RA-09-059, Sea Turtle Incidental Take Reports 2009-2, 2009-3, and 2009-4

Sea Turtle Incidental Take Reports 2009-2, 2009-3, and 2009-4

ML092370299
Person / Time
Site:	Oyster Creek
Issue date:	08/17/2009
From:	Massaro M Exelon Nuclear
To:	Document Control Desk, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
References
RA-09-059
Download: ML092370299 (10)

Text

Oyster Creek Generating Station wwwexeloncorp-cmN Exelon. e Route 9 South Nuclear PO Box 388 Forked River, NJ 08731 10 CFR 50.2 August 17, 2009 RA-09-059 US Nuclear Regulatory Commission Document Control Desk Washington, DC 20555-0001 Oyster Creek Nuclear Generating Station Facility Operating License No. DPR-16 NRC Docket No. 50-219

Subject:

ý Sea Turtle Incidental Take Reports 2009-2, 2009-3, and 2009-4 This report provides detailed information regarding the recent incidental takes of three juvenile Kemp's ridley sea turtles at Oyster Creek Nuclear Generating Station (OCNGS) on July 17, July 23, and August 5, 2009, from intake bays of the circulating and dilution water systems. The turtles were promptly turned over to the custody of the Brigantine Marine Mammal Stranding Center (MMSC) for examination. None of the animals had external evidence of major injuries when received by MMSC personnel. Incidental Take Reports are provided for the first two incidental takes and the third report not yet received from MMSC will be submitted in a future submittal.

With these three incidental takes, Oyster Creek Nuclear Generating Station has reached 50% of the allowed incidental take limits of three deceased turtles and eight total turtles of any species per year.

If you have any questions or require additional information, please do not hesitate to contact Malcolm Browne at (609) 971-4124.

Sincerely, Michael J. Massaro Vice President Oyster Creek Nuclear Generating Station

Enclosures:

1. Sea Turtle Incidental Take Report 2009-2 with photograph

2. MMSC 09-109 Sea Turtle Stranding and Salvage Network Stranding Report

3. Sea Turtle Incidental Take Report 2009-3 with photograph c --7:3

4. MMSC 09-110 Sea Turtle Stranding and Salvage Network Stranding Report

5. Sea Turtle Incidental Take Report 2009-4 with photograph

Page 2 of 2 cc: Julie Crocker U.S. Department of Commerce National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration National Marine Fisheries Service Northeast Region Protected Resources Division One Blackburn Drive Gloucester, MA 01930 Pasquale Scida U.S. Department of Comimerce National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration National Marine Fisheries Service Northeast Region Protected Resources Division One Blackburn Drive Gloucester, MA 01930 Samuel J. Collins, Administrator, Region 1 US Nuclear Regulatory Commission 475 Allendale Road King of Prussia, PA 19406 G. Edward Miller Senior Project Manager US Nuclear Regulatory Commission Mail Stop 8-B1 Washington, DC 20555 Mark Ferdas Senior Resident Inspector Oyster Creek Generating Station PO Box 388 Forked River, NJ 08731 Jeanette Bowers-Altman NJ Department of Environmental Protection Division of Fish, Game, and Wildlife P.O. Box 400 Trenton, NJ 08625-0400 Regulatory Assurance File No. 09024

OYSTER CREEK NUCLEAR GENERATING STATION Sea Turtle Incidental Take Report 2009-3 At approximately 1250 hours0.0145 days <br />0.347 hours <br />0.00207 weeks <br />4.75625e-4 months <br /> on Thursday, July 23, 2009, an Oyster Creek Nuclear Generating Station (OCNGS) operator noticed a sea turtle in Bay # 6 of the dilution water intake while removing debris from trash grates. The water temperature at the time of the incidental take was approximately 77.4 degrees F (25.2 C) and OCNGS was in operation at 90% power with three circulating water pumps and two dilution pumps in operation. Skies were cloudy with intermittent rain.

The turtle was not active after retrieval from the trash grates and resuscitation techniques performed by OCNGS personnel were unsuccessful in reviving it. The turtle's carapace was intact with no puncture wounds or signs of major injury but did have a 6.5 cm long shallow scrape near the midline. The Marine Mammal Stranding Center (MMSC) was promptly notified of the incidental take and took custody of the turtle within approximately 1.5 hours5.787037e-5 days <br />0.00139 hours <br />8.267196e-6 weeks <br />1.9025e-6 months <br /> of the incidental take. MMSC personnel confirmed it to be a juvenile Kemp's ridley sea turtle (Lepidochelys kempi and pronounced it dead. Although it is impossible to say precisely how long the turtle had been on the trash bars prior to removal, the dilution water trash racks had been inspected earlier the same morning without the turtle being observed. The previous dilution trash rack cleaning occurred late the prior morning and the turtle was likewise not observed during that cleaning.

The turtle measured only 24.7 cm straight carapace length and weighed 4.9 lb. No tags were present on the turtle when captured. USNRC and NMFS personnel were notified of the incidental take within 24 hours2.777778e-4 days <br />0.00667 hours <br />3.968254e-5 weeks <br />9.132e-6 months <br />.

The turtle was handed over to personnel from the Marine Mammal Stranding Center (MMSC) in Brigantine, NJ at approximately 1420 hours0.0164 days <br />0.394 hours <br />0.00235 weeks <br />5.4031e-4 months <br /> on July 23, 2009. At the MMSC, the turtle was necropsied and the results were recorded on MMSC Sea turtle Stranding and Salvage Network Stranding Report #MMSC-09-1 10 (enclosed). MMSC personnel determined in the course of the necropsy that the animal was female and had a 6.5 cm scrape on its carapace, a chipped area of the plastron and a 1 cm cut under the left mandible but no evidence of puncture wounds or major injury. The necropsy also determined the turtle's stomach and intestines to contain crab hard parts and digesta. The left lung contained froth and the right lung was found to contain froth and blood clots. No abnormalities of other organs were noted. MMSC considered these findings "consistent with drowning." MMSC personnel buried the turtle on Brigantine Island, NJ following the necropsy but retained a muscle sample for genetic analysis.

OYSTER CREEK NUCLEAR GENERATING STATION Sea Turtle Incidental Take Report 2009-2 At approximately 1400 hours0.0162 days <br />0.389 hours <br />0.00231 weeks <br />5.327e-4 months <br /> on Friday, July 17, 2009, an Oyster Creek Nuclear Generating Station (OCNGS) operator noticed a sea turtle in Bay # 5 of the dilution water intake while removing debris from trash grates. The water temperature at the time of the incidental take was approximately 79.1 degrees F (26.2 C) and OCNGS was in operation at90% power with three circulating water pumps and two dilution pumps in operation. Skies were cloudy.

Because the turtle was not active when retrieved from the intake bay, Oyster Creek personnel administered sea turtle resuscitation techniques but the turtle remained unresponsive. The turtle appeared to be encrusted on the carapace, plastron and flippers with numerous barnacles and small patches of algae. A heavy epibiotic growth such as this is typical of a turtle that has been ill or debilitated for a period of time because it cannot maintain a normal pattern of persistent movement necessary to keep a healthy juvenile sea turtle devoid of barnacles and algae. OCNGS Environmental personnel who took custody of the turtle confirmed it to be a juvenile Kemp's ridley sea turtle (Lepidochelys kempi . Although it is impossible to say precisely how long the turtle had been on the trash bars prior to removal, the dilution water trash racks had been inspected about four hours earlier in the morning without the turtle being observed.

The previous dilution trash rack cleaning occurred in the afternoon of the previous day without the turtle being observed.

The turtle measured only 23.4 cm carapace length straight line and weighed 6.5 lb. No tags were present on the turtle when captured. USNRC and NMFS personnel were notified of the incidental take within 24 hours2.777778e-4 days <br />0.00667 hours <br />3.968254e-5 weeks <br />9.132e-6 months <br />.

The turtle was handed over to personnel from the Marine Mammal Stranding Center (MMSC) in Brigantine, NJ at approximately 1530 hours0.0177 days <br />0.425 hours <br />0.00253 weeks <br />5.82165e-4 months <br /> on July 17, 2009. A necropsy was performed at the MMSC and the results were recorded on MMSC Sea turtle Stranding and Salvage Network Stranding Report # MMSC-09-109 (enclosed). MMSC personnel determined in the course of the necropsy that the animal was female and had "multifocal hard nodules" in the right lobe of the liver. According to the MMSC necropsy, drowning could not be ruled out as a possible cause of death, but ..."the state of the liver and the severe barnacle load does suggest that the turtle had been debilitated before the human interaction." MMSC personnel buried the turtle on Brigantine Island, New Jersey following the necropsy.

SEA TURTLE STRANDING AND SALVAGE NETWORK - STRANDING REPORT OBSERVER'S NAME / ADDRESS I PHONE: STRANDING DATE:

First Brandi M.I. Last Biehl Year 20 09 Month 07 Day 1 7 Affiliation Marine Mammal Stranding Center Turtle number by day 01 Address PO Box 773, 3625 Brigantine Blvd., Brigantine, NJ 08203 Field ID# MMSC-09-109 Coordinatormust be notified within 24 hrs; this was done by 0 phone (609)266-0538 Area code/Phone number (609) 266-0538 El-email [-]fax SPECIES: (check one) STRANDING LOCATION: NOffshore (Atlantic or Gulf beach) Elinshore (bay, river, sound, inlet, etc)

El CC = Loggerhead State New Jersey County Ocean El CM =Green Descriptive location (be specific) Oyster Creek Nuclear Power El DC = Leatherback Plant El El = Hawksbill

[9 LK = Kemp's Ridley Latitude 39.81417°N Longitude 74.20700"W El LO = Olive Ridley 171 UN = Unidentified Check Unidentified if not positive. Do Not Guess. CONDITION: (check one) FINAL DISPOSITION: (check) 11 0 = Alive Eli =Left on beach where found; painted? E]Yes' --No(5) 0 1 = Fresh dead 02 = Buried: N on beach / E] off beach:

Carcass necropsied? OSjYesE-No El 2 =Moderately decomposed carcass painted before buried? E] Yesk E] No Photos taken? MYes E]No El 3 =Severely decomposed []3 = Salvaged: E] all / E] part(s), what/why?

Species verified by coordinator? El 4 =Dried carcass 0 Yes [:]No [] 5 = Skeleton, bones only []4 = Pulled up on beach/dune; painted? []Yes* E]No E]6 =Alive, released SEX: El7 = Alive, taken to rehab. facility, where?

TAGS: Contact coordinatorbefore

[E Undetermined disposing of any tagged animal)) 18 = Left floating, not recovered; painted? ElYes* []No 0 Female El Male Checked for flipper tags? ED Yes El No E]9 = Disposition unknown, Does tail extend beyond carapace? explain Check all 4 flippers. Iffound, record tag El Yes; how far? cm / in number(s) / tag location I return address *Ifpainted, what color?

ONo How was sex determined?

PIT tag scan? 0 Yes El No

[ Necropsy Iffound, record number ! tag location CARAPACE MEASUREMENTS: (see drawing)

El Tail length (adult only)

Coded wire tag scan? E] Yes 0 No Using calipers Circle unit tLNiAhal Ifpositive response, record localion (flipper) Straight length (NOTCH-TIP) 23.4 [0cm Dlin Minimum length (NOTCH-NOTCH) _- -lcnml]in Unable to check for Straight width (Widest Point) 20.4 0cm lin Checked for living tag? ElYes El No Using non-metal measuring tape Circle unit Iffound, record location (scute number &side)\ Curved length (NOTCH-TIP) 24.5 0cm lin Minimum length (NOTCH-NOTCH) _[rlcm lin Curved width (Widest Point) 240Zcm Elin Circle unit Weight [E actual / Z est. 6.5 [--kg 0lb Mark wounds / abnormalities on diagrams at left and describe below (note tar or oil, gear or debris entanglement, propeller damage, epibiota, papillomas, emaciation, etc.). Please note if no wounds I abnormalities are found.

A fresh dead female Kemp's Ridley was examined. The carapace and dorsal surface had <20 barnacles. The ventral side and plastron had > 50 barnacles present. There was a small laceratin 1.5cm long on the dorsal side of the neck. It did not extend into the muscle layer. The right lobe of liver had multifocal hard nodules. The stomach was full of hard parts including crab claws etc. The intestines also contained hard parts. The turtle was found inpinged on the powerplants grate.Drowning could not be ruled out, but the state of the liver and severe barnacle load does suggest the turtle had been debilitated before the human interaction.

_i~

OYSTER CREEK NUCLEAR GENERATING STATION Sea Turtle Incidental Take Report 2009-4 At approximately 0220 hours0.00255 days <br />0.0611 hours <br />3.637566e-4 weeks <br />8.371e-5 months <br /> on Wednesday, August 5, 2009, an Oyster Creek Nuclear Generating Station (OCNGS) operator noticed a sea turtle swimming in front of Bay # 1 of the circulating water intake while removing debris from trash grates. At 0252 the operator was able to retrieve the turtle. The water temperature at the time of the incidental take was approximately 85 degrees F (29.4 C) and OCNGS was in operation at 100% power with four circulating water pumps and two dilution pumps in-operation. Skies were clear with winds out of the west-at approximately 15 knots with little or no debris accumulation.

The turtle was very active after retrieval from the trash grates and appeared healthy with no signs of physical trauma. The Marine Mammal Stranding Center (MMSC) was promptly notified of the incidental take and took custody of the turtle within approximately three hours of the incidental take. MMSC personnel confirmed itto be a juvenile Kemp's ridley sea turtle (Lepidochelvs kempi_. Although it is impossible to say precisely how long the turtle had been on the trash bars prior to removal, the dilution water trash racks had been inspected less than five hours earlier without the turtle being observed. The previous dilution trash rack cleaning occurred approximately 24 hours2.777778e-4 days <br />0.00667 hours <br />3.968254e-5 weeks <br />9.132e-6 months <br /> earlier and the turtle was not observed during that cleaning.

The turtle measured 23 cm straight carapace length and weighed only 3.9 lb. No tags were present on the turtle when captured. USNRC and NMFS personnel were notified of the incidental take within 24 hours2.777778e-4 days <br />0.00667 hours <br />3.968254e-5 weeks <br />9.132e-6 months <br />.

The turtle was handed over to personnel from the Marine Mammal Stranding Center (MMSC) in Brigantine, NJ at approximately 0600 hours0.00694 days <br />0.167 hours <br />9.920635e-4 weeks <br />2.283e-4 months <br /> on August 5, 2009. At the MMSC, the turtle was examined and observed prior to release.

SEA TURTLE STRANDING AND SALVAGE NETWORK - STRANDING REPORT OBSERVER'S NAME / ADDRESS I PHONE: STRANDING DATE:

First Bill M1. Last Deerr Year 20 09 Month 07 Day 2 3 Affiliation Marine Mammal Stranding Center Turtle number by day 01 Address PO Box 773, 3625 Briaantine Blvd., Brigantine, NJ 08203 Field ID# MMSC-09-110 Coordinatormust be notified within 24 hrs; this was done by 0phone (609)266.0538 Area codelPhone number (609) 266-0538 El[email [-]fax SPECIES: (check one) STRANDING LOCATION: []Offshore (Atlantic or Gulf beach) (EInshore (bay, river, sound, inlet, etc)

El CC = Loggerhead State New Jersey County Ocean

-' CM = Green Descriptive location (be specific) Forked River. Oyster Creek Nuclear Generating El DC = Leatherback Station El El = Hawksbill 0 LK = Kemp's Ridley Latitude 39.81417=N Longitude 74.20700*W El LO =Olive Ridley El UN = Unidentified Check Unidentifiedif not positive. Do Not Guess. CONDITION: (check one) FINAL DISPOSITION: (check) 17 0 =0Alive R 1= Left on beach where found; painted? [JYes* E]No(5)

Z 1 = Fresh dead Z2 = Buried: [D on beach / El off beach; Carcass necropsied? ZYesr"]No [3 2 = Moderately decomposed carcass painted before buried? [] Yes* 0g No Photos taken? MYes C]No 17 3 = Severely decomposed 03 = Salvaged: E] all / Z part(s), whatlwhy?

Species verified by coordinator? C] 4 = Dried carcass muscle sample - genetics 0 Yes 1l No 17 5 = Skeleton, bones only []4 = Pulled up on beach/dune; painted? LlYes* []No

-]6 = Alive, released

[-7 = Alive, taken to rehab. facility, where?

TAGS: Contact coordinatorbefore disposingof any tagged animal!! F8= Left floating, not recovered; painted? []Yes* r"No Checked for flipper tags? 0 Yes El No [-9 = Disposition unknown, explain Check all 4 flippers. Iffound, record tag number(s) / tag location / return address Vlf painted,what color?

PIT tag scan? Z Yes Ml No Iffound, record number I tag location CARAPACE MEASUREMENTS: (see drawing)

Coded wire tag scan? F1 Yes 09 No Using calipers Circle unit Ifpositive response, record location (flipper) Straight length (NOTCH-TIP) 24.7 0cm Elin Minimum length (NOTCH-NOTCH) ___ cmnlin Unable to check for Straight width (Widest Point) 24.1 0cm [in Checked for living tag? [Yes El No Using non-metal measuring tape if found, record location (scute number &side)\ Circle unit Curved length (NOTCH-TiP) 25.7 0cm Din Minimum length (NOTCH-NOTCH) *r"5cm Din Curved width (Widest Point) 26.9 0cm --in Circle unit Weight 0 actual / E est. 4.9 Mkg ]lb Mark wounds / abnormalities on diagrams at left and describe below (note tar or oil, gear or debris entanglement, propeller damage, epibiota, papillomas, emaciation, etc.). Please note if no wounds I abnormalities are found.

'The turtle was impinged on the intake pipe at the Oyster Creek Power Plant in Forked River, Ocean County. NJ. MMSC was notified of the turtle at 1: 10 2m after the turtle had been at the Wlant for approximately 30 minutes. The plant staff stated the turtle was alive but not ver' responsive and that they were performing fisheries resuscitation procedures. MMSC was given custody of the turtle by the plant staff at 2:20p2m at which time the turtle was completely unresponsive and pronounced dead.

The necropsy was performed by MMSC Staff. Findings include: 6.5cm scrape on carpace. bruising on plastron. 2.8x1.2cm chip on plastron. I cm cut under left mandible, crab hard parts and digesta were in the stomach and entire len-,th of the intestines, a small amount of urine was in the bladder, left lunz was full of froth. right lung was full of froth and blood clots (approx. 1mm in diameter and 1-6 mm in lenath). no abnormalities noted in other organs. Findings are consistent with drowning.

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