Environment Agency: In March 2019 we let you know that we had received an application to vary an existing environmental permit from NNB Generation Company (HPC) Limited at Hinkley Point C nuclear power station, near Bridgwater.

We told you that the company no longer wants to include an Acoustic Fish Deterrent (AFD) as part of their cooling water intake system.  We also told you that we are running a public consultation and invited you to share your comments with us.

Update: We have now received a number of additional and updated reports from the company since the start of the consultation. These are all available online from Citizen Space

The additional reports are summarised below:

• TR456 – Revised Predictions of Impingement Effects at Hinkley Point C – 2018 Edition 2 – Version 10 dated 04/04/2019 – This replaces Version 9 which was originally submitted. It looks at the numbers of fish that the company believe may be trapped or killed (impinged) within the power station’s cooling water system and the impacts on the fish community in the Bristol Channel. Version 10 contains clarifications, some additional text, updated formatting and some amendments. Please let us know if you require more detail about the sections that have been changed. Read the report.

• BEEMS Scientific Position Paper SPP071/S. Shad (Alosa fallax and Alosa alosa) impingement predictions for HPC edition 3, Cefas Lowestoft – This edition has been updated with the latest scientific evidence on Shad, and uses data from the Hinkley Point B Regular Impingement Monitoring programme (RIMP) to more accurately predict the number of fish likely to be trapped or killed. This report supports item 1 above, and together they provide the most up to date predictions of the effects of fish impingement at HPC. Read the report.

• HRW 2013. Numerical & Physical Modelling of the Hinkley Point C Intake & Outfall Structures. Task 1 – Physical modelling of Flows at the Intake Heads (TN-10). HR Wallingford Ltd, EBR4878 – EDF commissioned HR Wallingford to carry out a range of modelling studies This report shows how these studies have influenced EDF’s design of the cooling water intake and outfall structures. It also shows how the company has assessed likely flows at the intake heads. Read the report.

• TR479; Particle Tracking Study of Impinged Sprat from the Proposed Hinkley Point C Fish Recovery and Return (HPC-DEV024-XX-000-RET-100046) – This study aims to show what will happen to Sprat killed within the power station’s cooling water system. It assesses the potential number of Sprat that may be washed up along the local coastline and where this may happen. Read the report.

Outstanding information   We have formally asked the company to provide us with the following additional report so that we can determine their permit variation application.

• TR493; The effect of not fitting an AFD system at HPC on the operation of the HPC FRR systems, Cefas (2019b) – This report is currently being prepared for EDF by Cefas. It aims to provide information on any potential ‘knock on effects’ on the Fish Recovery and Return (FRR) system as a result of removing the Acoustic Fish Deterrent from the Cooling Water intake design.

Because the company has not made this report available at the start of the public consultation we will extend our consultation by 4 weeks after this report is published so that stakeholders have a chance to consider the information and send their comments on it to us.