Hydrolox Screens: Best Technology Available for 316(b)
UPDATE JULY 2018: In a recent
ruling (Cooling Water Intake Structure Coal. v. EPA), the United
States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit upheld Section
316(b) and its implementation. Moving forward, any NPDES permit
issued by a state must contain a timeline for compliance, or valid
reasoning for delays in implementation. Clearing this last major
hurdle removes much of the uncertainty surrounding
316(b) and ensures that many plants can once again
move forward in determining a plan for compliance.
Section 316(b) of The Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA's) Clean Water Act requires that the location, design, construction, and capacity of cooling water intake structures reflect the best technology available (BTA) for minimizing adverse environmental impacts - impingement and entrainment. Under the terms of the rule, Hydrolox traveling water screens qualify as a BTA for minimizing impingement mortality ("modified traveling screens"). Specifically, the EPA noted that Hydrolox screen designs have "shown promise in reducing impingement mortality".
Hydrolox Series 6000 Vertical Traveling Water Screen with Ristroph-Style Fish Collection Buckets