Visit the plant to discuss legislative needs for protecting the surrounding environment

WATERFORD – State Representatives Kathleen McCarty and Melissa Ziobron and Senator Paul Formica (Ranking Senator on the state Legislature’s Energy and Technology Committee) visited the Millstone Nuclear Power Plant last week to discuss environmental protection efforts by the plant with fellow lawmakers. The visit included an informational presentation of recent environmental data and conservation initiatives, a demonstration of net monitoring and a boat trip out on the water to observe lobster population monitoring activity.

The lawmakers in attendance learned that environmental impacts potentially caused by the plant include cooling water intake effects (impingement and entrainment), heated water discharge (thermal pollution) and sedimentary changes. However, data shows that their efforts to mitigate these effects have been largely successful; strong tidal flow seems to limit thermal plume effects, fish return systems reduce impingement impacts and flow reduction measures (timed refueling outages, VFD motor use) reduce entrainment impacts.

Millstone’s monitoring approach primarily focuses on marine populations of species such as species such as winter flounder, lobster and eelgrass in rocky intertidal, benthic infauna and fish ecology natural communities. Observations are taken often to monitor shifts in fish assemblages, lobster disease and population decline, eelgrass fluctuations and regional seawater temperature rise. These observations are then analyzed with past data, special pattern sampling, studies in other Southern New England locations, commercial and recreational fisheries landings statistics and regional environmental and ecological changes.

(L to R) Reps. Ziobron, McCarty and Miner – who also attended the tour – aboard the Dominion

“As State Representative and a resident of Waterford, I am particularly grateful to Millstone for its long-standing community partnerships, and most importantly for providing employment to Waterford residents and surrounding Southeastern CT communities. The continuous conservation efforts, along with the research conducted by Millstone’s scientists related to the impact its systems have on the environment and marine life make Millstone an excellent environmental steward. I was also very impressed by the attendance of so many veteran biologists, and scientists during the informational portion of the meeting, which speaks volumes about the quality of Millstone as an employer and the dedication to their work by its employees.  This was such an informative and enjoyable experience; I thank Millstone for having us and for taking the time to share their environmental protection efforts with us,” said Rep. McCarty.

“For four decades, Millstone biologists have collected data regarding Long Island Sound aquatic life,” Sen. Formica said. “Continued environmental data collection and their strong collaboration with state environmental protection officials is a crucial environmental tool, not only for Millstone’s power production, but for our state’s ecology.”

“In addition to their investments into monitoring and mitigating their environmental impacts, I’d like to thank Millstone for their efforts to boost Connecticut’s economy and grow jobs by providing employment to over 1,400 residents across our state,” said Rep. Ziobron. “I also appreciate their careful attention to ensuring that safety and precautionary measures within the facility are followed. I am truly impressed by Millstone as they have proven to be an asset to our state and great stewards to our community.”

Millstone’s environmental policies are regulated externally by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), CT Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) and Connecticut Siting Council. Internally, the plant scientifically documents their ecological processes and impacts through a sense of responsibility to their community to promote good environmental stewardship. As part of such, the plant continues to partner with the Niantic River Nitrogen work group. Their most recent accomplishment in regards to protecting the river was to provide funding to UCONN to support a data synthesis and modeling project on the river.

Goals going forward for Millstone include obtaining more efficient industrial water cooling technology, renewing their National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit and enhancing compliance with the EPA Clean Power Plan.

Rep. McCarty represents the 38^th district of Waterford and Montville. www.repmccarty.com
Rep. Ziobron represents the 34^th district of Colchester, East Haddam and East Hampton. www.repziobron.com
Sen. Formica represents the 20^th district of Bozrah, East Lyme, a portion of Montville, New London, Old Lyme, a portion of Old Saybrook, Salem, and Waterford.  www.senatorformica.com