Finding Balance: How Future Use Guides Ash Pond Closure Strategies

摘要

Even the simplest impoundment closures come with design challenges. It is a challenge to navigate project constraints; whether technical, regulatory, or financial; to design and implement an effective closure strategy. Cost often helps to determine the 'balance' between project constraints when the future end use of a closed coal combustion residual (CCR) surface impoundment or the property it occupies is undefined. When a post-closure end use is defined, finding balance among project constraints to best serve that future use provides rewarding challenges. SCS Engineers (SCS) has navigated this balancing act on impoundment closure projects during generating facility decommissioning. Through a presentation of case studies, you will learn how this team has approached ash pond closure planning and execution where the future use of the impoundment site ranged from undefined to the home of a new solar photovoltaic (PV) installation. Examples also include potential future industrial use or property sale. Case studies will highlight how geotechnical, hydrological, regulatory, or simple physical constraints have influenced the design and implementation of CCR surface impoundment closures.