Environmental Effects Modelling and Monitoring Options for Nuclear Generating Stations
Ontario Hydro
ESSA led a team of systems analysts, aquatic scientists, and resource managers in a series of projects to develop and evaluate a simulation model of the potential aquatic environmental effects of large nuclear generating stations. Participants from both the proponent agency and regulatory agencies worked together under ESSA’s guidance to develop conceptual models of the aquatic environment expressed as a series of hypotheses of effect. These hypotheses were then used as the basis for a simulation model of aquatic ecological effects. Through a series of iterations, the simulation model was refined to the stage where it could be used to examine event probabilities and to define appropriate sampling regimes for monitoring programs. Working models and monitoring programs were developed for the Darlington, Pickering and Bruce Nuclear Generating Stations, as well as for the Atikokan Thermal Generating Station.