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Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) Kingston Fossil Plant. Knoxville. Coal Combustion Residue: Status of EPA ’ s Efforts to Regulate Disposal. Lauren Parry Boyer Cited from GAO, Frank Rusco. Coal Combustion Residue. Data | Storing CCRs | Federal Role | Resolutions.
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Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) Kingston Fossil Plant Knoxville
Coal Combustion Residue: Status of EPA’s Efforts to Regulate Disposal Lauren Parry Boyer Cited from GAO, Frank Rusco
Coal Combustion Residue Data | Storing CCRs | Federal Role | Resolutions
Coal Combustion Residue Data | Storing CCRs | Federal Role | Resolutions
Coal Combustion Residue Data | Storing CCRs | Federal Role | Resolutions • Environmental Protection Agency • Sent request letters to 210 facilities and 61 corporate offices • Purpose - To determine the number of CCR coal storage areas and other information • Ultimate Goal – To assess the structural stability • Currently, 584 coal storage areas in 35 States
Coal Combustion Residue Data | Storing CCRs | Federal Role | Resolutions • Problems • Structural defects (such as TVA Kingston Facility) • Health and environmental risks • 26 facilities reported spills or unpermitted releases within 10 years • 24 cited were proven to endanger human health and environment between 1999-2005 • 39 cited were potential damage cases • Risks from wastewater containing CCR • Toxins from CCR wastewater seep into groundwater from unlined surface impoundments • EPA reports that toxins in CCR wastewater will continue to increase
Coal Combustion Residue Data | Storing CCRs | Federal Role | Resolutions EPA does not Directly Regulate CCR Disposal The Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) X X
Coal Combustion Residue Data | Storing CCRs | Federal Role | Resolutions • Beneficial Uses for CCR Wastes • Subtitle D reduced potential risks • Used in cement, concrete, wallboard products, roadbeds and structural fill
Coal Combustion Residue Data | Storing CCRs | Federal Role | Resolutions • Current Issues to be Resolved • Reconsidering Subtitle D • Hybrid Approach – Hazardous waste may become solid waste upon regulations • Studies suggest CCRs present risks to human health and the environment • New units are lined and provided with groundwater monitors but these only represent a small portion of existing plants • Federal vs. State control debate