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SReed, EP-4 JF0' Leary Senator Clifford P. Case AGiambusso United States Senate JCook GErtter (DR-6913)
Dear Senator Case:
MGroff This is in response to your comaunication oi April 3, 1974 which enclosed a letter f rom Mr. Gregory Ulirsch rej;ardink 'lish being hilled as a result of operation of the Oyster Creek Fuclear Genarating Station. Mr. U11rsch's letter also inquhed about the l
possibility of cooling the cooling water before discharging it back to the source.
The Oyster Creek Station drawa water from'Harnegat Lay for cooling and discharges it back to the Bay with a temperature rise of about 21*F vhen the plant is operating at full power. In the colder nontas, certain fish that normally tend to migrate southward are attracted by the warm water and congregate in the plant discharge can.al.
On occasion, with conditions as described above, a plant shutdown causing a decrease in water temperature has resulted in the death of thousands of fish, nostly Atlantic Menhaden.
Also, fish have been killed in the suurer when the plant dischar3a This dilution pump tripped off and was not restarted i=a,ediately.
nllowed vnter in the discharge canal to become excessively warm, resulting in the death of some fish in the canal.
Our studies of these events have incicated that fish kills of the j
r acnitude thus far experienced at Oyster Creek do not cause significant N
- apletion of fish population or threaten the ecosystem of that area.
Measures are being considered, however, to minimise the extent of T:ch occurrences.
lu cu ver to Mr. U11rsch's question abuut coolin3 the *,ater L af ore retuc.ing it to its source, this can ha acccaplished 'ay sc e form of closee.-cycle coo.Lin); system. The most co rculy.h c ud cyat.m is a cooline tower.
In this case, the heated water is ca,cadac past a counterf1w of air in a specially built tower, snie'a :m./.: w avaral
.. ndred feet high. The water loses nost of its cacesa heat to tne amosphere befera returnica to its source.
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' Senator Clifford P. Case 2
. ach systems also have disadvantages which must be weighed against the advantages of their use. For example, they are expensive to build and operate, they consume large amounts of water by evaporation, and can contribute to fogging and icing problems in the vicinity of the plant.
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Tha Regulatory staff is currently conducting a review to identify and i
.ovaluate the environmental effects of operation of the Oyster Creek
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Station, and to evaluate, on a cost-benefit basis, the alternatives, including closed-cycle cooling, that might be directed toward lessening any undesirable consequences of plant operation. The Regulatory staff's reconsaandation for an appropriata course of action will be reflected in the Final Envirotamental Statement scheduled to be issued in May, 1974.
Me believe the foregoing information is responsive to Mr. Ullrsch's letter.
If more information is required, we will be pleased to hear from you.
Sincerely, Or'gM31 :!;ned br.
Rot,er S. Bold /.
i A.' Gimabusso, Deputy Director for Reactor Projects Directorate of Licensing Enclosures i
Letter from Mr. Gregory Ulirsch to j
Sanator Clifford P. Case 1
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