Hunting and Fishing News: DB Marine Study, Tritium Leak, Volunteers Needed
Friday, August 27, 2010
Delaware Bay Marine Study
NJDEP's Division of Fish & Wildlife's Bureau of Marine Fisheries biologists conduct several surveys each year to study the status of species populations in the Delaware Estuary. One of these surveys is the Delaware Bay Finfish Trawl Survey.
The data collected in these surveys allow biologists to develop abundance estimates and length frequencies of estuarine dependent finfish. The data are necessary for predicting future fishery trends and harvest potential.
Over the years a total of 76 different species have been identified, with the five most abundant being bay anchovy, Atlantic croaker, weakfish, blue crab and Atlantic herring. For more information on the 2009 survey, including the catch history and data on the most common species captured, see http://www.njfishandwildlife.com/artdelbaystudy10.htm on the division's website.
DEP CONTINUING WORK WITH EXELON TO MANAGE TRITIUM LEAK AT OYSTER CREEK
(10/P85)TRENTON - Commissioner Bob Martin today said the DEP has received the first data set from testing additional wells at the Oyster Creek Nuclear Generating Station required under the current action plan, and plant operator Exelon Corporation is preparing to take remedial action.
Preliminary results from groundwater monitoring wells indicate that tritium has not reached the clay bottom of the lower portion of the Cohansey Formation and has not been detected in any of the wells in the Kirkwood Formation. The tritium plume appears to be moving toward Oyster Creek's discharge canal, but no samples taken from the canal have indicated the presence of tritium.
"We have enough data now to determine that Exelon and the DEP should take remedial action as soon as possible," said Commissioner Martin. "While there is no current risk to public health or safety, the sooner cleanup begins, the more we can limit the spread of current contamination."
In June, Commissioner Martin issued a directive requiring Exelon to take a series of steps to investigate the leak of radioactive tritium into aquifers below the plant and ensure the radioactive substance does not endanger public health or safety. Exelon has been working closely with the Department to ensure that impacts to the aquifers are well understood. To that end, it has drilled eight additional intermediate and deep groundwater monitoring wells in the Cohansey. Exisiting wells deep in the Kirkwood and potable wells on and adjacent to the Oyster Creek plant also have been tested, and none have detected tritium.
Tritium occurs as a by-product of nuclear power plant operations, and tritium leaks are not uncommon at nuclear power plants nationwide.
The initial testing data has delineated the tritium plume, the groundwater flow, and the depth of contamination, with testing continuing on a weekly basis. As more data is available, the DEP will continue to work with Exelon to determine options to contain the plume and clean up the site.
Commissioner Martin said he has been encouraged by Exelon's cooperation in addressing the tritium and by the company's openness to looking at remediation alternatives.
Exelon had taken some steps prior to the DEP's directive, including drilling additional monitoring wells to identify the extent of contamination. The company also committed to move all pipes containing radioactively contaminated water either above ground or into concrete vaults to avoid similar leaks by the end of 2010, and those upgrades are on track to be completed before the end of the year.
DEP press release regarding action plan: http://www.nj.gov/dep/newsrel/2010/10_0051.htm
GAME COMMISSION SEEKS CITIZEN ADVISORY COMMITTEE VOLUNTEERS
HARRISBURG – The Pennsylvania Game Commission is calling for nominations of citizens willing to participate in one of four Citizen Advisory Committees (CACs) to help gather input related to the deer management goal of reducing deer-human conflict in three Wildlife Management Units (WMUs) in 2011.
Those WMUs identified for next year are: WMU 2D, which consists of areas in Armstrong, Butler, Clarion, Jefferson, Venango, Indiana and Westmoreland counties; WMU 2F, which consists of areas in Forest, Warren, Elk, McKean, Jefferson, Clarion and Venango counties;WMU 2G, which consists of areas in Clinton, Lycoming, Tioga, Potter, McKean, Cameron, Elk, Clearfield and Centre counties; and WMU 3C, which consist of areas in Bradford, Susquehanna, Wayne, Wyoming and Lackawanna counties.
All nominations will be compiled and presented to the Commonwealth’s Office of Strategic Services, who will interview potential candidates, make the final selections of participants and facilitate the meetings. The Game Commission does not participate in the selection process, and there is no guarantee that any nominee will be selected or even contacted for an interview.
“Citizens will serve as representatives of specific stakeholder groups and work with other stakeholders to provide a deer population recommendation for each WMU,” said Carl G. Roe, Game Commission executive director. “CAC recommendations then will be considered by Game Commission personnel – along with indicators of deer health, forest habitat health and deer population trends – when making deer management recommendations to the Board of Game Commissioners.
“We are looking for nominees that are fair and open-minded; have good interpersonal skills; are not holding office in organizations related to the stakeholder group they are seeking to represent; and are willing to collect input from members of the stakeholder group they represent outside of formal Citizen Advisory Committee meetings.”
Roe noted that the Board of Commissioners retains the authority to make final deer management decisions.
“The purpose of the CACs is to gather input related to the deer management goal of reducing deer-human conflict,” Roe said.
The objectives of CACs include providing an opportunity for the Game Commission to understand stakeholder values regarding deer management; an opportunity for stakeholders to interact with one another; an opportunity for stakeholders to have direct input concerning deer population goals that ultimately affect all Pennsylvanians; and an opportunity for the Game Commission to inform stakeholders on the mission of the Game Commission, complexities of deer management, and the importance of proper management.
Stakeholder groups needing representation in all CACs, except where noted, are: sportsmen-resident; sportsmen-nonresident; forest industry; rural non-farm landowner; homeowners in developed areas; highway safety agent; public land owner; conservationist; and agriculture.
CAC Nomination Form can be downloaded from the Game Commission website (www.pgc.state.pa.us) by clicking on “White-Tailed Deer” on the homepage, and then choose “Citizens Advisory Committee.” Individuals also may contact the Game Commission by phone at 717-787-5529 to obtain a CAC Nomination Form, which should be returned to the address provided on the form.
Nominees must live in the WMU in which they apply and must complete a CAC Nomination Form to be considered. All nominations must be received by Sept. 15.
For further information, visit the Game Commission’s website (www.pgc.state.pa.us) click on “White-tailed Deer”, and then choose “Citizens Advisory Committee,” where additional information can be found, including detailed reports from previous CACs held in WMUs 1A, 1B, 2A, 2B, 2C, 2E, 3A, 3B, 3D, 4A, 4B, 4C, 4D, 4E, 5A, 5B, 5C, and 5D.