Beneficial Use of Coal Ash


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CONTENTS

NOTICES

CURRENT LIST OF APPROVED ASH SOURCES

REPORTS AND RESPONSES

FORMS

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Notices

Announcement: New Pennsylvania Coal Ash regulations have been published as final.

The Environmental Quality Board (Board) amends Chapters 287 and 299 (relating to residual waste management—general provisions; and storage and transportation of residual waste) and adds Chapter 290 (relating to beneficial use of coal ash) to read as set forth in Annex A. The regulations pertaining to beneficial use of coal ash in Chapter 287, Subchapter H (relating to beneficial use) are rescinded and moved to Chapter 290. Chapter 290 includes requirements for coal ash beneficial use, coal ash certification, water quality monitoring and storage.

The text can be found here: http://www.pabulletin.com/secure/data/vol40/40-50/2359.html

October 2009. The Department made presentions to the regulated community regarding the new policy for beneficial use of coal ash at mine sites. These presentations took place at Pottsville, California and Moshannon District Mining Offices. Here is a link to the information presented at these meetings. Coal Ash Beneficial Use Program outreach presentation (PDF) Oct. 2009

July 2009. On Tuesday, July 21, 2009 the EQB voted to go forward with Chapter 290 coal ash regulations. A draft of the regs and supporting documents are officially posted at:
http://www.depweb.state.pa.us/pubpartcenter/cwp/view.asp?a=3&q=544036#07212009.

The draft regs will appear in the Pennsylvania Bulletin likely in October 2009.

June 2009. The direct mail address for submitting documents is:
        PA Department of Environmental Protection
        Rachel Carson State Office Building
        400 Market Street, 5th fl.
        Harrisburg, PA 17101

        Phone: (717) 787-5103

April 2009. Technical Guidances Final. The two Technical Guidance Documents relating to the Beneficial Use of Coal Ash have been published as interim final in the PA Bulletin. That is, they are in use as Department policy as of April 18, 2009.
Click to access any of the following:

The Pennsylvania Bulletin notice (Issue of April 18, 2009)

563-2112-224 Certification Guidelines for the Chemical and Physical Properties of Coal Ash Beneficially Used at Mines

563-2112-225 Mine Site Approval for the Beneficial Use of Coal Ash

March 2009. The Department has developed a preliminary draft of regulations for the beneficial use of coal ash to be discussed at the Solid Waste Advisory Committee meeting on March 19, 2009. The Bureau of Waste Management is the lead bureau for these regulations. The draft and other documents have been posted on the SWAC website at:
http://www.dep.state.pa.us/dep/subject/advcoun/solidwst/swac.htm under "March 19, 2009 - Solid Waste Advisory Committee Meeting"

This current version is not officially open for public comment but only meant for advance notice and discussion purposes. The Department plans to have these regulations to the Environmental Quality Board for their May 2009 meeting. If the EQB approves the draft, it will then be published in the Pennsylvania Bulletin and public comment will be accepted at that time.

Current List of Approved Ash Sources

Click to access current list

Reports and Responses

Coal Ash Beneficial Use in Mine Reclamation and Mine Drainage Remediation in Pennsylvania (2004)

Managing Coal Combustion Residues in Mines (National Research Council report, 2006)

PA DEP response to Allegations of Pollution from coal Ash Beneficial Use

PA DEP Response to Clean Air Task Force Report "Impact...Mines" (2007)

PA DEP Response to EIP Allegations of Lead Pollution related to BD Mining

PA DEP Response to EIP Allegations to Trace Metal Pollution related to McDermott and Ernest

Forms

Download all forms at Coal Ash forms at eLibrary or send a request to RA-coalash@state.pa.us for electronic copies in DOC or PDF format.

The following forms replace any older versions. Please consult eLibrary for the latest versions.

Coal Ash Beneficial Use Certification Application 5600-PM-MR011
This form is for new source certification request or to qualify a GP ash material for beneficial use; use for revisions to an existing source.

Coal Ash Quality Assessment for Beneficial Use 5600-PM-MR0012
Submit this form in conjuction with 5600-PM-MR0011 for background samples; use for regular ash quality sampling; use for special sampling requests.

Coal Ash Water Quality Monitoring Report 5600-PM-MR0014
Use this form in conjuction with Module 25 application at a mine site for background samples; use for regular quarterly sampling as part of the mining permit requirements; use for special sampling requests.

Coal Ash Beneficial Use 5600-PM-MR0013 has been replaced by Coal Ash Quality Assessment for Beneficial Use 5600-PM-MR0012.

All ash certification submittals and monitoring should be sent to the following address:

DEP - Bureau of Mining and Reclamation
P.O. Box 8461
Harrisburg, PA 17105-8461
Attn: Coal Ash Certification

Any data or application regarding the active mining permit site (e.g., Module 25 information, permit revision requests, special condition requirements and water quality monitoring reports) should be sent to the District Mining Office.

All mine site operators utilizing coal ash for Beneficial Use are required to report the amounts/volumes used at each site every year as part of an annual report due by January 30.
The following template can be used to supply this information to the local District Mining Office. Ash Volume Reporting Form (Word Doc)