Coal Ash Fallout

摘要

On Dec 22, 2008, a retaining wall failed at the Tennessee Valley Authority's Kingston Fossil Plant in Roane County, TN. More than 5.4 million cubic yards of coal ash spilled from an on-site holding pond. The related event people should be monitoring is the US Environmental Protection Agency's reaction to this environmental disaster. EPA has undertaken two significant subsequent actions. First, a study of structural integrity of existing coal ash impoundments including plans to improve their safety has been made and, second, reclassification of coal ash as a hazardous waste is being considered. Another beneficial use of coal ash is in mine filling to protect surface infrastructure, although this use is better regulated than impoundments.