FINAL REPORT Evaluation of Seawater Desalination Projects ...

EVALUATION OF SEAWATER DESALINATION PROJECTS
PROPOSED FOR THE MONTEREY PENINSULA
A nominal amount of additional entrainment mortality may occur as a result of Proposed
Project operation. The majority of organisms entrained by the MLPP are killed or severely
distressed by the cooling water process. 56 Additionally, any organisms that survive the OTC
water process and enter the desalination facility would be killed.
However, the amount of water diverted for the proposed project will represent approximately
1.8 percent of the MLPP’s permitted maximum flow of 1.226 billion gallons per day, which
is already permitted under the assumption of 100 percent mortality. Due to the relatively
small amount of water that would be diverted to the proposed Desalination Facility, impacts
from additional entrainment mortality are not anticipated to be significant. In addition, the
operation of the MLPP’s existing modified intake system (required as part of the
316[b] compliance process) will further minimize entrainment impacts.
Conclusion
The proposed seawater intake for the project is from the cooling water at the Moss Landing
Power Plant. The proposed project’s desalination facility would not alter the operations of
the MLPP. The operation of the CWP would not alter the potential impacts associated with
operations of the MLPP. Thus, as long as the MLPP is permitted to operate, the CWP should
be able to operate at the proposed levels without adversely impacting the aquatic resources of
the associated marine environments.
The PEA includes a summary of environmental impacts and mitigation measures for the
proposed project. Many of these environmental impacts are deemed to be significant and
would have considerable accompanying mitigation measures.
7.2 Monterey Bay Regional Seawater Desalination Project
(MBRSDP)
Schedule
Table 12 presents the general project implementation schedule that is included in the
Monterey Bay Regional Desalination Project Conceptual Design Report.
56 One hundred percent mortality is generally assumed for entrained organisms according to National Pollutant
Discharge Elimination System – Final Regulations to Establish Requirements for Cooling Water Intake
Structures at Phase II Existing Facilities, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, July 9, 2004.
Monterey Peninsula Water Management District 7-11