EPA finalizes revisions to the coal ash closure regulations, increases public access to information
July 30th, 2020
On July 29, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) finalized several changes to the regulations for coal combustion residuals, known as CCR or coal ash, to implement the court’s vacatur of certain closure requirements as well as adding provisions that enhance the public’s access to information about the management of coal ash at electric utilities. […]
EPA announces coronavirus (COVID-19) resources for state, local and tribal governments
April 17th, 2020
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is updating its coronavirus website to include new resources for state, local, and tribal agencies and intergovernmental associations. These resources will help EPA and its partners continue to provide the environmental protection the nation depends on without interruption during the coronavirus public health emergency. “EPA is doing all we […]
EPA proposes additional amendments to the regulations for coal combustion residuals
February 20th, 2020
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced further proposed revisions and flexibilities to the regulations for the management of coal combustion residuals (CCR), commonly known as coal ash, from electric utilities. “This proposal is the last in a set of four planned actions we are taking under the Trump Administration to stabilize coal ash regulations […]
EPA proposes approval of Georgia’s coal ash permit program, encourages other states to follow suit
June 25th, 2019
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to approve Georgia’s permit program for the disposal of coal combustion residuals—commonly known as coal ash—from certain coal-fired power plants. “EPA encourages other states to follow Georgia’s lead and assume oversight of coal ash management within their borders,” said EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler. “EPA is committed to working with […]
EPA awards $12.3 million to Iowa for water projects
November 15th, 2017
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 7 announced Nov. 14, 2017, that it has awarded $12,326,000 to Iowa’s Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF) program to help finance improvements to water projects that are essential to protecting public health and the environment. “Clean drinking water and proper wastewater treatment are fundamental to protecting […]
Final inspection: Civil penalties against polluters drop 60% under Trump
October 1st, 2017
An Aug. 10, 2017, report issued by the Environmental Integrity Project (EIP), indicates that, so far, President Donald J. Trump’s Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has collected 60% less in civil penalties than previous administrations had recovered from environmental violators on average by the end of July in their first year after taking office. The EIP […]
EPA to review 2015 coal ash final rule
September 22nd, 2017
On Sept. 14, 2017, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) granted two petitions to reconsider substantive provisions of the Final Rule regulating coal combustion residuals (CCR) as nonhazardous waste under Subtitle D of the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA). “In light of EPA’s new statutory authority, it is important that we give the […]
EPA releases interim final guidance on state CCR permit programs for comment
August 16th, 2017
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has made public an interim final guidance outlining the process and procedures EPA generally intends to use to review and make determinations on state coal combustion residual (CCR) permit programs This document provides guidance to the states for developing and submitting a program to EPA for approval. The guidance […]
Geosynthetic Institute News
August 1st, 2017
Commentary on geosynthetic specifications One can only suspect that the first specification on a given manufactured material came along with or very shortly after the first manufactured product became available. It follows then that some 200 years later, manufactured geosynthetic materials should do likewise. In fact, so-called standards organizations have evolved by publishing the following […]
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 […]