Our conclusion, therefore, is that collection of the additional 

 five replicates has not significantly enhanced our ability to detect 

 power plant impacts. The conclusion reached in this study is contrary 

 to that of the 1978 study for two reasons. The use of a smaller mesh 

 (0.5 mm) has attenuated some of the influence of sample area size exerted 

 on community parameters reported in 1978 when a larger mesh sieve (0.7 

 mm) was used for sample processing. Secondly, the 1978 study did not 



compare 10 vs 15 replicates directly, rather conclusions were based on 



2 2 

 data resulting from collection of 0.078 m vs 0.5 m . Since samples of 



2 

 0.5 m were economically impossible to analyze over a long term, a 



2 

 sample size of at least 0.1 m was proposed; however, no evidence was 



2 

 available to conclude that increasing sample size from 0.078 m ( 10 



2 

 replicates) to 0.117 m (15 replicates) would enhance data quality. It 



has become apparent after two years that the increased sample size does 



not significantly improve the data, and a request to reduce the number 



of replicates back to 10 was prepared and submitted to the Nuclear 



Regulatory Commission (NRC) . 



PRESENT PROGRAM 



Since March 1979, the infaunal program has consisted of quarterly 



collection of 15 replicates at 4 subtidal and 2 intertidal sites with 



all samples processed using a 0.5 mm mesh sieve. The 3 years of data 



collected since March 1979 represents the longest period of consistent 



collection techniques (coupled with adequate analysis procedures) since 



the infaunal program was begun in 1968. Since these data are directly 



comparable, analyses can be performed to establish patterns of density 



and community composition as well as determine the extent of year to 



year change. This type of information provides a strong basis for 



determining both short and long term power plant impacts. 



15 



