Project No.: 0172.07.029.030 DISTRIBUTION

Page _1 _ of __1

_

Project Name: Steam Electric Rulemaking

TELEPHONE CALL RECORD

Outgoing Call Date: 12/02/09 Time: 2:30 pm EST

Company Name: Reliant Energy
Conemaugh Power Plant Contact Name: Rich Beer

Phone No.:(724) 235-4596

Name: Lydia Lambert and TJ Finseth Eastern Research Group

GENERAL SUBJECT : FGD Systems and FGD Wastewater Treatment Systems Operation and Verification

TOPICS DISCUSSED AND ACTION TAKEN

On Wednesday, December 2, 2009 at 2:20 PM I attempted to contact Mr. Rich Beer. I left Mr. Beer a message explaining that I was calling to confirm the operati on of the FGD systems and FGD wastewater treatment system at the Conemaugh power plant. I made contact with Mr. Beer at 2:30 PM on December 2, 2009 when he returned my phone call. Some information discussed dur ing the call is not included in this document because it

was identified as confid ential business information.

Mr. Beer confirmed that Units 1 and 2 operate a total of five limestone forced oxidation FGD systems, which

includes two FGD scrubbers for each unit and one redundant scrubber.

Mr. Beer confirmed that dibasic acid (DBA) is added to the FGD systems. Mr. Beer stated that the plant switched to adipic acid for a period of time because DB A was becoming increasing expensive and was not costeffective anymore. Mr. Beer stated that the plant may switch back to using DBA in the future as the price has been decreasing. Mr. Beer stated that he does not know which additive they will be using between April and

November 2010.

Mr. Beer confirmed that the pl ant does not have plans to in stall any new units in 2010.

Mr. Beer stated that Units 1 and 2 do not operate SCRs and SNCRs. Mr. Beer stated that the units only operate

low NOx burners.

Mr. Beer confirmed that the FGD wastewater treatmen t system consists of the following treatment steps:

 Surge tank;

 Industrial waste treatment syst em (hydrated lime addition);

 Primary clarifier (ferric chloride, s odium sulfate, and polymer addition);

 Secondary clarifier

 pH adjustment sump ( carbon dioxide addition);

 Sequencing batch reactors (dipotassium phos phate and defoaming agent addition);

 Clearwell or holding tank; and

 Sand filters.

Mr. Beer explained that FGD wastewater treatment system bega n operating in 1995 when the Unit 1 FGD system began operating.Mr. Beer explained that Graver Equipment is the co mpany that built the FGD wastewater treatment system.

Mr. Beer confirmed that the FGD wastewater treatm ent system ultimately discharges into the Conemaugh

River.

Mr. Beer explained that the FGD wastewater treatment system is tryi ng to optimize the removal of metals and organic acids (e.g., BOD).

Mr. Beer explained that th e FGD wastewater treatment system is ach ieving the pollutant concentration levels required in the plant’s NPDES pe rmit. These limits include:

 Beryllium (average: 0.008 mg/L , maximum: 0.06 mg/L);

 Copper (average: 0.045 mg/L , maximum: 0.09 mg/L);

 Lead (average: 0.1 mg/L, maximum: 0.2 mg/L);

 Mercury (average: 0.004 mg/L , maximum: 0.008 mg/L); and

 Selenium (average: 2.8 mg /L, maximum: 5.6 mg/L)

Mr. Beer stated the limits are set on the FGD wastewater treatment system effluent, which is an internal monitoring point.

Mr. Beer stated that the plant is planning to make changes to the opera tion of the FGD wastewater treatment system. Mr. Beer explained that they have a consent decr ee that requires that they make changes to the system by February 2011. Mr. Beer stated that the plant is still assessing the ch anges that need to be made, and therefore cannot currently disclose specifi c information regarding the changes.

Mr. Beer confirmed that the FGD wastewater tr eatment system only treats FGD wastewater.

Mr. Beer explained that the typical flow of the wastewater treatment system is around 180 gallons per minute (gpm).

Mr. Beer confirmed that the FGD wastewater treatment system operates continuously. However, the treatment system discharges in batch mode. Mr. Beer explained that the sequencing batch r eactors are a batch operation that discharges for 45 minut es every 3 to 3.5 hours.