The Cost of Alternative Flue Gas Desulfurization (FGD) Sludge Disposal Regulations

摘要

In this report, the state of FGD acceptance in the utility industry is described. The various sludge treatment and disposal options are then delineated. Current federal and state regulations affecting FGD disposal are discussed, and then placed in a conceptual framework from which regulatory scenarios are developed. The scenarios are then applied to the current (1980) and projected (1985) FGD capacity to estimate what changes, if any, would need to be made in current utility operations to achieve compliance. Using the best available cost data base for these disposal alternatives, region-specific cost estimates are developed for 10 model power plants for each of five disposal options. Applying each regulatory scenario, the cost impact on the utility industry is then estimated for the 50 different situations.