Proposed Effluent Guidelines for the Steam Electric Power Generating Category

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EPA is proposing to amend the effluent limitations guidelines and standards for the Steam Electric Power Generating category (40 CFR Part 423). A proposed rule was signed by the EPA Acting Administrator and is being prepared for publication.

• News Release (April 19, 2013)
• Fact Sheet (PDF) (2 pp, 108K)
• Federal Register Notice, pre-publication (PDF) (491 pp, 1.2MB)

EPA will provide support documents when the proposed rule is published.

Background Information

• Steam Electric Power Generating Point Source Category: Final Detailed Study Report (PDF) (233 pp, 2.6MB) (EPA 821-R-09-008).
• Consultations
  Summaries of EPA consultations with Indian Tribes and consultations pursuant to the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act and Executive Order 13132 on federalism.
• Questionnaire
  Overview of EPA's 2010 questionnaire distributed to steam electric power plants.
• Laboratory Analysis of Flue Gas Desulfurization (FGD) Wastewater (2011)
  EPA developed a standard operating procedure to conduct analyses of FGD wastewater.

Consent Decree and Relevant Court Filings

Under a consent decree entered into in Defenders of Wildlife v. EPA, No. 10-cv-01915 (D.D.C.), and since revised, EPA agrees to sign a notice of proposed rulemaking by April 19, 2013, and to sign a decision taking final action by May 22, 2014.

• EPA Status Report to Court: April 2013 (PDF) (3 pp, 24K)
• EPA Status Report to Court: February 2013 (PDF) (3 pp, 28K)
• EPA Status Report to Court: January 2013 (PDF) (3 pp, 23K)
• Consent Decree (PDF) (9 pp, 261K)
• Consent Decree Extension #1 (PDF) (4 pp, 13K)
• Consent Decree Extension #2 (PDF) (4 pp, 26K)
• Consent Decree Extension #3 (PDF) (5 pp, 32K)

Rulemaking Docket

Documents related to this rulemaking can be found at EPA’s on-line docket website at regulations.gov. The Docket Number is EPA-HQ-OW-2009-0819.

For further information

For additional technical information in the proposed Steam Electric Power Generating effluent guidelines, please contact Jezebele Alicea-Virella  (alicea.jezebele@epa.gov) or 202-566-1755. For economic information please contact James Covington (covington.james@epa.gov) or 202-566-1034.

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