THE FOLLOWING PROJECTS WERE COMPLETED PRIOR TO IES
Indian Point Energy Center Nuclear Power Plant Permitting Modeling and Analyses
The project provided detailed 3D hydro-thermal modeling to track the Indian Point Energy Center (IPEC) Nuclear Power Plant once-through-cooling thermal discharge in the Hudson River as part of a larger assessment of the IPEC impacts on the river. The modelling effort was verified using observations from 60 thermistor strings, salinity gauges and current meters deployed over several years in the Hudson River. The study evaluated various intake and discharge configurations to assess the potential for reduction of the thermal signature of the thermal plume in the receiving waters of the river on behalf of the legal group support the power plant’s re-permitting effort. In addition, a mixing zone and zone of influence for the intakes analyses were performed. Results were reviewed by regulatory authorities including the NYSDEC, USEPA, NMFS and NGOs including the Hudson River Keepers.
Environmental Modeling and Analysis of WWTF Nutrient Loading on the Taunton River andMount Hope Bay
A modeling study was performed to assess the relative potential impacts of the Fall River Waste Water Treatment Facility (WWTF) and the City of Taunton WWTF nutrient loading on the lower Taunton River. Based on a pervious field assessment of the nutrient concentrations in the Taunton River and Mt. Hope Bay performed by the University of Massachusetts, Dartmouth the EPA found that concentrations of total nitrogen (TN), in the lower Taunton River area were above a critical threshold (0.45 mg/L) and requested that steps be taken to reduce concentrations in the river to levels below this threshold by reducing nutrient discharge concentrations.
A previously calibrated and validated hydrodynamics and transport model application of the bay/river system was used for circulation. The hydrodynamic and thermal assessment model was originally used to assess the impacts of the Brayton Point power station thermal effluent on the bay in terms of thermal stratification on the dissolved oxygen (DO) concentrations in the bottom waters of Mount Hope Bay for review by USEPA, MassDEP and RIDEM scientists and regulators. The study was then performed to assess the influence of the WWTFs nutrient loading, primarily total nitrogen (TN), on concentrations in the river and bay.
