Centeno Mejías, Leira J.

Profile Picture

Filters

20231
Reset filters

Settings

Citations

Publication Search Results

Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
  • Thumbnail Image
    Publication
    EcoEléctrica biological monitoring project plan report: 2022
    (2023-12-06) Centeno Mejías, Leira J.; Courtney, Travis; College of Arts and Sciences - Sciences; Cruz Motta, Juan J.; Negrón, Damaris; Department of Marine Sciences; Amador, André
    The EcoEléctrica plant includes a 545 mega-watts combined cycle natural gas power plant, a seawater desalination plant, and a marine unloading and storage terminal for liquefied natural gas (EcoEléctrica, 2015). EcoEléctrica is located between Guayanilla Bay and Tallaboa Bay in the southern coast of Puerto Rico and host a diverse array of ecosystems and uses for the island of Puerto Rico. EcoEléctrica's discharge through the outfall is regulated under 40 CFR 125.123. The Biological Monitoring Program (BMPP) fulfills these regulatory requirements by quantifying the impacts of the discharge and potential effects of the impacts of the EcoEléctrica facilities on the water quality (e.g., temperature, salinity, vertical attenuation coefficient of photosynthetically active radiation [KdPAR]), plankton, fishes, and benthic communities of Guayanilla and Tallaboa Bays (Vicente, 2001, 2008; Otero 2013a, 2013b, EcoEléctrica, 2015). The outfall returning seawater is highly regulated and must be within an acceptable temperature range of 25-32.2°C and salinity range of 33-38 ppt (Vicente, 2001, 2008; Otero 2013a, 2013b). Temperature and salinity followed similar seasonal fluctuations across all stations for 2022. There was no clear seasonal trend in KdPAR observed across any of the sites. All seawater temperature and salinity measured at the intake and outfall were less than the 32.2°C and 38 ppt upper limits established by regulations (Vicente, 2001, 2008; Otero 2013a, 2013b). In conclusion, temperature, salinity, and KdPAR were measured monthly following the BMPP in 2022 and were within the established thresholds established by the regulatory permits.