E.P.A. to Open Public Review on Suggested Requirements to Protect Aquatic Ecosystems

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WASHINGTON - Today, as required by the Clean Water Act and pursuant to a settlement agreement, the E.P.A. (EPA) is proposing for public review requirements to protect billions of fish and other aquatic organisms drawn each year into cooling water systems at large power plants and factories. The proposal, based on Section 316(b) of the Clean Water Act, would establish a common sense framework, putting a premium on public input and flexibility.

"This suggestion establishes a strong baseline level of protection and then allows additional safeguards for aquatic life to be developed through a rigorous site-specific analysis, an approach that ensures the most up to date technology accessible is being used. It puts implementation analysis in the hands of the permit writers, where requirements can be tailored to the particular facility," said Nancy Stoner, acting assistant administrator for EPA's Office of Water. "The public's comments will be instrumental in shaping safeguards for aquatic life and to build a commonsense path forward. The input we gain will make certain that we end up with a flexible and effective rule to protect the health of our waters and ecosystems."

Safeguards against impingement will be required for all facilities above a minimum size; closed-cycle cooling systems may also be required on a case by case basis when, based on thorough site-specific analysis by permitting authorities, such requirements are determined to be appropriate. E.P.A. is proposing this regulation as a result of a settlement arrangement with Riverkeeper, Incorporated and other environmental groups.

Flexible Technology Standards:

Fish Impingement (Being pinned against screens or other parts of a cooling water intake structure):

Existing facilities that withdraw at least 25 percent of their water exclusively for cooling purposes and have a design intake flow of greater than two million gallons per day (MGD) would be required to reduce fish impingement under the suggested regulations. To ensure flexibility, the owner or operator of the facility will be able to choose one of 2 options for meeting best technology accessible requirements for reducing impingement. They may conduct monitoring to show the specified performance requirements for impingement mortality of fish and shellfish have been met, or they may demonstrate to the permitting authority that the intake velocity meets the specified design criteria. E.P.A. estimates that in excess of half of the facilities that could be impacted by this suggested rule already employ readily accessible technologies that are likely to put them into compliance with the suggested standard.

Fish Entrainment (Being drawn into cooling water systems and affected by heat, chemicals or physical stress):

E.P.A. is proposing a site-specific determination to be made based on local concerns and on the unique circumstances of each facility.

This suggested rule establishes requirements for the facility owner to conduct comprehensive studies and develop other information as part of the permit application, and then establishes a public process, with opportunity for public input, by which the appropriate technology to reduce entrainment mortality would be implemented at each facility after considering site-specific factors.

Because new units can incorporate the most efficient, best-performing technology directly into the design stage of the project, thus lowering costs and avoiding constraints associated with technology that has already been locked in, the suggested rule would require closed-cycle cooling (cooling towers) for new units at existing facilities, as is already required for new facilities.
The public will be able to review on the suggestion upon its publication in the Federal Register. E.P.A. will conduct a 90 day review period, and will carefully consider those comments before taking final action on the proposal. The administrator must take final action by July 27, 2012.

More information: http://water.epa.gov/lawsregs/lawsguidance/cwa/316b/

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