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FULL-SCALE FIELD EVALUATION OF WASTE DISPOSAL FROM COAL-FIRED ELECTRIC GENERATING PLANTS. VOLUME 5. APPENDIX F
Citation:
Santhanam, C., A. Balasco, I. Bodek, C. Cooper, AND J. Humphrey. FULL-SCALE FIELD EVALUATION OF WASTE DISPOSAL FROM COAL-FIRED ELECTRIC GENERATING PLANTS. VOLUME 5. APPENDIX F. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, D.C., EPA/600/7-85/028E.
Description:
The six-volume report summarizes results of a 3-year study of current coal ash and flue gas desulfurization (FGD) waste disposal practices at coal-fired electric generating plants. The study involved characterization of wastes, environmental data gathering, evaluation of environmental effects, and engineering/cost evaluations of disposal practices at six sites around the country. Study results provide technical background data and information for EPA, state and local permitting officials, and the utility industry for implementing environmentally sound disposal practices. Study data suggest that no environmental effects have occurred at any of the six sites; i.e., data from wells downgradient of the disposal sites indicate that waste leachate has resulted in concentrations of chemicals less than the EPA primary drinking water standards. A generic environmental evaluation--based on a matrix of four waste types, three disposal methods, and five environmental settings--shows that, on balance, technology exists for environmentally sound disposal of coal ash and FGD wastes for ponding, interim ponding/landfilling, and landfilling. For some combinations of waste types, disposal methods, and environmental settings, mitigation methods must be taken to avoid adverse environmental effects. Costs of waste disposal operations are highly system and site specific.