Draft Discharge Permits for Federal Hydroelectric Projects in the Lower Snake River | NPDES Permits Around the Nation

EPA is accepting public comments on these draft permits from January 15 through February 15, 2021.

EPA is proposing to issue National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) for the following four hydroelectric generating facilities on the lower Snake River operated by the United States Army Corps of Engineers:

Ice Harbor Lock and Dam (WA0026816).
Lower Monumental Lock and Dam (WA0026808).
Little Goose Lock and Dam (WA0026786).
Lower Granite Lock and Dam (WA0026794).

On March 18, 2020, EPA proposed for public comment NPDES permits to authorize the discharges from the Lower Snake River Hydroelectric Generating Facilities. The public notice closed on May 4, 2020. The draft permits did not include heat load effluent limits. EPA is proposing changes to the draft permits to include heat load effluent limits and is seeking public comment on these limits. The revised draft permits and supporting documents are available for review below.

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2021 NPDES Permit Fact Sheet, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Lower Snake River Hydroelectric Facilities: #WA0026816, #WA0026808, #WA0026786, #WA0026794 (PDF)(19 pp, 456 K, January 2021)
Technical basis for 2021 revised permits for Ice Harbor Lock and Dam; Lower Monumental Lock and Dam; Little Goose Lock and Dam; and Lower Granite Lock and Dam.
2021 Draft NPDES Permit, Ice Harbor Lock and Dam, Lower Snake River, #WA0026816 (PDF)(39 pp, 514 K, January 2021)
Proposed discharge permit.
2021 Draft NPDES Permit, Lower Monumental Lock and Dam, Lower Snake River, #WA0026808 (PDF)(40 pp, 517 K, January 2021)
Proposed discharge permit.
2021 Draft NPDES Permit, Little Goose Lock and Dam, Lower Snake River, #WA0026786 (PDF)(40 pp, 530 K, January 2021)
Proposed discharge permit.
2021 Draft NPDES Permit, Lower Granite Lock and Dam, Lower Snake River, #WA0026794 (PDF)(39 pp, 495 K, January 2021)
Proposed discharge permit.
2020 NPDES Permit Fact Sheet, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Lower Snake River Hydroelectric Facilities: #WA0026816, #WA0026808, #WA0026786, #WA0026794. (PDF)(77 pp, 2 MB, March 2020)
Technical basis for 2020 proposed discharge permits for Ice Harbor Lock and Dam; Lower Monumental Lock and Dam; Little Goose Lock and Dam; and Lower Granite Lock and Dam.
2020 Draft NPDES Permit, Ice Harbor Lock and Dam, Lower Snake River, #WA0026816 (PDF)(39 pp, 368 K, March 2020)
Proposed discharge permit.
2020 Draft NPDES Permit, Lower Monumental Lock and Dam, Lower Snake River, #WA0026808 (PDF)(40 pp, 377 K, March 2020)
Proposed discharge permit.
2020 Draft NPDES Permit, Little Goose Lock and Dam, Lower Snake River, #WA0026786 (PDF)(40 pp, 377 K, March 2020)
Proposed discharge permit.
2020 Draft NPDES Permit, Lower Granite Lock and Dam, Lower Snake River, #WA0026794 (PDF)(39 pp, 367 K, March 2020)
Proposed discharge permit.
Public Comments on 2020 Draft Discharge Permits for Federal Hydroelectric Projects in the Lower Columbia and Snake Rivers (PDF)(215 pp, 9 MB)
Comments received by EPA within the public comment period from March 18 through May 4, 2020.