EPA issues federal environmental regulations for toxic water discharges

October 2nd, 2015 by Dakota Software Staff Industry News

On Oct. 30, the Environmental Protection Agency issued new standards for toxic discharges into rivers, lakes and streams. The updated environmental regulations were imposed to curb the amount of waste material power plants dispel into the nation's waterways. According to The Charlotte Observer, the new standards will have the biggest effect on coal-fired power plants, reducing the allowable weight of wastewater from the facilities from 5.5 billion pounds to 1.4 billion pounds annually. The EPA said the reduction is possible with existing technology.

"Of the options in the proposal, we chose a very strong option," Ken Kopocis, the EPA's deputy assistant administrator for water, told The Charlotte Observer.

The Charlotte Observer reported on EPA findings, which noted 23,600 miles of rivers and streams are damaged by metals and other waste material from power plants. Power plant discharges can place harmful pollutants such as arsenic, lead, selenium and mercury in the nation's waterways. When toxic material from power plant wastewater makes its way into the environment, it can stay there for several years, according to the Observer.

According to The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, the EPA said the new standards will increase the health of Americans dramatically, reducing health hazards and saving $463 million annually.

"These cost-effective, achievable limits will provide significant protections for our children and communities across the country, including minority and low-income communities, from exposure to pollutants that can cause neurological damage in children, cancer, and other serious health problems," Gina McCarthy, EPA administrator, said in a press release, of which the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette published.

Abel Russ, attorney for the Environmental Integrity Project, told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette the coal and electric power industries haven't updated their technology because the standards haven't been updated for decades.

"The new EPA standards simply require the industry to catch up and install modern, affordable technology," Russ told The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

New standards won't require much from steam power plants
Several companies have already transitioned to disposing toxic materials in ways other than dumping them into the water supply. In fact, the EPA stated many of the more than 1,000 steam electric power plants already meet the requirements outlined in the new standards. Only 134 of these facilities will need to make new investments in technology. The St. Louis Post Dispatch reported most of the plants in need of updates are located in the South and some parts of the Midwest.

Still, steam electric power plants are responsible for about 30 percent of the toxic waste released into rivers lakes and streams, and the new environmental regulations will help curb this problem.