Terms of Reference

Review of impingement and entrainment monitoring and reported mortality at the Point Lepreau Nuclear Generating Station

Regional Peer Review - Maritimes Region

March 21, 2023
Virtual Meeting

Chairperson: Tara McIntyre

Context

New Brunswick Power (NBP) conducted an impingement and entrainment study as a requirement for a PLNGS license renewal process with the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC). Based on the results, it was determined that the current operation of the station was causing serious harm to fish. Changes to the Fisheries Act in 2012 introduced a prohibition (Subsection 35(1)) against carrying out activities that cause serious harm to fish that are part of, or support, a commercial, recreational, or Aboriginal fishery. The revisions also established a framework for regulatory decision-making (35(2)(b)) with regard to possible authorizations under the Act with terms and conditions. Consequently, NBP was required to apply for authorization under paragraph 35(2)(b) of the Act in order to be compliant with the Act. Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO), Fish and Fish Habitat Protection Program requested advice to determine if the serious harm to fish could be offset or if it would prevent DFO from attaining fisheries management objectives. This advice would inform the decision on whether to issue an authorization or not. The authorization has since been issued, based on informal advice, however FFHPP is requesting that the advice be finalized to address remaining concerns from Indigenous communities/groups, and to determine if further offsetting will be required in the event that New Brunswick Power constructs a second reactor or modifies its water intake requirements.

Objectives

The objective of this meeting is to review a self-assessment report submitted by New Brunswick Power on impingement and entrainment monitoring and reported mortality at the Point Lepreau Nuclear Generating Station, and to validate the model used to estimate annual mortality levels. The following specific objectives will be addressed in this review process:

• With respect to the entrainment/impingement study provided by the proponent:
  • Are the field methods and analytic methods used to evaluate impingement and entrainment consistent with best practices?
  • Is the species list representative of the Commercial, Recreational, and Aboriginal (CRA) species in the area?
  • Are the population units and life history values used in the analysis applicable to the species?
• With respect to the ‘significance’ of reported annual mortality:
  • Will the reported annual mortality have an effect on the localized population levels
  • Will the reported annual mortality result in losses in future productivity (i.e., the calculations in the report do not consider subsequent offspring losses or cumulative impacts)
  • The report gives mortality rates, can this be extrapolated to indicate an impact on CRA fisheries?
• In addition, DFO’s Fisheries and Fish Habitat Protection Program had requested science advice on the following question:
  • What are the possible mitigation and offsetting methods that could be implemented to reduce the impacts associated with the operations of the Point Lepreau Nuclear Generating Station?

Expected Publications

• Science Response

Expected Participation

• Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) Science
• Fisheries and Oceans Canada Ecosystems Management