ENB Region 9 Completed Applications 10/18/2006

The application is for extending Town of Ellicottville Consolidated Water District No. 1 boundaries and distribution mains, south along U.S. Route 219 to the south town line (adjoining Town of Great Valley) and to take a supply of water in amounts estimated to average 9,240 gallons per day (gpd) to initially serve 21 residential units (estimated population 84 persons) in the proposed Ski Country Townhomes.  Water is supplied by a series of previously approved wells.  Maximum daily demand is estimated at 16,600 gpd with a 10-year projected maximum daily demand of 118,000 gpd.  Project includes installation of 1,300 linear feet of 8-inch watermain and associated valves, fire hydrants and appurtenances.

    The Department is proposing to modify the SPDES permit for the Dunkirk Generating Station. This facility is located on Lake Erie and contains four units with a total electrical generating capacity of 600 megawatts.  The facility has a design capacity of 576 million gallons per day of condenser cooling water with the cooling water intake structure  located on the lake shoreline at the entrance to Dunkirk Harbor.  Water withdrawn from the lake passes under a skimmer wall and into a forebay containing a pair of trash racks with vertical bars spaced 7.6 cm apart.  From the forebay, two separate intake tunnels travel several hundred feet each to a screenhouse, where intake screens operate to keep material from plugging the Station’s condensers.  Screenhouse No.1 contains three dual flow traveling intake screens that serve Units 1 & 2.  Screenhouse No.2 contains four dual flow traveling intake screens servicing Units 3 & 4.   Installation of new dual flow traveling intake screens containing fish protective features was completed in July 2000.   The screens wash continuously and all fish and debris are transported back to the lake through a dedicated fish return line which was completed in December 1996.

    This SPDES permit authorizes the discharge of condenser cooling water, screen wastewater, treated wastewater, boiler blowdown, demineralization regeneration wastes, bottom ash sluice water, ash hopper overflow, roof drains, floor drainage, and storm water to Dunkirk Harbor and Lake Erie.

    The modifications to the SPDES permit being contemplated by the Department includes additional permit limits for certain parameters, reduction in existing permit limits in accordance with water quality-based effluent limitations for certain parameters, a requirement for the submission of a work plan for evaluation of the effect of the existing coal pile on groundwater, and Biological monitoring requirements required by Subpart J of the 40 CFR 125 applicable to cooling water intake structures for Phase II existing facilities under Sec. 316(b) of the Clean Water Act. The Biological monitoring conditions require NRG Dunkirk Power LLC  to submit data and analyses related to the once-through cooling system. The information will be utilized by the Department to determine best technology available for minimizing adverse impacts to the aquatic resources of Lake Erie.  NRG Dunkirk Power LLC  will also be required to review possible technologies and operational measures to minimize aquatic impacts.  The information is being requested pursuant to 6 NYCRR Part 704.5 and 40 CFR 125 - Subpart J.

    The Dunkirk Generating Station is located on the Lake Erie, Dunkirk Harbor, in the Town of Dunkirk, Chautauqua county, New York.

    A copy of the draft SPDES permit and fact sheets are available for review at the DEC Region 9 office or by calling the contact listed below.

    The Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) has received an application to re-issue/re-new  the following pre-existing EPA major Private/Commercial/Institutional State Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (P/C/I SPDES) permit.  DEC has made a tentative determination to re-issue/re-new this permit for a standard five year term maintaining current effluent limitations and monitoring and reporting requirements.  This permit involves the discharge of up to 5200 gallons per day of treated sanitary waste. Nearest waterbody:  Tributary of Cass Run.

    Additional information on this permit may be requested from or inspected at the NYSDEC Central Office in Albany.  Substantive comments must be submitted in writing to the contact person.

    SPDES #:  NY 012 6438

The applicant proposes to construct and maintain a sediment basin (measuring 25' X 20') with necessary components, to be located adjacent to NYS Freshwater Wetland SP-3, as part of a stormwater management system.  The project is designed to prevent silt and sediment from entering the wetland and is expected to decrease salt runoff from the Erie County Highway garage site.

    The Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) has received an application to re-issue/re-new  the following pre-existing EPA major Private/Commercial/Institutional State Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (P/C/I SPDES) permit.  DEC has made a tentative determination to re-issue/re-new this permit for a standard ten year term maintaining current effluent limitations and monitoring and reporting requirements.  This permit involves the surface discharge of up to 1,050 gallons per day of treated sanitary waste.  Nearest waterbody: Cazenovia Creek.

    Additional information on this permit may be requested from or inspected at the NYSDEC Central Office in Albany.  Substantive comments must be submitted in writing to the contact person.

    SPDES # NY 020 3378

The Department has made a tentative decision to approve emission reduction credits (ERCs) for the past emission reductions of volatile organic compounds (VOC’s) and nitrogen oxides (NOx) which were the result of the shutdown of the SGL Carbon, LLC facility located at 6200 Niagara Falls Boulevard.  This decision is based on their application and supporting documentation, and by closing the facility and relinquishing the company’s Title V permit.  The Department intends to certify 127.52 tons of VOC and 12.21 tons of NOx emission reduction credits.  The application and supporting documentation are available for review at the NYSDEC Region 9 Office.

Noble Bliss Windpark, LLC (Noble) is proposing to install and operate a wind-powered generating facility consisting of 67 wind turbines and associated facilities within an approximate 5,071-acre area in the Town of Eagle, Wyoming County, New York. A 5.5 mile transmission line will be constructed within a separate 2,040 acre area to carry electricity produced by the facility to the power grid. The transmission line will be constructed and connected to a newly constructed switchyard, placed adjacent to the existing substation owned by the Village of Arcade in the Town of Arcade.

    Each turbine has a capacity of 1.5 megawatts (MW), and the combined total capacity of the project is approximately 101 MW. In addition to the wind turbines, the project will involve the construction and use of approximately 16 miles of access roads, an electrical collection system consisting of both underground and above ground installations, and associated staging areas for parking and storage. The actual project site is located on an approximate cumulative 93 acres within the 5,071-acre project area.

    The wind turbines to be installed will be General Electric (GE) 1.5 MW wind turbines with each turbine consisting of a tubular steel tower with a 77-meter-(253-foot)-diameter rotor, and a nacelle which houses the generator, transformer, and power train. The rotor and nacelle are mounted on top of the tower giving the rotor hub a height of 262 feet (80 meters).  Each turbine has a maximum height of approximately 389 feet (120 meters) with a rotor blade oriented straight up, and will occupy a concrete base with a diameter of approximately 18 feet. Aviation lights will be limited to the minimum required by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and aviation warning lights will be installed only on structures along the project perimeter.