TRACK I: WATER, 316(b), WWM, ASH PONDS, LINERS, REMEDIATION, ELG, FGD, COOLING TOWER, O&M
I2
PFAS| Silica Monitoring | HOD UV
Oct 6, 2022
10 am to 12 pm


Fred Olivari CHAIR
I. 2.1 Issues, Trends and Treatment Alternatives of Environmental Liability Associated with PFAS
I2.1 Issues, Trends and Treatment Alternatives of Environmental Liability Associated with PFAS
Fred Olivari – EA Engineering
. In response to increased public awareness of the potential threat PFAS in drinking water supplies pose to humans, more than 15 state regulatory agencies have published PFAS criteria for environmental media. EA will make a presentation that will highlight some of these challenges faced by those impacted by contaminants of emerging concern (e.g., per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances [PFAS]), and discuss how we are working with our clients to address them. We will review best practices as well as emerging trends and tier anticipated impact.
The presentation will:
• Summarize the current and anticipated future applicable state and Federal PFAS regulations and requirements.
• Define best practices and ways to identify PFAS and Emerging Contaminants Risk and select remedial actions at railroad facilities and properties.
• Provide an overview of recent high-profile PFAS liabilities nationwide and how this could set precedent for future regulatory enforcement or litigation in the utility industry.
• Provide a brief overview of the PFAS Inventory/Prioritization process and how it could be tailored to provide risk-mitigation to the rail industry.


Dennis Bitter
I 2. 2 Long-Term Membrane Performance using HOD UV for Dechlorination and or Disinfection
I 2.3 Long-Term Membrane Performance using HOD UV for Dechlorination and or Disinfection
Dennis Bitter – Atlantium
Plant Bowen installed the Hydro-Optic UV water treatment technology to improve the overall quality of reverse osmosis feed water. Since the installation Plant Bowen has been able to maintain the integrity of their feed water for the boiler and steam cycle, ensuring production and quality levels necessary for the facility to operate efficiently. This presentation will detail the long-term membrane performance with the continuous use of the HOD UV technology at Plant Bowen and other sites (including sites that installed the HOD UV).
What is the desired UV dose to dechlorinate the water to non detect?
If chlorine is not added in the front of the water treatment plant, can the HOD UV disinfect the water (eliminate biocides)?
Can the HOD UV be used on Cooling water?


Chris Hull
I 2.3 Electrochemical Oxidation for PFAS Destruction
I 2.3 Electrochemical Oxidation for PFAS Destruction
Chris Hull – Aclarity LLC
Electrochemical systems have been shown to degrade and destroy compounds like PFAS, 1,4-Dioxane, and pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs), often mineralizing them to carbon dioxide (in the case of organic carbon) or to their constituent elements (nitrogen, fluoride, chlorine, etc.). This presentation will be an overview of electrochemistry, how it fits in the continuum of advanced oxidation processes, and how it can be applied for the destruction of PFAS and other emerging contaminants in several matrices. Data showing destruction of these contaminants using Aclarity’s commercial technology, as well as impacts of system flow rates, applied voltages and amperage, and type of electrodes, will be discussed.


Jim Aiken
I 2.4 Approaching PFAS: Evaluating your risk while debating “to collect or not collect data”
I2.5 Approaching PFAS: Evaluating your risk while debating “to collect or not collect data”
Jim Aiken, Vice President – Barr Engineering Co.
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are emerging contaminants of concern in air, soil, groundwater and drinking water systems. For the utility industry, links and liability to the issue is through the training and use of Aqueous Film-Forming Foam (AFFF) concentrates, landfills, and biomass generation and refuse derived fuel (RDF) facilities, especially those which use municipal solid waste (MSW) as feedstock.
PFAS and AFFF compliance requirements continue to grow as regulations develop at the state and federal level. In October 2021, the U.S. EPA released their “PFAS Strategic Roadmap” outlining their timeline to take actions to regulate PFAS. This includes using regulatory mechanisms including National Pollution Discharge Elimination System (NDPES) permitting, air permitting and the potential of listing PFAS under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA). This presentation will focus how clients from the power sector have approached their exposure risk (with and without collecting samples) and address source attainment based on case studies. Attendees will leave with ideas for approaches to audit current PFAS risk and prepare for pending regulatory and public pressure.
Co-Author: Nick Palatiello, PFAS Market Lead, Barr Engineering Co.
3 Short Questions:
- Where would PFAS exist within a utility facility?
- What is happening with PFAS regulatory development?
- Do you recommend sampling for PFAS to understand risk?
Address: 4300 MarketPointe Drive, Suite 200, Minneapolis, MN 55435
Website: https://www.barr.com/


Johnny Lowe
I 2.5 Best Construction Practices During Closure by Removal of Ponded CCR
I1.2 Best Construction Practices During Closure by Removal of Ponded CCR
Johnny Lowe – Waste Management
Best Construction Practices During Closure by Removal of Ponded CCR
Marcella Funderburg, P.E., Blake Whittington, Johnny Lowe, P.E.,
1Waste Management National Services, Inc., 13850 Ballantyne Corp Pl Ste 225, Charlotte, NC 28277
Abstract
As federal and state regulations are forcing electric utilities to remove Coal Combustion Residuals (CCR) from historic disposal units, closure by removal is emerging as a growing need for compliant CCR pond closures where groundwater may be in contact with CCR in an unlined system. In this presentation, we will review lessons learned and best practices during closure by removal projects. Topics presented include safety, the development of excavation plans, ash dewatering/conditioning, moisture content during transport/placement, stormwater management, support area requirements, loadout methods, transportation options, and off-site disposal. We will explore the operational and efficiency challenges encountered and methods for mitigation. The information presented is intended to provide for a more informed decision-making process when planning and implementing closure by removal projects.
Keywords
best management practices, closure, ponded ash, CCR, transportation, placement, contact water, stormwater, trucking, drying, conditioning, impoundment
Conference
2022 ENERGY UTILITY ENVIRONMENT CONFERENCE – October 5-7, 2022


Andrew Xie
I 2.6 New Ultra-trace level silica analyzer for online monitoring of silica in Power Plant (VIRTUAL)
I2.2 New Ultra-trace level silica analyzer for online monitoring of silica in Boiler water in Power Plant
Andrew Xie – Thermo Fisher Scientific
Boiler water and ultrapure water are widely used in various industries, such as power plants, oil & gas, and semiconductor plants. Trace contaminants such as silica can have a critical impact on essential assets, such as causing deposits/corrosion on boiler, heat exchangers and turbines.
The Orion 8030cX Silica Analyzer developed by Thermo Fisher Scientific answers the need with direct, accurate online monitoring of silica in real time to prevent built-up, improve energy efficiency and maximize uptime. It offers superior accuracy, reliable operation, automated features and intuitive user interface to protect valuable assets and ensure safe power generation. It combines a patented fluid delivery system with optimized reagent chemistry to improve silica detection limit to sub ppb level. It delivers accurate and precise results across a wide analysis range, from 0-5000 µg/L. The improved reagent chemistry minimizes common interferences from phosphate and lasts longer. Consuming only about 200 µL of reagent per test, the new analyzer can continuously monitor unattended for up to 100 days while reducing chemical waste. The Orion 8030cX Silica Analyzer features state-of-the-art automation (such as automated calibration, validation and cleaning), advanced intuitive software, intelligent system diagnostics and alert notifications that reduce manual intervention and maintenance. It has been tested in various power plants to outperform existing silica analyzers.
I3
316 (b) | Dewatering Systems | Impoundments | ESG
Oct 6, 2022
2 pm to 4 pm


Bill Stephens
I 3.1 Optimizing Systems of Technologies for 316(b) BTA 6-Estimating Credits and Reductions
I3.1 Optimizing Systems of Technologies for 316(b) BTA 6-Estimating Credits and Reductions
Bill Stephens – J.S. Held
Waterford 3 (WF3), a nuclear power facility on the Lower Mississippi River performed a 2-year site-specific optimization study (January 2020 – January 2022) demonstrating operation of the systems of technologies, operational measures and best managements practices have been optimized to minimize impingement mortality (IM). This study developed a calculation baseline for comparison to determine credits for reductions in IM and entrainment (E) and demonstrated that WF3 operates a BTA meeting IM and E standards. WF3’s in-place systems of technologies include: 1) 33% credit for offshore cooling water intake structure (CWIS) located in the channel border/main channel habitat area where less habitat is available for fish and fish densities are much lower; 2) 27.15% credit for seasonal/operational reduction of cooling water usage from 1440 million gallons per day (MGD) to 1049 MGD; 3) 66.4% credit for minimized area of effective zone of influence (ZOI) compared to defined area of calculation baseline for the CWIS from combined reductions associated with river flow periods and reduced fish density and fish ability to avoid ZOI; and 4) 46% credit for use of fish-friendly multi-disc rotating Geiger screens. From the calculation baseline, credits for the identified reductions in impingement estimate impingeable fish rates based on the performance of each technology. Credit estimations are cumulative as opposed to additive and account for a 91.4% impingement reduction.


Kurtis Schlicht
I 3.2 Unique Strategies with 316(b) Compliance at Multiple Facilities
I3.2 Unique Strategies with 3`16(b) Compliance at Multiple Facilities
Kurtis Schlicht – J.S. Held
Four facilities relied on fisheries-based approach to 316b compliance. Each facility developed a calculation baseline for comparison to determine credits for reductions in impingement mortality (IM) and entrainment (E) to demonstrate they met IM and E standards with BTA 6- Systems of Technologies. Each facility was situated on a unique water of the United States (WOUS) in four different states including two nuclear power plants, one fossil power plant and a paper facility. The Texas facility was an estuarine system on Sabine Lake. The Mississippi facility was on the large Lower Mississippi River. The Arkansas facility was located on a seasonal pool of the Arkansas River and the Georgia facility was on the small Chattahoochee River with water levels influenced daily by an upstream power-generating dam. Three of the facilities performed required 2-year impingement technology performance optimization studies and one relied on historical data. A variety of cooling water intake structures (CWIS) locations, zones of influence (ZOI), actual intake flows (AIFs) and screen technology types were assessed. One of the three facilities attempted the de minimis approach. All four facilities demonstrated compliance associated with reductions and credits compared to a calculation baseline with a system’s approach specific to each facilities’ technologies, management practices and operational measures |


John Burnett
I. 3.3 A Review of Built Wedge Wire Screen Systems for Clean Water Act 316(b) Compliance
I3.3 A Review of Built Wedge Wire Screen Systems for Clean Water Act 316(b) Compliance
John Burnett – ISI
Intake Screens, Inc. has designed, fabricated, and installed mechanical brush-cleaned wedge wire screen systems for Clean Water Act 316(b) compliance at facilities located across the United States. This presentation will showcase built projects with screen opening sizes ranging from 0.5 mm to 1.75 mm and focus on screen layouts and design features to maximize fish protection and eliminate debris management and biofouling issues. Featured power plant projects will include offshore deep water intake retrofits, traveling water screen retrofit projects, and installations in designated critical habitat habitat for federally protected fishes. Strategies for dealing with surface ice, frazil ice, invasive mussels and more will be discussed.


Brian Edge
I. 3.4 Multi-metals Continuous Water Analyzer Based on ED-XRF
I3.4 Multi-metals Continuous Water Analyzer Based on ED-XRF
Brian Edge – Cooper Environmental Services
Cooper Environmental Services has developed a near real-time continuous water analyzer for multi-metals monitoring. The instrument can achieve sub-part per billion detection limits by pre-concentrating the liquid sample onto a filter media where it is subsequently analyzed by X-Ray Fluorescence. The instrument can report up to 67 metal concentrations simultaneously including selenium (Se), arsenic (As) and mercury (Hg). Performance data from the laboratory and a field study at an industrial treatment plant will be discussed.
Co-authors: Krag Petterson & Troy Pittinger


Ford Wall
I 3.5 The Realities of Installing EPA 316(b) Compliant Traveling Screens
I1.1 The Realities of Installing EPA 316(b) Compliant Traveling Screens
Ford Wall – Atlas SSI
This Paper explores the Engineering challenges and lessons learned of implementing EPA 316(b) requirements from a utility and manufacturer prospective. New York State DEC maintained lead agency status and required the equivalent of 316(b) for Con Edison’s East River Station in 2009. Best Technology Available identified replacing its existing dual flow screens with Atlas-SSI Ristroph Screens. The project seemed simple but insuring proper design and operation presented multiple challenges. The journey addressed electrical infrastructure, CFD Modeling of intake flows and structural loading, equipment material selection, fine mesh panel requirements and testing, continuous vs intermittent screen operation and ultimate compliance testing.
Co-Author: Gary Thorn, Consolidated Edison


Katelyn Jackson
I 3.6 Freshwater Mussel Survey near a Midwestern Power Plant – Regulatory (VIRTUAL)
I1.3 Freshwater Mussel Survey near a Midwestern Power Plant – Regulatory Lessons Learned
Katelyn Jackson – EA
In 2015, EA Engineering, Science, and Technology, Inc., PBC (EA) developed a §316(a) Demonstration for a midwestern power station that included biological studies used to examine thermal effects associated with station operations. Such studies included a freshwater mussel survey to characterize the unionid mussel assemblage and habitat on the Illinois River within the thermal plume in the vicinity of the station. A total of 3,349 individuals representing 25 species were collected within the survey area from the semi-quantitative and qualitative sampling efforts. |