POWER February 2015 - 76

COMMENTARY
Coal Ash Association
Welcomes EPA Final Rule
Thomas H. Adams
T
he American Coal Ash Association (ACAA) welcomed the
publication on Dec. 19 of a U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA) Final Rule regulating coal ash disposal as a
" non-hazardous " material.
The regulatory uncertainty that has impeded the beneficial
use of coal ash for half a decade has finally come to an end. The
EPA's final decision to regulate coal ash as a " non-hazardous "
material puts science ahead of politics and clears the way for
beneficial use of ash to begin growing again-thereby keeping
ash out of landfills and disposal ponds in the first place.
About the ACAA
The American Coal Ash Association was established in 1968 as
a trade organization devoted to recycling the materials created
when we burn coal to generate electricity. Our members comprise
the world's foremost experts on coal ash (fly ash and bottom
ash) and boiler slag, flue gas desulfurization (FGD) gypsum or
" synthetic " gypsum, and other FGD materials captured by emissions
controls. While other organizations focus on disposal issues,
ACAA's mission is to advance the management and use
of coal combustion products in ways that are environmentally
responsible, technically sound, commercially competitive, and
supportive of a sustainable global community.
About Coal Ash Beneicial Use
Coal remains the largest fuel source for generating electricity in
America and produces large volumes of coal ash-the generic term
for several solid materials left over from the combustion process.
There are many good reasons to view coal ash as a resource,
rather than a waste. Using it conserves natural resources, saves
energy, and significantly reduces greenhouse gas emissions from
the manufacturing of products that are replaced. In many cases,
products made with coal ash perform better than products made
without it. For instance, coal ash makes concrete stronger and
more durable. The American Road and Transportation Builders
Association estimates use of coal fly ash in concrete roads and
bridges saves highway builders more than $5 billion per year.
Major uses of coal ash include concrete, gypsum wallboard,
blasting grit, roofing granules, and a variety of geotechnical and
agricultural applications.
Regulating Coal Ash
The beneficial use of coal ash has been harmed by regulatory uncertainty
surrounding the rulemaking EPA commenced in the wake
of a December 2008 failure of a coal ash disposal facility in Tennessee.
According to the ACAA's most recent " Production and Use
Survey, " coal ash utilization remained below 2008 levels for the
fifth consecutive year in 2013. If the past five years had simply
remained equal with 2008's utilization, 26.4 million tons less coal
ash would have been disposed in landfills and impoundments.
76
The decline in use volumes stands in stark contrast to the
previous decade's trend. In 2000, when the use volume was 32.1
million tons, the EPA issued its Final Regulatory Determination
that regulation of ash as a " hazardous waste " was not warranted.
Over the next eight years, the EPA also began actively promoting
the beneficial use of coal ash and the use volume soared to 60.6
million tons.
The EPA's final decision to regulate
coal ash as a " non-hazardous "
material puts science
ahead of politics and clears the
way for beneficial use of ash to
begin growing again-thereby
keeping ash out of landfills and
disposal ponds in the first place.
As an organization devoted to using coal ash in environmentally
responsible and technically sound ways, we look forward to
finally being able to focus all of our attention back on growing
these uses.
Coal ash has never qualified as a " hazardous waste " based
on its toxicity. The trace levels of metals present in coal ash
are comparable to the levels of metals in materials coal ash replaces
when it is used. The EPA's proposed landfill engineering
standards were the same " non-hazardous " standards under all of
the agency's proposals. This protracted debate was never about
engineering; it was mainly an argument over who gets to enforce
the rules.
We are also encouraged by the EPA recently resuming positive
statements about the beneficial use of coal ash, which remains
exempt from regulation. In February 2014, the agency published
an exhaustive evaluation of the use of fly ash in concrete and
synthetic gypsum in wallboard, concluding that both applications
are safe and should be encouraged.
We appreciate the EPA's effort in conducting a thorough evaluation
of the safety of coal ash use. The study reconfirmed what
we have learned through decades of successful beneficial use:
Coal ash use is safe and should be encouraged.
Millions of tons of coal ash will continue to be generated in
the U.S. every year. With disposal regulations finally settled, we
can refocus energy on productively using those large volumes of
materials rather than throwing them away. ■
-Thomas H. Adams is the ACAA's executive director.
www.powermag.com
POWER | February 2015
http://www.powermag.com
POWER February 2015

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of POWER February 2015
