[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]
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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
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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]
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