Evaluation of Opportunities for Effluent Trading in the Steam-Electric, Petroleum-Refining, and Coal Mining Industries

摘要

This study examined the opportunities for energy industries (steam-electric, petroleum refining, and coal mining) to use various effluent trading options. The study was based on an examination of the options applicable to these industries and on an extensive inventory of energy facilities with water-quality-based conditions in their discharge permits. The results obtained tend to overstate any opportunities available. The most viable candidates for interplant trading are petroleum refineries with water-quality-based limits on BOD. Point/nonpoint source trading involving coal mines (or possibly other energy facilities) might be profitable at some future time if permit limits that require TDS removal are imposed on facilities in the arid west. No attractive opportunities for intraplant training are available. Other conclusions are as follows: There appear to be no widespread opportunities available for effluent trading involving multiple energy facilities. Localized opportunities may exist in Louisiana and Texas, where there are small groups of petroleum refineries with water-quality-based permit limits. For interplant trading to be feasible the participation of nonenergy facilities will be necessary. However, opportunities for trading with nonenergy facilities appear to be limited. Seasonal or variable permits appear to be a more attractive and more easily implementable means for cost-effective pollution control for energy industries than does effluent trading, since each facility can use such an approach independently of the presence of any other compatible trading partners. The viability of interplant trading is dependent on a concentration of compatible dischargers, with at least some having water-quality-based permit limits on the same, appropiate pollutants. The lack of such concentrations limits the utility of the concept for energy industries. 21 refs., 1 fig., 5 tabs. (ERA citation 10:023893)