Dec 8 - McClatchy-Tribune Regional News - Calvin R. Trice Richmond Times-Dispatch, Va.

Two environmental groups will challenge the state's decision to renew the water permit for Dominion Virginia Power's nuclear power station in Louisa County.

The Blue Ridge Environmental Defense League and the People's Alliance for Clean Energy filed a notice of appeal last week in Richmond Circuit Court, officials with the organizations said in a news release.

The groups want to contest the decision by the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality to renew the water permit for Dominion's North Anna Power Station for another five years. They said the renewal was arbitrary, capricious and failed to protect state water quality standards.

The North Anna plant uses 3,400 acres of water in a series of lagoons created for the plant to cool its nuclear reactors. The water doesn't come in contact with radioactive material.

In the summer, temperatures in the lagoons can climb above 100 degrees, which environmental groups believe creates unsafe conditions for people who use the lake. They want the lagoons, such as the public portion of Lake Anna, covered by the federal Clean Water Act. The state would then be authorized to regulate water temperatures.

DEQ officials disagree. They renewed the permit with the provision that the lagoons are not covered by federal regulations that would require temperatures stay under a certain level. The state granted the renewal in October, DEQ spokesman Bill Hayden said.

The environmental groups plan to file additional papers in support of their appeal this month.

Contact Calvin R. Trice at (540) 932-3674 or ctrice@timesdispatch.com