Document ID: EPA-HQ-RCRA-2003-0002-0224
Agency: epa
Document Type: Supporting & Related Material
Title: 
Posted Date: 2003-08-04T04:00Z

­
1­

WORKING
DRAFT
3
­
COAL
COMBUSTION
ASH
PRODUCTS
BENEFICIAL
USES
INDUSTRIAL
STANDARDS
ENVIRONMENTAL
AND
PRACTICAL
BENEFITS
REGULATORY
SAFETY
NET
ON­
SITE
CONSTRUCTION
APPLICATIONS
CCA
is
used
to
replace
cement,
sand
and
aggregate
in
various
grout/

concrete
projects
on
site
including:

­
Equipment
pads
­
Foundations
­
Grouted
rock
rip­
rap
spillways
­
Bricks
­
Asphaltic
concrete
By
reference,
Transportation
Department
Quality
Control
Standards
as
well
as
ASTM
Standards
CCA
exhibits
pozzalanic
properties
which
make
it
an
effective
substitute
for
cement
in
certain
concrete
and
grout
applications.,
with
the
following
environmental
benefits:

­
Conservation
of
energy
&
materials.
The
process
of
cement
uses
significant
energy
and
raw
materials
and
substituting
CCA
helps
conserve
these
resources.

­
Reduced
CO2
Emissions.
Every
ton
of
CCA
substituted
for
cement
avoid
1
ton
in
CO2
emissions
which
would
have
been
generated
in
the
production
of
the
cement.
State
&
Federal
Requirements:

­
Surface
Water
(
NPDES)

­
Clean
Air
Act
­
Superfund
SOIL
STABILIZATION
CCAs
are
used
for
soil
stabilization
to
reduce
the
shrink
and
swell
factors
as
water
either
evaporates
from
the
soil
or
infiltrates
into
the
soil.
By
reference,
Transportation
Department
Quality
Control
Standards
as
well
as
ASTM
Standards
One
example
of
soil
stabilization
is
to
mix
CCA
with
soils
underlying
a
road
in
lieu
of
lime
and
concrete.
By
doing
so,
the
plasticity
index
is
reduced,

maintenance
requirements
are
decreased
and
the
life
of
the
road
is
extended.

The
effective
substitution
of
CCA
for
lime
and
cement
component
of
concrete
provides
environmental
benefits,
as
follows:

Conservation
of
energy
&
materials.
The
process
of
cement
uses
significant
energy
and
raw
materials
and
substituting
CCA
helps
conserve
these
resources.

Reduced
CO2
Emissions.
Every
ton
of
CCA
substituted
for
cement
avoid
1
ton
in
CO2
emissions
which
would
have
been
generated
in
the
production
of
the
cement.
State&
Federal
Requirements:

­
Surface
Water
(
NPDES)

­
Clean
Air
Act
­
Superfund
WORKING
DRAFT
3
­
COAL
COMBUSTION
ASH
PRODUCTS
BENEFICIAL
USES
INDUSTRIAL
STANDARDS
ENVIRONMENTAL
AND
PRACTICAL
BENEFITS
REGULATORY
SAFETY
NET
­
2­

SOIL
AMENDMENT
/

ACID
MINE
DRAINAGE
CCAs
are
used
as
agricultural
soil
amendments
at
a
mine
site
for
a
variety
of
purposes
including:

­
providing
a
soil
cover
to
prevent
water
infiltration
into
mined
areas,

­
controlling
acid
mine
drainage,
and
­
as
additives
to
soil
to
prevent
potential
acid
mine
drainage
by
effectively
adjusting
the
pH
balance.
See
Also,
Draft
ASTM
Standard
for
CCA
Used
as
Soil
Amendment
and
U.
S.
Department
of
Agriculture,

Natural
Resources
Conservation
Service
Soil
Survey
Documents
The
CCAs
are
a
substitute
for
agricultural
lime,
which
would
typically
be
relied
upon
from
off­
site
sources.
The
effective
substitution
of
CCA
for
lime
and
cement
component
of
concrete
provides
environmental
benefits,
as
follows:

­
Conservation
of
energy
&
materials.
The
process
of
cement
uses
significant
energy
and
raw
materials
and
substituting
CCA
helps
conserve
these
resources.

­
Reduced
CO2
Emissions.
Every
ton
of
CCA
substituted
for
cement
avoid
1
ton
in
CO2
emissions
which
would
have
been
generated
in
the
production
of
the
cement.

In
addition
to
the
environmental
benefits
realized
from
not
relying
upon
off­
site
agricultural
lime
to
accomplish
the
same
purpose,
the
use
of
CCAs
as
a
soil
amendment
to
neutralize
acidic
soils
has
been
a
critical
component
to
Acid
Main
Drainage
projects
in
the
Eastern
U.
S.
and
effectively
prevents
future
acid
mine
problems
through
its
use
in
the
reclamation
process
at
sites
in
the
Western
U.
S.
State
&
Federal
Requirements:

­
Surface
Water
(
NPDES)

­
Clean
Air
Act
­
Superfund
WORKING
DRAFT
3
­
COAL
COMBUSTION
ASH
PRODUCTS
BENEFICIAL
USES
INDUSTRIAL
STANDARDS
ENVIRONMENTAL
AND
PRACTICAL
BENEFITS
REGULATORY
SAFETY
NET
­
3­

STRUCTURAL
FILL
/

COMPACTION
(
To
fix
underground
subsidence)

CCAs
are
used
for
construction
fill
material,
including:

­
structural
fills
as
a
substitute
for
aggregate
/
soil
­
injection
into
underground
mines,

where
coal
or
lignite
has
been
removed,
in
order
to
minimize
the
occurrence
of
subsidence
Engineering
Standards
By
reference,
Transportation
Department
Quality
Control
Standards
as
well
as
ASTM
Standards
See
Also,
Draft
ASTM
Standard
for
CCA
Applications
at
Mine
Sites.
CCA
materials
replace
soils,
aggregate
and
cement
materials
routinely
used
as
construction
fill
material
(
for
structural
support)
and
the
cement
or
grout
materials
which
would
be
injected
into
underground
mines
to
prevent
subsidence.
In
the
absence
of
CCA
materials,
these
materials
would
be
excavated
(
either
on
or
off
site),
processed
to
meet
the
engineering
specifications
and
hauled
to
the
mining
site.

The
effective
substitution
of
CCA
in
place
of
soils,
aggregate
and
cement
provides
several
environmental
benefits,
as
follows:

­
Land
/
Habitat
Conservation.
Less
land
would
be
disturbed
to
excavate
/

extract
the
clay
and
aggregate.
As
a
result
more
ecologically
valuable
habitat
remains
undisturbed.

­
Reduced
VOC
and
PM
Emissions.
The
use
of
CCA,
(
which
is
usually
available
from
the
power
plant
on­
site
or
close
to
the
mine
site),
will
reduce
the
distance
required
to
haul
the
clays,
limestone
rocks
and
aggregate
materials
from
off
site
and
will
eliminate
the
additional
excavation
(
and
therein
the
use
of
heavy
equipment)
of
these
materials
from
on
site,
reducing
the
emissions
associated
with
these
activities.

Also
for
some
operations,
the
same
trucks
are
used
not
only
to
haul
coal
or
lignite
to
the
power
plant,
but
also
for
the
reverse
trip
to
haul
CCA
from
the
power
plant
to
the
mine
area.
Diesel
truck
emissions
are
reduced
by
this
efficient
use
of
vehicles.

­
Reduced
Noise
&
Improved
Safety.
The
reduction
in
driving
distances
for
the
diesel
haul
trucks
and
the
reduced
operations
of
heavy
equipment
also
reduces
the
noise
/
potential
safety
issues
associated
with
blasting,
extracting,
crushing,
sizing,
and
hauling
new
clays
and
rocks
for
use
in
roads.

­
Conservation
of
energy
&
materials.
The
process
of
cement
uses
significant
energy
and
raw
materials
and
substituting
CCA
helps
conserve
these
resources.

­
Reduced
CO2
Emissions.
Every
ton
of
CCA
substituted
for
cement
avoid
1
ton
in
CO2
emissions
which
would
have
been
generated
in
the
production
of
the
cement.
State
&
Federal
Requirements:

­
Groundwater
(
SMCRA)

­
Surface
Water
(
NPDES)
(
SMCRA)

­
Air
(
CAA)

­
Waste
(
RCRA)

­
Clean­
up
(
CERLCLA)
WORKING
DRAFT
3
­
COAL
COMBUSTION
ASH
PRODUCTS
BENEFICIAL
USES
INDUSTRIAL
STANDARDS
ENVIRONMENTAL
AND
PRACTICAL
BENEFITS
REGULATORY
SAFETY
NET
­
4­

RAMP
ADVANCEMENT
(
Surfacing
and
Fill)

CCAs
are
used
for
the
construction
of
ramps
in
the
active
pit
areas
which
would
otherwise
require
the
use
of
virgin
dirt
or
spoil
material.
30
United
States
Code
Sections
1201­
1309b)

(
Surface
Mining
Control
&
Reclamation
Act
[
SMCRA])
Implemented
by
Detailed
Regulations
and
Engineering
/

Design
Review
and
Approval
Implemented
at
State
Level
and
Inspected
by
Office
of
Surface
Mining
(
OSM)

and
State
Agencies
See
Also,
Draft
ASTM
Standard
for
CCA
Applications
at
Mine
Sites
Using
CCAs
for
ramp
construction
provides
increased
operational
flexibility
as
well
as
minimizing
the
need
to
disturb
additional
ground
at
the
end
of
the
project.

In
addition,
surfacing
the
ramps
with
CCAs
provides
the
necessary
traction
to
efficiently
access
the
pits
during
inclement
weather
conditions,
i.
e.,
slippery,

wet,
and/
or
frozen.
The
CCAs
also
provide
a
good
surface
for
equipment
required
to
operate
on
roads
located
on
the
pit
floor
(
effective
as
structural
fill).
The
effective
substitution
of
CCA
in
place
of
soils
provides
several
environmental
benefits,
as
follows:

­
Land
/
Habitat
Conservation.
Less
land
would
be
disturbed
to
excavate
/
extract
the
soils.
As
a
result
more
ecologically
valuable
habitat
remains
undisturbed.

­
Reduced
VOC
and
PM
Emissions.
The
use
of
CCA,
(
which
is
usually
available
from
the
power
plant
on­
site
or
close
to
the
mine
site),
will
reduce
the
distance
required
to
haul
the
soils
from
off
site
and
will
eliminate
the
additional
excavation
(
and
therein
the
use
of
heavy
equipment)
of
these
materials
from
on
site,
reducing
the
emissions
associated
with
these
activities.
Also
for
some
operations,
the
same
trucks
are
used
not
only
to
haul
coal
or
lignite
to
the
power
plant,
but
also
for
the
reverse
trip
to
haul
CCA
from
the
power
plant
to
the
mine
area.

Diesel
truck
emissions
are
reduced
by
such
efficient
use
of
vehicles.

­
Reduced
Noise
&
Improved
Safety.
The
reduction
in
driving
distances
for
the
diesel
haul
trucks
and
the
reduced
operations
of
heavy
equipment
also
reduces
the
noise
/
potential
safety
issues
associated
with
the
excavation
and
transportation
of
the
soils.
State
&
Federal
Requirements:

­
Groundwater
(
SMCRA)

­
Surface
Water
(
NPDES)
(
SMCRA)

­
Air
(
CAA)

­
Waste
(
RCRA)

­
Clean­
up
(
CERLCLA)
WORKING
DRAFT
3
­
COAL
COMBUSTION
ASH
PRODUCTS
BENEFICIAL
USES
INDUSTRIAL
STANDARDS
ENVIRONMENTAL
AND
PRACTICAL
BENEFITS
REGULATORY
SAFETY
NET
­
5­

ACHIEVING
APPROXIMATE
ORIGINAL
CONTOUR
(
AOC)

­
Pits
­
Final
Pits,
and
­
Abandoned
Mine
Land
(
AML)
Projects)

CCAs
are
used
in
reclamation
of
pits,

final
pits
and
AML
projects.
It
is
used
selectively
in
areas
where
there
are
low
volumes
of
available
spoil
material
and
in
order
to
minimize
additional
land
disturbance
(
extraction
of
rock
and
/
or
soils
for
the
purposed
of
refilling
pit
areas.)
30
United
States
Code
Sections
1201­
1309b
(
Surface
Mining
Control
&
Reclamation
Act
[
SMCRA])
Implemented
by
Detailed
Regulations
and
Engineering
/

Design
Review
and
Approval
Implemented
at
State
Level
and
Inspected
by
Office
of
Surface
Mining
(
OSM)

and
State
Agencies
See
Also,
Draft
ASTM
Standard
for
CCA
Applications
at
Mine
Sites
The
use
of
CCA
in
place
of
soils
/
overburden
spoils
provides
several
environmental
benefits,
as
follows:

­
Land
/
Habitat
Conservation.
Less
land
would
be
disturbed
to
excavate
/

extract
the
soils.
As
a
result
more
ecologically
valuable
habitat
remains
undisturbed.

­
Reduced
VOC
and
PM
Emissions.
The
use
of
CCA,
(
which
is
usually
available
from
the
power
plant
on­
site
or
close
to
the
mine
site),
will
reduce
the
distance
required
to
haul
the
soils
from
off
site
and
will
eliminate
the
additional
excavation
(
and
therein
the
use
of
heavy
equipment)
of
these
materials
from
on
site,
reducing
the
emissions
associated
with
these
activities.
Also
for
some
operations,
the
same
trucks
are
used
not
only
to
haul
coal
or
lignite
to
the
power
plant,
but
also
for
the
reverse
trip
to
haul
CCA
from
the
power
plant
to
the
mine
area.
Diesel
truck
emissions
are
reduced
by
such
efficient
use
of
vehicles.

­
Reduced
Noise
&
Improved
Safety.
The
reduction
in
driving
distances
for
the
diesel
haul
trucks
and
the
reduced
operations
of
heavy
equipment
also
reduces
the
noise
/
potential
safety
issues
associated
with
the
excavation
and
transportation
of
the
soils.

In
addition,
the
use
of
CCAs
to
assist
in
achieving
AOC
provides
a
critical
additional
volume
of
material
that
enhances
AOC
activities
in
several
ways:

1)
Provides
alternative
source
of
fill
when
there
are
shortages
of
overburden
(
spoil)
available
for
reclamation
purposes
in
the
immediate
vicinity
of
the
pit
being
reclaimed.

2)
Allows
operators
to
lessen
steeper
slopes
in
areas
where
low
volumes
of
available
spoil
material
typically
result
in
steeper
post
mine
slopes
and
create
slope
diversity
and
enhances
post
mine
contours
while
maintaining
compliance
with
the
regulatory
permitting
requirements.
[
Typically
in
active
mine
areas,

CCAs
are
placed
in
pits
at
depth
below
the
approved
topsoil
and
subsoil
depth
increments.]

3)
Because
of
1)
and
2)
above,
may
reduce
landowner
concerns
at
the
time
of
reclamation
performance
bond
release
by
improving
the
attractiveness
of
land
features
created
during
the
reclamation
process.
State
&
Federal
Requirements:

­
Groundwater
(
SMCRA)

­
Surface
Water
(
NPDES)
(
SMCRA)

­
Air
(
CAA)

­
Waste
(
RCRA)

­
Clean­
up
(
CERCLA)