Full Description

Developers of new water supplies frequently face the argument that permits for theirprojects should be denied because scientists advising the permitting agencies cannot say withcertainty that the projects will not harm important environmental resources. This paper discusseshow the City of Newport News, Virginia addressed that problem in connection with itsapplication for a permit from the Virginia Marine Resources Commission for its proposed KingWilliam Reservoir project. The Commission initially denied the City's permit applicationbecause its scientific advisors were uncertain whether the project's river withdrawals wouldadversely impact American shad spawning, but the City was able to convince the Commissionthat the resource would be protected notwithstanding that uncertainty. This paper describes thetechniques used by the City for that purpose which include: the assembly of a panel of expert fisheriesbiologists to assess the risks to fisheries resources and to make recommendations, including arecommendation for a pumping hiatus during spawning season to be triggered by watertemperatures; improving intake screen design to a standard higher than required by federal orstate agencies; conducting videotaped experiments to demonstrate the efficacy of the screens inprotecting shad eggs and larvae; explaining and quantifying the cumulative protection offered byvarious aspects of the project, including the pumping hiatus and the screens, using a "layers ofprotection" analysis; and, offering post-permit monitoring and a permit reopener provision. Includes figures.

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Edition: Vol. - No. Published: 06/17/2005 Number of Pages: 10File Size: 1 file , 3.1 MB