Coal Combustion Residue Management in Illinois

              State of Illinois
Pat Quinn, Governor
Illinois Environmental Protection Agency
Douglas P. Scott, Director
Illinois
Environmental
Protection Agency
Office of Community Relations
1021 N. Grand Avenue East
Springfield, Illinois 62702
September 2010
COAL COMBUSTION RESIDUE MANAGEMENT IN ILLINOIS
Long before the TVA ash pond failure in 2008 in Tennessee, the Illinois EPA recognized that coal combustion residue, often referred to as coal ash, might be an environmental concern. The Illinois EPA has taken a proactive approach in regulating coal ash. Since the early 1990s, new ash ponds (surface impoundments) have been required to be lined and groundwater monitoring wells have been installed at many of these new ash impoundments.
The Illinois EPA agrees with the U.S. EPA current proposal to regulate coal combustion residue in landfills and surface impoundments. Their “Subtitle D option” proposal is very similar to what we are already doing in Illinois. At this point, it is unclear if U.S. EPA groundwater standards are as stringent as Illinois non-degradation requirements.
There are 24 power plants in Illinois with a total of 83 impoundments and one permitted landfill where the coal ash is being disposed. There are also older ash ponds at many of these facilities. Starting two years ago Illinois EPA initiated an aggressive strategy to assess the geologic vulnerability of groundwater at the 24 power plants considering the presence of potable wells identified near the plants to determine the potential contamination threat to those wells. For many years, Illinois EPA has required the installation of groundwater monitoring well systems and hydrogeologic assessments at these facilities. Further, where groundwater contamination has been found we have required that cleanup/remediation be implemented. For detailed information on Illinois EPA’s Ash Impoundment Strategy, dated August 4, 2010, go to: http://www.epa.state.il.us/water/groundwater/publications/ash-impoundment-progress.pdf
What is coal ash?
Basically, anything that remains after coal is burned such as fly ash, bottom ash, slag, etc.
Is all coal the same?
No. Coal is a rock formed from the remains of ancient plant life. It is not a uniform substance and can contain a wide variety of minerals depending on the nature of its vegetation source and how it was affected over time by temperature and pressure. For example, much of the coal mined in Illinois has high sulfur content, while “western coal” has a lower heat value (Btu).
Is all coal ash the same?
No. Coal ash can vary depending on the source of the coal, the processing of the coal, the burning of the coal and the method of the collection of the ash. The coal ash collected as bottom ash (clinker, boiler slag, etc.) is different from the coal ash collected as fly ash from the smoke stack and the air pollution controls. Groundwater contaminants found in the monitoring wells installed adjacent to surface impoundments in Illinois show non-hazardous contaminants such as boron, total dissolved solids, and sulfates. Cadmium, a hazardous contaminant, has been detected in only one surface impoundment.