May 5
After months of delay, the Environmental Protection Agency has issued
the much-anticipated proposals on the future handling and disposal of
coal ash, a byproduct of coal-fired electricity generation used in
Portland cement and other products.
"The time has come for common-sense national protections to ensure the
safe disposal of coal ash," said EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson. "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."
The EPA has published two proposals. The first proposal would regulate
waste management and disposal of the coal ash through Subtitle C of the
Resource Recovery and Conservation Act, marking the waste coal ash as a
hazardous waste. The second option would regulate the waste coal ash
through Subtitle D of the RCRA, meaning it would be classified as a
non-hazardous waste. Both proposals would place new regulations on
surface impoundment and storage.
Beneficial re-use of coal ash, such as in Portland cement and other
applications, would not be impacted under the proposals.
The federal agency will accept public comment for 90 days. For more
information, visit http://www.epa.gov/coalashrule.
Contact Waste & Recycling News reporter Amanda Smith-Teutsch at
330-865-6166 or
asmith-teutsch@crain.com
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