Nuclear plant must stop killing fish
TORONTO, Jul 7, 2010 -- UPI
A Canadian nuclear power plant has been ordered to stop killing fish by
the millions or risk losing its operating license, government officials
say.
Ontario Power Generation, operator of the Pickering plant, must reduce
fish mortality in Lake Ontario by 80 percent, the Toronto Star reported
Wednesday.
Nearly 1 million fish and 62 million fish eggs and larvae die each year
after being sucked into the water intake channel that is part of the
cooling system of the power plant, completed in 1986.
The Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission has ordered annual reports on
fish mortality and the effectiveness of steps being taken toward
improvement.
Mark Mattson, president of a grassroots environmental advocacy group
working to protect the health of Lake Ontario, calls the plant's cooling
system the worst of available technologies.
"It sucks in clean water along with fish, eggs and larvae, then spits it
back at close to hot tub temperatures," Mattson said.
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