WASHINGTON DC UPDATES
House Bill Preventing “Hazardous Waste” Designation Passes Subcommittee
A U.S. House of Representatives Subcommittee on June 21 approved a bill that would prevent the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency from regulating coal ash disposal as a “hazardous waste” while simultaneously directing states to enact enforceable permit programs.
The House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Environment and the Economy approved HR 2273 – the “Coal Residuals Reuse and Management Act.” The bill is sponsored by Rep. David McKinley (R-WV) and effectively replaces HR 1391, which Rep. McKinley filed in April.
Rep. McKinley’s original bill simply blocked EPA from regulating coal ash as a hazardous waste under Subtitle C of the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act. The new bill goes a step further and mandates a state-administered permit program to create enforceable requirements for groundwater monitoring, lining of landfills, corrective action when environmental damage occurs and structural criteria. HR 2273 also provides that if a state is unable or unwilling to implement the permit programs, the federal EPA would have authority to do so.
“Since the very first hearing in this Subcommittee, regulation of CCRs (Coal Combustion Residuals) has been a topic of discussion,” said Subcommittee Chairman John Shimkus (R-IL). “We learned early on that regulating CCRs as a hazardous waste, when these materials do not even meet EPAs own standard for toxicity, would have devastating effects on jobs and a very successful and emerging byproducts industry.”
“One year ago, the Obama EPA put a big question mark over the coal ash recycling industry when it proposed to regulate coal ash under RCRA Subtitle C, which is a classification for hazardous materials. A consensus has formed that this idea goes too far and that the states are best suited to carry out coal ash regulations,” said Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Fred Upton (R-MI). “In response to the clear need for a legislative fix, we engaged members and worked hard to develop a compromise bill, which finds an elegant solution that ensures coal ash will be handled responsibly, with states maintaining the primary role as they do with municipal solid waste.”
The next step for the bill will be a hearing before the full Energy and Commerce Committee, which could occur during July. If the bill is approved by the full committee, it will move to the House floor for a final vote.
For more information about HR 2273, including a complete copy of the bill’s language, click here. For information about the previous bill, HR 1391, including a list of the 63 bipartisan co-sponsors it attracted, click here.
For a news story about continuing discussions among House Energy and Commerce Committee members seeking broad consensus about the coal ash bill, click here.
Comparisons to Municipal Solid Waste Figure in Congressional Debate
In advancing HR 2273 as a solution for regulating coal ash disposal without creating an unwarranted “hazardous waste” stigma for coal ash, members of Congress are creating a states-led regulatory program patterned after one that already works well for municipal solid waste – also known as “MSW” or “household garbage.”
Some anti-coal environmental activists have responded by saying that “coal ash would receive no higher regulation than household garbage” – thereby implying that higher regulation is necessary to protect human health and the environment. But is it?
Research conducted by Dr. Lisa Bradley of AECOM for the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) recently compared the toxicity of leachate from coal ash landfills and impoundments with that of MSW landfills. Based on the results of this risk-based comparison, it can be concluded that the relative human health risks associated with leachates from MSW landfills and coal ash management are similar.
While toxicity risks are similar, the EPRI report points out that managing an MSW disposal facility is much more complicated than managing coal ash disposal. Coal ash is typically disposed in “monofills” containing a single, homogenous type of inorganic material. MSW landfills have a wide variety of contents including residential food scraps, yard trimmings, wood, metals, plastics, glass, and other materials. These materials can attract “disease vectors,” including rodents, flies, mosquitoes, and other insects, that can transmit diseases to humans. MSW landfills must have controls for these vectors (which can include the use of pesticides). In addition, there is the nuisance factor of the attraction an MSW presents for other animals such as seagulls and other scavengers. Furthermore, because of the organic nature of much of the MSW landfill contents, methane gas is produced by the natural breakdown of these contents. Methane is a flammable and explosive gas, and it must be carefully controlled to ensure that concentrations to do not exceed the lower explosive limit within nearby structures and at the facility boundary – another risk that does not apply to coal ash disposal.
More than 240 million tons of MSW are generated in the United States each year, compared to approximately 135 million tons of coal ash. States operate effective regulatory programs for the disposal of MSW at more than 1,900 locations and are more than capable of doing the same for coal ash – a material with similar toxicity risks and fewer management problems.
For a complete copy of the EPRI report, click here and enter 1020555 into the search box in the upper right of the page.
44 U.S. Senators Ask White House to Act on Coal Ash
A bipartisan group of 44 United States Senators on May 26 sent a letter to President Barack Obama asking his Administration to quickly finalize new coal ash disposal regulations without labeling the resource a “hazardous waste.”
“We write to ask the Administration to rapidly finalize a rule regulating CCRs under subtitle D, the non-hazardous solid waste program of the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA),” the Senators wrote. “A swift finalization of regulations under subtitle D offers the best solution for the environment and for the economy. The environmental advantages of the beneficial use of CCRs in products such as concrete and road base are well-established.”
The letter was championed by Senators Kent Conrad (D-ND) and Michael Enzi (R-WY). It was signed by 12 Democrats and 32 Republicans.
The letter noted that coal ash recycling is already being harmed by an Environmental Protection Agency proposal to label coal ash “hazardous” when disposed. The Senators said the regulatory uncertainty surrounding EPA’s increasingly protracted rulemaking is causing damage to recycling efforts even in advance of any new regulations being enacted.
“Since the EPA first signaled its possible intention to regulate CCRs under subtitle C, financial institutions have withheld financing for projects using CCRs, and some end-users have balked at using CCRs in their products until the outcome of the EPA’s proposed rulemaking is known. Already, beneficial use of CCRs has decreased, and landfill disposal has increased. This result is counterproductive but likely to continue as long as the present regulatory uncertainty persists,” the Senators wrote.
Since the letter was sent, at least three other Senators have sent individual letters to the White House calling for a swift resolution of coal ash disposal regulations without a “hazardous waste” designation. For a copy of the group letter, click here. Senators who signed the group letter include:
Democrats: Mark Begich, AK; Mark Pryor, AR; Mary Landrieu, LA; Claire McCaskill, MO; Max Baucus, MT; Jon Tester, MT; Kent Conrad, ND; Ben Nelson, NE; Mark Warner, VA; Herbert Kohl, WI; Joe Manchin, WV; and Jay Rockefeller, VW.
Republicans: Lisa Murkowski, AK; Richard Shelby, AL; John Boozman, AR; Johnny Isakson, GA; Saxby Chambliss, GA; Charles Grassley, IA; Jim Risch, ID; Mark Kirk, IL; Dan Coats, IN; Richard Lugar, IN; Jerry Moran, KS; Pat Roberts, KS; David Vitter, LA; Roy Blunt, MO; Thad Cochran, MS; Roger Wicker, MS; Richard Burr, NC; John Hoeven, ND; Dean Heller, NV; Rob Portman, OH; Pat Toomey, PA; Jim DeMint, SC; Lindsey Graham, SC; John Thune, SD; Bob Corker, TN; Lamar Alexander, TN; John Cornyn, TX; Orrin Hatch, UT; Mike Lee, UT; Ron Johnson, WI; John Barrasso, WY; and Michael Enzi, WY.
Study Says Coal Ash Regulation Could Kill Up to 316,000 Jobs
The proposed federal regulation of coal combustion residuals (CCRs), or “coal ash,” from electric utility generating units would result in as many as 316,000 lost jobs in the United States, according to an economic analysis released June 15. These job losses, as well as other economic impacts such as electricity price increases will be most severe in the Midwest, which relies on coal to produce most of its electricity.
The job losses are net estimates that include both job losses and gains from the regulation. The range in these job impact estimates depends on which of the proposed regulatory options the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) ultimately adopts. The cost of the proposed options ranges from roughly $23 billion to as much as $110 billion over a 20-year period.
The analysis, “An Economic Assessment of Net Employment Impacts from Regulating Coal Combustion Residuals,” was undertaken by Veritas Economic Consulting on behalf of the Utility Solid Waste Activities Group (USWAG). USWAG is a consortium of approximately 80 utility operating companies, the Edison Electric Institute (EEI), the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA), and the American Public Power Association (APPA).
With coal-based generation providing 47 percent of the nation’s electricity, federal regulation of coal ash could increase electricity rates in some regions, restrict the recycling and reuse of coal ash, and eliminate many of the jobs on which ash reuse and recycling depend. Coal ash refers broadly to the residual solid material from the combustion of coal to produce electricity.
EPA is weighing two main approaches to govern the disposal of CCRs under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA): regulating CCRs under RCRA Subtitle C – the federal program to manage hazardous wastes – and regulating them as non-hazardous waste under RCRA Subtitle D. EPA also has proposed a modification to its Subtitle D option known as “D Prime.”
EPA’s Subtitle C proposal would establish a federal program to regulate CCRs from the point of generation to their final disposition, and would effectively phase out the disposal of CCRs in surface impoundments. The study found that this option would lead to the net loss of 183,900 to 316,000 jobs.
The Subtitle D proposal would establish national criteria for ash landfills and impoundments, including use of liners and groundwater monitoring, and would require closure of facilities unable to meet certain requirements, which would effectively close most CCR surface impoundments. An estimated net 39,000 to 64,700 jobs would be lost under this scenario, the report concluded.
The D Prime option would allow surface impoundments to remain in operation, providing that they also met groundwater monitoring and other requirements.
In addition, the analysis found that the impacts of regulation would not be felt uniformly across the country. The Midwest, which relies heavily on coal to meet its electricity needs, would lose a net of 57,300 to 95,600 jobs if CCRs were regulated under Subtitle C. These estimates include losses from electric generating unit retirements, electricity price increases, losses in the beneficial use industry, and losses in other related industries. The analysis also includes estimates of job gains in sectors associated with CCR handling and disposal.
The beneficial use industry has been one of the most vocal opponents of regulating coal ash as a hazardous waste. Coal ash has been used for more than 80 years in many applications, including concrete production, building products and road construction. In 2009 alone, more than 55 million tons of ash – over 41 percent of all CCRs – were used in such applications. Should EPA choose to regulate ash under Subtitle C, many beneficial uses and associated jobs would be eliminated, and utilities would incur significant additional management requirements and costs, forcing some power plants to retire prematurely.
There is tremendous support among federal agencies, governors, state policymakers and state environmental officials for regulating CCRs as non-hazardous waste. Such regulation would ensure that coal ash is managed safely, while also protecting human health and the environment, jobs, and the economy.
The full report is available here.
Aggressive EPA Regulatory Agenda Sees More Delays…
Proposed coal ash regulations are not the only Environmental Protection Agency rulemaking activity that has slowed down. In the past month, the Agency has announced delays in three other major proceedings aimed at increasing regulations on the use of coal.
On June 21, EPA announced that it will extend the public comment period by 30 days on proposed mercury and air toxics standards for power plants – commonly known as the Utility MACT rule. EPA will now accept comments on the proposed rule until August 4, 2011. The extension came after weeks of Congressional and public criticism of the complexity and cost of the proposed rule and after the discovery that EPA made a significant error in calculating the emissions standards for mercury. EPA proposed the national mercury and air toxics standards in March. The proposed standards would be phased in over three years, and states have the ability to give facilities a fourth year to comply. EPA hopes to finalize the standards in November. More information about the proposed mercury and air toxics standards can be found here.
The Agency also announced a timeline for reconsidering new emissions standards for industrial boilers and solid waste incinerators – commonly known as the Boiler MACT rule. In February the Agency issued the long-awaited rule in compliance with a court-ordered deadline, but immediately announced plans to reconsider several parts of the regulation. EPA now says that it will propose standards to be reconsidered by the end of October 2011 and issue final standards by the end of April 2012. (It may be worth noting that EPA consistently refers to the 4,800 comments it received on the Boiler MACT standards when explaining delays in the implementation of the regulations. Separately, EPA says it received approximately 450,000 comments on its proposed coal ash disposal regulations.) More information about the proposed boiler emissions standards can be found here.
EPA also announced that it will take more time to review public comments on draft rules for greenhouse gas emissions from power plants. The Agency now says it will propose a final regulation on September 30, instead of July 26 as initially planned. EPA said it still plans to finalize the rules by May 2012. Earlier this year, the Agency pushed back the reporting deadline for greenhouse gas emissions from large emitters to September 30, from the original March 31. More information about proposed greenhouse gas emissions rules can be found here.
The various delays do not appear to placate members of Congress who perceive EPA’s regulatory agenda as over-reaching. House Republicans have announced plans to file bills later this summer that would block major portions of EPA’s proposals. For a news story on the topic, click here.
…As Projected Costs of EPA Proposals Continue to Mount
Evidence continues to mount regarding the potential costs of EPA’s regulatory agenda for coal use. In addition to potential job losses associated with coal ash disposal regulations (see above), recent reports and company announcements predict significant costs associated with complying with various EPA proposals.
Two of the EPA’s proposed regulations would be among the most expensive ever imposed by the agency on coal-fueled power plants, dramatically increasing electricity rates and natural gas prices and leading to substantial job losses, according to a new analysis by National Economic Research Associates (NERA). The analysis was sponsored by the American Coalition for Clean Coal Electricity (ACCCE), but relies on government data for almost all of its assumptions. NERA projects that EPA’s proposals would result in employment losses of over 1.4 million job-years by 2020 and increase electricity rates by over 23 percent in some areas of the United States. In addition, consumers will be paying over $8 billion per year in higher natural gas prices because of the proposed rules. NERA analyzed the combined economic impacts of the EPA’s proposed Transport Rule and its Maximum Achievable Control Technology (MACT) requirements for power plants. The analysis projects that the two regulations alone would cost the American electric sector nearly $18 billion per year. A copy of the NERA report can be obtained here.
An interview with a NERA researcher discussing EPA estimates of regulation costs and benefits can be seen here.
Meanwhile, American Electric Power (AEP) – which operates the nation’s largest fleet of coal-fueled power plants – announced that it plans to retire nearly 6 gigawatts of coal-fueled capacity and upgrade or refuel another 11 gigawatts as part of an estimated $8 billion plan to comply with a series of regulations proposed by EPA. The company predicted a sudden increase in electricity rates and the loss of about 600 power plant jobs would result from the plan. For an article about AEP’s announcement, click here.
Cement Producers Continue Legal Challenge of Proposed Emissions Rules
The Portland Cement Association (PCA) has filed legal briefs with the District of Columbia Circuit Court of Appeals addressing the cement industry’s challenge to the portland cement national emission standard for hazardous air pollutants (NESHAP).
The NESHAP rule was finalized by the U.S Environmental Protection Agency in September 2010. It establishes new, very stringent standards addressing particulate matter, hydrochloric acid, total hydrocarbons and mercury. The compliance date for the cement industry is September 9, 2013.
PCA filed a challenge to the rule in November 2010, taking issue with a number of details, including how the agency developed the standards and the overlap between the NESHAP rule and other EPA rules, among other matters.
“The cement industry, already one of the most heavily regulated industrial sectors, has continually demonstrated its commitment to energy efficiency and environmental stewardship. It has invested tens of billions of dollars in modernizing and expanding facilities with state-of-the-art technologies that significantly reduce the industry’s environmental footprint,” said Brian McCarthy, PCA CEO and president. “However, the unprecedented severity of these rules, if they are left unchanged, will cause cement plant closures, job losses and a reduction in U.S. cement production capacity.”
Although EPA in May formally agreed to reconsider a number of technical issues in the NESHAP, it declined to revisit those issues with the greatest potential impact on the cement industry. These more significant issues include the emission standards themselves and their relationship to the raw materials used to make cement as well as the regulatory confusion created by an EPA rule designed for incinerators.
For more information on PCA’s challenge of the NESHAP rule and the economic impact of regulations on cement, click here.
Government Relations Committee Open to Participation
ACAA members interested in tracking Washington DC activities more closely should sign up for participation in the Government Relations Committee by sending an email to info@acaa-usa.org.
The Committee conducts regular conference calls to update interested ACAA members and coordinate activities such as a Regional Congressional Outreach Program that is now getting under way.
ASSOCIATION NEWS
Annual Production and Use Survey is Due
Utilities that have not responded to ACAA’s annual CCP Production and Use Survey are encouraged to submit their 2010 data as soon as possible.
The Production and Use Survey is an important tool for ACAA’s mission to encourage the beneficial use of coal combustion products. The report demonstrates trends over time in the use of specific materials in specific market segments. It is vital that all utilities provide accurate data for this report, particularly in the light of the regulatory and economic pressures of the current markets.
ACAA is the only organization that collects and reports coal ash beneficial use data either in the private or public sectors. ACAA data is widely cited by government agencies and the news media.
ACAA intends to provide its members the initial results of the 2010 survey at the association’s fall meeting in Indianapolis September 26 and 27.
Registration Now Open for Fall Meeting in Indianapolis
The Fall Meeting of the American Coal Ash Association will be held Monday and Tuesday, September 26 and 27, 2011, in Indianapolis, Indiana. The meeting will be held at the Indianapolis Hyatt Hotel.
Members are urged to take note of the Monday-Tuesday format, which is a change from previous meetings. Monday’s agenda will feature ACAA Committee meetings and a welcome reception in the evening. Tuesday’s agenda will feature educational presentations. Both days will run from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Details on the agendas will be distributed later, along with information on discounted hotel rates. Meanwhile, online registration for the meeting (including fee payment) is now available here.
Minutes of Previous Meetings Now Available Online
Minutes from ACAA’s Summer Meeting have been posted to the association’s website under For Members / Summer Meeting. Click here to view minutes. (Member password is required.)
Presentations and papers from the recently completed World of Coal Ash are currently being added to the “Ash Library” maintained by the University of Kentucky Center for Applied Energy Research. The “Ash Library” – which also contains presentations and papers from previous coal ash symposia – can be accessed here. www.flyash.info.
ACAA Participates in Concrete and Masonry Related Associations Meeting
Concrete and Masonry Related Associations (CAMRA) – a coalition of trade groups involved in the concrete related markets – met during June to discuss a variety of issues related to concrete markets and issues presented in these difficult times. With a total of 35 members including the American Coal Ash Association, CAMRA consists of organizations ranging in size from the very large, such as the Portland Cement Association, to the very small, such as the American Concrete Pressure Pipe Association.
A common concern at this year’s meeting was the avalanche of regulatory demands coming from Washington, D.C. and how to respond. Even organizations with full-time staff and presence in Washington reported that they are being overwhelmed. Further discussions are planned on creation of coalitions to address the myriad of regulatory challenges endangering concrete markets.
COAL ASH IN THE NEWS
The Ohio State University Launches New Coal Ash Website
The Coal Combustion Products Program at The Ohio State University has launched a new website designed to showcase the university’s program, publicize upcoming events and serve as a respected resource of coal ash information.
The OSU CCP Program addresses the needs of the industry and helps advance the technically sound, environmentally friendly, and commercially competitive uses of CCPs in many interdisciplinary sustainable applications. The new website is located here.
Soil Improvement Symposium to Focus on Gypsum Use
The Midwest Soil Improvement Symposium will be held August 23, 2011, at the University of Wisconsin Arlington Ag Research Station in Arlington, Wisconsin. The symposium will focus on research and practical insights into using gypsum for managing soil quality in a range of agricultural applications.
The symposium offers continuing education credits for Certified Crop Advisors, independent agronomists, educators, conservationists, farm managers and others who consult with growers about managing soil quality.
More information – including a complete agenda, registration information, and discounts at several Arlington area hotels – is available here.
Mining Cleanup Workshop to Focus on Sustainability
Abstracts are being accepted and registration is open for the “Innovative Approaches to Mining Cleanup and Reuse Workshop” in Arlington, Virginia, on October 6, 2011. This workshop is sponsored by the U.S. EPA Office of Superfund Remediation and Technology Innovation and the International Committee on Contaminated Land.
Abstracts for presentations are welcome through July 29, 2011. The workshop will facilitate the information exchange and networking among professionals from the public and private sectors, domestic and international, on mining site cleanup and reuse and specifically address: building sustainability into mining site cleanup, innovations in mining site cleanup technologies, and engaging communities in site cleanup and reuse decisions.
For more information, to register, and to submit an abstract for consideration, click here.
Midwest Coal Ash Association Announces Scholarship Winners
The Midwest Coal Ash Association awarded four $500 cash stipends to college students who presented papers or posters at the recent World of Coal Ash Symposium in Denver, Colorado.
Student papers and posters were evaluated by a team of MCAA industry experts. In addition to the $500 cash stipends, winners had their World of Coal Ash attendance fees waived. The winners were Josh Brein, University of Kentucky; Igor De laVarga, Purdue University; Nate Mauger, The Ohio State University; and Anne Oberlink, University of Kentucky.
The Midwest Coal Ash Association is a regional trade organization comprised of ash marketers, electric power generation companies; academia and state employees focused on the responsible management and use of coal combustion products in the Midwest.
One World Trade Center Uses Coal Ash in Super High Strength Concrete
One World Trade Center, the central office tower in the redevelopment of Ground Zero in New York City, is rising with super high strength concrete at its core. Coal fly ash is a key ingredient in the concrete used on the project.
Slated to open in late 2013, the building will soar to 1,776 feet – in homage to the year when the Declaration of Independence was signed. The concrete roof of the topmost “people floor” – the observation deck on the floor numbered 102 – will stand just as tall as the former World Trade Center Tower Two, at 1,362 feet. A glass-and-metal parapet will add six feet more, matching the 1,368-foot height of the original One World Trade Center.
Coal fly ash is part of concrete mixes designed to reach strengths of 12,000 psi and 14,000 psi. Core walls measuring three feet thick or more above ground level – and up to twice that thick below grade – are already in place. For an article about the concrete construction techniques being used, click here.
ACAA MEMBERS IN THE NEWS
Charah CEO Named “Entrepreneur of the Year” Finalist
Charah, Inc., a leading ash management provider for the coal-fueled electric utility industry, announced that its President and CEO Charles Price is an Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year 2011 South Central Ohio & Kentucky Award finalist.
According to Ernst & Young LLP, the awards program recognizes entrepreneurs who demonstrate excellence and extraordinary success in such areas as innovation, financial performance and personal commitment to their businesses and communities. Price was selected as a finalist from nearly 100 nominations by a panel of independent judges. Award winners will be announced at a special gala event on June 30, 2011 at the Hyatt Regency Cincinnati.
“I am honored to be recognized as a finalist for this prestigious award," said Price. "Founded in 1987, Charah is one of the largest providers of ash management and power plant support services for the coal-fueled electric utility industry. Our dedicated team assists utilities with all aspects of managing and recycling ash byproducts generated from the combustion of coal in the production of electricity, and strives to provide innovative solutions and superior service for this dynamic industry."
The Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year Program celebrates its 25th anniversary this year. The program has expanded to recognize business leaders in more than 140 cities and more than 50 countries throughout the world.
Regional award winners are eligible for consideration for the Entrepreneur Of The Year National Award.
Based in Louisville, Kentucky, Charah offers services that include landfill construction, operations, management & closure; fly ash, bottom ash, Gypsum & FGD byproduct management; coal combustion product (CCP) sales & marketing; power plant support services including limestone supply, gypsum operations & wastewater treatment; ash pond conversion & closure; dry fly ash conversion; ash pond management; and Integrated Gasification Combined Cycle (IGCC) slag beneficiation and other innovative solutions. For more information, visit www.charah.com.
Ernst & Young is a global leader in assurance, tax, transaction and advisory services employing 141,000 people worldwide. For more information, visit www.ey.com.
Headwaters Resources Enters Agreement to Market Ammonia Technology
Headwaters Resources, Inc., and Breen Energy Solutions have entered into a joint development and commercialization agreement for Headwaters Resources’ Gas Phase Ammonia Slip Mitigation Technology. The patented technology is used at coal-fueled power plants to correct problems that can arise during the operation of emissions control equipment.
Coal-fueled power plants use Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) and Selective Non-Catalytic Reduction (SNCR) technologies to reduce emissions of nitrogen oxides. There are currently 259 SCRs and 172 SNCRs in service in the United States controlling NOx emissions from approximately 50 percent of the coal-fueled generation capacity. Additional SCR and SNCR systems may be constructed over the next decade to comply with increasing air emissions regulations.
During operation of SCRs and SNCRs, unreacted ammonia reagent can cause fouling of air heaters and other downstream components of power plant units and results in excess amount of ammonia that deposits on coal ash left over after combustion. This condition, known as “ammonia slip,” creates maintenance and operational issues for power plants including complications for handling the coal ash for disposal and beneficial use. The Headwaters Resources’ Gas-Phase Ammonia Slip Mitigation Technology is designed to eliminate ammonia slip through the injection of oxidizers enhancing the performance of SCR and SNCR systems.
Under their agreement, Headwaters expects to provide technology and Breen will be responsible for developing the processes for implementing the technology in power plants.
“Headwaters Resources is a leader in managing coal combustion products in the coal-fueled utility power industry,” said Cal Lockert, Breen Vice President of Business Development. “We are excited about the possibilities for teaming to bring this new mitigation technology to the market. It represents the partnering of two innovative organizations that are making a difference in plant emissions control and reduction.”
”We are delighted to partner with Breen in the next phase of ammonia slip mitigation commercialization,” said William Gehrmann, President of Headwaters Resources. “We believe that Breen’s superior process engineering capabilities and position in the utility emissions control market will be invaluable in deploying this important technology.”
The agreement includes a staged rollout including a series of full-scale demonstrations of the Gas Phase Ammonia Slip Mitigation technology. To date, Headwaters has conducted a series of successful pilot demonstrations including a power plant location.
With on-going projects at more than 100 utility locations and approximately 20 million tons of coal combustion products under management annually, Headwaters is the largest manager of coal ash resources in the United States. Headwaters is also responsible for more than half of the nation’s total sales of coal fly ash for use in concrete applications – an important contributor to reducing greenhouse gas emissions associated with concrete construction. For more information about Headwaters coal ash operations, visit www.flyash.com.
Breen Energy Solutions is a Pennsylvania Limited Liability Corporation providing industry-leading technology and services to help utilities manage their emissions and the Balance-Of-Plant impacts resulting from their emissions control technologies. Over the last six years, BES has commercialized several technologies in the Acid Gas Management field including the AbSensor SO3/AbS measurement system, the Breen Online Air Heater Model and the Dynamic Speed Controlled (DySC) Air Heater Sootblowing technology. For more information, visit www.breenes.com.
CERATECH Chemical-Resistant Cement Gains Customer Acceptance
CERATECH, Inc. recently announced that its KEMROK™ cement is now in service at eleven firms where high durability and corrosion resistance are critical.
According to Leo Kahl, CERATECH Vice President of Marketing, "The most gratifying development has been the repeat business. One of our early customers is now on their fourth concrete project using KEMROK, and has scheduled three more. These projects involve four different chemical facilities spanning three states. That kind of repeat use is testimony to the product quality and performance advantages it has over traditional portland cement."
Comprised primarily of coal fly ash, KEMROK has proven to be highly resistant to sulphuric acid attack in both laboratory tests and field applications. It is also resistant to many other acids, salts, and specialty chemicals. Available in bulk and as a packaged concrete repair mix, KEMROK is a cost-effective and value-added alternative to traditional materials where loss of revenue, downtime of critical assets, and exposure to caustic materials are paramount.
Petrochemical facilities are especially vulnerable to concrete corrosion because of the presence of sulphur in petroleum. Combined with water, sulphur forms sulphuric acid, which reacts with minerals in conventional portland cement to steadily deteriorate it. Mike Byrne, a petrochemical industry consultant and product representative, stated, "The alternative cements commonly used are portland cements with microsilica added to slow chemical penetration. But eventually things like sulfuric acid reach the portland cement and deterioration starts. KEMROK is an entirely different cement system that uses no portland cement."
In side-by-side tests recently released by CERATECH, concrete samples made with KEMROK cement exhibited much less deterioration than portland cement concrete when immersed in important acids. In 4 separate tests, technicians submerged two samples of concrete, one made with portland cement and one with KEMROK cement, in an acid solution. They did this with sulphuric, phosphoric, acetic, and hydrochloric acid. Each test was performed per ASTM C-267 guidelines.
After 84 days of exposure to 93% sulphuric acid, the concrete tested with portland cement had lost over 4% of its mass and 18% of its compressive strength. The concrete with KEMROK lost just over 1% of its mass and 5% of its strength. Tests with the other acids also demonstrated significantly better durability with KEMROK concrete.
Founded in 2001 with executive offices in Alexandria, Virginia, and research and development based in Baltimore, Maryland, CERATECH, Inc. has pioneered and commercialized advanced high performing cements using proprietary new chemistry. CERATECH's cement system produces a range of superior concretes fitting every application. More information about CERATECH and its products, including KEMROK, can be found on the company's website at www.CERATECHinc.com and www.KEMROK.com.
Charah Awarded Landfill Project by Constellation Energy
Charah, Inc., a leading ash management provider for the coal-fueled electric utility industry, announced that is has been awarded the contract to construct and operate a new 65-acre landfill for Baltimore-based Constellation Power Source Generation, Inc. (CPSG). The facility, known as Lot 15, located in the Baltimore area, will be Maryland’s first permitted coal combustion byproduct (CCB) landfill designed following the EPA’s Subtitle D regulations and will reduce CPSG’s carbon footprint due to the site’s proximity to the power plants.
The site, situated on 100-foot thick clay layer, includes a fully-encapsulated system with HDPE bottom and cap liner systems, and a leachate collection system. In addition, mechanically stabilized earthen walls will be engineered for added airspace and environmental conservation including preservation of existing onsite wetlands. The site is surrounded by perimeter groundwater monitoring wells with an active groundwater monitoring plan. A stormwater management system will also be implemented, providing significant environmental improvements. The landfill is expected to accommodate approximately 7 million tons of CCBs with a potential life of 22 years.
This unique project results from a partnership between Charah and CPSG in which Charah designed, permitted, and is now constructing the landfill. Once the facility is constructed, Charah will also manage the day-to-day operations. In addition to the partnership between Charah and CPSG, the design and permitting process actively included the participation of the public and environmental groups. Discussions with the community groups during permitting and before construction enabled CPSG and Charah to pro-actively address their concerns. This open dialog will be maintained throughout construction and operation of the site.
According to Charles Price, president and CEO of Charah, “Charah provides a broad base of services to the coal-fired utility industry to assist them in meeting the increasing environmental requirements under which they operate. We are committed to providing our utility partners like Constellation with innovative, environmentally conscious solutions to meet all of their ash management and power plant support services needs. After three years of extensive due diligence and permitting, we are pleased to work with Constellation to construct and operate what we believe will be the standard for the next generation of landfills.”
Based in Louisville, Kentucky, Charah offers services that include landfill construction, operations, management & closure; fly ash, bottom ash, Gypsum & FGD byproduct management; coal combustion product (CCP) sales & marketing; power plant support services including limestone supply, gypsum operations & wastewater treatment; ash pond conversion & closure; dry fly ash conversion; ash pond management; and Integrated Gasification Combined Cycle (IGCC) slag beneficiation and other innovative solutions. For more information, visit www.charah.com.
Constellation Energy (www.constellation.com) is a leading competitive supplier of power, natural gas and energy products and services for homes and businesses across the continental United States. It owns a diversified fleet of generating units, totaling approximately 12,000 megawatts of generating capacity, and is a leading advocate for clean, environmentally sustainable energy sources, such as solar power and nuclear energy. The company delivers electricity and natural gas through the Baltimore Gas and Electric Company (BGE), its regulated utility in Central Maryland. A FORTUNE 500 company headquartered in Baltimore, Constellation Energy had revenues of $14.3 billion in 2010.
CERATECH Receives Strategic Investment from Cementos Argos
CERATECH, Inc. has accepted another strategic equity investment, this time from Columbian cement powerhouse Cementos Argos. (In March, the company announced a similar investment by U.S. coal producer Alpha Natural Resources.)
The most recent CERATECH investment follows Argos' recent expansion of its U.S. presence through a $760 million purchase of Lafarge assets in the southeastern U.S. Argos is now the fourth largest concrete producer in the United States.
The CERATECH investment is strategic in meeting Argos' goal of building a competitive advantage based on sustainability and innovation. CERATECH's cement manufacturing process produces technologically advanced, more durable, "sustainable cements" utilizing 95 percent fly ash generated by electric utilities. The ability to utilize much larger volumes of fly ash dramatically reduces utilities' fly ash disposal and in some cases may entirely eliminate landfilling requirements. A ton of CERATECH "green cement" eliminates approximately 1,900 pounds of landfill waste.
The product is well positioned for adoption by contractors, distributors and companies that are looking to new cement solutions that better conform and comply with "green building initiatives. Production of CERATECH's cement does not generate any CO2 emissions, whereas approximately a ton of CO2 is generated for every ton of conventionally produced portland cement.
The two companies will cooperate to develop and distribute CERATECH's cement through Argos' established ready mix channels throughout the mid-Atlantic, southeastern and southwestern U.S. markets.
"This strategic investment being made by Argos shows how important innovative, sustainable construction products are to the industry," stated Jon Hyman, CERATECH's CEO. "Ours is the only cement on the market composed of more than 90 percent fly ash. As the industry's only carbon-free cement, we exceed the requirements for green building practices such as USGBC's LEED rating system."
Founded in 2001, CERATECH, Inc. has pioneered and commercialized a high performance, sustainable cement alternative to traditional portland cement. With executive offices in Alexandria, Virginia, and research and development based in Baltimore, Maryland, CERATECH has grown from offering a broad range of packaged repair mortars and concrete mixes to high volume, highly durable bulk cements for typical concrete construction and demanding industrial and military applications. More information about CERATECH can be found on the company's website at www.ceratechinc.com.
Welcome New Members
Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association, Inc., an ACAA Utility Voting member, is a wholesale electric power supplier owned by the 44 electric cooperatives that it serves. Tri-State generates and transmits electricity to its member systems throughout a 200,000 square-mile service territory across Colorado, Nebraska, New Mexico and Wyoming. Steve Powell will serve as Director to the ACAA Board and as the primary point of contact. Please click here to visit Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association’s website.
GSE Lining Technology, LLC, an ACAA Associate Voting member, is the leading manufacturer of containment systems for coal ash ponds and landfills. Please click here to visit GSE Lining Technology’s website. Mark C. Arnold is ACAA’s primary point of contact and as a voting member has been assigned as a Director to ACAA’s Board of Directors.
TestAmerica Laboratories, Inc., an ACAA Associate Voting member, and a leading environmental testing firm in the U.S., comprises 36 laboratories and 35 service centers nationwide. TestAmerica focuses on delivering analytical services that address current environmental analysis issues and invests in the development of new solutions for challenges that the market and their clients anticipate facing in the future. ACAA’s primary and alternate points of contact will be Bob Stadelmaier and Kent Cheese. Please click here to be directed to TestAmerica Laboratories, Inc.’s website.
Anne Egelston, Ph.D., an ACAA Individual member, is an air quality expert offering services related to environmental markets and air quality permitting, including the creation of CCP methodologies. Dr. Egelston assists her clients with the creation of greenhouse gas credits internationally and domestically and specializes in developing corporate compliance systems, corporate policy advocacy and authoring credit application packages. She has significant working experience with a variety of voluntary and mandatory carbon markets including international and domestic trading regimes. Please click here to be directed to Spitfire Consulting’s website.
Job Postings
Baker Hughes is currently seeking a Materials Research Scientist (Coal and Ash Combustion Chemistry) at its Sugar Land, Texas, location. The successful candidate will plan and conduct research, develop and execute phases of larger projects or a total project of moderate complexity. The candidate may be lead scientist on challenging projects with some functional supervision and may participate in vendor interface and personnel supervision. A chemist with minimum PhD degree is required, with post-doctoral experience preferable. Applicants should contact Corina Sandu at corina.sandu@bakerhughes.com.
The Phoenix was sent to you from the American Coal Ash Association: info@acaa-usa.org.
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Learn more about ACAA and coal combustion products, please visit: www.acaa-usa.org
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.
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