NOAA Considers Renewing Dominion Permit for Atlantic Sturgeon Impacts
AI-generated summary for informational purposes only. Not legal advice. See the original source for the authoritative text.
NOAA is considering a 10-year renewal of Dominion Virginia Power’s permit for the Chesterfield Power Station in Virginia. The permit would allow the plant to continue operating while accepting limited accidental harm to Atlantic sturgeon eggs and larvae drawn into its water intake system. Dominion would be allowed to affect up to 109,490 sturgeon larvae and 183,630 non-viable eggs over 10 years. The company must keep monitoring intake areas, report impacts, and continue research and mitigation work. Public comments are due by June 10, 2026.
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Key Changes
- NOAA is considering a new 10-year permit for Dominion’s Chesterfield Power Station.
- The permit would cover accidental impacts to Atlantic sturgeon eggs and larvae from plant water intake operations.
- Dominion must continue monitoring, reporting, research, and mitigation measures tied to Atlantic sturgeon protection.
Obligations
What this law requires
Submit public comments on Dominion Virginia Power’s incidental take permit renewal application through regulations.gov under docket NOAA-NMFS-2026-1420; comments sent by other methods, to other addresses or individuals, or after the comment period may not be considered.
Dominion Virginia Power must limit incidental take at Chesterfield Power Station to no more than 109,490 Atlantic sturgeon larvae and 183,630 non-viable Atlantic sturgeon eggs over the 10-year permit period, if the renewed permit is issued.
Dominion Virginia Power must continue monitoring Atlantic sturgeon eggs and larvae entrained at Chesterfield Power Station, including entrainment sampling during the fall spawning season.
Dominion Virginia Power must conduct dive inspections of Chesterfield Power Station intake guards before the Atlantic sturgeon fall spawning season.
Dominion Virginia Power must continue monitoring for any take of adult Atlantic sturgeon at Chesterfield Power Station, even though adult take is not expected due to prior intake guard changes.