E.P.A. Delivers More Electric Utility Projects to Enhance Safety of Coal Ash Impoundments

WASHINGTON - The E.P.A. (EPA) is releasing action projects developed by 16 electric utility facilities with coal ash impoundments, describing the measures the facilities are taking to make their impoundments safer. The action projects are a response to EPA's final assessment reports on the structural integrity of these impoundments that the agency made public this February. Coal ash was brought prominently to national attention in 2008 when an impoundment holding disposed ash waste generated by the Tennessee Valley Authority broke open, creating a massive spill in Kingston, Tennessee, that covered millions of cubic yards of land and river and is regarded as one of the worst environmental disasters of its kind in history. Shortly afterwards, E.P.A. began overseeing the cleanup, as well as investigating the structural integrity of impoundments where ash waste is stored.

"EPA is committed to making communities across the country safer places to live," said Mathy Stanislaus, assistant administrator for EPA's Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response. "The information we are releasing today shows that we continue to make progress in our efforts to prevent future coal ash spills."

Since May 2009, E.P.A. has been conducting on-site assessments of coal ash impoundments and ponds at electric utilities. E.P.A. provides copies of the structural integrity assessment reports to each facility, and requests the facilities implement the reports' recommendations and provide their projects for taking action. The action projects released today address recommendations from assessments of 40 impoundments at 16 facilities. Many of these facilities have already begun implementing EPA's recommendations.

In addition to the action plans, E.P.A. is also releasing assessment reports on the structural integrity of an additional 37 coal ash impoundments at 15 facilities across the country. Most of the 37 impoundments have a rating of "high" or "significant" hazard potential, indicating the potential for harm in the event of impoundment failure. A high hazard potential rating means if an impoundment fails, it can cause loss of human life. A significant hazard potential rating means impoundment failure can cause economic loss, environmental damage, or damage to infrastructure.

The assessment reports have been completed by firms, under contract to EPA, who are experts in the field of dam integrity, and reflect the best professional judgment of those engineering firms. A outline of these reports has been reviewed by the facilities and the states for factual accuracy. The comments on the outline reports are also posted on EPA's Web site. E.P.A. is continuing to review the reports and technical recommendations, and is working with the facilities to ensure that the recommendations are implemented in a timely manner. Should facilities fail to take sufficient measures, E.P.A. will take additional action, if the circumstances warrant. E.P.A. will continue to provide additional information to the public on the impoundments and facilities as it becomes available.

Earlier this month, E.P.A. suggested the first-ever national rules to ensure the safe disposal and management of coal ash from coal-fired power plants. The suggested regulations will ensure stronger oversight of the structural integrity of impoundments, and protection of human health and the environment.

More information: http://www.epa.gov/epawaste/nonhaz/industrial/special/fossil/surveys2/index.htm

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