Part 1: The regulation of CCR in the United States: Geosynthetics and barriers
August 1st, 2017
The regulation of coal ash (coal combustion residuals or CCR) has significantly expanded the market for geosynthetics within the United States. Further, there is interest in these regulations around the globe in every country using coal as an energy source. These regulations are the result of recent environmental incidents. The regulations call for the increased […]
Editorial: The management of coal combustion residuals (CCR)
August 1st, 2017
The management of coal combustion residuals (CCR or “coal ash”) is a growth category for the geosynthetics industry. Multiple opportunities now exist using various types of geosynthetics due to the evolving federal and state regulations for handling CCR. In fact, geosynthetics have played a role in the regulations that have developed. “These regulations have been […]
CCR management using geotextile tubes
August 1st, 2017
Introduction Since the late 1800s, coal has played a leading role in U.S. production of electrical energy. Coal-fired power plants have provided reliable electrical power from the earliest days when power plants were run with hand-fed coal to heat boilers to produce steam. The introduction of pulverized coal led to improvements in the electrical-generation process […]
Using geosynthetics for macroencapsulation for CCR on-site clean closure
August 1st, 2017
Coal combustion residuals (CCR) have been used for many years in the construction of berms and engineered structural fill applications, including embankments for highways, dikes, and levees. However, large, unencapsulated structural fill projects have become a focus of environmental concerns due to potential leaching of metals and structural failures. Cap-in-place of CCR surface impoundments is […]
WOCA issues WOCA Awards and makes 2017 papers available
July 25th, 2017
The World of Coal Ash (WOCA) conference announced the 2017 WOCA Awards and the availability of the white papers from the 2017 conference, which was held May 8–11 in Lexington, Ky. WOCA is organized by the American Coal Ash Association and the University of Kentucky Center for Applied Energy Research. WOCA awarded the Barton A. […]
Duke Energy proposes on-site coal ash landfill
December 22nd, 2015
Fully lined facility will provide permanent storage solution for remaining coal ash at W.S. Lee Station in Belton, S.C. Duke will continue transporting coal ash to Homer, Ga., as part of initial work. Continued progress moving ash from six other coal plants in the Carolinas. Duke Energy Carolinas issued a press release last week stating […]
N.C. issues permit for coal ash excavation at Duke plant in Wilmington
December 9th, 2015
North Carolina’s Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) last week issued a permit to Duke Energy that allows excavation of coal ash stored in ponds at its Sutton Plant in Wilmington. A DEQ press release said that a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) wastewater permit is required to safely remove wet ash stored in Duke’s […]
Using geosynthetic materials to effectively close a coal ash pond
October 1st, 2015
Introduction Many electric utilities are required by the U.S. Environmetal Protection Agency’s (EPA) recently published Disposal of Coal Combustion Residuals from Electric Utilities Rule to evaluate and address closure options for historical coal ash storage areas. EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy signed the final rule Dec. 19, 2014, and it was published in the Federal Register […]
Part 2: Geosynthetics
April 1st, 2015
2014 state of the specialty fabrics industry By Jeffrey C. Rasmussen Introduction The U.S./Canadian geosynthetic market includes geotextiles, geomembranes, geogrids, geosynthetic clay liners, drainage materials, geocells, and erosion control materials. In terms of value, geomembranes made up 51% of demand in 2014. Geotextiles were the second largest segment in terms of value in 2014, representing […]