A New Format for The Phoenix

Happy Holidays from the American Coal Ash Association! And welcome to a new format for ACAA’s digital publication – The Phoenix.

Beginning this week, we’ll produce a Phoenix that is more frequent, more accessible and more personal – featuring shorter stories that contain plenty of links to detailed information elsewhere on the worldwide web. We’ll also deliver The Phoenix to your email inbox every Wednesday to ensure that you have the most up-to-date information about coal ash and coal ash beneficial use.

We hope you like the new approach. Please feel free to send any comments or story ideas to info@acaa-usa.org.

ACAA Conducts DC Briefings

“Coal Ash 101” was the title of two briefings in Washington DC this week – one for news media and a second for U.S. Senate staff members. Executive Director Tom Adams and Government Relations Committee Chairman John Ward provided an overview of the types of beneficial use and explained the impact of current U.S. Environmental Protection Agency regulatory activity on the beneficial use industry. A copy of their presentation is here.

A key part of the briefings was the formal release of results from ACAA’s 2010 Production and Use Survey, which shows a downturn in beneficial use rates for the first time in well over a decade.

2010 Production and Use Data Available

According to ACAA’s just-released Production and Use Survey, 42.5 percent of the 130.2 million tons of coal ash produced in 2010 was beneficially used. That recycling rate is a decline from 44.3 percent in 2009 and a significant reversal of the previous decade’s trend. ACAA attributes the turnaround to regulatory uncertainty created by EPA’s protracted coal ash disposal rulemaking.

A copy of the 2010 Production and Use report can be found here. The news release that accompanied the survey’s Washington DC release is here. A memo containing detailed information on the survey’s methodologies and analysis comparing prior years’ data can be found here (members only).

NODA Comments Filed With EPA

The American Coal Ash Association filed comments with the EPA on November 14 concerning the Agency’s Notice of Data Availability (“NODA”). ACAA focused its comments on EPA’s question regarding “whether” coal ash beneficial use should be considered as the agency develops regulations for coal ash disposal. (ACAA’s answer was an emphatic “Yes!”) A complete copy of ACAA’s filing is available in the Members Only section of the ACAA website under “Regulatory Issues - 2010/11 Rulemaking Documents.”

Comments from other organizations are being compiled by the Utility Solid Waste Activities Group here. The USWAG website contains an invaluable collection of comments that have been submitted by a diverse array of organizations, agencies and individuals over the course of the past three years.

Sign Up Now for ACAA Meeting in Tampa

Before making your way to the exit for the holidays, don’t forget to make arrangements to attend the ACAA Winter meeting in Tampa. The meeting will be held January 30-31 at the Tampa Doubletree Westshore Airport Hotel and the cut-off date for room reservations is December 30.

Information about the meeting is being updated regularly here. Hotel information and links to both online meeting registration and online hotel reservations are included. Watch for more information in coming weeks regarding committee meetings, speakers, the always popular Welcome Reception and the second gathering of the ACAA Women’s Leadership Forum.

Get Your Run On in Tampa

Get to Tampa a day early and you can participate in a half marathon and 5K sponsored by Florida Challenge Trail Runs . ACAA members Kyle Seevers (Ash Grove Resources) and Bruce Kazich (Trans Ash) are participating in this event and are volunteering to coordinate activities for any other ACAA members who would like to show their off-road running skills – or just be on hand to cheer for the coal ash team. More information about the event can be found by clicking here.

Coal Ash in the News

We’re all accustomed to coal ash stories appearing in the news media that look like they are copied from an anti-coal group’s press release. But lately there have been a number of stories presenting a more balanced view.

Look here for a transcript and recording link for a recent National Public Radio “Living on Earth” segment that acknowledges the difficulties that would ensue if EPA designates coal ash a “hazardous” waste when disposed.

Here are two newspaper editorials from Bismarck supporting coal ash beneficial use and urging the Senate to approve S. 1751 – coal ash regulation bill patterned after the one that recently passed the U.S. House of Representatives. Look here and here. North Dakota Senators John Hoeven and Kent Conrad have taken the lead on sponsoring the bill in the Senate.

This story about improving the environmental profile of roads appeared on National Geographic and prominently cites coal fly ash use as a key strategy. And speaking of better roads, here is a story about the economic impact on road construction if coal fly ash were no longer available as a concrete ingredient. A recent study by the American Road and Transportation Builders Association estimated the price tag at more than $100 billion over the next 20 years.

Papers Needed for Concrete Sustainability Conference

January 27 is the deadline for abstracts for the 2012 International Concrete Sustainability Conference. Sponsored by the National Ready Mixed Concrete Association, the conference will be held May 7-10 at the Renaissance Seattle Hotel. The 7th annual conference will provide learning and networking opportunities on the latest advances, technical knowledge, continuing research, tools and solutions for sustainable concrete manufacturing and construction. For more information about the program or to submit your abstract online, click here.

Welcome New Member: Mississippi Lime

Mississippi Lime Company, an ACAA Associate non-voting member, is the most diversified producer of lime and calcium-based products in North America, and has a division called Reagent Technology Services (RTS) that would like to work with other companies to develop and commercialize applications for coal combustion products. Please visit Mississippi Lime Company’s website. Greg Andersen will be ACAA’s primary point of contact from Mississippi Lime, while Pat Mongoven will serve as the alternate.

Sincere Condolences: Cheri Miller

Longtime ACAA member Cheri Miller’s husband passed away unexpectedly in November. Dr. John “Doc” Miller retired in 2010 after 36 years on the faculty at Baylor School in Chattanooga.

Memorials can be sent to the Chattanooga Chapter of the American Diabetes Association in John's name.

The Phoenix was sent to you from the American Coal Ash Association: info@acaa-usa.org.
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The 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 more supportive of a sustainable global community.