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Dominion power releasing water from Lake Anna to study impact of a possible third nuclear reactor on North Anna River Date published: 5/1/2008
By RUSTY DENNEN Dominion power will adjust the flow of water in the North Anna River as part of a study on downstream impacts of a possible third nuclear reactor at North Anna Power Station. Today through Monday, Dominion will release water at two different flow rates over the Lake Anna dam, said Richard Zuercher, spokesman for Dominion's nuclear operations in Richmond. The 13,000-acre lake in Spotsylvania, Louisa and Orange counties provides water to cool the two existing reactors at the power station. After last year's drought brought levels down, recent spring rainfall has topped off the popular recreational lake. For 2 days during one phase of the study, water will be released at 140 cubic feet per second. During second release; for the same duration, 250 cfs would be released. Field measurements will be taken at 20 locations downstream. Flow in North Anna River is maintained by Dominion at at least 40 cfs, depending upon lake levels. "The testing is necessary to determine what if any impact the operation of a potential third nuclear unit at North Anna will have on fish and recreation on the North Anna River" Zuercher said yesterday. The scope of the study includes the impact of potentially raising Lake Anna's levels on wetlands, docks and piers. Virginia environmental regulatory agencies will use the information to determine if the reactor's operation is consistent with the federal Coastal Zone Management Act. "We anticipate that the impact on water level in Lake Anna and the Waste Heat Treatment Facility will be negligible and won't be noticed by waterfront property owners," Zuercher said. The waste heat facility, also known as Lake Anna's "hot side" is where heated water is discharged after cooling Units 1 and 2. Zuercher noted that Lake Anna is full when the water level reaches 250 feet above sea level in the reservoir. Because of recent heavy rains, Dominion has been releasing much more water than usual. During last year's drought, lake levels dropped by several feet. The in-stream flow study will focus on the North Anna River below the dam, to where it intersects with U.S. 301 in Hanover County, northeast of Richmond. The Virginia Department of Environmental Quality held informational meetings last year with residents downstream of the dam. The flow study was discussed at those sessions, and with Lake Anna residents in January. Dominion last November received an early site permit for Unit 3 from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, allowing it to bank a suitable site next to the two existing reactors for 20 years. Then Dominion initiated the last step of the application process, filing for a combined license to build and operate a new reactor. The NRC is expected to make a decision on that application in late 2010. Dominion says it has not yet made a final decision whether to build Unit 3. Rusty Dennen: 540/374-5431
I thought previous news articles said that Dominion had decided to NOT use lake cooling for the 3rd Reactor and that they would be using a different process that did not require lake water.
What has changed?
Also - if Dominion has a permit for 40 cfs and they continue to meet that standard - why do they need to be testing higher flows?
This is one of those stories.. that to me.. doesn't make any sense. I'm sure it's quite factual and it IS well written and edited.. but I cannot comprehend what it means..
I disagree with this statement in the article - "After last year's drought brought levels down, recent spring rainfall has topped off the popular recreational lake." As someone who boated at Lake Anna last year and will be again this year, the water levels are not yet back up to where they were. They're close, but the lake hasn't fully recovered.
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