BridgeGap Engineering Blog » fly ash

EPA Proposes Coal Ash Regulations

Lehigh Ben — Tue, 11 May 2010 19:08:39 +0000

With almost 900 ash-containing landfills nationwide, the proper disposal of coal ash was a problem that could be avoided no longer.

Early last week, the Environmental Protection Agency finally announced a new proposed set of regulations on coal ash, the first time this by product is being nationally regulated. The main concern with this coal power plant after product lies in its contents of potentially hazardous contaminants, such as mercury, arsenic, and cadmium. Because the ash is commonly stored in liquid form, seepage of these heavy metals into groundwater has been a concern that the EPA is working to eliminate. EPA administrator Lisa Jackson said, “The time has come for common-sense national protections to ensure the safe disposal of coal ash. We’re proposing strong steps to address the serious risk of groundwater contamination and threats to drinking water and we’re also putting in place stronger safeguards against structural failures of coal ash impoundments. The health and the environment of all communities must be protected.”

Despite its desire to control the waste material, the EPA has yet to decide on the final course to pursue, which are open to public comment for 90 days. The first option is drawn from the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) which would create an extensive program of federally enforceable requirements. The second option, drawn from another part of the RCRA, would create standards for the proper waste management and would be primarily enforced through civil lawsuits. The EPA has published a comparison of the two options for public review.

Fortunately, in order to keep from alienating support in industry, the EPA announced that it will leave the Bevill exemption in place under the new rules. This exemption allows different industries to recycle the ash into other useful products that do not present health hazards. The assistant administrator of the office overseeing the regulations, Mathy Stanislaus said, “EPA supports the legitimate beneficial use of coal combustion residuals. Environmentally sound beneficial uses of ash conserve resources, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, lessen the need for waste disposal units, and provide significant domestic economic benefits. This proposal will clearly differentiate these uses from coal ash disposal and assure that safe beneficial uses are not restricted and in fact are encouraged.”

The long awaited rules are definitely a step in the right direction and fortunately the legitimate, beneficial uses of the waste material are preserved.

Fly Ash Debate Continues

Lehigh Ben — Mon, 26 Apr 2010 11:12:11 +0000

Talks are still underway concerning government regulation of fly ash by-product. Members of the Portland Cement Association (PCA) are part of a coalition of various industries that are reviewing the legislation in attempts to find a universally satisfying proposal. The legislation is expected to take one of following three paths:

1) Classify the fly ash as hazardous except when it is reused beneficially;

2) Continue the current classification as solid waste, regardless of disposal or reuse (which would be subject to state regulation);

3) Continue the current system, but with recommendations to close all fly ash surface impoundments.

The heart of the issue comes down to whether federal bureaus (like the EPA) or state government will be in charge of regulating. Depending on the result, the cement industry may find it difficult to use recycled fly ash to make useful concrete products. The EPA hopes to release the proposal sometime by the end of the month, but it may be delayed through further talks.

Clash Over Designations for Fly Ash

Lehigh Ben — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 15:49:38 +0000

The Environmental Protection Agency has attempted to classify fly ash as a national priority for recycling. Conversely, environmentalist groups are lobbying for the EPA to designate fly ash as a ‘hazardous’ by-product of coal power plants. The government agency is struggling through the opposition as it attempts to promote the re-use of the by-products through its Coal Combustion Products Partnership. The EPA is hesitant to label the fly ash as hazardous because it believes such a label may cause companies considering to use the ash to back out of the recycling process.

The environmentalists’ arguments on the danger of the fly ash are based on the December 2008 spill of fly ash slurry at the Tennessee Valley Authority’s power plant in Harriman, Tennessee. At the plant, the dike holding back the slurry gave way spilling over 5.4 million cubic yards of the material into the nearby Emory River and adjacent neighborhoods. Thankfully, no lives were lost during the incident; but the slurry leached levels of lead and thallium into the river. Events like these are what environmentalists hope to prevent by having the EPA label the fly ash as hazardous. The government regulations on the fly ash as ‘hazardous’ would force more careful storage and removal of the by-products of coal combustion.

AECOM Technology Corporation’s senior toxicologist Lisa Bradley holds a different opinion than the lobbying groups. She has said, “To characterize fly ash or other coal combustion byproducts as ‘toxic’ or ‘hazardous’ in all cases is misleading.” She does admit, however, that certain conditions can make the ash hazardous to your health.

The cement industry is concerned with the argument over fly ash. Otherwise, fly ash would end up in a landfill causing further harm to the ecosystem – as opposed to being encased as concrete. The environmentalist groups at grips with the EPA need to re-evaluate their thinking on whether they want greater government regulations or truly lower impact on the environment.