Guidance for Design of Fish Impingement and Entrainment Programs at Class I Nuclear Facilities

This guideline will be applicable to Class I nuclear facilities.

This guideline will include:

• a risk based approach that considers site specific factors and characteristics;

• methodologies for fish* impingement and entrainment sampling design, including sampling locations, frequency, duration, number of sampling events, sampling gear, and procedures;

  *Note:  This guideline will define fish in accordance with the Fisheries Act (2012).

• analytical design including identification of species and fish communities of interest, level of identification (family, genus, species, etc.), parameters to be measured (numbers, biomass, water volume calculation, treatment of unidentifiable specimens, sample handling, QA/AC, etc.);

• data handling, including statistical methods (e.g., production foregone, and use of age equivalent models); and

• result presentation, including comparison against baseline, and significance (e.g., effect thresholds).

  In developing this guideline, the committee will:

• review any associated regulations to help determine what guidance material might be included in the document;

• consider relevant Canadian requirements, guidance, best practices, and operating experience (e.g., case studies) on fish impingement and entrainment; and

• consider relevant international standards and guidance on fish impingement and entrainment.

  This guideline will exclude:

• how the results may / may not be used by regulatory agencies enforcing the Fisheries Act; and

the provision of specific measures on avoidance, mitigation, or offsetting