.pdf 42 (accessed February 26, 2010).Draft NUREG-1437, Supplement 45 2-122 September 2010 Affected Environment 1 FWS (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS). 2006. "The Horseshoe Crab. Limulus polyphemus. 2 A Living Fossil." Available URL: http:/lwww.fws.qovlnortheast/pdf/horseshoe.fs.pdf (accessed 3 April 9, 2010).4 FWS (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service). 2008. Swamp Pink (Helonias bullata) 5-Year Review: 5 Summary and Evaluation. Available URL: http://www.fws.-ovlecoslaiax/docs/ 6 five year review/doc2006.pdf (accessed May 9, 2010).7 FWS (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service). 2010a. "Federally Listed and Candidate Species in New 8 Jersey." Available URL: http:/lwww.fws.,ov/northeast/nifieldofficelEndanqeredlspecieslist.p~df 9 (accessed May 16, 2010).10 FWS (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service). 2010b. Letter from R. Popowski, Assistant Supervisor, to 11 B. Pham, Branch Chief, NRC.

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Reply to Request for Information on Federally Listed 12 Species in the Vicinity of the Salem and HCGS sites. June 29, 2010. ADAMS No.13 ML101970077. 14 FWS (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service). 2010c. National Wetlands Inventory Wetlands Mapper.15 Available URL: http:l/www.fws.qovlwetlands/Data/Mapper.html (accessed February 10, 2010).16 FWS (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service). 2010d. "Supawna Meadows National Wildlife Refuge." 17 Available URL: http:/lwww.fws.qovlsupawnameadowsl (accessed August 31, 2010).18 FWS (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service). 2010e. "Swamp Pink (Helonias bullata)." Available URL: 19 http://www.fws.govlnortheastlnifieldofficelEndanqeredlswamppink.html (accessed May 10, 20 2010).21 Gloucester County. 2010. "Gloucester County Economic Development" homepage. Available 22 URL: http://www.co.qloucester. ni. us/Government/Departments/EconomicDev/mainnew.cfm 23 (accessed February 5, 2010).24 Greene, K. E., J. L. Zimmerman, R. W. Laney, and J. C. Thomas-Blate. 2009. Atlantic Coast 25 Diadromous Fish Habitat: A Review of Utilization, Threats, Recommendations for Conservation, 26 and Research Needs. Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission Habitat Management Series 27 No. 9. Available URL: http:/lwww.asmfc.orqldiadromousSpeciesDocument.htm (accessed July 28 21,2010).29 Grimes, B.H., M.T. Huish, J.H. Kerby, and D.P Moran. 1989. "Species Profiles: Life Histories 30 and Environmental Requirements of Coastal Fishes and Invertebrates (Mid-Atlantic) -Summer 31 and Winter Flounder." U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Biological Report, 82(11.112), U.S. Army 32 Corps of Engineers, TR EL-82-4. Available URL: http://www.nwrc.usas.qov/wdb/pub/ 33 species profiles/82 11-112.pdf (accessed September 7, 2010).34 Hill, J., D.L. Fowler, and M.J. Van Den Avyle. 1989. "Species Profiles: Life Histories and 35 Environmental Requirements of Coastal Fishes and Invertebrates (Mid-Atlantic) -Blue Crab." 36 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Biological Report, 82(11.100), U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, 37 TR EL-82-4. Available URL: http:llwww.nwrc.usqs.qovlwdblpub/species profiles/82 1 1-100.pdf 38 (accessed September 7, 2010).39 Kraft, H.C. 2001. The Lenape-Delaware Indian Heritage: 10,000 BC to AD 2000. Stanhope, NJ: 40 Lenape Lifeways, Inc.September 2010 2-123 Draft NUREG-1437, Supplement 45 Affected Environment 1 Kraft, H.C. and R. Alan Mounier. 1982. "The Archaic Period in Northern New Jersey" in Olga 2 Chesler (Ed.), New Jersey's Archaeological Resources: A Review of Research Problems and 3 Survey Priorities: The Paleo-lndian Period to Present. Trenton, NJ: Office of New Jersey 4 Heritage.5 LACT (Lower Alloways Creek Township). 1988a. Tax Map, Zone 8, Lower Alloways Creek 6 Township, May 1988. ADAMS No. MLxoooooooo. _... ......... .....- -Comment [BAB15]: need accession no.7 LACT (Lower Alloways Creek Township). 1988b. Tax Map, Zone 14, Lower Alloways Creek 8 Township, May 1988. ADAMS No. IMLxxxxxxoo ._---------------------------------- --f Comment [BAB16]: need accession no.9 LACT (Lower Alloways Creek Township). 1992. Master Plan, Adopted by Lower Alloways 10 Creek Township Planning Board September 17, 1992. ADAMS No. JMLxxxxxxxo .. .... -Comment [BAB17]: need accession no.11 Lassuy, D.R. 1983. "Species Profiles: Life Histories and Environmental Requirements (Gulf of 12 Mexico) -Atlantic Croaker." U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Division of Biological Services, 13 FWS/ORS-82/11.3, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, TR EL-82-4. Available URL: 14 http:l/www.nwrc.usas.qovlwdblpublspecies profiles/82 11-003.pdf (accessed September 7, 15 2010).16 MacKenzie, C., L.S. Weiss-Glanz, and J.R. Moring. 1985. "Species Profiles: Life Histories and 17 Environmental Requirements of Coastal Fishes and Invertebrates (Mid-Atlantic) -American 18 Shad." U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Biological Report, 82(11.37), U.S. Army Corps of 19 Engineers, TR EL-82-4. Available URL: http://www.nwrc.usqs.qovlwdblpub/ 20 species profiles/82 11-037.pdf (accessed September 7, 2010).21 Marshall, S. 1982. "Aboriginal Settlement in New Jersey During the Paleo-lndian Cultural 22 Period: ca. 10,000 B.C. -6,000 B.C." In Olga Chesler (Ed.), New Jersey's Archaeological 23 Resources: A Review of Research Problems and Survey Priorities: The Paleo-lndian Period to 24 Present, State of New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, Natural and Historic 25 Resources, Historic Preservation Office, Trenton, NJ, February 1982.26 MDNR (Maryland Department of Natural Resources). 2008. White Perch Fisheries Management 27 Plan. Available URL: http:/lwww.dnr.state.md.us/fisheries/manaqement/FMP/ 28 FMPWhitePerch04.rdf (accessed February 18, 2010).29 Mercer, L.P. 1989. "Species Profiles: Life Histories and Environmental Requirements of Coastal 30 Fishes and Invertebrates (Mid-Atlantic) -Weakfish." U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Biological 31 Report, 82(11.109), U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, TR EL-82-4. Available URL: 32 http://www.nwrc.usas.,ov/wdblpublspecies profiles/82 11-109.pdf (accessed September 7, 33 2010).34 Moisan, T. A., J. K. Nolan, B. A. Campbell, and E. R. Firestone. 2007. Rising Tides. NASA 35 Goddard Space Flight Center. Available URL: http:/lphytoplankton.qsfc.nasa.gov/risinqtides/pdfl 36 RisingTides Journal-Complete.odf (accessed July 29, 2010).37 Monaco, Mark E. and Ulanowicz, Robert E. 1997. Comparative Ecosystem Trophic Structure 38 of Three US. Mid-Atlantic Estuaries. Marine Ecology Progress Series. Vol. 161: 239-254.39 December 31, 1997. Available URL: http:/lwww.int-res.com/articles/meps/1161/m161p239.pdf 40 (accessed September 7, 2010).41 Morris Land Conservancy. 2006. County of Salem Open Space and Farmland Preservation 42 Plan, Volume 1: Open Space and Recreation Plan. December 2006. Available URL: Draft NUREG-1437, Supplement 45 2-124 September 2010 Affected Environment 1 htto://www.salemcountvnj.,qov/cmssite/downloadsldepartmentslPlanninq Board/9-2 2008/Open%20Space%20and%20Recreation%20PIan%202006.pdf (accessed December 9, 3 2009).4 Morris Land Conservancy. 2008. County of Salem Open Space and Farmland Preservation 5 Plan, Volume 2: Farmland Preservation Plan. August 2008. Available URL: 6 http://www.salemcountyni.qov/cmssite/downloadsldepartmentslPlanning Board/2008Farmland 7 PreservationPlan.pdf (accessed September 7, 2010).8 Morse, W.W. and K.W. Able. 1995. Distribution and Life History of Windowpane, Scophthalmus 9 aquosus, Off the Northeastern United States. Fishery Bulletin, Vol. 93, No. 4, pp. 675-693.10 Available URL: http:/lfishbull.noaa.,ov1934/morse.pdf (accessed September 7, 2010).11 Morton, T. 1989. "Species Profiles: Life Histories and Environmental Requirements of Coastal 12 Fishes and Invertebrates (Mid-Atlantic) -Bay Anchovy." U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 13 Biological Report, 82(11.97). Available URL: http://www.nwrc.usqs.qov/wdb/pub/ 14 species .profiles/82 11-097.pdf (accessed September 7, 2010).15 Najarian Associates. 2004. Hydrological Modeling Analysis for the Hope Creek Generating 16 Station Extended Power Uprate Project. Final Report. Submitted to PSEG, Environmental 17 Health and Safety, Newark, NJ. ADAMS No. MLxxxxxxxxx.I

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-Comment [BAB18]: need accession no.18 NAS (National Audubon Society). 2010. " Mad Horse Creek and Abbots Meadow Wildlife 19 Management Areas/Stowe Creek." Available URL: http://iba.audubon.orq/ibalprofileReport.do? 20 siteld=296 1 &navSite=search& paqerOffset=0&page=1 (accessed February 12, 2010).21 NCES (National Center for Educational Statistics). 2009. "College Navigator." Available URL: 22 http:llnces.ed.qov/colleqenaviqator/?s=NJ&zc=08079&zd=50&of=3&ct=1 (accessed December 23 22, 2009).24 NEFMC (New England Fisheries Management Council). 1998a. "Essential Fish Habitat 25

Description:

Winter flounder (Pleuronectes americanus)." Available URL: 26 http://www.nero.noaa..ov/hcdlwinter.pdf (accessed February 10, 2010).27 NEFMC (New England Fisheries Management Council). 1998b. "Essential Fish Habitat 28

Description:

Windowpane flounder (Scophthalmus aquosus)." Available URL: 29 http:llwww.nero.noaa.,ov/hcd/windowpane.pdf (accessed February 26, 2010).30 NEFMC (New England Fisheries Management Council). 1999. Essential Fish Habitat Overview.31 Available URL: http://www.nefmc.org/ on (accessed August 8, 2006.32 NEFMC (New England Fishery Management Council). 2010. "Northeast Multispecies (Large 33 Mesh/Groundfish) Fishery Management Plan." Available URL: http://www.nefmc.orq/ 34 nemulti/summary/larqe mesh multi.pdf (accessed February 26, 2010).35 NEFSC (Northeast Fisheries Science Center). 2004. 38th Northeast Regional Stock 36 Assessment Workshop (38th SAW) Advisory Report. NEFSC Reference Document 04-04.37 Available URL: http:l/www.nefsc.noaa.,ovlpublications/crdlcrdO4O4/crdO4O4.pdf (accessed 38 September 7, 2010).39 NEFSC (Northeast Fisheries Science Center). 2006a. "Status of Fishery Resources off the 40 Northeastern US: Summer flounder (Paralichthys dentatus)." December 2006. Available URL: 41 http:l/www.nefsc.noaa.,ov/soslspsynlfldrs/summer/ (accessed March 2, 2010.September 2010 2-125 Draft NUREG-1437, Supplement 45 Affected Environment 1 NEFSC (Northeast Fisheries Science Center). 2006b. "Status of Fishery Resources off the 2 Northeastern US: Butterfish (Peprilus triacanthus)." December 2006. Available URL: 3 http://www.nefsc.noaa.qovlsos/spsyn/oplbutterl (accessed February 26. 2010).4 NERC (North American Electric Reliability Council). 2006. "Standard FAC-003-1 -5 Transmission Vegetation Management Program." Available URL: http:llwww.nerc.com/ 6 files/FAC-003-1.odf (accessed April 7, 2010).7 New Castle County. 2007. "11. Future Land Use and Design," in 2007 New Castle County 8 Comprehensive Development Plan. July 24, 2007. Available URL: 9 httpi):/www2.nccde.orqq/landuse/documents/PlanninqComprehensivePlanDocuments/Sectionll-10 FutureLandUse.pdf (accessed December 17, 2009).11 N.J.A.C. (New Jersey Administrative Code). 7:26. Solid & Hazardous Waste Rules 12 N.J.A.C. (New Jersey Administrative Code). 7:1.4 Water Pollution ControlAct 13 Newberger, T. A. and E. D. Houde. 1995. "Population Biology of Bay Anchovy Anchoa mitchilli 14 in the Mid Chesapeake Bay." Marine Ecology Progress Series, Vol. 116, pp. 25-37. Available 15 URL: http:llwww.int-res.comlarticleslmeps/1 16/m1 16p025.pdf (accessed September 7, 2010).16 NJAW (New Jersey American Water). 2010. 2008 Annual Water Quality Report. Available 17 URL: http:/lwww.amwater.comlniawlensurinaq-water-qualitylwater-quality-reports.html (accessed 18 February 24, 2010).19 NJ-BPU (New Jersey Board of Public Utilities). 2009. "New Jersey Board of Public Utilities 20 Proposed Amendments to the Electric Service Rules -Electric Utility Line Vegetation 21 Management, N.J.A.C. 14:5-9.2 and 9.6, BPU Docket #EX0804235." Available URL: 22 http:/lwww.state.ni*.usbpu/pdf/rulesNeq/%20Mqmt%20Amendments%20-%20Proposalý%20-23 %20COURTESY%20COPY%20(5%20-%208%20-%2009).pdf (accessed August 23, 2010).24 NJDEP (New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection). 2001 a. Final Surface Water 25 Renewal Permit Action for Industrial Wastewater, Salem Generating Station, NJPDES Permit 26 No. NJ0005622. June 2001. Provided in Appendix B of Applicant's Environmental Report 27 (PSEG, 2009a).28 NJDEP (New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection). 2001b. Field Guide to Reptiles 29 and Amphibians of New Jersey. 1" Edition. February 2001. Available URL: 30 http:llwww.state.na.us/deplfqwlensplpdflfroqs.pdf (accessed August 20, 2010).31 NJDEP (New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection). 2002a. Fact Sheet for a Draft 32 NJPDES Permit Including Section 316 (a) variance determination and Section 316(b) decision, 33 Trenton, NJ, November 2002. ADAMS No. jMLxxxxxxxxx.--------------------------- .( Comment [BAB19]: need accession no.34 NJDEP (New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection). 2002b. Hope Creek Generating 35 Station Permit No. NJ002541 1, Surface Renewal Water Permit Action, Draft Permit and Fact 36 Sheet and Statement of Bases, Trenton, NJ, November 2002. ýDAMS No. MLxxxxxxxxx.j------. -Comment [BAB20]: need accession no.37 NJDEP (New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection). 2003. Final Consolidated 38 Renewal Permit Action for Industrial Wastewater and Stormwater, Hope Creek Generating 39 Station, NJPDES Permit No. NJ002541 1, January 2003. Provided in Appendix B of Applicant's 40 Environmental Report (PSEG, 2009a).Draft N UREG-1 437, Supplement 45 2-126 September 2010 Affected Environment 1 NJDEP (New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection). 2004. 'Water Allocation Permit 2 -Minor Modification," Permit No. WAP040001. December 2004. ADAMS No. MVlLXXXXXXxx, ......... -Comment [BAB21]: need accession no.3 NJDEP (New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection). 2005a. Annual Summary of 4 Phytoplankton Blooms and Related Conditions in the New Jersey Coastal Waters: Summer of 5 2005. Available URL: http:llwww.state.ni.usldep/bmwlReports/Phyto2OO5Final.pdf (accessed 6 September 7, 2010).7 NJDEP (New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection). 2005b. "Estuarine Algal 8 Conditions" in Environmental Trends Report. Available URL: 9 http:llwww.ni.oovldepldsr/trends20051pdfslalgal.pdf (accessed September 7, 2010).10 NJDEP (New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection). 2005c. Final Surface Water 11 Major Mod Permit Action -Clarification of BOD and TSS Minimum Percent Removal Limits, 12 Hope Creek Generating Station, NJPDES Permit No. NJ0025411, January 31, 2005. ADAMS 13 No. IMLx ..oooo. .--------------------------------------------------------- -..-. Comment [BAB22]: need accession no.14 NJDEP (New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection). 2005d. Locations of 15 Anadromous American Shad and River Herring During Their Spawning Period in New Jersey's 16 Freshwaters Including Known Migratory Impediments and Fish Ladders. March 2005. Available 17 URL: http:/lwww.state.ni.us/depl/fqwlpdf/anadromouswaters.pdf (accessed September 7, 2010).18 NJDEP (New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection). 2007. Determination of 19 Perfluorooctanoic Acid (PFOA) in Aqueous Samples. Final Report. January 2007. Available 20 URL: http:/lwww.state.ni.us/deplwatersupply/final pfoa report.pdf (accessed April 23, 2010).21 NJDEP (New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection). 2009a. Ambient Air Monitoring 22 Network Plan 2009. June 2009. Available URL: http:/lwww.state.ni.usldeplairmonl2007net.odf 23 (accessed February 26, 2010).24 NJDEP (New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection). 2009b. Operating Permit 25 Renewal Application, Administrative Completeness -with Application Shield, Permit Activity No.26 BOP080003, December 2009. ADAMS No. IMLxxxxxxxx.

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--Comment [BAB23]: need accession no.27 NJDEP (New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection). 2010a. "Attainment Areas 28 Status." Available URL: http:/lwww.state.ni.us/dep/baqp/aas.html (accessed February 26, 29 2010).30 NJDEP (New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection). 201 Ob. "Division of Land Use 31 Regulation." Available URL: http:l/www.ni.qov/depllandusel (accessed February 24, 2010).32 NJDEP (New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection). 2010c. "DEP Data Miner." 33 Query Results for Enforcement Actions Issued at Site ID:15647 Between 1/01/2000 and 34 8/12/2010. Available URL: http:l/datamine2.state.ni.us/deplDEP OPRA/ (accessed August 12, 35 2010).36 NJDFW (New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife). 2004. "Bog Turtle -November 2003 37 Species of the Month." October 2004. Available URL: 38 http://www.state.ni.us/dep/fqw/enso/somnov.htm (accessed February 26, 2010).39 NJDFW (New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife). 2009a. 'Wildlife Management Areas." 40 Available URL: htto://www.state.ni.us./deplfqw/wmaland.htm (accessed May 18, 2010).September 2010 2-127 Draft NUREG-1437, Supplement 45 Affected Environment 1 NJDFW (New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife). 2009b. "The 2009 Osprey Project in New 2 Jersey," Endangered and Nongame Species Program. Available URL: 3 http://www.conservewildlifeni.or-qldownloads/cwn' 13.pdf (accessed February 18, 2010).4 NJDFW (New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife). 2010a. "Bog Turtle, Clemmys 5 muhlenbergii." Available URL: http://www.state. no. us/deo/foqw/enso/pdf/end-thrtened/boqtrtl. pdf 6 (accessed May 9, 2010).7 NJDFW (New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife). 2010b. "New Jersey Bog Turtle Project." 8 Available URL: http://www.state.na.us/depf/qw/boqturt.htm (accessed February 26, 2010).9 NJDFW (New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife). 2010d. "Bog Turtle Habitat Management 10 and Restoration Slide Show." Available URL: http://www.state.ni.us/dep/f-qw/slideshows/ 11 boqturtle/boqtrtintro.htm (accessed February 26, 2010).12 NJDLWD (New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Developmentt (NJDLWD). 2010a.13 Southern Regional Community Fact Book, Cumberland County Edition. February 2010.14 Available URL: http://lwd.dol.state.na.us/labor/loa/pub/factbook/cumfct.odf (accessed April 28, 15 2010).16 NJDLWD (New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development). 2010b. Southern 17 Regional Community Fact Book, Gloucester County Edition. February 2010. Available URL: 18 http://lwd.dol.state.n'.us/labor/lpa/pub/factbookl/lcfct.pdf (accessed April 28, 2010).19 NJDLWD (New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development). 2010c. Southern 20 Regional Community Fact Book, Salem County Edition. February 2010. Available URL: 21 http:/llwd.dol.state.ni.usllabor/lpa/pub/factbook/slmfct.pdf (accessed April 28, 2010).22 NJDOE (New Jersey Department of Education (NJDOE). 2010. "DOE Data: 2008-2009 23 Enrollment" for Cumberland, Gloucester, and Salem Counties. Available URL: 24 http://www.no.qov/education/datalenr/enrO9/county.htm (accessed January 15, 2010).25 NJDOT (New Jersey Department of Transportation). 2009. "2009 Short Term Counts Stations 26 List with Annual Average Daily Traffic Data." Available URL: 27 http://www.state.ni.us/transportation/refdata/roadwav/pdf/StationListinq09.pdf (accessed March 28 23, 2010).29 NJPC (New Jersey Pinelands Commission). 2010. "The Pinelands National Reserve: Our 30 Country's First National Reserve." Available URL: http:l/www.state.ni.uslpinelands/reserve/ 31 (accessed August 20, 2010).32 Lathrop, R. G. and J. F. Bunnell. 2009. New Jersey Pinelands Electric-Transmission 33 Right-of-Way Vegetation-Management Plan. March 2009. Available URL: 34 http:l/www.state.ni.us/pinelands/science/complete/row/Final ROW Report 033109.pdf 35 (accessed September 7, 2010).36 NJSA (New Jersey State Atlas). 2008. "New Jersey Land Change Viewer: Interactive Maps." 37 Available URL: http://nistateatlas.com/luc/ (accessed February 8, 2010).38 NJWSC (New Jersey Water Science Center). 2009. "Major Aquifers in New Jersey." Available 39 URL: http://ni.us-s.qov/infodata/aquifers/ (accessed February 24, 2010).40 NMFS (National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS). 1998. Final Recovery Plan for the Shortnose 41 Sturgeon (Acipenserbrevirostrum). December 1998. Available URL: Draft NUREG-1437, Supplement 45 2-128 September 2010 Affected Environment 1 htto://www.nmfs.noaa.qov/pr/odfs/recovery/sturqeon shortnose.pdf (accessed September 7, 2 2010).3 NMFS (National Marine Fisheries Service). 2008. Biennial Report to Congress on on the 4 Recovery Program for Threatened and Endangered Species, October 1, 2006 -September 30, 5 2008. Available URL: http://www.nmfs.noaa.,ov/pr/pdfs/lawslesabiennial2OO8.pdf (accessed 6 September 7, 2010).7 NMFS (National Marine Fisheries Service). 2009. "Species of Concern: River Herring (Alewife 8 and Blueback Herring) Alosa pseudohamgus and A. aestivalis." Available URL: 9 http:/lwww.nmfs.noaa.,ov/lrlpdfs/species/riverherring detailed.pDdf (accessed February 17, 10 2010).11 NMFS (National Marine Fisheries Service). 2010a. Letter from S. W. Gorski, Field Offices 12 Supervisor, Habitat Conservation Division, and James J. Howard Marine Sciences Laboratory, 13 to B. Pham, Branch Chief, NRC.

Subject:

Letter Responding to NRC's Request For Information 14 on Essential Fish Habitat Designated in the Vicinity of the Salem and HCGS Facilities. February 15 23, 2010. ADAMS No. ML101970072. 16 NMFS (National Marine Fisheries Service). 2010b. Letter from M. A. Colligan, Assistant 17 Regional Administator for Protected Resources, Northeast Region, to B. Pham, Branch Chief, 18 NRC.

Subject:

Response to NRC's request for Information on the Presence of Species Listed 19 by NMFS as Threatened or Endangered That May Occur in the Vicinity of the Salem and HCGS 20 Facilities. February 11, 2010. ADAMS No. ML101970073. 21 NMFS (National Marine Fisheries Service). 2010c. "Marine Turtles." Available URL: 22 http:/lwww.nmfs.noaa.qov/pr/species/turtles/ (accessed February 23, 2010).23 NMFS and FWS (National Marine Fisheries Service and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service). 2007a.24 Leatherback Sea Turtle (Dermochelys coriacea) 5-Year Review: Summary and Evaluation. 25 Available URL: http://www.nmfs.noaa.qov/pr/pdfs/species/leatherback 5yearreview.odf 26 (accessed May 6, 2010).27 NMFS and FWS (National Marine Fisheries Service and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service). 2007b.28 Kemp's Ridley Sea Turtle (Lepidochelys kempii) 5-Year Review: Summary and Evaluation. 29 Available URL: http://www.nmfs.noaa.,ov/pr/pdfs/species/kemosridley 5yearreview.pdf 30 (accessed May 5, 2010).31 NMFS and FWS (National Marine Fisheries Service and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service). 2007c.32 Green Sea Turtle (Chelonia mydas) 5-Year Review: Summary and Evaluation. Available URL: 33 http://www.nmfs.noaa.,ov/Dr/pdfslspecies/lreenturtle 5yearreview.odf (accessed May 5 2010).34 NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). 1999a. Essential Fish 35 Habitat Source Document: Winter Flounder, Pseudopleuronectes americanus, Life History and 36 Habitat Characteristics. NOAA Technical Memorandum NMFS-NE-138. September 1999.37 Available URL: http://www.nefsc.noaa.qov/publications/tm/tm138/tm138.pdf (accessed May 5, 38 2010.39 NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration). 1999b. Essential Fish Habitat 40 Source Document: Windowpane, Scophthalmus aquosus, Life History and Habitat 41 Characteristics. NOAA Technical Memorandum NMFS-NE-137. September 1999. Available 42 URL: http://www.nefsc.noaa.qov/publications/tm/tm137/tm137.pdf (accessed May 5, 2010).September 2010 2-129 Draft NUREG-1437, Supplement 45 Affected Environment 1 NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration). 1999c. Essential Fish Habitat 2 Source Document: Summer Flounder, Paralichthys dentatus, Life History and Habitat 3 Characteristics. NOAA Technical Memorandum NMFS-NE-151. September 1999. Available 4 URL: http://www.nefsc.noaa.qov/publications/tm/tm151/tm151.pdf (accessed May 5, 2010.5 NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration). 1999d. Essential Fish Habitat 6 Source Document: Butterfish, Peprilus triacanthus, Life History and Habitat Characteristics. 7 NOAA Technical Memorandum NMFS-NE-145. September 1999. Available URL: 8 http://www.nefsc.noaa.gov/publications/tm/tm145/tm145.pdf (accessed September 7, 2010).9 NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration). 2003a. "Essential Fish Habitat 10 Source Document: Clearnose Skate, Raja eglanteria, Life History and Habitat Characteristics." 11 NOAA Technical Memorandum NMFS-NE-174/ March 2003. Available URL: 12 http://www.nefsc.noaa.qov/publications/tm/tm174/index.htm (accessed May 6, 2010).13 NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration). 2003b. Essential Fish Habitat 14 Source Document: Little Skate, Leucoraja erinacea, Life History and Habitat Characteristics. 15 NOAA Technical Memorandum NMFS-NE-175. March 2003. Available URL: 16 http://www.nefsc.noaa.,ov/publications/tm/tml75/index.htm (accessed May 6, 2010).17 NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration). 2003c. Essential Fish Habitat 18 Source Document: Winter Skate, Leucoraja ocellata, Life History and Habitat Characteristics. 19 NOAA Technical Memorandum NMFS-NE-179. March 2003. Available URL: 20 http://www.nefsc.noaa..ov/nefsc/publications/tm/tm179/ (accessed June 21, 2010).21 NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration). 2004. "Monthly Station Climate 22 Summaries: Climatography of the United States No. 20, 1971-2000." Available URL: 23 http://www.ncdc.noaa.qov/oa/documentlibrary/pdf/eis/clim2Oeis.pdf (accessed September 7, 24 2010).25 NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration). 2006. Essential Fish Habitat 26 Source Document: Bluefish, Pomatomus saltatrix, Life History and Habitat Characteristics, 27 Second Edition. NOAA Technical Memorandum NMFS-NE-198. June 2006. Available URL: 28 http://www.nefsc.noaa.qov/publications/tm/tml98/tm198.pdf (accessed June 21, 2010).29 NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration). 2008. "Climate of New Jersey, 30 Introduction." ýAvailableURL: (accessed DATE). -----------------

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-Comment [BAB24]: need reference source.3 no URL provided.31 32 NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration). 2009b. "Species of Concern: 33 Atlantic sturgeon (Acipenser oxytinchus oxyrinchus)." Available URL: 34 http://www.nmfs.noaa.qov/pr/pdfs/species/atlanticsturcieon detailed.pdf (accessed April 13, 35 2010).36 NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration). 2010a. Locate Weather Station 37 Record" for Salem County, NJ. Available URL: 38 http://www.ncdc.noaa.,ov/oa/climate/stationlocator.html (accessed February 26, 2010).39 NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration). 2010b. "Storm Events." Query 40 Results for Salem County, NJ. Available URL: http://www4.ncdc.noaa.qov/cqi-41 win/wwcqi.dllwwEvent-Storms (accessed February 26, 2010).Draft NUREG-1437, Supplement 45 2-130 September 2010 Affected Environment 1 NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration). 2010c. "Event Record Details, 2 Salem County, NJ." ývAvailable URL: (accessed DATE)------------------------------ 3 NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration). 2010d. "NCDC Station List within 4 25 Miles of Woodstown, NJ." Ivailable URL: (accessed DATE). [ ................. 5 NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration). 2010e. "Summary of Essential Fish 6 Habitat (EFH) Designation: 10' x 10' Square Coordinates." Available URL: 7 http://www.nero.noaa.,ov/hcd/STATES4/new iersey/39207530.html (accessed May 16, 2010).8 NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration). 2010f. "Summary of Essential Fish 9 Habitat (EFH) Designation: Delaware Bay, New Jersey/Delaware." Available URL: 10 http://www.nero.noaa.-ov/hcd/ni2.html (accessed February 25, 2010).11 NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration). 2010g. "Essential Fish Habitat for 12 Summer flounder (Paralichthys dentatus)." Available URL: 13 http://www.nero.noaa.,ov/hcd/summerflounder.htm (accessed March 1, 2010).14 NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration). 2010i. "Loggerhead Turtle (Caretta 15 caretta)." Available URL: http://www.nmfs.noaa.,ov/lrlspecies/turtlesllogaerhead.htm 16 (accessed May 5, 2010).17 NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration). 2010j. "Shortnose Sturgeon 18 (Acipenser brevirostrum)." Available URL: 19 http://www.nmfs.noaa.,ov/Ipr/species/fishlshortnosesturgeon.htm (accessed May 5, 2010.20 NPS (National Park Service (NPS). 2006a. "Pinelands National Reserve, New Jersey." 21 Available URL: http:/lwww.nps.gov/pine/index.htm (accessed September 7, 2010).22 NRC (U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC). 1984. Final Environmental Statement 23 Related to the Operation of Hope Creek Generating Station. NUREG-1074, Washington D.C.24 Docket Number 50-354. December 1984. ADAMS No. [MLxxxxxxxOO4. 25 NRC (U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission). 2005. Order Modifying License for Hope Creek 26 and Salem Generating Stations Independent Spent Fuel Storage Installation. Docket 27 No. 72-48. May 2005. ADAMS No. ML050940497. 28 NRC (U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission). 2007. Essential Fish Habitat for an Extended 29 Power Uprate at Hope Creek Generating Station. June 2007. Docket No. 50-354. ADAMS 30 Accession No. ML071520463. 31 NRCS (Natural Resources Conservation Service). 2010. Web Soil Survey -National 32 Cooperative Soil Survey. Available URL: http://websoilsurvey.nrcs.usda._qov/app/ 33 HomePaae.htm (accessed February 10, 2010).34 NRHP (National Register of Historic Places). 2010. "Delaware -New Castle County." 35 Available URL: http:/lwww.nationalreqisterofhistoricplaces.comlde/New+Castle/state. html 36 (accessed April 9, 2010).37 NYNHP (New York Natural Heritage Program). 2009. "Atlantic silverside." Available URL: 38 http://www.acris.nvnhp.orq/report.php?id=7304 (accessed February 25, 2010)."1 Comment [BAB25]: need reference source./ URL not valid.Comment [BAB26]: need reference source.URL not valid.--Comment [BAB27]: need accession no.September 2010 2-131 Draft NUREG-1437, Supplement 45 Affected Environment 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 Ortho-Rodgers. 2002. "Planning for the Future: A Summary of Cumberland County Planning Initiatives," Prepared for the Cumberland County Department of Planning and Development. October 2002. ývailable URL-(accessed D ATE)-1 ..- .......................... ..PFBC (Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission). 2010. "Chapter 21: Temperate Basses, Family Moronidae" in Pennsylvania Fishes. Available URL: http:/lfishandboat.comlpafish/fishhtms/chap)21.htm (accessed February 18, 2010).Phillips, J.M., M.T. Huish, J.H. Kerby, and D.P. Moran. 1989. "Species Profiles: Life Histories and Environmental Requirements of Coastal Fishes and Invertebrates (Mid-Atlantic) -Spot." U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Biological Report, 82(11.98), U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, TR EL-82-4. Available URL: http://www.nwrc.us-s.-qovlwdb/pub/species profiles/82 11-098.pdf (accessed September 7, 2010).Pottern, G.B., M.T. Huish, and J.H. Kerby. 1989. "Species Profiles: Life Histories and Environmental Requirements of Coastal Fishes and Invertebrates (Mid-Atlantic) -Bluefish." U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Biological Report, 82(11.94), U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, TR EL-82-4. Available URL: http://www.nwrc.usas.gov/wdb/pub/species profiles/82 11-094.pdf (accessed September 7, 2010).PSEG (PSEG Nuclear, LLC). 1983. "Hope Creek Generating Station, Applicant's Environmental Report -Operating License Stage," Volume 1, March 1983. ADAMS No. MLxxxxxxx._ PSEG (PSEG Nuclear, LLC). 1984. Salem Generating Station 316(b) Demonstration, NPDES Permit No. NJ0005622. ADAMS No. IMLxxxxxx .-------------------------------- PSEG (PSEG Nuclear, LLC). 1999. Permit Renewal Application, NJPDES Permit No.NJ0005622, Salem Generating Station, March 1999. ADAMS No. MLxxxxx 0 ............ ..... ..... ..... ....PSEG (PSEG Nuclear, LLC). 2004a. "Remedial Action Work Plan," PSEG Nuclear, LLC, Salem Generating Station, Hancock's Bridge, NJ. July 2004. ADAMS No. IMLXXxxx .------------ PSEG (PSEG Nuclear, LLC). 2004b. "Alloway Creek Watershed Phragmites-Dominated Wetland Restoration Management Plan," Public Service Enterprise Group, Newark, NJ, February 17, 2004. ADAMS No. MLXxoooooo I ........ ...... ......... ........ ........ ............. PSEG (PSEG Nuclear, LLC). 2005a. Salem and Hope Creek Generating Stations 2004 Annual Radiological Environmental Operating Report. ADAMS Accession No. ML051260140. PSEG (PSEG Nuclear, LLC). 2006a. Hope Creek Generating Station -Updated Final Safety Analysis Report. Revision 15. October 2006. ADAMS No. KMLXX.xxxxx ......................... PSEG (PSEG Nuclear, LLC). 2006b. Salem and Hope Creek Generating Stations 2005 Annual Radiological Environmental Operating Report. ADAMS Accession No. ML061300067. PSEG (PSEG Nuclear, LLC). 2006c. Salem NJPDES Permit Renewal Application, NJPDES Permit No. NJ0005622, Public Service Enterprise Group, Newark, NJ, February 2006. ADAMS N o .[M .... ... .. .. ....... .. ...... .. .. ... ......... .. ......................... PSEG (PSEG Nuclear, LLC). 2007a. Salem Generating Station -Updated Final Safety Analysis Report. Revision 23. October 2007. ADAMS No. MLxxxxxxxxx,. PSEG (PSEG Nuclear, LLC). 2007b. Salem and Hope Creek Generating Stations 2006 Annual Radiological Environmental Operating Report. ADAMS Accession No. ML071230112. -. --[ Comment [BAB28]: need source for this reference. ... -Comment [BAB29]: need accession no. ].-Comment [BAB30]: need accession no..Comment [BAB31]: need accession no..Comment [BAB32]: need accession no. _..- --[ Comment [BAB33]: need accession no.-( --Comment [BAB34]: need accession no.-f [Comment [BAB35]: need accession no..-" Comment [BAB36]: need accession no.Draft NUREG-11437, Supplement 45 2-132 September 2010 Affected Environment 1 2 PSEG (PSEG Nuclear, LLC). 2008a. Salem and Hope Creek Generating Stations 2007 Annual Radiological Environmental Operating Report. ADAMS Accession No. ML081280737. 3 PSEG (PSEG Nuclear, LLC). 2008b. "2007 Hazardous Waste Report," Lower Alloways Creek 4 Township, NJ, February 2008. ADAMS No. MLxxxxxxxxx.L

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5 PSEG (PSEG Nuclear, LLC). 2009a. Salem Nuclear Generating Station, Units 1 and 2, License 6 Renewal Application, Appendix E -Applicant's Environmental Report -Operating License 7 Renewal Stage. Lower Alloways Creek Township, NJ, August 2009, ADAMS Accession Nos.8 ML092400532, ML092400531, ML092430231. 9 PSEG (PSEG Nuclear, LLC). 2009b. Hope Creek Generating Station, License Renewal 10 Application, Appendix E -Applicant's Environmental Report -Operating License Renewal 11 Stage. Lower Alloways Creek Township, NJ, August 2009, ADAMS Accession No.12 ML092430389. 13 PSEG (PSEG Nuclear, LLC). 2009c. Salem and Hope Creek Generating Stations 2008 Annual 14 Radiological Environmental Operating Report. ADAMS Accession No. ML091200612. _ --J Comment [BAB37]: need accession no.15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 PSEG (PSEG Nuclear, LLC). 2009d. Salem Generating Station -Updated Final Safety Analysis Report. Revision 24. May 11, 2009. ADAMS No. MLxxxxxxxxk._..... PSEG (PSEG Nuclear, LLC). 2009e. Quarterly Remedial Action Progress Report, Fourth Quarter 2008: PSEG Nuclear, LLC, Salem Generating Station. May 26, 2009. ADAMS Accession No. ML091690304. PSEG (PSEG Nuclear, LLC). 2010a. Salem and Hope Creek Generating Stations 2009 Annual Radiological Environmental Operating Report. ADAMS Accession No. ML101241151. -I -Comment [BAB38]: need accession no.PSEG (PSEG Nuclear, LLC). 2010b. Salem and Hope Creek Generating Stations Hazardous Waste Generator Status for 2009. March 2010. ADAMS No. [MLxxxxxxxxý .--------------- PSEG (PSEG Nuclear, LLC). 2010c. Transmission system landcover map with table of acreages by landcover type. Provided to NRC by PSEG on August 20, 2010 in response to an NRC request for additional information. ADAMS No. MLxxxxxxxxx.I

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PSEG (PSEG Nuclear, LLC). 2010d. Table 2.6-2 Update, "Residential Distribution of Salem Employees;" Table 2.6-2 Update, "Residential Distribution of Hope Creek Employees;" and Table 2.6-2a, "Residential Distribution of Salem/Hope Creek Staffs who are Matrixed and Corporate Employees.". ADAMS No. ML101440272. PSEG (PSEG Nuclear, LLC). 2010e. Update to Table 2.7-1, "Tax Information for Salem and Hope Creek Generating Station and the Energy and Environmental Resource Center, 2003-2009," ADAMS No. ML101440272. PSEG (PSEG Nuclear, LLC). 2010f. Letter from D. Lewis, Nuclear Development Project Director, and P. Davidson, Vice President of Operations Support, to Document Control Desk, NRC.

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Application for Early Site Permit for the PSEG Site. May 25, 2010. ADAMS No.ML101480484. Rogers, S.G., and M.J. Van Den Avyle. 1989. "Species Profiles: Life Histories and Environmental Requirements of Coastal Fishes and Invertebrates (Mid-Atlantic) -Atlantic Menhaden." U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Biological Report, 82(11.108), U.S. Army Corps of_. -Comment [BAB39]: need accession no..Comment [BAB40]: Need accession no. 1l Delete highlighted sentence after accession no.found.September 2010 2-133 Draft NUREG-1437, Supplement 45 Affected Environment 1 Engineers, TR EL-82-4. Available URL: http://www.nwrc.usqs.qov/wdb/pub/ 2 species profiles/82 11-108.odf (accessed September 7, 2010).3 Rosenau, J.C., S.M. Lang, G.S. Hilton, and J.G. Rooney. 1969. Geology and Ground-water 4 Resources of Salem County, New Jersey. New Jersey Department of Conservation and 5 Economic Development Special Report 33.6 Rukenstein & Associates. 2004. "Smart Growth Plan, Delaware River and 1-295/NJ Turnpike 7 Planned Growth Corridor, Salem County, New Jersey." Available URL: (accessed December 9, 8 2009)]g---------------------- --.-.-----.------

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-. -Comment [BAB41],: cannot find source. URL Lwas invalid.9 SADC (State Agriculture Development Committee). 2009. "New Jersey Farmland Preservation 10 Program: Summary of Preserved Farmland." Available URL: http://www.ni.qov/aqriculture/sadc/ 11 farmpreserve/oroqress/stats/preservedsummary.pdf (accessed December 10, 2009).12 Salem County. 2007. Salem County, New Jersey: An Economic Resource Guide. Available 13 URL: http://www.salemcountvni.qov/cmssite/downloads/new%20tourism/Salem Co NJ06.pdf 14 (accessed April 27, 2010).15 Salem County. 2008. "Salem County Farmland Preservation Plan." August, 2008. Available 16 URL: http://www.salemcountyni.qov/cmssite/default.aso?contentlD=1 103 (accessed February 17 24,2010).18 Sellers, M.A. and J. G. Stanley. 1984. "Species Profiles: Life Histories and Environmental 19 Requirements of Coastal Fishes and Invertebrates (North Atlantic) -American Oyster." U.S.20 Fish and Wildlife Service, Division of Biological Services, FWS/OBS-82/11.23, U.S. Army Corps 21 of Engineers, TR EL-82-4. Available URL: http://www.nwrc.us-as.-pov/wdb/pub/ 22 species profiles/82 11-023.0df (accessed September 7, 2010).23 SMS (Smithsonian Marine Station). 2008. "Anchoa mitchi/li." Available URL: 24 http://www.sms.si.edu/irlSpec/Anchoa mitchilli.htm (accessed February 18, 2010).25 Stanley, J.G. and D.S. Danie. 1983. "Species Profiles: Life Histories and Environmental 26 Requirements of Coastal Fishes and Invertebrates (North Atlantic) -White Perch." U.S. Fish 27 and Wildlife Service, Division of Biological Services, FWS/OBS-82/11.7, U.S. Army Corps of 28 Engineers, TR EL-82-4. Available URL: http://www.nwrc.usqs.-qov/wdb/pub/ 29 species profiles/82 11-007.pdf (accessed September 7, 2010).30 Sutton, C.C., J.C. O'Herron, II, and R.T. Zappalorti. 1996. The Scientific Characterization of the 31 Delaware Estuary. Performed for the Delaware Estuary Program, Delaware River Basin 32 Commission (DRBC) Project # 321. Available URL: 33 http://www.delawareestuary.or-qp/df/ScienceReportsbvPDEandDELEP/PDE-DELEP-Report 34 02-SciChar.pdf (accessed September 7, 2010).35 TetraTech. 2009. "Salem/Hope Creek Generating Station Calculation Package for Ground 36 Water Pumpage, Salem & Hope Creek Generating Station," TetraTech NUS, Aiken, SC, 37 February 23, 2009.38 UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization). 2010. "Biosphere 39 Reserve Information -New Jersey Pinelands." Available URL: http://www.unesco.orq/mabdb/ 40 br/brdir/directory/biores. asp?mode=all&code=USA+43 (accessed September 7, 2010).Draft NUREG-1 437, Supplement 45 2-134 September 2010 Affected Environment 1 USACE (U.S. Army Corps of Engineers). 1992. Delaware River Comprehensive Navigational 2 Study. Main Channel Deepening. Final Interim Feasibility Study and Environmental Impact 3 Statement. February 1992. http:llwww. nap. usace.army. mil/cenap-pl/fifr. pdf: (accessed 4 September 7, 2010).5 USACE (U.S. Army Corps of Engineers). 2007. Delaware Bay Oyster Restoration Project, 6 Delaware and New Jersey, Final Environmental Assessment. June 2007. Available URL: 7 http://www.nap.usace.army.mil/Proiects/oyster/FINALoysterEAO8.podf (accessed September 7, 8 2010).9 USACE (U.S. Army Corps of Engineers). 2009. Delaware River Main Stem and Channel 10 Deepening Project Environmental Assessment April 2009. Available URL: 11 http://www.nap.usace.army.mil/cenap-pl/MainChannel EA 3AprO9.pdf (accessed February 19 12 2010).13 USCB (U.S. Census Bureau (USCB). 1995a. "New Jersey, Population of Counties by Decennial 14 Census: 1900 to 1990." Available URL: 15 http://www. census.qov/population/cencounts/ni 1 90090.txt (accessed May 12, 2010).16 USCB (U.S. Census Bureau). 1995b. "Delaware, Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 17 1900 to 1990." Available URL: http://www.census.qov/population/cencounts/de190090.txt 18 (accessed May 12, 2010).19 USCB (U.S. Census Bureau). 2000b. "Demographic Profile" for Cumberland, Gloucester, and 20 Salem Counties, New Jersey, and New Castle County, Delaware. Available URL: 21 http://factfinder.census.qov/servlet/DatasetMainPageServlet? program=ACS& submenuld=& I 22 anq=en& ts= (accessed December 09, 2009).23 USCB (U.S. Census Bureau). 2000c. "H1. Housing Units [1] -Universe: Housing units. Data 24 Set: Census 2000 Summary File 1 (SF1) 100-Percent Data" and "H5. Vacancy Status [7] -25 Universe: Vacant housing units." Data Set: Census 2000 Summary File 1 (SF1) 100-Percent 26 Data" for Cumberland, Gloucester, Salem Counties, State of New Jersey, New Castle County, 27 and State of Delaware. Available URL: http:llfactfinder.census.qovl (accessed May 14, 2010).28 USCB (U.S. Census Bureau). 2000d. "P4. Hispanic or Latino, and not Hispanic or Latino by 29 Race [73] -Universe: Total population. Data Set: Census 2000 Summary File 1 (SF 1)30 100-Percent Data." Available URL: http://facffinder.census.qovl (accessed May 14, 2010).31 USCB (U.S. Census Bureau). 2006. "Nonemployer Statistics, 2006 Total for all Sectors Salem 32 County, NJ." Available URL: http:/lwww.census.,ov/epcd/nonemployer/20061ni/NJO33.HTM 33 (accessed May 5, 2010).34 USCB (U.S. Census Bureau). 2010a. 2006-2008 American Community Survey 3-Year 35 Estimates for Cumberland, Gloucester, and Salem Counties and New Jersey; New Castle 36 County and Delaware, Selected Economic Characteristics. Available URL: 37 http://factfinder.census.qov (accessed April 28, 2010).38 USCB (U.S. Census Bureau). 2010b. "GCT-T1. Population Estimates, New Jersey County, 39 Data Set: 2009 Population Estimates." Available URL: http://factfinder.census.qov (accessed 40 May 12, 2010).September 2010 2-135 Draft NUREG-1437, Supplement 45 Affected Environment 1 USCB (U.S. Census Bureau). 2010c. "State & County QuickFacts" for Cumberland, 2 Gloucester, and Salem Counties, New Jersey and New Castle County, Delaware, April 22, 3 2010. Available URL: http://quickfacts.census.qovlqfd (accessed April 27, 2010).4 USDA (U.S. Department of Agriculture). 2007. "Table 7. Hired Farm Labor- Workers and 5 Payroll: 2007," Volume 1, Chapter 2: County Level Data; Delaware, New Jersey, and 6 Pennsylvania, the Census of Agriculture." Available URL: http://www.aqcensus.usda.,ov/ 7 Publications/2007/Full Report/Volume

1. Chapter 2 County Level/Maryland/st24 2 007 007 8 Pdf (accessed December 17, 2009).9 USGS (U.S. Geological Survey). 2007. "Summary of the Ground Water Level Hydrologic 10 Conditions in New Jersey, Water Year 2006." June 2007. Available URL: 11 http:llpubs.usqs.qov/fs12007/3049/pdf/fs2007-3049.pdf (accessed September 7, 2010).12 Versar (Versar, Inc.). 1991. An Assessment of Key Biological Resources in the Delaware 13 Estuary. Performed for the Delaware Estuary Program. Available URL: 14 http://www.nap.usace.army.millcenap-pl/b13.pdf (accessed February 11 2010).15 Walker, R.L. 1983. Evaluation of Water Levels in Major Aquifers of the New Jersey Coastal 16 Plain, 1978. U.S. Geological Survey Water Resources Investigations Report 82 4077. Available 17 URL: http://lubs.er.usqs.aov/publicationlwri824077 (accessed September 3, 2010).18 Weiss-Glanz, L.S., J.G. Stanley, and J.R. Moring. 1986. "Species Profiles:

Life Histories and 19 Environmental Requirements of Coastal Fishes and Invertebrates (North Atlantic) -American 20 Shad." U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Biological Report, 82 (11.59), U.S. Army Corps of 21 Engineers, TR EL-82-4. Available URL: http://www.nwrc.usqs.qov/wdb/oubl 22 species profiles/82 11-059.0df (accessed September 7, 2010).Draft NUREG-1437, Supplement 45 2-136 September 2010}}