POWER October 2019 - 40

COAL
Removing Asbestos and
Regulated Materials Key to
Power Plant Decommissioning
Retiring and decommissioning coal power plants is becoming a more-frequent
occurrence around the world. The job comes with many challenges, but projects
in the U.S. and UK have proven that remediation and redevelopment tasks can
be completed successfully, beginning with the surgical removal of asbestos and
regulated materials.
James M. Hylko
T
he coal industry has a lot going for
it. There are federal and state-level
efforts trying to keep the sector
alive. The fuel is abundant. There is an estimated
1.1 trillion metric tons of proven
coal reserves worldwide-enough to last
about 150 years at current production
rates. Furthermore, there are more than
700 GW of coal-fueled plants in development
or under construction, according to
the World Coal Association.
However, the U.S. coal industry faces
steep competition from renewable
energy resources and natural gas-fired
generation. Statistics only reinforce perceptions
of an industry in decline. For
instance, the U.S. Energy Information
Administration reported that U.S. power
companies have retired more than 546
coal-fired units, about 102 GW, between
2010 and the first quarter of 2019, and
intend to retire another 17 GW by 2025.
The Decision to Retire a Plant
When does a coal plant operator decide
to retire a plant and pursue demolition,
remediation, and redevelopment? Factors
that have influenced retirement decisions
include:
■ Regional electricity demands.
■ Regional power prices and economics.
■ Environmental regulation compliance
and pollution control upgrades increasing
operational costs, such as the Mercury
and Air Toxics Standards rule.
■ Abundant and available natural gas
supplies.
■ Favorable state tax and portfolio policies
encouraging renewable energy.
■ Aging, low-efficiency, low-capacity, and
fully depreciated coal plants.
■ Negative investor and public perceptions.
40
Eventual
retirement decisions should
not surprise power companies because
two-thirds of states, either by statute
or regulation, require plant operators
to file Integrated Resource Plans (IRPs)
or equivalent forecasts with their state
public utility commissions. These longterm
plans, with stakeholder and public
input, present business strategies for
meeting forecasted power demands.
IRP requirements and scope can vary
by state, but most consider a 20-year
planning horizon.
Retirement, Decommissioning,
Remediation, and Redevelopment
POWER interviewed Ed Malley, a vice
president with TRC, about coal plant
decommissioning and abatement activities
following retirement. Malley commented
that once a decision is made
to close a coal plant, it takes about one
year to evaluate demolition, remediation,
and redevelopment options (see sidebar
" Terminology " ) to prepare competitive
bid package specifications.
Compared to operating license termination
with nuclear plant decommissioning
regulated by the U.S. Nuclear
Regulatory Commission, there are no
federal or state laws mandating conventional
power plant decommissioning.
However, there are requirements
for what to do and how to do it through
permits and notifications, using the
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's
(EPA's) Clean Air Act citations.
It is well-known that asbestos was
used in many older plants as a heat-resistant,
thermal insulating material associated
with the high temperatures needed
to operate boilers and generate electricity.
Asbestos is the generic commercial
designation for a group of naturally
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Terminology
Several terms are often used interchangeably
following the closure of
a power plant, but they do have different
connotations. Some common
words and their meanings follow.
Retirement. A plant is declared
inoperable, that is, neither economically
nor technically feasible
to continue operating. This includes
interim preservation methods until
decommissioning can begin.
Decommissioning. A series of
activities to remove hazardous materials,
such as asbestos abatement,
and plant superstructure and infrastructure
demolition.
Remediation. Surface and subsurface
property reclamation.
Redevelopment. Designated enduse
applications.
occurring mineral silicate fibers of the
serpentine and amphibole series. These
include the serpentine mineral chrysotile
(white asbestos), and the five amphibole
minerals-actinolite, amosite (brown asbestos),
anthophyllite, crocidolite (blue
asbestos), and tremolite.
Malley said the EPA's National Emission
Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants
(NESHAPS) regulations (40 CFR
61.145, Standard for demolition and
renovation) require a " thorough " asbestos
survey prior to structural demolition.
Also, a written notification of intent to
the designated asbestos-regulating state
agency to perform large-scale asbestos
work, such as a coal plant, is required at
least 10 calendar days before asbestos
stripping or removal work such as breaking
up, dislodging, or disturbing asbestos
begins. Abatement activity fee schedules
vary by state. The EPA's asbestos
regulation is intended to minimize asbesPOWER
| October 2019
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POWER October 2019

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