Ocean Standards - CWA §316(b) Regulation
Cooling Water Intake Structures
Once-Through Cooling Water Policy - Interim Mitigation Measures
The State Water Resources Control Board (State Water Board) Statewide Water Quality Control Policy on the Use of Coastal and Estuarine Waters for Power Plant Cooling (Once-Through Cooling or OTC Policy) requires owners or operators of existing power plants to implement measures to mitigate interim impingement and entrainment impacts resulting from their cooling water intake structures. The interim mitigation period commenced on October 1, 2015, and continues up to and until owners or operators achieve final compliance with the OTC Policy. Section 2.C.3 of the OTC Policy provides information for demonstrating compliance with the interim mitigation. Resolution No. 2015-0057 (2015 Resolution) describes the procedures for calculating the mitigation payment. The State Water Board calculates the interim mitigation payments by summing three components: an entrainment payment, an impingement payment, and a management and monitoring payment.
The State Water Board calculates interim mitigation payments annually, based on data and information provided by the power plant owners and operators. The State Water Board provides letters with the calculated annual interim mitigation payment and instructions for the payment process. When appropriate, the State Water Board prepares draft determinations for mitigation measures on a case-by-case basis. Consistent with the 2015 Resolution, draft determinations are posted for a public comment period of 20 days and circulated to persons who have requested public notice on matters related to the OTC Policy. After considering the public comments received on a draft determination, the Executive Director shall consider whether, in light of unusual circumstances or significant controversy, the final approval of the determination should be made by the State Water Board at a public meeting.
News!
- Notice of Opportunity for Public Comment on the 2018-2019 Draft Determinations to Approve Mitigation Measures for the Water Quality Control Policy on the Use of Coastal and Estuarine Waters for Power Plant Cooling for the following power plants:
- Alamitos Generating Station
- Diablo Canyon Nuclear Power Plant
- Harbor Generating Station
- Haynes Generating Station
- Huntington Beach Generating Station
- Ormond Beach Generating Station
- Redondo Beach Generating Station
- Scattergood Generating Station
The draft determinations are posted on this webpage below each power plant name.
Determinations Approving Interim Mitigation Measures
- Alamitos Generating Station:
- 18-19 Draft Determination for Alamitos Generating Station – June 17, 2020
- 17-18 Final Determination and Invoice Letter for Alamitos Generating Station – September 9, 2019
- 17-18 Draft Determination for Alamitos Generating Station – May 13, 2019
- 17-18 AES Interim Mitigation Information Submittal – December 26, 2018
- 17-18 SWRCB Interim Mitigation Information Request – October 25, 2018
- 16-17 Final Determination and Invoice Letter for Alamitos Generating Station - July 25, 2018
- 16-17 AES Interim Mitigation Information Submittal - February 8, 2018
- 16-17 Draft Determination for Alamitos Generating Station - June 12, 2018
- 15-16 Final Determination and Invoice Letter for Alamitos Generating Station posted December 11, 2017
- 15-16 SWRCB Interim Mitigation Information Request - September 26, 2016
- 15-16 AES Interim Mitigation Information Request - November 18, 2016
- 15-16 Draft Determination for Alamitos Generating Station - August 8, 2017
- Public Comments
- Responses to Comments posted January 29, 2018
- Diablo Canyon Nuclear Power Plant:
- 18-19 Draft Determination for Diablo Canyon Nuclear Power Plant – June 17, 2020
- 17-18 Final Determination and Invoice Letter for Diablo Canyon Nuclear Power Plant – September 9, 2019
- 17-18 Draft Determination for Diablo Canyon Nuclear Power Plant – May 13, 2019
- 17-18 PG&E Interim Mitigation Information Submittal – January 15, 2019
- 17-18 SWRCB Interim Mitigation Information Request – October 25, 2018
- 16-17 Final Determination and Invoice Letter for Diablo Canyon Nuclear Power Plant - July 25, 2018
- 16-17 PG&E Interim Mitigation Information Submittal - April 26, 2018
- 16-17 Draft Determination for Diablo Canyon Nuclear Power Plant - posted June 12, 2018
- 15-16 Final Determination and Invoice Letter for Diablo Canyon Nuclear Power Plant - posted December 12, 2017
- 15-16 SWRCB Interim Mitigation Information Request - September 26, 2016
- 15-16 PG&E Interim Mitigation Information Submittal - December 1, 2016
- 15-16 Draft Determination for Diablo Canyon Nuclear Power Plant - posted September 5, 2017)
- Responses to Comments - posted December 12, 2017
- Encina Power Station:
- 17-18 Final Determination and Invoice Letter for Encina Power Station – September 9, 2019
- 17-18 Draft Determination for Encina Power Station – May 13, 2019
- 17-18 NRG Interim Mitigation Information Submittal – January 14, 2019
- 17-18 SWRCB Interim Mitigation Information Request – October 25, 2018
- 16-17 Final Determination and Invoice Letter for Encina Power Station - July 25, 2018
- 16-17 NRG Interim Mitigation Information Submittal - April 4, 2018
- 16-17 Draft Determination for Encina Power Station - posted June 12, 2018
- 16-17 Draft Determination for Encina Power Station - posted June 12, 2018
- 15-16 Final Determination and Invoice Letter for Encina Power Station - posted March 14, 2018
- 15-16 SWRCB Interim Mitigation Information Request - September 26, 2016
- 15-16 NRG Interim Mitigation Information Submittal - November 29, 2016
- 15-16 Draft Determination for Encina Power Station - posted December 12, 2017
- Final Determination for Encina Power Station - posted February 16, 2017
- Draft Determination for Encina Power Station - posted September 2, 2016
- Cabrillo Request Letter (posted 09/2/16)
- El Segundo Generating Station:
- 15-16 Final Determination for El Segundo Generating Station - posted March 1, 2016
- 15-16 Draft Determination for El Segundo Generating Station - posted December 12, 2015
- Public Comments
- Response to Comments
- 15-16 Final Determination for El Segundo Generating Station - posted March 1, 2016
- Harbor Generating Station:
- 18-19 Draft Determination for Harbor Generating Station – June 17, 2020
- 17-18 Final Determination and Invoice Letter for Harbor Generating Station – September 9, 2019
- 17-18 Draft Determination for Harbor Generating Station – May 13, 2019
- 17-18 LADWP Interim Mitigation Information Submittal Follow-up – February 25, 2019
- 17-18 LADWP Interim Mitigation Information Submittal – December 11, 2018
- 17-18 SWRCB Interim Mitigation Information Request – October 25, 2018
- 16-17 Final Determination and Invoice Letter for Harbor Generating Station - July 25, 2018
- 16-17 LADWP Interim Mitigation Information Submittal - February 12, 2018
- 16-17 Draft Determination for Harbor Generating Station - posted June 12, 2018
- 15-16 Final Determination and Invoice Letter for Harbor Generating Station - posted December 11, 2017
- 15-16 SWRCB Interim Mitigation Information Request - September 26, 2016
- 15-16 LADWP Interim Mitigation Information Submittal - December 8, 2016
- 15-16 Draft Determination for Harbor Generating Station - posted August 8, 2017
- Public Comments
- Responses to Comments - posted January 29, 2018
- Haynes Generating Station:
- 18-19 Draft Determination for Haynes Generating Station – June 17, 2020
- 17-18 Final Determination and Invoice Letter for Haynes Generating Station – September 9, 2019
- 17-18 Draft Determination for Haynes Generating Station – May 13, 2019
- 17-18 LADWP Interim Mitigation Information Submittal Follow-up – February 14, 2019
- 17-18 LADWP Interim Mitigation Information Submittal – December 21, 2018
- 17-18 SWRCB Interim Mitigation Information Request – October 25, 2018
- 16-17 Final Determination and Invoice Letter for Haynes Generating Station - July 25, 2018
- 16-17 LADWP Interim Mitigation Information Submittal - February 12, 2018
- 16-17 Draft Determination for Haynes Generating Station - posted June 12, 2018
- 15-16 Final Determination and Invoice Letter for Haynes Generating Station - posted December 11, 2017
- 15-16 SWRCB Interim Mitigation Information Request - September 26, 2016
- 15-16 LADWP Interim Mitigation Information Submittal - December 8, 2016
- 15-16 Draft Determination for Haynes Generating Station - posted August 8, 2017
- Public Comments
- Responses to Comments - January 29, 2018
- Huntington Beach Generating Station:
- 18-19 Draft Determination for Huntington Beach Generating Station – June 17, 2020
- 17-18 Final Determination and Invoice Letter for Huntington Beach Generating Station – September 9, 2019
- 17-18 Draft Determination for Huntington Beach Generating Station – May 13, 2019
- 17-18 AES Interim Mitigation Information Submittal – February 11, 2019
- 17-18 SWRCB Interim Mitigation Information Request – October 25, 2018
- 16-17 Final Determination and Invoice Letter for Huntington Beach Generating Station - July 25, 2018
- AES Interim Mitigation Information Submittal - March 23, 2018
- 16-17 Draft Determination for Huntington Beach Generating Station - posted June 12, 2018
- 15-16 Final Determination for Huntington Beach Generating Station - posted January 29, 2018
- 15-16 SWRCB Interim Mitigation Information Request - September 26, 2016
- 15-16 AES Interim Mitigation Information Submittal - November 18, 2016
- Draft Determination for Huntington Beach Generating Station - posted August 8, 2017
- Public Comments
- Responses to Comments - posted January 29, 2018
- Mandalay Generating Station:
- 16-17 Final Determination and Invoice Letter for Mandalay Generating Station - July 25, 2018
- 16-17 NRG Interim Mitigation Information Submittal - February 9, 2018
- 16-17 NRG Interim Mitigation Supplemental Data Submittal - April 27, 2018
- 16-17 Draft Determination for Mandalay Generating Station - posted June 12, 2018
- 15-16 Final Determination and Invoice Letter for Mandalay Generating Station - posted December 11, 2017
- 15-16 SWRCB Interim Mitigation Information Request - September 26, 2016
- 15-16 NRG Interim Mitigation Information Submittal - November 29, 2016
- 15-16 Draft Determination for Mandalay Generating Station - posted August 8, 2017
- Public Comments
- Responses to Comments - posted January 28, 2018
- 16-17 Final Determination and Invoice Letter for Mandalay Generating Station - July 25, 2018
- Ormond Beach Generating Station:
- 18-19 Draft Determination for Ormond Beach Generating Station – June 17, 2020
- 17-18 Final Determination and Invoice Letter for Ormond Beach Generating Station – September 9, 2019
- 17-18 Draft Determination for Ormond Beach Generating Station – May 13, 2019
- 17-18 GenOn Interim Mitigation Information Submittal – November 1, 2018
- 17-18 SWRCB Interim Mitigation Information Request – October 25, 2018
- 16-17 Final Determination and Invoice Letter for Ormond Beach Generating Station - July 25, 2018
- 16-17 NRG Interim Mitigation Information Submittal - February 9, 2018
- 16-17 Draft Determination for Ormond Beach Generating Station - posted June 12, 2018
- 15-16 Final Determination and Invoice Letter for Ormond Beach Generating Station - posted December 11, 2017
- 15-16 SWRCB Interim Mitigation Information Request - September 26, 2016
- 15-16 NRG Interim Mitigation Information Submittal - November 29, 2016
- 15-16 Draft Determination for Ormond Beach Generating Station - posted August 8, 2017
- Redondo Beach Generating Station:
- 18-19 Draft Determination for Redondo Beach Generating Station – June 17, 2020
- 17-18 Final Determination and Invoice Letter for Redondo Beach Generating Station – September 9, 2019
- 17-18 Draft Determination for Redondo Beach Generating Station – May 13, 2019
- 17-18 AES Interim Mitigation Information Submittal – December 26, 2018
- 17-18 SWRCB Interim Mitigation Information Request – October 25, 2018
- 16-17 Final Determination and Invoice Letter for Redondo Beach Generating Station - July 25, 2018
- 16-17 AES Interim Mitigation Information Submittal - February 8, 2018
- 16-17 Draft Determination for Redondo Beach Generating Station - posted June 12, 2018
- 15-16 Final Determination and Invoice Letter for Redondo Beach Generating Station - posted December 11, 2017
- 15-16 SWRCB Interim Mitigation Information Request - September 26, 2016
- 15-16 AES Interim Mitigation Information Submittal - November 18, 2016
- 15-16 Draft Determination for Redondo Beach Generating Station - posted August 8, 2017
- Public Comments
- Responses to Comments - posted January 29, 2018
- Scattergood Generating Station:
- 18-19 Draft Determination for Scattergood Generating Station – June 17, 2020
- 17-18 Final Determination and Invoice Letter for Scattergood Generating Station – September 9, 2019
- 17-18 Draft Determination for Scattergood Generating Station – May 13, 2019
- 17-18 LADWP Interim Mitigation Information Submittal Follow-up – February 26, 2019
- 17-18 LADWP Interim Mitigation Information Submittal – December 21, 2018
- 17-18 SWRCB Interim Mitigation Information Request – October 25, 2018
- 16-17 Final Determination and Invoice Letter for Scattergood Generating Station - July 25, 2018
- 16-17 LADWP Interim Mitigation Information Submittal - February 12, 2018
- 16-17 Draft Determination for Scattergood Generating Station - posted June 12, 2018
- 15-16 Final Determination and Invoice Letter for Scattergood Generating Station - posted December 11, 2017
- 15-16 SWRCB Interim Mitigation Information Submittal - September 26, 2016
- 15-16 LADWP Interim Mitigation Information Submittal - December 8, 2016
- 15-16 Draft Determination for Scattergood Generating Station - posted August 8, 2017)
Delegation of Authority
- Delegation of Authority to the Executive Director, Regarding Approval of Interim Mitigation
- Adopted Resolution 2015-0057
- State Water Board Meeting on August 18, 2015
State Water Board-Contracted Expert Review Panel II on Intake Impacts and Mitigation
The State Water Board contracted with the Moss Landing Marine Laboratory to establish an expert panel to address issues associated with minimizing and mitigating intake impacts from power plants and desalination facilities. The panel members were Dr. Michael Foster, Dr. Greg Cailliet, Dr. Jim Callaway, Dr. Pete Raimondi, and Mr. John Steinbeck. The panel met on August 8, 2011 and on November 15, 2011. A public meeting was held March 1, 2012 at the Moss Landing Marine where panel members presented their recommendations and took questions and comments from the public on the panel’s Draft Report. Updates were given on the other two studies. The panel members deliberated and made changes to their report, which was finalized on March 14, 2012.
- Expert Review Panel II on Intake Impacts and Mitigation
Questions or Comments
- Permitting Issues - Renan Jauregui at (916) 341-5505 or by email at Renan.Jauregui@waterboards.ca.gov
- Policy Issues - Katherine Walsh at (916) 445-2317 or by email at Katherine.Walsh@waterboards.ca.gov or Julie Johnson at (916) 341-5687 or Julie.Johnson@waterboards.ca.gov