Transmittal of Framework for Best Professional Judgment for Cooling Water Intake Structures at Hydroelectric Facilities (“Memorandum”)
The
Memorandum is transmitted from Andrew Sawyers, PhD., Director, Office of Wastewater Management to EPA Water Division Directors, Regions 1-10.
The
Memorandum is described as providing a framework that EPA has used to evaluate based on best professional judgment (“BPJ”):
. . . additional measures may be necessary at hydroelectric generating facilities to minimize impingement and entrainment of fish and other aquatic organisms at cooling water intake structures (CWIS).
As the
Memorandum notes, Section 316(b) of the Clean Water Act requires EPA to issue regulations on the design and operation of CWIS. The purpose of such regulations is to minimize adverse impacts from impingement and entrainment of fish and other aquatic organisms.