Cooling Water Intake Structures
Brief description of the federal cooling water intake structure rule and implementation activities.
Section 316(b) of the Clean Water Act requires EPA to issue regulations on the design and operation of intake structures, in order to minimize adverse environmental impacts. The goal is to reduce impingement mortality and entrainment of fish and other aquatic organisms at cooling water intake structures (CWISs) used by certain power generation and manufacturing facilities for the withdrawal of cooling water from waters of the United States (WOTUS). EPA published a final regulation to establish Section 316(b) requirements for Phase II (existing) facilities on August 15, 2014 (Final Rule).
316(b) Stakeholder Meeting
TCEQ scheduled a series of stakeholder meetings to discuss and obtain feedback on TCEQ guidelines for implementing Section 316(b) of the Clean Water Act and future revisions to application worksheets. The most recent meeting was Wednesday, December 14, 2016 at the TCEQ offices in Austin, Texas. Any future meetings will be announced when scheduled.
Final Draft Versions of the CWIS Application Worksheets and Instructions*
| Date |
Notification |
Documents(PDF/WORD) |
Organization |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3/24/2017 |
Instructions for CWIS Worksheets 11.0-11.3
Instructions for Technical Report Item 12
|
TCEQ |
*Please download the Industrial Wastewater Technical Report and Completing the Industrial Wastewater Permit Applications (instructions), dated May 20, 2022, to obtain the finalized CWIS Application Worksheets and Instructions.
316(b) Stakeholder Meetings
| Date |
Notification /Meeting Notes |
Agenda /Attendance |
Handouts (PDF/WORD) |
Handouts (PPT) | Organization |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| December 14, 2016 | Agenda |
Application Requirements Flowchart
Application Requirements Handout POC Handout TCEQ CWIS Worksheet Instructions TCEQ CWIS Worksheet |
- | TCEQ | |
| November 03, 2016 | Agenda |
Draft of 316b webpage Final Version
Visio-WOTUS Flowchart Visio-POC Flowchart Visio-Application Requirements Flowchart Visio-316b Applicability Flowchart |
- | TCEQ | |
| April 14, 2016 | Agenda |
Worksheet 11.0
Worksheet 11.1 Worksheet 11.2 |
- | TCEQ | |
| September 10, 2015 | Agenda | CWIS Presentation Draft Outline | CWIS Presentation
 |
TCEQ |