More
The EPA
on Tuesday, Sept. 8, 2009, announced it is making information publicly
available from electric utilities on the management of coal combustion
residuals contained in surface impoundments and similar management units. Following
the coal ash spill at a Tennessee Valley Authority facility in Kingston, Tenn.,
the EPA requested the information from electric utilities to inform an
assessment of the structural integrity of the surface impoundments. The
responses from electric utilities cover 584 units from 219 facilities,
according to an agency release.
In the release, the agency noted it is conducting on-site assessments of the coal ash impoundments and ponds at electric utilities. The EPA said by the end of 2009, it will have assessed all of the units that have a dam hazard potential rating of "high" or "significant" in the responses provided by electric utilities to the information request.
The hazard potential rating refers to the potential for loss of life or damage if there is a dam failure. The ratings do not refer to the structural stability of the dam, according to the agency. Dams assigned the high hazard potential rating are those where failure or misoperation will probably cause loss of human life; dams assigned a significant hazard potential rating are those where failure will not probably cause loss of human life but can cause economic loss, environmental damage, or damage to infrastructure (for example, roads and bridges). The results of this effort will be posted on the EPA’s website as final reports are completed.
In the release, the agency noted it is conducting on-site assessments of the coal ash impoundments and ponds at electric utilities. The EPA said by the end of 2009, it will have assessed all of the units that have a dam hazard potential rating of "high" or "significant" in the responses provided by electric utilities to the information request.
The hazard potential rating refers to the potential for loss of life or damage if there is a dam failure. The ratings do not refer to the structural stability of the dam, according to the agency. Dams assigned the high hazard potential rating are those where failure or misoperation will probably cause loss of human life; dams assigned a significant hazard potential rating are those where failure will not probably cause loss of human life but can cause economic loss, environmental damage, or damage to infrastructure (for example, roads and bridges). The results of this effort will be posted on the EPA’s website as final reports are completed.
View Pollution Engineering's popular 
