EPA Final 316(b) Rule Establishes Standards For Cooling Water Intake Structures At Existing Facilities

The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) yesterday released its final rule on cooling water intake structures for existing power plants, refineries and factories. The rule was issued under Section 316(b) of the Clean Water Act, which requires cooling water intake structures to reflect the best technology available (BTA) for minimizing adverse environmental impacts, primarily by reducing the amount of fish and shellfish that are impinged or entrained at a cooling water intake structure. The rule applies only to facilities that withdraw at least two million gallons per day of cooling water from "waters of the United States" and use 25% or more of the water withdrawn exclusively for cooling purposes. EPA estimates that the rule covers more than 1,000 facilities. A related fact sheet and the full text of the final rule are available here and here.