Key technical issues and projected cost impact of the Great Lakes Water Quality Initiative on the iron and steel industry

Conference · Thu Jul 01 04:00:00 EDT 1993 · Iron and Steel Engineer; (United States)

OSTI ID:7001451

Whitaker, J B ^[1]; Blumenschein, C D ^[2]

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1. Walter Quality Assessment, Towson, MD (United States)
2. Chester Environmental, Pittsburgh, PA (United States). Water and Wastewater Management Div.

The Great Lakes Water Quality Initiative (GLI) is one of the most far-reaching and intrusive water quality regulations ever proposed by US EPA. Among the most significant technical issues are water quality criteria which may be based on as little as one toxicity value. Very stringent criteria for protection of human health and wildlife are also proposed. All of these criteria would apply to all waters of the Great Lakes Basin, including tributary rivers. Mixing zones would be reduced for all parameters and prohibited entirely for Bioaccumulative Chemicals of Concern. In addition, the proposal includes extremely stringent anti degradation procedures which could limit plant production increases or expansion. Further, it is clear that US EPA and environmental groups view the GLI as a blueprint for programs in other states and even nationally. The costs of complying with the proposed GLI criteria and procedures were evaluated for a model integrated steel facility and two representative Great Lakes locations. In each case, final permit limits were calculated using both existing state regulations as well as the GLI. Treatment systems were designed for each scenario and capital and operating costs of compliance were estimated. Costs to comply with the GLI at one facility were estimated at up to $175 million, over $100 million more than the corresponding state regulations.

• OSTI ID: 7001451
• Report Number(s): CONF-9309280--
• Conference Information: Journal Name: Iron and Steel Engineer; (United States) Journal Volume: 70:7
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY
290300 -- Energy Planning & Policy-- Environment
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32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATION
320305* -- Energy Conservation
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DESIGN
ECONOMICS
ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
GREAT LAKES
INDUSTRY
LAKES
METAL INDUSTRY
POLLUTION REGULATIONS
REGULATIONS
SURFACE WATERS
TECHNOLOGY IMPACTS
WATER QUALITY
WATER TREATMENT PLANTS