US EPA announces new regulations for flyash

The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced the first national regulations to provide for the safe disposal of coal combustion residuals (coal ash) from coal-fired power plants. The final rule establishes safeguards to protect communities from coal ash impoundment failures, like the catastrophic Kingston, Tennessee, spill in 2008, and establishes safeguards to prevent groundwater contamination and air emissions from coal ash disposal.

EPA has been studying the effects of coal ash disposal on the environment and public health for many years. In the wake of the failure of the TVA coal ash pond in Kingston, TN, EPA began a multi-year effort to help ensure the safety of the nation’s coal ash disposal facilities, including assessing more than 500 facilities across the country.

Improperly constructed or managed coal ash disposal units have resulted in the catastrophic failure of surface impoundments, damages to surface water, groundwater and the air. The first federal requirements for impoundments and landfills to address these risks include:

• The closure of surface impoundments and landfills that fail to meet engineering and structural standards and will no longer receive coal ash.
• Reducing the risk of catastrophic failure by requiring regular inspections of the structural safety of surface impoundments.
• Restrictions on the location of new surface impoundments and landfills so that they cannot be built in sensitive areas such as wetlands and earthquake zones.
• Protecting groundwater by requiring monitoring, immediate cleanup of contamination, and closure of unlined surface impoundments that are polluting groundwater.
• Protecting communities using fugitive dust controls to reduce windblown coal ash dust.
• Requiring liner barriers for new units and proper closure of surface impoundments and landfills that will no longer receive CCRs.

Implementation of these technical requirements will be reported through comprehensive and regular disclosure to states, and communities to enable them to monitor and oversee these requirements. The rule requires that power plant owners and operators provide detailed information to citizens and states to fully understand how their communities may be impacted. This final rule also supports the responsible recycling of coal ash by distinguishing safe, beneficial use from disposal. In 2012, almost 40% of all coal ash produced was recycled (beneficially used), rather than disposed. Beneficial use of coal ash can produce positive environmental, economic and performance benefits such as reduced use of virgin resources, lower greenhouse gas emissions, reduced cost of coal ash disposal, and improved strength and durability of materials.

Adapted from press release by Katherine Guenioui

Read the article online at: https://www.worldcement.com/the-americas/23122014/us-epa-announces-new-regulations-for-flyash-62/