ML20062B473

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Forwards Final Errata & List of Refs to, Potential Impacts on Connecticut River of Proposed Facility
ML20062B473
Person / Time
Site: 05000496, 05000497
Issue date: 10/06/1978
From: Morgenstern L
MASSACHUSETTS, COMMONWEALTH OF
To:
NRC OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY (SECY)
References
NUDOCS 7810300257
Download: ML20062B473 (24)
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'h THE COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS g l $ $ ENERGY FACILITIES Mj..

SITING COUNCIL -

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} MICHAEL S. DukAKIS

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Ladies and Gentlemen:

Enclosed is the final Errata Sheet with the List of References submitted to the Energy Facilities Siting Council by Environmental Research and Technology, Inc.

for their report entitled " Potential I= pacts on the Connecticut River of che Proposed Montague Nuclear Power Plant." ~

A copy of ERT's transmittal letter to the Energy Facilities Siting Council is also provided.

If you have questions or co==ents on these dccu-

=ents, feel free to centact =e.

l Most sincerely,

['_.

.2k)t

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i' Lillian Morgenstern, Ph.D.

Environmental Planner

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Rcom 1413 One Ashburten P! ace Besten, Massachusetts 02108 (617) 727-1136

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' !NVIRCNMENTAL RESEARCH & TECHNOLOGY, I NC. .

l 36 VIRGINIA ROAC. CONCORD.MASSACHUSe.i i= 01742. (617) t69 8910. l.39-3750. TELEX. 923 tt3 ENV!RCRES CtC4 CA8LE:- ERTCCN 4

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July 21, 197 -

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G:'

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-r )%.C.c f Mr. Daniel Peaco Massachusetts Energy Facilities Siting Council One Ashburton Place h s-

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Boston, Mass. 02108 -

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Dear Mr. Peact:

1 Please find enclosed the final Errata. Sheet and List of References l for ERT's Montague Report. The section of the report and Errata on shortnose sturgeon have been reviewed by Mr. Bruce Taubert of the Depart-  ;

ment of Forestry and Wildlife Management, University of Massachusetts.

As is evident in the Errata Sheet, the major changes in the final l report is the entire replacement of Section 8.3.2, Critique of Additional Studies Provided by the Applicant. Section S.3.2.2, Additional Study of Shortnose Sturgeon, (Acioenser brevirostrum) in particular was revised because after ERT's Final Report was submitted, Mr. Bruce Taubert inform-ed ERT that he felt the data from the 1977 Shortnose Sturgeon Conference Proceedings were confidential and that he was misquoted in some instances.

Therefore, ERT has eliminated all data and references from the conference and based its findings upon the report submitted by Taubert and Reed (197S, see List of References) to NUSCO. Changes were also made in Section 8.3.2.2 V because some personal communications were revised by the source upon review of the Final Report.

It is cur understanding that once this material has been reviewed by Don Eunt, our contract with the Siting Council will be complete.

l If you have any additional comments or questions, please do not hesitate to contact me. It has been a pleasure working with the Council.

l Sincerely yours.,

9n ) y' \. \ C # %

I Paul H. Kirshen, Ph.D.

I Project Manager i

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. . *? . '

  • Juna 1973 i ..

Errata sheet RECEIVED i for .

l POTENTIAL DIPACTS ON THE CONNEC*ICUT RIVER g 2 djg78' i CF Tile PROPCSED at0NTACUE MJCLE.\R PCNER PLANT Energy hcilities Siting C uncil f

i ERT REPCRT NuttBER P3267 e November, 1977 i ~

gg ccgtath Pg. xiv Line 10 Insert the following sentences

"In particular, preliminary studies of thortnose sturgeon in the Holyoke Pool indicate
  • that this species may spawn in close proximity g to the proposed intake-discharge structure 4 a 1 (Taubert and Reed 1973). ERT scientists believe, A however, that the evidence is strong that in stay g[ .

1977 spawning of the shortnose sturgeon (a rare

' >') h g and endangered species) occurred at or above rkm S

189.0, the site of the proposed intake-discharge h-- structure. Tauber: and Reed (1973) also suggest g

this possibility. Since shortnose sturgeon larvae en d drift downstream as they mature, a strong potentini larvae entrai7 ment problem exists. Further studies should be conducted to estimate this potential

  • impact."

Pg. xiv Line 19-21 Delete "It is possi, vie, . . . (i;ced 1977a , Taube rt 19771-Inser: "It is possible that shortnose sturgeon may ascend to Turners Falls Pool since other sturgeon species have ascended fish ladders in California and Russia (U.S. Army Corps of Enginee s, 1969-1976; Kipper and Stileiko , 1962) .

Pg. 2-3 Line 16 Turners Falls Reservoir, Year Constructed or in Operation insert "1795" i Pg. 2-3 Line IS Holyoke Reservoir, Year Constructed or in Operation "1900" replace with "1855" i re. 2-38 Line 21 Repl ace "-19n5" w i th "1953" f Pg. 2-40 1.ines 2 ?, 7 Creceo ('1977) instead of Grceo (19771 Pg. o-IS 1.ine 21 will not change instead ot' will chance substan lally subseant! ally Pg. 6-23 Lines 5 T, 6 mg/l instead of ug/l ..

Pg. G-30 Lines 7 5 23 NtJSCO, 1977 instead of Northeast Utilitics.

19 a I

Pg.' 6-30 f.ines 25 r, 26 Delete "Sinco shad tend to actively evoid o plume by swimming.directly beneath it."

    • ~ *

(Reed 1977) f .

instead.of j Pg. 6-31 Line 11 Stira, undated Reed 1977 ,

t

. Pg. 6-31 ' Line 13 " Preliminary studies of shortnose sturgeon

. in the Holyoke Pool indicate that this species may spawn in close proximity to the proposed in-take-discharge structure (Taubert and Reed 1973).

ERT scientists believe, however, that the evidence

is strong that in May 1977 spawning of the shortnose sturgeon (a rare and endangered species) occurred at or above rka 139.0, the site of the

. proposed intake-discharge structure. Tauber. and j Reed (1978) also suggest this possibility. Since j

shortnase sturgeon Isrvae drift downstream as they mature, a strong potential larvae entrainment pro-blem exists. Further studies should be conducted to estimate this potential impact."

instead of 1 " Preliminary studies. . . . power plant entrainment."

Pg. 6-31 Line 20 .NUSCO, 1977 instead of Northeast Utilities 1974  ;

Pg. 6-31 Line 23 unsatisfactory instead of unsupported Pg. 3-3 Line 23 Stira undated instead of Reed 1976 Pg. 3-4 Line 2 NUSCO, 1977 instead of Northeast Utilities

- 1974 Pg. 3-4 Lines 27-30 Delete "It is ilkely . . . sites (Reed 1977)"

Replace with "It is possible that shad may ascend the river to its highest attainable point and that Turners Falls Pool may provide numerous spawning

)- sites."

"Pg. S-6 Lines 23-29 Delete "The presence of shortnose sturgeon eggs and

, . . .approximately 450 fish."

. Inserr "The presence of shortnose sturgeon invae l and adults in the Holyoke Pool indicates that this endangered specie may spawn in the area. The

, applicants ER ha paid little attention to this i possibility."

f Pg. S-7 Line 21 NUSCO, 1977 nstend of Northeast tiriIitles 1974 Pg. S-7 Line 32 not only instead of not Pg. 3-3 Section 3.3.2 DELETE ENTIRE SECT!CN. REPLACE WITH ATTACDtE.'TT Pg. 3-13 Line 13 NUSCO (1977) ins ead of NUSCO (1974)

{

Pg. 3-13 Line 22 not substantially instead of not Pg. 3-20 Para. 3.4.3 Replace with the following insert

~ __ _ _ _

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+

"S.J.3 Water Quality Even if the water quality at the Turners j

l Falls intake site is of poore,r quality than

  • i the IIolyoke Pool intake location, the fully- .

~

mixed concentrations dcwnstream of the confluence -

of the Deerfield and Connecticut Rivers should be the same. The only effect that would occur if

< . the quality of the Turners Falls intake water was -

. - poorer is that the concentrations of pollutants would be greater in the effluent, in the mixing 4

ene, and Turners Falls Pool, but not downstream

, of the confluence."

i Pg. 3-20 Line 13 Environmental Report instead of Envienmental i (NUSCO, 1977) Repore spawn demersal eggs whien are not adhesive, and Pg. 3-20 Line 16 therefore may be subject to entrainment.

instead of spawn demersal eggs which would not be subject to entrainment.

Pg. 3-20 Lines 22-23 Sturgeon may ascend to Turners Falls Pool (U.S.

. Army Corps of Engineers 1969-1976; Kipper and Mileiko 1962) .

instead of "Sturzeon may ascend to Turners Falls Pool aEd remain there (Reed 1977a and Taubert 1977)"

Pg. 3-20 Lines 23-27 ' Delete "This possibility . . .by sturgeon."

Pg. 3-20 Line 30 'NUSCO 1977 instead of Northeast Utilities'1974 Pg. 8-21 Lines 1-3 Delete "Dr. Roger Reed (197.7) of the . . . .

point to spawn."

Intort "After centtruction of the new fi h ladder

. in 1981, shad may ascend the river to its maximum

) attainable point to spawn."

' Pg. 3-30 Tablo S.7.1 Title should read " Observed Mean Monthly and Annual Flows in cfs"

, Pg. S-33 Line 13 not only instead of not l ?I, S-33 Line 27 The Holyoke Pool instead of "The upper portion of -

. appears the llolyoke Pool" l P2 3-33 f.ine 33 - Taubert and Reed (1973) indicate that shortnose i cnd of page sturgeon may spawn in close proximity to the

! proposed intake-discharge structure.

instead of

, -"Yet the preliminary conclusion reached by taubert and Reed (1977) . . . stur2 con" --

Pg. 3-34 Lines 1-6 delete and ,

j replace with "CRT r icntists believe that the evidence is strong what in May 1977 spawning i '

~

of the shortnose sturgeon (a rare and -

endangered species) occurred 'at or above r.km .

1

~

189.0, the site of the proposed intake-discharge 4 structure. Taubert and Reed (1978) also suggest this possibility. _Since shortnose sturgeon

,e + larvae drift downstream as they mature, a

  • - strong potential larvae entrainment prob 1cm
exists. Further studies should be conducted to estimate the potential impact."

l

! Pg. S-34 Lines 9-10 Replace " Reed (1977) .. . . Russia." by

! "Other sturgeon species have ascended fish

! ladders in California and Russia (U.S. Army Corps l of Engineers, 1969-1976, Kipper.and Mileiko, 1962).

Pg. 8-34' Line 13 Delete Taubert 1977 and-Reed 1977 Pg. 9-2 Lines 4-5 Delete "and establish a breeding population (Reed 1977a and Tauber 1977)" Replace with (US Army Corps -of Engineers 1969-1976, Kipper

' and Mileiko,1962)

Pg. 9-7 Line 20 -

not only instead of not Pg. 9-8 Lines 7-17 replace "7he number of eggs. . . . potential -

entrainment." by "The preliminary conclusion reached by Tauber and Reed (1978) indicates that short-nose sturgeon may spawn in close proximity to

'the proposed intake-discharge structure. ERT scientists believe, however, that the evidence is strong that in May 1977 spawning of the i shortnose sturgeon (a rare and endangered species) occurred at or above rka 189.0, the site of the proposed intake-discharge structure. Since short-

" ~

nose sturgeon. Larvae drift downstream as : hey mature, a strong potential larvae entrainment problem exists. Further studies should be con-ducted to estimate the potential impact."

Pg. 9-8 Lines 20-21 Delete " Reed. . . Russia".

Pg. 9-8 Lines 23-24 Delete "in the favorable habitat (Taubert 1977

and Reed 1977)"

' Replace with (U.S. Army Corps of Engineers,1969-1976, Kipper and Mileiko,1962) i

  • i

. Section 3.3.2 ATTACINENT l l

'S.3.2 Critique of Additional Studier Provided by the Applican: _

In the summary and conclusion section of the Final EIS (NRC' 1977),

I the staff of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission instructed the applicant

e. - _,

7 :o provide further studies "of the distribution and reistive abundances i of shad and shortnose sturgeon larvae and young juveniles in the Holyoke f

Pond . . ." (page iii) . In response to this request, the applicant has l contracted for and made available several additional studies of American 4

-l shad and one of shortnose sturgeon. These studies are reviewed below a

! and the potential impact of Montague upon resident game species is addressed.

3.3.2.1 American Shad (Alosa sacidissima,) Studies A number of studies on the American shad in the Holyoke Pool have becomo available since publication of Supplement Nine to the Montague ER. Study programs conducted by the University of' Massachusetts Coopera- ,

rive Fishery Research Unit (MCFRU) (Gilmore 1975; Foote 1976; Stira undated; Ku:meskus 1977'and Reed and Cave 1977) and the New England Aquarium (Barker, Partain and Germane 1977) address various aspects of American shad reproduction, survival, distribution and life history in the Holyoke Pool. A report written by Stone and Webster Engineering Corporation (1977) uses data presented in the above studies in analy:ing the impact of shad egg entrainment by Montague Power Plant on the adult-

. shad population. The Stone and Webster report ( SSN 1977) in many

.)

respects revises the impact analysis found in the ER through addition of the field sampling data collec:ed in 1974 and 1975 by Gilmore (1975) and Ku:meskus (1977), respectively.

t The following discussions will review the impact analysis found in the SSN report with respect to an independent analysis of the MCFRU data

' and conclusions and will discuss the overall adequacy of these analyses for predicting the impact of Montague Power Plant on Connec:icut River shad. t Entrainment Analvses - Overview '

The SSN (1977) entrainment report presents two separate impact analyses.

j Cne analysis uses the Horst (1975) model for ::ansla:icn of the number of entrained eggs into :he number of adults poten:ially resulting frem those eggs. This is a densi:y-independent analysis, because it assumes no fa:: ors 8-3 w w - - - <- - r- w- + +

~

{ operate to compensate for the additional cortality of eggs caused by the ,

i power station. The other method of analysis provided by S$11 (1977) involves f

} use of a density-dependent model that relates survival of each year-class j to the density of spawning adults (and, therefore, egg production) in that

year.

These methods of analysis differ in the type of result produced.

'The density-independent model deals only with loss in a single year and j does not direc:1y relate loss of adults in one year-class to effects on i subsequent year-classes. The density-dependent model allows consider-ation of the effects of loss in one year in relation to subsequent years, thus providing an indication of the cumulative impact of the plant.-

The major inadequacy in the analysis presented in the 5511 (1977) report is i:s faiiure to co'nsider data for the shad runs at 1976 and 1977.

Improvements of the HoIycke Dam fishlift prior to the 1975 shad run (Foote 1976) and, again, prior to the 1976 run (Leggett 1977) have resul:ed in increased passage of fish above the dam. This was obvious in 1975 when over 115,000 fish were lifted as opposed to a previous high of 65,527 shad in 1970. In 1976 the number of' shad lifted was three times the 1975 figure (350,000 fish, Legget: 1977). In 1977 the number of shad lifted was nearly 200,000. These data indicate that the bases of the SSif report are obsolete and not representative of the situation if Montague were in operation at present. Th.is is further illustrated by the fact that in 1974 approximately 53,000 shad entered the Holyoke Pool of which, assuming a 2.7:1 sex ratio (Foote 1976), 14,000 were female. In 1975 approximately

'25,000 females entered the Holyoke Pool (s 3 11 1977). However, S5if (1977) estimated that in 1975, nearly three times as many eggs drifted'past the intake site as in 1974, indicating that nearly twice as many eggs per female were spawned above the intake in 1975.

Although the change in upstream-downstream spawning intensity may f hav; been temperature-related (Lay:er 1974), it could also have been the l result of increased population pressure in the lower Holyoke l'ool " forcing" i  ::: ore spawning above the intake. .Nith the increased population si:cs in l 1976 and 1977, propor ionally more eggs may have been spawned above :he _,

I l intake. Da:a to support or refute such an hypothesis were no: collected

in l976-77; however, the possibility that increased Holyoke Pool population

! , densities may initiate greater use of upstream spawning sites should bc l i I

s 3-9

l 4 considered. ,

.Another factor that could contribute to the inappropriateness of the ,

analysis in the S5N (1977) report is the planned const uction of. fish

< ladders a.t the Turners Falls Dam in 1981. This will extend the shad .

. runs into new areas of the river upstream of Montague Power Plant resulting i in another shift in distribution of spawning activity. Increased spawning j cabove. Turners Falls is likely to result in the exposure of larger numbers of

{ shad larvae and downstream migrant juveniles to possible entrainment or impingement at Montague Nuclear Power Plant.

t Density-Indeoendent Analysis - Critical Review The results of the S6N (1977) density-independent entrainment analyses

/ rely on a number of assumptions, but the data available at present would not seem to support several of these assumptions. The analyses provided may underestimate the potential loss of fish attributable to the power station. Several of the key assumptions are discussed below.

Larval Entrainment. The 55W (1977) report does nor consider shad larva}.

entrainment, because of the' collection of very few larvae in plankton net tows. Reed and Cave (1976) have established that shad larvae concentrate in shallow areas along river banks and are therefore not available to plankton tow net; however, they are likely to be entrained by the shoreline intake as.they drift past. Thus, the S5N (1977) report fails to consider a t potentially large source of entrainment impact on the shad population.

Number of Eggs Entrained. Because of the way in which shad eg2 data were collected in 1975, the density of eggs passing the power plant (and thus the number of eggs entrained) was calculated by S6N (1977) based on integration of densities over a 6-hour period. However, the 24-hour j data collected by Kusmeskus (1977) indicate that eggs were present in the water column throughout the day. Although daytime egg densitics were substantially lower,than those observed at night, omission of day-

, time egg densities from entrainment calculation may represent an under- , . _

estimate of the effects of entrainment. However, the S$N (1977) entrainment i calculation was also based on density data for that portion of the sampling grid that w:uld probably be affected by the intake. The exact :ene of influence of the intake is not known. Since egg densitics on the sr.mpling f 3-10

- - - ~

l transect were highest for the two stations for which entrainment. was calculated, , .

~

l the S6N (1977) entrainment calculation, in this respect, does maintain conservatism.

Sex Ratio. The use of a 3.9:1 male-to-female sex ratio ia the I

density-independent analysis will, to some extent, offset the tendency

'to underestimate loss in the previous two. assumptions. The ratio of I

nales to females has historically varied from 1.5:1 to 3.9:1 (Foote 1976).

Use of the 3.9:1 ratio, therefore, constitutes use of the historical l

maximum. In the equivalent adults model (Horst 1975) this will result in calculation of a higher egg-to-adult survival and, as a result, a higher estimate of potential adult loss due to the power plant.

s l Density-Decendent Analysis - Critical Review' The density-dependent analysis provided by S6W (1977) relies on several .

additional assumptions. In general, the comments on larval entrainment and the number of eggs entrained as stated above are also applicable to this case. The assumptions involved in the density-dependent analysis are discussed below. ~

4 Lift Ratio. In order to extend the data base- for Holyoke Pool shad runs, the SSN (1977) report calculated an average lif ratio of 0.1713 shad lifted for each shad entering the Connecticut River. Since :his is .

, an average using. lift ratio data frem prior to the 1975 and 19~6 modifi-

. cations, it probably represents a icw estimate of the present and future lift ratio. The effects of this on the density-dependent model are undefinable.

Use of the lift ratio to extend the data base in Figure 6.2-1 (S 6 W 1977) for the stock-recrui: ment function of the density-dependent i model is of questionab'l e value. It assumes a situation that did not exist (shad passage over the das in large numbers), and that, had it exis:ed, would have potencially altered the stock-recruitment reistion-l ship. However, its use is understandable since it provides the only means by which a sufficient number of data points could be generated for j parameccri:ing the model.

Sex aatio. As sta:cd previously, the historical range in sex ra:ic

!i t

3-11

has been reported at 1.S:1 to 3.9:1 (Foote 1976). Use of the 3.9:1 .

ratio in determining the number of females lifted over the dam for allL years tends to produce low estimates of the number of spawning females for most years. This could result in a significant departure of the SSW l

2~ stock-recruitment function from the most realistic case.

1 Issues l The analysis of American shad egg entrainmenc at Montague Nuclear Power 3

! Plant provided by SSW (1977) has incorporated several assumptions that can result in underestimation of the impact of the power s'tation.

The most notable caission in the SSW '(1977) analyses was the consideration of larval entrainment. In light of conclusions reached by Reed and Cave

\ '

(1976) that shad larvae are more abundant in eddies and along the river -

bank, the potential larval entrainment of shad should be addressed.

- The greatest flaw in the additional study produced by SSW (1977) was the use of the pre-1976 data throughout the analyses. The 1976 and 1977 MCFRU data will be presented to NUSCO in final report form in December, 1977. The data for jhese two years represent the present and future shad densities in the pool since the lift improvements were made i in 1976. When the life at Turners Falls Dan is installed in 1981, another change in shad densities will occur and pre-1931 data will incorrectly represent the si:> tien.

) Beca ise of the use of pre-1976 data and many assumptions, the

~. entrainment estimate in the additional SSW (1977) study does not adequately demonstrate that entrainment of ' shad eggs and larvae will be negligible.

. S.3.2.2 Additions 1 Study of Shor: nose Sturgeon (Acicenser brevirostrum) i The United States Department of the Interior and the Commonwealth' of Massachusetts list the shortnoso sturgeon as an endangered species.

This s:stus requires that the " critical habita:" for the species be I ~~

i protected from further alteration by man (see Appendix 3) and that the i entrainment impact of the proposed Montague facili:7 upon the species be l

i considered.

I S-12

- i 4

i State of Knowledge 1

^

i 7 Rel'atively little is known of the life h'istory and biology of the ,

shortnose sturgeon, particularly of the popula:Lon in the Connecticut River. In the United States, a permit is required to study and handle the i shortnose sturgeon and dissection of live specimens is not allowed.

l The major contribution to knowledge of the species has been made by i M. D. Dadswell of the Canadian Fisheries and Marine Services, studying a population in the St. John River, Canada (Dadswell 1976) . The shortnose sturgeon is an anadromous, benthic-feeding carnivore. In the St. John River and most United States rivers in which it is found, the shortnose sturgeon co-occurs with the Atlantic sturgeon (Acicenser

(

oxyrhynchus oxyrhynchus). The adult shortnose sturgeon is taxonomically-distinguished frem .:he Atlantic sturgeon by several observable traits.

However, young sturgeon are only reliably distinguished by gut color, requiring dissection (Gorham and McAllister 1977) .

The diet of the juvenile shortnose sturgeon consists mainly of insect larvae and smali crue mns. Nature shortnose sturgeon convert to a diet of mainly mollusc., cu- ' development of a gi::ard in later years. Shortnose sturgeon are benthic fceders at all ages (Dadswell 1976).

The species is slow growing and long-lived; the maximum age attained I , is probably 70 years. Sexual maturation in the St. John River population

-. does not occur until age eight and females spawn a minimum of once every three years thereafter. Shortnose sturgeon appear to choose spawning sites in the upper estuary of the St. John River located adjacent to deep turbulent sections of the river or over mud bot: cms on ficoded land

(Dadswell 1976). Dadswell (1976) observed that ripe fish move to areas j of turbulence and spawning takes place at the peak of the flood when l temperatures average 10 C and the water is extremely turbid.

I I ..

3-13

Shortnose Sturgeon in the Holyoke Pool ,

A preliminary study of the biology of the shortnose sturgeon in the 1 ^!
,, . Connecticut River was conducted by the MCFRU .in 1976 and 1977 and funded by <

S NUSCO in 1977 (Taubert and Reed 1973) . The Connecticut River population is different from the St. John River population in that it is restricted.

l i l

I l for the most part to a 26~-mile segment of the river between Holyoke Dam i.

. and Turners Falls Dam. Thus, shortnose sturgeon in the Ho'ycke l Pool are considered to be nonanadromous by Taubert and Reed (1973). There is some movement of shortnose sturgeon between the Holyoke Dam and the mouth of the Connecticut River. Since construction of the first effective fish pass-age facility'in 1955, 26 shortnose sturgeon have been lifted above !!alyoke Dam (Tauber and Reed 1973). In addition, it is possible that 1trvac and juveniles wash over the !!olyoke Dam and migrate downstream. . _ _ . . .

Another difference between'the Holyoke Pool and St. John River populations is that the shortnase sturgeon in the Holyoke Pool are found without the Atlantic sturgeon. This may be important for scientific study of the species, especially early life history.

, Tauber and Reed (1973) presented a brici history at the shortnose N

sturgeon. A 1942 M.S. thesis by McGabe indicated that gill netting operations in the early 1900's removed 100 shortnose sturgeon frem the river in one day.

'Shortnose sturgeon are among the specimens in the University of Massachusetts fish collection, and misec11ancous catches of shortnose sturgeon have been i

made by MCFRU (Tauber: and Reed 1973).

I The 1977 field studies conducted by the MCFRU included gilt nceting, seining and radio tagging to de:crmine the distribution of shor: nose sturgeon . . . .

adults in ::.s llolyoke Pool. In addition, egg and larvae sampling was con.

L due:cd by bott:m set plankton nets, artificial substrates and by benthic i'

S-14

. a l -

pump to investigate ichthyoplankton distribution and possible spawning -

i locations in the Holyoke Pool. The results of these field studies as

.' reported by Taubert and Reed (1978) are presented below.'

j A total of 115 shortnose sturgeon were caught by gill nets between 13 April and 20 May 1977. Among these were 11 reproductively mature males 1

and 4 reproductively mature females. The males were caught within 0.5 km i of rkm 190.3 on 4, 7 and 9 May and the females were all caught above rkm 177.0, from rks 179.7 to rka 194, on 24 and 30 April and 1 May. One spent female was also caught on 8 May at rkm 168.0.

Taubert and Reed (1973)

',m concluded that these catches indicate the potential for spawning from at least 24 April to 3 May.

A tctal of 5 shortnose sturgeon were radio tagged by MCFRU for 13-66 days. However, because of the large number of radio malfunctions results were not utill:ed. No shortnose sturgeon eggs were caught in 1977 and only the bottom set plankton net was successful in obtaining shortnose sturgeon larvae. A total of seven larvae were caught; 3 at rks 190.0 (21 May), 1 at rka 189.0 (19 May), 2 at rkm 134.0 (21 May) and I at rka 179.2 (23 May).

Tauber and Reed (1973) used yolk sac si:c, cyc diameter and development, and amount of connection between the head and yolk sac to estimate the age of each larva. The last larva captured was older than all the others and l from a different hatch date. Thus this larva was discarded from the analyses.

l, Then they backcalculated 13 days from the catch dates of the 6 freshly hatched 4

l larvae to arrive at a probable spawning period of 6 to 10 May 1977. The use l

of 13 days for backcalculating was based on literature values and on the river temperature recorded during the supposed spawning period. ~~
3ased on the capture of reproductively mature male shortnose sturgeon i
at rka 139.9 to 190.3 and the calculated fertili
stion dates of larvac, t

3-15

+

t

, . a

?

i

, Taubert and Reed (1978) reached the conclusion that at least ,

' one shortnose sturgeon spawning was above rkm 134.0 between 6 and 10 May 1977 i

l' "where the substrate is a mixture of gravel, rubble, and boulders; there 1 .

1

. are several deep holes, and the current is relatively fast." .They also j pointed out the possibility of a major spawning ground above rkm 139.0 i

! but did not dismiss the possibility of shortnose sturgeon spawning at other locations in the Holyoke Pool.

.]

1 Issues A number of issues are raised by the MCFRU studies of the shortnose sturgeon population. The Holyoke Pool may be considered a " critical habitat" for the shortnose sturgeon (see Appendix 3) and, therefore, should not be i disturbed according to the United States Endangered Species Act of 1973 (PL 93-205) . The preliminary conclusion reached by Taubert and Reed (1973) based upon the 1977 field studies is that "the only known spawning of short-nose sturgeon during 1977 took, place above rks 134.0 with the possibility of a major spawning ground above rka 139.0". ERT scientists feel that this conclusion is overly conservative based upon the following factors reported

/ by Taubert and Reed (1978): 1) Four of the six (67*,) freshly hatched short-

~:

nose sturgeon larvae were captured at or above rkm 139.0; 2) 11 reproductively mature males were found within 0.5 km of rks 190.3 on 4, 7 and 9 May 1977; j 3) Backcalculations place the larvae fertili:stion dates between 6 and 10 I May 1977; and 4) Average river temperatures and flows during that period i

l agree with spawning conditions reported in the literature for shortnose i

t sturgeon and other species of North American sturgeon.

! ERT scientists believe the evidence is strong that in May 1977 sp. awning __

of shortnose sturgeon occurred at or above rks 139.0, which is the site of 1

the proposed intake dischar;e structure. Tauber: and Reed (1973) also suggest this possibility.

I S-16 _

y . - - -+.

1

  • ,9 e t -

i ,

l The'shortnose sturgeon spawn demersal eggs which are not adhesive, an'd

$ therefore could pose a potential egg entrainment problem. Since shortnose sturgeon larvae drift downstream as they mature, a potential larval entrainment problem exists. Further studies should be conducted to expand the ichthyo-I plankton data base and to estimate the extent of this potential entrainment.-

I i After the new fish ladder is constructed at Turners Falls Dam in 1981, i

shortnose sturgeon may ascend to Turners Falls Fool and remain there. This possibility is based upon two facts: (1) Studies show that other sturgeon species have ascended fish ladders in California and in Russia (U.S. Army Corps of Engineers 1969-1976; Kipper and blileiko 1962); and (2) Turners Falls Pool may or may not provide the necessary habitat for shortnose sturgeon. 8.3.2.3 Other Resident Species 

 ,                          A major omission from the impact assessments in the ER (NUSCO 1977) and the several additional studies was the impact of stentague Nuclear Power Plant on resident species other than. American shad and shortnose
s. sturgeon. Resident game species are of special concern because of thei.

economic value. Scme game species are the objects of costly s ste and federal hatcheries and stocking. programs. Forage species are of concern as the basis of the food chain for other major species. i Relatively few studies of other resident species in the !!alyoke Pool t 1 

  !                   have been conducted. Four studies have been reviewed for this discus-ion:

I Leonard 1968, Selust 1963, Armour 1966, and Jonasch and Shapiro 1975. i -- Eggs of most other resident species are demersel or spawned directly into the substrate and therefore may or may not be subj ect to entrainment. 4 3 _ . . _ .- 17 . . . 

       ,7           .

l Larvae of the same species are buoyant and may be subject to .entrainment , 

   <                 if spawned upstream of the croposed intake location.           Further study of resident fish spawning areas should be conducted to address these problems.

l ' l . Stocking' programs for trout and salmon represent large investments of state and federal money (see Section 2.4.3). The interference of the l. 

  +

proposed Montague Station with these programs has not been addressed, e but merits consideration. The potential entrainment of yellow perch, walleye, white perch, and northern pike larvae should be considered. The potential entrainment of I white sucker, falifish, spottail shiner and various minnow larvae should also be considered because these species are valuable forage for other resident species. If entrainment of these forage species is found to be f substantial, the effect might be felt throughout the food chain. Finally, the combined effects of the Northfield Pumped Storage facility and the Montague Nuclear Power Plant upon aquatic ecology have not been adequately addressed. If a major entrainment problem exists at the Northfield intake already, the additional impact of Montague operations might be harmful to some species. 

         .)
 \                                                                          .

s I S-IS

w. g I RECEIVED

  • RLJD J,. . :. .

l LIST OF REFERENCES R 2 4 $78 - l 1 . i Energy F3ciities Siting .' 

                                                                                                        ' . ,-                              i
                            .                                                                                   ~

l Algren, J. , Attorney, Office of the New Hampshire Attcrney Ceneral. i 26 July 1977. Personal Communication. ,m t 4.Y 

                                                                                                ~        p#g.                      ~% ~-

l . [ Armour, 'C. L. 1966. Some Aspects of Bottom Types and 32-mile Segment of the Connecticut River. M.S. Thesis. Benthos o 4 i'. A--$ '~~ 6 D' _ 50 p. U.(fiss. pl... 

                                                                                                       , d e

v d .,"~. s .. . 

                                                                                                                                 ' ?<

j Ball, B. , Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power. Corporation. 21 October 19G Personal Communication. b.,., e/., ,Q 

   }                                                                                                           v\
 )               Barker, A., Partain, S. and F. Germano.          1977. The Collecting, Culturing j                    and Swimming Ability of Larval American Shad. (Alosa sapidissima).

New England Aquarium. Final Report to Northeast Utilities, P.O. Box 270, Hartford, Connecticut 06101 Belus:, L. C. 1968. The Relationship of Bottom Organisms to the Food. 3 Chain of Five Fish Species in the Connecticut River above the Holyoke D:=, Massachusetts. M.S. Thesis. U. Mass. 64 p. Brenner, P. , Manager, Connecticut Valley District, Massachusetts Depart; ment of Fish and Nildlife. 2 August, 1977. Personal Communication. Bre:esky, P. E. , Supervisor, Fisheries Management, New Hampshire Fish and Came Department. 1 August 1977. Personal Communication. Carlson, J., New England River Basins Commission. August 1977. Personal Communication, Boston. Chandler, E., Attorney, Massachusetts Department of Water Resources. S August 1977. Personal Communication. Centor for Environment and Man, Inc., December 1975. A Framework for Environmental Lpact Evaluation for Electric Power Systems in a 

        /               River Basin. Report to the Federal Powcr Commission.

Connecticut River Basin Coordinating Commit ce (CRBCC), June 1970. Comprehensive Water and Related Land Rescurces Investigation, Connecticut River Basin. Prepared by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New England Division. Vols. I-IX. Cooper, S. , Engineer, Reservoir Regulation, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New England Division. 1977. Personal Communication. Cooperman, A. Mass. Division oz Pla:er Pollt.:Lon Control. 1977. Personal j Communication. Corey, N. , Chief Sys:cm Dispatcher, NEPCO,1977. Personni Communication. _. Crecco, V. , Fishery Biologist, Connecticut Departmen; of Environmental 

 .                       Protec: ion. 1 August 1977. Personal Communication.

I I i 

              .         ~

i Dadswell, N. J. 1976. Biology of the Shortnose Sturgeon (Acipenser , brevirostrum) in the Saint John River Estuary, New Brunswick, - j ' 

   .                        Canada. Unpublished manuscript. Fisheries and Environment Siological j                        Station, St. Andrews , New Brunswick, Canada. 77p.
 '}                 Ferreira, T., 1977. NUSCO.           Personal Communication.

i t Foote, P. S. 1976. Blood Lactic Acid Levels and Age Structure of f American Shad (Alosa sacidissima) Utiliting the Holyoke Dam Fishlift, Massachusetts, 1974 and 1975. M.S. Thesis, U. Mass. i 

   ;                Gilmore, K. S.          1975. Spawning Areas and Egg Distribution of American i                        Shad (Alosa sacidissima) in the Connecticut River between Holyoke and Turners Falls, Mass.        M.S. Thesis, U. Mass.

t Gorham, S. W. and D. C. McAllister. 1974. The Shortnose Sturgeon (Acicenser brevirostrum) in the Saint John River, New Brunswick, Canada, a Rare and Possibly Endangered Species. Syllegeus No. S. National Museums of Canada. s Isaacs, R. , Engineer, Massachusetts Division of Water Pollution Control. 1977. Personal Communication. Jonasch, J. J. and S. M. Shapiro, 1975. Northfield Mountain Pumped Storage flydroelectric Project. Resident Fish Study. Progress Report No. 4 to Northeast Utilities, P.O. Box 270, Hartford, Connecticut 06101 Kipper, E. M. and I. V. Mileiko 1962. Fishways and Rydroelectric Develoements of the USSR (not translated) . Puo11shed in Moscow. Available from U.S. Library of Congress (#SHISS.KS) 1977. Egg Production and Spawning Site Distribution 

        ~

Kusmeskus, D. M. of the American Shad (Alosa sapidissima) in the Holyoke Pool, Connecticut River, Massacnusetts. M.S. Thesi. , U. Mass. Lance, R., Coordinator, Atlantic Salmon Program, U.S. Fish 4 Wildlife

  • Service. 1 August 1977, Personal Communication. ,

LaRosa, T., A.ttorney, Vermon Department of Environmental Protection. 10 August 1977, Personal Communication. Layter, J. B. 1974a. Spqwning Sites and Behavior of American Shad - (Alosa sacidissima) in the Connecticut River Between Holyoke and Turncrs Falls, Massachusetts, 1972. M.S. Thesis, University of Mas sachuse tts . l I' Laytor, J. B. 1974b. Northfield Mountain Pumped Storage Hydroelectric - Project Anadromous Fish Study. Progress Report No. 2 to Northeast  ; Utilicios, P.O. Box 270, Hartford, Connecticut 06101 _. Leggett, N. C. 1976. Migration and Peculation Dynamics of Shad in Merriuan, D. and L. M. Thorpe (eds),The Connecticut River Ecological . Studv. 1976. Naerican Fisheries Society. Washington, 0.'C. 

          .        ..                                                                                                                                  - ~ - -         - _          _    ,   _      _

Legject,W.C.,1977. Density Dependence, Density Independence, and 

                             . Recruitment in the American Shad (Alosa sacidissima) Population of the Connecticut River, from Proceedings of the Conference on                                                                                                 .

Assessing the Effects of Power-Plant Incuced Mortality on Fish 

     !                         Populations (Webster Van Winkle, ea.) Gak Ricge National Lacoratory j                        Gatlinoerg, Tennessee.                                     3-6 May 1977, Pergamon Press.

l * [ Leonard, J. B. 1968. The Composition and Distribution of Fish in a '" 1 32-mile Segment.of the Connecticut River, Massachusetts in 1965. 

     ;                        M.S. Thesis. U. Mass. 69 p.
   -{                   Lesch, P. Federal Power Commission.                                     1977.                                 Personal Communication.

t 

                      ~

l Marcy, C.,.Jr. 1976. Fishes of the Lower Connecticut River and the 1 Effects of the Connecticut Yankee ?lant, from Connecticut River ' 

      !                        Ecological Study: The Imoact of a Nuclear Power Plant. D. Mor:iman and L. M. Thorpe (eds.), American Fisheries Society, Washington,0.C.

Mass. Executive Office of Environmental Affairs. 1977. -Massachusetts Nater Supply Policy Study. Mass. Division of Water Pollution ' Control. 1973. Water Quality Survey, Connecticut River. Massachusetts Nater Resources Commission. Mass. Division of Water Pollution Control. _1}74. Rules and Regulations l for the Establishment of Minimum Water Quality Standards and for the Protection of the Quality and Value of Water Resources. Mass. Water Resources Commission., Mass. Division of Water Pollution Controi. 1973. The Connee*icut River . Basin, Water Quality Management Plan. Massachusetts Water Resources Commission. McKee, J. E. , and H. N. Wolf (ed.) 1963. Water Quality Criteria. The Resources Agency of California, State Water Quality Control Board, Sacramento, CA. Pub. *3A. 

                     , Merriman, D. , and L. M. Thorpe (eds.) 1976. Connecticut River Ecologi-esi Study: The Imcact of a Nuclear Power Plant. Washington, D.C.

American Fisheries Society. Millette, A., Engineer,.NEPCO. 1977. Personal Communication. New England River Basins Commission. July, 1973. An Environmental Recon-naissance of Alternative Pumped Storage Sites in New England. i Nichols , D. , Engineer, NEPCO. 1977. Personal Communication. i Northeast Utilities Service Company. 1977. Environmental Report, Con-struction Permit Stage, Montague Nuclear Power Station, Units 1 and j 2, Vols.1-3, Appendices Vol. I and 2. , Process Research, Inc. 1976. Environmental Impact Assessment, Piscataway Regional Nastewater Management Facility, Draft. Prepared for the Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission. l I _m.__._ _ _ _ . _ _ . _ . _ _ _ _ _ _ 

   ;                   U.Si Geological Survey. 1976. Water Resources Data for Massachusetts
 'l                        ..and Rhode. Island. Water Data Report MA-RI-76-1.                                         .

U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission. February, 1977. Final Environmental - 

  '                          Statement Related to. Construction of Montague Nuclear Power Station Units 1 and 2.

I < 4 e i 1

  • g k.

l 1 l 

 .t 1

i i . . . t i 

  .i 4

E . 

 ;                  Reed,. R. and J. Cave.      1976. 1976 American Shad Research - Connecticut                                                     -
 !                         River, Massachusetts II. American Shad Larval Distribution and-                                     '

{ Relative-Abundance. Massachusetts Cooperative Fishery Research - Unit, Amherst, Massachusetts. } l' Scott, N. B. , and E. J. Crossman. 1973. Freshwater Fishes of Canada, 

        .,                 Bufletin IS4 Fisheries Research Board of Canada. 966p.                                                                      <

n j Shapiro, S. M. and Jonasch, J. J. 1975. Northfield Mountain Pumped Storage Hydroelectric Project Resident Fish Study, 1 March 1974 - 

 '{                        23 February 1975. Report to Northeast Utilities, PO Box 270, Hartford, Connecticut 06101.

l i Smith, J. , Engineering Planning Branch, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, i New England Division, 1977. Stira, R. J. No date. Sinking Rate and Drif: Distance of Eggs of American Shad (Alosa sacidissima) in the Connecticut River, Massachusetts. Special Proj ect, Massachusetts Cooperative Fishery Research Unit, 3 Amherst, Massachusetts. Stone 5 Nebster Engineering Corporation. 1977. Entrainment Analyses of Shad Eggs in the Connecticut River, Bcston, Mass. Taubert, B. D. and R. J. Reed. 1973. Observations of Shortnose Sturgeon (Acipenser brevirostrum) in the Holyoke Pool, Connecticut River, Mas sachusetts . Finai Report to Northeast Utilities, PO Box 270, Hartford, Connecticut 06101 Thomann, R. V. 197'2. SystemsknalysisandWaterQualityManagement. McGraw-Hill, N.Y. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, 1969-1976. Annuai Fish Passage Reports - Columbia River Project. U. S. A rmy Corps of Engineers, New England Division. 1976. Northeastern United States Nater Supply Study Final Environmental Statement; Northfic1d Mountain and Millers River Diversion. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. 1976. Quality Criteria for . Water. Pre-publication copy. [ U.S. Federal Power Commission. 1976. Connecticut River Basin, Office 

 ;                          of Energy Systems Report.

i' U.S. Geological Survey. 1965. Water Resources Data for Massachusetts, i New Hampshire, Rhede Island, Vermont. U.S. Geological Survey. 1975. -Nater Rescurtes Data for New Hampshire and Vermont. Water Data Report NH-VT-75-1. U.S. Geological Survey. 1975. Nater Resources Data for Massachusetts and Rhode Island. Water Data Repor: MA-R !-75 -1. _m ._- _ _______-----a 

       ,          .g.

THE COMMONWEALTH..-OF MASSACHUSETTS t./ 7 - f ENERGY FAClLmES m. 

                                                                                        "W 'e s%                        SmNG CO.UNCIL~                                ;
                                                                                                $ */(

l' acgtmuc occmmmoon MICHAEL S. DUKAKIS s F"- 

                                                     * ~ '                                         at' cOVERNOR                                            rig
        *""'*"L,k'l~""Y:bbYYcSC ._9%,997                                   % o.yg
.                                                                                             e          e,
                                                                         -               /

i William G. Gordon .., 'h Regional Director ff .c.c National Marine Fisheries Service Federal Building C [M2 s 4 14 Elm Street Gloucester, Massachusetts 01930 

                                                                                    &      c[         j g                        ,

18 September 1978 5 Re: Montague Nuclear Power Station, Biological Opinion on Shortnose Sturgeon Mr. Gordon: 

                     ^

I am writing to object to Northeast Utilities' request for suspension of your work on shortnose sturgeon. It is , of course, ironic that the company, which has so freely chastised federal and state agencies for regulatory delay, is now the proponent.of delay. More importantly, however, we believe that there is no justification whatsoever for 

             ~

a hault in efforts to resolve questions concerning the im-pact of the Montague station upon an unique and endangered species. The experience of the Tellicd Dam underscores ( the need for early action on these questions. We hope that you will continue with scheduled work on shortnose sturgeon, and that you will render the findings and opinions as requested by the Nuclear Regulatory Com-mission. i , EDWARD J. DAILEY Director J EJD:hrm Roem 1413 One Ashburton Place Boston, Massachuuetts 02108 (617) 727-1136 782500125

b 

                                                    ]_?-    ,,,

NORTHEAST IFFIEJTIES 

                    =

i w -maarercinw me m"" P.O. BOX 270 l r l 3 ",Q 7 Z Q h" ,. HARTFORo. CONNECTICUT Oe101 l 

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A L J C',0*y."O" "- 

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                                              .;s                                                                                                                           l g                                              7 [, * '
                                                ~.v.              ..

September 13, 1978 - a t Docket Nos. 50-496 50-497 . i '. 

                                                                                                      -                    ~
                                                                                                      >                                              ~7 p                                                    --

Director of Nuclear Reactor Regulation Attn: Mr. R. S. Boyd, Director i Division of Project Managemen.t U. S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission . Washington,,D. C. 20555

Reference:

(1) Letter, R. S. Boyd to W. G. Counsil dated August 11, 1978. l Gentlemen: , Montague Nuclear Power Station, Unit Nos.1 and 2 " Reactor Protection System Power Supplies This letter is our response to Reference (1) which requested a commitment to install voltage and frequency protection systems for the reactor protection system power supplies. We have reviewed the postulated scenario regarding scram capability. This subject will be addressed by the Applicants with respect to NRC licensing criteria when the NRC Safety Evaluation is reassessed by the Staff's update review which is expected to be one year prior to the issuance of a construction permit for the Montague Units. i 

       '~

Should you have further questions, please contact us. Very truly yours, NORTHEAST NUCLEAR ENERGY COMPANY, ET AL By: Northeast Nuclear Energy Company Their Agent r 

   ;                                                                    $ / ! {' b N 0'l N'"G. Counsil i

Vice President I 4  ! I l l  ??O290320 0 s\0, 1}}

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