There is a battle brewing whether a Coal Ash Impoundment’s Cap-In-Place Closure Plan (even partial hybrid methods) are protective enough when ground water issues exist or high probability that they will develop. Despite current regulations with more regulations on the way, there is a large environmental poker game being played. Some utilities and state [...]
Over the past several years, increased pressure from communities, environmental groups, politicians, and regulators has increased the challenges associated with landfill capacity expansions. Traditional expansion approaches take years to develop only to find out that the landfill owner was on the wrong path and did not develop a “Plan B”, wasting time and money. [...]
It’s going to happen. All stakeholders, utilities, environmental groups, regulators, citizens, and governments will decide on some compromise over the closure of coal ash basins with ground water impacts. Taking the “middle path” between the two extreme stances; Cap-In-Place by the utilities and Excavate-Haul by the environmental groups results in on-site storage. This could [...]
M echanically stabilized earthen (MSE) berms are a practical technique for expanding capacity in existing landfills. Unfortunately, there are some common misconceptions about their use prohibiting the proliferation of MSE berms at landfills. One of the main misconceptions is that MSE berms “are not safe”. Over the past several years, encapsulated mechanically stabilized earth [...]
M echanically stabilized earthen (MSE) berms are a practical technique for expanding capacity in existing landfills. Unfortunately, there are some common misconceptions about their use prohibiting the proliferation of MSE berms at landfills. One of the main misconceptions is that MSE berms “cost too much to construct”. Over the past several years, encapsulated mechanically [...]
“You’re only as good as the tools you use.” This saying has been around for many years and highlights the importance of using the correct tools for the job. What is meant by “tools” in environmental services? The solution that is utilized during the project to assist you in completing your objectives. Consequently, it [...]
Today’s modern landfills are highly engineered systems that are subject to a tremendous number of regulations. First and foremost safety is paramount to a successful design. However, a balance is made between safety and practicality. It is the ugly truth; landfill design safety is sometimes curbed by space and economics. Here at EnCAP-IT we bring [...]
A simple analogy, coal ash storage is like trying to organize your closet in an endless battle to fit ever more stuff into little space. However, unlike your closet problem utility companies cannot get rid of those unneeded belongings (coal ash), or sign on the dotted line for storage-unit leases (landfills). It is all [...]
When utilities are determining how to eliminate environmental hazards posed by legacy coal ash, the paramount goal should be to beneficially reuse much or all of it, if possible, with disposal being the last resort. Beneficially reusing coal ash in productive ways yields many more benefits than simply disposing of this material. Coal ash [...]
We have a natural tendency to focus in on “shiny new things” versus the “dull things”. There is no exception to this trend when dealing with environmental stewardship. Our society wants to move on to renewable energy, carbon neutral, zero waste, the shiny new things, but we mustn’t forget about the looming landfill capacity [...]
