Factsheet for Bayshore Station NPDES Permit Renewal, March 2010 Page 1 

 National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Permit Program 

 F A C T S H E E T

Regarding an NPDES Permit To Discharge to Waters of the State of Ohio 

for the FirstEnergy Generation Corp. - Bayshore Station

Public Notice No.: 10-03-034 OEPA Permit No.: 2IB00000*RD

Public Notice Date: March 15, 2010 Application No.: (OH #) OH0002925

Comment Period Ends: April 15, 2010 

Name and Address of Facility Where 

Name and Address of Applicant: Discharge Occurs: 

First Energy FirstEnergy Generation Corp. - Bayshore Station 

76 South Main Street 4701 Bayshore Road 

Akron, Ohio 44308 Oregon, Ohio 43616 

Lucas County 

 

Receiving Water: Driftmeyer Ditch Subsequent 

 Maumee Bay Stream Network: Lake Erie

 

 

Introduction

Development of a Fact Sheet for NPDES permits is required by Title 40 of the Code of Federal Regulations, 

Section 124.8 and 124.56. This document fulfills the requirements established in those regulations by 

providing the information necessary to inform the public of actions proposed by the Ohio Environmental 

Protection Agency, as well as the methods by which the public can participate in the process of finalizing 

those actions. 

This Fact Sheet is prepared in order to document the technical basis and risk management decisions that are 

considered in the determination of water quality based NPDES Permit effluent limitations. The technical 

basis for the Fact Sheet may consist of evaluations of promulgated effluent guidelines and other treatmenttechnology based standards, existing effluent quality, instream biological, chemical and physical conditions, 

and the allocations of pollutants to meet Ohio Water Quality Standards. This Fact Sheet details the 

discretionary decision-making process empowered to the director by the Clean Water Act and Ohio Water 

Pollution Control Law (ORC 6111). Decisions to award variances to Water Quality Standards or 

promulgated effluent guidelines for economic or technological reasons will also be justified in the Fact Sheet 

where necessary. 

Effluent limits based on available treatment technologies are required by Section 301(b) of the Clean Water 

Act. Many of these have already been established by U.S. EPA in the effluent guideline regulations (a.k.a. 

categorical regulations) for industry categories in 40 CFR Parts 405-499. Technology-based regulations for 

publicly-owned treatment works are listed in the Secondary Treatment Regulations (40 CFR Part 133). If 

regulations have not been established for a category of dischargers, the director may establish technologybased limits based on best professional judgment (BPJ). 
Page 2 Factsheet for Bayshore Station NPDES Permit Renewal, March 2010 

Ohio EPA reviews the need for water-quality-based limits on a pollutant-by-pollutant basis. Wasteload 

allocations are used to develop these limits based on the pollutants that have been detected in the discharge, 

and the receiving water’s assimilative capacity. The assimilative capacity depends on the flow in the water 

receiving the discharge, and the concentration of the pollutant upstream. The greater the upstream flow, and 

the lower the upstream concentration, the greater the assimilative capacity is. Assimilative capacity may 

represent dilution (as in allocations for metals), or it may also incorporate the break-down of pollutants in the 

receiving water (as in allocations for oxygen-demanding materials). 

The need for water-quality-based limits is determined by comparing the wasteload allocation for a pollutant 

to a measure of the effluent quality. The measure of effluent quality is called PEQ - Projected Effluent 

Quality. This is a statistical measure of the average and maximum effluent values for a pollutant. As with 

any statistical method, the more data that exists for a given pollutant, the more likely that PEQ will match the 

actual observed data. If there is a small data set for a given pollutant, the highest measured value is 

multiplied by a statistical factor to obtain a PEQ; for example if only one sample exists, the factor is 6.2, for 

two samples - 3.8, for three samples - 3.0. The factors continue to decline as samples sizes increase. These 

factors are intended to account for effluent variability, but if the pollutant concentrations are fairly constant, 

these factors may make PEQ appear larger than it would be shown to be if more sample results existed. 

Summary of Proposed Permit Conditions

Monitoring requirements for water temperature, total residual oxidants (TRO), flow rate, total residual 

chlorine (TRC), and chlorination/bromination duration is proposed to continue at outfall 001. In addition, 

limits for TRO, TRC, and chlorination/bromination duration are also proposed to remain in the permit. 

Monitoring requirements for copper have been added, and monitoring for silver and zinc has been removed. 

At outfall 002, monitoring requirements for total suspended solids (TSS), flow rate, and pH as well as limits 

for pH are proposed to continue from the existing permit. 

For outfall 003, monitoring requirements are proposed to continue from the existing permit for TSS, oil and 

grease, selenium, thallium, silver, zinc, lead, copper, flow rate, mercury, aluminum, and pH. Limits are 

proposed to continue for TSS, oil and grease, and pH. Monitoring for barium and cadmium has been added 

to the draft permit. Based upon an application submitted by First Energy, the permit includes a variancebased limit for mercury at outfall 003 for the average criterion. In addition, annual toxicity testing and 

beryllium monitoring have been removed from the permit for this outfall. Parts IV, V, and VI have been 

included with the permit to address stormwater issues at the facility. 

This permit renewal is proposed for a term of approximately four and one-half years, expiring on January 

31, 2015. This schedule will allow the Bayshore Station permit to be on a similar schedule with the other 

facilities within the same watershed basin. 
Factsheet for Bayshore Station NPDES Permit Renewal, March 2010 Page 3 

Table of Contents

 

Introduction .......................................................................................................................................... Page 1 

Summary of Proposed Permit Conditions ..................................................................................................... 2 

Table of Contents .......................................................................................................................................... 3 

Procedures for Participation in the Formulation of Final Determinations .................................................... 5 

Location of Discharge/Receiving Water Use Classification ......................................................................... 6 

Facility Description ....................................................................................................................................... 7 

Discharges from the Bayshore Station .......................................................................................................... 7 

Assessment of Impact on Receiving Waters ................................................................................................. 9 

Impingement and Entrainment .................................................................................................................... 10 

Development of Water Quality-Based Effluent Limits .............................................................................. 11 

 Parameter Selection ................................................................................................................................................. 11 

 Wasteload Allocation .............................................................................................................................................. 12 

 Dissolved Metal Translator for Copper ................................................................................................................... 12 

 Reasonable Potential ................................................................................................................................................ 12 

 Whole Effluent Toxicity WLA ................................................................................................................................ 13 

Effluent Limits / Hazard Management Decisions ....................................................................................... 13 

Impingement/Entrainment Reductions ....................................................................................................... 16 

Whole Effluent Toxicity Reasonable Potential ........................................................................................... 16 

List of Figures

Figure 1. Location of the Bayshore Station. .......................................................................................... 6 

Figure 2. Wastewater Flow Diagram ..................................................................................................... 8 

Figure 3. Western Basin of Lake Erie Water Quality Assessment (2010 Integrated Report) ............. 10 

Figure 4. Temperature: Intake vs. Outfall 001 (2007 – 2009) ............................................................. 11 
Page 4 Factsheet for Bayshore Station NPDES Permit Renewal, March 2010 

Table of Contents (continued)

List of Tables

Table 1. Description of Bayshore Station Outfalls .................................................................................. 7 

Table 2. Flows for Outfalls 001 and 003 ................................................................................................. 9 

Table 3. Concentration of Chemicals Found in Effluent and Intake ..................................................... 17 

Table 4. Effluent Characterization and Decision Criteria: January 2006 – November 2009 ................ 19 

Table 5. Effluent Data for Bayshore Power Plant ................................................................................. 22 

 

Table 6. Water Quality Criteria in the Study Area ................................................................................ 23 

Table 7. Instream Conditions and Discharger Flow .............................................................................. 24 

Table 8. Summary of Effluent Limits to Maintain Applicable Water Quality Criteria ......................... 26 

Table 9-xxx. Parameter Assessment 

 Table 9-001. for Outfall 001 ........................................................................................ 27 

 Table 9-003. for Outfall 003 ........................................................................................ 28 

 

Table 10-xxx. Final Effluent Limits and Monitoring Requirements 

 Table 10-001. ...for Outfall 001 ............................................................................... 29

 Table 10-002. ...for Outfall 002 ............................................................................... 29 

 Table 10-003. ...for Outfall 003 ............................................................................... 30 

Attachment A. Federal Effluent Guidelines Applicable to the Bayshore Station ...................................... 31 
Factsheet for Bayshore Station NPDES Permit Renewal, March 2010 Page 5 

Procedures for Participation in the Formulation of Final Determinations

The draft action shall be issued as a final action unless the Director revises the draft after consideration of the 

record of a public meeting or written comments, or upon disapproval by the Administrator of the U.S. 

Environmental Protection Agency. 

Within thirty days of the date of the Public Notice, any person may request or petition for a public meeting 

for presentation of evidence, statements or opinions. The purpose of the public meeting is to obtain 

additional evidence. Statements concerning the issues raised by the party requesting the meeting are invited. 

Evidence may be presented by the applicant, the state, and other parties, and following presentation of such 

evidence other interested persons may present testimony of facts or statements of opinion. 

Requests for public meetings shall be in writing and shall state the action of the Director objected to, the 

questions to be considered, and the reasons the action is contested. Such requests should be addressed to: 

Legal Records Section 

Ohio Environmental Protection Agency 

Lazarus Government Center 

P.O. Box 1049 

Columbus, Ohio 43216-1049 

Interested persons are invited to submit written comments upon the discharge permit. Comments should be 

submitted in person or by mail no later than 30 days after the date of this Public Notice. Deliver or mail all 

comments to: 

Ohio Environmental Protection Agency 

Attention: Division of Surface Water 

Permits and Compliance Section 

Lazarus Government Center 

P.O. Box 1049 

Columbus, Ohio 43216-1049 

The OEPA permit number and Public Notice numbers should appear on each page of any submitted 

comments. All comments received no later than 30 days after the date of the Public Notice will be 

considered. 

Citizens may conduct file reviews regarding specific companies or sites. Appointments are necessary to 

conduct file reviews because requests to review files have increased dramatically in recent years. The first 

250 pages copied are free. For requests to copy more than 250 pages, there is a five-cent charge for each 

page copied. Payment is required by check or money order, made payable to Treasurer State of Ohio. 

For additional information about this fact sheet or the draft permit, contact Naajy Abdullah [phone: (419) 

373-3017; email: naajy.abdullah@epa.state.oh.us ] in Ohio EPA’s Northwest District Office or Mike 

McCullough [phone: (614) 644-4824; email: mike.mccullough@epa.state.oh.us ] in Ohio EPA’s Central 

Office.
Page 6 Factsheet for Bayshore Station NPDES Permit Renewal, March 2010 

Location of Discharge/Receiving Water Use Classification

The FirstEnergy Generation Corporation Bayshore Station (or the Bayshore Station) discharges directly to 

Maumee Bay through outfalls 001 and 003. Outfall 002 discharges into Driftmeyer Ditch which flows into 

Maumee Bay. Maumee Bay flows into Lake Erie. The approximate location of the Bayshore Station is 

shown in the center of Figure 1. 

This segment of Maumee Bay is described by Ohio EPA River Code: 24-100; USEPA River Reach #: NA; 

County: Lucas; Ecoregion: Huron-Erie Lake Plain (HELP). The Maumee Bay is presently designated for the 

following uses: exceptional warmwater habitat (EWH), state resource water (SRW), agricultural water 

supply, public water supply, industrial water supply, and bathing waters. 

Use designations define the goals and expectations for a waterbody. These goals are set for aquatic life 

protection, recreation use and water supply use, and are defined in the Ohio Water Quality Standards, or the 

Ohio Administrative Code (OAC 3745-1-07). The use designations for individual waterbodies are listed in 

rules -08 through -32 of the OAC. Once the goals are set, numeric water quality standards are developed to 

protect these uses; higher quality uses typically have more protective water quality criteria. 

Use designations for aquatic life protection include habitats for coldwater fish and macroinvertebrates, 

warmwater aquatic life and waters with exceptional communities of warmwater organisms. These uses all 

meet the goals of the federal Clean Water Act. Ohio Water Quality Standards (WQS) also include aquatic 

Figure 1. Location of Bayshore Station 
Factsheet for Bayshore Station NPDES Permit Renewal, March 2010 Page 7 

life use designations for waterbodies which can not meet the Clean Water Act goals because of humancaused conditions that can not be remedied without causing fundamental changes to land use and widespread 

economic impact. The dredging and clearing of some small streams to support agricultural or urban drainage 

is the most common of these conditions. These streams are given Modified Warmwater or Limited Resource 

Water designations. 

Recreation uses are defined by the depth of the waterbody and the potential for wading or swimming. Uses 

are defined for bathing waters, swimming/canoeing (Primary Contact) and wading only (Secondary Contact - 

generally waters too shallow for swimming or canoeing). Water supply uses are defined by the actual or 

potential use of the waterbody. Public Water Supply designations apply near existing water intakes so that 

waters are safe to drink with standard treatment. Most other waters are designated for agricultural and 

industrial water supply. 

Facility Description

The Bayshore Station is a coal-fired steam-electric generating station, owned by the First Energy Generation 

Corporation. This facility is involved in the generation, transmission, and distribution of electric power. The 

daily production rate is approximately 620 megawatts of electricity. 

The Bayshore Station’s processes generate wastewaters which are regulated by the federal effluent 

guidelines (FEGs) listed in 40 CRF Part 423, Steam Electric Power Generating Point Source Category. The 

process operations at this facility are also defined by the standard industrial classification (SIC) category 

4911 - Electric Services. 

Discharges from the Bayshore Station

Outfall 001 discharges directly to Lake Erie at the rate of approximately 679 million gallons per day (MGD). 

The wastewater flowing from this outfall consists primarily of the once-through condenser cooling water. 

Some stormwater also is discharged through this outfall. (See Table 1.)

Table 1. Description of Bayshore Station Outfalls

Outfall 

#

Type of Wastewater Treatment System Used Discharge 

Point

Ave. Discharge 

(in MGD)*

001 Condenser cooling water 

discharge, stormwater 

none Maumee Bay 679 

002 Fly ash sluice, coal pile runoff - Sedimentation 

- Neutralization 

Driftmeyer 

Ditch 

0.095 

003 Bottom ash sluice, boiler 

blowdown, metal cleaning, 

demineralization regeneration 

- Sedimentation 

- Neutralization 

- Slow sand filtration 

Maumee Bay 1.43 

*Flow rates are based upon the NPDES permit renewal application. 
Page 8 Factsheet for Bayshore Station NPDES Permit Renewal, March 2010 

Outfall 002 is designed to 

discharge wastewater 

from a fly ash pond into 

Driftmeyer Ditch which 

flows less than a mile 

before emptying into 

Maumee Bay. The 

wastewater from the pond 

includes fly ash sluice and 

runoff from a coal pile. 

Previous to March 2008, 

this outfall has not 

discharged any 

wastewater for several 

years. However, more 

than 130 discharges were 

reported from March 

through June of 2008. 

Wastewater flowing into a 

bottom ash pond consists 

of bottom ash sluice, 

boiler blowdown, metal 

cleaning agents, and wash 

water resulting from 

regenerating ion exchange 

media used in purifying 

boiler water. Since acids 

are used in the metal 

cleaning process and in 

regenerating the ion 

exchange media, the 

wastewater from these 

processes is neutralized 

before it is sent to the 

bottom ash pond. The wastewater in the bottom ash pond is treated by settling and neutralization. The 

sanitary wastewaters from the plant are discharged to a local publicly-operated treatment works (POTW). 

The Bayshore Station obtains the majority of its water from an intake in Maumee Bay (approximately 749 

MGD). This water is used for various purposes including once-through cooling water, and sluice water for 

transporting the bottom ash from the boilers to the ash ponds. The City of Oregon provides potable water for 

the Bayshore Station for the sanitary system and to replenish boiler water. (See Figure 2 for a schematic of 

the wastewater flow and treatment systems at the Bayshore Station.) 

The wastewater discharge flow rates during the past five years for outfalls 001 and 003 are shown in Table 2 

on the following page. Reported flow rates for outfall 001 have remained constant throughout the most 

recent four-year period. In addition, the 50th and 95th percentile discharge amounts from outfall 003 have 

been relatively consistent, however, the maximum flows appear to have decreased somewhat for this outfall 

within the last two to three years. 

Figure 2. Wastewater Flow Diagram 
Factsheet for Bayshore Station NPDES Permit Renewal, March 2010 Page 9 

From January 2006 through November 2009, the Bayshore Station has reported only three sample results 

which were numeric violations of permit limits. At outfall 003, limits for total suspended solids were 

exceeded twice, and the pH maximum limit was exceeded one time. 

Assessment of Impact on Receiving 

Waters

Recent biological data for Lake Erie is 

not available to assess the water quality 

impact of permitted discharges from the 

Bayshore Station. Figure 3 on page 10 

shows the assessment of water quality 

based upon information in the draft 

version of Ohio EPA’s 2010 Integrated 

Report. 

The impacts of the thermal discharge 

from the Bayshore Station have been 

somewhat controversial for a number of 

years. Concerns have been expressed regarding the size of the thermal plume, and its impact on recreational 

activities in Maumee Bay. Ohio EPA conducted an assessment of these issues in 2004, and developed a 

document entitled, “Thermal Discharge from the Toledo Edison Bayshore Power Plant: An Update” which 

discussed the assessment. (Contact Ohio EPA for a copy of this document.) In summary, the assessment 

concluded the following: 

• The Bayshore Station discharge does exceed water quality standards for temperature within the 

thermal plume near the facility, however, the facility’s impacts on aquatic life and designated uses of 

Maumee Bay do not justify restricting the size of the thermal mixing zone at this time. 

• Depending upon wind patterns and other factors, the thermal plume sometimes extends to the south 

shore of Maumee Bay and/or more than a mile beyond the end of the Confined Disposal Facility 

(CDF). 

• The thermal discharge restricts recreational activities in certain areas of the Bay. 

The pattern of discharge temperatures at outfall 001 has remained consistent during the past four years. (See 

Figure 4 on page 11.) However, the reported temperature values seem to have decreased slightly in 2009 in 

conjunction with somewhat lower generated power and water usage at the facility. Both the 50th and 95th

percentile temperature values decreased during both summer and winter months, with a maximum summer 

discharge temperature of 94.1o F. The reported temperatures at the intake station for Bayshore also 

decreased slightly in 2009. Consistent with the 2005 through 2008 time period, the temperature at outfall 

001 remains approximately 9 to 10o F higher than the intake temperature. 

Ohio EPA has also had concerns that the heated effluent from the Bayshore Station may be causing (or 

contributing to) “...undesirable aquatic life or result in a dominance of nuisance species...” within the 

mixing zone of the cooling water discharge. (See rule 3745-2-08 of the Ohio Administrative Code.) In order 

to address this concern, the existing NPDES permit required First Energy to conduct a two-year survey of the 

benthic community within the thermal mixing zone, and determine the types and distribution of benthic 

macroinvertebrates and plants. The final report shows that the density of some species (e.g., Asiatic clams) 

is higher near the discharge, while the density for some species (zebra and quagga mussels) is lower. Even 

Table 2. Flows for Outfalls 001 and 003 

Year Flow in MGD 

50th Percentile 95th Percentile Maximum 

Outfall 001 

2006 745.9 745.9 745.9 

2007 745.9 745.9 745.9 

2008 745.9 745.9 745.9 

2009 653.7 745.9 745.9 

Overall 745.9 745.9 745.9 

Outfall 003 

2006 1.2 2.065 5.3 

2007 1.1 2.0 3.1 

2008 1.2 1.8 2.3 

2009 1.25 2.02 2.27 

Overall 1.2 1.99 5.3 

 
Page 10 Factsheet for Bayshore Station NPDES Permit Renewal, March 2010 

though there are some 

concerns regarding this study, 

Ohio EPA believes that the 

available evidence does not 

support restricting the size of 

the thermal mixing zone at this 

time. 

Impingement and 

Entrainment

In order to fulfill requirements 

under federal regulations 

adopted in 2004 associated 

with large, existing power 

plants1, the Bayshore Station 

conducted sampling in 2005 

and 2006 at their cooling water 

intake structure (CWIS) to 

determine the number of fish 

impinged on the screens and 

entrained through the facility. 

Based upon this study, First 

Energy estimated annual 

impingement to be more than 

46 million fish, with the 

majority of the fish identified 

as emerald shiner and gizzard 

shad. The annual estimates for 

entrainment were 

approximately: 209 million 

fish eggs; 2,247 million fish 

larvae; and 14 million juvenile 

fish. In order to put these 

impingement/entrainment 

(I&E) estimates into 

persepctive, it is likely that the 

Bayshore Station impinges and 

entrains more fish than all the 

other power plants in Ohio 

combined. Finally, the Bayshore Station does not currently employ any technologies that are typically 

considered effective for reducing impingement and entrainment mortality. 

 

1

 These regulations, which were adopted to implement Section 316(b) of the Clean Water Act, were suspended by U.S. 

EPA in 2007 after a federal court overturned significant provisions. States have been directed by U.S. EPA to use best 

professional judgement (BPJ) to implement the requirements of Section 316(b) in the absence of federal regulations. 

Assessment Unit Name: Lake Erie Western 

Basin Shoreline (including Maumee Bay and Sandusky Bay)

Monitoring Scheduled: 2012 

TMDL Scheduled: 2015 

Aquatic Life Use Assessment 

Reporting Category: 5x 

Sampling Years: 2000, 2001, 2002 

Total Shoreline Miles: 119.9 

Shoreline Miles Monitored: 33.1 

Sites Monitored: 10 

Sites Full Attainment: 0 (0%) 

Sites Partial Attainment: 0 (0%) 

Sites Non Attainment: 10 (100%) 

Causes of Impairment: 

• nutrients 

• siltation 

• organic enrichment/DO 

• exotic species 

Sources of Impairment: 

• municipal point sources 

• combined sewer overflows 

• non-irrigated crop production 

Comments: No nearshore Lake Erie monitoring by the Ohio EPA has 

occurred since 2002. 

Recreation Use Assessment 

Reporting Category: 5 

Public Drinking Water Supply Assessment 

Reporting Category: 1 

Nirtate Watch List: No 

Pesticide Watch List: No 

Fish Tissue Assessment 

Reporting Category: 5x 

Figure 3. Western Basin of Lake Erie Water Quality Assessment (2010 Integrated 

Report)
Factsheet for Bayshore Station NPDES Permit Renewal, March 2010 Page 11 

Development of 

Water Quality-Based 

Effluent Limits

Determining appropriate 

effluent concentrations is 

a multiple-step process 

in which parameters are 

identified as likely to be 

discharged by a facility, 

evaluated with respect to 

Ohio water quality 

criteria, and examined to 

determine the likelihood 

that the existing effluent 

could violate the 

calculated limits. 

Although the locations 

of the external outfalls 

001 and 003 for the 

Bayshore Station are 

relatively near one 

another, the discharges have not been modeled interactively; given the methodology which must be used to 

develop waste load allocations for a lake discharger, considering these outfalls to be interactive would not 

change the parameter assessment results. (See the section below entitled, “Waste Load Allocation”.) 

Parameter Selection

Effluent data for the Bayshore Station were used to determine what parameters should undergo wasteload 

allocation. The sources of effluent data are as follows: 

Self-monitoring data (Discharge Monitoring Reports) January 2006 - November 2009 

 NPDES permit renewal application 2008 

The effluent data were checked for outliers and six were removed for parameters monitored at outfall 003: 

four sample results were eliminated for selenium due to a reported method detection level which appears to 

be incorrect; a value of 102 ug/l was eliminated for lead; and a value of 53.1 ug/l was eliminated for 

mercury. The remaining data was evaluated statistically, and Projected Effluent Quality (PEQ) values were 

calculated for each pollutant. PEQavg values represent the 95th percentile of monthly average data, and 

PEQmax values represent the 95th percentile of all data points. The average and maximum projected effluent 

quality (PEQ) values are presented in Table 5. For a summary of the screening results, refer to the parameter 

groupings on pages 27 and 28. 

PEQ values are used according to Ohio rules to compare to applicable WQS and allowable WLA values for 

each pollutant evaluated. Initially, PEQ values are compared to the applicable average and maximum WQS. 

If both PEQ values are less than 25 percent of the applicable WQS, the parameter does not have the 

reasonable potential to cause or contribute to exceedances of WQS, and no wasteload allocation is done for 

that parameter. If either the PEQavg or PEQmax is greater than 25 percent of the applicable WQS, a wasteload 

Figure 4. Temperature: Intake vs. Outfall 001 (2007 – 2009) 
Page 12 Factsheet for Bayshore Station NPDES Permit Renewal, March 2010 

allocation is conducted to determine whether the parameter exhibits reasonable potential (and needs to be 

limited) or if monitoring is required. 

Wasteload Allocation

For those parameters that require a wasteload allocation (WLA), the results are based on the uses assigned to 

the receiving waterbody in OAC 3745-1. Dischargers are allocated pollutant loadings/concentrations based 

on the Ohio Water Quality Standards (WQS - OAC 3745-1). Most pollutants are allocated by a massbalance method because they do not degrade in the receiving water. Wasteload allocations for average 

criteria using this method are done using the following general equation for direct dischargers to Lake Erie: 

Discharger WLA = (11 x WQS) - (10 x background concentration). 

For direct dischargers to lakes, the waste load allocations for maximum criteria (or Outside Mixing Zone 

Maximum, OMZM) are set equal to the Inside Mixing Zone Maximum criteria. The values for the OMZM 

are left blank in Table 8 to indicate that any limits based upon a maximum WLA are actually represented by 

the Inside Mixing Zone Maximum criteria. The wasteload allocation values in Table 8 would allow the 

Bayshore Station to maintain all applicable water quality criteria. Allocations cannot exceed the Inside 

Mixing Zone Maximum criteria. 

The data used in the WLA are listed in Tables 6 and 7. The wasteload allocation results to maintain all 

applicable criteria are presented in Table 8. 

Dissolved Metal Translator for Copper 

A dissolved metals translator (DMT) is the factor used to convert a dissolved metal aquatic life criterion to 

an effective total recoverable aquatic life criterion with which a total recoverable aquatic life allocation can 

be calculated as required in the NPDES permit process. Currently, a DMT is based on site- or area-specific 

field data; each field data sample consists of a total recoverable measurement paired with a dissolved metal 

measurement. For Maumee Bay, there were 18 such paired samples available applicable to copper. To 

account for the limited quantity of data, the DMT for each of these metals was determined as the lower end 

of the 95% confidence interval (1-tail) about the geometric mean of the total recoverable-to-dissolved ratios 

of the sample pairs. Each DMT is metal-specific and is applied by multiplying the dissolved criteria by the 

DMT, resulting in total effective recoverable criteria which can be used in the wasteload allocation 

procedures. 

In some cases, it is possible that the use of a DMT may result in instream concentrations of metals that may 

increase the risk of non-attainment of the aquatic life use designation. This was evaluated for the Bayshore 

Station. The application of the dissolved metal translator resulted in effective total recoverable criteria for 

copper that was higher than the total recoverable criteria listed in OAC 3745-1. The available data suggests 

that Maumee Bay near the Bayshore Station is not attaining its designated use, however this assessment is 

based upon data that is more than ten years old and it is likely that impairment is not related to the presence 

of metals such as copper in the waterbody. In addition, the Bayshore Station has not requested any increase 

in permitted load. Therefore, the facility can receive permit limits that maintain all numeric criteria, up to 

their most recently calculated wasteload allocation, without undergoing any further review to ensure that the 

limits for the metals will protect the aquatic life and other uses.

Reasonable Potential

After appropriate effluent limits are calculated by wasteload allocation, the lowest most restrictive average 

and maximum values are selected from Table 8 and are referred to as Preliminary Effluent Limits (PELavg
Factsheet for Bayshore Station NPDES Permit Renewal, March 2010 Page 13 

and PELmax respectively). The reasonable potential of the discharger to exceed the wasteload allocation 

(PEL values) is determined by comparing the PEQavg (Table 5) to the PELavg and the PEQmax to the PELmax

for each parameter. Based on this comparison, each parameter is placed in a defined “group”. Parameters 

that do not have a water quality standard (WQS) or do not require a WLA based on the initial screening are 

assigned to either group 1 or 2. Parameters are assigned to group 3, 4, or 5 depending on how close the PEQ 

value is to the allocated value or PEL. The groupings listed in Tables 9-001 and 9-003 reflect the reasonable 

potential hazard assessment done according to WLA procedures. 

Whole Effluent Toxicity WLA

Whole effluent toxicity or “WET” is the total toxic effect of an effluent on aquatic life measured directly 

with a toxicity test. Acute WET measures short term effects of the effluent while chronic WET measures 

longer term and potentially more subtle effects of the effluent. 

Water Quality Standards for WET are expressed in Ohio’s narrative “free from” WQS rule (OAC 3745-1-

04(D)). These “free froms” are translated into toxicity units (TUs) by the associated WQS Implementation 

Rule (OAC 3745-2-09). Wasteload allocations can then be calculated using TUs as if they were water 

quality criteria. 

The wasteload allocation calculations for WET are similar to those for aquatic life criteria - using the chronic 

toxicity unit (TUc) and 7Q10 flow for the average and the acute toxicity unit (TUa) and 1Q10 flow for the 

maximum for flowing streams. However, in accordance with the Rule 3745-2-09 of the OAC, the AET for 

acute toxicity is set equal to 1.0 TUa for lake dischargers. For the Bayshore Station, the wasteload 

allocations are 1.0 TUa and 11.0 TUc for both outfall 001 and outfall 003. 

Effluent Limits/Hazard Management Decisions

The final effluent limits are determined by evaluating the groupings in conjunction with other applicable 

rules and regulations. Tables 10-001, 10-002, and 10-003 show the draft NPDES permit limits for the 

Bayshore Station. 

Federal and State laws/regulation require that dischargers meet both treatment-technology-based limits 

and any more stringent standards needed to comply with state WQS. Permit limits are based on the more 

restrictive of the two. Treatment-technology-based limits for the Bayshore Station, found in 40 CFR Part 

423, Steam Electric Power Generating Point Source Category, are based on the milligrams of pollutant 

allowed to be discharged per liter. (See Attachment A for technology-based limits applicable to the 

Bayshore Station.) 

The limits and monitoring requirements for each outfall are discussed in detail below and the 

corresponding “Final Effluent Limits” table is referenced. 

 Outfall 001: Table 10-001

The Ohio EPA risk assessment (Table 9-001) places total residual chlorine and silver in Group 5, and 

recommends limits to protect water quality. However, the maximum daily limit of 0.038 mg/l for 

chlorine has not been included in the permit since the Bayshore Station restricts the use of chlorine at 

this outfall to less than two hours per day. (See the discussion below.) 
Page 14 Factsheet for Bayshore Station NPDES Permit Renewal, March 2010 

Silver has also been placed into Group 5 for outfall 001. An analysis conducted in 2008 compared 

the silver concentration of intake water to the concentration in the discharge at outfall 001 from July 

2006 through April 2008. This analysis showed that the discharge concentrations were very similar 

to the intake water concentrations. For this permit renewal, Ohio EPA has determined that the 

presence of silver in the discharge is due to its presence in the intake water. Monitoring for silver at 

outfall 001 has been removed from the permit. 

The Ohio EPA risk assessment places copper in Group 4. This placement as well as the data in 

Tables 4 and 5 indicate that copper should not pose an environmental hazard and limits are not 

necessary to protect water quality. Monitoring for Group 4 parameters is required in accordance with 

the Ohio Administrative Code, and has been included at outfall 001. 

Monitoring for water temperature, total residual oxidants, flow rate, total residual chlorine, and 

duration of chlorination/bromination have been continued in the draft permit. Since the discharge 

from this outfall is non-contact cooling water, it is important to monitor the temperature of the 

wastewater as it enters Lake Erie. Total residual chlorine includes a limit of 0.2 milligrams per liter 

(mg/l), which allows chlorination at this outfall for not more than two hours each day, and is based 

upon the Federal Effluent Guidelines for steam-electric power plants. The limit of 0.05 mg/l for total 

residual oxidants, which is based upon best professional judgement regarding the relative toxicity of 

bromine, allows the Bayshore Station to discharge bromine, or bromine and chlorine compounds for 

not more than two hours per day. 

Several additional parameters with water quality criteria (barium, boron, fluoride, manganese, and 

nitrate+nitrite) were detected in the effluent from outfall 001, but were not allocated since the 

concentration of the pollutant was less than 110 percent of its concentration in the intake water.2 This 

determination has been made in accordance with Rule 3745-2-06 of the Ohio Administrative Code, and 

has been based upon the data reported in the NPDES permit renewal application.

Outfall 002: Table 10-002

In the event that this outfall may be used during the next permit period cycle, total suspended solids, 

flow rate, and pH must be monitored when a discharge occurs. These parameters have been monitored 

under the existing permit, and are required for inclusion in accordance with the Federal Effluent 

Guidelines. Monitoring for mercury has been added to the requirements for this outfall since mercury is 

a common pollutant found in discharges from fly ash ponds. 

Outfall 003: Table 10-003

Loadings at outfall 003 have been determined in the permit by continuing to use a design flow rate of 2.3 

MGD from the bottom ash pond. Average flow rates are less than 2.3 MGD, however, this higher flow 

rate allows the facility to operate at increased throughput levels which does occur at occasion. (See 

Table 2.) 

Silver. The Ohio EPA risk assessment places silver in Group 5. This placement as well as the data in 

Tables 4 and 5 indicate that limits are necessary to protect water quality. Since only two values of silver 

were reported above the daily maximum limit of 5.7 ug/l, the draft permit does not include a compliance 

schedule for meeting this limit. However, Part II of the permit includes a requirement that First Energy 

 

2

 A threshold of 110 percent has been used in order to allow for possible sampling and/or analytical error. 
Factsheet for Bayshore Station NPDES Permit Renewal, March 2010 Page 15 

use an analytical method for silver analysis with a method detection level (MDL) no greater than 1.9 ug/l 

so that monitoring data can be appropriately used to compare with the wasteload allocation of 5.7 ug/l. 

Mercury. The risk assessment also places mercury in Group 5 after November 15, 20103, as 43 out of 44 

samples were greater than the average water quality criterion of 1.3 nanograms per liter (ng/l) since 

January 2006. Based on the results of low-level mercury monitoring, the permittee has determined that 

its discharge at outfall 003 cannot meet the average water quality-based effluent limit (WQBEL) of 1.3 

ng/l, and has applied for coverage under the general mercury variance, Rule 3745-33-07(D)(10) of the 

Ohio Administrative Code. However, the permittee believes that the plant will be able to achieve an 

annual average mercury effluent concentration of 12 ng/l. The variance application also demonstrated to 

the satisfaction of Ohio EPA that there is no readily apparent means of complying with the WQBEL 

without constructing prohibitively expensive end-of-pipe controls for mercury. Based on these factors, 

the permittee is eligible for coverage under the general mercury variance. 

Ohio EPA has reviewed the mercury variance application and has determined that it meets the 

requirements of the Ohio Administrative Code. Items F and G in Part II of the draft NPDES permit list 

the provisions of the mercury variance, and include the following requirements: 

• A variance-based monthly average effluent limit of 11 ng/l, which was developed from sampling 

data submitted by the permittee; 

• A requirement that the permittee make reasonable progress to meet the water-quality-based effluent 

limit for mercury by implementing the plan of study, which has been developed as part of the 

Pollutant Minimization Program (PMP); 

• Low-level mercury monitoring (U.S. EPA Method 1631) of the plant’s influent and effluent; 

• A requirement that the annual average mercury effluent concentration is less than or equal to 12 ng/l 

as specified in the plan of study; 

• A summary of the elements of the plan of study; 

• A requirement to submit an annual report on implementation of the PMP; and 

• A requirement for submittal of a certification stating that all permit conditions related to 

implementing the plan of study and the PMP have been satisfied, and whether or not compliance 

with the monthly average water quality-based effluent limit for mercury has been achieved. 

Part II, Item J. of the permit also includes a list of the information which must be submitted with the next 

permit renewal application to evaluate renewal of the mercury variance. 

Barium, Cadmium, and Thallium. The Ohio EPA risk assessment places barium, cadmium, and 

thallium in group 4. This placement as well as the data in Tables 4 and 5 indicate that these pollutants 

should not pose environmental hazards and limits are not necessary to protect water quality. Monitoring 

for Group 4 parameters is required in accordance with the Ohio Administrative Code and has been 

included in the draft permit. 

 

3

 In November 2010, the use of mixing zones to determine the waste load allocation for bioaccumulative chemicals of 

concern (BCCs) will no longer be allowed. This means that limits for BCCs after November 2010 must meet water 

quality standards with no allowances for dilution. Since mercury is considered a BCC, discharges must comply with 

water quality standards at that time. 
Page 16 Factsheet for Bayshore Station NPDES Permit Renewal, March 2010 

Aluminum, Copper, Lead, Selenium, and Zinc. The Ohio EPA risk assessment places aluminum, 

copper, lead, selenium, and zinc in group 3. This placement as well as the data in Tables 4 and 5 

indicate that these pollutants should not pose environmental hazards and limits are not necessary to 

protect water quality. Monitoring has been included to ensure that concentrations for these pollutants 

remain below levels of concern. A number of other parameters have been placed in Groups 2 and 3, but 

Ohio EPA has determined that monitoring for these parameters is not warranted at this time. 

Total Suspended Solids, Oil & Grease, and pH. The limits and monitoring requirements for the 

remaining parameters have been continued from the existing permit. The limits for total suspended 

solids and oil and grease are based upon the Federal Effluent Guidelines, 40 CFR 423.12(b)(4). The 

limits for pH are based upon Ohio water quality standards. 

Impingement/Entrainment Reductions

The permit includes a compliance schedule which requires First Energy to evaluate alternatives to reduce 

fish impingement and entrainment (I/E) at the Bayshore Station. No later than July 2011, the permittee 

must select an alternative designed to reduce I/E by 80 percent and 60 percent, respectively, from a 

calculation baseline. Construction of improvements to reduce I/E must be completed no later than 

October 2014. The permit also requires sampling to be conducted at the cooling water intake structure to 

determine the effectiveness of the I/E reduction implementation. 

Whole Effluent Toxicity Reasonable Potential 

During the term of the existing permit, the Bayshore Station reported two test results at outfall 003 for 

Ceriodaphnia dubia and fathead minnows which indicated no evidence of acute toxicity. Based upon 

these findings, Ohio EPA believes that biomonitoring at outfall 003 is not warranted at this time and has 

been removed from the draft permit. 
Factsheet for Bayshore Station NPDES Permit Renewal, March 2010 Page 17

Table 3. Concentrations of Chemicals Found in Effluent and Intake

 2008 Permit Application Renewal Form 2C 

 ------------------------------------Effluent------------------- 

Parameter No. of Samples Average* Maximum 

Outfall 001

Aluminum (ug/l) 1 3240. 

Arsenic (ug/l) 1 16. 

Barium (ug/l) 1 49. 

Boron (ug/l) 1 56. 

Copper (ug/l) 1 4. 

Cyanide, Total (mg/l) 4 0.01 

Fluoride (mg/l) 1 0.3 

Iron (ug/l) 1 1950. 

Magnesium (mg/l) 1 19.59 

Manganese (ug/l) 1 50. 

Molybdenum (ug/l) 1 11. 

Nitrate-Nitrite as N (mg/l) 1 2.68 

Nitrogen, Total Organic as N (mg/l) 1 1.32

Phosphorus (mg/l) 1 0.22 

Sulfate (mg/l) 1 48.4 

Titanium (mg/l) 1 103. 

Outfall 002 

Aluminum (ug/l) 1 984. 

Antimony (ug/l) 1 8. 

Arsenic (ug/l) 1 29. 

Barium (ug/l) 1 74. 

Boron (ug/l) 1 1116. 

Fluoride (mg/l) 1 0.3 

Iron (ug/l) 1 38. 

Magnesium (mg/l) 1 27.27 

Manganese (ug/l) 1 60. 

Nitrate-Nitrite as N (mg/l) 1 0.14 

Nitrogen, Total Organic as N (mg/l) 1 0.28

Phosphorus (mg/l) 1 0.26 

Sulfate (mg/l) 1 373. 

Titanium (ug/l) 1 54. 

Outfall 003 

Aluminum (ug/l) 1 4010. 

Antimony (ug/l) 1 5. 

Arsenic (ug/l) 1 16. 

Barium (ug/l) 1 199. 

Boron (ug/l) 1 186. 

Chromium (ug/l) 1 6. 

Copper (ug/l) 1 5. 
Page 18 Factsheet for Bayshore Station NPDES Permit Renewal, March 2010 

Table 3. Concentrations of Chemicals Found in Effluent and Intake (continued)

 2008 Permit Application Renewal Form 2C 

 --------------------------Effluent---------------------------- 

Parameter No. of Samples Average* Maximum 

Outfall 003 (continued) 

Fluoride (mg/l) 1 0.3 

Iron (ug/l) 1 1680. 

Magnesium (mg/l) 1 17.59 

Manganese (ug/l) 1 40. 

Nitrate-Nitrite as N (mg/l) 1 2.88 

Nitrogen, Total Organic as N (mg/l) 1 0.62

Phosphorus (mg/l) 1 0.16 

Sulfate (mg/l) 1 66.9 

Titanium (ug/l) 1 112. 

Outfall 800

 

Aluminum (ug/l) 1 1520. 

Antimony (ug/l) 1 5. 

Arsenic (ug/l) 1 3. 

Barium (ug/l) 1 45. 

Boron (ug/l) 1 65. 

Copper (ug/l) 1 2. 

Fluoride (mg/l) 1 0.3 

Iron (ug/l) 1 1670. 

Magnesium (mg/l) 1 18.72 

Manganese (ug/l) 1 50. 

Nitrate-Nitrite as N (mg/l) 1 2.57 

Nitrogen, Total Organic as N (mg/l) 1 0.98

Phosphorus (mg/l) 1 0.21 

Sulfate (mg/l) 1 49.1 

Titanium (ug/l) 1 74. 
Factsheet for Bayshore Station NPDES Permit Renewal, March 2010 Page 19

Table 4. Effluent Characterization and Decision Criteria: January 2006 – November 200

Summary of analytical results for Outfalls 001, 002, 003, 601, and 800. All values are in μg/l unless otherwise indicated. ND = belimit); NA = not analyzed. Decision Criteria: PEQavg = monthly averages; PEQmax = daily maximum analytical results.

Current Permit 

Limits Percentiles 

Parameter Season Units 30 day Daily # Obs. 50th 95th Data Range Outfall 001

Water Temperature Annual C Monitor only 1371 15.7 31.8 5.7-34.5 

Dissolved Oxygen Summer mg/l Monitor only 23 9.2 10.1 5.7-10.4 Dissolved Oxygen Winter mg/l Monitor only 22 9.9 10.7 8.4-18 Dissolved Oxygen Summer kg/day 23 24000 27600 16100-28200 Dissolved Oxygen Winter kg/day 22 27700 30200 14000-50800 Silver, Total Recoverable Annual ug/l Monitor only 28 0 5.54 0-7 Silver, Total Recoverable Annual kg/day 28 0 15 0-19.8 Zinc, Total Recoverable Annual ug/l Monitor only 29 9.1 43.1 0-59.2 Zinc, Total Recoverable Annual kg/day 29 22.6 111 0-167 Flow Rate Summer MGD 705 746 746 377-746 Flow Rate Winter MGD 666 746 746 281-746 Flow Rate Annual MGD Monitor only 1371 746 746 281-746 Chlorine, Total Residual Annual mg/l -- 0.2 561 0.03 0.1 0-0.19 Chlorine, Total Residual Annual kg/day 561 63.8 254 0-536 Chlorination/Bromination Duration Annual Minutes -- 120 833 0 90 0-90 Outfall 002

Total Suspended Solids Annual mg/l Monitor only 130 10.5 90.2 0-270 

Total Suspended Solids Annual kg/day 130 4.52 71.2 0-161 Flow Rate Summer MGD 53 0.07 0.184 0.01-0.19 Flow Rate Winter MGD 81 0.15 0.39 0.02-0.4 
Page 20 Factsheet for Bayshore Station NPDES Permit Renewal, March 2010 

Table 4. Effluent Characterization and Decision Criteria: January 2006 – November 200

Summary of analytical results for Outfalls 001, 002, 003, 601, and 800. All values are in 

μg/l unless otherwise indicated. ND = be

limit); NA = not analyzed. Decision Criteria: PEQavg = monthly averages; PEQmax = daily maximum analytical results.

Current Permit 

Limits Percentiles 

Parameter Season Units 30 day Daily # Obs. 50th 95th Data Range Flow Rate Annual MGD Monitor only 134 0.11 0.39 0.01-0.4 pH, Maximum Annual S.U. Monitor only 130 7.36 7.94 6.6-8.26 pH, Minimum Annual S.U. Monitor only 129 7.36 7.94 6.6-8.26 Outfall 003

Total Suspended Solids Annual mg/l 30 100 429 4 42.6 0-95 

Total Suspended Solids Annual kg/day 261 871 429 15.1 235 0-611 Oil and Grease, Total Annual mg/l 15 20 47 0 0 0-0 

Oil and Grease, Total Annual kg/day 131 174 47 0 0 0-0 Selenium, Total Recoverable Annual ug/l Monitor only 194 0 17.4 0-125 Selenium, Total Recoverable Annual kg/day 194 0 0.101 0-0.628 Thallium, Total Recoverable Annual ug/l Monitor only 43 0 0 0-34.6 Thallium, Total Recoverable Annual kg/day 43 0 0 0-0.134 Beryllium, Total Recoverable Annual ug/l Monitor only 10 0 2.42 0-4.4 Beryllium, Total Recoverable Annual kg/day 10 0 0.00916 0-0.0167 Silver, Total Recoverable Annual ug/l Monitor only 190 0 6.41 0-31.8 Silver, Total Recoverable Annual kg/day 190 0 0.0309 0-0.165 Zinc, Total Recoverable Annual ug/l Monitor only 194 10 47.7 0-176 Zinc, Total Recoverable Annual kg/day 194 0.0325 0.259 0-0.855 Aluminum, Total Recoverable Annual ug/l Monitor only 20 3310 12600 974-21000 Aluminum, Total Recoverable Annual kg/day 20 16.2 87.6 3.07-89.8 Cadmium, Total Recoverable Annual ug/l 6 0 3.23 0-4.3 Cadmium, Total Recoverable Annual kg/day 6 0 0.0122 0-0.0163 Lead, Total Recoverable Annual ug/l Monitor only 194 0 8.21 0-102 
Factsheet for Bayshore Station NPDES Permit Renewal, March 2010 Page 21

Table 4. Effluent Characterization and Decision Criteria: January 2006 – November 200

Summary of analytical results for Outfalls 001, 002, 003, 601, and 800. All values are in μg/l unless otherwise indicated. ND = belimit); NA = not analyzed. Decision Criteria: PEQavg = monthly averages; PEQmax = daily maximum analytical results.

Current Permit 

Limits Percentiles 

Parameter Season Units 30 day Daily # Obs. 50th 95th Data Range Lead, Total Recoverable Annual kg/day 194 0 0.0461 0-0.309 Copper, Total Recoverable Annual ug/l Monitor only 193 6.6 19.4 0-34.4 Copper, Total Recoverable Annual kg/day 193 0.0254 0.101 0-0.202 Flow Rate Summer MGD 679 1.3 2 0-3.5 Flow Rate Winter MGD 585 1.1 1.9 0.1-5.3 Flow Rate Annual MGD Monitor only 1264 1.2 1.99 0-5.3 Mercury, Total (Low Level) Annual ng/l 1.3 1700 45 4.7 16.7 1.04-53.1 Mercury, Total (Low Level) Annual kg/day 0.000011 0.015 45 

1.95E05 4.79E- 05 0.00000339- 0.000261 

Acute Toxicity, Ceriodaphnia dubia Annual TUa Monitor only 2 0 0 0-0 Acute Toxicity, Pimephales promelas Annual TUa Monitor only 2 0 0 0-0 pH, Maximum Annual S.U. Not more than 9.0 940 8.33 8.8 6.5-9.36 pH, Minimum Annual S.U. Not less than 6.5 939 8.32 8.8 6.5-9.36 Outfall 601

Mercury, Total (Low Level) Annual ng/l Monitor only 28 18.6 95.1 1.34-114 

Outfall 800

Water Temperature Annual C Monitor only 1371 10.7 27.9 0-33.4 

Total Suspended Solids Annual mg/l Monitor only 950 58 227 1-814 
Page 22 Factsheet for Bayshore Station NPDES Permit Renewal, March 2010

Table 5. Effluent Data for the Bayshore Power Plant 

 Number of Number > PEQ PEQ 

Parameter Units Samples MDL Average Maximum 

Outfall 001

Arsenic – TR * ug/l 1 1 72.416 99.2 

Chlorine - TRes mg/l 561 507 0.0558 0.122 

Copper – TR * ug/l 1 1 18.104 24.8 

Iron – TR * ug/l 1 1 8825.7 12090 

Molybdenum * ug/l 1 1 49.786 68.2 

Silver ug/l 28 9 6.132 8.4 

Titanium * ug/l 1 1 466.178 638.6 

Zinc - TR ug/l 29 19 41.745 70.403 

Outfall 003

Aluminum ug/l 20 20 11067 18914 

Antimony * ug/l 1 1 22.63 31 

Arsenic – TR * ug/l 1 1 72.416 99.2 

Barium * ug/l 1 1 900.674 1233.8 

Beryllium ug/l 8 1 6.1028 8.36 

Boron * ug/l 1 1 841.836 1153.2 

Cadmium - TR ug/l 6 1 6.5919 9.03 

Chromium – TR* ug/l 1 1 27.156 37.2 

Copper - TR ug/l 193 145 16.459 24.696 

Fluoride * mg/l 1 1 1.3578 1.86 

Iron - TR* ug/l 1 1 7603.68 10416 

Lead - TR ug/l 193 87 6.4811 9.7915 

Magnesium * mg/l 1 1 79.61234 109.058 

Manganese – TR * ug/l 1 1 181.04 248 

Mercury - TR ng/l 44 44 11.026 17.242 

Nitrate-N + Nitrite-N * mg/l 1 1 13.03488 17.856 

Phosphorus * mg/l 1 1 0.72416 0.992 

Selenium - TR ug/l 190 7 24.869 26.442 

Silver ug/l 190 60 6.5706 8.7069 

Sulfates * mg/l 1 1 302.7894 414.78 

Thallium ug/l 43 2 27.7838 38.06 

Titanium * ug/l 1 1 506.912 694.4 

Zinc - TR ug/l 194 115 40.229 60.096 

* The dataset for this parameter is based upon the NPDES permit renewal application.
Factsheet for Bayshore Station NPDES Permit Renewal, March 2010 Page 23

Table 6. Water Quality Criteria in the Study Area 

 Outside Mixing Zone Criteria Inside 

 Average Maximum Mixing 

 Human Agri- Aquatic Aquatic Zone 

Parameter Units Wildlife Health culture Life Life Maximum

Aluminum ug/l -- 4500 -- -- -- -- 

Arsenic - TR ug/l -- 580 100 150 340 680 

Antimony ug/l -- 780 -- 190 900 1800 

Barium ug/l -- 160000 -- 220 2000 4000 

Beryllium ug/l -- 130c 100 19 160 320 

Boron ug/l -- 200000 -- 950 8500 17000 

Cadmium - TR ug/l -- 730 50 3.2 6.6 13 

Chlorine - TRes mg/l -- -- -- 0.011 0.019 0.038 

Chromium - TR ug/l -- 14000 100 110 2400 4800 

Copper – TR ug/l -- 64000 500 12 19 38 

Copper – TR 1 ug/l -- 64000 500 25 38 77 

Fluoride mg/l -- -- 2 -- -- -- 

Iron - TR ug/l -- -- 5000 -- -- -- 

Lead - TR ug/l -- -- 100 9.9 190 380 

Magnesium mg/l -- -- -- -- -- -- 

Manganese - TR ug/l -- 61000 -- -- -- -- 

Mercury - TR ng/l 1.3 3.1 10000 910 1700 3400 

Molybdenum ug/l -- 10000 -- 20000 190000 370000 

Nitrate-N + Nitrite-N mg/l -- -- 100 -- -- -- 

Phosphorus mg/l -- -- -- -- -- -- 

Selenium - TR ug/l -- 3100 50 5 -- -- 

Silver ug/l -- 11000 -- 1.3 2.9 5.7 

Sulfates mg/l -- -- -- -- -- -- 

Thallium ug/l -- 3.7 -- 17 79 160 

Titanium ug/l -- -- -- -- -- -- 

Zinc - TR ug/l -- 35000 25000 160 160 320 

1

 Water quality criteria which is applicable to outfall 003. Aquatic life criteria is based upon a dissolved metal translator 

(DMT). See Table 7 for value of DMT. 
Page 24 Factsheet for Bayshore Station NPDES Permit Renewal, March 2010

Table 7. Instream Conditions and Discharger Flow 

Parameter Units Season Value Basis

Hardness mg/l annual 140 50th percentile statewide value * 

Bayshore Power Plant 

flow 

 Outfall 001 cfs annual 1154 DMR data, 50th percentile value 

 Outfall 003 cfs annual 3.56 Previous WLA 

Background Water Quality 

Arsenic - TR ug/l 0 No representative data available. 

Chlorine - TRes mg/l 0 No representative data available. 

Copper - TR ug/l 5 n=2867; 1597<MDL * 

Iron - TR ug/l 650 n=3018; 15<MDL * 

Molybdenum ug/l 0 No representative data available. 

Silver ug/l 0 No representative data available. 

Titanium ug/l 0 No representative data available. 

Zinc - TR ug/l 15 n=2284; 1117<MDL * 

Aluminum ug/l 330 n=640; 146<MDL * 

Antimony ug/l 0 No representative data available. 

Arsenic - TR ug/l 0 No representative data available. 

Barium ug/l 68 n=1728; 0<MDL ** 

Beryllium ug/l 0 No representative data available. 

Boron ug/l 0 No representative data available. 

Cadmium - TR ug/l 0.25 n=1696; 1365<MDL * 

Chromium - TR ug/l 15 n=1641; 1388<MDL * 

Copper - TR ug/l 5 n=2867; 1597<MDL * 

Fluoride mg/l 0 No representative data available. 

Iron - TR ug/l 650 n=3018; 15<MDL * 

Lead - TR ug/l 2 n=2814; 1458<MDL * 

Magnesium mg/l 22.5 n=2604; 3<MDL * 
Factsheet for Bayshore Station NPDES Permit Renewal, March 2010 Page 25

Table 7. Instream Conditions and Discharger Flow 

Parameter Units Season Value Basis

Manganese - TR ug/l 0 No representative data available. 

Mercury - TR ng/l 0 No representative data available. 

Nitrate-N + Nitrite-N mg/l 0.73 n=5852; 515<MDL * 

Phosphorus mg/l 0.06 n=5820; 1769<MDL * 

Selenium - TR ug/l 0 No representative data available. 

Silver ug/l 0 No representative data available. 

Sulfates mg/l 0 No representative data available. 

Thallium ug/l 0 No representative data available. 

Titanium ug/l 0 No representative data available. 

Zinc - TR ug/l 15 n=2284; 1117<MDL * 

Dissolved Metal Translator 

 Copper 2.08 First Energy study (2008) 

* “BWQR” means Background Water Quality Report, samples taken through February 1988, and the value shown 

represents the statewide 50th percentile estimate. 

** The background value for this parameter is based upon the statewide 50th percentile for reference sites sampled in 

Ohio from 1999 through 2003.
Page 26 Factsheet for Bayshore Station NPDES Permit Renewal, March 2010

Table 8. Summary of Effluent Limits to Maintain Applicable WQ Criteria 

 Outside Mixing Zone Criteria Inside 

 Average Maximum Mixing 

 Human Agri- Aquatic Aquatic Zone 

Parameter Units Wildlife Health culture Life Life Maximum 

Outfall 001

Arsenic - TR ug/l -- 6380 3 1100 3 1650 3 -- 680 

Chlorine - TRes mg/l -- -- -- 0.12 3 -- 0.038 

Copper - TR ug/l -- 7039503 5450 3 82 3 -- 38 

Iron - TR ug/l -- -- 48500 -- -- -- 

Molybdenum ug/l -- 110000 -- 220000 -- 370000 

Silver ug/l -- 1210003 -- 143 -- 5.7 

Titanium ug/l -- -- -- -- -- -- 

Zinc - TR ug/l -- 3848503

 2748503 16103 -- 320 

Outfall 003

Aluminum ug/l -- 46200 -- -- -- -- 

Antimony ug/l -- 85803 -- 20903 -- 1800 

Arsenic - TR ug/l -- 63803 11003 16503 -- 680 

Barium ug/l -- 17593203 -- 1740 -- 4000 

Beryllium ug/l -- 14303 11003 209 -- 320 

Boron ug/l -- 22000003 -- 10450 -- 17000 

Cadmium - TR ug/l -- 80283 5483 333 -- 13 

Chromium - TR ug/l -- 1538503 950 1060 -- 4800 

Copper - TR ug/l -- 7039503 54503 2253 -- 77 

Fluoride mg/l -- -- 22 -- -- -- 

Iron - TR ug/l -- -- 48500 -- -- -- 

Lead - TR ug/l -- -- 10803 89 -- 380 

Magnesium mg/l -- -- -- -- -- -- 

Manganese - TR ug/l -- 671000 -- -- -- -- 

Mercury - TR 1 ng/l 14 34 1100003 100103 -- 3400 

Mercury - TR 2

 ng/l 1.3 3.1 100003 910 -- 3400 

Nitrate-N + Nitrite-N mg/l -- -- 1093 -- -- -- 

Phosphorus mg/l -- -- -- -- -- -- 

Selenium - TR ug/l -- 34100 550 55 -- -- 

Silver ug/l -- 1210003 -- 143 -- 5.7 

Sulfates mg/l -- -- -- -- -- -- 

Thallium ug/l -- 41 -- 1873 -- 160 

Titanium ug/l -- -- -- -- -- -- 

Zinc - TR ug/l -- 3848503 2748503 16103 -- 320 

1

 These wasteload allocations are in effect until November 1, 2010, when mixing zones can no longer be used for 

developing wasteload allocations for bioaccumulative chemicals of concern such as mercury. 

2

 These wasteload allocations are in effect after November 1, 2010, when mixing zones can no longer be used for 

developing wasteload allocations for bioaccumulative chemicals of concern such as mercury. 

3

 Wasteload allocations can not exceed the inside mixing zone maximum. 
Factsheet for Bayshore Station NPDES Permit Renewal, March 2010 Page 27

Table 9-001. Parameter Assessment for Outfall 001

 

Group 1: Due to a lack of criteria, the following parameters could not be evaluated at this time. 

Titanium 

Group 2: PEQ < 25 percent of WQS or all data below minimum detection limit. 

WLA not required. No limit recommended; monitoring optional. 

Molybdenum 

Group 3: PEQmax < 50 percent of maximum PEL and PEQavg < 50 percent of average PEL. 

No limit recommended; monitoring optional. 

Arsenic - TR Iron - TR Zinc - TR 

Group 4: PEQmax >= 50 percent, but < 100 percent of the maximum PEL or 

PEQavg >= 50 percent, but < 100 percent of the average PEL. Monitoring is appropriate. 

Copper - TR 

Group 5: Maximum PEQ >= 100 percent of the maximum PEL or average PEQ >= 100 

percent of the average PEL, or either the average or maximum PEQ is between 75 

and 100 percent of the PEL and certain conditions that increase the risk to the 

environment are present. Limit recommended. 

Limits to Protect Numeric Water Quality Criteria

Recommended Effluent Limits

Parameter Units Period Average Maximum

Chlorine - TRes mg/l -- 0.038 

Silver ug/l -- 5.7 
Page 28 Factsheet for Bayshore Station NPDES Permit Renewal, March 2010

Table 9-003. Parameter Assessment for Outfall 003

 

Group 1: Due to a lack of criteria, the following parameters could not be evaluated at this time. 

Magnesium Phosphorus Sulfates 

Titanium 

Group 2: PEQ < 25 percent of WQS or all data below minimum detection limit. 

WLA not required. No limit recommended; monitoring 

optional. 

Antimony Manganese - TR Nitrate-N + Nitrite-N 

Group 3: PEQmax < 50 percent of maximum PEL and PEQavg < 50 percent of average PEL. 

No limit recommended; monitoring 

optional. 

Aluminum Arsenic - TR Beryllium 

Boron Chromium - TR Copper - TR 

Fluoride Iron - TR Lead - TR 

Selenium - TR Zinc - TR 

Group 4: PEQmax >= 50 percent, but < 100 percent of the maximum PEL or

PEQavg >= 50 percent, but < 100 percent of the average PEL. Monitoring is 

appropriate. 

Barium Cadmium - TR Mercury - TR 1 

Thallium 

Group 5: Maximum PEQ >= 100 percent of the maximum PEL or average PEQ >= 100 

percent of the average PEL, or either the average or maximum PEQ is between 75 

and 100 percent of the PEL and certain conditions that increase the risk to the 

environment are present. Limit recommended. 

Limits to Protect Numeric Water Quality Criteria

Recommended Effluent Limits

Parameter Units Period Average Maximum

Mercury - TR 2 ng/l 1.3 3400 

Silver ug/l -- 5.7 

1

 This grouping is in effect until November 1, 2010, when mixing zones can no longer be used for 

developing wasteload allocations for bioaccumulative chemicals of concern such as mercury. 

2

 This grouping is in effect after November 1, 2010, when mixing zones can no longer be used for 

developing wasteload allocations for bioaccumulative chemicals of concern such as mercury. 
Factsheet for Bayshore Station NPDES Permit Renewal, March 2010 Page 29

Table 10-001. Final Effluent Limits and Monitoring Requirements for Outfall 001

 

 Effluent Limits

 Concentration Loading (kg/day)a

 30 Day Daily 30 Day Daily 

Parameter Units Average Maximum Average Maximum Basisb

Water Temperature EC - - - - - - - - - - - - Monitor - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - EP/Mc 

Dissolved Oxygen mg/l - - - - - - - - - - - - Monitor - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - EP/Mc 

Copper, Tot. Rec. μg/l - - - - - - - - - - - - Monitor - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - WLA 

Oxidants, Tot. Res. mg/l -- 0.05 -- -- EP/Mc

Flow MGD - - - - - - - - - - - - Monitor - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - EP/Mc 

Chlorine, Total Residual mg/l -- 0.2 -- -- EP 

Chlorination/Bromination 

 minutes -- 120 -- -- EP 

a Loadings based upon an effluent flow rate of 746 MGD.

b,c See page 29 for definition of terms and explanation of monitoring requirements.

Table 10-002. Final Effluent Limits and Monitoring Requirements for Outfall 002

 

 Effluent Limits

 Concentration Loading (kg/day)a

 30 Day Daily 30 Day Daily 

Parameter Units Average Maximum Average Maximum Basisb

Suspended Solids mg/l - - - - - - - - - - - - Monitor - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Mc /EP 

Flow rate MGD - - - - - - - - - - - - Monitor - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Mc 

Mercury, Tot. Rec. ng/l - - - - - - - - - - - - Monitor - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - BPJ 

pH S.U. - - - - - - - - - - - 6.5 to 9.0 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -WQS 

b,c See page 29 for definition of terms and explanation of monitoring requirements.
Page 30 Factsheet for Bayshore Station NPDES Permit Renewal, March 2010

Table 10-003. Final Effluent Limits and Monitoring Requirements for Outfall 003

 

 Effluent Limits

 Concentration Loading (kg/day)a

 30 Day Daily 30 Day Daily 

Parameter Units Average Maximum Average Maximum Basisb

Suspended Solids mg/l 30 100 261 871 EP/BPT 

Oil and Grease mg/l 15 20 131 174 EP/BPT 

Selenium, tot. rec. μg/l - - - - - - - - - - - - Monitor - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - EP/WLA 

Barium, tot. rec. μg/l - - - - - - - - - - - - Monitor - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - WLA 

Thallium, tot. rec. μg/l - - - - - - - - - - - - Monitor - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - EP/WLA 

Silver, tot. rec. μg/l -- 5.7 -- 0.050 RP 

Zinc, tot. rec. μg/l - - - - - - - - - - - - Monitor - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - EP/WLA 

Aluminum, tot. rec. μg/l - - - - - - - - - - - - Monitor - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - EP/RP 

Lead, tot. rec. μg/l - - - - - - - - - - - - Monitor - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - EP/WLA 

Cadmium, tot. rec. μg/l - - - - - - - - - - - - Monitor - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - WLA 

Copper, tot. rec. μg/l - - - - - - - - - - - - Monitor - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - WLA 

Flow MGD - - - - - - - - - - - - Monitor - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Mc 

Mercury, tot. rec. ng/l 11. 1700 0.000096 0.015 MVAR/EP 

pH S.U. - - - - - - - - - - - - - 6.5 to 9.0 - - - - - - - - - - - - - EP/WQS 

a Loadings based upon an effluent flow rate of 2.3 MGD.

b

 Definitions: ABS = Antibacksliding Rule (OAC 3745-33-05(E) and 40 CFR Part 

 122.44(l)); 

 AD = Antidegradation (OAC 3745-1-05); 

BAT = Best Available Technology economically achievable, Federal Effluent 

 Guidelines, 40 CFR Part 414; 

BPJ = Best Professional Judgment; 

 BPT = Best Practicable control Technology currently available, Federal 

 Effluent Guidelines, 40 CFR, Part 414; 

EP = Existing Permit; 

M = Division of Surface Water Guidance #2, “National Pollutant Discharge 

 Elimination System: Determination of Sampling Frequency Formula 

 for Industrial Waste Discharges” recommends monitoring for this 

 parameter; 

 MVAR = Mercury Variance-based limit [OAC 3745-33-07(D)(10)]; 

PD = Plant Design Criteria; 

RP = Reasonable Potential for exceeding water quality standards, and 

 requiring water quality-based effluent limits and monitoring 

 requirements in NPDES permits (3745-33-07(A)); 

WET = Whole Effluent Toxicity (OAC 3745-33-07(B)) ; 

WLA = Wasteload Allocation procedures (OAC 3745-2); 

WLA/IMZM = Wasteload Allocation limited by Inside Mixing Zone 

 Maximum; 

 WQS = Ohio Water Quality Standards (OAC 3745-1). 

c

 Monitoring of flow and other indicator parameters is specified to assist in the evaluation of effluent quality and treatment 

plant performance. 
Factsheet for Bayshore Station NPDES Permit Renewal, March 2010 Page 31

Attachment A. Federal Effluent Guidelines Applicable to the Bayshore Station 

40 CFR, Part 423 Steam Electric Power Generating Point Source Category

 Section 423.12(b)(3) Low Volume Waste Sources 

 Best Practicable Control Technology Available (BPT) 

 ------------------- (mg/l) ------------------------ 

 Parameter Daily Maximum 30-Day Average

 Total Suspended Solids 100.0 30.0 

 Oil & Grease 20.0 15.0 

Section 423.12(b)(4) Fly Ash and Bottom Ash Transport Water 

 Best Practicable Control Technology Available (BPT) 

 ------------------- (mg/l) ------------------------ 

 Parameter Daily Maximum 30-Day Average

 Total Suspended Solids 100.0 30.0 

 Oil & Grease 20.0 15.0 

Section 423.13(b) Once-through Cooling Water 

 Best Available Technology Economically Achievable (BPT) 

 ------------------- (mg/l) ------------------------ 

 Parameter Daily Maximum 30-Day Average

 Total Residual Chlorine 0.20 --