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EPA SETS FINAL STANDARDS FOR NEW INDUSTRIAL FACILITIES TO PREVENT FISH KILLS FROM COOLING WATER
Release Date: 11/09/2001
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FOR RELEASE: FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 2001
EPA SETS FINAL STANDARDS FOR NEW INDUSTRIAL FACILITIES
TO PREVENT FISH KILLS FROM COOLING WATER
EPA Administrator Christie Whitman today signed the first of three scheduled regulations designed to reduce adverse environmental impacts, especially impacts on fish and shellfish, from cooling water intake processes at industrial facilities and power plants. Today’s final rule governs the design, capacity, and construction of new structures at an estimated 121 new manufacturing and electric generating plants over the next 20 years. Manufacturing and electric generating facilities often withdraw water from bays, rivers, and lakes to remove excess heat from the manufacturing processes and electric generation. The cooling water intake process can damage fish and sea life when the intake structures are not properly designed and constructed. The rule and two more rules scheduled over the next three years, are required by the Clean Water Act. The rule is technology-based, although it is flexible: sources are not required to use certain technologies, but can innovate and adapt based on local circumstances. It is expected to cost less than $47 million annually, with no impact on the nation’s energy supply. The rule and additional information will be publicly available next week at: https://www.epa.gov/ow, under “What’s New.”
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