EPA WEIGHS FLY ASH CONCRETE STIGMA VS. BROADER COAL ASH HAZARDOUS WASTE LABEL

摘要

In its proposed regulation of power plants' coal combustion residuals (CCR) under the Resource Conservation & Recovery Act (RCRA), EPA acknowledges potential backlash a hazardous waste designation might have on beneficial uses of concrete. The agency's Federal Register posting (above item) cites a letter from December 2009- then a working deadline for proposed rule publication-wherein ASTM Committee C09 officers "indicated that ASTM would remove fly ash from project specifications in its concrete standard if EPA determined CCRs were a hazardous waste when disposed." It is unclear if the Society, known for its consensus process, would adopt that position, EPA staff counters, especially as other (non-C) committees provide specifications for reuse of solvents that are classified hazardous wastes.