Clean Water Act and biological studies at the Savannah River Plant

Conference · Sun Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1984

OSTI ID:6308098

Fleming, R R

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
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY
290300 -- Energy Planning & Policy-- Environment
Health
& Safety
520400* -- Environment
Aquatic-- Thermal Effluents Monitoring & Transport-- (-1989)
520500 -- Environment
Aquatic-- Site Resource & Use Studies-- (-1989)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
ANIMALS
AQUATIC ECOSYSTEMS
AQUATIC ORGANISMS
CLEAN WATER ACT
ECOSYSTEMS
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS
FISHES
FOSSIL-FUEL POWER PLANTS
INVERTEBRATES
LAWS
NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
POLLUTION LAWS
POLLUTION REGULATIONS
POWER PLANTS
PRODUCTION REACTORS
REACTORS
REGULATIONS
RESEARCH PROGRAMS
SAVANNAH RIVER PLANT
SPECIES DIVERSITY
THERMAL EFFLUENTS
THERMAL POWER PLANTS
US AEC
US DOE
US ERDA
US ORGANIZATIONS
VERTEBRATES