Illinois Coal Ash Impoundment Assessment,
2026
Illinois State Geological Survey, University of Illinois at Urbana and Champaign
Illinois Coal Ash Impoundment Assessment, Randy Locke
World of Coal Ash Proceedings
Coal combustion residuals (CCR) present one of the most significant waste management challenges in the United States. Illinois hosts 72 coal ash impoundments at 23 facilities across 22 counties. In 2019, the state enacted Public Act 101 0171 (Coal Ash Pollution Prevention Act), followed by Illinois Administrative Code Title 35, Part 845, establishing CCR surface impoundment standards. Even with federal and state requirements, significant gaps remain in identifying management options and site-specific risks. Key limitations include: (1) incomplete understanding of ash composition and variability within and among impoundments; and (2) fragmented information on impoundment physical properties, operational status, and geological …
Response Surface Modelling And Multi-Objective Optimisation Of Asphalt Binder And Mixture Properties Modified With Reclaimed Automotive Lubricants And Waste Glass Bottle Powder,
2026
Sustainable Environment and Transportation Research Group (SET-RG), Department of Civil Engineering, Midlands, Durban University of Technology, Private Bag X01, Scottsville, Pietermaritzburg 3021, South Africa AND Department of Civil Engineering, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria 810107, Nigeria
Response Surface Modelling And Multi-Objective Optimisation Of Asphalt Binder And Mixture Properties Modified With Reclaimed Automotive Lubricants And Waste Glass Bottle Powder, Nura Shehu Aliyu Yaro, Jacob Adedayo Adedeji, Luvuno Nkosinathi Jele, Nasir Khan, Aliyu Usman, Jacob Olumuyiwa Ikotun
Journal of Sustainable Construction Materials and Technologies
Large volumes of reclaimed automotive lubricant (RAL) and waste glass bottle powder (WGBP) are disposed of inappropriately, causing serious environmental concerns. Furthermore, the paradigm shift towards sustainability in the pavement industry has prompted academics to investigate alternatives to conventional materials. As a result, one possible approach is to use these waste products as alternative materials in the asphalt pavement sector. This study investigated the combined use of RAL and WGBP as complementary modifiers, extending beyond the conventional single-modifier approaches reported in previous studies. Thus, in this study, response surface methodology (RSM) was utilised to optimise and predict the synergistic effects …
A Novel Geospatial Tool For Assessing Risks And Opportunities For Conversion Of Ccr Closures Into Productive Solar Energy Generation Sites,
2026
Profile Products LLC
A Novel Geospatial Tool For Assessing Risks And Opportunities For Conversion Of Ccr Closures Into Productive Solar Energy Generation Sites, Marc Theisen
World of Coal Ash Proceedings
Closure of Coal Combustion Residuals (CCR) surface impoundments and landfills offers unique opportunities for conversion to solar power sites with the potential to offset costs of post-closure care via generation of clean electricity. In 2023 the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) collaborated with the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) to create a report entitled “Coal Ash Disposal Sites and Opportunities for Solar Photovoltaic Development” (EPA Publication #540-S-23-004). The purpose of this document was to identify closed CCR units and provide key factors for their potential for solar photovoltaic (PV) development. In 2022, the EPA’s RE-Powering Initiative identified 772 current CCR …
Establishing A Roadmap For The Planning, Design, And Construction Of A Water Treatment System For A Ccr Unit Closure,
2026
Burns & McDonnell
Establishing A Roadmap For The Planning, Design, And Construction Of A Water Treatment System For A Ccr Unit Closure, Mariah Schroeder, Matthew Balance
World of Coal Ash Proceedings
The treatment of water from a CCR unit is an important step in the closure strategy for surface impoundments to comply with 40 CFR §257.102(d)(2)(i) of the CCR rule. The unwatering and dewatering of a surface impoundment is a necessary first step in ensuring that the eventual closure of the unit will meet the requirements for closure in place described in 40 CFR §257.102(d). Depending on the operational conditions and requirements of the plant, the NDPES discharge limits, and the impacted water quality, the water treatment system needs can vary greatly. This presentation will outline a roadmap for assessment, evaluation, …
The Modern Hydraulic Containment System: Using Automation, Telemetry And Data Dashboarding To Meet Client And Regulatory Objectives At A Coal Combustion Residual (Ccr) Site, Brian Hennings, Christopher Glidden, Vic Modeer, J. Austin Bond
World of Coal Ash Proceedings
The site, a former coal-fired power plant in southern Illinois, generated coal combustion residuals (CCR) such as bottom ash and fly ash stored in surface impoundments. Adjacent to the Ash Pond, boron was detected in groundwater above the state standard of 2 mg/L. In late 2025, a groundwater extraction system was installed to control hydraulic conditions and prevent boron migration offsite until source control measures are completed. The system is expected to operate for up to 11 years. Three-dimensional groundwater modelling was used to support system design, helping to identify optimal well locations and flow rates for effective containment. Components, …
Strategic Workforce Solutions In The Coal Ash Industry,
2026
Management Recruiters of Raleigh – MRINetwork
Strategic Workforce Solutions In The Coal Ash Industry, Stuart Keeter
World of Coal Ash Proceedings
The coal ash industry stands at a pivotal moment, shaped by legacy environmental events, evolving engineering standards, and a rapidly shifting workforce landscape. This session explores the strategic talent challenges facing consultants, civil engineering firms, and utilities in 2026 and beyond. Drawing from data sources including MRI, LaborIQ, AGC, and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the presentation highlights: • The impact of historic coal ash incidents (TVA Kingston, Duke Dan River) on industry best practices. • The convergence of civil, environmental, and power sectors in driving remediation and innovation. • Alarming workforce trends, including the retirement of 12,000 professionals …
Establishing Sustainable Vegetation On A Challenging Legacy Ccr Site,
2026
Profile Products
Establishing Sustainable Vegetation On A Challenging Legacy Ccr Site, Derek Oosterhouse, Blake Arthur
World of Coal Ash Proceedings
American Electric Power (AEP) is closing and restoring a legacy Coal Combustion Residuals (CCR) site in Ohio that once held a power plant that pioneered innovative steam generation technology. The plant was closed in 1975. Today, the legacy CCR site is being transformed back to natural, sustainable vegetation. To comply with and close the Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP) permit, permanent stabilization is required on the site. AEP, one of the largest electric companies in the country, holds a core principle to respect the environment through creative sustainable solutions. AEP connected with Profile Products, the world’s largest manufacturer and supplier …
Horizontal Wells For Ccr Applications – Results And Lessons Learned,
2026
Ellingson Companies
Horizontal Wells For Ccr Applications – Results And Lessons Learned, David Bardsley
World of Coal Ash Proceedings
No abstract provided.
Closure Of A Process Water Impoundment,
2026
WSP
Closure Of A Process Water Impoundment, Todd Stong, Shane Stockdill, Erin Hunter
World of Coal Ash Proceedings
Rainbow Energy Center’s (REC’s) Coal Creek Station manages process water in various engineered impoundments across the facility. As part of the ongoing life of the plant, one of the site process water ponds has been decommissioned to allow for construction of a new coal combustion residuals (CCR) impoundment within the same footprint. In order to transition from a non-CCR impoundment to construction of a CCR impoundment, the existing impoundment was closed and decommissioned in 2025. The composite-lined process water impoundment intended for closure previously operated from the early 1990s. To effectively close the impoundment, a closure verification plan was developed …
Future Strategies For Beneficial Use Harvesting,
2026
Watershed Geo
Future Strategies For Beneficial Use Harvesting, Gabe Lang, Patrick Kiser
World of Coal Ash Proceedings
TVA is the largest public power company in the U.S. and has historically operated a fleet of 12 coal-fired plants as part of their diverse generating portfolio. To date, eight of the coal plants have been retired and the remaining four plants are projected to shut down in the next couple of decades. The decommissioning of these plants is driving a transition to harvesting of ponded and landfilled CCR’s to continue to support ready-mix concrete and other industries that enable infrastructure development. However, the regional market demand limits the ability to initiate widespread harvesting activities during near-term CCR Unit closure …
An Australian Case - Harvesting And Processing Salt Water Sluiced Dam Coal Ash For Use In Conventional Concrete,
2026
Hallett Group
An Australian Case - Harvesting And Processing Salt Water Sluiced Dam Coal Ash For Use In Conventional Concrete, Massimo Capasso
World of Coal Ash Proceedings
The Cement & Concrete sector account for 8% of the worlds emissions . "hard to abate" sector is the substitution out of highly emissive cement with very low emissive SCMs. (Industry by-products) In the region of South Australia , 100% of SCM's are imported at great cost, no sovereign "Australian Standard" sources are locally available. The focus of this study is on the local Pt.Augusta dam ash, a dam repository that remains since the station closure in 2016. The uniqueness of this study is that , like many unused dam repositories globally, seawater was used to sluice coal ash at …
Methods To Enhance Groundwater Remediation During Cbr And Mass Transfer Controls On Post-Closure Groundwater Cleanup At Ccr Impoundments,
2026
Haley & Aldrich
Methods To Enhance Groundwater Remediation During Cbr And Mass Transfer Controls On Post-Closure Groundwater Cleanup At Ccr Impoundments, Sean Larkin, Jacob Chu, John Blue
World of Coal Ash Proceedings
Utilities are implementing closure‑by‑removal (CBR) of coal combustion residual (CCR) impoundments as part of corrective action programs to meet groundwater protection standards (GWPSs) and are evaluating closure strategies for Legacy Units. Although CBR and associated decanting and dewatering systems can substantially reduce source mass and improve groundwater quality, lingering “tail” concentrations in the aquifer are often observed after closure because groundwater remediation typically requires extended timeframes. These persistent concentrations may be compounded by secondary source zones beneath the former impoundment, where constituent mass stored in low‑permeability materials or immobile pore spaces is slowly released into the transmissive aquifer after CBR. …
Increase Drying Rate And Reduce Heavy Metals In Legacy Coal Ash Landfills With Biochar Addition,
2026
Michigan Technological University
Increase Drying Rate And Reduce Heavy Metals In Legacy Coal Ash Landfills With Biochar Addition, David Schmidt
World of Coal Ash Proceedings
A northern US power plant is preparing for the closure of 40-year-old coal ash and wet FGD (flue gas desulfurization) ponds per CFR 257.102. The pond’s contents must be dried before capping to allow heavy machinery to operate on the surface to spread the cover and liner materials. However, the high moisture content (55%) and the water holding capacity of the pond mixture, combined with a wet, cold climate, are preventing adequate drying to achieve the mandated closure dates. The US Forest Service funded this project to determine whether biochar made from waste wood can aid in ash pond remediation. …
Engineered Turf And Solar Renewable Performance On Ccr In Extreme Weather,
2026
Watershed Geo
Engineered Turf And Solar Renewable Performance On Ccr In Extreme Weather, Tate Niekamp, Bryan Scholl, Ming Zhu, Thomas Orzech
World of Coal Ash Proceedings
The engineered turf final closure system, ClosureTurf®, is installed on a 309-acre coal combustion residual (CCR) unit at the TVA Shawnee Fossil Plant in West Paducah, KY. Approximately 100 megawatts of the PowerCap® solar photovoltaic (PV) system is currently being deployed directly atop the engineered turf cover. An overview of the ClosureTurf® and PowerCap® systems are presented along with a comparison to traditional soil covers and conventional utility-scale solar arrays. From August 2023 through July 2025, onsite and local weather data stations reported over 20 storm events including severe thunderstorms, tornado outbreaks, winter storm systems, atmospheric rivers, and post-tropical cyclones. …
A Cost-Effective, Low-Impact Remedial Approach For Metals: Utilizing Phyto-Enhancement To Accelerate Ph Adjustment Of Shallow Groundwater,
2026
Synterra Corporation
A Cost-Effective, Low-Impact Remedial Approach For Metals: Utilizing Phyto-Enhancement To Accelerate Ph Adjustment Of Shallow Groundwater, Jerry Wylie, Thomas Colton
World of Coal Ash Proceedings
SynTerra will present a unique, low-cost, low-impact approach to metals remediation in shallow groundwater at a former industrial site located in the Atlantic Coastal Plain. The approach employs pH adjustment of groundwater using agricultural lime coupled with the use of daikon radish to augment lime contact time and to increase depth of soil augmentation. This method is designed to be a more sustainable, less resource-intensive, and less technically challenging remedial alternative with lower estimated overall costs. The primary corrective action—source removal—has been completed. However, the oxidation of residual sulfide-bearing minerals has resulted in persistent low-pH groundwater, which increases the solubility …
From Ash Pond To Concrete: A Two-Step Treatment For Enhancing Reactivity Of Reclaimed Ashes,
2026
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
From Ash Pond To Concrete: A Two-Step Treatment For Enhancing Reactivity Of Reclaimed Ashes, Aysan Farajnia
World of Coal Ash Proceedings
The closure of coal-fired power plants has led to a shortage of fly ash for concrete, increasing interest in alternative Supplementary Cementitious Materials (SCMs). Reclaimed or harvested fly ash represents a promising SCM, but often fails to meet ASTM specifications due to impurities, variable composition, and low reactivity. This study highlights a two-phase evaluation of harvested coal ash from a local ash pond in Illinois. The first phase characterized ashes from different depths and locations based on chemical composition and pozzolanic reactivity. The second phase focused on a novel two-step treatment consisting of magnetic separation and mechanical grinding. On average, …
Ccr Impoundment Closure: Encapsulation Design Using Closure Cap And Cutoff Wall,
2026
GAI Consultants, Inc.
Ccr Impoundment Closure: Encapsulation Design Using Closure Cap And Cutoff Wall, John Klamut, A. Edward Sciulli, Kevin Bortz
World of Coal Ash Proceedings
When closing a CCR Impoundment while leaving CCR in place, 40 CFR 257.102 requires minimizing post-closure infiltration of liquid into the CCR. This presentation will provide a description of a closure plan for a 16-acre impoundment in Indiana to accomplish this criteria. Key components of the closure plan which will be presented including consolidation of CCR into a smaller footprint due to questionable underlying clay layer identified in a portion of the impoundment and the design of a geosynthetic and soil cap system. A Soil-Cement-Bentonite (SCB) cutoff wall will be constructed to enclose the portion of the impoundment where CCR …
Narrative Power: Strengthening Coal Ash Communications In A Shifting Policy And Media Environment,
2026
Cozen O’Connor Public Strategies
Narrative Power: Strengthening Coal Ash Communications In A Shifting Policy And Media Environment, Tamara Hinton
World of Coal Ash Proceedings
As coal ash management and beneficial use practices continue to advance and regulatory frameworks evolve, the industry still faces a persistent challenge: sharing its story clearly, credibly, and proactively to audiences beyond engineers and regulators. Public perception, media narratives, and stakeholder understanding increasingly influence policy decisions, project timelines, and market opportunities. This session focuses on how strategic communications can serve as a critical tool to support responsible coal ash management and beneficial use. This presentation explores how utilities and industry partners can move from reactive communications to a more deliberate, strategic approach that strengthens trust, mitigates risk, and reinforces the …
The Effect Of Closure In Place On Groundwater Performance Objectives,
2026
AECOM
The Effect Of Closure In Place On Groundwater Performance Objectives, Dennis Connair, Jason Lach, Rachel Bosch
World of Coal Ash Proceedings
The effect of closure in place (CiP) of a coal combustion residual (CCR) surface impoundment on the achievement of groundwater remedial performance objectives is evidenced in groundwater monitoring data. The CCR unit is located over a major alluvial aquifer adjacent to a navigable river. The unit is separated from the aquifer by an unsaturated zone and the compliance monitoring wells are located at the unit boundary. Sluicing of CCR to the unit was ceased in early 2020 with dry placement of CCR from other units and CiP/installation of a composite cap substantially completed by the end of 2020. Groundwater corrective …
Innovations To Engineered Synthetic Turf Solutions For Ccr Units,
2026
CTI and Assoicates
Innovations To Engineered Synthetic Turf Solutions For Ccr Units, Nicholas Golden, Gabe Lang, Bradford Cooley
World of Coal Ash Proceedings
The use of engineered synthetic turf cover systems (e.g. ClosureTurf®) and hydraulic revetment systems (e.g. HydroTurf®) has been increasing on CCR units across the US. In the past 15 years, these systems have been installed on more than 500 combined projects totaling over 5,000 acres. The extensive use of these systems has resulted in continued research and development to address challenging site conditions by improving performance, enhancing extreme event resilience, and reducing maintenance. This presentation will focus on three specific innovations that have been developed to address site specific challenges associated with CCR units. Specifically, two new innovative engineered synthetic …
