Digital Commons Network^™

Reactive Transport Modeling Of Closure-In-Place With Intersecting Groundwater And Remedial Actions Part I, Jason James, Olivia Paradis, Rachel Kelly, Walter Mcnab

World of Coal Ash Proceedings

Reactive Transport Modeling of Closure-in-Place with Intersecting Groundwater and Remedial Actions: Part I, Model Creation and Execution Authors Dr. Jason James - United States - Exponent Dr. Olivia Paradis - United States - Exponent Dr. Rachel Kelly - United States - Exponent Dr. Walter McNab - United States - Exponent Mr. Bruce Hensel - United States - Electric Power Research Institute Abstract This EPRI research project was initiated to better understand two objectives: • How is mobility of inorganic constituents affected by the intersection of groundwater with coal combustion product ponds and landfills under varying geologic and redox conditions? • …

Addressing Mental Health In Young Adults: A Modern Approach Compared To Previous Generations, Breeha A. Shah

DePaul Journal of Health Care Law

The escalating prevalence of mental health issues among today's young adults underscores the vital importance of addressing mental health in the pursuit of public health objectives. In response to this, The House Education and Labor Committee issued a report on the Mental Health Services for Students Act of 2020 (the Act), to amend the Public Health Service Act relating to school children. This revision seeks to bolster the support for students and young people by ensuring their access to comprehensive mental health programs within the school environment. The Act recognizes that safeguarding mental health is an immediate concern for public …

Draining Chicago’S Food Swamps: Legal Approaches, Sofia Fernandez

DePaul Journal of Health Care Law

Public health is a collective responsibility of society to improve the health and wellbeing of communities, focusing on preventing disease and promoting health as opposed to providing medical care for those already ill.1 The law consists of rules issued and enforced by government entities “through which populations organize their governments, regulate social and economic interactions, and guide behavior.”2 Public health law exists at the intersection of these two fields, comprising “the legal powers and duties of the state to identify, prevent, and ameliorate risks to the health of populations, as well as the study of legal structures that have a …

Random Drug Testing Of Physicians: A Question Of Safety, Jeffrey Julian, Eli Y. Adashi, I. Glenn Cohen

DePaul Journal of Health Care Law

The prospect of mandatory random drug testing of physicians in the U.S. has been the subject of active discussion for well over three decades.1 To this day, however, such programs remain the exception rather than the rule.2 In this paper, we examine the state of mandatory random drug testing of physicians in the U.S. and explore the future prospects thereof. It was a 1986 Executive Order (Drug-Free Federal Workplace) of President Reagan that saw to it that physicians in the employ of the federal government were to be subjected to mandatory random drug testing.3 This development was attributable to the …

Effects Of A Wi-Fi Link On The Performance Of A Path Following Autonomous Ground Vehicle, Anthony Iwejuo, Austin Cagle, Billy Kihei, Ph.D.

Symposium of Student Scholars

As vehicles become more automated and connected, the future of safe and efficient travel will be dependent on efficient wireless networks. Artificial intelligence (AI) demands high power resources and computing resources that can be resource-intensive for mobile robotic systems. A new paradigm involving the remote computing of A.I. can enable robotics that are built lighter and more power efficient. In this study, we compare a locally run artificial intelligence algorithm for autonomous ground vehicle navigation against remote computation through various wireless links to highlight the need for low-latency access to remote computing resources over Wi-Fi network calls. Our findings show …

"Because They Recognized Us": Triangulated Perspectives Of Syrian Mothers' Resettlement Experiences In The Eastern United States., Kayte Thomas

Journal of Applied Disciplines

Research indicates that post-resettlement experiences can be particularly challenging for people with refugee status. Despite finding safety in and adjusting to their new home, former refugees have indicated that this time can be stressful and even traumatic. The current Syrian crisis has created the largest wave of refugees ever known, and Syrian women are amongst the most vulnerable. However, women’s needs and preferences are often not taken into consideration during the resettlement journey and when they are, there is no distinction between mothers and their childless counterparts. As social workers strive to empower the individual person within their environment, it …

Life After Coal- Opportunities And Challenges At Decommissioned Coal-Fired Power Sites, Leslie Miller, Brian Owens, Stacey Vanbelleghem

World of Coal Ash Proceedings

LIFE AFTER COAL? OPPORTUNITIES AND CHALLENGES AT DECOMMISSIONED COAL-FIRED POWER SITES Authors Ms. Leslie Miller - United States - WSP USA Mr. Brian Owens - United States - WSP USA Ms. Stacey VanBelleghem - United States - Latham & Watkins, LLP Abstract With substantial regulatory and public pressures, coal fired power plants are being retired and decommissioned at an accelerated rate. What does the future look like for these expansive sites? Many of these sites may be suited for conversion to natural gas or other renewable energy sources such as solar or battery storage by their current owners, but others …

Visualization Tools To Enhance Conceptual Site Models Throughout The Project Life Cycle, Darby Litz, Jason House

World of Coal Ash Proceedings

Visualization Tools to Enhance Conceptual Site Models Throughout the Project Life Cycle Authors Mrs. Darby Litz - United States - TRC Mr. Jason House - United States - TRC Abstract The conceptual site model (CSM) provides value throughout the life cycle of CCR Rule compliance, from detection and assessment monitoring to corrective action and post-closure attainment of Groundwater Protection Standards (GWPS). Frequently revisiting the CSM is advantageous to facilitate an understanding of site conditions and address the unique needs of the current project stage for relevant stakeholders. At the onset of the CCR Rule, the initial CSM development was particularly …

Data Collection, Assimilation And Reporting Methods To Support Pond Closure – A Case Study, Katherine Warwick (Coco), Joseph Keller, Kirkland Broadwell

World of Coal Ash Proceedings

Data Collection, Assimilation and Reporting Methods to Support Pond Closure – A Case Study Authors Ms. Katherine (Kat) Warwick (Coco) - United States - Haley & Aldrich, Inc. Mr. Joseph Keller - United States - Haley & Aldrich Inc. Dr. Kirkland Broadwell - United States - Haley & Aldrich Inc. Abstract An automated “go/no-go” reporting system was developed for use by project stakeholders (Owner, Owner’s Engineer, Contractor, and contractor’s engineer) in support of a large ash pond closure in the mid-Atlantic. This reporting system not only documents compliance with the Construction Contractor’s Monitoring Plan (CCMP) and project specifications, but also …

Paper_Performance Of Engineered Turf Cover System Under Extreme Weather Conditions, Thomas Orzech, Bradford Cooley, Ming Zhu, Bryan Scholl

World of Coal Ash Proceedings

The engineered turf final closure system (ClosureTurf®) is installed or awaiting installation on over 4,000 acres (1,619 hectares) of waste containment facilities including coal combustion residual (CCR) units, industrial and municipal solid waste landfills. A significant benefit of the engineered turf cover system over traditional soil covers is performance and resiliency under extreme weather conditions. The engineered turf cover system performs well during high rainfall intensities and/or high winds by protecting the containment facility from erosion or damage to the closure system and underlying subgrade/waste. This leads to measurable improvement in stormwater runoff quality and reduction in post-closure maintenance costs. …

Performance Of Engineered Turf Cover System Under Extreme Weather Conditions, Thomas Orzech, Bryan Scholl, Bradford Cooley, Ming Zhu

World of Coal Ash Proceedings

Performance of Engineered Turf Cover System Under Extreme Weather Conditions Authors Mr. Thomas Orzech - United States - Watershed Geo Dr. Bryan Scholl - United States - Watershed Geo Mr. Bradford Cooley - United States - Watershed Geo Dr. Ming Zhu - United States - Watershed Geo Abstract The engineered turf final closure system (ClosureTurf®) is installed or awaiting installation on over 4,000 acres of waste containment facilities including coal combustion residual (CCR) units and industrial and municipal solid waste landfills. A significant benefit of the engineered turf cover system over traditional soil covers is performance and resiliency under extreme …

Producing Lightweight Aggregate From Waste Coal Ash For The Construction Industry, Mo Balapour

World of Coal Ash Proceedings

A technology platform to recycle off-spec coal combustion products into construction lightweight aggregate Authors Dr. Mo Balapour - United States - SusMaX Inc. Abstract As the focus shifts towards legacy coal ash landfills for benefaction processes to supply fly ash to the concrete market, it’s important to note that not all landfills and ponds have the suitable material for such recycling. SusMaX offers a new technology platform that can recycle landfilled or ponded off-spec coal ash products such as fly ash, bottom ash, slag, or their mixture into safe-to-use “construction lightweight aggregate”. This engineered lightweight aggregate has superior engineering performance …

Perimeter Barrier Wall Installation To Facilitate Closure By Removal, Paul Schmall, Shawn Coughlin, Christopher Gee

World of Coal Ash Proceedings

Case Study: Perimeter Barrier Wall Installation to Facilitate Closure by Removal Authors Dr. Paul Schmall - United States - Keller Mr. Shawn Coughlin - United States - Keller Mr. Christopher Gee - United States - Dominion Abstract Hydrogeologic conditions of this project require a multi-faceted approach to facilitate ash dewatering and deep depressurization of underlying highly permeable soils within a 5,700 ft long perimeter cutoff wall, as deep as 80 feet. A perimeter cutoff wall was required because significant and sustained groundwater inflows from beneath the ponded ash were experienced with previous construction at the pond because the pond was …

Are We Listening? Approaches To Community-Centered Needs Assessment, Mikayla Gallo, Amanda Tyler

Georgia Public Health Association Annual Meeting & Conference

Background: The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has encouraged Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) state agencies to lead needs assessment activities to guide funding and program decision-making for the SNAP Nutrition Education and Obesity Prevention Grant Program (SNAP-Ed). The Georgia Department of Human Services (DHS),decided to center the voices of SNAP-Ed participants in Georgia through a series of listening sessions occurring January to October 2023. The goal of the community listening session (CLS) was to discuss community needs based on local health data, identify existing community assets, identify barriers to accessing healthy food and active living, ideate solutions that …

Propensity-Score Matching Beginning And Experienced Farmers On Stress And Coping Mechanisms To Predict Suicidal Ideation, Anne Montgomery, Stephanie M. Basey, Chris T. Scoggins, Lily Baucom

Georgia Public Health Association Annual Meeting & Conference

This presentation is an extension of a roundtable from last year; we added propensity-score matching thanks to suggestions from the roundtable:

The suicide rate among farmers is much higher than that of the overall working population. Literature on farmer mental health in Georgia has been scarce and mostly focused on farmer suicide. This study looks at the influence of being a beginning farmer (less than 10 years of experience) on farm-related stressors and coping mechanisms.

This cross-sectional study inventories mental well-being, stressors, and coping mechanisms for different types of farmers. Participants (N=1,328) were asked demographics, household composition, work descriptors, healthcare …

Let's Talk About Sex & Prep: District 2 Does!, Chrissa M. Shaffer

Georgia Public Health Association Annual Meeting & Conference

Defining what a PrEP Service Program entails and how it could benefit your district or county health center. Discussing methods that have been used to set up PrEP Services within a district – including training, resources, and promotion. Identifying the challenges and working through them. Reviewing the results of the PrEP Services over the past year, and the ongoing goals to encourage and increase our PrEP Services.

Gender-Based Differences In Stress And Coping Among Farmers: A Cross-Sectional Study With Propensity Score Matching, Anne Montgomery, James B. Dunaway, Stephanie M. Basey, Chris T. Scoggins, Lily R. Baucom

Georgia Public Health Association Annual Meeting & Conference

This cross-sectional study compares the mental health experiences of male and female farmers, with a particular focus on stress levels, stressors, and coping mechanisms. The research aims to shed light on gender-based differences in stress experiences and coping strategies among agricultural workers. The study involved 1,394 farmers (67.7% male, 32.3% female) from Georgia, USA, who completed an online survey on aspects of mental well-being.

Findings indicate that female farmers were more likely to hold farm manager roles and less likely to be farm owners. Notably, a higher proportion of female farmers were first-generation farmers, indicating potential unique challenges for this …

The Future Of Public Health: Developing The Workforce Through Public Health Americorps, Kristi James

Georgia Public Health Association Annual Meeting & Conference

The American Public Health Association (APHA) and its Alliance for Disease Prevention and Response worked closely with the Public Health AmeriCorps program (PHACP), CDC and AmeriCorps on a set of activities which strengthen workforce capacity. Within APHA and its Alliance for Disease Prevention and Response team, the assigned project consists of providing opportunities for Public Health AmeriCorps members and grantees to make new connections and increase engagement with those in the field. The overall goal of the project is to address the critical need for public health professionals by supporting the recruitment, training, and development of the next generation of …

Low-Cost Shortwave-Infrared Spectroscopy (Swirs) For Stroke Risk Screening In Pediatric Sickle Cell Disease, Katie Cho

Symposium of Student Scholars

Sickle cell disease (SCD) has a profound effect on the brain. In sub-Saharan Africa where most SCD patients (~75%) live and access to medical care is limited, ~11% of SCD children will develop a stroke by the age of 20. Although early identification is critical to treatment, transcranial doppler ultrasound (TCD), the standard screening tool, is not widely available in low-resource settings due to its high cost and need of trained personnel. Speckle contrast optical spectroscopy (SCOS) may provide a user-friendly and cost-effective solution to this unmet need. SCOS is an emerging optical technique that can quantify blood flow in …

Tva Shawnee – Overcoming Engineering Challenges Associated With Closure In Place Of Mixed, Craig Lee, Michael Owens

World of Coal Ash Proceedings

TVA Shawnee – Overcoming Engineering Challenges Associated with Closure In Place of Mixed Ash Authors Mr. Craig Lee - United States - Kiewit Engineering Group, Inc. Mr. Michael Owens - United States - Kiewit Engineering Group, Inc. Abstract ABSTRACT The Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) is in the process of closing Ash Pond 2, the Stilling Pond and the Special Waste Landfill at the TVA Shawnee Fossil Plant using Closure In Place. The project includes four million cubic yards of mass grading that included embanking material over sluiced ash. Kiewit Engineering Group (KEG) designed a bridge lift that utilized existing ash …

Paper_Emerging Technologies For Water Conveyance And Containment, Nathan Ivy

World of Coal Ash Proceedings

Emerging technologies for water conveyance and containment Authors Mr. Nathan Ivy - United States - Concrete Canvas Abstract GCCM’s represent the newest class of geosynthetics that can be used for water conveyance and containment applications. Since their initial introduction nearly 15 years ago, ASTM D8364-Standard Specification for Geosynthetic Cementitious Composite Mats (GCCM) Materials has been developed as the internationally recognized standard for testing and classifying GCCM as Type I, II or III. All products discussed herein meet or exceed all aspects of this standard – regardless of type. These products combine both a concrete – hard armor – top surface …

Demonstrating Equivalency Of Closureturf, Tyler Schmidt

World of Coal Ash Proceedings

DEMONSTRATING EQUIVALENCY OF CLOSURETURF AS A VIABLE ALTERNATIVE TO TRADITIONAL CCR FINAL COVER SYSTEMS Authors Mr. Tyler Schmidt - United States - Burns & McDonnell Abstract When designing final cover systems for the closure of CCR units, owners must select materials that meet regulatory criteria while weighing facility-specific needs and challenges. ClosureTurf, an artificial turf cover system component, is often a viable solution for managing a facility’s needs and challenges, from preconstruction (such as optimizing earthwork) to post-closure (such as managing a low-maintenance artificial erosion layer). However, obtaining approval from a state agency or to comply with the requirements in …

Groundwater Model Workflow For Ccr Sites, William Gottobrio, Cliff Baines, Roselyne Laboso, Skyler Sorsby

World of Coal Ash Proceedings

Groundwater Model Workflow for CCR Sites Authors Mr. William Gottobrio - United States - WSP USA Inc Mr. Cliff Baines - United States - WSP USA Inc Ms. Roselyne Laboso - United States - WSP USA Inc Mr. Skyler Sorsby - United States - WSP USA Inc Abstract Changes in legislation and legal requirements have added additional regulatory scrutiny to groundwater flow models for Coal Combustion Residuals (CCR) sites. The additional scrutiny of these projects emphasizes the importance of a model development framework that is both well-defined and defensible. WSP has developed a workflow for creating groundwater models that can …

Lessons Learned Through The Implementation Of In-Situ Stabilization For The Closure Of A Coal Combustion Residue Site, Vincent Spillane, Michael Fisher, Darin Payne

World of Coal Ash Proceedings

Lessons Learned Through the Implementation of In-Situ Stabilization for the Closure of a Coal Combustion Residue Site Authors Mr. Vincent Spillane - United States - Geo-Solutions, Inc. Mr. Michael Fisher - United States - Geo-Solutions, Inc. Mr. Darin Payne - United States - Geo-Solutions, Inc. Abstract The traditional means of dealing with coal combustion residual (CCR) materials include excavation and off-site disposal. This approach can be impacted by site-specific geotechnical and hydrological features which dramatically increase cost and complexity. In many cases, it makes sense to consider a way to keep the material on site, for example using in-situ stabilization/solidification …

Securing Stockpile Reserves​ Of Coal Derived Fly Ash​ As A National Asset, Nigel Cooke

World of Coal Ash Proceedings

Soliciting Support from UK Government to Safeguard Legacy Stockpiles of Coal Derived Fly Ash (CDFA) Authors Dr. Nigel Cooke - United Kingdom - UK Quality Ash Association Abstract The global environment is under the spotlight and the need to reduce greenhouse gases is having a profound impact on just about every industrial sector. The construction industry is no exception. Coal derived fly ash (CDFA), has long been accepted within the UK construction sector for the unique properties it imparts to concrete and mortars and as a secondary aggregate for use in autoclaved aerated block manufacture and grouts. With a goal …

Dewatering Basics – Understanding The Challenges Of Dewatering, Christine Harris

World of Coal Ash Proceedings

Dewatering Basics – Understanding the challenges of dewatering Authors Mrs. Christine Harris - United States - None Abstract The current EPA Coal Combustion Residuals Rule requires the removal of Free Liquids from coal ash. Free liquids are defined as all ‘‘liquids that readily separate from the solid portion of a waste under ambient temperature and pressure,’ regardless of whether the source of the liquids is from sluiced water or groundwater. 40 CFR 257.53. Consequently, the directive applies to both the freestanding liquid in the impoundment and to all separable porewater in the impoundment, whether the porewater was derived from sluiced …

Paper_Capping & Closure For Two Pennsylvania Landfills Subject To U.S. Epa’S Ccr Rule Promulgated Under 40 Cfr 257 Subpart D, Ron Harris, Cory White, John Klamut

World of Coal Ash Proceedings

This project consisted of capping two coal combustion residuals (CCR) landfills with geosynthetic capping systems consisting of 24-inches of final cover soil over eight ounce per square yard filter/separation geotextile over Super Gripnet geomembrane with drainage studs along top and friction spikes along the bottom over a prepared subgrade consisting of in-place cover soil. Approximately 20 acres were capped at each landfill in 2023. Closure plans addressing CCR Rule requirements were prepared and posted to the stations’ CCR Rule websites. Per those plans, the stations intend to cease coal combustion and residual waste disposal by year-end 2028. To comply with …

Paper_Lessons Learned Through The Implementation Of In-Situ Stabilization For The Closure Of A Coal Combustion Residue Site, Vincent Spillane, Michael Fisher, Darin Payne

World of Coal Ash Proceedings

Traditional means of remediating coal combustion residual (CCR) materials include excavation and off-site disposal. Site-specific geotechnical and hydrological features can dramatically increase the cost and complexity of remediation efforts. As such, it is often advisable to explore ways to properly leave material on-site. One such way may be via in-situ stabilization/solidification (ISS). ISS is a technically sound and economical solution for remediating CCR and other wastes and was recently used as part of the in- place closure of a 2.25-acre ash pond. In the project scenario described herein, the Contractor evaluated multiple means of ash stabilization through the use of …

Paper_Uniaxial Compressive Behavior Of “Solidified” Synthetic Lightweight Aggregates, Annika Han, Christopher Swan

World of Coal Ash Proceedings

This paper presents results from uniaxial compression tests on a synthetic lightweight aggregate (SLA) created from high carbon fly ash and mixed waste plastics. Since their invention in the late 1990’s, SLA has represented an innovative and potentially novel construction material created solely from the co-extrusion of these two, high volume, waste streams. This current effort involved testing specimens created as “solidified” SLA cylinders. Three types of cylindrical specimen were created from ‘loose’ SLA that existed at the following grain-size ranges: Coarse (between U.S. sieve No. 4 and No. 8 or between 2.36 to 4.75mm), Medium (between No. 8 and …

Uniaxial Compressive Behavior Of “Solidified” Synthetic Lightweight Aggregates, Annika Han, Chris Swan

World of Coal Ash Proceedings

Uniaxial Compressive Behavior of “Solidified” Synthetic Lightweight Aggregates Authors Ms. Annika Han - United States - GEI Consultants, Inc. Prof. Chris Swan - United States - Tufts University Abstract This paper presents results from uniaxial compression tests on a synthetic lightweight aggregate (SLA) created from high carbon fly ash and mixed waste plastics. Since their invention in the late 1990’s, SLA has represented an innovative and potentially novel construction material created solely from the co-extrusion of these two, high volume, waste streams. This current effort involved testing specimens created as “solidified” SLA cylinders. Three types of cylindrical specimen were created …