Steam Electric Power Generating Effluent Guidelines Questionnaire
In 2010, the EPA distributed questionnaires to approximately 700 fossil- and nuclear-fueled steam electric power plants. The Agency used data from the questionnaires to support its proposed rule amending the effluent guidelines for the Steam Electric Power Generating category. The final rule was published in 2015.
Overview
The questionnaire comprised nine sections to address specific processes, specific Agency data needs, or types of power plants. It collected general plant information and selected technical information about the plant processes and the electric generating units. The requested information includes economic data and technical information about flue gas desulfurization (FGD) wastewater, ash handling, cleaning of metal process equipment, wastewater treatment, and surface impoundment and landfill operations. The questionnaire also required certain power plants to collect and analyze samples of leachate from surface impoundments and landfills containing coal combustion residues.
The EPA organized the respondents into four groups. Most coal- and petroleum coke-fired power plants received Parts A through D, H and I of the survey. Some coal- and petroleum coke-fired power plants received all sections of the survey (Parts A through I). Oil-fired power plants received Parts A through E, H, and I of the questionnaire. Gas-fired and nuclear power plants received Parts A, E, H, and I of the questionnaire.
Questionnaire Responses
The response database file contains publicly-available responses to the technical questionnaire (Parts A through H). Please see the Data Element Dictionary for documentation.