Energy production: applied environmental evaluation and assessment

Finding solutions to complex environmental issues requires a multidisciplinary approach that involves life sciences, ecology, chemistry, engineering and other disciplines. Historically, environmental problems were studied after they were identified. For example, a power plant intake structure was retrofit to minimize mortalities of fish that were being taken in with cooling water withdrawn from the Columbia River. Currently, 93% of the young salmon impinged on the intake screens survive. More recently, prospective studies have been undertaken to identify and avoid potential environmental problems associated with technology development “a priori.” Combined toxicological, chemical and engineering evaluations have led to the identification of environmentally acceptable coal liquefaction processing options before a large‐scale industry is developed. Selective distillation, heavy ends process recycle, and catalytic hydrotreating can effectively reduce the toxicological activity observed in coal‐derived liquids through control of product boiling point and aromaticity. However, once an industry or activity is in place, ongoing environmental monitoring and assessment, as conducted at the US Department of Energy's Hanford Site, must continue to assure the protection of environmental and public health. Radiation doses from Hanford are currently well below applicable standards and are much less than those received from common sources, such as natural background and consumer product radiation, or radiation from medical diagnoses such as X‐rays.

Key words:

• Water intakes
• environmental monitoring
• environmental assessment
• coal conversion
• toxicology
• nuclear power