   EPRI 2011 Accomplishments, Ongoing R&D and Preliminary Plans for 2012

Meeting Agenda:
   * Introductions
   * Meeting purpose/goals
   * EPA questions on EPRI comments or technical reports
   * Status of NODA
   * Review of ongoing research and potential 2012 R&D


Meeting Objective: Opportunity for EPA to ask questions on EPRI 2011 research and on our technical comments on the proposed Rule.  Most importantly, EPRI is formulating its 2012 R&D plan and input from EPA on relevance & importance is considered extremely important by our members.


EPA questions on EPRI technical comments or technical reports:

A list of EPRI submitted reports is on following page.  The following reports were not submitted but are near completion. Copies will be sent when they are available:

Full-time/Seasonal Closed-cycle Cooling: Cost and Performance Comparisons.  Technical Report 1023100, January 2012

Seasonal Patterns of Entrainment for Regional U.S. Electric Generating Facilities.  Technical Report 1023102, January 2012

Fine (2.0 mm) Mesh Screen O&M Evaluation at KCPL's Hawthorn Station on the Missouri River. Technical Report 1024697, January 2012

Additional Life History Parameter Values for Fish Commonly Entrained at Power Plants, Technical Report TBD, March 2012

Questions on EPRI's Technical Comments on the Proposed Rule?
Follow-up questions on EPRI's I&E Survey (annual impingement levels, de minimis level?)

Status & Content of EPA's NODA?


EPRI's Ongoing Research and Potential 2012 R&D:
Ongoing Research:

Updated Fish Protection Technology Manual  -  all technologies (December 2012 delivery)

Effects of fish return flume material and debris presence on survival of fish larvae

Additional testing of fine mesh traveling screens: band screens (0.5 mm) and Beaudrey vacuum (0.5 mm)

New R&D under Consideration:

Protocol for impingement sampling and latent mortality assessment

Procedures/possibilities for control survival monitoring

Field research on impingement survival with new Ristroph band screen

Field research on impingement survival with new Hydrolux molded plastic screen

Additional field evaluation of Beaudrey vacuum screen (question: does EPA view the traveling vacuum screen as fundamentally different from a traditional traveling water screen?)

Screen optimization evaluation (lab and/or field):
* Screen speed
* Pressure effects
* Screen mesh material effects
* Screen design specifications (e.g., seals, flaps)

Research on minimizing cooling tower cycles of concentration

Additional fish return design feature evaluation: water depth, velocity, flume length

Dual flow screen retrofit issues to attain 0.5 fps through screen

Laboratory studies on 1.0 fps through-screen velocity on impingement of representative species (fish swim speeds)

Tools & techniques for measuring approach velocity (as an indirect measure of thru-screen velocity)

Solutions to Entrapment

Methods for demonstrating alternative technology performance equivalence to modified traveling water screens with a fish return system

Updated benefit assessment methodology  -  EPA nonuse survey information to be added(?)

Assessment of potential reasons for low impingement at survey power plants (low 20% of EPRI 2011 Impingement Survey)

Guidance for preparation of entrainment documents


Closed Cycle Cooling Research (check means provided to EPA in our comments):

+ National Cost Estimate for Retrofit of U.S. Power Plants with Closed-Cycle Cooling.  Technical Brief 1022212, January 2011.

+ National Cost Estimate for Retrofit of U.S. Power Plants with Closed-Cycle Cooling.  Technical Report 1022491, February 2011.

+ Evaluation of the National Financial and Economic Impacts of a Closed-Cycle Cooling Retrofit Requirement. EPRI Technical Report 1022751, July 2011

+ Maintaining Electrical System Reliability under a Closed-Cycle Cooling Retrofit Requirement.  EPRI Technical Report 1023174, July 2011

+ Net Environmental and Social Effects of Retrofitting Power Plants with Once-Through Cooling to Closed-Cycle Cooling.  EPRI Technical Report 1022760, July 2011.

+ National Benefits of a Closed-Cycle Cooling Retrofit Requirement. EPRI Technical Report 1023401. July 2011

+ Closed-cycle Cooling Retrofit Research Program Results Summary.  EPRI Technical Report 1023453, July 2011


Cooling Water Intake Reports:

   +    Do Power Plant Impingement and Entrainment Cause Adverse Changes in Fish Populations? A Review of the Scientific Evidence.  Technical Report 1023094, July 2011

   +    National and Regional Summary of Impingement and Entrainment of Fish and Shellfish based on an Industry Survey of Clean Water Act §316(b) Characterization Studies.  Technical Report 1019861, July 2011

   +    Laboratory Evaluation of the Beaudrey WIP Screen for Protecting Early Life Stages of Fish at 
Cooling Water Intake Structures.  Technical Report 1019864, April 2011

   +    Potential Entrainment of Dead or Moribund Fish Eggs and Larvae at Cooling Water Intake Structures. Technical Report 1019860, May 2011

   +    Bioindicators of Performance and Impingement Susceptibility of Gizzard and Threadfin Shad.  Technical Report 1023101, May 2011

   +    Laboratory Evaluation of Fine-mesh Traveling Water Screens. Technical Report 1019027, December 2010.

   +    Evaluation of Factors Affecting Juvenile and Larval Fish Survival in Fish Return Systems at Cooling Water Intakes. Technical Report 1021372, December 2010.

