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EPA ADMINISTRATOR SIGNS PROPOSED REGULATION DEALING WITH COOLING WATER INTAKE STRUCTURES

Release Date: 03/05/2002
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Environmental News

EPA Administrator Christie Whitman recently signed a proposed regulation that would reduce the number of fish, shellfish, and other aquatic life harmed or killed by the effects of the withdrawal of cooling water from rivers, streams, lakes, reservoirs, estuaries, and oceans. It would apply to certain existing power-producing facilities that use large amounts of water to cool power-producing machinery. The proposed regulation would establish requirements based on the best available technology.
“This proposed regulation offers a broad range of options to protect our aquatic resources from cooling water intake structures,” said EPA Administrator Christie Whitman. “This is not a one size fits all regulation. It allows local decision makers discretion to determine the best course of action to solve potential problems.”

The proposed regulation, signed on Feb. 28, which would implement section 316(b) of the Clean Water Act, would establish requirements based on the best technology available for minimizing the effects of cooling water withdrawals. It would also allow for local decision making to determine how to minimize the effects of cooling water intakes if site-specific factors lead to costs that are either significantly greater than projected, or significantly greater than benefits at that site.

Under the proposed regulation, waterbodies that are more sensitive or that have more extensive aquatic resources will receive increased protection. The proposed regulation also provides that facilities may use restoration measures in addition to, or in lieu of, direct controls on the cooling water intake to protect aquatic life. By laying out several options in the proposal, the public is afforded the opportunity to comment on a broad range of potential scenarios for protection of fish, shellfish and other aquatic life.

The proposed regulation partially fulfills EPA’s obligation to comply with the terms of a court order in a lawsuit brought against EPA by a coalition of environmental groups and individuals. Additional information on the proposal and public comment opportunities is available at: https://www.epa.gov/waterscience/316b.

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