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: ------- 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 ------- 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 ------- EPA will update this fact sheet as additional information becomes available. ------- |