The Ultimate Guide:Navigating EPA’s Coal Combustion Residuals (CCR) Ruling

EPA’s CCR Ruling

On April 17, 2015 the

U.S. Environmental

Protection Agency (EPA)

published the final rule

for the regulation and

management of coal

combustion residuals

(CCR) under the Resource

Conservation and

Recovery Act (RCRA).

The rule—effective on

October 19, 2015—applies

to electric utilities and

independent power

producers that fall within

NAICS code 221112, and

the facility produces or

stores CCR materials in

impoundments or landfills.

Checklist for Existing CCR Landfill Compliance

October 19, 2015 F Fugitive dust control plan

F Initial weekly inspection of CCR unit

F Conduct required recordkeeping

F Provide required notifications

F Establish CCR website

January 19, 2016 F Complete the initial annual inspection of the CCR unit

October 17, 2016 F Prepare initial run-on and run-off control system plan

F Prepare written closure and post-closure care plans

October 17, 2017 F Install the groundwater monitoring system

F Develop the groundwater sampling and analysis program

F Initiate the detection monitoring program

F Begin evaluating the groundwater monitoring data for statistically significant increases over background levels

October 17, 2018 F Complete demonstration for unstable areas

Major CCR Compliance Milestones

Checklist for Existing CCR Surface Impoundments Compliance

October 19, 2015 F Prepare fugitive dust control plan

F Conduct required recordkeeping

F Provide required notifications

F Establish CCR website

F Initiate weekly inspections of the CCR unit

F Initiate monthly monitoring of CCR unit instrumentation

December 17, 2015 F Install permanent marker

January 19, 2016 F Complete the initial annual inspection of the CCR unit

October 17, 2016 F Document whether CCR unit is either a lined or unlined CCR surface impoundment

F Compile a history of construction

F Complete initial hazard potential classification assessment

F Complete initial structural stability assessment

F Complete initial safety factor assessment

F Prepare initial inflow design flood control system plan

F Prepare written closure and post-closure care plans

April 17, 2017 F Prepare emergency action plan

October 17, 2017 F Install the groundwater monitoring system

F Develop the groundwater sampling and analysis program

F Initiate the detection monitoring program

F Begin evaluating the groundwater monitoring data for statistically significant increases over background levels

October 17, 2018 F Complete demonstration for placement above the uppermost aquifer

F Complete demonstrations for wetlands

F Complete demonstrations for fault areas

F Complete demonstrations for seismic impact zones

F Complete demonstrations for unstable areas

Major CCR Compliance Milestones

Requirements At A Glance By Facility Type

E XIS T I N G CCR L A N D FI L L S N E W L A N D FI L L SE XIS T I N G CCR S U R FACE I M P O U N DM EN T S

N E W CCR I M P O U N DM EN T S U N I T S & L AT ER A L E X PA N S I O N S

I N AC T IV E S U R FACE I M P O U N DM EN T S

Location Restrictions

Unstable areas

• Placement above the uppermost aquifer

• Wetlands • Fault areas • Seismic impact zones • Unstable areas

• Placement above the uppermost aquifer

• Wetlands • Fault Areas • Seismic impact zones • Unstable Areas

• Placement above the uppermost aquifer

• Wetlands • Fault areas • Seismic impact zones • Unstable areas

• None if closed by April 17, 2018 • If not, same as existing CCR

surface impoundments

Design Requirements

Not required • Leachate collection &

removal system • Two component liner

Unlined impoundments must: • Meet groundwater protection

standards • Retrofit with a composite liner

system or be closed

Two component liner • None if closed by April 17, 2018 • If not, same as existing CCR

surface impoundments

Structural Analysis

Not required Not required

• Hazard potential classification assessments

• Spillway adequacy assessments • Structural stability assessments • Safety factor assessments • Emergency action plan • Weekly & annual inspections

• Hazard potential classification assessments

• Spillway adequacy assessments • Structural stability assessments • Safety factor assessments • Emergency action plan • Weekly & annual inspections

• None if closed by April 17, 2018 • If not, same as existing CCR

surface impoundments

Operating Criteria

• Fugitive dust controls • Run on, run off control • Surface water protection • Inspection requirements

for landfills

• Fugitive dust controls • “Wetting” of CCR • Run on, run off control • Surface water protection • Inspection requirements

for landfills

• Fugitive dust controls • Inflow control • Surface water protection • Inspection requirements for CCR

surface impoundments

• Fugitive dust controls • “Wetting” of CCR • Inflow control • Surface water protection • Inspection requirements for CCR

surface impoundments

• None if closed by April 17, 2018 • If not, same as existing CCR

surface impoundments

Groundwater Monitoring

Systems

• Groundwater monitoring program • Groundwater monitoring wells • 8 rounds of sampling data

(by October 17, 2017) • Calculate background levels

• Groundwater monitoring program • Groundwater monitoring wells • 8 rounds of sampling data

(within 6 months & before accepting CCR)

• Groundwater monitoring program • Groundwater monitoring wells • 8 rounds of sampling data

(by October 17, 2017)

• Groundwater monitoring program • Groundwater monitoring wells • 8 rounds of sampling data (within

6 months & before accepting CCR)

• None if closed by April 17, 2018 • If not, same as existing CCR

surface impoundments

STOP

Closure & Post Closure

Requirements

• Equivalent to liner system • Alternative designs if infiltration criteria

is met • 30 years landfill cap & leachate

collection maintenance • 30 years of groundwater monitoring

• Equivalent to liner system • Alternative designs if infiltration

criteria is met • 30 years landfill cap & leachate

collection maintenance • 30 years of groundwater monitoring

• Equivalent to liner system • Alternative designs if infiltration

criteria is met • 30 years landfill cap maintenance • 30 years of groundwater monitoring

• Equivalent to liner system • Alternative designs if infiltration

criteria is met • 30 years landfill cap maintenance • 30 years of groundwater

monitoring

• None if closed by April 17, 2018 • If not, same as existing CCR

surface impoundments

Recordkeeping, Reporting &

Communication

• Compliance documents maintained for 5 years

• State agency notification of comprehensive list of actions

• All unit documentation publically available on website, titled “CCR Rule Compliance Data and Information”

• Compliance documents maintained for 5 years

• State agency notification of comprehensive list of actions

• All unit documentation publically available on website, titled “CCR Rule Compliance Data and Information”

• Compliance documents maintained for 5 years

• State agency notification of comprehensive list of actions

• All unit documentation publically available on website, titled “CCR Rule Compliance Data and Information”

• Compliance documents maintained for 5 years

• State agency notification of comprehensive list of actions

• All unit documentation publically available on website, titled “CCR Rule Compliance Data and Information”

• Compliance documents maintained for 5 years

• State agency notification of comprehensive list of actions

• All unit documentation publically available on website, titled “CCR Rule Compliance Data and Information”

E XIS T I N G CCR L A N D FI L L S N E W L A N D FI L L SE XIS T I N G CCR S U R FACE I M P O U N DM EN T S

N E W CCR I M P O U N DM EN T S U N I T S & L AT ER A L E X PA N S I O N S

I N AC T IV E S U R FACE I M P O U N DM EN T S

Location Restrictions

Unstable areas

• Placement above the uppermost aquifer

• Wetlands • Fault areas • Seismic impact zones • Unstable areas

• Placement above the uppermost aquifer

• Wetlands • Fault Areas • Seismic impact zones • Unstable Areas

• Placement above the uppermost aquifer

• Wetlands • Fault areas • Seismic impact zones • Unstable areas

• None if closed by April 17, 2018 • If not, same as existing CCR

surface impoundments

Design Requirements

Not required • Leachate collection &

removal system • Two component liner

Unlined impoundments must: • Meet groundwater protection

standards • Retrofit with a composite liner

system or be closed

Two component liner • None if closed by April 17, 2018 • If not, same as existing CCR

surface impoundments

Structural Analysis

Not required Not required

• Hazard potential classification assessments

• Spillway adequacy assessments • Structural stability assessments • Safety factor assessments • Emergency action plan • Weekly & annual inspections

• Hazard potential classification assessments

• Spillway adequacy assessments • Structural stability assessments • Safety factor assessments • Emergency action plan • Weekly & annual inspections

• None if closed by April 17, 2018 • If not, same as existing CCR

surface impoundments

Operating Criteria

• Fugitive dust controls • Run on, run off control • Surface water protection • Inspection requirements

for landfills

• Fugitive dust controls • “Wetting” of CCR • Run on, run off control • Surface water protection • Inspection requirements

for landfills

• Fugitive dust controls • Inflow control • Surface water protection • Inspection requirements for CCR

surface impoundments

• Fugitive dust controls • “Wetting” of CCR • Inflow control • Surface water protection • Inspection requirements for CCR

surface impoundments

• None if closed by April 17, 2018 • If not, same as existing CCR

surface impoundments

Groundwater Monitoring

Systems

• Groundwater monitoring program • Groundwater monitoring wells • 8 rounds of sampling data

(by October 17, 2017) • Calculate background levels

• Groundwater monitoring program • Groundwater monitoring wells • 8 rounds of sampling data

(within 6 months & before accepting CCR)

• Groundwater monitoring program • Groundwater monitoring wells • 8 rounds of sampling data

(by October 17, 2017)

• Groundwater monitoring program • Groundwater monitoring wells • 8 rounds of sampling data (within

6 months & before accepting CCR)

• None if closed by April 17, 2018 • If not, same as existing CCR

surface impoundments

STOP

Closure & Post Closure

Requirements

• Equivalent to liner system • Alternative designs if infiltration criteria

is met • 30 years landfill cap & leachate

collection maintenance • 30 years of groundwater monitoring

• Equivalent to liner system • Alternative designs if infiltration

criteria is met • 30 years landfill cap & leachate

collection maintenance • 30 years of groundwater monitoring

• Equivalent to liner system • Alternative designs if infiltration

criteria is met • 30 years landfill cap maintenance • 30 years of groundwater monitoring

• Equivalent to liner system • Alternative designs if infiltration

criteria is met • 30 years landfill cap maintenance • 30 years of groundwater

monitoring

• None if closed by April 17, 2018 • If not, same as existing CCR

surface impoundments

Recordkeeping, Reporting &

Communication

• Compliance documents maintained for 5 years

• State agency notification of comprehensive list of actions

• All unit documentation publically available on website, titled “CCR Rule Compliance Data and Information”

• Compliance documents maintained for 5 years

• State agency notification of comprehensive list of actions

• All unit documentation publically available on website, titled “CCR Rule Compliance Data and Information”

• Compliance documents maintained for 5 years

• State agency notification of comprehensive list of actions

• All unit documentation publically available on website, titled “CCR Rule Compliance Data and Information”

• Compliance documents maintained for 5 years

• State agency notification of comprehensive list of actions

• All unit documentation publically available on website, titled “CCR Rule Compliance Data and Information”

• Compliance documents maintained for 5 years

• State agency notification of comprehensive list of actions

• All unit documentation publically available on website, titled “CCR Rule Compliance Data and Information”

Next StepsIf your facility produces and stores CCR materials in impoundments and/or landfills, now’s the time to start planning for future compliance:

Understand your site-specific issues by defining baseline conditions and evaluating the impacts of the rules on site specific conditions and facilities.

Evaluate the costs, benefits and risks associated with compliance, closure, long-term disposal alternatives and beneficial reuse. Performing these evaluations early provides a solid path forward for advance planning and budgeting.

Site specific factors, coupled with the CCR and ELG rule changes, impact the decisions related to choosing the best transport and disposal systems design. Performing the economic and technical comparison of options early allows for advance planning and budgeting and easier implementation once the CCR rule is finalized.

Create a master compliance schedule for site-specific activities to help prioritize and keep you on track. Separate schedules for any plant design or operations modifications, such as converting from wet to dry ash handling, should also be developed and incorporated into the master compliance schedule.

Assess Your Current Situation

Conduct a Cost Benefit Analysis and

Risk Assessment

Consider the Impact of Other Regulations

Develop Compliance Schedules

How We Can Help

Equipped with the resources to streamline every step in the project life cycle, we’ll partner with you to create a clear, safe, cost-effective CCR management plan. Together, we can:

• Navigate the implications of the EPA rule for your specific facilities

• Complete a risk assessment profile addressing technical, financial and safety concerns

• Plan for the potential need to close and dewater impoundments, including removal of solids and meeting land disposal requirements

• Retrofit impoundments with liners

• Implement liner and/or groundwater monitoring programs

• Implement and execute a safety inspection program

• Convert wet CCR handling to dry handling systems

• Execute remediation programs for any detected contaminants

• Investigate options for beneficial use of CCR materials

Erich Zimmerman Groundwater Monitoring Practice Leader erich.zimmerman@hdrinc.com716.805.3402

Kevin De Lange, P.E. Waste Practice Leaderkevin.delange@hdrinc.com201.335.9356

Contact Us

Jim Devereaux, P.E. Geotechnical Practice Leaderjim.devereaux@hdrinc.com704.248.3655

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