CONGRESSIONAL RECORD -- SENATE
May 12, 1969
Page 12051
NUCLEAR POWER IN NEW ENGLAND
Mr. MUSKIE. Mr. President, the New England River Basin Commission recently issued a statement on thermal power plant siting in New England.
The commission's statement recognized the far-reaching effects on the environment of decisions concerning the site selection for electric generation plants. It was the judgment of the commission that existing procedures for public agency review and approval of thermal power plant construction projects do not provide for adequate consideration of the effects of such powerplants on water-related land resources.
I shall shortly introduce legislation in the Senate which will provide for extensive consideration of these effects, but in the meantime, I hope that the Members of the Senate will note the concern of the New England River Basin Commission over this problem. With the help of the active interest of public agencies such as the NERBC, the public has reason to hope that its environment can be protected from unnecessary and irresponsible intrusions upon it.
I ask unanimous consent that the text of the statement by the New England River Basin Commission be printed in the RECORD.
There being no objection, the statement was ordered to be printed in the RECORD, as follows:
STATEMENTS ON THERMAL POWERPLANT SITING BY THE NEW ENGLAND RIVER BASINS COMMISSION, BOSTON, MASS.
DEFINITION OF PROBLEM
Peak electrical power demand in New England is approximately 12,000 megawatts (mw.) at the present time. By 1980 the demand is expected to approach 20,000 mw. and by the year 2000, 70,000 mw. may be required. Current trends in New England power development indicate that a major block of the baseload power will be generated by nuclear fueled power plants. The remainder would be fossil fueled. Three significant constraints related to these facilities are that (1) the plants must be of high capacity (usually nuclear plant capacities exceed 500 mw.) in order to be economically feasible, (2) large quantities of waste heat must be dissipated to a coolant, usually water, and (3) exhaust gases may be toxic. Approximately one million gallons per day of cooling water are required per mw. of power plant capacity. Several unresolved environmental factors are associated with the siting of these power plants. These factors include: (1) the aesthetic aspects of siting adjacent to major bodies of water, (2) the ecological effects of thermal and nuclear waste disposal and (3) the health effects of toxic air pollutants.
In addition to the numerous fossil fuel thermal plants, seven using nuclear fuel have been completed, are under construction or firmly proposed in New England. Land acquisition for an additional plant has been publicly announced. By 1980 three additional plants will be required, and by the year 2000 the total for New England may approach 18. The Commission considers siting of thermal power plants to be an urgent issue.
FACTORS AFFECTING SITING
The Commission recognizes the need for thermal power generating facilities in New England and the several unresolved environmental issues associated with the siting of these facilities. Recently the Energy Policy Staff, Office of Science and Technology in cooperation with the Atomic Energy Commission, Department of Health, Education and Welfare, Department of Interior, Federal Power Commission, Rural Electrification Administration and Tennessee Valley Authority published a report entitled Considerations Affecting Steam Power Plant Site Selection.
Page VIII of that report lists 11 factors to be considered in thermal power plant siting. The remainder of the report substantiates these factors. The factors are as follows:
1. Comply with the safety criteria for nuclear plants as prescribed by AEC.
2. Comply with air pollution criteria and standards as established by the States and the National Air Pollution Control Administration of HEW.
3. Comply with the water quality standards for thermal effects as established by the States and the Federal Water Pollution Control Administration of the Department of the Interior.
4. Develop the opportunities for public recreation at plant sites and avoid impairing existing recreational areas.
5. Consider aesthetic values and give adequate attention to the appearance of power plant facilities and associated transmission lines.
6. Recognize the rural development considerations in plant siting.
7. Consider the siting and lead-time requirements for reliability of service.
8. Consider the impact on defense preparedness of particular sites and power plant capacities.
9. Consider the routing of associated transmission lines and the problems of rights-of-way at various alternative plant locations.
10. Assure that the plant will be of sufficient size to meet regional loads including mutually agreeable arrangements for meeting the bulk power needs of the small utilities.
11. Consider prospects for combining power plants with other purposes such as desalting plants, industrial centers, and even new cities.
The Power and Environment Committee of the New England River Basins Commission has been intensively studying the subject of thermal plant siting. The findings of the committee are consistent with the comments on environmental factors of the study of the U.S. Energy Policy Staff. The Commission urges that all public and private organizations which propose, evaluate or approve thermal power plants consider those factors which relate to use of or effects on water and related land resources. Special attention should be given to thermal pollution, to more precise determination of thermal effects, and to careful implementation of protective criteria in State and Federal water quality standards programs. The Commission notes that thermal plant siting factors should include compliance with State as well as Federal criteria.
It is the judgment of the Commission that existing procedures for public agency review and approval of thermal power plant construction projects do not provide for adequate consideration of the effects of such power plants on water and related land resources. The Commission will consider and recommend ways of improving procedures related to water and related land resources, and may offer recommendations for improvement of State and Federal review and approval of programs.
The Commission will, within existing authority, work informally during the months ahead to help evaluate sites proposed for early development from the standpoint of water and related land use. The Commission believes that a special region wide study of future sites from this standpoint is urgently needed, and will work with appropriate public and private institutions to attempt to get such a study underway.
Approved February 13, 1969.