EPA Announces It Will Reconsider 2024 Water Pollution Limits for Coal Power Plants to Help Unleash American Energy (ELG: Steam Electric)

Excerpt:  “The effluent limitations guidelines and standards (ELGs) for the Steam Electric Power Generating industry apply to power plants that generate electricity through the creation of steam. The 2024 regulations established stringent discharge standards for four wastewaters generated at these facilities: flue gas desulfurization wastewater, bottom ash transport water, combustion residual leachate, and legacy wastewater. EPA will reconsider these standards, including technology-based ELGs it promulgated for leachate under the 2024 Supplemental Steam Electric ELGs, which are projected to cost the industry hundreds of millions of dollars that could be passed on to consumers. As part of this effort, the agency will consider how it might provide immediate relief from some of the existing leachate requirements. In a series of related actions, the agency will also provide clarifying updates to other leachate requirements from the same rule to prevent unintended misapplication of the existing rule. Additionally, the agency will reevaluate existing information on the availability and cost of membrane technology.”