ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
OFFICE OF ENFORCEMENT
REMOTE SENSING STUDY
OF
THERMAL DISCHARGES
TO
LAKE MICHIGAN
WISCONSIN - ILLINOIS - INDIANA - MICHIGAN
National Field Investigations Center
Denver, Colorado
and
Region V
Chicago, Illinois
September 1972
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September
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Chapter Page
TABLE OF CONTENTS i
LIST OF FIGURES. '. Ml
I SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS ]
II INTRODUCTION k
III RESULTS OF THERMAL DATA ANALYSIS 7
Wisconsin Electric Power Company " Oak Creek
Power Station 7
Wisconsin Electric Power Company - Lakeside
Power Station 8
Wi
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' • 75
* 16
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LIST OF FIGURES
Following
Number Page
] WEPC OAK CREEK POWER STATION 7
2 TEMPERATURE PROFILE ABOUT PORT WASHINGTON
POWER PLANT 8
3 WEPC EDGEWATER POWER STATION 9
4 WEPC POINT BEACH POWER STATION 9
5 THERMAL DISCHARGE INTO FOX RIVER 10
6 MUSKEGON LAKE INDUSTRIAL DISCHARGE 10
7 THERMAL PLUME, MUSKEGON LAKE INTO LAKE
MICHIGAN 10
8 INDUSTRIAL THERMAL DISCHARGE 11
9 MCPC CAMPBELL POWER STATION 12
10 NIPS MICHIGAN CITY POWER PLANT 13
11 NIPS BAILLY POWER STATION 13
12 INDUSTRIAL THERMAL DISCHARGE 13
13 INDUSTRIAL THERMAL DISCHARGE ]k
14 NIPS MITCHELL POWER STATION. 15
15 INDUSTRIAL.THERMAL DISCHARGE 15
16 INDUSTRIAL THERMAL DISCHARGE . . 15
17 INDIANA-ILLINOIS SHORE MAP 15
18 CEC STATELINE POWER STATION 16
19 CEC WAUKEGAN POWER STATION 16
ill
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I. SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS
An aerial reconnaissance study was conducted along pre-designated
segments of the shoreline of Lake Michigan on September 14, 1972. The
purpose of this remote sensing study was to document the extent of
thermal discharges from the major electric power plants over the area
extending from Muskegon, Michigan, to Twin Creeks, Wisconsin. A total
of ten power stations were in operation at the time of flight while
three others were not in operation.
At the Third Session of the Lake Michigan Enforcement Conference,
Recommendation No. 1 was adopted by the Conferees representing Indiana,
Michigan, Wisconsin, and the U. S. Environmental Protection Agency which
stated that:
"Applicable to all waste heat discharges except
as noted above:(*) At any time, and at a maximum
distance of 1,000 fee,t from a fixed point adjacent
to the discharge, (agreed upon by the State and
Federal regulatory agencies), the receiving water
temperature shall not be more than 3°F above the
existing natural temperature nor shall the maximum
temperature exceed those listed below whichever is
lower."
The maximum "surface to three-foot depth" temperature recommended for
September is 80°F. Recommendation No. 1 was interpreted in this report
to include all power plants discharging directly to Lake Michigan or
within three miles of the shoreline.
Thermal data obtained at a distance of 1,000 feet from the outfall,
for each of the ten power stations which were in operation on September 14,
^Municipal waste and water treatment plants, and vessels.
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1972 are summarized in the following table:
Surface Temperature Increase Over
Lake Background at 1,000 Feet From
Power Plant _ Discharge
Oak Creek 11.5°F (7.k°F at 2,000 feet)
Port Washington Violation not ascertained
Edgewater 5-5°F (4°F at 2,000 feet)
Point Beach 5-5°F
J. H. Campbell 12°F (6°F at 2,000 feet)
Michigan City 7°F (7eF at 2,000 feet)
Bailly 10.5°F (5°F at 2,000 feet)
Mitchell 4°F
Stateline 3-5°F
Waukegan 6.5°F (4°F at 2,000 feet)
Nine of the above plants were violating the recommended 3°F maximum
temperature increase at the distance of 1,000 feet. In addition, six of
the power plants were also violating this permitted 3°F increase even at
a distance of 2,000 feet from the plant discharge. None of the discharges
caused the surface temperature of'the receiving water, at the 1,000-feet
point, to exceed the maximum allowable surface temperature limit for
September of 80°F.
Furthermore, Recommendation No. 3> adopted at the Third Session of
the Lake Michigan Enforcement Conference, stated that:
"Discharge shall be such that geographic areas
affected by thermal plumes do not overlap or
intersect. Plumes shall not affect fish spawn-
ing and nursery areas nor touch the lake bottom."
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In the vicinity of the Indiana-Illinois state line, eight thermal dis-
charges were recorded, one of which was the Commonwealth Edison Stateline
Power Plant. The discharge temperature levels from each of the other
unidentified waste sources were considerably higher than that of the
Commonwealth Edison Stateline Plant. It was observed that the thermal
plumes from these various waste sources were overlapping in most cases,
which is in violation of Recommendation No. 3 as stated above.
From the above data, it must be concluded that the recommendations
of the Lake Michigan Enforcement Conference are not being met by many
sources of thermal and industrial discharges within the Conference area.
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II. INTRODUCTION
An aerial remote sensing study of the thermal discharges to Lake
Michigan was conducted on 14 September 1972 between the hours of 1300-
1500 CDT. This effort was requested by the Enforcement Division, Region
V, EPA. The study area included waters affected by discharges from the
following electric power generating facilities/areas of interest:
..Wisconsin Electric Power Company - Oak Creek Power Station.
..WEPC - Lakeside Power Station.
..WEPC - Port Washington Power Station.
..WEPC - Edgewater Power Station.
..WEPC - Point Beach Power Station.
..Fox River, Wisconsin (Lake Winnebagp to Green Bay).
..Michigan Consumers Power Company - B. C. Cobb Power Station.
..Muskegon Lake, Michigan (Western Area).
..Michigan Consumers Power Company - J. H. Campbell Power Station.
..Michigan Consumers Power Company ~ Palisades Power Station.
..Northern Indiana Public Service - Michigan City Power Station.
..Northern Indiana Public Service - Bailly Power Station.
..Northern Indiana Public Service - Mitchell Power'Station.
..Commonwealth Edison - State Power Station.
..Commonwealth Edison - Waukegan Power Station.
The location of each power station is shown on the map which appears at
the back of this report.
The thermal data were recorded by an infrared line scanner (IRLS) on
board a USAF RF-4C (Phantom) aircraft. Two such aircraft were utilized
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during this study. The temperature resolution of this scanner is 0.1°
Centigrade.
The IRLS will record only surface temperatures in water. Water is
opaque to this region of the intermediate infrared band- The maximum
depth penetration in either fresh or salt water is 0.01 cm. Therefore,
a submerged thermal discharge can be detected from an aircraft with an
infrared line scanner only if all or part of the warm wastewater reaches
the surface of the receiving body of water.
The thermal data were recorded on 5"inch film in the form of a
thermal map. At the time of flight, ground truth, in the form of surface
water temperatures, was obtained for each power station location. The
cooling water inlet and discharge temperatures, and in most cases back-
ground water surface temperatures of Lake Michigan, were obtained and
provided by EPA, Region V. If the background surface temperatures were
not obtained by ground measurements, then the background temperature was
extrapolated from the film by a process explained in Section I I I of this
report. These temperature values served as an absolute reference for the
calibration, and subsequent analysis of the airborne thermal data, expeci-
ally for the surface waters 1,000 feet distant from the respective points
of thermal discharges. The accuracy placed upon these temperature values,
as given in this report, is ±l°Fahrenheit. Once the calibration described
above has been affected, this accuracy becomes a relative number which is
not dependent upon or a function of any particular temperature value within
the established temperature limits. This accuracy does not include the
respective accuracies of the terrestrial instrumentation used by the ground
truth personnel to obtain the Lake Michigan surface water, inlet and
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discharge temperatures. These values would, to a good approximation, add
to the ±1°F given above to form a total accuracy for a given temperature
value presented.
The wind velocity, at all locations within the flight regime was
5 to 15 knots from the north as determined by the ground truth personnel.
The respective power station discharge flow rates at the time of flight,
were also provided by ground truth personnel.
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III. RESULTS OF THERMAL DATA ANALYSIS
All data interpretations and analyses were carried out on the
original negative from the infrared line scanner. Results of the thermal
analyses for each respective power station discharge are presented as
fo1]ows:
A. Wisconsin Electric Power Company - Oak Creek Power Station
1. The inlet water temperature was 62°F as provided by ground truth.
2. The discharged water temperature at the exit was 76°F, also
provided by ground truth.
3. The thermal plume is shown in Figure 1.
4. A thermal transect was optically made along a line approximately
500 feet from and parallel to the shore within the main body of
the plume. The temperature vs distance from discharge along the
transect is given in the table below:
Temperature
Distance °F
Discharge Exit
815 feet
1 ,000 feet
2,100 feet
3,225 feet
4,070 feet
5,415 feet
6,885 feet
8,515 feet
9,795 feet
76
76
73-5
69.4
67
69-5
66.6
65.5
63.0
62.5
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WARMEST ARFA
LAKE MICHIGAN
fHERMAL PLUME
WEPCOAKCREEK POWER STATION
ORIGINAL SCALE 1-31;3OO
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8
5- The overall length of the plume was 9,900 feet with respect to
the discharge.
6. The maximum width of the plume was 1,220 feet at a point 4,5^0
feet from the discharge.
7. The discharge flow rate at the time of flight was 858,000 gallons
per minute (gpm).
B. Wisconsin Electric Power Company - Lakeside Power Station
1. This plant was not discharging at the time of flight.
C. Wisconsin Electric Power Company •* Port Washington Power Station
1. The temperature of the inlet water from Lake Michigan was 60°F.
2. No pronounced thermal plume was detected in this area. The shore-
line in the vicinity of the power station, is shown in Figure 2.
The power station is located adjacent to the rectangular projec-
tions (from the shoreline) on the southern side. Two-dimensional
scan was made qn the IR film within this area at the points shown
in Figure 2. Ground truth reported that the plant's discharge
water temperature was 67°F on 14 September 1972, 1300-1400 CDT
local. The highest surface water temperature in this area was
located approximately 0.5 statute miles south (left) of the rec-
tangular area. Its value was 66°F. The thermal plume may have
been dispersed significantly before reaching the water's surface,
or otherwise, the station may have ceased discharging, prior to
the time of flight. This would explain the temperature variation
over the 2-5 square mile area.
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3. In the literature published by the Argonne National Laboratory,
the power station discharge position is located at the point
indicated in the figure.
D. Wisconsin Electric Power Company - Edgewater Power Station
1. No ground truth was provided for this power station.
2. The thermal plume is shown in Figure 3-
3. The plume is 4,070 feet long and its maximum width from shore is
1 ,030 feet.
4. If the ambient background water temperature were 60°F, then the
optical analysis shows that the temperature at the 1,000-foot
mark, from the discharge point as shown in Figure 3, would have
been 65.5°F. The warmest area, also shown in Figure 3, would be
68.5°F. The temperature at 2,000 feet from the outfall within
the plume would be 64°F and that from 3,800 feet would be 61°F.
E. Wisconsin Electric Power Company - Point Beach Power Station
1. The inlet for this power station is 2,000 feet from shore in
Lake Michigan and is submerged. The inlet water temperature was
52°F at the time of flight.
2. The thermal plume is shown in Figure 4.
3- Only the southernmost discharge location was being used at the
time of flight.
4. The temperature of the heated water at the discharge was 68°F as
provided by ground truth.
5. The background surface water temperature, in this area of Lake
Michigan, was approximately 61°F. This value was achieved by
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WARMEST AREA
THERMAL PLUME
LAKE MICHIGAN
EPGEWATER POWER STATION
ORIGINAL SCALE 1-31,3OO
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1000 FEET
WEPC »9ONT BEACH
POWER STATION
NORTH
LAKE MICHIGAN
ORIGINAL SCALE 1-31,3OO
FIGURE 4
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10
temperature calibration curve extrapolation based upon the data
(film densities vs ground truth temperatures) recorded in the
vicinity of the other power station located along the Wisconsin
shore of Lake Michigan.
6. The temperature, within the plume as shown in Figure 4, of the
surface water 1,000 feet from the discharge point was 66.5°F
and at 2,800 feet was 62.8°F.
7. The discharge flow rate was given as 391,000 gpm.
F. Fox River Wisconsin (Lake Winnebago to Green Bay)
1. Only one thermal discharge was detected in the Fox River. Its
location is shown in Figure 5- This thermal plume did not originate
from the WPSC Pulliam Power Station which is located near the mouth
of the river on the northern bank.
2. The temperature of the surface water in the canal, shown in
Figure 5, is estimated to be ?1°F and the river water to be 60°F.
This is achieved from the data given in the vicinity of power
station located on the western shore of Upper Lake Michigan.
3. No ground truth was provided in this area.
G. Michigan Consumers Power Company - B. C. Cobb Power Station
1. The B. C. Cobb power station was not covered during this mission.
H. Muskegon Lake, Michigan (western area)
1. The 1RLS thermal maps of Muskegon Lake are presented in Figures 6
and 7- Figure 6 shows the southern half of the lake and Figure 7
gives the northern half.
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FOX RIVER
THERMAL PLUME
ORIGINAL SCALE 1-31,3OO
THERMAL DISCHARGE INTO FOX RIVER
FIGURE 5
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MUSKEGON LAKE
THERMAL PLUME
NORTH
WARM_EST
AREA
ORIGINAL
INDUSTRIAL
SCALE
FIGURE
DISCHARGE
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MUSKEGON
INTO LAKE
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11
2. The presence of two thermal plumes was detected on the lake's
southern shore as shown in Figure 6. A magnified scale of these
plumes is presented in Figure 8. No ground truth was provided
for this area.
3. The thermal map of the outflow of the Muskegon Lake waters into
Lake Michigan is also shown in Figure 7- There was a definite
thermal plume as shown in the far right side of this figure.
This thermal plume extended southward for a considerable distance.
By the temperature calibration curve extrapolation technique
discussed in previous sections, the ambient (background) water
surface temperature of Lake Michigan was determined to be approxi-
mately 6l°F at the time of flight. This temperature value is based
upon an optical correlation of the film densities in this location
with known temperatures/film densities for other power station
locations within the upper Lake Michigan vicinity. The surface
temperatures are provided below:
i
Point Number Surface Temperature in °F
1 73
2 70.5
3 72
Point 1 is 300 feet from the ends of the parallel breakwaters.
Points 2 and 3, respectively, are 300 feet and 1,100 feet from
the ends of the converging geometrical breakwater pilings.
Points 1, 2, and 3 are shown in Figure 7-
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MUSKEGON LAKE
NORTH
100O FEET
2OOO FEET
2OOO FEET
SOURCE NO. 1
RCE NO. 2
ORIGINAL SCALE 1-15,6OO
FIGURE 8
INDUSTRIAL THERMAL DISCHARGE
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12
I. Michigan Consumers Power Company - J. H. Campbell Power Station
1. The temperature of the inlet water was 65°F. This temperature
was obtained, as a part of the ground truth, from the canal labeled
"intake water" in Figure 9 which is a thermal map of this area.
fZ. This plant was discharging at two locations in the small channel
labeled "thermal discharge" in Figure 9- Ground truth information
provided that the southernmost location was discharging water
whose temperature was 70°F. The northern location discharge water
temperature was 79°F. The airborne data show that the plumes
were well-mixed in the channel within 265 feet from the northern
discharge point.
3. The surface temperature in the channel, between the 90° bend
and the above-mentioned mixing area, was 79°F.
A. The surface temperature of the channel water at its mouth was
73°F.
5. The surface temperatures of the plume waters in Lake Michigan,
1,000 feet and 2,000 feet respectively, from the mouth of the
channel were 72°F and 66°F- The former point is shown in Figure 9-
6. The surface temperature of the background receiving waters in
Lake Michigan was 60°F. This temperature value was obtained by
temperature calibration curve extrapolation since no ground truth
was provided in this area.
J. Michigan Consumers Power Company - Palisades Power Station
1. This power station was not in operation at the time of flight.
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13
K. Northern Indiana Public Service - Michigan City Power Station
1. The inlet water temperature was 67°F which was provided by
ground truth.
2. The discharge water temperature was 77°F as provided by ground
truth.
3- The location of the power station and the thermal plumes are
shown in Figure 10.
4. Within the thermal plume, the following temperatures are provided:
Distance from Discharge (ft) Surface Temperature (°F)
500 75-5
1,000 74
2,000 7^
2,500 73
5- Traces of the thermal plume could be seen as far as 2.8 miles
from the point of discharge.
L. Northern Indiana Pub!ic Service - Bailly Power Station
1. The inlet water temperature was 68.5°F at the time of flight
which was provided by ground truth.
2. The temperature of the discharge water was 83°F also provided by
ground truth.
3. The thermal plume is shown in Figure 11 to the left of the
industrial area (labeled Plume No. 1). A lower altitude thermal
map of this plume is shown in Figure 12.
4.. The temperature of the surface water 1,000 feet, 2,000 feet from
the discharge was 79°F and 73-5°F, respectively.
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POWER STATION
ISCHARGE
MICHIGAN
PLUME
PLUME 2
NIPS BAILLY POWER STATION
ORIGINAL SCALE 1-31,3OO
FIGURE 11
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PQWER STA TIO N
NORTH
LAKE MICHIGAN
ORIGINAL SCALE 1-15,6OO
FIGURE 12
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5- The discharge flow rate was 307,800 gpm.
6. Three other plumes are also seen in Figures 11 and 13 which are
not related to the Bailly plant. Their surface temperature data
are as follows:
Plume No. 2 Plume No. 3
1,000 feet from slip apex 79-50F ?6°F
2,000 feet from slip apex 74°F 73°F
These slips are shown in a smaller scale in Fjgure 12.
7- The surface temperature at the mouth of the creek, marked Plume
No. 4 in Figure 13, was 73-5°F.
8. Reportedly, two steel mills are located in these areas.
M. Northern Indiana Public Service - Mitchell Power Plant
1. The temperature of the inlet water from Lake Michigan was 65°F
as provided by ground truth. The inlet was submerged below the
Lake's surface.
2. The temperature of the discharge water was 77°F as provided by
ground truth.
3- The surface temperature of the background water In Lake Michigan
was 67°F as provided by ground truth.
4. The thermal plume from the power station is shown in center of
Figure 14. The plume's surface temperature, at a point 1,000
feet from the discharge, was 71°F.
5. The discharge flow rate was 260,000 gpm at the time of flight.
6. The thermal plumes shown on the right or western side of Figure 1
are from industrial sources.
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15
N. Industrial Discharges in the Vicinity of the Indiana-Illinois State
Line
At this point in the report, a brief description is also given
of the industrial thermal discharges in the vicinity of the Indiana-
Illinois state line. This discussion is based upon Recommendation
No. 3 adopted by the Third Session of the Lake Michigan Enforcement
Conference, which states that:
"Discharge shall be such that geographic areas
affected by thermal plumes do not overlap or intersect.
Plumes shall not affect fish spawning and nursery
areas nor touch the lake bottom."
The aforementioned area contains thermal plumes which violate the
intent of Recommendation..No. 3- The respective industrial thermal
plumes are shown in the right side of Figures 14, 15, and 16. These
particular thermal maps represent the areas depicted in Figure 17
which is a portion of the Chicago 1:250,000 (Sectional) USGS map.
The overlapping of thermal plumes is especially evident in the left
and center of Figure 16. The plumes found in the center of this
figure are significantly hot. The plumes are seen to be dispersing
along the shore to the right as indicated by the label "dispersion
zone."
0. Commonwealth Edison Company - Stateline Power Station
1. The temperature of the inlet water from Lake Michigan was 70°F
as provided by ground truth.
2. The temperature of the discharge water was 79°F also provided by
ground truth.
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ORIGINAL SCALE 1-31,300
• «..*-. •-..\ ..:.;- JUr inliiiuruu
LAKE MICHIGAN
FIGURE 15
INDUSTRIAL THERMAL DISCHARGE
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ERMAL
PERSION
THERMA
SmFUMTiaamM
DISCHARGE
PLUME OVERLAP
FIGURE 16
INDUSTRIAL THERMAL DISCHARGE
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EASTERN UNITED STATES 1:250,000
O o
LAKE
FIGURE 18
CAN
""CHICAGO
FIGURE 16
FIGURE 1O
FIGURE 1
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FIGURE 11
FIGURE 13
Beverly She
sane
IANA DUNES
STATE PARK
FIGURE 17 - INDIANA-ILLINOIS SHORE MAP
Kingsfirp-Mergh s,-^' €[r
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16
3- The thermal plume is shown in Figure 18 on the far left side. The
other thermal plumes, as depicted, originate from industrial
sources.
4. The thermal plume was travelling to the reader's left. The
surface temperature of the water 1,000 feet from the discharge,
within the plume, was 73.5°F.
5. The discharge flow rate was 516,000 gpm.
P. Commonwealth Edison Company - Waukegan Power Station
1. The temperature of the inlet water from Lake Michigan was 72°F
as provided by ground truth.
2. The temperature of the discharge water was 8l°F also provided
by ground truth.
3- The thermal plume is shown in the right-center of Figure 19.
The thermal plumes, indicated in the left center of the Figure
are reported to be caused by industrial sources.
4. The surface temperature of the water, within the plume, was 78.5°F
and 76°F at points 1,000 feet and 2,000 feet, respectively, from
the discharge.
5. The overall length of the plume was 2.1 miles.
6. The discharge flow rate was 720,000 gpm.
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DJ^CHAR'GE
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CEC WAUKEGAN POWER PLANT
FIGURE 19
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PULLIAM WPSC
392.5 MWe
GREENBAY, WIS
POINT BEACH NUC NO. 1 & 2 WEPC
1030 MWe, PWR'S
TWO CREEKS, WIS
EDGEWATER WPLC
460 MWe
SHEBOYGAN, WIS
PORT WASHINGTON WEPC
400 MWe
PORT WASHINGTON, WIS
LAKESIDE WEPC
344.7 MWe
ST. FRANCIS, WIS
OAK CREEK WEPC
1670.0 MWe
OAK CREEK, WIS
WAUKEGAN CEC
1107.8 MWe
WAUKEGAN, ILL
STATE LINE CEC
964 MWe
HAMMOND, IND
L A ,K E
MICHIGAN
J. H. CAMPBELL CPC
647 MWe
PIGEON LAKE, MICH
PALISADES NUC NO. 1 CPC
840 MWe, PWR
SOUTH HAVEN, MICH
DEAN H. MITCHELL NIPSC
414.3 MWe
GARY, IND
-MICHIGAN CITY NIPSC
615.6 MWe
MICHIGAN CITY, IND
'BAILLY NIPSC
615.6 MWe
DUNE ACRES, IND
MICH
"lND~
LOCATION MAP LAKE MICHIGAN
ELECTR
1C POWER GENERATION STATIONS
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