‘power station would consume only about 2% of the River Trent's capacity, even during lo~ ‘summer flows (CEGB, 1988). Land used for dumping the solid waste products of the co fuel cycle can be reclaimed effectively provided that the sites in question are managed i ‘ccordance with curent and proposed standards, Concer has been expressed about demand for limestone quarried in the UK (Adams, 1991 ‘There is much pressure on available sources, principally ftom the construction industry. Unfortunately, most sources in Britain are located in areas of high conservation value. Pressure to exploit these is expected to grow, as sources elsewhere are exhausted. The final category considered here is consumption ofthe ability of the environment to act as 2 sink forthe products of the coal fuel cycle. The critical loads concept discussed in Chapter 7 shows that ecosystems can absorb some pollution before suffering damage. Emissions frot ‘West Burton and Lauffen would be sure to increase pollutant loading at many sites at whicu critical load would not be exceeded, reducing ther ability to accept further deposition without being damaged. Effects are likely to be most serious with respect to global warming. Th approach taken inthis report has been to assume that there are no external costs until damag ‘occurs. This may be oversimplified, as it restricts the actions of future generations and ‘ignores risk aversion. 13.4 Impacts on terrestrial ecosystems 1341 Loss of land Provided that the price paid for land reflects its opportunity cost there is no externality (Markandya and Rhodes, 1992). Prices paid for agricultural or forest land no doubt mak) adequate compensation for their commercial opportunity value. The situation regardin; | recreation and non-use values of such sites, and of purely natural habitats is more difficult~ Within this project Markandya and Rhodes (1992) have already shown that knowiedge regarding the value of ‘biodiversity’ is poor, and that the few results that are available are no | relevant here. In any event, financial compensation is likely to be regarded as a second bes_ solution by all involved. Environmentalists are typically less interested in compensation than in seeing that ecological damage is minimised. Many industrial companies now like to be seen to be taking action that improves the environment or minimises their impact upon it ‘Companies have found that a reputation for sensitive environmental policy can improve th. | success rate of planning applications (Elkington and Burke, 1989). ‘This matter was certainly an issue in the application to build the West Burton 'B' plant. The site contains a number of notable habitats and species (CEGB, 1988). The environmenta: statement gives details of protective and ameliorative measures that would be taken to protect ‘wildlife on the site, and details of ‘creative conservation’ schemes. 13.42 Shading of crops by cooling tower plumes Elementary calculations demonstrate that this effect (if it exists) is negligible, although it hax ‘been referred to in the literature, 322