EPA530-F-09-006
June 2009
Fact Sheet: Coal Combustion Residuals (CCR)
Surface Impoundments with High Hazard Potential Ratings
• Over the past several months, EPA has undertaken a concerted effort to identify and to assess
the structural integrity of impoundments, dams, or other management units, within the
electric power generating industry, holding wet-handled coal combustion residuals or CCRs.
• In response to an EPA information request on units handling wet or slurried CCRs, electric
utilities have so far identified a total of 427 units managing slurried CCRs. Forty-four (44)
of these units at 26 different locations have been assigned a high hazard potential rating,
using the criteria developed by the National Dam Safety Program for the National Inventory
of Dams. EPA's information request can be found online at:
http://www.epa.gov/epawaste/nonhaz/industrial/special/fossil/coalashletter.htm.
• The National Inventory of Dams hazard potential ratings address the potential consequences
of failure or misoperation of the dam. A high hazard potential rating indicates that a failure
will probably cause loss of human life. The rating is not an indication of the structural
integrity of the unit or the possibility that a failure will occur in the future; it merely allows
dam safety and other officials to determine where significant damage or loss of life may
occur if there is a structural failure of the unit. EPA's assessment of the 26 facilities that
have units with high hazard potential ratings continues to be an Agency priority. EPA has
conducted on-site assessments, which are undergoing Agency review, at 11 of these
facilities. The remaining 15 of these facilities have had state inspections within the past 12
months and EPA will be reviewing the reports from those inspections. EPA plans to make
public the results of our assessments as soon as they are completed.
• CCRs consist of fly ash, bottom ash, coal slag, and flue gas desulfurization (FGD) residue.
CCRs contain a broad range of metals, for example, arsenic, selenium, cadmium, lead, and
mercury, but the concentrations of these are generally low. However, if not properly
managed, (for example, in lined units), CCRs may cause a risk to human health and the
environment and, in fact, EPA has documented cases of environmental damage.
• Information on the presence of these is important to States, local officials, including first
responders, and the residents of local communities so that appropriate preparedness efforts
can be undertaken, reviewed, or maintained.
• Many States have active dam safety programs and in many cases, local government agencies,
first responders, and the local community are involved in preparedness efforts. By providing
this information, EPA's goal is to assist in these efforts.
• The following 44 CCR management units at 26 facilities currently have a High Hazard
Potential rating:
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List of 44 High
Hazard Potential
Units
Company
Allegheny Energy
American Electric
Power
American Electric
Power
American Electric
Power
American Electric
Power
American Electric
Power
American Electric
Power
American Electric
Power
American Electric
Power
American Electric
Power
American Electric
Power
American Electric
Power
Arizona Electric
PwrCoop Inc
Arizona Electric
PwrCoop Inc
Arizona Electric
PwrCoop Inc
Arizona Electric
PwrCoop Inc
Arizona Electric
PwrCoop Inc
Arizona Electric
PwrCoop Inc
Arizona Electric
PwrCoop Inc
Facility Name
Pleasants Power Station
Big Sandy
Cardinal
General James M Gavin
General James M Gavin
John E Amos
Mitchell
Muskingum River
Muskingum River
Muskingum River
Philip Sporn
Tanners Creek
Apache Station Combustion
Waste Disposal Facility
Apache Station Combustion
Waste Disposal Facility
Apache Station Combustion
Waste Disposal Facility
Apache Station Combustion
Waste Disposal Facility
Apache Station Combustion
Waste Disposal Facility
Apache Station Combustion
Waste Disposal Facility
Apache Station Combustion
Waste Disposal Facility
Unit Name
McElroy's Run
Embankment
Fly Ash
Fly Ash Reservoir 2
Fly Ash Pond
Bottom Ash Pond
Fly Ash Pond
Fly Ash Pond
Unit 5 Bottom Ash Pond
(Lower Fly Ash Pond)
Upper Fly Ash Pond
Middle Fly Ash Pond
Fly Ash Pond
Fly Ash Pond
Ash Pond 4
Ash Pond 1
Ash Pond 3
Scrubber Pond 2
Scrubber Pond 1
Evaporation 1
Ash Pond 2
Location/State Contact
Willow Island, WVA
Louisa, KY
Brilliant, OH
Cheshire, OH
Cheshire, OH
St. Albans, WVA
Moundsville, WVA
Waterford, OH
Waterford, OH
Waterford, OH
New Haven, WV
Lawrenceburg, IN
Cochise, AZ
Cochise, AZ
Cochise, AZ
Cochise, AZ
Cochise, AZ
Cochise,AZ
Cochise. AZ
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Company
Arizona Public
Service Co
Arizona Public
Service Co
Duke Energy Corp
Duke Energy Corp
Duke Energy Corp
Duke Energy Corp
Duke Energy Corp
Duke Energy Corp
Duke Energy Corp
Duke Energy Corp
Duke Energy Corp
Duke Energy Corp
Dynegy Midwest
Generation Inc
Dynegy Midwest
Generation Inc
First Energy
Generation Corp
Georgia Power
Kentucky Utilities
Co
Kentucky Utilities
Co
Kentucky Utilities
Co
Kentucky Utilities
Co
Kentucky Utilities
Co
Louisville Gas &
Electric Co
PPL Montana LLC
Progress Energy
Carolinas Inc
Progress Energy
Carolinas Inc
Facility Name
Cholla
Cholla
Allen Steam Plant
Belews Creek Steam Station
Buck
Buck
Buck
Dan River
Dan River
Marshall Steam Station
Riverbend
Riverbend
Havana
Wood River
Bruce Mansfield
Plant Branch
E W Brown
E W Brown
Ghent
Ghent
Ghent
Cane Run
Colstrip Steam Electric
Station
Asheville
Asheville
Unit Name
Bottom Ash Pond
Fly Ash Pond
Active Ash Pond
Active Ash Pond
New Primary Pond
Secondary Pond
Primary Pond
Secondary Pond
Primary Pond
Active Ash Pond
Secondary Pond
Primary Pond
East Ash Pond
East Ash Pond (2 cells)
Little Blue Run Dam
E
Auxiliary Pond
Ash Pond
Gypsum Stacking Facility
Ash Pond Basin 1
Ash Pond Basin 2
Ash Pond
Units 1 & 2 Stage
Evaporation Ponds
(STPEO
1982 Pond
1964 Pond
Location/State Contact
Joseph City AZ
Joseph City, AZ
Belmont, NC
Walnut Cove, NC
Spencer, NC
Spencer, NC
Spencer, NC
Eden, NC
Eden,NC
Terrell, NC
Mount Holly, NC
Mount Holly, NC
Havana, IL
Alton, IL
Shippingport, PA
Milledgeville,GA
Harrodsburg, KY
Harrodsburg, KY
Ghent, KY
Ghent,KY
Ghent, KY
Louisville, KY
Colstrip, MT
Arden, NC
Arden, NC
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EPA will update this fact sheet as additional information becomes available.
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