| Abstract |
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is considering the issuance of a new source National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit (P.L. 92-500, Section 402) for discharge of wastewaters from Iowa Southern Utilities' proposed Ottumwa Generating Station (OGS). Pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (P.L. 91-190), EPA has prepared this environmental impact statement (EIS) to evaluate the potential impacts of this action on the Des Moines River, the cities of Chillicothe and Ottumwa, and the surrounding areas. This EIS is a multiagency document prepared in conjunction with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. It will serve as the Corps of Engineers' EIS in the issuance of a Section 404, Federal Water Pollution Control Act Amendments permit and a Section 10, River and Harbors Act permit. The proposed site for the 727 megawatt coal-fired steam-electric generating station is located adjacent to the Des Moines River approximately 8 miles northwest of Ottumwa, Iowa. Its estimated cost is $300 million. OGS will utilize a closed-cycle cooling system and will require make-up water at a rate of 17 cfs at maximum load conditions. Total discharge to the Des Moines River is estimated to be 1.4 cfs at maximum load conditions. Low sulfur western coal will fuel the plant at a rate of 2,200,000 tons per year. Principal constituents of the plant stack emissions are particulate matter, sulfur oxides, nitrogen oxides and various trace elements. An electrostatic precipator will be used to control particulate matter. Selection of low sulfur coal will minimize SO2 emissions, and furnace design will control NO2. (Color illustrations reproduced in black and white) |
