[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 98 (Thursday, May 21, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 27958-27959]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-13613]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-6100-8]


Public Meeting To Discuss Adverse Environmental Impacts Resulting 
From Cooling Water Intake Structures

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice of public meeting

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Environmental Protection Agency will hold a public meeting 
to discuss issues associated with defining and measuring adverse 
environmental impacts from cooling water intake structures. The purpose 
of this meeting is to facilitate an exchange of information that will 
assist EPA in developing regulatory options for

[[Page 27959]]

minimizing adverse environmental impact. The public meeting is open to 
anyone wishing to attend.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In 1995, EPA entered into a Consent Decree 
that requires the Agency, no later than July 2, 1999, to propose 
regulations implementing Section 316(b) of the Clean Water Act, 33 
U.S.C Section 1326(b), and to take final action with respect to the 
regulations no later than August 13, 2001. The Agency is currently 
developing these regulations for proposal. Section 316(b) provides that 
any standard established pursuant to sections 301 or 306 of the Clean 
Water Act and applicable to a point source shall require that the 
location, design, construction, and capacity of cooling water intake 
structures reflect the best technology available for minimizing adverse 
environmental impact. A primary purpose of Section 316(b) is to 
minimize the impingement and entrainment of fish and other aquatic 
organisms as they are drawn into a facility's cooling water intake.
    The issues that EPA has developed for discussion fall into three 
categories: (1) Environmental Criteria: Defining and Assessing Adverse 
Environmental Impacts; (2) Plant Characteristics: Determining the 
Contribution to Adverse Environmental Impacts; and (3) Minimizing 
Adverse Environmental Impacts: Designing an Approach. The following is 
a potential list of issues for discussion at the June 29, 1998 public 
meeting:
(1) Environmental Criteria: Defining and Assessing Adverse 
Environmental Impact
     What constitutes an adverse environmental impact? Should 
the impact be defined in terms of actual and/or potential effects?
     What environmental parameters are most important for 
defining adverse environmental impacts?
     For which environmental parameters might qualitative or 
quantitative thresholds and/or decision criteria be developed for 
determining adverse impacts?
     What approaches and methods are most appropriate for 
assessing adverse environmental impact?
(2) Plant Characteristics: Determining the Contribution to Adverse 
Environmental Impact
     What factors related to the location, design, 
construction, and capacity of cooling water intake structures most 
significantly contribute to adverse environmental impacts? (For 
example: source waterbody type, flow rate, velocity, configuration of 
intake, type of technology at the intake.)
     For which such factors (e.g., velocity, flow rate, 
waterbody type, etc.) might qualitative or quantitative thresholds and/
or decision criteria be developed?
(3) Minimizing Adverse Environmental Impact: Designing an Approach
     What information should be considered when designing an 
approach to minimize adverse environmental impacts.
     What are possible approaches to defining and measuring the 
cumulative effects of impingement and entrainment?

DATES: The public meeting will be held on Monday, June 29, 1998. The 
meeting will begin promptly at 10:00 a.m. and will end at approximately 
4:30 p.m.

ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at the Crystal City Marriott, 1999 
Jefferson Davis Highway, Arlington, Virginia 22202. The Crystal City 
Marriott phone number is (703) 413-5500. The nearest Metro stop is 
Crystal City station on either the Blue or the Yellow Line. If you need 
overnight accommodations, please call the hotel directly. A block of 25 
rooms is reserved for the night of Sunday, June 28, 1998. The rooms are 
listed under ``U.S. EPA 316(b) Meeting.''

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Deborah Nagle, senior project manager, 
Office of Wastewater Management (4203), U.S. Environmental Protection 
Agency, 401 M Street S.W., Washington, D.C. 20460; phone number is 
(202) 260-2656 and E-mail address is [email protected]. To 
register for the meeting, please contact Betty Peterson of SAIC via FAX 
at (703) 903-1374 or via mail at 1710 Goodridge Drive (1-11-7), McLean, 
VA 22102. Please register by June 22, 1998.

    Dated: May 14, 1998.
Tudor T. Davies,
Director, Office of Science and Technology.
[FR Doc. 98-13613 Filed 5-20-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P