12-17-2004, 10:39 AM
[size 1]quote:[/size]
[font "Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif"][size 2]The Nuclear Regulatory Commission has determined that the number of female winter flounder near Millstone Power Station in Niantic Bay has reached “critically low levels.”
As part of its research into whether two nuclear reactors here should continue operating for another 20 years, the NRC could not definitively link the effect of plant operations to the recent decline in the number of flounder. Nonetheless, the agency found a “moderate” effect on survival of fish that get caught in reactor equipment. It said this warrants continued efforts by Millstone's owner, Dominion Nuclear Connecticut, to improve the flounder survival rate.
Otherwise, the NRC environmental report tentatively found the adverse effects of renewing two reactor licenses are negligible or can be lessened through steps the company is already taking. None of the adverse effects would prevent license renewal.
The NRC will seek public comment on Jan. 11 at 1:30 and 7 p.m. at Waterford Town Hall.
The NRC report states that a multitude of influences have contributed to the decline including over-fishing and regional temperature changes. Also playing a role is the trapping and killing of the fish in the equipment that draws water for cooling purposes into the Millstone 2 and Millstone 3 reactors. The state Department of Environmental Protection and Dominion disagree about the extent of such damage, but the report states that the DEP's new performance standards “significantly” reduce the loss of fish.
“The DEP and not the NRC is authorized to address the situation when granting Millstone discharge permits and ensuring that it complies with the Clean Water Act,” the report states.
Some of the ways to meet those standards would include reducing the intake of water during the winter flounder spawning season, importing fish to the bay, and installing fine mesh screens on the equipment to keep fish from being “ingested” into the cooling system.
The report states Dominion could also install cooling towers, which would get and hold water from sources other than the bay. The company could also inspect the water flow, complete refueling and do maintenance work during the regular spawning season, since those activities involved shutting down the reactors.
Dominion spokesman Pete Hyde said, “We've looked at all of these alternatives and we're working with the DEP... to try and find the best alternatives.”
Former fisherman Alfred Maderia Jr. of Pawcatuck sold his fishing boat before Thanksgiving and has given up fishing for flounder in the bay, he said Wednesday. His lawsuit against Dominion on the decline of winter flounder is pending in Middletown Superior Court.
“Everybody knows what they've done,” he said of Dominion, which bought Millstone in 2001, “yet it's amazing how this judicial system works in this country, they just put things off. We've got a legitimate case but I don't think we'll ever get our day in court. At this public meeting we'll be there, whether or not it will do any good who knows.”
Impacts from 67 other issues covered by the report would be “small” because Dominion reported no new or significant effects and the NRC concurred. Some of those issues include effects on radiological emissions, noise, aesthetics, and archeological resources. The NRC found the reactors' effects on electromagnetic fields to be “uncertain.”
To read the report go to: [url "http://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/doc-collections/nuregs/staff/sr1437/supplement22/"]www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/doc-collections/nuregs/staff/sr1437/supplement22/.[/url]
p.daddona@theday.com
[/size][/font]
[signature]
[font "Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif"][size 2]The Nuclear Regulatory Commission has determined that the number of female winter flounder near Millstone Power Station in Niantic Bay has reached “critically low levels.”
As part of its research into whether two nuclear reactors here should continue operating for another 20 years, the NRC could not definitively link the effect of plant operations to the recent decline in the number of flounder. Nonetheless, the agency found a “moderate” effect on survival of fish that get caught in reactor equipment. It said this warrants continued efforts by Millstone's owner, Dominion Nuclear Connecticut, to improve the flounder survival rate.
Otherwise, the NRC environmental report tentatively found the adverse effects of renewing two reactor licenses are negligible or can be lessened through steps the company is already taking. None of the adverse effects would prevent license renewal.
The NRC will seek public comment on Jan. 11 at 1:30 and 7 p.m. at Waterford Town Hall.
The NRC report states that a multitude of influences have contributed to the decline including over-fishing and regional temperature changes. Also playing a role is the trapping and killing of the fish in the equipment that draws water for cooling purposes into the Millstone 2 and Millstone 3 reactors. The state Department of Environmental Protection and Dominion disagree about the extent of such damage, but the report states that the DEP's new performance standards “significantly” reduce the loss of fish.
“The DEP and not the NRC is authorized to address the situation when granting Millstone discharge permits and ensuring that it complies with the Clean Water Act,” the report states.
Some of the ways to meet those standards would include reducing the intake of water during the winter flounder spawning season, importing fish to the bay, and installing fine mesh screens on the equipment to keep fish from being “ingested” into the cooling system.
The report states Dominion could also install cooling towers, which would get and hold water from sources other than the bay. The company could also inspect the water flow, complete refueling and do maintenance work during the regular spawning season, since those activities involved shutting down the reactors.
Dominion spokesman Pete Hyde said, “We've looked at all of these alternatives and we're working with the DEP... to try and find the best alternatives.”
Former fisherman Alfred Maderia Jr. of Pawcatuck sold his fishing boat before Thanksgiving and has given up fishing for flounder in the bay, he said Wednesday. His lawsuit against Dominion on the decline of winter flounder is pending in Middletown Superior Court.
“Everybody knows what they've done,” he said of Dominion, which bought Millstone in 2001, “yet it's amazing how this judicial system works in this country, they just put things off. We've got a legitimate case but I don't think we'll ever get our day in court. At this public meeting we'll be there, whether or not it will do any good who knows.”
Impacts from 67 other issues covered by the report would be “small” because Dominion reported no new or significant effects and the NRC concurred. Some of those issues include effects on radiological emissions, noise, aesthetics, and archeological resources. The NRC found the reactors' effects on electromagnetic fields to be “uncertain.”
To read the report go to: [url "http://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/doc-collections/nuregs/staff/sr1437/supplement22/"]www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/doc-collections/nuregs/staff/sr1437/supplement22/.[/url]
p.daddona@theday.com
[/size][/font]
[signature]