On Tuesday, June 15, 2010, a coalition of environmental organizations released a statewide environmental analysis of how power plants across NYS kill 17 billion fish, fish eggs, and young hatched fish a year.  The plants also kill another 171 million larger fish and other aquatic species annually.  The report is entitled “Reeling in New York’s Aging Power Plants: The Case for Fish Friendlier Power.”

Read the full report

Read the Group’s press release

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation is preparing to finalize its policy to stem the destruction of fish and aquatic ecosystems by power plants statewide. The public comment period for DEC’s draft policy, which was issued in March, was extended to July 9, 2010.

Read DEC’s policy that will require plants to upgrade their cooling systems to curb fish kills by 95-98%

More information from DEC on this policy and how to submit comments

The groups also released a detailed economic analysis of DEC’s proposed policy by McCullough Research.

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The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) released draft permits that would require National Grid's Port Jefferson Power Station and Glenwood Power Station to reduce the number of fish killed and injured, on an annual basis, by each plant. Currently Port Jefferson’s antiquated cooling system, which can withdraw up to 300 million gallons of water each day from Port Jefferson Harbor, kill more than one billion fish, fish eggs or larvae each year, along with other marine life. Glenwood’s cooling system, which can withdraw up to 179 million gallons of water each day from Hempstead Harbor, kill more than 177 million fish, fish eggs or larvae each year.

In conjunction with the release of the draft permits, Citizens Campaign for the Environment (CCE) and the Network for New Energy Choices (NNEC) released a white paper, "Power Plants Kill Fish," detailing the effects of National Grid's Long Island power plants on coastal fish.

Update! The National Grid EF Barrett Power Plant in Island Park draws over 290 million gallons of water each day to cool the facility. The DEC estimates that, in the process of drawing in water, 178,000 adult fish are injured or killed when being stuck against the intake screens and a billion more fish eggs get sucked through the screens each year. On December 23, 2009, the DEC released a draft permit for the plant that recommends that National Grid install a new closed-cycle cooling system at the plant, which would reduce water intake by 95 percent and therefore greatly reduce the number of fish kills. CCE applauds the DEC for making this recommendation for the EF Barrett Power Plant in Island Park.

Read the draft permit
View the DEC fact sheet

CCE comments on E.F. Barrett Power Station SPDES renewal and modification
Attachment 1 - Glenwood Comments
Attachment 2 - Port Jefferson Comments

More information and resources on the draft permit:

NY Department of Environmental Conservation website

December 23 Newsday article, "National Grid asked to Upgrade Plant to Cut Fish Deaths".

Report released Fall 2009: "Power Plants Kill Fish"

NNEC & CCE press release on Report

Take Action! Tell the DEC to minimize fish kills by modernizing their plants.

Write to the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC):

Kevin Kispert
NYSDEC
SUNY@ Stony Brook
50 Circle Road
Stony Brook, NY 11790-3409

Letter Writing Tips:

• The antiquated cooling systems are responsible for killing billions of fish and disturbing surrounding marine eco-systems.
• There is a solution! Tell the DEC to take responsibility and minimize fish kills by retrofitting their plants with the best available technology for cooling water intake.
• Print your name and address under your signature.
• Make sure your letter is clearly legible and in your own words.
• Ask for a response in writing, informing you how they will address your concerns.

For more information and letter writing tips, read our latest brochure, "National Grid Power Plants Kill Billions of Fish."

More on the Draft Port Jefferson SPDES Permit:
Port Jefferson Power Station Notice of Complete Application
Draft SPDES Permit
SPDES Fact Sheet

More on the Draft Glenwood SPDES Permit:
DEC factsheet on the Glenwood Power Plant
Draft SPDES permit for the Glenwood Power Plant

Comments by CCE and the Network for New Energy Choices (NNEC) on the draft SPDES permit for the Glenwood Power Station in the hamlet of Glenwood Landing

CCE/NNEC comments on the Port Jefferson SPDES permit

CCE/NNEC comments on East River SPDES Permit

Updated by tbono 6/29/10