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 about BUILDING safe, adequate, and economical STORAGE.
There is too much coal ash and not enough existing space (landfills) to properly store this waste. Utilities must develop different approaches to comply with ever-changing regulations. Now is the time to find relief to this issue; time is wasting away.
The cap-in-place solution has been solidly debunked from a safety standpoint. The market for beneficial use of coal ash in building products still lags far behind the over-abundance of legacy CCR. Yes, the Beneficiation market may eventually catch up, but leaving toxic CCR in the ground indefinitely with very little protection while it waits for a new home isn’t an option.
Nevertheless, Beneficiation timeframes greatly extend beyond desired regulatory and environmental protection timeframes. So the issue of long-term or medium-term STORAGE still takes centerstage.
Another form of relief is Encapsulated Mechanically Stabilized Earthen (eMSE) Structures that use coal ash as a construction backfill material (on-site or off-site). eMSE Structures uses a method called “macroencapsulation”, which on a macro level, coal ash is FULLY encapsulated and rendered inert within a structure.
The EPA considers Macroencapsulation as “Unencapsulated Beneficial Use.” The snag lies in the semantics. The public continues to mistakenly view macroencapsulation – where coal ash is completely encased in an impervious barrier, in no contact with air, soil or groundwater whatsoever – an unencapsulated use. Although the EPA supports responsible beneficial use, the EPA’s definition of “unencapsulated” injects confusion into any discussion of the advantages of macroencapsulation and causes it to be discounted without considering the sound science behind it.
The only problem with the EPA’s Unencapsulated Beneficial Use definition is the word “Unencapsulated”
EnCAP-IT specializes in solutions that maximize the use of space; always by making the most of every single acre, yard, or foot of available land for STORAGE. Our safeBERM®, safeSTORAGE® and VertiCell™ patented, green solutions can use coal ash (other materials also) as construction fill in a protective, efficient, and economic manner.
Our solutions take full advantage of coal ash characteristics that at times are overlooked;
- Primary decomposition is complete
- Homogeneous material
- Abundant supply
Here at EnCAP-IT we take inspiration from the famous Nike slogan, “JUST DO IT,” in responding to the most vexing problems to the coal ash dilemma:
“The impounded coal ash is too close to a waterway.” — MOVE IT.
“We don’t have enough land to store the impounded coal ash.” — MAXIMIZE YOUR SPACE.
“We can’t beneficiate all the ash within the 15-year deadline.” — SAFELY STORE IT.
“Our on-site landfill is susceptible to hurricanes and flooding.” — SHORE IT UP.
“There’s no one solution that fits all.” — SO TACKLE IT WITH MULTIPLE SOLUTIONS.
EXCAVATE
SAFELY STORE
