Water Board to Reach Decision on Whether to Protect Coast from Antiquated Power Plant Cooling Systems

Sara Aminzadeh, California Coastkeeper Alliance

05/03/2010

For Immediate Release: May 3, 2010
Contact: Sara Aminzadeh, California Coastkeeper Alliance, (415) 794-8422

**MEDIA ADVISORY**
WATER BOARD TO REACH DECISION ON WHETHER TO PROTECT COAST FROM ANTIQUATED POWER PLANT COOLING SYSTEMS

State Water Resources Control Board Adoption Meeting: Proposed Statewide Water Quality Control Policy on the Use of Coastal and Estuarine Waters for Power Plant Cooling

Tuesday, May 4, 2010 – 9:00 a.m.
Cal/EPA Headquarters Building
Coastal Hearing Room
1001 I Street, 2nd Floor
Sacramento, CA 95814

After five years of analysis and debate among regulatory agencies, power plant owners and operators, and a coalition of conservation, fishing and environmental justice groups, the State Water Board is expected to adopt a Policy tomorrow governing the impacts associated with the use of once-through cooling (OTC) at 19 California coastal and Delta power plants.

What is at stake.  The State Water Board’s Policy will determine the extent to which once-through cooled power plants are required to phase out OTC impacts to fish and marine life in compliance with the federal Clean Water Act, and how quickly the plants must start using more modern, efficient technologies.      

Learn more. Watch or listen to the hearing at www.calepa.ca.gov/broadcast/.

Visit the California Coastkeeper Alliance website to view a map of OTC power plants and access legal and policy resources at http://www.cacoastkeeper.org/.

How does the policy impact local power plants?
o    Find your local Waterkeeper at http://www.cacoastkeeper.org/waterkeepers/california-waterkeepers;
o    Contact Sara Aminzadeh to get in touch with a local expert (sara@cacoastkeeper.org or 415-794-8422).

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