FEDERAL WATER POLLUTION CONTROL ADMINISTRATION
NORTHWEST REGIONAL OFFICE
January 1970
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A SURVEY
OF
CALIFORNIA COASTAL POWER PLANTS
Prepared by
Robert W. Zeller, Ph.D.
and
Robert L. Rulifson
United States Department of the Interior
Federal Water Pollution Control Administration, Northwest Region
501 Pittock Block
Portland, Oregon 97205
January 1970
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CONTENTS
Chapter Pag
I. INTRODUCTION 1
II. SUMMARY 3
III. COASTAL POWER PLANT TOUR 9
Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control
Board, Sacramento 10
California State Resources Agency, Sacramento... 11
California Department of Fish and Game,
Sacramento 13
San Francisco Bay Regional Water Quality
Control Board, Oakland 13
Contra Costa Power Plant, Antioch 14
Pittsburg Power Plant, Pittsburg 17
Diablo Canyon Nuclear Site, San Luis Obispo 19
Moss Landing Power Plant, Monterey County 20
Morro Bay Power Plant, Morro Bay 22
El Segundo Power Plant, El Segundo 24
Los Angeles Regional Water Quality Control
Board, Los Angeles 27
California Institute of Technology, Pasadena.... 28
Santa Ana Regional Water Quality Control
Board, Riverside .. 31
California Department of Fish and Game,
Long Beach 31
Redondo Generating Station, Redondo Beach 33
Haynes Steam Plant, Long Beach 35
Alamitos Steam Station, Long Beach 38
Huntington Beach Generating Station,
Huntington Beach 39
San Diego Regional Water Quality Control Board,
San Diego 41
San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station, San
Clemente 42
Bureau of Commercial Fisheries, La Jolla 43
Scripps Institute of Oceanography, La Jolla 43
BIBLIOGRAPHY
APPENDIX A. Map and Photographs
APPENDIX B. Power Plant Data
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INTRODUCTION
The California power plant tour is the second survey of thermal
power plants by personnel of the Northwest Regional Office, Federal
Water Pollution Control Administration (FWPCA). The purpose of these
tours was to anticipate, from experience in other parts of the United
States, the environmental impact of thermal power plants in the
Northwest. In December 1968, five large inland power plants in the
eastern United States were visited to observe the impact of waste
heat treatment and disposal on air and water quality. The tour in-
cluded two coastal power plants in California for a comparison be-
tween inland plants with cooling facilities and coastal plants with
once-through sea water cooling. The Pacific Northwest Pollution
Control Council published a report of the December 1968 tour titled
A Survey £f Thermal Power Plant Cooling Facilities.
The Northwest Regional Office, FWPCA, initiated the second
tour in May 1969 to obtain information on the sites, operation, and
environmental effects of representative coastal power plants in
California. This information has direct application for developing
an FWPCA policy on coastal siting of nuclear power plants in the
Pacific Northwest. The purpose of this trip report is to summarize
the findings of the tour participants.
The tour participants collected information on the following
aspects of thermal power plant siting, design, and operation:
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a. Environmental studies related to coastal power plants;
b. Condenser cooling water intakes and outfalls for large
coastal plants;
c. Environmental effects of waste heat discharged to the
Pacific Ocean;
d. Policies of Federal and State agencies.
The ten power plants included in the tour were selected to
compare in electrical generating capacity to potential nuclear
plants on the Oregon-Washington Coast and to represent a wide
range of intake and outfall characteristics. The power plants
visited are shown on Figure 1 (Appendix A). Nine of these plants
are gas-oil fueled; San Onofre, the tenth plant, is nuclear fueled.
Ten Government and research agencies involved in thermal power
development were also visited.
FWPCA staff participating in the tour were Dr. Robert W. Zeller
and Mr. Robert L. Rulifson of the Northwest Regional Office, and Mr.
Donald Trent and Dr. Mostafa Shirazi of the Pacific Northwest Water
Laboratory, Corvallis, Oregon. The tour was coordinated through
the office of Mr. Paul De Falco, Director, Pacific Southwest Region,
FWPCA, by Mr. Gil Hanes.
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SUMMARY
Environmental Studies
In California there is no provision for regulatory agency con-
sultation on environmental effects during preliminary site selection,
a critical stage of thermal power development. After site selection,
the California State Resources Agency requires pre- and post-
construction field surveys. The purpose of these surveys is to
(a) facilitate development of waste heat discharge requirements, and
(b) document environmental changes due to heated discharges and the
possible need for changes in discharge requirements.
Implementation of this procedure has not been standardized in
terms of organization and conduct of the studies and interpretation
and evaluation of the results. The pre-construction studies have
not had a significant impact on the design and location of intake
and outfall systems. For example, the Southern California Edison
Company (SCE) locates open coast power plant intakes and outfalls to
meet U.S. Coast Guard and Army Corps of Engineers navigation re-
quirements rather than for the protection of environmental values.
Dr. Norman Brooks, of the California Institute of Technology,
indicated that pre-construction surveys in California do not ade-
quately define the probable distribution of heated discharges, par-
ticularly in regard to the design of outfalls. Despite extensive
field surveys at the Diablo Canyon nuclear site, for example, the
probable environmental impact of heated discharges from shoreline
outfalls remains unclear. The lack of well-defined objectives and
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established techniques for sampling and analysis makes it difficult
to evaluate survey results.
Condenser Cooling Water Intakes and Outfalls
As described above, at open coastal sites Southern California
Edison Company (SCE) locates intakes to meet U.S. Coast Guard and
Corps of Engineers navigation requirements; SCE locates intakes at
the shoreline for plants on tidal channels. Since experiencing
fish kills at the Contra Costa plant, Pacific Gas & Electric Com-
pany (PG & E) has followed the recommendations of a research pro-
gram and has incorporated shoreline intakes at all plants, regard-
less of location. The shoreline intakes reduce fish losses by a-
voiding the high conduit velocities associated with offshore intakes.
PG & E and SCE have also developed standard procedures for the
design of intakes to minimize the losses of small fish. PG & E
shoreline intakes have maximum approach and flow-through velocities
of 0.5 and 1.5 ft/sec, respectively. SCE uses concrete "velocity
caps" over offshore vertical intakes, effecting horizontal inflows
which small fish can avoid better than they can vertical inflows.
All of the power plants visited, however, still experience in-
take fish kills to some extent. While the efforts to minimize fish
kills caused by condenser cooling systems are welcome signs of con-
cern, they are inadequate as general recommendations. Water intake
location and design should be studied relative to the oceanographic
conditions and marine biota at each site.
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The power plants visited subject their cooling water intake
systems to periodic heat treatment to control mussels, clams, and
other incrustations. Serious fish kills have occurred at Contra
Costa, El Segundo, and Huntington Beach during the periods of
elevated water temperatures. Although the tonnage of fish killed
has been reduced by the improvements in intake design mentioned
above, heat treatment has not been an environmentally acceptable
solution to cooling system incrustation problems. A means for bio-
foulant control that is not a hazard to valuable marine life should
be developed before completing the design of cooling water systems
for new coastal power plants.
With some exceptions, PG & E uses shoreline outfalls and SCE
relies on shallow, offshore locations for their outfalls. The shore-
line outfalls discharge horizontally at or near the water surface.
The offshore outfalls discharge vertically without the benefit of
multiport or diffuser systems. Design discharge velocities range
from 4 to 7 ft /sec for both kinds.
Based on temperatures at least 4°F above ambient, the heated
discharge from the outfalls may affect volumes of water up to 100
acres in area and up to 15 feet thick.
As with intakes, standard procedures should not be applied to
outfall location and design. Dr. Norman Brooks, of the California
Institute of Technology, maintains that the technology of diffuser
design permits the stipulation of local dilution requirements for
off-shore outfalls. Presuming this to be true, the thermal power
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planner can choose to spread a small temperature increment over a
large volume of water or to concentrate a large temperature in-
crement within a small volume of water. Generalizations on de-
sign alone, however, are not particularly useful. It is the
choice of alternatives that is important, and the choice should be
based on the physical, oceanographic, and biological characteristics
of each site.
Environmental Effects of Waste Heat Discharged to the Pacific Ocean
Surveys in the warm water zones of California coastal power
plant outfalls have documented changes in the biota: there are
more tropical species within the warm water zone as compared with
the natural environment. The biological changes appear to be limited,
however, to the zone with temperatures at least 4°F above ambient.
There is no visible evidence that the overall changes are ad-
verse. The lack of definitive pre- and post-construction field
data, however, makes it impossible to document the exact changes
that have occurred in the warm water zones or to evaluate the
effects of those changes.
Policies of Federal and State Agencies
The Pacific Southwest Regional Office, FWPCA, like the North-
west Regional Office, had not established a well-defined policy on
thermal power plant siting at the time of the tour.
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The California State Resources Agency, the Regional Water
Quality Control Boards, and the California Department of Fish
and Game do not advocate numerical temperature criteria for coastal
waters. They have concluded that available information is inadequate
"... concerning the thermal requirements of marine life and the
effects of natural variations in ocean temperature patterns."—'
Instead of setting numerical criteria, the temperature standards
nominally limit water temperature increases to protect and enhance
existing ecological conditions or to prevent overall adverse
ecological effects.
The Regional Water Quality Control Boards do not officially
support or oppose proposed sites, but rely upon waste heat discharge
requirements to protect the marine environment during plant
operation.
A lack of well-defined policies and coordination in regard
to site evaluations will preclude consideration of the marine en-
vironment as a major factor in the location, design, and operation
of power plants. In California one result has been documented fish
kills caused by intake operation; although-not necessarily adverse,
biological changes have also been documented in the vicinity of the
outfalls. In the Northwest the results could be seriously damaging
\f Lloyd R. Dunham, Recommendations on Thermal Objectives
for Water Quality Control Policies on the Interstate Waters of
California. Report to the State Water Resources Control Board,
August 1968 (State of California Resources Agency, Department of
Fish and Game, 1968), p. 4.
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to the cold water fishery. To influence final site selection and
plans for plant operation, Federal and State agencies must identify
the data necessary to provide an adequate evaluation of the environ-
mental effects of proposed coastal power plant sites.
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COASTAL POWER PLANT TOUR
The ten thermal power plants visited have several features in
common that are generally described here to avoid unnecessary
repetition.—'
First, all of the plants use a form of chlorine (usually
sodium hypochlorite) as a biocide to control slime growths in
their condensers. Most of the plants chlorinate for short periods
of time daily at dosages that yield a small residual at the con-
denser outlets. It is understood that this residual usually dis-
appears in the outfall conduits. We heard of no plants that are
using chromate-based oxidants as biocides in the circulating water
systems.
Second, all of the power plants subject their intake conduits
to heat treatment every four to six weeks to control mussels, clams,
and other incrustations. Most plants also heat-treat their outfall
conduits. The use of heat as a biofoulant control agent follows
the work of Fox and Corcoran in 1958.-?.' The temperature' of the
cooling water is raised to 105°F by'.reducing,, and'of ten reversing,
the flow across the condensers. The temperature is
— The data and discussions reported have been transcribed
from notes taken during the tour.
2/
—' D.L. Fox and E.F. Corcoran, "Thermal and Osmotic Counter-
measure Against Some Typical Marine Fouling Organisms," Corrosion,
14(3): 31-32 (1967).
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held at 105°F for an hour; the entire operation requires four or
five hours to permit a gradual transition from normal operating
temperatures up to 105°F and then down again. At some plants (e.g.,
Contra Costa) Asiatic clams must be physically cleaned from the in-
take conduits.
Third, it is common practice to discharge through the outfall
lines the debris screened from the cooling water intakes. Other
wastes, such as brine from evaporators, are also discharged through
the outfall lines. Justification seems to rest upon large dilution
ratios.
Finally, several of the power plants have comminutors that
operate in conjuction with the intake screens. Some biologists
think that the discharges of ground-up fish may explain the at-
traction of sport fish to the affected outfalls.
The following is a day-by-day presentation of the visits the
tour group made and a summary of the discussions.
APRIL 28. 1969
Central Valley,Regional Water Quality Control Board
Sacramento, California
The Regional Water Quality Control Boards compile data and
hold hearings to develop waste discharge permit requirements for
proposed thermal power plants. The California State Resources
Agency is the major policy development and coordinating agency for
thermal power plants, but the Regional Water Quality Control Boards
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(entities within the Resources Agency) are the focal point for
State agency involvement. In effect, the Regional Water Quality
Control Boards serve as "sounding boards" for each proposed plant.
After initial field studies of one or two years' duration,
power companies file with the Regional Water Quality Board a pre-
construction report on environmental conditions and plant specifi-
cations. The Regional Water Quality Board sets waste discharge
requirements on the basis of the power company report, the results
of special hearings, and the information furnished by other agencies.
The requirements can be appealed to the State Resources Agency and
from there to the courts.
The Regional Water Quality Control Boards do not officially
support or oppose a proposed site, but specify the waste discharge
requirements to be met by the power company at each site. The
Regional Boards can modify discharge requirements after they are
in effect and have the authority to shut down plants under extreme
circumstances.
California State Resources Agency
Sacramento, California
A Power Plant Siting Committee has been organized in Califor-
nia to promote a unified approach to consideration of thermal power
development and siting. Mr. Paul Clifton heads the multi-agency
committee. Members include the Department of Public Health, the
State Lands Division, the State Air Resources Control Boards, and
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the Resources Agency (which comprises the Departments of Fish and
Game, Parks and Recreation, Water Resources, Conservation, Harbors
and Watercraft, and the Regional Water Quality Control Boards).
In addition to the pre-construction surveys of physical and
biological conditions, the Regional Water Quality Control Boards
require at least one year of post-construction surveys to establish
the distribution of the discharged cooling water and its effects
on the marine biota. The power company can conduct the surveys or
can contract commercially for the services. Although the State
Resources Agency, the Department of Fish and Game, and the Regional
Water Quality Control Board examine the data, the ecological field
studies have not had well-defined objectives and techniques for
analysis and interpretation. The Department of Fish and Game can
conduct studies which may have an impact on the discharge require-
ments set by the Regional Water Quality Board. The Regional Water
Quality Boards can also conduct special studies: the Central Valley
Board, for example, has a staff of fourteen engineers, with six
available for field studies.
The State Resources Agency is not planning major policy or ad-
ministrative changes relative to thermal power plants. The agency
is planning, however, to require more study data than the power
companies are presently supplying.
The State Resources Agency includes the State Water Resources
Control Board, which is the State agency responsible for water quality
standards.
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California Department of Fish and Game
Sacramento, California
Specific aspects of thermal power plant biological studies
were discussed at the offices of the Department of Fish and Game.
A study of particular interest concerns the impact of tempera-
ture changes on Neomysis (opossum shrimp). Mr. Harold (Pete) Chad-
wick is in charge of these studies for the Department of Fish and
Game in cooperation with Pacific Gas & Electric Company. Neomysis
is the principal food item for striped bass and its center of
abundance is at Collinsville, California, where the Montezuma Nuclear
Plant will be built. Although preliminary results are available,
this study is still under way.
The Fish and Game biologists felt that there is little possi-
bility for the occurrence of thermal blocks which would affect
juvenile fish, including salmon, at the Contra Costa and Pittsburg
Power Plants.
APRIL 29. 1969
San Franeisco Bay Regional Water Quality Control Board
Oakland, California
The development of water quality criteria for the Bay-Delta
system was summarized for the tour group. The San Francisco Bay
hydraulic model, located at the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Saus-
alito, has been extended up the Delta for temperature regime studies
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relative to the new generating units for the Pittsburg Plant. The
Pittsburg Plant is the first thermal power plant for which the San
Francisco Bay Water Quality Board set discharge requirements. Based
upon experience at the Pittsburg Plant, the Board plans to examine
the waste discharge requirements for the new Montezuma plant more
closely. The requirements for the pre-construction field study at
the Montezuma site were not completely established at the time of
our visit.
Contra Costa Power Plant
Pacific Gas & Electric Company
Antioch, California
The Contra Costa Power Plant is located on the San Joaquin
River above its confluence with the Sacramento River near Antioch,
California.
Pacific Gas & Electric Company (PG & E) has experienced
problems with the cooling water intake design on units one through
five at the Contra Costa Plant. Cooling water for units one, two,
and three is pumped through a headworks 400 feet offshore to
traveling screens onshore. A fish collection system was incorporated
to "remove fish too large for screen passage and too small to swim
back out of the conduit." —' Early operating experience showed
a considerable problem with fish kills due to impingement on the
31 J.R. Adams, Thermal Effects and Other Considerations at
Steam Electric Plants, (Pacific Gas and Electric Company, August
20, 1968), p. 34.
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traveling screens. "Biologists estimated that up to 20,000,000
small bass might be killed each year by the cooling water
system." —' Through a cooperative research program of PG & E
California Department of Fish and Game, and the Bechtel
Corporation, a successful fish bypass system was developed so that
the power plant could continue in operation. Other results of
this research included a recommendation that future PG & E
intake screens be designed with approach and flow-through
velocities of less than 0.5 ft/sec and 1.5 ft/sec, respectively.
It was also concluded.that juvenile fish (striped bass and king
salmon) have an excellent chance of surviving the thermal shock
of passage through the power plant condensers with a temperature
difference of 16°F and transit time of 3 to 5 minutes.
Because of the experience with units one through five, Contra
Costa units six and seven have been built with shoreline intakes to
avoid the high conduit velocities associated with offshore intakes.
Intake water quality for the Contra Costa Power Plant is
generally good, although turbidities are high. The annual range
of intake water temperature is from 45 to 74°F. Salinity averages
about one part per thousand with 4000 to 10,000 cfs fresh water
flow during the summer months. Estimated tidal discharges range
from 120,000 to 150,000 cfs.
4/ Ibid.
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Cooling water for Contra Costa is discharged to the San Joaquin
River; the discharge channel for units six and seven is shown in
Figure 2. Discharge velocities average 2.5 ft/sec. Figure 2
also shows the San Joaquin River upstream from Contra Costa.
Tidal velocities in this reach of the San Joaquin River, 30 miles
upstream from San Francisco, average 1.4 knots during both ebb
and flow tides.
The PG & E biologists and engineers have conducted infrared
aerial surveys at Contra Costa and other sites since 1963.
Early surveys were made with a Barnes Radiometer installed in
a small Cessna aircraft. Two boats collected water temperature
samples during the overflight for instrument calibration.
PG & E scientists are now conducting their aerial temperature
surveys with a thermal mapper. This infrared mapper has a 120°
field of vision and yields imagery maps on which "gray scale"
intensities indicate surface temperatures. The infrared signals
are simultaneously converted to temperatures and stored on magnetic
tapes. Isotherms are subsequently plotted on the imagery maps.
This system still requires boats for ground control.
From the discussions with PG & E and State agency biologists,
and the tour of Contra Costa, the tour participants concluded
that power plant operation does not appear to adversely affect
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the San Joaquin River delta biota. This area supports an
extensive sport fishery for both the king salmon and striped
bass. Maintenance of this fishery is important to P G & E as
well as the Department of Fish and Game and is a major reason
for promoting ecological impact studies in the San Joaquin River
delta.
April 30. 1969
Pittsburg Power Plant
Pacific Gas & Electric Company
Pittsburg, California
The Pittsburg power plant (Fig. 3) is located on the San
Joaquin River at the confluence of the Sacramento River.
Because of the problems with offshore intakes at Contra
Costa, the Pittsburg plant incorporates shoreline intakes as seen
in Figure 3. Approach velocities to the screens are less than
0.5 ft/sec, with flow-through velocities less than 1.5 ft/sec.
Consequently, fish mortality problems have not been as severe here
as during the first years of Contra Costa operations.
Slides of Pittsburg, Morro Bay, and Humboldt Bay thermal
studies were shown to the tour group. Of special interest were
the slides showing computer-calculated isotherms superimposed on
thermal imagery maps as described during the Contra Costa discussions.
Rhodamine B dye studies have been conducted to indicate dispersion
characteristics. A PG & E biologist told the tour group that the
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dye dispersion and temperature dispersion rates are poorly
correlated with radionuclide dispersion. Boat surveys with
bathythermographs and thermistor probes were conducted to obtain
temperature profiles with depth.
The field surveys conducted at the 1320 megawatt (MW) Pittsburg
Plant were briefly summarized. Averages of five infrared aerial
surveys showed that 15 acres was the maximum area of water surface
covered by a 10°F increase over ambient water temperature. The
area enclosed by a 4°F temperature difference was 74 acres. Temper-
ature cross-sections at Pittsburg, taken at slack tide, showed that
the temperature anomaly decreases to zero within 2600 feet of the
shoreline outfalls. The warm water layer within this area is
largely confined to the top 3 feet. Outfall velocities at
Pittsburg are 7 ft/sec.
Tidal velocities at the Pittsburg Plant average 2.2 knots
compared to 1.4 knots at Contra Costa. Tidal excursions
average 5 or 6 miles and may exceed 10 miles. Salinity at
Pittsburg is about four parts per thousand compared to one part
per thousand at Contra Costa.
Again, present information indicates there are no apparent
adverse effects on the aquatic environment. As at Contra Costa,
local sport fishermen favor the turbulent areas in the vicinity
of the power plant outfalls.
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Diablo Canyon Nuclear Site
Pacific Gas & Electric Company
San Luis Obispo, California
Although not included in the itinerary, the discussion at
Pittsburg included references to the Diablo Canyon nuclear site
located in a cove on the central California coastline near San
Luis Obispo. Both physical and biological field studies have
been conducted by PG & E and State agency scientists.
PG & E has made temperature distribution predictions for
Diablo Canyon based on data extrapolated from similar coastal
sites, tank model studies, and mathematical relationships.
Onsite dye and current measurement studies have also provided
input to these predictions. A PG & E biologist estimated that
the warm water effects will be limited to 40-50 acres around
the outfall and within 15 feet of the water surface for up to
3000 MW output. This is equivalent to saying that the warm
water will be confined to the cove in which the plant will be built.
Both warm water and cold water flora and fauna species
have been identified at Diablo Canyon. The most noticeable
predicted effect of warm water discharges on the biota will
be the inhibition of bull kelp within the cove. A California
Fish -and Game biologist commented that rays and leopard sharks
may be attracted to the outfall.
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The mixed comments of several information sources indicated
that the actual impact of Diablo Canyon nuclear power development
on the local environment is still unclear. Studies are conti-
nuing.
May 1. 1969
Moss Landing Power Plant
Pacific Gas & Electric Company
Monterey County, California
The Moss Landing Power Plant is located in Moss Landing Harbor
north of Monterey, near Castroville, California. Cooling water for
the power plant is pumped from the harbor. At 2086 MW rated
capacity, MossiLanding is one of the largest operating plants in
the world. As with the other plants, the facilities do not operate
continuously at rated capacity. This is because these plants
must provide for both "peak" and "base load" requirements. In
fact, annual load factors (total production for the year over
production at capacity) for these plants will average only 60 to
70 percent. During August and December, the peak production
months in southern California, the plants may operate at capacity
for several days at a time. When we visited Moss Landing, power
production was at 400 MW to 500 MW, about a minimum level for
this facility.
Water quality in Moss Landing Harbor is generally satis-
factory as a condenser cooling water supply. Although the
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power plant cooling water is not discharged to the harbor, wastes
from the adjacent Kaiser Industries' chemical processing plants
are discharged to the south end of the harbor. The only problem
with intake water quality is an occasional, unidentified incrus-
tation on the intakes. Intake temperatures range annually from
50 to 60°F and average 55°F.
Cooling water discharges are divided, with units one through
five going to Elkhorn Slough, one arm of the harbor, and units
six and seven going through conduits under the harbor and dis-
charging 800 feet offshore. Figure A shows the shoreline dis-
charge structure for units one through five. The surface foam
evident in the photograph is a common phenomenon of unknown
origin. There is no evidence of recirculation between fhe Elkhorn
Slough discharge and the intakes located in the main harbor.
Elkhorn Slough is about 15 feet deep, several hundred yards wide,
and 7 or 8 miles long. There is, reportedly, a striped bass
fishery in the slough.
The offshore outfall for units six and seven is in 55 feet
of water with the outfall opening 40 feet below the surface.
Discharge velocity averages 5 ft/sec from the 12 foot diameter
pipe.
The only reported complaints of environmental impact at
Moss Landing concern the visible nitrogen dioxide vapors from
the power plant chimneys. The familiar commentary was heard
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about sport fishermen congregating in the vicinity of the power
plant outfalls.
PG & E began a three year, pre- and post-operational,
oceanographic study in 1966 to .determine the impact on the marine
environment of heated discharges from units six and seven. Details
of the study design are reported in Thermal Effects and Other
Considerations at Steam Electric Plants.by J. R. Adams,. PG & E .
The studies have attempted to establish a physical and biological
baseline upon which to judge effects of cooling water discharges.
Water temperatures, salinity, current velocities, dissolved oxygen
concentrations, and weather data have been taken regularly at
predetermined grid locations in the vicinity of the outfall.
ghodamine B dye studies have also helped to determine dispersion
characteristics. These data have been supplemented by continuous
records of weather data at a shore-based station near the plant.
Benthos samples taken during the studies have been screened,
counted, weighed and identified. There has not been sufficient
time since units six and seven went into commercial operation to
document changes, if any, in the benthic fauna.
May 2. 1969
Morro Bay Power Plant
Pacific Gas & Electric Company
Morro Bay, California
The Morro Bay facility is entirely enclosed, has a well-
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equipped visitors center, and is very clean — factors which
(•
create a favorable impression upon visitors.
Cooling water for the power plant is pumped from Morro Bay
Harbor. Mean water depth at the shoreline intakes is 26 feet.
Bars, screens and pumps are located in the intake building shown
at the harbor's edge in Figure 5. Morro Bay Rock is seen in
the background. Intake temperatures average 56°F with an
annual range of 50 to 60°F.
The heated cooling water is discharged to a canal along
the north face of Morro Bay Rock 'into Estero Bay.
With the high spring runoff in 1969, hydroelectric production
in the FG & E system was above average and thermal electric
production was below average; Morro Bay was running well below
capacity.
As at the other p.lants visited, the discussion on the environ-
mental impact of heated discharges from Morro Bay yielded no
specific complaints. Sport fishermen get good catches of
striped bass, kelp bass, and perch adjacent to the outfall (Figure 6).
California Fish and Game personnel report a good population of
pismo clams on the beach north of Morro Rock during the last five
years of power plant operation.
Temperature and dye studies at Morro Bay indicate that warm
water from the power plant covers about 100 acres within which
surface temperatures are at least 4°F higher than ambient ocean
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temperatures. The surface area contained within a 9°F difference
is less than 10 acres.
Dr. Wheeler North, of the California Institute of Technology,
has done biological studies for PG & E. at Morro Bay. His findings
show a reduction in numbers and densities of plant and animal
species in a transitional zone which extends approximately 200
meters from the terminus of the discharge canal.
Specially conducted studies have shown no drop in dissolved
oxygen concentration across the power plant condensers, although
percent saturations will vary with the water temperature.
May 3. 1969
El Segundo Power Plant
Southern California Edison
El Segundo, California
El Segundo is located near the Los Angeles International
Airport on the open coastline. Figure 7 shows El Segundo as
seen from the beach north of the plant area.
The intake and outfall conduits are side by side, with the
intakes located one half mile offshore and the outfalls about
2100 feet offshore. No specific studies were conducted to locate
the intake and outfall structures. Colder water is available
farther out, but not within economical reach. The outfalls
were placed to meet navigation requirements of the U.S. Coast
Guard and Corps of Engineers.
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The El Segundo intakes now have velocity caps to induce
peripheral inflow currents. The velocity caps have reduced fish
mortalities in the intakes from 272 tons during the year preceding
installation to 15 tons the following year.
The intake temperatures at El Segundo range annually from
50 to 70°F. Although the temperature increase across the
condensers is 20 to 24°F when the units operate at capacity,
during normal operation the temperature increases are much less.
As at most of the plants visited, recirculation water flow to
individual operating units is fixed even though electrical
generation fluctuates. Since these large thermal plants normally
run at reduced loads, it is not surprising that actual temperature
increases across the condensers may be only 14 to 15°F. During
October 1968, for example, average intake and outfall tempera-
tures were 58 and 72°F, respectively, with a 14°F increase across
the condensers.
No pre-construction studies were required for units one and
two which were placed on line in 1955. Pre-construction studies
and 2 years of operational studies were required, however, for
units three and four, which went on line in 1964. Monthly surveys
at four points near the outfall included measurements of tempera-
ture, dissolved oxygen and light transmission (Secci Disk). Daily
samples for temperature, pH, oil and grease were collected in
the outfall. Twenty-four hour discharge composite samples were alsd
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26
run quarterly for cadmium, chrome, copper, cyanide, nickel,
phenols, zinc, and biochemical oxygen demand (BOD).
In-plant sampling has continued with monthly measurements of
temperature, pH, dissolved oxygen, oil and grease, turbidity, and
BOD taken in both intake and discharge conduits. The water
samples are collected by plant personnel and analyses are
conducted commercially.
The following are three sets of temperature and dissolved
oxygen data from the operational field surveys at El Segundo.
Temperatures were taken at the intake, the outfall, the water
surface above the outfall, and at the water surface and 10 feet
below the surface 300 feet north, south, east, and west of the
outfall. Dissolved oxygen was measured in addition to temperature,
at the 300-foot locations:
Location Temp./D. 0. (°F/ppqi)
Set #1 Set #2 Set #3
Intake (ambient) 56 57 6TT
Outfall 77 75 91
Outfall surface 66
300 North-Surface 62/8.31 62/9.55 74/8.43
300 North 10' 61/8.98 62/9.93 73/8.59
300 East-Surface 60/8.60 60/9.38 73/7.55
300 East 10' 58/9.45 58/10.0 71/7.45
300 South-Surface 59/8.99 59/9.10 73/7.60
300 South 10' 57/9.77 58/10.0 72/8.02
300 West-Surface 61/8.85 59/9.45 77/7.75
300 West 10' 60/9.98 58/10.0 72/8.28
These data show that the temperature increase across the
condensers is reduced by half by mixing between the outfall and the
water surface. A temperature increase of 4 or 5°F is still evident
300 feet from the outfall. At El Segundo, this means that water
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27
temperature elevations greater than 4°F are contained within an
area of about two acres. There is no apparent dissolved oxygen
problem in the vicinity of the outfall.
There have been no specific complaints about effects on the
heated discharges on the marine environment. As elsewhere, sport
fishermen are attracted to the outfall area. Occasionally charter
boats will stop near the outfall for bonito if the action on
colder water species has been slow.
May 5. 1969
Los Angeles Regional Water Quality Control Board
Los Angeles, California
In general, the San Gabriel River is the dividing line between
the Los Angeles and Riverside Regions. The line zigzags, however,
and both the Haynes and Alamitos plants are within the Los Angeles
Region.
The Los Angeles Board is modifying California's water quality
standards within the area excepted from the Interior Secretary's
approval, which includes the estuaries from the San Gabriel River
to Rincon Point (near Carpinteria) and the Los Angeles Harbor.
The exception emphasis was placed on Los Angeles Harbor.
The Regional Board has initiated field studies at the Redondo
Generating Station to revise discharge requirements. Redondo had
a year of pre-construction field studies. Oceanographic Services,
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28
Inc., is working on the Redondo Beach studies, and the Regional
Board is cooperating with the Department of Fish and Game.
Southern California Edison (SCE) has contracted with Marine
Advisers for pre-construction field studies at the Ormond Beach
power plant site south of Ventura. The Regional Board considered
discharge requirements for the site during its May, 1969, meeting.
By the 1971 completion date for Ormond Beach, there will be about
3 years of pre-construction data. Mr. John Day of Los Angeles
and Mr. Charles Turner, Department of Fish and Game, have been
working with the Board on structuring these studies.
Pre-construction data will be required at all new power plant
sites. Monitoring programs will be required at existing plants
to determine necessary discharge requirement changes. For example,
if a maximum allowable temperature were established for the
San Gabriel River, this might require revision of the discharge
requirements for the Haynes and Alamitos Plants.
California Institute of Technology
Pasadena, California
The tour group met with1 Dr. J. W. McKee, Dr. Norman Brooks,
and Dr. Wheeler North. Both Dr. McKee. and Dr. North prefer coastal
sites for thermal power plants over 'inland sites, from an
environmental point, of view.
Dr. North has been engaged in- biological effects studies
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29
at Morro Bay, Diablo Canyon, and San Onofre. He is also studying
biotic changes in the San Gabriel River. At Morro Bay Dr. North
found that the abundance and diversity of plant and animal species
were affected by the heated effluent in a "transitional zone"
which extended approximately 200 meters from the terminus of the
discharge canal. Densities and numbers of plant and animal
species were reduced in the transitional zone, probably due to
substantial temperature fluctuations. It was not possible to
evaluate the factors involved in a greater effect upon flora
than fauna. "The change from an impoverished condition typical
of the transitional region to the luxurious cover of the normal
region occurred rather abruptly within a horizontal distance of
about 10 meters." -5.'
At the Diablo Canyon nuclear site, Dr. North predicts the
possible disappearance of all cold water species within the
immediate cove. To avoid this change, Dr. North suggests con-
structing a deep offshore outfall. PG & E has rejected the
suggestion on the basis of costs as compared with a shoreline
outfall. The Department of Fish and Game is attempting to
evaluate the extent and value of probable biotic changes in the
Diablo Canyon cove.
5/ Wheeler J. North, "Biological Effects of a Heated Water
Discharge at Morro Bay, California," paper presented at VI Inter-
national Seaweed Symposium, Madrid, Spain, September 1968 (La Jolla,
Calif.: California Institute of Technology, W.M. Keck Engineering
Laboratories), p.9.
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30
Dr. Brooks maintains that the technology of diffuser design
permits the stipulation of any dilution required. The thermal
power planner can choose to spread a small temperature increment
over a large water volume or to concentrate a large temperature
increment within a small volume. Waste heat can be stored below
the thermocline or added to the surface layer for faster dissipa-
tion to the atmosphere.
Temperature stratification in the nearshore waters of southern
California is extremely stable during the summer months and may
be present during the winter months as well. This stratification
inhibits the rise of deep outfall waste discharge plumes to the
water surface. The effluent from the Orange County waste treat-
ment plant is expected to emerge at the water's surface only 15
to 30 days per year.
Dr. Brooks noted that the Tennessee Valley Authority's
Brown's Ferry Plant on Wheeler Reservoir will be the first large
prototype incorporating multi-port diffusers for diluation of
waste heat-- 4300 cfs at capacity, with a temperature elevation
of 25°F. Hydraulic model studies of the plume dispersion patterns
are being conducted at MIT, Cambridge, Massachusetts; the diffuser
characteristics are being studied by TVA at Norris, Tennessee.
Dr. Brooks thinks that the data collected at existing plants
and proposed sites are not comprehensive enough to define the
distribution of waste heat discharges, either beneath the thermo-
cline or at the surface.
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31
May 6. "1969
Santa Ana Regional Water Quality Control Board
Riverside, California
Personnel of the Santa Ana Water Quality Board told the tour
group that with no fresh water inflow during the summer months the
water quality of the San Gabriel River is improved by the hydraulic
flushing action induced by the 3500 cfs combined discharge from
the Haynes and Alamitos power plants. Reduced upstream waste
loadings have also contributed to improved water quality.
Further improvement of the San Gabriel is possible, however, and
is being studied.
Although there are no apparent problems, there is little
information available on the environmental effects of heated
discharges at the Huntington Beach Power Plant.
The Los Angeles Metropolitan Water District (MWD), the United
States Department of the Interior, and private power companies
have been studying a proposal for a combination power desalting
plant near Sunset Beach. However, with rapidly increasing costs,
only MVD and USDI (Office of Saline Water) are still seriously
considering the suggestion.
California Department of Fish and Game
Terminal Island
Long Beach, California
The Department of Fish and Game is conducting studies at the
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32'
Redondo Generating Station and the San Onofre Nuclear Generating
Station.
The Redondo Beach Studies have revealed few harmful effects
of heated discharges on the biota. The kelp beds, which are
sensitive to heat, have been adversely affected. There have
also been changes in the number and variety of marine species,
and the warm.water fishery has been enhanced.
Similarly, less than one year of operational studies at
San Onofre shows no major environmental effects. High flows in
the San Mateo River have reportedly caused more change in biota
than the warmed water from San Onofre.
The pre- and post-construction studies, such as those being
done by Marine Advisers for Southern California Edison, are not
effectively coordinated with the Department of Fish and Game at
the working level. Consequently, it is possible for pre- and
post-construction studies to meet State policy requirements
without yielding the most useful product. The Department's
biological surveys at San Onofre are being conducted at the
request of the San Diego Regional Water Quality Board to provide
an independent check on the studies being done by Marine Advisers.
Marine Advisers have only recently hired a full time biologist,
at the suggestion of the State. Previously, biota analyses were
done under a sub-contract by graduate students at the Scripps
Institution of Oceanography.
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33
The Department of Fish and Game's biological studies at Redon-
do Beach are being conducted on their own initiative, but are fi-
nanced by SCE.
In any case, biological sampling and analysis techniques have
not been standardized in California, or anywhere else. It is to be
expected that independent biological surveys by different groups will
yield varying results, because of differences in the techniques em-
ployed and in the ability and judgment of the investigators.
A staff member of the Department told the tour group that
heat treating intakes and outfalls invariably kills fish under the
present mode of operations. We agreed that serious study should
concentrate on control of biofoulants by means that are not destruc-
tive to fish.
Redondo Generating Station
Redondo Beach, California
Figure 8 shows the Redondo Generating Station adjacent to King
Harbor. The Redondo Plant has six older generating units (1949,
1954-57) that are operated at annual load factors of 40 percent or
less; two new units (1967) are operated at annual load factors of
90 percent.
Originally two intake and outfall conduits outside the harbor
served units one through four and two conduits inside the harbor
served units five and six. Currently, the two conduits inside the
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34
harbor are intakes for units one through six and the conduits
outside the harbor are outfalls for units one through six. The
outfall for units seven and eight is inside the harbor, 300 feet
from the shore. The intake for units seven and eight is located
at the harbor entrance. During past years at Redondo Beach,
large numbers of fish trapped in the conduits have been killed
by high temperatures during heat treatment operations.
The Redondo Generating Station provides warm water from the
discharge lines for units five and six or seven and eight for
the large municipal swimming pond in Figure 8. Water for the
pond is supplied continuously during the five- or six-month
swimming season.
The Redondo Beach Harbor (King Harbor) contains berthing
for 1400 boats and is a popular fishing location. The levee,
which runs northward from the harbor entrance, is pervious except
along the east-west section at the north end of the harbor where
it is impervious to protect moorings from the surging of high
seas. Except at the north end where the water tends to become
"stale", water quality in the harbor is satisfactory because of
tidal flushing. The sport fishery inside the harbor is primarily
/
Pacific bonito. The tour group observed large schools of bonito;
the fish were so numerous, in fact, that most of the fish caught
were "snagged" by anglers. The relation between the presence of
bonito and the location of the harbor outfall was not established.
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35
Southern California Edison1 has financed temperature surveys
within the harbor since December 1965. Bio-assays are also
run on material scraped from growth panels located in the harbor.
Although there are insufficient temperature data from outside
the harbor for exact comparisons, the temperatures within the
harbor are reportedly slightly higher than ambient ocean
temperatures. The data collected for SCE have not been inter-
pretively compiled, but they are available for examination.
The Department of Fish and Game also conducted surveys from
January through December, 1968.
The tour participants were impressed by the apparent lack
of environmental effects due to heated discharges. Extensive
pre- and post-construction field data are not available, however,
to document what changes have occurred within the harbor.
May 7. 1969
Haynes Steam Plant
Los Angeles Department of Water and Power
Long Beach, California
The Haynes and Alamitos power plants are located on opposite
banks of the San Gabriel River. ' Both stations withdraw condenser
cooling water from Alamitos Bay and discharge the heated water
to the San Gabriel River. This is apparently an excellent
arrangement because it provides hydraulic flushing action for
Alamitos Bay, Los Cerritos Channel, and the San Gabriel River.
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36
It also physically separates the intake water supply from the
receiving water, minimizing the possibility of recirculation of
the heated cooling water.
The Haynes Steam Plant (Figure 9) is a relatively new plant
and operates at an annual load factor greater than the system
average of 62 percent. Figures 10-13 show the unique water intake
system for the Haynes plant. The initial intake area (Figure 10)
is in the Long Beach Marina. The intake acts as a giant vacuum
cleaner for the marina: debris accumulates on the intake bars and
is collected at routine intervals. The cooling water flows from
the intake through 1200 foot conduits under the San Gabriel River
and discharges to an open channel from the outfall shown in
Figure 11. Figure 12 shows the San Gabriel River on the right,
flowing away from the plant, and the Haynes cooling water channel
on the left, flowing towards the plant. The plant's intake pumps
and screens are located on this channel; Figure 13 shows the
intake structure for unit one.
Intake water temperatures range from 55 to 72°F. Except for
a "red tide" in 1962, intake water quality has been good. Red tides
are heavy blooms of red-colored, dinoflagellate algae. High
dissolved oxygen production occurs during the bloom generation
stage. During degeneration and decomposition, the oxygen
resources are depleted and sulfide concentrations increase
rapidly. The resulting conditions are seriously adverse to
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37
most ^indigenous .biota. During the 1962- red-1 tide, dead biota
clogged the stationary.intake screens 'for units one and two at
the Haynes•plant. These units were temporarily shut down as' a
result., The bloom.was not limited - to•the local'area but extended
along the coastline for several miles.
Although damaging to normal biota and plant operations,
the probability for an occurrence of a red tide is not significant.
The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power is conducting
monthly surveys at the Haynes Steam Plant. Data on temperature,
dissolved oxygen (DO),. pH, and biochemical oxygen demand are
collected at the intakes and outfalls; data on temperature,
DO, and pH are collected in.Long Beach Marina and at two points
in the San Gabriel River. The Department also checks for
filamentous green algae on the intake channel surface and
controls it with chlorine when necessary.
In a documented memo on the.San Gabriel River, prepared
in January 1967 for Los Angeles Water Quality Control Board
hearings the Department of Water and Power concluded:
To sum up biological conditions in the tidal
prism, it is evident that many marine forms find a
suitable environment here, and were it not for an
occasional scouring by flood waters . . . , or a
natural disaster such as a "Red Tide";-all these
forms would survive and flourish.
A Department of Fish and Game survey along the coast south
of the San Gabriel River in 1966 failed to document a concentration
of round stingrays that had been reported. They did find that
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38
ecological conditions were improved over earlier surveys in 1952
and 1954, but conditions were still less than optimum.
Public attitude toward the Haynes Steam Plant is neutral
or favorable. Early complaints on stack emissions ceased when
the plant began to use ashless fuels low in sulfur.
Aland.tos Steam Station
Southern California Edison Company
Long Beach, California
The Alamitos plant was first visited in December, 1968.
A detailed description of Alamitos can be found in Thermal Power
Plant Cooling Facilities, Northwest Pollution Control Council,
April, 1969. Figure 14 shows the Alamitos Plant and its surface
discharge into the San Gabriel River.
The item of real interest on this visit was the new 132 MM,
gas turbine (jet engine) generator unit. This unit was installed
expressly for power peaking capability, it can go from "cold-
standby" to full load in 3 minutes. Conventional steam turbine
generators may take several hours before reaching full power
from cold-standby.
The new unit includes 8 Pratt & Whitney aircraft type
engines, 4 Worthington expander turbines, and 1 generator.
The unit was tested for several months and made operational in
June, 1969.
Although the gas turbine generator requires 16,000 BTU/KWH,
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39
no heat is discharged to a receiving steam'. A- gas t;urbine
generator•has alsp been installed at the Huntington Beach
Generating station. .These gas turbine 'units require overhauling
every £000 .hours at a. cost of $40,000 each;'consequently,;they
are .not-practical for-continuous duty;' "There appear-to be no
insurmountable.problems, however, in-modifying gas turbines for'
continuous use.
May 8, 1969
Huntington Beach Generating Station
Southern California
Edison Company
Huntington -Beach, California
The Huntington Beach Generating Station (Figure 15) is
located on the open coast near Los Angeles.
Huntington Beach, although not very old, is currently operating
at an annual load factor of 37.5 percent. Some of the generating
units remain on standby most of the time.
As mentioned above, a gas turbine generating unit, rated
at 162 MW, has been installed here. Unfortunately, the tour
group missed the testing schedule for the gas turbines at both
Alamitos and Huntington Beach. We were especially curious about
the noise level of eight jet engines in a closed building. Evidently,
with efficient soundproofing systems very little noise is heard
outside the building.
Huntington Beach has one intake and one outfall conduit,
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40
each about a half mile long. As mentioned earlier, the outfall
was designed to meet USAGE and USCG navigation requirements.
The outfall discharges vertically 25 feet below the water surface
in a total depth of 40 feet. Nearshore currents are seasonably
about 70 percent downcoast and 30 percent upcoast. The vertical in-
take opens 20 feet below the water surface and is equipped with a
velocity cap.
There have been no pre- or post-construction field surveys
conducted at Huntington Beach to document environmental effects.
There have been no complaints, however, which is somewhat remarkable
considering the proximity of the plant to Huntington State Beach.
The power plant is across the highway from 2.4 miles of State-owned
swimming beach. This highly developed beach area is extremely popu-
lar and is a money-making business (75$ per car) for the California
Department of Parks and Recreation. Apparently, the power plant,
recreationists, and homeowners are getting along very well at Hunting-
ton Beach.
The only problem described to the tour group related to diffi-
culties with cooling water intake screens. Stationary screens that
had to be cleaned manually were installed initially at Huntington
Beach. During heat treatments these screens had to be cleaned too
often to remove the dead fish. In march, 1961, the screens had to
be cleaned every shift; an average of 3600 pounds of dead fish was
removed each time. Travelling screens have since been installed and
are more satisfactory from the standpoint of fish kills and maintenance.
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41
May 8,.1969
San Diego Regional Water Quality Control Board
San Diego, California
Since San Onofre was the first power plant in the San Diego
Region to be subject to waste discharge'requirements, there was
considerable local interest in the Board Hearings conducted to
set the discharge requirements. The prime subject of discussion
at the Hearings was thermal effects.
Water Quality Control Board personnel agreed with the
Department of Fish and Game staff in regard to the conduct of
biological monitoring surveys at San Onofre. SCE has contracted
with Marine Advisers for operational field studies and the
Regional Board has requested California Fish and Game to conduct
independent surveys. The latest conclusion of California Fish
and Game is that biological effects, if any,: have been negligible.
The surveys will be repeated in two years.
The studies conducted, by Marine Advisers meet the State
monitoring requirements but do not necessarily provide useful
data for evaluating environmental changes at San Onofre. - It is
difficult to make judgments from the data as presented.
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May 9. 1969
San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station
Southern California Edison Company
San Diego Gas & Electric Company
San Clemente, California
San Onofre, the last power plant in the tour, is shown in
Figure 16. San Onofre was also a repeat visit from the December
1968 tour.
San Onofre was designed as a base load unit and will be
operating at an annual load factor of 80 to 90 percent for the first
10 years. The proposed Diablo Canyon nuclear generating station
will be designed to follow load cycles rather than to operate
continuously at rated capacity.
According to schedule, SCE will begin refueling during the
summer of 1970 by removing the center fuel cells, moving the
intermediate and peripheral cells inward, and placing new fuel
cells in the vacated periphery. In the future, one-third of
the cells will be replaced annually; five weeks are required to
complete the refueling operation.
Data from Huntington Beach 'temperature surveys were used for
preliminary evaluation of the probable1distribution of discharged
cooling water from San Onofre. By extrapolation it was estimated
that an increase of 1°F above ambient temperature would be confined
within half a mile radius. The operational studies by Marine
Advisers over a period of about 9 months show that the San Onofre
thermal plume has about the same configuration as at Huntington
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43
Beach but is of considerably less areal extent. Marine Advisers
had completed an infrared aerial survey just before our visit.
The final summary of pre-operational data on San Onofre is
complete and is being reviewed for publication. An annual report
with the first year's operational data is also nearing completion.
Bureau of Commercial Fisheries
Fishery-Oceanographlc Center
La Jolla, California
The Fishery-Oceanographic Center is not involved in activities
closely related to the usual objectives of coastal siting studies.
Most of the Center's work relates directly to the preservation
and enhancement of the offshore fishery; they do very little
nearshore research or surveys. The tour group was impressed with
the Center's facilities for analytical, laboratory, and pilot
plant research.
Scripps Institute of Oceanography
University of California
La Jolla, California
The Scripps Institution is not directly involved in thermal
power plant environmental impact studies. There are no immediate
«
plans to initiate formal relationships with groups that are
involved in such studies. Scripps is organized around long range,
continuing research programs. Short term specialized study
requests are not regularly accepted. The scientists at Scripps
are, however, individually interested in the objectives and
problems of coastal power plant studies.
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BIBLIOGRAPHY
Adams, J.R., Thermal Effects and Other. Considerations at Steam Elec-
tric Plants. Pacific Gas and Electric Co., August 20, 1968.
Dunham, Lloyd R., Recommendations on Thermal Objectives for Water
Quality Control Policies on the Interstate Waters of California.
Report to the State Water Resources Control Board, August 1968.
State of California Resources Agency, Department of Fish and
Game.
Fox, D.L., and Corcoran, E.F., "Thermal and Oamotic Countermeasure
Against Some Typical Marine Fouling Organisms," Corrosion.
14(3), 1967.
North, Wheeler J., "Biological Effects of a Heated Water Discharge
at Morro Bay, California," paper presented at VI International
Seaweed Symposium, Madrid, Spain, September 1968. LaJolla,
California: California Institute of 'Technology, W.M. Keck
Engineering Laboratories.
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APPENDIX A
MAP AND PHOTOGRAPHS
Figure
1 California Coastal Power Plant Tour Map
2 Contra Costa Discharge Canal
3 Pittsburg Power Plant
4 Moss Landing Discharge Structure
5 Morro Bay Intake Structure and Outfall Channel
6 Fisherman at Morro Bay
7 El Segundo Power Plant
8 Redondo Power Plant and Swimming Pond
9 Haynes Steam Plant
10 Haynes Steam Plant Initial Cooling Water Intake
11 Discharge from Haynes Plant
12 Haynes Plant Intake Channel and San Gabriel River
13 Haynes Plant Intake Structure
14 Alamitos Steam Station
15 Huntington Beach Power Plant
16 San Onofre Nuclear Power Plant
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Power Plants
Contra Costa
Plttsburg
Moss Landing
Morro Bay
El Segundo
Redondo Beach
Haynes
Alamitos
Huntington Beach
San Onofre
FIGURE 1. California Coastal Power Plant Tour Map.
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FIGURE 2. San Joaquin River and Contra Costa discharge
canal for units 6 and 7.
FIGURE 3. Pittsburg Power Plant on Suisun Bay. The
shoreline intakes can be seen in the right
foreground.
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FIGURE 4. Moss Landing Power Plant shoreline discharge
structure for units 1 through 5. The outfall
discharges to Elkhorn Slough. The surface
foam is a common phenomenon of unknown origin.
FIGURE 5. Morro Bay Power Plant intake structure in
foreground and outfall channel along side
Morro Rock,
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FIGURE 6. Fisherman with ocean perch at Morro Bay out-
fall channel.
FIGURE 7, El Segundo Power Plant, El Segundo, Califor-
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FIGURE 8. Redondo Power Plant adjacent to King Harbor.
During the six month swimming season the
plant supplies warm water for the municipal
swimming pond in the foreground.
FIGURE 9. Haynes Steam Plant, Long Beach, California
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FIGURE 10.
Haynes Steam Plant initial cooling water in-
take Long Beach Marina.
FIGURE 11. Discharge from Haynes Power Plant intake
tunnel to intake channel. The tunnel, which
travels under the San Gabriel River, connects
the intake channel to the Long Beach Marina
where water is initially withdrawn for cool-
ing.
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FIGURE 12.
The Haynes Power Plant intake channel is on
the left. Water in the channel is pumped
under the San Gabriel River on the left
from the Long Beach Marina.
FIGURE 13.
The Haynes Power Plant intake structure for
unit 1, located on intake channel.
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FIGURE 14.
Alamitos Steam Station, Long Beach, Califor-
nia. Note discharge into San Gabriel River.
FIGURE 15.
Units 1 through 4, Huntington Beach Power
Plant, Huntington Beach, California.
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FIGURE 16.
San Onofre Nuclear Power Plant about halfway between Los Angeles and San Diego. Sea
water for cooling is pumped through intake and discharge lines extending offshore.
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APPENDIX B
Power Plant Data
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1. Contra Costa Power Plant
a. Location-Antioch, California
b. Owner-Pacific Gas & Electric Company
c. Date(s) in operation-1951, 1953, 1964
d. Generator Capacity
(1) Capacities: Units 1,2,3 300 MW
4,5 200 MW
6,7 660 MW
Total=1160 MW
e. Turbine Steam Data (psig/degree F/degree F)
Units 1,2,3 1405/950/-
4,5 1500/1000/1000
6,7 2400/1050/1000
f. Heat rates-(not given)
g. Fuel-oil or gas (quantities not given)—usually burn
natural gas for air quality control.
h. Condenser Cooling Water Reg1ts.-680,000gpm (total)
(1) Source-San Joaquin R.-just above confluence with
Sacramento R.
(2) Intake(s)
' Location l-5--offshore
6,7--shoreline
Size (not given)
Screens l-5--"travelling"
6,7--"travelling" with approach velocity
of 0.5 fps and flow-thru velocity of 1.5
fps.
(3) Water treatment
(a) Chlorination for slime control--% hr. every 24 hrs.
to 0.5 ppm residual at condensers
(b) Heat treatment (plus physical cleaning for
asiatic clam control in the intake conduits for
units 1-5)
(4) Cooling water discharge
(a) AT=18 degrees Fahrenheit (design, at capacity)
(b) Outfalls—shoreline to outfall channels into
the Sacramento R.
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2. Pittsburg Power Plant
a. Location-Pittsburg, California
b. Owner-Pacific Gas & Electric Company
c. Date(s) in operation-1954, 1960, 1961
d. Generator Capacity
Units 1-4 165 ea 660 MW
5,6 330 ea 660 MW
Total 1320 MW
e. Turbine Steam Data (psig/degrees F/degrees F)
Units 1-4 1800/1000/1000
5,6 2400/1050/1000
f. Heat rates-(not given)
g. Fuel-Natural gas for air quality control; oil in winter
when gas supplies are short: (12,400,000 cu. ft. 3/hr.
of gas or 84,000 gal/hr of fuel oil.)
h. Condenser cooling water reg'ts.--555,000 gpm (or 1240 cfs)
total according to brochure. Operating engineer gave 1600
cfs as acutual maximum.
(1) Source--San Joaquin R. near confluence with Sacra-
mento, but downstream of Contra Costa Plant
(2) Intake(s)
shoreline structure with bars, screens, & pumps in
one facility
screens: 0.5 fps approach velocity
1.5 fps flow through velocity
(3) Water Treatment
Chlorination and heat treatment as at Contra Costa
(4) Cooling water discharge
(a)AT=18 degrees Fahrenheit at max. load
12 degrees Fahrenheit at 990 MW
(b) Outfall-shoreline to Suison Bay
Note: Unit #7 scheduled to go on line in 1972 with new intakes
and outfall west of present facilities.
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3. Moss Landing Power Plant
a. Location-Castorville, California (Monterey Co.)
b. Owner-Pacific Gas & Electric Co.
c. Date(s) in operation-1950, 1952, 1967, 1968
d. Generating Capacity
Units 1-3 114 ea 342 MW
4,5 . 122 ea 244 MW
6,7 750 ea 1500 MW
'.Total • 2086 MW
e. Turbine Steam Data (psig/degrees'F/degrees F)
Units 1,2,3 1300/950/ —
4,5 1450/1000/1000
6,7 3675/1000/1000 Note: "supercritical"
f. Heat Rates (BTU/KWH)
1-5 9500 with gas fuel
6,7 8700 with gas fuel
g. Fuel-18,950,000 cubic feet of natural gas/hour or 162,500
gal. of fuel oil/hour
h. Condenser cooling water reqts.
Units 1,2,3 80,600 gpm each 241,800
4,5 46,400 gpm each 92,800
6,7 - 300,000 gpm each 600.000
Total = 934,600 gpm
(1)- Source-Shoreline intakes in Moss Landing Harbor
Pumps and screens for units l-5> in a separate struc-
ture.
Pumps and screens for 6 and 7 in same structure as
intakes.
(2) Intakes--(see above)
(3) Water Treatment-Chlorinate to 0.5 ppm at condenser
inlet for 2.5 hrs. once each week, on units 1-5.
Chlorinate to 10 ppm at condenser inlet for 10 min.
once each day on units 6,7. Heat treat for mussel
control on units 6,7 once each week; raise tempera-
tures to 105 degrees Fahrenheit for 2 to 4 hrs.
(4) Cooling water Discharge
Units 1-5 to Elkhorn Slough (shoreline discharge)
Units 6,7 to Pacific Ocean about 800 feet from shore
(12 feet, conduit, vertical outlet, no diffuser, 40
feet below surface).
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4. Morro Bay Power Plant
a. Location-Morro Bay, California
b. Owner-Pacific Gas & Electric Company
c. Date(s) in operation - 1956, 1963
d. Generating capacity
Units 1,2 170 each 340 MW
3,4 345 each 690 MW
Total = 1030 .MW
e. Turbine steam data (psig/degrees F/degrees F)
Units 1,2 1800/1000/1000
3,4 2400/1050/1000
f. Heat water - 9000 to 9500 BTU/KWH
g. Condenser cooling water reqts
Units 1,2 49,000 gpm each pump;-98,000 x 2 = 196,000gpm
3,4 73,000 gpm each pump;146,000 x 2 = 292,000gpm
Total = 488,000gpm
(1) Source-Morro Bay Harbor
(2) Intake(s)
Shoreline with pumps & screens in same structure
(3) Water treatment
Chlorinate for slime control
Heat treat for mussel control; temperatures increased
to 105 degrees Fahrenheit for 3 to 4 hours in intake
lines once a month and in outfalls every 6 months.
(4) Cooling water discharge
(a) AT=20 degrees Fahrenheit (design) At operating
levels, of power production measured AT's have
averaged 12 to 15 degrees Fahrenheit.
(b) Outfall at base of Morro Bay Rock into Estero Bay
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5. El Segundo Power Plant
a. Location-El Segundo, California'
b. Owner-Southern California Edison
c. Date(s) in operation-1955, 1964
d. Generating Capacity
Units 1,2 175 each 350 MW
3,4 335 each 670 MW
Total = 1020 MW
e. Turbine Steam data (psig/degrees F/degrees F)
Units 1,2 1850/1000/1000
3,4 2400/1050/1000
f. Heat rates-Units 1,2 9500 BTU/KWH
3,4 9100 to.9200 BTU/KWH
g. Fuel-Gas most of the year
Oil when gas is in short supply.
h. Condenser cooling water reqts.
Units 1,2 36,000/pump 72-,000 x 2 = 144,000 gpm
3,4 70,000/pump 140,000 x 2 = 280.000 gpm
Total = 424,000 gpm
(1) Source-Pacific Ocean
(2) Intake(s)-Units 1,2; Two 10 ft. ID conduits 2600 ft.
long, vertical risers'with velocity caps, 20 ft. from
intake to surface. Units 3,4; two 12 ID conduits,
2580 ft. long, vertical risers with velocity caps,
20 ft. from intake to surface.
(3) Water treatment-
Chlorinate intakes once per day for 2 hrs. for
slime and mussel control.
Heat treat by flow reversal; hold temperature' at
105 degrees Fahrenheit for 1 hour; black mussel
control.
(4) Cooling water discharge
(a) 4T = 22 to 24 degrees Fahrenheit
(b) Outfall offshore-
Units 1,2: 2-10 ft. ID conduits
2100 ft. long
Disch. vertically; <20 ft below
surface.
out = 4.1 fps
3,4: 2-12 ft. ID conduits
2070 ft. long
Disch. vertically; 20 ft. below
surface.
out =5.2 fps
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6. Redondo Generating Station
a. Location-Redondo Beach, California
b. Owner(s)-Southern California Edison Company
c. Date(s) in operation-1949, 1954-57, 1967
d. Generating Capacity
Units 1-4 70 to 78 MW each 302 MW
5,6 175 each 350 MW
7,8 480 each 960 MW
Total = 1612 MW
e. Turbine steam data (psig/degrees F/degrees F)
Units 1-4 850/900/-
5,6 1850/1000/1000
7,8 3500/1000/1000
f. Heat rates-(not given)
g. Fuel-oil or gas
h. Condenser cooling water req'ts.
Units 1-4 8 pumps 175,000 gpm
5,6 4 pumps 150,000 gpm
7,8 4 pumps 468.000 gpm
Total = 794,000 gpm
(1) Source-Redondo Beach Harbor
(2) Intakes
Units 1-6: 2-10 ft. ID conduits
2100 and 2300 ft. long
Units 7,8: 1-14 ft. ID conduit with intake at
mouth of yacht harbor.
All intakes with vertical risers and velocity caps.
(3) Water treatment
(a) Use sodium hypochlorite for slime control;
twice per day to 0.5-1.0 ppm at outlet of con-
densers for 20 min.
(b) Heat treat every 5 to 6 weeks by raising tem-
peratures to 105 degrees Fahrenehit and holding
for 1 hr. 20 min.
(4) Cooling water discharge
(a) Design AT-Units 1-6: 20 degrees Fahrenheit
7,8: 18 degrees Fahrenheit
(b) Outfalls
Units 1-6: 2-10 ft. ID conduits
1800 and 2000 ft. long just north
of yacht harbor.
Disch. vertically; no diffusers.
Units 7,8: 1-14 ft. ID conduit
About 300 ft. offshore, inside
yacht harbor.
Disch. vertically; no diffusers.
Located in approx. 16 ft. of water.
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7. Haynes Steam Plant
a. Location-Los Angeles Co. near Seal Beach, California
b. Owner-Los.Angeles Department of Water and Power
c. Date(s) in operation-1 unit per year from 1962 thru 1967.
d. Generating Capacity'
Units 1-4 230 each 920 MW
5,6 330 each 660 MW
Total = 1580 MW
e. Turbine steam data (psig/degrees F/degrees F)
Units 1-4 2000/1000/1000
5,6 3500/1000/1025/1050 (Note: supercritical
and double reheat)
f. Heat rates-Values for December 1968 for all 6 units aver-
aged 8820 BTU/KWH at a thermal efficiency of 38.7%.
g. Fuel-Natural gas except when in short supply when low
sulfur (<0.57.) oil is used, (eg: Burned 800,000 barrels
of oil and 1,800,000 MCF of natural gas in December 1968)
h. Condenser cooling water req'ts.
Units 1-4 2 pumps/unit at 48,000 gpm each:
192,000 x 2 = 384,000 gpm
5,6 2 pumps/unit at 80,000 gpm each:
160,000 x 2 = 320,000 gpm
+384.000 gpm
Total = 704,000 gpm
(1) Source-Long Beach Marina
(2) Intakes-Seven intake lines (7 ft. 3 in. square, 1200
ft. long)
From Marina shoreline, under San Gabriel River and
Pacific Coast Highway, into an open channel. "Grizzly"
openings on intakes flared to reduce approach velo-
cities.
Screens and pumps adjacent to power plant. Units 1,2
have stationary screens; 3-6 travelling screen.
(3) Water treatment
Heat treat (intake lines from open channel to plant)
every six weeks (105 degrees Fahrenheit for 1 hour);
intake lines only; outfall lines warm enough so
problems minor
Chlorinate units 3-6, 3 times per day to 0.35 ppm
residual on outlet side of condenser for 55 min.
No chlor. on units 1,2
Shut off flows through intake lines (from Marina to
open channel) for anaerobic control of mussels, clams,
bryozoa, etc.
Note: Use "Amertap" rubber balls in unit 1 and 2
condensers instead of chlorination.
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7. Haynes Steam Plant (cont.)
(4) Cooling- water discharge
(a) Design AT =18 to 20 degrees Fahrenheit
(b) Outfalls-Submerged, shoreline outfalls into
San Gabriel River (3-7 ft. diam. pipes).
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8. Alamitos Steam Station
a. Location-Long Beach, California
b. Owner-Southern California Edison Co.
c. Date(s) in operation-1956-57; 1961-62; 1966; 1969
d. Generating Capacity
Units 1,2 175 ea 350 MW
3,4 320 ea 640 MW
5,6 480 ea 960 MW
7 132 132 MW (gas turbine, peaking)
Total = 2082 MW
e. Turbine steam data (psig/degrees F/ degrees F)
Units 1,2 2180/1000/1000
3,4 2560/1050/1000
5,6 3599/1000/1000
7 (not applicable)
f. Heat Rates (BTU/KWH)-The average station heat rate for
units 1-6 is 9270. For unit 7, the heat rate will be
about 16,000.
g. Fuel:Natural gas or oil (low sulfur and negligible ash)
for units 1-6; kerosene & additives (JP-5 jet fuel)
for gas turbine
h. Condenser cooling water req'ts. (Unit 7 not applicable)
Units 1,2 144,000gpm
3,4 270,000gpm
5,6 468.00Qgpm
Total 882,000gpm
(1) Source-Long Beach Marina via Los Cerritos Channel
(2) Intakes-Two intakes on the Low Cerritos Channel,
one for units 1-4 and one for units 5 and 6.
(3) Water Treament-(not given)
(4) Cooling water discharge
(a)4 T= 15 degrees Fahrenheit (reported, not
monitored)
(b) Outfalls-Surface, shoreline outfalls into San
Gabriel River
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9. Huntington Beach Power Plant
a. Location-Huntington Beach, California
b. Owner-Southern California Edison Co.
c. Date(s) in operation-1958, 1961, 1969 (Note that the
1969 unit is a gas turbine peaking facility)
d. Generating Capacity
Units 1,2,3 215 each 645 MW
4 225 each 225 MW
5 162 each 162 MW
Totals= 1032 MW
e. Turbine steam data (psig/degrees F/ degrees F)
Units 1,2,3,4 2400/1050/1000
5 (not applicable)
f. Heat rates
Units 1-4 9100 BTU/KWH average at capacity
5 15000 BTU/KWH average at capacity
g. Fuel-Units 1-4: Natural gas except when in short supply
when low sulfur (f 0.5%) oil is us.ed. Gas consumption
averages 80,000 MCF/day.
Unit 5: JP-5 (jet fuel which is kerosene plus
additives for clean burning characteristics).
h. Condenser cooling water req'ts.
Units 1-4: 2 pumps/unit at 44,000gpm each
Total = 352,000gpm
5: None
(1) Source-Pacific Ocean
(2) Intake-One 14ft. ID conduit 2480 long (from screen
well). Vertical riser with velocity cap. 20 ft.
from intake to surface (at mean lower low water)
(3) Water treatment
Chlorinate (sodium hypochlorite) twice per day to
0.1 ppm at condenser outlet for 15 to 30 min.
Heat treat intake and 'outfall conduits every 5 to 6
weeks; 105 degrees Fahrenheit: for 1 hour.
(4) Cooling water discharge
(a)^ T=15 degrees Fahrenheit; more or less, depending
upon "load"
(b) Outfall-one 14ft ID conduit, 2180 ft long
Discharge vertically with 25ft of water from
outlet to surface in 40 ft. of water total.
(ie: 15ft. riser) No diffuse^
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10. San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station
a. Location-4 mi. SE of San Clemente, California; within
Camp Pendelton
b. Owner(s) -Southern California Edison Co.
-San Diego Gas & Electric Co.
c. Date in operation-1968
d. Generating Capacity
450 MW from 1 unit
e. Turbine Steam data-(psig/degrees F/ Degrees F)
680/500/- (no reheat)
f. Heat rate-10,000 BTU/KWH
g. Fuel-nuclear (72 tons of slightly enriched uranium dioxide)
h. Condenser cooling water req'ts. - 350,000gpm
(1) Source-Pacific Ocean
(2) Intake-Single intake 3200 ft. offshore and 15 ft.
below the water surface; equipped with a velocity
cap. Located in 30 ft. of water. ^
(3) Water treatment
Chlorinated for slime control at pumpwell
Heat treat to 105 degrees Fahrenheit for 1 hour
every 5 to 6 weeks (both intake and outfall) for
control of black mussels, barnacles, etc.
Note tha"t San Onotre has a travelling trash rack, a
rather unique design for thermal power plants.
Maintenance savings are significant.
(4) Cooling water discharge-Single 12 ft. ID outfall, 2600 ft.
offshore and 15 ft. below the water surface.
Located in 30 ft. of water.
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As the Nation's principal conservation agency, the Depart-
ment of the Interior has basic responsibilities for water, fish,
wildlije, mineral, land, park, and recreational resources.
Indian and Territorial affairs are other major concerns of
America's "Department of Natural Resources."
The Department works to assure the wisest choice in manag-
ing all our resources so each will make its full contribution
to a better United States—now and in the future.
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