PPL Corp.

Wilkes Barre, PA: (Sep-17-07) The Susquehanna River Basin Commission, a federal interstate agency charged with approving or denying applications to withdraw ground or surface water from the basin, brought charges against PPL Corp., over a 2001 increase in water usage from the Susquehanna River. The issue stems from a 2001 modification, or uprate, made to PPL's Susquehanna nuclear power plant in Salem Township that resulted in an increase in water withdrawn from the river. Commission spokespersons claimed that the increase was greater than 100,000 gallons per day; the minimum amount needed before PPL has to seek approval. The issue didn't surface until 2006, when the commission received a PPL application for another uprate.

In a settlement reached, PPL Corp. agreed to a $500,000 payout, resolving the issue. The settlement agreement allows the plant to withdraw up to 66 million gallons of water from the river daily with a consumptive use set at 48 million gallons daily. Previously, the plant was approved to use 40 million gallons daily. Sources claimed that the $500,000 will go into the commission's water management fund, which is used to develop water storage projects to mitigate the impact of consumptive uses from the Susquehanna River. [TIMES LEADER: OVERUSED WATER]

Legal Help

If you have a similar problem and would like to be contacted by a lawyer at no cost or obligation, please click the link below.
Published on Sep-19-07