RESPEC Project

On September 30, 2015, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) finalized a rule that revised the regulations for the Steam Electric Power Generating category. The previous regulations for the industry were last updated in 1982 and did not adequately address toxic metal discharges. The new rule is based on technology improvements in the steam electric power industry over the last 3 decades and sets the first federal limits on the levels of toxic metals in wastewater that can be discharged from power plants.

RESPEC supported the case study modeling effort underpinning the EPA’s Steam Electric Power Generating Effluent Guidelines. For the final rule, RESPEC provided modeling support to EPA’s prime contractor Eastern Research Group through EPC-12021: Environmental Engineering Support for Clean Water Regulations.