Coordination for Implementation of the 316(b) Rule for Two Utilities on the Missouri River

The Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) and EA Engineering, Science, and Technology, Inc., PBC (EA), (Team) were retained by the Nebraska Public Power District and the Omaha Public Power District to develop a cohesive program to meet the Environmental Protection Agency’s  Final §316(b) Rule (Rule).  EPRI’s involvement was to test the quality and utility of its fish protection research results and to identify areas where additional research is required.  The team evaluated applicability of the Rule for seven facilities.  Based on the evaluation, a compliance  strategy was developed for each facility that not only met all regulatory requirements, but reduced information submittals and the need for new entrainment “best technology available” (BTA) technologies to the fullest extent possible.  The team worked with the two utilities to provide technical information to the Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality, the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, the Environmental Protection Agency – Region 7, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to obtain concurrence for strategy implementation, including an information waiver for one facility.  Once the Federal and State agencies concurred with the strategy, the team prepared individual facility scopes of work, budget estimates, and schedules for completing the information.