Coal Ash Use and Disposal

Debra Pflughoeft-Hassett, AssociateGypsum Parameters20 Fenton Avenue

Grand Forks, North Dakota 58203218-791-7729 dfphassett@live.com

Advising Industry on Strategic Development of FGD Gypsum Resources

CCP Use and DisposalBackground

Fly Ash Bottom Ash

FGD Gypsum Boiler Slag

CCP Use and DisposalBackground

• 2008 Statistics– 136,073,107 short tons produced in the U.S.– 60,593,660 short tons or 44.5 % were used – 75,479,447 short tons or 55.5 % were

disposed– Fly ash is the largest CCP stream produced

in the U.S.– FGD materials include gypsum and other

calcium- and sodium-based materials– Fluidized Bed Combustion ash is another

type of CCP produced in the U.S.

CCP Use and DisposalBackground

2008 CCP Utilization

Fly Ash, 30,142,274

Bottom Ash, 8,076,255

Boiler Slag, 1,689,892

FGD Material, 11,620,449

Primary CCP Use Applications

• Cement/concrete/grout

• Raw feed for cement clinker

• Flowable fill and structural fill

• Road base/subbase• Mining applications• Wallboard• Mineral filler• Waste

stabilization/solidification

• Soil modification

0

2,000,000

4,000,000

6,000,000

8,000,000

10,000,000

12,000,000

14,000,000

1

Concrete/Concrete Products

Structural Fills/Embankments

Blended Cement/Raw Feed forClinker

Flowable Fill

Road Base/Sub-Base

Soil Modification/Stabilization

Mineral Filler in Asphalt

Blasting Grit/Roofing Granules

Mining Applications

WasteStabilization/Solidification

Agriculture

Aggregate

Other

Evolution of APC Equipment on pc Boilers

Source: Institute of Clean Air Companies (ICAC)

SorbentInjection

DOE/NETL Funded Approaches for Controlling Mercury

Baghouseor ESP ScrubberBoiler

Coal

ScrubberEnhancement/Oxidation

Combustion/Chemistry

Modification

PolishingTechnology

•ACI•Amended silicates•Halogenated AC•Ca-based sorbents•Chemically treated sorbents•COHPAC/Toxecon™•Thief sorbents

•Coal cleaning•Cl-based additives•Combustion modifications

•Oxidation catalysts•Reagent addition•Ultraviolet radiation (GP-254)•Electrocatalytic oxidation•SCR oxidation

•MerCAP™•ECO/Wet ESP

2000 Regulatory Determination

(65 Fed. Reg. 32214)• “Remaining Wastes” do not warrant

hazardous waste regulations

• No federal regulation when used beneficially

• EPA does “not wish to place any unnecessary barriers on beneficial use”

• No damage cases from CCP utilization

2000 Regulatory Determination (continued)

• No damage cases from mine placement

• SMCRA “is expressly designed to address environmental risks associated with coal mines.” (65 Fed. Reg. at 32217)

• EPA to develop national regulations under Subtitle D (or Modify SMCRA) for CCBs used in Mine-filling operations

CCP Regulation in 2008 Disposal

• RCRA Subtitle C regulation of CCPs not warranted.

• Options:– National Subtitle D standards– Application of Industrial D guidance– Development and implementation of

USWAG CCP Action Plan – Status quo (state regulatory control)

CCP Regulation in 2008Disposal & Utilization

• State-by-state under RCRA Subtitle D

• State regulation varies significantly– DOE, EPA, and industry evaluate

individual states

• EPA Evaluates Damage Cases– 24 Damage Cases identified– 42 Potential Damage Cases identified

CCP Regulation in 2008 Mine Placement

• Managing Coal Combustion Residues in Mines” (2006) Summary of findings:– Mineplacement is a “Viable Option”– No Damage from CCP Mineplacement was

Found– Recommendations:

• Improved characterization of CCPs and Mine Sites• Robust Monitoring of Sites• Development of “Enforceable Federal Standards”

– Beneficial Use of CCPs was Encouraged

CCP Regulation in 2008 Mine Placement

• Options Considered:– Consider RCRA Subtitle C regulations– Consider RCRA standards– Implement status quo (state regulatory

control under SMCRA and/or RCRA authorities)

• Option Selected– Develop rules under SMCRA– Draft rules were developed by OSM

December 22, 2008

• Fly Ash Spill at Tennessee Valley Authority Kingston Station Disposal Site – CCP Regulation Gets Attention– During her Senate confirmation hearing

in January 2009, Lisa P. Jackson, President Obama’s choice for to head the EPA, indicated that she intended to immediately review coal ash disposal sites across the U.S.

Recent Developments

• EPA Coal Combustion Products Partnership (C2P2) lowers its utilization goal and excludes mine placement from its estimates.

• The CCP industry works to educate Congressional delegates.

• The CCP industry works to get support for maintaining CCPs as solid wastes.

• TVA Clean up continues. • An EPA evaluation of CCP disposal sites

identifies 49 with high hazard potential.

And Now…..

• EPA’s Regulation was scheduled for release in January 2010, but still has not been released.

• The mine placement rules continue to be held until after the CCP regulation is a known entity.

• The CCP industry continues to work to address CCP issues related to mercury, sulfur trioxide, and NOx emissions.

Questions?Contact Information:

Debra Pflughoeft-HassettGypsum Parameters20 Fenton Avenue

Grand Forks, North Dakota 58203218-791-7729 dfphassett@live.com

Advising Industry on Strategic Development of FGD Gypsum Resources