|
|
||
More than two-dozen people show up for Dominion meeting on plan to withdraw water from lake for possible third reactor Date published: 8/25/2010
By RUSTY DENNEN Whenever there's a new development on Dominion power's plan for a third reactor at North Anna Power Station, people want to weigh in. Even when the topic is arcane: Dominion, as part of the permitting process, will apply next month for a Virginia Water Protection permit to withdraw water from Lake Anna to support Unit 3. About 25 people, many of them Dominion employees, turned up at an information session yesterday at Louisa County High School, where Dominion had set up posters outside the meeting room explaining the topic in great detail. Another information session is tomorrow at the high school, from 6-7 p.m., with a comment period from 7-8 p.m. Four people spoke last night; three in favor of Dominion going ahead, one with concerns about new water withdrawals. As part of its plan, Dominion has said it intends to raise the lake level by three inches if Unit 3 is approved. John Carroll, with the Lake Anna Chamber of Commerce, said he's confident Dominion's water planning won't have an impact on lake residents or businesses. "The biggest concern of the lake community is that levels will drop." With the plan to raise the level, "It appears that 90 percent of the time, the lake will actually be higher."
Jerry Rosenthal, a Louisa County resident and member of People's Alliance for Clean Energy, which opposes Unit 3, said he has several concerns. One is that Dominion has a variance from the state on thermal discharge from its existing Units 1 and 2. "This is a significant issue because water that is discharged to the lake frequently exceeds temperatures permitted under the federal Clean Water Act." He noted that a lawsuit on that point is pending before the Virginia Supreme Court. Dominion uses millions of gallons of lake water a day to cool Units 1 and 2. Water cycled through the plant goes to cooling lagoons and back into the main lake. The Virginia Water Protection permit will allow for the water needs of Unit 3, although that will use far less water from the lake because a hybrid system of wet and dry cooling towers is planned. Dominion has not yet decided whether to build Unit 3; its application for a combined license to build and operate the plant is before the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. Rosenthal said that, even with the cooling tower, "the water temperature will still rise." Dominion intends to seek a 15-year water permit, up from the current five-year permits for Units 1 and 2. "Things change around the lake," Rosenthal said, with as-yet unanticipated demands for lake water. "Lake Anna is an ecological gem worth protecting. It's important to do this in the most transparent way." Rusty Dennen: 540/374-5431
1. Be respectful. No personal attacks.
|
|
|||||||||||||
