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EVALUATION OF THE DISPOSAL OF FLUE GAS CLEANING WASTES IN COAL MINES AND AT SEA: REFINED ASSESSMENT
Citation:
Lunt, R., C. Cooper, A. Reyman, S. Johnson, AND I. Bodek. EVALUATION OF THE DISPOSAL OF FLUE GAS CLEANING WASTES IN COAL MINES AND AT SEA: REFINED ASSESSMENT. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, D.C., EPA/600/7-84/005.
Description:
The report gives a refined assessment of the feasibility of disposing of flue gas cleaning (FGC) wastes in coal mines and at sea. Its focus is on specific impact areas identified in an earlier assessment. These areas were further investigated through laboratory studies as well as an additional review of published information. For FGC waste disposal in coal mines, the issues addressed are: (1) physical stability of FGC waste deposited in surface mines; (2) effects of freezing on waste dewatering/drainage; (3) fugitive emissions from handling and disposal; (4) leaching of total oxidizable sulfur (TOS) from sulfite-rich wastes; (5) release of gases from waste deposits; and (6) corrosion potential for concrete bulkheads used for containment in underground mines. For disposal of FGC wastes at sea, the impact issues studied were: (1) the physical fate in the water column during descent from conventional barge disposal; (2) benthic transport and sedimentation of dumped FGC waste; and (3) depletion of oxygen due to dissolution of TOS from sulfite-rich wastes. These issues represent potential environmental impacts which may require evaluation for specific disposal conditions. In general, existing controls can mitigate such impacts; e.g., modification of waste properties and waste placement methods.