McKim & Creed is assisting an electric utility with engineering and environmental services to comply with evolving federal regulations for its power plant; in particular, the Effluent Limitations Guidelines and Standards for the Steam Electric Power Generating Point Source Category, or ELG rule.
In 2015 the ELG rule was revised for the first time since 1982. The 2015 revisions were challenged by environmental and industry groups, causing EPA to reassess the rationale and technologies used to develop the proposed revisions. In November 2019, EPA reissued the ELG rule to address the concerns.
As a result, our client will be required to install an advanced wastewater treatment system to meet stringent discharge limits from their flue gas desulfurization (FGD) system and apply water management strategies to practically eliminate discharges from their bottom ash conveyance systems.
McKim & Creed works with a number of proven water treatment technology partners to provide feasibility studies, pilot testing plans and conceptual design services for FGD wastewater treatment systems. Additionally, we developed water balance models that can predict flows and water quality when applied to a closed-loop bottom ash conveyance configuration. The models will help the team understand the impact of a closed-loop system on water demands and assist with developing the conceptual designs and capital improvement budgets for the station. Our team is working to advance the design, permitting and construction of both the advanced FGD treatment system and closed-loop bottom ash transport systems by December 2023.