628-1 k&3 E6I r ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY ft OFFICE OF ENFORCEMENT ■ REPORT OH REMOTE SENSING STUDY OF THERMAL DISCHARGES TO LAKE MICHIGAN WISCONSIN-ILLINOIS-INDIANA- MICHIGAN NATIONAL FIELD INVESTIGATIONS C E N TE R-D E N V E R DENVER, COLORADO AND REGION V, CHICAGO, ILLINOIS SEPTEMBER 1972 ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY WISCONSIN - National OFFICE OF ENFORCEMENT REMOTE SENSING STUDY OF THERMAL DISCHARGES TO LAKE MICHIGAN / f : . 2 1972 are summarized in the following Power Plant Oak Creek Port Washington Edgewater Point Beach J. H. Campbell Michigan City Bailly Mitchel1 Stateline Waukegan table: Surface Temperature Increase Over Lake Background at 1,000 Feet From Pischarge 11.5°F (7.4°F at 2,000 feet) Violation not ascertained 5.5°F (4°F at 2,000 feet) 5.5°F 12°F (6°F at 2,000 feet) 7°F (7°F at 2,000 feet) 10.5°F (5°F at 2,000 feet) 4°F 3 •5°F 6.5°F (4°F at 2,000 feet) Nine of the above plants were violating the recommended 3°F maximum temperature increase at the distance of 1,000 feet. In addition, six of the power plants were also violating this permitted 3°F increase even at a distance of 2,000 feet from the plant discharge. None of the discharges caused the surface temperature of the receiving water, at the 1,000-feet point, to exceed the maximum allowable surface temperature limit for September of 80°F. Furthermore, Recommendation No. 3, adopted at the Third Session of the Lake Michigan Enforcement Conference, stated that: "Discharge shall be such that geographic areas affected by thermal plumes do not overlap or intersect. Plumes shall not affect fish spawn¬ ing and nursery areas nor touch the lake bottom." - 3 In the vicinity of the Indiana-1 11inois state line, eight thermal dis¬ charges were recorded, one of which was the Commonwealth Edison Stateline Power Plant. The discharge temperature levels from each of the other unidentified waste sources were considerably higher than that of the Commonwealth Edison Stateline Plant. It was observed that the thermal plumes from these various waste sources were overlapping in most cases, which is in violation of Recommendation No. 3 as stated above. From the above data, it must be concluded that the recommendations of the Lake Michigan Enforcement Conference are not being met by many sources of thermal and industrial discharges within the Conference area. . ' •: 1 4 II. INTRODUCTION An aerial remote sensing study of the thermal discharges to Lake Michigan was conducted on 14 September 1972 between the hours of 1300- 1500 CDT. This effort was requested by the Enforcement Division, Region V, EPA. The study area included waters affected by discharges from the following electric power generating facilities/areas of interest: ..Wisconsin Electric Power Company - Oak Creek Power Station. ..WEPC - Lakeside Power Station. ..WEPC - Port Washington Power Station. ..WEPC - Edgewater Power Station. ..WEPC - Point Beach Power Station. ..Fox River, Wisconsin (Lake Winnebago to Green Bay). ..Michigan Consumers Power Company - B. C. Cobb Power Station. ..Muskegon Lake, Michigan (Western Area). ..Michigan Consumers Power Company - J. H. Campbell Power Station. ..Michigan Consumers Power Company - Palisades Power Station. ..Northern Indiana Public Service - Michigan City Power Station. ..Northern Indiana Public Service - Bailly Power Station. ..Northern Indiana Public Service - Mitchell Power Station. ..Commonwealth Edison - State Power Station. ..Commonwealth Edison - Waukegan Power Station. The location of each power station is shown on the map which appears at the back of this report. The thermal data were recorded by an infrared line scanner (IRLS) on board a USAF RF-4C (Phantom) aircraft. Two such aircraft were utilized t „ . . 5 during this study. The temperature resolution of this scanner is 0.1° Centigrade. The IRLS will record only surface temperatures in water. Water is opaque to this region of the intermediate infrared band. The maximum depth penetration in either fresh or salt water is 0.01 cm. Therefore, a submerged thermal discharge can be detected from an aircraft with an infrared line scanner only if all or part of the warm wastewater reaches the surface of the receiving body of water. The thermal data were recorded on 5“inch film in the form of a thermal map. At the time of flight, ground truth, in the form of surface water temperatures, was obtained for each power station location. The cooling water inlet and discharge temperatures, and in most cases back¬ ground water surface temperatures of Lake Michigan, were obtained and provided by EPA, Region V. If the background surface temperatures were not obtained by ground measurements, then the background temperature was extrapolated from the film by a process explained in Section I I I of this report. These temperature values served as an absolute reference for the calibration, and subsequent analysis of the airborne thermal data, expeci- ally for the surface waters 1,000 feet distant from the respective points of thermal discharges. The accuracy placed upon these temperature values, as given in this report, is ±1°Fahrenheit. Once the calibration described above has been affected, this accuracy becomes a relative number which is not dependent upon or a function of any particular temperature value within the established temperature limits. This accuracy does not include the respective accuracies of the terrestrial instrumentation used by the ground truth personnel to obtain the Lake Michigan surface water, inlet and . E l fE I ■< Kfil ..I I I 6 discharge temperatures. These values would, to a good approximation, add to the ±1°F given above to form a total accuracy for a given temperature value presented. The wind velocity, at all locations within the flight regime was 5 to 15 knots from the north as determined by the ground truth personnel. The respective power station discharge flow rates at the time of flight, were also provided by ground truth personnel. . 7 III. RESULTS OF THERMAL DATA ANALYSIS All data interpretations and analyses were carried out on the original negative from the infrared line scanner. Results of the thermal analyses for each respective power station discharge are presented as follows: A. Wisconsin Electric Power Company - Oak Creek Power Station 1. The inlet water temperature was 62°F as provided by ground truth. 2. The discharged water temperature at the exit was 76°F, also provided by ground truth. 3. The thermal plume is shown in Figure 1. 4. A thermal transect was optically made along a line approximately 500 feet from and parallel to the shore within the main body of the plume. The temperature vs distance from discharge along the transect is given in the table below: Temperature Distance F Dischc arge Exit 76 815 feet 76 1 ,000 feet 73.5 2,100 feet 69.4 3,225 feet 67 o O #\ -d* feet 69.5 5,415 feet 66.6 6 ,885 feet 65-5 8,515 feet 63 .O 9,795 feet 62.5 ' .. ' \ J ■ lOOO FEET % . 1 f ■ ’• jy iti . jv Uk.itlt WARMEsff^B - • -, > . h . ■ ■•. a LAKE MICHIGAN . fHERMAL PLIIMF NORTH jfli££C_OAj<_CREEK POWE^STATION ORiGINA^SCALE_b31l300 FIGURE > - 8 5. The overall length of the plume was 9,900 feet with respect to the discharge. 6. The maximum width of the plume was 1,220 feet at a point 4,540 feet from the discharge. 7. The discharge flow rate at the time of flight was 858,000 gallons per minute (gpm). B. Wisconsin Electric Power Company ~ Lakeside Power Station 1. This plant was not discharging at the time of flight. C. Wisconsin Electric Power Company - Port Washington Power Station 1. The temperature of the inlet water from Lake Michigan was 60°F. 2. No pronounced thermal plume was detected in this area. The shore- line in the vicinity of the power station, is shown in Figure 2. The power station is located adjacent to the rectangular projec¬ tions (from the shoreline) on the southern side. Two-dimensional scan was made on the IR film within this area at the points shown in Figure 2. Ground truth reported that the plant's discharge water temperature was 67°F on 14 September 1972, 1300-1400 CDT local. The highest surface water temperature in this area was located approximately 0.5 statute miles south (left) of the rec¬ tangular area. Its value was 66°F. The thermal plume may have been dispersed significantly before reaching the water's surface, or otherwise, the station may have ceased discharging, prior to the time of flight. This would explain the temperature variation over the 2.5 square mile area. ' 1 I r i l ‘£; n \i / TEMPERATURE PROFILE ABOUT PORT WASHINGTON POWER PLANT 9 3. In the literature published by the Argonne National Laboratory, the power station discharge position is located at the point * indicated in the figure. D. Wisconsin Electric Power Company - Edgewater Power Station 1. No ground truth was provided for this power station. 2. The thermal plume is shown in Figure 3* 3. The plume is 4,070 feet long and its maximum width from shore is 1 ,030 feet. 4. If the ambient background water temperature were 60°F, then the optical analysis shows that the temperature at the 1,000-foot mark, from the discharge point as shown in Figure 3, would have been 65.5°F. The warmest area, also shown in Figure 3, would be 68.5°F. The temperature at 2,000 feet from the outfall within the plume would be 64°F and that from 3,800 feet would be 6l°F. E. Wisconsin Electric Power Company - Point Beach Power Station 1. The inlet for this power station is 2,000 feet from shore in Lake Michigan and is submerged. The inlet water temperature was 52°F at the time of flight. 2. The thermal plume is shown in Figure 4. 3. Only the southernmost discharge location was being used at the time of f1ight. 4. The temperature of the heated water at the discharge was 68°F as provided by ground truth. 5. The background surface water temperature, in this area of Lake Michigan, was approximately 6l°F. This value was achieved by .. ' . I { 111 toco 5 WARMEST AREA THERMAL PLUME LAKE MICHIGAN NORTH wfpc edgewater PQWjLiLiLIAXl££l ORIGINAL SCALE 1-31.300 lOOO FEET NORTH WEPCPOINTBEAj [POWE^TATIqB LAKE MICHIGAN ORIGINAL SC 10 temperature calibration curve extrapolation based upon the data (film densities vs ground truth temperatures) recorded in the vicinity of the other power station located along the Wisconsin shore of Lake Michigan. 6. The temperature, within the plume as shown in Figure 4, of the surface water 1,000 feet from the discharge point was 66.5°F and at 2,800 feet was 62.8°F. 7* The discharge flow rate was given as 391,000 gpm. «- F. Fox River Wisconsin (Lake Winnebago to Green Bay) 1. Only one thermal discharge was detected in the Fox River. Its location is shown in Figure 5. This thermal plume did not originate from the WPSC Pulliam Power Station which is located near the mouth of the river on the northern bank. 2. The temperature of the surface water in the canal, shown in Figure 5, is estimated to be 71°F and the river water to be 60°F. This is achieved from the data given in the vicinity of power station located on the western shore of Upper Lake Michigan. 3. No ground truth was provided in this area. G. Michigan Consumers Power Company - B. C. Cobb Power Station 1. The B. C. Cobb power station was not covered during this mission. H. Muskegon Lake, Michigan (western area) 1. The IRLS thermal maps of Muskegon Lake are presented in Figures 6 and 7- Figure 6 shows the southern half of the lake and Figure 7 gives the northern half. > ' i 2 i' . ; M' • ■99gsi*i |i 1 . I * iufi ■OX RIVER THERMAL PLUME GREjEN H BAY! ■ »«►»*•** ‘ i ; iU " ** 4 »#• i :: DBlfilNAL SCALE 1 - 31 . 3 QQ mERMA^ISCHARG^roOFOXRlVER^jMI 1* .'•••' M fi^hi FIGURE 5 . . ' . .]■ «** - *2 it jn ♦ ; llllll swssiPWiiwi MMM : • ....... .. - ; ■ v ■' ^ ISlilil NORTH WAR ME 1 IRFi " 11 : ■M MMimm m BW ' : •' ■ : .• ■■■,.■ ■ ;:•••. ■■■ WMBm ■Hi | h LAKE| mTchTgTn hh»£ ORIGINAL SCALE 1 1 301 \ . ) \ I I I E8HHHH ■ {£■:*"& | 3TS7T [NDU STRIAL TH ERM^AL DISCHARGE 12 I. Michigan Consumers Power Company - J. H. Campbell Power Station 1. The temperature of the inlet water was 65°F. This temperature was obtained, as a part of the ground truth, from the canal labeled "intake water" in Figure 9 which is a thermal map of this area. 2. This plant was discharging at two locations in the small channel labeled "thermal discharge" in Figure '9. Ground truth information provided that the southernmost location was discharging water whose temperature was 70°F. The northern location discharge water temperature was 79°F. The airborne data show that the plumes were well-mixed in the channel within 265 feet from the northern discharge point. 3. The surface temperature in the channel, between the 90° bend and the above-mentioned mixing area, was 79°F. 4. The surface temperature of the channel water at its mouth was 73°F. 5. The surface temperatures of the plume waters in Lake Michigan, 1,000 feet and 2,000 feet respectively, from the mouth of the channel were 72°F and 66°F. The former point is shown in Figure 9. 6. The surface temperature of the background receiving waters in Lake Michigan was 60°F. This temperature value was obtained by temperature calibration curve extrapolation since no ground truth was provided in this area. J. Michigan Consumers Power Company - Palisades Power Station 1. This power station was not in operation at the time of flight. . 1 * THERMAL DISCHARGE ) ■ INTAKE WATER i&W, lOOO FEET THERMAL PLUME LAKE MICHIGAN ORIGINAL SCALE 1-31.300 STATION FIG RE 9 13 K. Northern Indiana Public Service - Michigan City Power Station 1. The inlet water temperature was 67°F which was provided by ground truth. 2. The discharge water temperature was 77°F as provided by ground truth. 3. The location of the power station and the thermal plumes are shown in Figure 10. 4. Within the thermal plume, the following temperatures are provided: Distance from Discharge (ft) Surface Temperature (°F) 500 75.5 1 ,000 2,000 2,500 5. Traces of the thermal plume could be seen as far as 2.8 miles from the point of discharge. L. Northern Indiana Public Service ~ Bailly Power Station 1. The inlet water temperature was 68.5°F at the time of flight which was provided by ground truth. 2. The temperature of the discharge water was 83°F also provided by i ground truth. 3- The thermal plume is shown in Figure 11 to the left of the industrial area (labeled Plume No. 1). A lower altitude thermal map of this plume is shown in Figure 12. 4.. The temperature of the surface water 1,000 feet, 2,000 feet from the discharge was 79°F and 73-5°F, respectively. N ' .*- 7 .-:— w ; m-'miTV■'$ '■- *•* - - T,'^-'•>*<' -ft * t v L wx, 'v, ( ' V. sfc.*,.<*rt ■; •l '■%£ . - -v ' ■-. ■ . / .‘*> L >m? ■' ' i , • t,