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Wastewater permit for coal and combustion turbine plants in Gillette Wyoming

This 2015 permit authorizes the discharge of wastewater from six coal fired power plants, two combustion turbine power plants, and one coal mine. The Neil Simpson and Wygen generating power plants and the coal mine are located approximately six miles east of Gillette, Wyoming. Most of the wastewater generated by the facility is recycled, so this facility rarely discharges. Discharges usually occur in response to large storm events. Note below that the facilities are air-cooled, so they do not discharge cooling water. Therefore, 316(b) regulations do not apply. In addition, make-up water is partially treated water from the Gillette wastewater treatment plant, not waters of the Wastewater originating from the variety of sources is routed to a two cell settling pond. The first pond, called the Bottom Ash Settling Pond, functions to provide settlement for sediments and ash by-products. Wastewater from this pond overflows to the second pond called the Clear Pond. The Clear Pond has an outlet structure (Outfall 001) that allows the discharge of the treated wastewater to Donkey Creek. However, because a majority of the wastewater that enters the settling ponds is recycled, there is seldom a discharge to the creek.

Revision Date:  11/7/2016

Tags:  BHE Environmental, Inc., Regulation, Wastewater