EPA’s coal-ash proposal offers further stimulus

May 21, 2010 | By Ron Bygness

Earlier this year, I was talking with a geosynthetics sales manager who offered a brief description of the economic landscape: "We hung in there during 2009 and now we see brighter things this year and in 2011." Mark those words, then read our report on the U.S. geosynthetics marketplace "poised for a comeback."

Then in May, this arrived. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) finally unleashed its long-awaited, 563-page tome, "Coal Combustion Residuals-Proposed Rule."

(In plain English: What are we going to do about the ash byproduct from coal power plants? Yes, this is the same coal-ash sludge that came to national attention in December 2008 when it covered millions of cubic yards of land and water following an impoundment failure in Kingston, Tenn.)

The EPA's proposal is lengthy, but here is a key section regarding coal-ash containment: "... will ensure for the first time that protective controls, such as liners and groundwater monitoring, are in place at new landfills to protect groundwater and human health. Existing surface impoundments will also require liners ..."

Of course, we are now in the midst of the back-and-forth, the 90-day commentary period, and perhaps even legislative action from Congress. But all of the momentum is in place for what is likely another huge milestone in the history of geosynthetics.

Talk about stimulus!

There is currently a task group of members from the Geosynthetic Materials Association (GMA) focused on the EPA's proposals, working to ensure that liner language is adopted in its best light. Now would be a great time to lend this group your professional and financial support.

GMA's government-relations program has advocated tenaciously for these regulations. With implementation of the EPA's proposals, GMA managing director Andrew Aho said he estimates a potential economic impact in the neighborhood of $350 million during the next five years or so.

And that is a very nice neighborhood. Stimulating indeed!

Ron Bygness is the editor of Geosynthetics magazine.

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