Managing coal combustion residues in mines
Burning coal in electric utility plants produces, in addition to power, residues that contain constituents which may be harmful to the environment. The management of large volumes of coal combustion residues (CCRs) is a challenge for utilities, because they must either place the CCRs in landfills, surface impoundments, or mines, or find alternative uses for the material. This study focuses on the placement of CCRs in active and abandoned coal mines. The Committee on Mine Placement of Coal Combustion Wastes of the National Research Council believes that placement of CCRs in mines as part of the reclamation process may be a viable option for the disposal of this material as long as the placement is properly planned and carried out in a manner that avoids significant adverse environmental and health impacts. This report discusses a variety of steps that are involved in planning and managing the use of CCRs as minefills, including an integrated process of CCR characterization and site characterization, management and engineering design of placement activities, and design and implementation of monitoring to reduce the risk of contamination moving from the mine site to the ambient environment. Enforceable federal standards are needed for the disposal of CCRs in minefills to ensure that states have adequate, explicit authority and that they implement minimum safeguards. 267 refs., 6 apps.
- Research Organization:
- National Research Council (USA). Committee on Mine Placement of Coal Combustion Wastes
- OSTI ID:
- 20923760
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
WASTE PRODUCT UTILIZATION
COAL
COMBUSTION PRODUCTS
WASTE MANAGEMENT
RESIDUES
ACID MINE DRAINAGE
LAND RECLAMATION
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS
USA
FOSSIL-FUEL POWER PLANTS
ABANDONED SITES
COAL MINES
PLANNING
SITE CHARACTERIZATION
MONITORING
IMPLEMENTATION
DESIGN
BACKFILLING
REGULATIONS
SURFACE MINING ACTS
WATER POLLUTION CONTROL
ASHES