ML18096B120

NPDES Noncompliance Notification:On 911102 & 06,two Shortnose Sturgeon Removed from Circulating Water Racks During Cleaning of Trash Racks.Both Sturgeon Dead Upon Recovery.Trash Racks Inspected Daily for Debris Load

ML18096B120
Person / Time
Site:	Salem
Issue date:	11/27/1992
From:	Miltenberger S Public Service Enterprise Group
To:	NRC OFFICE OF INFORMATION RESOURCES MANAGEMENT (IRM)
References
NLR-E92341, NUDOCS 9212020049
Download: ML18096B120 (6)

Text

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• Public Service Electric and Gas Company ' Steven E. Miltenberger Public Service Electric and Gas Company P.O. Box 236, Hancocks Bridge, NJ 08038 609-339-4199 Vice President and Chief Nuclear Officer NOV 2 7 1992 NLR-E92341 U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Document Control Desk Washington, DC 20555 Gentlemen:

REPORT OF IMPINGEMENT OF SHORTNOSE STURGEON SALEM GENERATING STATION, UNIT NOS. 1 AND 2 DOCKET NO. 50-272 AND 50-311 In accordance with Section 5.4.2 of Appendix B, Environmental Protection Plan, to the Operating License for Salem Generating station, Public Service Electric and Gas Company (PSE&G) hereby transmits notification of two nonroutine event discoveries, and documents the occurrence and removal of two shortnose sturgeon from the Salem Generating Station circulating water intake structure.

Please find included three (3) attachments.

Attachment 1 gives a narrative description of the events, as requested by the NRC. Attachments 2 and 3, requested by the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), provides more specific information regarding observance and retrieval of the sturgeon.

Should you have any questions regarding this transmittal, please feel free to contact us. Attachments (3) 010040 --9212020049 921127 PDR -ADOCK 05000272 S **-PDR Sincerely, ---

• Document Control Desk NLR-E92341 C Mr. J. c. Stone Licensing Project Manager Mr. T. Johnson Senior Resident Inspector 2 Mr. T. Martin, Administrator Region I Mr. Kent Tosch, Chief New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection Division of Environmental Quality Bureau of Nuclear Engineering CN 415 Trenton, NJ 08625 Ms. Jo Ann Frier-Murza, Chief NJ Department of Environmental Protection

& Energy Endang.ered and Nongame Species Program CN 400 Trenton, NJ 08625-0400 Ms. Colleen Coogan National Marine Fisheries Service Habitat Conservation Branch one Blackburn Drive Gloucester, MA 01930-2298 NOV 27 1992 REPORT: OCCURRENCE DATES: FACILITY:

Attachment 1 IMPINGEMENT OF SHORTNOSE STURGEON November 23, 1992 November 2 and 16, 1992 Salem Generating Station, Units 1 and 2 Public Service Electric and Gas Company Hancocks Bridge, NJ 08038 IDENTIFICATION OF OCCURRENCE:

Two shortnose sturgeon (Acipenser brevirostrum) were removed from the Circulating Water System (CWS) intake trash racks at Salem Generating station. The sturgeon were retrieved on November 2 and 16, 1992, respectively.

The shortnose sturgeon is federally listed as an "endangered" species under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended. CONDITIONS PRIOR TO OCCURRENCE:

November 2, 1992 -Units 1 and 2, 100 percent power November 16, 1992 -Units 1 and 2 I 100 percent power DESCRIPTION OF OCCURRENCE:

DATE TIME INTAKE BAY FORK LENGTH (cm) WEIGHT (kg) 11/02/92 1030 21b 74.5 N/A, estimate*4.0 11/16/92 0930 lla 72.0 4.09 The two specimens were recovered during the cleaning of the trash racks by Site Services personnel.

The Senior Shift Supervisor, and Licensing and Regulation personnel were immediately notified.

Both sturgeon were dead upon recovery.

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) and the U.S. National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) have been notified regarding these occurrences.

APPARENT CAUSE OF OCCURRENCE:

Based on historical and recent records, shortnose sturgeon appear to utilize the entire Delaware estuary-river complex, from the river mouth to New Hope, PA (0-238 river kilometer).

Spawning occurs north of Trenton, 128 rkm upstream from the Salem and Hope Creek Generating Stations.

It is unlikely that larval or post-larval fish would travel the distance downstream to Artificial Island. Adult shortnose sturgeon may move into the Artificial Island area during fall migration to wintering grounds. Healthy adult and juvenile shortnose sturgeon have cruising swim speeds ranging from 8.1 to 34.0 cm/sec and burst swim speeds ranging from 30 to 70 cm/sec. Maximum intake velocities through the trash bars are less than these reported cruising speeds. Avoidance of the intake should be possible by a healthy fish. Sturgeon which are in a weakened condition may be subject to impingement.

ANALYSIS OF OCCURRENCE:

The CWS intake is monitored for accumulation of debris, which is periodically removed. Any sturgeon which are observed in the area of the trash racks are recovered immediately.

Between 1978 and 1992, a total of eight shortnose sturgeon were collected at the plant, two in 1978, one in 1981, three in 1991, and two in 1992. The recent influx is presumably the result of increased shortnose sturgeon populations in the Delaware estuary-river complex. CORRECTIVE ACTION: Between June 1 and September 30, the trash racks at Salem are observed every two hours, twenty-four (24) hours a day and cleaned at least once per day. The specified time period represents the peak migratory movement of sea turtles into and out of the Delaware River. Observations are made specifically for sea turtles and sturgeon during this time. During the remaining months the trash rack is inspected daily for debris load and cleaned as necessary.

Any sturgeon occurrence is revealed at this time.

• . Attachment 2 REPORTING REQUIREMENTS:

Appendix II to Section 7 Consultation Photographs should be taken and the information requested below should be collected in association with all protected species (sea turtles and shortnose sturgeon) impingements.

This documentation should be sent to the National Marine Fisheries Service, Habitat Conservation Branch One Blackburn Drive, Gloucester MA 01930-2298 Protected Species Impingements, Salem and Hope Creek Generating Stations Observers full name: Michael Wolk -Senior Shift Supervisor Reporters full name: Mike Haberland

-Licensing

& Regulation Species Identification:

Shortnose Sturgeon (Acipenser brevirostrum)

Site of impingement:

Unit 2, Circulating Water System Trash Rack #21b Date and time impingement was observed:

11/02/92; 1015 hours0.0117 days <br />0.282 hours <br />0.00168 weeks <br />3.862075e-4 months <br /> Date and time animal was collected:

11/02/92; 1030 hours0.0119 days <br />0.286 hours <br />0.0017 weeks <br />3.91915e-4 months <br /> Tidal stage at time of observation:

Low slack; 0.6 feet Date and time of last observation of screen: Not applicable Water temperature at site and time of impingement:

52.7 °F Average percent of power generating capacity achieved per unit over the 48 hours5.555556e-4 days <br />0.0133 hours <br />7.936508e-5 weeks <br />1.8264e-5 months <br /> previous to impingement:

Units 1 and 2 -100% Condition of animal: Dead Shortnose Sturgeon Measurements (indicate cm. or in.): Fork Length: 74.5 cm. Total Length: 84.0 cm. Weight: Not available Remarks: The sturgeon was in poor shape for preservation and was discarded.

. ' Attachment 3 REPORTING REQUIREMENTS:

Appendix II to Section 7 Consultation Photographs should be taken and the information requested below should be collected in association with all protected species (sea turtles and shortnose sturgeon) impingements.

This documentation should be sent to the National Marine Fisheries Service, Habitat Conservation Branch One Blackburn Drive, Gloucester MA 01930-2298 Protected Species Impingements, Salem and Hope Creek Generating Stations Observers full name: Robert Romanosky

-Equipment Operator Reporters full name: Mike Haberland

-Licensing

& Regulation Species Identification:

Shortnose Sturgeon (Acipenser brevirostrum)

Site of impingement:

Unit 1, Circulating Water System Trash Rack #lla Date and time impingement was observed:

11/16/92; 0830 hours0.00961 days <br />0.231 hours <br />0.00137 weeks <br />3.15815e-4 months <br /> Date and time animal was collected:

11/16/92; 0930 hours0.0108 days <br />0.258 hours <br />0.00154 weeks <br />3.53865e-4 months <br /> Tidal stage at time of observation:

Ebbing tide; 0.1 feet Date and time of last observation of screen: Not applicable Water temperature at site and time of impingement:

48 °F Average percent of power generating capacity achieved per unit over the 48 hours5.555556e-4 days <br />0.0133 hours <br />7.936508e-5 weeks <br />1.8264e-5 months <br /> previous to impingement:

Units 1 and 2 -100% Condition of animal: Dead Shortnose Sturgeon Measurements (indicate cm. or in.): Fork Length: 72.0 cm. Total Length: 82.4 cm. Weight: 4.09 kilograms Remarks: Sturgeon has been frozen for MNFS study.