Water Quality Control Policy on the Use of Coastal and Estuarine Waters for Power Plant Cooling

Water Quality Control Policy on the Use of Coastal and Estuarine Waters for Power Plant Cooling

NOTE: Review Per Lead The proposed Policy establishes technology-based standards to implement federal Clean Water Act section 316(b) and reduce the harmful effects associated with cooling water intake structures on marine and estuarine life. The proposed policy would apply to the 19 existing power plants (including 2 nuclear plants) that currently have the ability to withdraw over 15 billion gallons per day from the State's coastal and estuarine waters using a single-pass system, also known as once-through cooling. The intent of the proposed policy is to protect marine and estuarine life from the impacts of once-through cooling without disrupting the critical needs of the State's electrical generation and transmission systems.

California Coastal Commission (CCC), California Department of Fish and Wildlife, Habitat Conservation Planning (CDFW), California Department of Parks and Recreation, California Department of Transportation, Division of Transportation Planning (DOT), California Native American Heritage Commission (NAHC), California State Lands Commission (SLC), Department of Toxic Substances Control, Department of Water Resources, Resources Agency

Aesthetics, Agriculture and Forestry Resources, Air Quality, Biological Resources, Coastal Zone, Cumulative Effects, Fiscal Impacts, Growth Inducement, Hydrology/Water Quality, Land Use/Planning, Noise, Public Services