Proposed Continuation of Construction and Operation of Units 1 and 2, Dockets Nos. 50-338, and 50-339, and the Proposed Construction of Units 3 and 4, Dockets Nos. 50-404, and 50-405 of the North Anna Power Station, By the V irginia Electric and Power Com

摘要

The proposed actions are the continuation of construction permits for the North Anna Power Station, the issuance of operating licenses, and the issuance of construction permits. The North Anna Power Station is being constructed by the Virginia Electric and Power Company, on the North Anna River in the State of Virginia, county of Louisa, near the town of Mineral. Units 1 and 2 will each employ a pressurized water reactor to produce as much as 2775 megawatts thermal (MWt). This heat will be used to generate as much as 942 MW gross or 898 MW net electrical output per unit. The exhaust steam will be cooled by once-through flow of water obtained from and discharged to Lake Anna, a new man-made lake developed by the applicant. A total of 18,643 acres of rural land (about 80% of it forested) was allocated for the impoundment of Lake Anna, development of the Station site, and relocation of highways and bridges. Where the transmission lines cross the northern sector of Lake Anna, the towers will be up to 205 ft tall so as to maintain 55-ft clearance above water. According to staff estimates, the temperature rise of Lake Anna may be more than double the 3.7F degrees predicted by the applicant. A strong probability exists that heavy metals will accumulate in abnormally high concentrations in lake biota due to the retention by lake sediments of metal cations from acid mine drainage in Contrary Creek. Toxic concentrations of metals such as zinc and copper will probably develop in the Contrary Creek embayment following freshets, and a high probability will exist that sub-lethal effects of those metals on lake biota will occur throughout a large area of Lake Anna. (Author)