Fish Kill Will Cost Power Plant Owner

The state has fined the owner of the Brunner Island power plant in York County $25,898 for a January incident that claimed more than 1,100 fish in the Susquehanna River.

The state Department of Environmental Protection said that Brunner Island LLC has signed a consent assessment for the civil penalty. The plant is owned by Allentown-based Talen Energy.

The Pennsylvania agency said an equipment shutdown Jan. 30 prevented warm water from the plant from entering a discharge channel that flows into the river.

The water temperature in the channel dropped approximately 13 degrees in one hour, causing a "shock" that killed the fish.

During cold weather, fish generally are attracted to the warmer water.

Species killed included smallmouth bass, channel catfish, carp and gizzard shad.

"In response to a Feb. 4 notice of violation, the company supplied the department with a list of correction actions to reduce the likelihood of a similar situation occurring again," a news release from the Department of Environmental Protection states. "New procedures and equipment are in place to allow for a quicker response, and to ensure at least a partial heating of the water being discharged."

According to LNP records, fish kills occurred at Brunner Island because of warm-water discharge problems once in 2013; twice in 2007; once in 2006, 2005, 2002, 1990 and 1986; and twice in 1983.

Unlike in January, many of those fish kills resulted from sudden discharges of warm water raising the water temperature.

PPL, then owner of Brunner Island in 2006, agreed to spend $125 million for new cooling towers to prevent overly warm water from entering the Susquehanna.

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