ENB Region 2 Completed Applications 01/03/2007

The Department is proposing to renew and modify the SPDES permit for the Astoria Generating Station (AGS).  Currently, the SPDES permit for AGS includes effluent limitations and biological conditions for both the existing operation (interim conditions) and the proposed repowering (final conditions) of the facility.  

The existing facility has a generating capacity of approximately 1250 MW and consists of four operating units, which includes four boilers, their associated steam turbines, and ancillary equipment.  The four units are cooled by a once-through system, which at full capacity, draws 1,350 MGD from the East River.  The proposed repowered facility would consist of replacing four of the boiler units with six new turbine generators and produce approximately 1,800 MW of electricity. The repowered system would be cooled through wet-dry cooling towers and reduce the use of water withdrawal from the East River to approximately 17.5 MGD.  At the time of the modification for the repowered facility the Department determined that BTA for the facility was closed-cycle cooling.  However, the existing permit does not contain any dates related to the commencement of repowering. The current modification being contemplated does not require a commencement date . Therefore, in order to meet current BTA requirements the Department is proposing to modify the interim biological conditions to include; 1) installation of variable speed pumps on three of the units within a three year time period; 2) submission of data and analyses related to impingement and entrainment impacts of the once-through cooling system; and 3) evaluation of technologies and operational measures to minimize aquatic impacts.  The above measures and information are being requested pursuant to 6 NYCRR Part 704.5 and 40 CFR 125 - Subpart J.  Once a complete evaluation of impacts and alternatives have been evaluated the Department will make a final determination regarding BTA for the facility and reserves the right to modify the permit accordingly. The final BTA determination for the existing facility  modification will be subject to further public review and comment.

Filed application documents, and Department draft permits where applicable, are available for inspection under the provisions of the Freedom of Information Law during normal business hours at the address of the contact person.

The Department has made a tentative determination to approve this application for a new permit for a proposed withdrawal and discharge of up to three million gallons per day of treated groundwater into Vernam Basin (Class I) via NYCDEP Outfall ROC-647 from a treatment system consisting of a settling tank, an oil/water separator and an activated carbon system at the applicant’s project site located south of Rockaway Beach Blvd between Beach 73^rd St. and Beach 67^th St. in Queens where the applicant will construct new sanitary and storm sewers.

Filed application documents, and Department draft permits where applicable, are available for inspection under the provisions of the Freedom of Information Law during normal business hours at the address of the contact person.