Review of the Environmental Impact Statement
for Three Hudson River Electrical Generating Stations
During the 1970s, a proposal to permit electrical
generating stations on the Hudson River to withdraw water for once-through
cooling led to a prolonged litigation aimed at resolving the controversy
about effects on Hudson River fisheries. The Hudson River Settlement
Agreement permitted operation of the stations but required significant
monitoring to provide the basis from which to resolve the scientific
uncertainty about potential station effects. In 1990, following
a decade of intensive monitoring, the utilities applied for modification
of the terms of station operation and were required to file an environmental
impact statement (EIS) in support of their proposal. In 1993, ESSA
was retained by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation
(NYSDEC) to undertake a technical review of the fisheries models
and technical analyses presented in support of the EIS for three
electric generating plants (Bowline, Indian Point 2&3, and Roseton)
on the Hudson River.
| 1. |
the assessment of entrainment and impingement
mortality of major fish stocks in the Hudson River for the next
permit period; |
| 2. |
the effects of predicted entrainment and impingement
mortality on the major fish species populations and their associated
economic impacts; and |
| 3. |
the thermal plume and ecosystemic effects of plant
operations. |
The review found a number of problems with the
analysis which raised concern about the conclusions reached, and
also revealed that the American shad population was in serious decline.
