EPA Releases Survey Results on Coal Ash Impoundments

Sept. 8, 2009

WASHINGTON - The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is making
information publicly available from electric utilities on the management
of coal combustion residuals contained in surface impoundments and
similar management units. Following the coal ash spill at a Tennessee
Valley Authority facility in Kingston, Tenn., EPA requested the
information from electric utilities to inform an assessment of the
structural integrity of the surface impoundments. The responses from
electric utilities cover 584 units from 219 facilities.

In addition, EPA is conducting on-site assessments of the coal ash
impoundments and ponds at electric utilities. EPA will assess by the
end of the calendar year all of the units that have a dam hazard
potential rating of "high" or "significant" in the responses provided by
electric utilities to EPAs information request. The hazard potential
rating refers to the potential for loss of life or damage if there is a
dam failure. The ratings do not refer to the structural stability of
the dam. Dams assigned the high hazard potential rating are those where
failure or misoperation will probably cause loss of human life; dams
assigned a significant hazard potential rating are those where failure
will not probably cause loss of human life but can cause economic loss,
environmental damage, or damage to infrastructure (for example, roads
and bridges). The results of this effort will be posted on EPAs Web
site as final reports are completed.

More information:
http://www.epa.gov/epawaste/nonhaz/industrial/special/fossil/surveys/