Document ID: EPA-HQ-OW-2008-0667-0047
Agency: epa
Document Type: Supporting & Related Material
Title: 
Posted Date: 2010-11-15T05:00Z

Site Visit Report

	Quindaro Power Station
	3601 North 12[th] Street
	Kansas City, KS 66104
      March 3, 2009

1.0 Background and Objectives

      The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is in the process of developing 316(b) cooling water intake structure requirements that reflect the best technology available (BTA) for minimizing adverse environmental impact for all existing power plants and manufacturing facilities.  As part of this process, EPA staff is visiting electric generators and manufacturers to better understand the cooling water intake structure (CWIS) technologies in use at typical facilities, including the site-specific characteristics of each facility and how these affect the selection and performance of CWIS technologies.  EPA is also visiting facilities to better understand cooling water use and specific issues or technologies that can affect 316(b) compliance.  Quindaro was selected for a site visit due to its location on a large freshwater river.

2.0 Facility Description

      The Quindaro Power Plant is owned and operated by the Kansas City Board of Public Utilities (BPU) and is located in Kansas City, Kansas along the Missouri River.  The facility is located on approximately 200 acres.  The Quindaro Power Plant employs approximately 100 people.
      
      Cooling and process water withdrawals from and wastewater discharges to the Missouri River are regulated under NPDES permit number KS0080942 which expired on December 31, 2008.  Quindaro submitted its NPDES permit application in a timely manner and is awaiting renewal of its permit by the state.
        
3.0 Electricity Generation and Transmission
      
      The Quindaro Power Plant has two generating units.  Units 1 and 2 have a generating capacity of 145 MW and 83 MW, respectively.  Unit 1 is a baseload unit, while Unit 2 tends to be load-following.  The overall capacity utilization rate (CUR) at Quindaro is approximately 76%.  The fuel source for Unit 1 (a cyclone blower) is crushed coal while the fuel source for Unit 2 is pulverized coal.  Both units utilize Powder River Basin coal from Wyoming.  Quindaro also has three combustion turbines onsite.

4.0 Cooling Water System and Intake Structure

      Quindaro has one CWIS that provides once-through cooling water for both generating units.  The CWIS is fitted with a trash rack and four standard (i.e., coarse mesh 3/8") traveling screens (two for each generating unit).  In addition, four circulating water pumps (one per screen) provide 70 MGD each of cooling water to each generating unit, for a total design intake flow (DIF) of 280 million gallons per day (mgd).  The through-screen velocity is 4.4 feet per second (fps).  The screens rotate either on a timer or when the pressure differential across the screen reaches a specified amount allowing for cleaning with a high pressure spray that flows into a debris trough which discharges to the Missouri River.  
      
      Facility representatives indicated they have had no issues with the CWIS or screen operation.  However, they indicated mud accumulation can occur.  In addition, as necessary, Quindaro introduces warm water prior to the CWIS which effectively prevents icing.  It does not add biocides.  Quindaro does not have regularly scheduled overhaul or maintenance periods for the CWIS.  Rather, it performs CWIS maintenance and rebuild on an as-needed basis.
      
      The depth of the Missouri River is controlled by the Army Corps of Engineers.  During low river depth conditions (winter), Quindaro lacks an adequate cooling water supply for both units.  In an effort to boost water intake during low flow conditions, Quindaro installs additional temporary pumps to supplement cooling water intake.  Quindaro indicated that the supplemental pumps solved their low water level issue.  They noted little problem with their operation, but that sand is sometimes an issue with the supplemental pumps.
      
      Quindaro's CWIS also withdraws cooling water for auxiliary cooling requirements so it withdraws water even when the generating units are not operating.  By design, Quindaro has strainers on its auxiliary cooling system.  

5.0 Impingement and Entrainment Information
      
      Quindaro collected impingement samples in 2005.  During the sampling period, Quindaro conducted 24 hour impingement sampling every other week for a year for a total of 24 sampling events. 
      
      In total, Quindaro impinged 91 fish accounting for 14 species during the sampling events.  Freshwater drum accounted for 45% of the impinged fish.  Based on these sampling results, Quindaro estimates its annual impingement mortality to be 1,360 fish (or approximately 1,100 if gizzard shad are removed from the count).  This figure has not been adjusted to account for moribund species such as gizzard shad.
      
      Quindaro has not conducted any entrainment or ambient sampling, but indicated that various other organizations have conducted ambient sampling of the Missouri River.
      
6.0 Cooling Tower Feasibility

      Quindaro has many decommissioned units on site.  In addition, the site houses a former municipal drinking water treatment plant which encompasses a significant portion of the site acreage.  The Quindaro drinking water plant is currently on standby, but facility representatives indicated there are no plans to bring it back online any time soon, as a newer drinking water treatment plant is located upstream.  This newer plant provides extensive treatment to enable water withdrawals from the Missouri River to be utilized for drinking water.  Facility representatives indicated that space would not be a constraining factor if cooling towers were required because of land associated with the unused operations.  Quindaro indicated that, due to their somewhat unique ownership, the major impediment to cooling towers would be funding.  See Section 10.0.

7.0 Debris Handling

      Quindaro does not have significant problems with debris loading.  Facility representatives noted an increased level of debris against the screen during high river levels, but did not indicate this additional level of debris impacted operations.  Also see Section 4.0.
       
8.0 Repowering/Future Uses
      
      Quindaro has no current plans for re-powering or upgrades.  However, facility representatives noted that existing power generation capacity and demand are very tight. 

9.0 Cooling Ponds
	
      There are no cooling ponds on site.

10.0 Ownership
      
	Quindaro is owned by the Kansas City Board of Public Utilities.  It is a public entity owned by Kansas City.  As such, the city government controls its rates and expenditures with the goal being that revenues raised equal to production costs (i.e., no profit).  All capital funds are funded through bonds which must be approved by an elected board of officials.

11.0 316(a)

      Quindaro indicated they have no 316 (a) issues.

12.0 Ash Handling

	All of Quindaro's bottom and fly ash is hauled offsite and sold.  The facility has a permitted landfill but it is not currently utilized.

13.0 Air Emissions Controls

      EPA did not collect any information on air emissions controls at this site.

14.0 Additional Information

      While Quindaro completed an impingement study and a technology feasibly evaluation study for the 2004 Phase II rule, it did not reach any conclusions as to how it had planned to comply with the rule.
      
      Quindaro discussed its consideration of ways to increase power production at the site to meet the demand.  While the facility has no current plans for expansion or upgrades, it determined the lowest cost solution would be to add a new coal unit.  A combined cycle unit is less attractive because of the cost of natural gas.  In addition, facility representatives noted that natural gas costs fluctuate increasing the uncertainty associated with the technology.  BPU considered purchasing power from other local facilities, but no capacity is available.  Finally, facility representatives noted BPU has some wind and hydroelectric capacity, but that the infrastructure to transmit such power does not exist due to a lack of dedicated transmission lines.

Attachments

Attachment A		List of Attendees
Attachment B		Aerial Photos
Attachment C		Site Visit Photos
		

Attachment A--List of Attendees

Paul Shriner, EPA Headquarters
Jan Matuszko, EPA Headquarters
Jamie Hurley, EPA Headquarters
John Dunn, EPA Region VII
Kelly Meadows, Tetra Tech
Patrick Cassidy, Kansas City Board of Public Utilities
Michael Yarnevich, Kansas City Board of Public Utilities
Kira Bluebaum, Burns and McDonnell
Gregory Howick, Burns and McDonnell

Attachment B--Aerial Photos

Please see DCN 10-6523A accompanying this document.

Attachment C -- Site Visit Photos

Please see DCNs 10-6523B through I accompanying this document.