(NUSCo 1985a). Since then, 61 young have been produced from these nests; over 400 were produced in 

 Connecticut (NUSCo 1985a). NUSCo continues to monitor the recovery of these magnificent birds. 



HEAVY METALS - Concentrations of heavy metals in seawatcr and shellfish tissue samples were 

 monitored five times per year from 1971 through 1983. Seawater and shellfish tissue samples were examined 

 for concentrations of copper, zinc, iron, chromium, and lead at areas adjacent to and distant from the 

 MNPS to assess possible heavy metal additions associated with seawater passage through the plant's 

 cooling water systems. 



Results indicated enhanced levels of copper, nickel, and zinc in cooling water samples relative to levels 

 in seawater samples collected outside the immediate mixing zone of the MNPS plume (NUSCo 1983b). 

 However metal levels return to ambient at rates similar to the return of water temperature to ambient. Of 

 all shellfish tissue samples analyzed, only those from oysters inhabiting the quarry had elevated metal 

 concentrations. In general a decline in concentrations of soluble and insoluble phases of heavy metals was 

 observed and was related to improved analytical techniques rather than actual decreased levels in concen- 

 trations (Waslenchuk 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983). For example, concentrations in sea water reported in 1982 

 were significantly lower than reported in 1981, under similar plant operating conditions (NUSCo 1983b). 

 Since concentrations of metals found in shellfish outside of the effluent quarry were comparable during 

 one and two unit operations, and since Unit 3 has a titanium condenser that resists corrosion, the heavy 

 metals monitoring program was discontinued in 1984. 



AQUAC^UITURE - In 1976, a study was initiated to assess the feasibility of utilizing the thermal 

 effluent in the culture of selected species of shellfish. The bay scallop {Argopectin irradians) was chosen 

 as the study species because it could be easily cultured in the laboratory and was a desired sport and 

 commercial species locally. Bay scallops were successfully reared from egg to juvenile stages utilizing 

 effluent waters at Millstone Point (MRI 1980). Discharge waters 11-12 °C above ambient temperatures 

 favored the conditioning of brood stocks for early spring and late fall spawnings. This, coupled with 

 increiu->cd growth rates of juveniles cultured in the effluent during winter months, potentially provided a 

 method of seeding coastal waters with juvenile shellfish. Initial experiments to seed hatchery reared juveniles 

 into nearby Jordan C^ove indicated that predation of young scallops was high and would be the limiting 

 factor in the success of any put-and-take type of fishery. 



