HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES - 06101986 - WC.1 r
TO: BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
FROM: WATER COMMITTEE
DATE: JUNE 9, 1986
SUBJECT: PGandE POWER PLANT - FISH MITIGATIONS
Specific Requests or Recommendations & Background & Justification
RECOMMENDED ACTION
AUTHORIZE Chairman to sign a letter to the Regional Water Quality Control Boards supporting
tentative waste discharge requirements for the PGandE power plants in Antioch and Pittsburg
relating to striped bass mitigations, with one suggestion for an amendment.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
None
REASONS FOR RECOMMENDATION/BACKGROUND
The Central Valley and San Francisco Bay Regional Water Quality Control Boards are consi-
dering an amendment to the discharge permits for the PGandE power plants in Antioch and
Pittsburg concerning mitigation for striped bass killed from the use of off-shore water for
cooling purposes. The permits include mitigation for striped bass killed from impingement
(hitting the screens covering intakes) and from entrainment (flowing through the cooling
process) . Permits require construction of physical modifications, operational constraints,
and replacing lost striped bass with hatchery-raised striped bass.
Our County was actively involved in monitoring the original permit and had concerns about
the need for biological monitoring to verify the striped bass loss reductions. We also
stated that the replacement of lost fish with hatchery fish should only be considered as a
last resort after all physical and operational modifications have been made.
The amended permits would require biological monitoring and require additional physical and
operational modifications. Hatchery fish are still required but there is an increase in the
amount of hatchery fish to be planted from the original permit.
The Fish & Wildlife Study Committee has reviewed the tentative agreement (as it had reviewed
the original permit) . The Fish & Wildlife Study Committee has also toured PGandE power
plants. The Fish & Wildlife Study Committee and the Water Committee feel that the proposed
tentative waste discharge requirements are a good compromise to mitigate the impacts of the
Continued on attachment: yes Signature:
Recommendation of County Administrator Recommen Board Committee
Approve Other:
Si nature(s):
Supervisor Sunne Mc ea up isor Robert Schrobler
Action of Board on: JUN 10 1986 Approved as Recommen ed Other_
Vote of Supervisors I HEREBY CERTIFY THAT THIS IS A TRUE
AND CORRECT COPY OF AN ACTION TAKEN
//"Unanimous (Absent ) AND ENTERED ON THE MINUTES OF THE
Ayes: Noes: BOARD OF SUPERVISORS ON DATE SHOWN.
Absent: Abstain:
wc.bo.bass.mit t Attested JUN 10 1986
Orig. Div.: Community Development PHIL BATCHELOR, CLERK
cc: County Administrator OF THE BOARD AND COUNTY
Fish & Wildlife Study Committee-via CDD ADMINISTRATOR
By p J,j, 1i
DEPUTY CLERK
SUBJECT: PGandE POWER PLANT - FISH MITIGATIONS
JUNE 99 1986
Pace 2
power plants on striped bass. It is appropriate for the Board to commend the Regional
Water Quality Control Boards and PGandE for reaching this agreement, with one suggestion
for an amendment concerning operation of the variable speed cooling water pumps to limit
temperatures to reduce killing striped bass.