Re: fishkills

[Susan Gawarecki <loc@ICX.NET>]

This appeared in a timely manner, in the WaterNews for November 16,

2001, considering the recent thread:



1) EPA Sets Final Standards for New Industrial Facilities to Prevent

Fish Kills from Cooling Water 



On November 9, 2001, EPA Administrator Christie Whitman signed the first

of three scheduled regulations designed to reduce adverse environmental

impacts, especially impacts on fish and shellfish, from cooling water

intake processes at industrial facilities and power plants. The final

rule governs the design, capacity, and construction of new structures at

an estimated 121 new manufacturing and electric generating plants over

the next 20 years.  Manufacturing and electric generating facilities

often withdraw water from bays, rivers, and lakes to remove excess heat

from the manufacturing processes and electric generation.  The cooling

water intake process can damage fish and sea life when the intake

structures are not properly designed and constructed.  The rule and two

more rules scheduled over the next three years, are required by the

Clean Water Act.  The rule is technology-based, although it is flexible:

sources are not required to use specific technologies but can innovate

and adapt based on local circumstances.  It is expected to cost less

than $47 million annually, with no impact on the nation's energy supply.



For more information, visit www.epa.gov/waterscience/316b/ on the

Internet.



WaterNews is a weekly on-line publication that announces publications,

policies, and activities of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's

Office of Water.



I might add that the local TVA Bull Run coal-fired steam plant plays a

signifcant role in determining releases from the Norris Dam upstream,

based on how much cold water is needed to maximize efficiency for its

operations.  This affects the flow of the trophy trout stream through

Clinton (which only exists because of the dam), the annual drawdown of

Norris Reservoir (too much too soon, in most users' opinions), and the

trophy smallmouth waters at the warm water outfall (which only exists

because of the steam plant).



I think it would be worthwhile to compare quantity and degree of warm

water discharges for coal-fired plants to nuclear plants with respect to

energy generated.  Has anyone done this?



Regards,

Susan

-- 

.....................................................

Susan L. Gawarecki, Ph.D., Executive Director

Oak Ridge Reservation Local Oversight Committee

Please visit our Web site - http://www.local-oversight.org

.....................................................

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