Aquatic Impacts from Operation of Three Midwestern Nuclear Power Stations: Comparative Summary and Recommendations for Nuclear Station Siting and Design

摘要

Ecological impacts of three midwestern nuclear stations on riverine ecosystems were assessed. Station location, intake and discharge location and design were evaluated as to their interaction with different trophic levels. Fort Calhoun and Cooper Stations, located in Nebraska, utilize once-through cooling systems; these stations' cooling waters are withdrawn from and returned to the Missouri River. Duane Arnold Energy center located in Iowa, has a forced-draft cooling tower and the station withdraws make-up water from the Cedar River. Based on the assessment of three particular stations, it was concluded that cooling towers are more environmentally sound than once-through cooling systems utilizing large volumes of cooling water. Recommendations were made that efforts used for assessing impacts on lower trophic levels of current and future stations, be reduced or eliminated based on a case-by-case evaluation. Conversely, the current design and execution of fish and ichthyoplankton programs deserve a closer look. These trophic levels call for the expenditure of more effort during baseline and operational phase monitoring programs.