WSP Ecology, Landscape, EIA, Planning and Permitting, and Social Acceptability SOQ

Clean Water Act Section 316(b) - Final Rule Industrial facilities that withdraw large volumes of water from rivers, streams, lakes, estuaries, oceans, or other waters of the United States for cooling purposes are regulated by USEPA under the Federal CWA. Section 316(b) of the CWA requires USEPA to ensure that the location, design, construction, and capacity of cooling water intake structures (CWIS) reflect the Best Technology Available (BTA) for minimizing adverse environmental impacts. Rule-making pursuant to Section 316(b) has been in process by USEPA since a consent decree was issued in the mid 1990s. As a result of legal challenges to the Phase II and Phase III rules, USEPA has issued new rules pertaining to all facilities (new and existing). Depending on the particular facility and its site specific characteristics, §122.21(r) requires the submittal of up to 12 separate documents or studies to support NPDES permit renewals.

WSP scientists and engineers are assisting companies with the development and implementation of detailed 316(b) compliance strategies tailored to each manufacturing and power generating facility subject to the new 316(b) regulations. We provide site-specific, issue-specific services, or a complete package of services designed to address all your 316(b) compliance issues.

48