Clean Water Act and biological studies at the Savannah River Plant
Federal facilities are required to comply with applicable water quality standards, effluent limitations, and permit requirements established by the EPA or agreement state pursuant to provision of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act, as amended in 1977 (P.L. 95-217). Production reactors and a large fossil-fueled powerplant at the Savannah River Plant (SRP) use either once-through water from the Savannah River or recirculating water from a 2700-acre reservoir to remove waste heat. Once-through cooling water is discharged directly to streams whose headwaters originate on the plant. The thermal load carried by these streams is largely dissipated by the time the streams reenter the river. However, effluent discharge temperatures to the streams and reservoir do not meet current criteria specified by the State of South Carolina for a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit. Less stringent effluent limitations can be approved by the State if DOE can demonstrate that current or mitigated thermal discharges will ensure the protection and propagation of a balanced biological community within the receiving waters. Following information provided in the EPA 316(a) Technical Guidance Manual, biological studies were designed and implemented that will identify and determine the significance of impacts on waters receiving thermal effluents. Sampling is being conducted along the length of each thermal stream, in the cooling water reservoir, and along a 160-mile stretch of the Savannah River and in the mouths of 33 of its tributaries. Preliminary results of the 316(a) type studies and how they are being used to achieve compliance with State water quality regulations is discussed. 7 references, 3 figures, 4 tables.
- Research Organization:
- Du Pont de Nemours (E.I.) and Co., Aiken, SC (USA). Savannah River Lab.
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC09-76SR00001
- OSTI ID:
- 6308098
- Report Number(s):
- DP-MS-84-99; CONF-841187-13; ON: DE85003563
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: 5. DOE environmental protection information meeting, Albuquerque, NM, USA, 6 Nov 1984
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
Compliance of the Savannah River Site D-Area cooling system with environmental regulations
Compliance of the Savannah River Plant L-Reactor cooling system with environmental regulations
Related Subjects
29 ENERGY PLANNING
POLICY AND ECONOMY
FOSSIL-FUEL POWER PLANTS
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS
PRODUCTION REACTORS
AQUATIC ECOSYSTEMS
CLEAN WATER ACT
FISHES
INVERTEBRATES
POLLUTION REGULATIONS
RESEARCH PROGRAMS
SAVANNAH RIVER PLANT
SPECIES DIVERSITY
THERMAL EFFLUENTS
ANIMALS
AQUATIC ORGANISMS
ECOSYSTEMS
LAWS
NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
POLLUTION LAWS
POWER PLANTS
REACTORS
REGULATIONS
THERMAL POWER PLANTS
US AEC
US DOE
US ERDA
US ORGANIZATIONS
VERTEBRATES
520400* - Environment
Aquatic- Thermal Effluents Monitoring & Transport- (-1989)
520500 - Environment
Aquatic- Site Resource & Use Studies- (-1989)
290300 - Energy Planning & Policy- Environment
Health
& Safety