Code of Maine Rules
06 - DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
096 - DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION - GENERAL
Chapter 526 - COOLING WATER INTAKE STRUCTURES
Section 096-526-9 - Monitoring Requirements for New Facilities
Current through 2024-38, September 18, 2024
An Owner or Operator of a new facility is required to perform monitoring to demonstrate compliance with the requirements specified in section 6 as follows. [See 40 CFR § 125.87]
A. Biological monitoring. The Owner or Operator must monitor both impingement and entrainment of the commercial, recreational, and forage base fish and shellfish species identified in either the Source Water Baseline Biological Characterization data required by section 18.D or the Comprehensive Demonstration Study required by section 8.C(2), depending on whether the Owner or Operator chose to comply with Track I or Track II. The monitoring methods used must be consistent with those used for the Source Water Baseline Biological Characterization data required in section 18.D or the Comprehensive Demonstration Study required by section 8.C(2). The Owner or Operator must follow the monitoring frequencies identified below for at least two years after the initial permit issuance. After that time, the Department may approve a request for less frequent sampling in the remaining years of the permit term and when the permit is reissued, if the Department determines the supporting data show that less frequent monitoring would still allow for the detection of any seasonal and daily variations in the species and numbers of individuals that are impinged or entrained.
B. Velocity monitoring. If the facility uses surface intake screen systems, the Owner or Operator must monitor head loss across the screens and correlate the measured value with the design intake velocity. The head loss across the intake screen must be measured at the minimum ambient source water surface elevation (best professional judgment based on available hydrological data). The maximum head loss across the screen for each cooling water intake structure must be used to determine compliance with the velocity requirement in section 6 paragraphs B(2) or C(1). If the facility uses devices other than surface intake screens, the Owner or Operator must monitor velocity at the point of entry through the device. The Owner or Operator must monitor head loss or velocity during initial facility startup, and thereafter, at the frequency specified in the MEPDES permit, but no less than once per quarter.
C. Visual or remote inspections. The Owner or Operator must either conduct visual inspections or employ remote monitoring devices during the period the cooling water intake structure is in operation. The Owner or Operator must conduct visual inspections at least weekly to ensure that any design and construction technologies required in section 6.B(4) and (5), or C(3) and (4) are maintained and operated to ensure that they will continue to function as designed. Alternatively, the Owner or Operator must inspect via remote monitoring devices to ensure that the impingement and entrainment technologies are functioning as designed.
