Impacts of the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act on the siting of coal conversion energy facilities in the United States
The Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) may add to the attractiveness of using low-ash coals because the amount of waste generated depends critically on the amount of noncombustible material in the coal. Because the largest deposits of low-ash coal occur in the West, it is possible that RCRA may increase the attractiveness of western sties over the eastern ones. RCRA will probably decrease the attractiveness of urban locations for new energy facilities. Hazardous waste regulations explicitly preclude facilities from being sited in congested areas. Solid waste generation of the mangitude anticipated will be problematic in urban locations also because most cities already face serious problems disposing of municipal solid wastes. utilization of recovered material produced inthe largest volumes (ash and sulfur) will require imagination and new applications. Long-distance overland hauls of ash and sulfur are infeasible; ways must be developed to use such materials near where they are being produced. Markets for fly and bottom ash can be widespread if the substance is publicly accepted. Ash has been demonstrated to be a quality road-building aggregate for which demand should exist nationwide. AT this stage of the analysis it is shown that RCRA has contradictory siting implications. According to the site exclusionary criteria outlined by Secion 3004, remote sites look most attractive (particularly those in the West). However, to use recovered resources produced from these facilities, local markets near the facilities are required because the major waste products will be inexpensive and heavy. As RCRA rules are applied and enforced, it can be expected that energy developers will try to locate facilities in high and dry sites close to clay deposits and outside urbanized areas; however, locations adjacent to rivers or other bodies of water may be preferred because they provide inexpensive transportation for recovered materials.
- Research Organization:
- West Virginia Univ., Morgantown (USA). Dept. of Geology and Geography
- DOE Contract Number:
- W-7405-ENG-26
- OSTI ID:
- 6193697
- Report Number(s):
- ORNL/OEPA-12/R1
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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