Sign in Subscribe
Public utilities

Kentucky Utilities Company Seeks Reissuance of Ghent Generating Station KPDES Permit

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

The Kentucky Division of Water has received a document from Kentucky Utilities Company (KU) requesting the reissuance of the Ghent Generating Station KPDES permit, number KY0002038. In preparation for the reissuance, KU has initiated significant changes at the Ghent Station to comply with federal regulatory rules and Steam-Electric Effluent Limitations Guidelines (ELG) issued by the USEPA. These changes include the dewatering and closure of the Ash Treatment Basins, installation of a biological wastewater treatment system, and modifications to the Bottom Ash Transport Water (BATW) system.

Key Takeaways:

  • KU has initiated significant process water management and Coal Combustion Residual (CCR) impoundment changes at the Ghent Station to comply with CCR federal regulatory rules and Steam-Electric Effluent Limitations Guidelines (ELG).
  • The changes include the dewatering and closure-in-place of the site Ash Treatment Basin 1 (ATB-1) and Ash Treatment Basin 2 (ATB-2), with ATB-1 closure completed on October 8, 2021, and ATB-2 dewatering and closure completed in August 2023.
  • The modifications also include the installation of a biological wastewater treatment system and ancillary Ultrafiltration (UF) for Flue Gas Desulfurization (FGD) process waters.
  • The Bottom Ash Transport Water (BATW) system has been modified to recycle as much BATW as possible in the bottom ash hoppers and/or FGDs, with an up-to 10% system volume maintenance purge per day on a 30-consecutive day rolling average.
  • The EPA has published draft revisions to the 2020 ELG rule, with changes to limits for FGD wastewater, BATW, legacy wastewater, and landfill leachate.
  • KU is proceeding with ELG rule construction activities under the applicability dates granted in the Ghent Generation Station KPDES permit modification, with an effective date of October 1, 2022.
  • The permit application submission includes attachments such as the KPDES Permit Application Synopsis, KPDES Form 1, and application filing fee, as well as recent 2023 samples and laboratory analyses supporting chemical information used in preparation of Form C.

Statistics:

  • The attachment listing includes 11 supporting documents, comprising forms, maps, and analyses.
  • ATB-1 closure was completed on October 8, 2021.
  • ATB-2 dewatering and closure was completed in August 2023, with final closure activities ongoing.
  • The KPDES application filing fee is $7,000.
  • The USEPA CCR and ELG Federal Rules Compliance construction projects are expected to be completed by end-of-2029.

Sources:

  • Kentucky Division of Water, Surface Water Permits Branch 300 Sower Boulevard, 3rd Floor Frankfort, KY 40601
  • KPDES No. KY0002038 Ghent Generating Station, Carroll County, KY Permit Reissuance Request
  • Kentucky Utilities Company (KU)
  • United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA)
  • United States Geological Survey (USGS)

Read more