June 30, 2009
High Hazard Ratings on Four Area Coal Combustion Residues Surface Impoundments
Special to Huntingtonews.net
From EPA Releases
Huntington, WV (HNN) – Four coal slurried, electrical industry impoundment and/or dams within the region have been assigned a high hazard failure rating, which means that should the structural integrity of the impoundments and/or dams be compromised loss of lives are likely to occur. The report issued by the EPA rated the units under National Dam Safety standards.
The high hazard potential did NOT access the structural integrity of the units, only a scenario of failure and the consequences on those living nearby.
Rated as “highly hazardous” are: Big Sandy Fly Ash, Louisa, Ky. (operated by American Electric Power); Fly Ash Pond and Bottom Ash Pont at the General James M. Gavin facility, Cheshire, Ohio (AEP); and the John E. Amos Fly Ash Pond, St. Albans, WV (AEP).
Here are the full details as provided by the EPA:
Over the past several months, EPA has undertaken a concerted effort to identify and to assess the structural integrity of impoundments, dams, or other management units, within the electric power generating industry, holding wet-handled coal combustion residues or CCRs.
In response to an EPA information request on units handling wet or slurried CCRs, electric utilities have so far identified a total of 427 units managing slurried CCRs. Forty-four (44) of these units at 26 different locations have been assigned a high hazard potential rating, using the criteria developed by the National Dam Safety Program for the National Inventory of Dams. Hazard potential ratings are generally assigned by the State Dam Safety officials.
The National Inventory of Dams hazard potential ratings address the potential consequences of failure or misoperation of the dam. A high hazard potential rating indicates that a failure will probably cause loss of human life. The rating is not an indication of the structural integrity of the unit or the possibility that a failure will occur in the future; it merely allows dam safety and other officials to determine where significant damage or loss of life may occur if there is a structural failure of the unit. EPA’s assessment of the 26 facilities that have units with high hazard potential ratings continues to be an Agency priority. EPA has conducted on-site assessments, which are undergoing Agency review, at 11 of these facilities. The remaining 15 of these facilities have had state inspections within the past 12 months and EPA will be reviewing the reports from those inspections. EPA plans to make public the results of our assessments as soon as they are completed.
CCRs consist of fly ash, bottom ash, coal slag, and flue gas desulfurization (FGD) residue. CCRs contain a broad range of metals, for example, arsenic, selenium, cadmium, lead, and mercury, but the concentrations of these are generally low. However, if not properly managed, (for example, in lined units), CCRs may cause a risk to human health and the environment and, in fact, EPA has documented cases of environmental damage.
Information on the presence of these is important to States, local officials, including first responders, and the residents of local communities so that appropriate preparedness efforts can be undertaken, reviewed, or maintained.
Many states have active dam safety programs and, in many cases, local government agencies, first responders, and the local community are involved in preparedness efforts. By providing this information, EPA's goal is to assist in these efforts.
To view all facilities on the list, click: http://www.epa.gov/epawaste/nonhaz/industrial/special/fossil/ccrs-fs/index.htm
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High Hazard Ratings on Four Area Coal Combustion Residues Surface Impoundments
Special to Huntingtonews.net
From EPA Releases
Huntington, WV (HNN) – Four coal slurried, electrical industry impoundment and/or dams within the region have been assigned a high hazard failure rating, which means that should the structural integrity of the impoundments and/or dams be compromised loss of lives are likely to occur. The report issued by the EPA rated the units under National Dam Safety standards.
The high hazard potential did NOT access the structural integrity of the units, only a scenario of failure and the consequences on those living nearby.
Rated as “highly hazardous” are: Big Sandy Fly Ash, Louisa, Ky. (operated by American Electric Power); Fly Ash Pond and Bottom Ash Pont at the General James M. Gavin facility, Cheshire, Ohio (AEP); and the John E. Amos Fly Ash Pond, St. Albans, WV (AEP).
Here are the full details as provided by the EPA:
Over the past several months, EPA has undertaken a concerted effort to identify and to assess the structural integrity of impoundments, dams, or other management units, within the electric power generating industry, holding wet-handled coal combustion residues or CCRs.
In response to an EPA information request on units handling wet or slurried CCRs, electric utilities have so far identified a total of 427 units managing slurried CCRs. Forty-four (44) of these units at 26 different locations have been assigned a high hazard potential rating, using the criteria developed by the National Dam Safety Program for the National Inventory of Dams. Hazard potential ratings are generally assigned by the State Dam Safety officials.
The National Inventory of Dams hazard potential ratings address the potential consequences of failure or misoperation of the dam. A high hazard potential rating indicates that a failure will probably cause loss of human life. The rating is not an indication of the structural integrity of the unit or the possibility that a failure will occur in the future; it merely allows dam safety and other officials to determine where significant damage or loss of life may occur if there is a structural failure of the unit. EPA’s assessment of the 26 facilities that have units with high hazard potential ratings continues to be an Agency priority. EPA has conducted on-site assessments, which are undergoing Agency review, at 11 of these facilities. The remaining 15 of these facilities have had state inspections within the past 12 months and EPA will be reviewing the reports from those inspections. EPA plans to make public the results of our assessments as soon as they are completed.
CCRs consist of fly ash, bottom ash, coal slag, and flue gas desulfurization (FGD) residue. CCRs contain a broad range of metals, for example, arsenic, selenium, cadmium, lead, and mercury, but the concentrations of these are generally low. However, if not properly managed, (for example, in lined units), CCRs may cause a risk to human health and the environment and, in fact, EPA has documented cases of environmental damage.
Information on the presence of these is important to States, local officials, including first responders, and the residents of local communities so that appropriate preparedness efforts can be undertaken, reviewed, or maintained.
Many states have active dam safety programs and, in many cases, local government agencies, first responders, and the local community are involved in preparedness efforts. By providing this information, EPA's goal is to assist in these efforts.
To view all facilities on the list, click: http://www.epa.gov/epawaste/nonhaz/industrial/special/fossil/ccrs-fs/index.htm
Share This Story:
Make HNN Your Homepage (IE Users Only)
