Environmental Analysis

The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) requires an "Environmental Impact Statement" (EIS) when a project is defined as a "Major Federal Action" or when the federal government is involved either through financing or as the lead regulatory agency.  The Rock Springs Generation Facility was not financed by the federal government nor was there a federal agency that acted as the lead regulatory agency.  Therefore, an EIS was not required.

However, the Maryland Public Service Commission (MdPSC) was responsible for the issuance of a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity (CPCN) for proposed power plants located within the state.  As part of the MdPSC investigations, studies were performed and evaluations of the application and supporting documentation were made to ensure there would be no significant environmental and/or health impacts from the construction and operation of the Rock Springs Generation Facility.  Thus, the study and investigation required by the Maryland CPCN process was very similar in nature to the federal NEPA process.

Water Supply and Use

Old Dominion investigated many different options to provide process water for plant use.

The following means of providing water to the generating facility were evaluated on the basis of availability, water quality, operational impacts to the facility, impacts on other users and cost.

• effluent from local wastewater treatment plants
• Conowingo Reservoir
• on-site wells
• on-site storm water runoff collection
• Penn/MD Materials quarry

As a result of this extensive evaluation, Old Dominion determined the best means of ensuring a reliable water supply for the facility was a method that minimized the impacts on the sources that nearby residents and businesses depend upon.  The primary process water source would be storm water runoff, collected and stored in an on-site pond and pumped to a storage tank for later use. 

An on-site well was installed to provide a source for the potable (drinking) water needs.  The potable water well supplies approximately250 gallons per day for the small facility operations staff.  The well also serves as an additional backup source for plant process needs under extreme circumstances.

Water Supply and Use Update

Additional engineering of the stormwater collection system and detailed review of precipitation records have resulted in higher confidence that runoff water will be able to supply the total needs for the facility.  PPRP's draft Environmental Review of the Old Dominion Generating Facility concludes, "Consequently, ground water may have only been needed to supplement the surface water supply on average once every five years in the past 105 years, and only if the facility was operating more than 1,500 hours during the summer."

To support the ground water analysis, a test well and a monitoring well were installed on the site and a 72 hour draw down test has been conducted.  This testing indicates that a 40 gallon per minute well can be developed without significantly impacting ground water resources in the area.

Based on historic rainfall records, our studies show that the collection and storage of runoff will be adequate to meet the process water needs of the facility in years with average precipitation.

To make up for those years with lower than average precipitation, additional water would be obtained from the on-site well.  Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) has issued a groundwater withdrawal permit limiting the amount of groundwater that can be withdrawn to ensure the groundwater resources are protected.

Construction on the Rock Springs Generation Facility began in October 2001 and commercial operations formally commenced in June 2003.  The water supply system that was envisioned, researched, and installed at the facility has worked as intended.  In addition to the unique water supply system employed at the site, Rock Springs has also been extensively landscaped with mixtures of native trees and shrubs and berms, while at the same time providing a pleasant visual screen to the facility from nearby properties and the highways that run adjacent to the property.