Digital Commons Network^™

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. …

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, 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 …

Integrated Groundwater Flow And Transport Modeling For Coal Combustion Residual (Ccr) Sites: From Closure Permitting To Corrective Action, Brian Hennings, Pejman Rasouli, Vic Modeer, Rhys Fuller

World of Coal Ash Proceedings

This session describes a coordinated multi-year effort to assess and manage groundwater quality at five CCR impoundments. The objectives were to (i) develop site-specific hydrogeologic and geochemical conceptual models; (ii) quantify groundwater flow and constituent transport under baseline and post-closure conditions; and (iii) design and evaluate corrective action strategies that achieve regulatory compliance and provide a defensible framework for long-term monitoring and management. The program highlights a phased approach aligned with regulatory requirements, progressing from closure construction to corrective action planning for detected exceedances. Comprehensive hydrogeologic datasets including borehole lithology, hydraulic testing, CCR source water characterization, and groundwater monitoring were …

Unlocking Data Integrity: How Historical Data Review Enhances The Accuracy Of Laboratory Results, Danielle Coles

World of Coal Ash Proceedings

Due to the implementation of the CCR rule and longstanding state regulatory guidelines, many utilities have built robust historical data sets associated with their groundwater monitoring programs. Data collected through these monitoring programs are used for many purposes including generation of statistics and site evaluation along with reporting to regulators and the public. Often, trends in data are evaluated long after data reporting to look at large scale trends or movement of constituents in the groundwater across a CCR landfill or entire site, but historical data sets can be used in real time to help determine the accuracy of current …

Anthropogenic Lithologic Characterization Through Use Of Advanced Visual Tools As A Means Of Identifying Coal Ash, Stephen Papageorge, Lucas Mangold

World of Coal Ash Proceedings

Identification and differentiation of particular Anthropocene strata such as coal ash and historic fill intermixed with native unconsolidated overburden presents significant challenges. To make specific determinations about origin and composition, a variety of tools are available such as our well-defined lithologic characterization processes. However, additional tools are required, as important and defining characteristic evidence isn’t available or obvious to our senses in the field. One challenge is the absence of surficial evidence of ash areas. Secondly, we are faced with limited access, as the responsible party no longer owns the site, there is new construction in the area of historic …

Riki&Dolphin: Real Time Data Transmission From The Bottom Of A Cave To A Website, Luca Tringali, Giacomo Canciani Dr., Tecla Tripari, Alexander Debenjak, Caterina Bearzotti

International Journal of Speleology

Coming from over 10 years of experience in cave monitoring in northeast Italy, Gruppo Speleologico Talpe del Carso, has designed Riki and Dolphin: customizable, low cost, and easy to assemble tools for getting real time data transmission from the bottom of a cave, even underwater, to a webserver. Their use has been tested to monitor air temperature inside the Abisso Bonetti Cave (Classical Karst, Italy), proving for the first time that a cave in Gorizian Karst can systematically be colder than the outdoor temperature even in winter, recording an internal temperature even lower than 0°C. The Dolphin device can be …

Air Quality, Atmospheric Pressure, And Migraine Presentations In The Emergency Department, James Espinosa, Alan Lucerna

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Background: Migraine is a leading cause of Emergency Department (ED) visits and global disability. Weather has long been reported by patients as a trigger, yet the literature remains inconsistent. Prior ED-based data demonstrated an association between higher mean barometric pressure and increased migraine presentations, without a relationship to short-term pressure change. Because high-pressure systems are frequently associated with atmospheric stagnation and pollutant accumulation, air quality may represent a biologically plausible mediator.

Objective: To examine the relationship between air quality and ED migraine presentations within the existing body of literature and to explore whether air quality may help explain previously observed …

A Remote Sensing Approach To Identifying Zones Of Instability In Mine Tailings Impoundments Using Multi-Sensor Satellite Data, Arden K. Pierce

Honors Theses

Mine tailings impoundments are structures built to contain the chemical and sedimentary byproducts generated by ore extraction activities. In this common method of mining waste storage, the tailings can be pumped into containment ponds and held behind earthen embankments to prevent the release of hazardous substances into the surrounding environment. Monitoring environmental factors that influence the structural integrity of these impoundments is essential for identifying areas vulnerable to instability and failure. Soil moisture is a factor that can affect the stability of mine tailings impoundment structures. This study evaluates the relationship between satellite-derived soil moisture and surface deformation at mine …

State Permitting Program Update, Jessica Reiss

World of Coal Ash Proceedings

State Permitting Program Update Jessica L. Reiss, Barnes & Thornburg LLP, 11 South Meridian Street, Indianapolis, IN 46204 KEYWORDS: states, permitting, permit program, rulemaking ABSTRACT At the end of 2016, the United States Congress authorized states to establish permit programs for coal combustion residuals (CCR) surface impoundments and landfills.[1] Since then, several states have established such programs, and the United States Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA) has approved programs for Oklahoma,[2] Georgia,[3] Texas,[4] and North Dakota,[5] proposed approval for Wyoming,[6] and denied approval for Alabama.[7] Other states, such as Indiana,[8] are actively working through the state rulemaking process and plan …

From Clogs To Compliance: Overcoming Persistent Leachate Head Issues In Ccr Landfills, Breanne Kahnk, Zachary Bauman

World of Coal Ash Proceedings

State and federal regulations require that landfills, including coal combustion residual (CCR) landfills, be designed and operated to maintain leachate head levels of less than 30 centimeters (approximately 1 foot). While proper leachate collection system design and routine maintenance are critical for meeting this requirement, challenges such as clogging of drainage media, pipes, fittings and/or pipeline perforations, settlement of collection pipes, and breaks in the piping system can lead to elevated leachate levels, posing risks to compliance and long-term system performance. TRC will provide an overview of leachate collection system regulatory requirements along with design, operation, and maintenance strategies that …

Standardization Of Coal Ash Testing, Classification, And Harvesting, Benjamin Gallagher, Chris Frishcosy, Eric Hageman

World of Coal Ash Proceedings

Standards such as product specifications, test methods, practices and guides play a crucial role in supporting both commerce and science. Standardization helps build consistency and reliability whether it pertains to the performance of an ingredient in a product or in the measurement of a material characteristic. Coal combustion products, such as coal ash and synthetic gypsum, exhibit unique characteristics and many standard have been developed to characterize these materials and support their beneficial use. ASTM is a voluntary, consensus-based organization, and publishes many standards related to coal combustion products. Currently, there are seven ASTM standards related to chemical analysis of …

Impacts Of Updating Background Groundwater Statistics For Ccr Compliance, May Raad, Molly Reeves

World of Coal Ash Proceedings

In 2017, many power utilities adopted statistical methods to comply with the EPA’s Coal Combustion Residuals (CCR) Rule under the Hazardous and Solid Waste Management System. By 2017–2018, most owners completed initial statistical evaluations for detection and assessment monitoring to meet CCR deadlines. Groundwater sampling and analysis requirements in Parts 257.95, 257.98, and 257.102 are critical for compliance, yet implementation is complex. Subsections 257.93(f) and (g) lack clarity on which statistical tests to apply or how to address distributions and outliers. Additionally, the Rule does not specify when or how to update background threshold values (BTVs), though EPA’s Unified Guidance …

Advancing Ccr Site Management With Rapidly Deployable Gccm Technology For Runoff And Drainage Control, Nathan Ivy

World of Coal Ash Proceedings

GCCM’s were first invented over 20 years ago. These products combine both a concrete – hard armor – top surface for protection and durability and a geomembrane bottom surface for lower permeability. Originally used for erosion control, smaller drainage channel and remediation projects, this presentation discusses the newest iteration in GCCM technology. This product incorporates a 12 mil LLDPE backing which allows for thermal bonding and significant reduction in seepage at the joints. It can be used in a wide variety of applications from drainage ditches and swales to water and wastewater conveyance along with slope protection and erosion control …

Ccr 2026: The Plot Thickens—Your Complete Guide To What’S Next, Mark Rokoff

World of Coal Ash Proceedings

The landscape of CCR management is poised for significant transformation with the proposed EPA regulation introduced in early 2026. This presentation will provide a clear and enhanced summary of the key points in the proposed rule, highlighting the significant changes and implications for the industry. Where appropriate, it will be further enhanced by benchmarking data to compliment the key points and the effect to the “CCR Universe”. The proposed regulation aims to adjust the requirements for effective CCR management, introducing new compliance measures and timelines that will impact owner/operators across the board. Key discussion points will include: • Summary of …

Epri Ccp Beneficiation Research Update, Benjamin Gallagher, Patrick Webb

World of Coal Ash Proceedings

Coal combustion products (CCPs) are frequently utilized as supplementary materials in cement and concrete manufacturing. With an estimated 2 billion metric tons stored in repositories across the United States, interest in beneficial use has expanded beyond class F fly ash to include ponded and high-LOI ash. Beneficiation provides a critical pathway for managing CCP repositories, particularly under closure-by-removal strategies, and where ash sources have historically been difficult to process. Research conducted at EPRI’s Ash Beneficial Use Center (ABUC) examines the feasibility of processing these ash types into usable products and offers insights into repository variability and classification. Furthermore, the study …

Abundances Of Elements In Global Coals, Shifeng Dai

World of Coal Ash Proceedings

The abundance of elements in coal is important not only because it provides a solid scientific and practical foundation for various geochemical comparisons, but also because it helps address broader questions in Earth Sciences. In this study, data on major and trace elements in global coals comprising hundreds of thousands of coal samples were compiled from peer-reviewed journal articles, books, various databases, dissertations, and technical reports. These data formed the basis for estimating element abundances in global coals presented in this study. All collected data were rigorously screened for reliability, and any records with questionable quality were excluded from the …

Transportation Logistics Panel, John Ward, Andrew Vollmer, Tracy Zea, Marci Jenks

World of Coal Ash Proceedings

As the industry shifts from freshly generated ash to harvested materials and advanced utilization, logistics is becoming one of the primary drivers of project success or failure. This moderated panel will explore how sourcing, transportation, and storage realities are changing — and what project teams most often underestimate when working with harvested coal ash. Panelists will discuss what breaks, what becomes more complex, and how logistics considerations are reshaping planning and development.

Distinguishing Ccp From Nuclear Impacts In Groundwater, Lea Millet

World of Coal Ash Proceedings

As the energy transition from fossil fuels to other generation technologies continues, many companies worldwide are evaluating the feasibility of constructing nuclear power plants at sites previously used for coal-powered generation. Thermal power plant sites offer advantages for siting nuclear generation such as proximity to cooling water and grid connections; however existing impacts to groundwater from coal combustion product (CCP) management units may confound monitoring programs designed to detect impacts from nuclear operations. For example, boron and lithium may be present in waters associated with CCP management and nuclear power plant operations, and potassium that often has concentrations above background …

Sustainability And Waste Diversion At Tva Shawnee "Project Phoenix", Bryan Jacob, Shane Harris

World of Coal Ash Proceedings

An engineered turf closure system can serve as an ideal foundation for a solar energy system to be installed atop coal combustion residual (CCR) impoundments. This approach not only enables productive power generation during the post-closure period, it also preserves opportunities for recovery and beneficial use of CCR material in the future. “Project Phoenix” at TVA’s Shawnee Fossil Plant offers an illustrative example. This paper will cover the sustainability benefits of the companion ClosureTurf® and PowerCap® systems installed at that site as well as waste diversion activities undertaken during construction to recycle as much as practical and minimize waste destined …

Demystifying Large Language Models: How Ai Is Transforming Data, Compliance, And Decision-Making In Coal Ash And Environmental Management, Scott Pfeiffer

World of Coal Ash Proceedings

The environmental and coal combustion residuals (CCR) industries generate vast amounts of information—from groundwater monitoring reports and RCRA documentation to closure plans and analytical data. Managing, interpreting, and communicating this information is a growing challenge for utilities, regulators, and consultants alike. Large Language Models (LLMs), such as OpenAI’s GPT architecture, represent a breakthrough in how organizations can interact with their technical data. These models use deep neural networks trained on billions of words to understand, summarize, and generate language with human-like accuracy. When securely adapted for enterprise use, LLMs can automate routine reporting, extract data from technical documents, generate regulatory …

Expert Perspectives On The U.S. Coal Combustion Products Market – Now, Then, And The Future, Mark Rokoff, David Cox, Walter Lemaire, John Ward

World of Coal Ash Proceedings

This panel discussion will explore the continued evolution of the U.S. coal combustion products market, with a focus on the impacts of dynamic regulatory and market forces. Invited expert panelists will share perspectives on developments over the past several years (building on discussions from WOCA 2022 and WOCA 2024), current conditions, and expected future trends—particularly those likely to shape the market between 2026 and 2030. The discussion will address the interrelated markets for engineering, construction, and beneficiation of ash from both operating and inactive plants. Panelists will offer perspectives relevant to the full coal ash industry, from owner/operator organizations to …

Sustainability In The Fashion Industry: Environmental Effects & Analyzing Innovative Approaches To Reducing Environmental Impact While Maintaining Profitability And Effectiveness, Haley Castillo Rebollar

Senior Honors Theses

The fast-fashion business model has several severe environmental impacts, including resource overconsumption, chemical pollution, greenhouse gas emissions, and solid waste consumption. Hence, the sustainable fashion alternative is questioned as to whether it can be applied with recoverable economic value and limited consequential impact when considering novel approaches in business model innovation, supply chain transformation, and the adoption of digital technologies. Evidence suggests that sustainability and profitability need not be mutually exclusive when strategic intervening actions are effectively managed. The set of principles of the circular economy, sustainable enterprise architecture frameworks, green supply chain management, advanced systems of forecasting, and three-dimensional …

Pest Risk Modelling For Climate-Smart Vegetable Production In East Africa, Marc Marin Agbodjan, Komi Mensah Agboka, John Odindi, Elfatih Abdel-Rahman, Onisimo Mutanga, Frank Chidawanyika, Chrysantus Tanga, Daniel Munyao Mutyambai, Sevgan Subramanian, Bonoukpoè Mawuko Sokame

All Peer-Reviewed Publications

Agricultural productivity in East Africa is increasingly threatened by climate-sensitive insect pests. This study investigates the occurrence of key vegetable pests: Brevicoryne brassicae, Plutella xylostella, Maruca vitrata, and Liriomyza mik. A comparative species distribution modelling evaluated pest risk projections under climate change. Four variable selection strategies were tested: case 1 (correlation and variance inflation factor [VIF] filtering across all predictors), case 2 (correlation and VIF filtering of bioclimatic variables merged with other predictors), case 3 (filtering based on environmental values at species occurrence point to approximate realized niches), and case 4 (dimensionality reduction using principal component analysis). These strategies were …

Red Lines, Green Blooms: Assessing The Effects Of Historical Environmental Disparity On Algal Communities In The Twin Cities, Mn, Georgia C. Akins

Environmental Studies Honors Projects

Redlining, a discriminatory housing policy from the 1930s, shaped lastng urban inequalites that may extend to environmental conditons. This study examines links between redlining and urban water quality in the Twin Cites using algal communites as indicators. Across 28 water bodies sampled in 2022 and 2024, physical, chemical, and biological metrics were compared by redlining grade. Results show limited relatonships between redlining and most variables, with only surface water temperature differing significantly. Nutrients and algal diversity were unrelated to redlining, instead reflectng present-day conditons. These findings suggest contemporary factors play a stronger role than redlining in shaping urban freshwater ecosystems.

Fossil-Fuels In A Decarbonized Country? Modeling The Drivers Of Icelandic Oil Sales, Inbal Armony

Environmental Studies Honors Projects

Although 100% of Iceland’s electricity comes from renewable energy sources, it still relies on fossil fuels for land transportation, marine transportation, aviation, and some industry. Understanding geographic nuances in oil use is critical to achieving Iceland’s goals of carbon neutrality by 2040. As the island has one primary urban center with two thirds of the population, information is lacking about oil use in non-Capital areas and a gap between state and municipal climate plans. Using newly available data of oil sales at the municipality-level in a Small Area Estimation model, we analyze drivers of oil sales across Icelandic municipalities. We …

Should I Stay Or Should I Go?: Evaluating The Role Of Climate And Weather Stressors On Moving Decisions In Southeast Florida, Arielle Perry

Electronic Theses and Dissertations 2020 - Present

As climate and weather hazards intensify, Southeast Florida communities face mounting pressures that increasingly influence patterns of migration and immobility. This research examines evidence of climate migration in high flood-risk neighborhoods in Fort Lauderdale by exploring why some populations choose to stay, while others leave, in the context of a changing climate. Using focus group discussions, I investigate how climate and non-climate related factors shape mobility outcomes among residents in the city. Migration outcomes were primarily influenced by negative climate and weather hazard experiences, discontent with existing public in-situ adaptations, and non-climate disamenities, which eroded participants’ sense of place. Voluntary …

The Cobalt Curse: Cobalt’S Role And Risks, Marley Jackowitz

Student Theses 2015-Present

This paper examines the hidden environmental, geopolitical, economic, and social costs of the cobalt supply chain. Fueled by the demand for battery technology and electric vehicles, cobalt has become an essential element to the green energy transition. With the largest share of global cobalt deposits, the Democratic Republic of the Congo bears a disproportionate share of the industry’s harms. Cobalt mining in the DRC is marked by environmentally degrading practices and inhumane working conditions, compromising Congolese health, safety, and well-being. Chapter 1 discusses the environmental impacts of DRC cobalt mining and its adverse effects on public health. Environmentally degrading mining …

A Computational And Experimental Study Of Energy Extraction From Vertical Axis Wind Turbines In Realistic Environments, Kevin Vargas

Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects

This thesis presents preliminary analyses on the performance of small scale vertical axis wind turbines (VAWTs) conducted through both experimental and computational methods. Laboratory experiments were carried out in the Complex Fluids Laboratory at Montclair State University to evaluate turbine behavior under controlled conditions. The key focus of this work was to investigate the impact of inlet blockage on turbine performance, simulating real-world environmental constraints such as flow obstruction and urban interference and measuring power generated via laboratory tools. Computational fluid dynamic (CFD) simulations were performed to further analyze flow characteristics and validate experimental observations and trends. Turbine geometries were …

At The Intersection Of Science And Sustainability: A Qualitative Study Of Food Scientists' Personal And Professional Perspectives, Srushti Parikh

Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects

Sustainable food systems require not only technological innovation but a more profound understanding of the professionals involved in the field. Even though the topic of sustainability is currently gaining importance throughout the food industry, the real expertise of food scientists is under-researched. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to explore food scientists' perspectives on sustainability, how these perceptions influence the way they pursue their careers, and how they view their impact in the larger sustainability agenda of the food industry. METHODS AND MATERIALS: This study captured detailed insights of 22 food scientists’ perspectives through qualitative methods. Food scientists in …