119 



JOHN GLUDE 



The problem of thermal pollution may be 

 further complicated by the installation of three more 

 thermal (nuclear) electric plants on the Columbia River 

 from Hanford to Longview, Washington by 1985. The three 

 sites selected have been recommended for development from 

 3,000 MW initially to 9,000 MW when completed. If direct 

 cooling of the condensers by river water is carried out at 

 these plants, some 6,000 to 27,000 CFS of water could be 

 utilized at some future date. 



We are concerned that any thermal electric 

 plants that are Installed in the future in the Columbia River 

 ivould increase the detrimental effect to both commercial and 

 non-commercial species of fish. Research is now under way to 

 establish a description of the problem at each potential site. 



In the marine environment, an increase in 

 temperature in areas where there are layers of sludge could 

 cause an increase in the production of toxic sulfides. This 

 could aggravate an already serious condition at several lo- 

 cations within the study area. It is important, therefore, 

 to take into consideration the effects of changed temperature 

 and other factors such as this. It does not appear that this 

 aspect has been adequately covered in the report. 



There remains the possibility that changes 

 in temperatures could have a beneficial effect on the 



