Regulating Coal Ash As Toxic Waste

I've been reading several reports about the government classifying coal ash as toxic waste (heavy metals, primarily).

Anyone have any more information on this possiblity?

Sounds like the "OSHA Certified Horse". That is a damned funny sketch!! Sad if it weren't true.
When they remove asphalt. it is considered toxic waste......but if you grind or recycle it it is not.
Concrete from road beds and bridge decks, same thing. We live in an age of WTF......and WhoTF makes these rules.
I wonder how many politicians we could put under a 12' by 20' slab cut that is 16"thick? How many Enviro Lawyers?
Is Jimmy out there under or in a bridge footing on I-81 near Scranton?

Most of what I"ve been reading applied to power plants, however, it's a short drive from there to someone in the community bitching about me dumping 'toxic waste' into the garbage.

I'm allowed to burn in my neighborhood, and I run into problems all the time with folks 'concerned' about the smoke, whether it's blowing in their direction or not.

This is a pretty big concern for me, atm, especially with the current administration in the WH.

whistlenut wrote:Is Jimmy out there under or in a bridge footing on I-81 near Scranton?

No, he's off of Rt. 3 at the Meadowlands somewhere.

There is a National Coal Ash Association. And here is there report on the benefits of using coal ash:

http://www.recyclingfirst.org/pdfs/55.pdf

Big mother.

Doesn't seem to be much about home use.

Jimmie is in a bale under a lot of concrete...
That supports the concrete...
That the Meadowlands is made of...

So just how bad is the ash?
I've been using it to fill potholes in my gravel driveway.
Am I contaminating my well water? Maybe I should have it tested.

I haven't died yet, so it can't be that bad!

Stop worrying about coal ash. Coal ash is not significantly different in composition than the soils in general. Many have read that it contains trace elements of arsenic, fluoride etc. - This is what the soil all around you contains! There are these "evil" trace elements in all the dirt, sand, clay, and rocks that surround you everyday. The push to have it classified as "toxic waste" is simply an attempt by many environmental organizations to make it more expensive for coal-fired power plants to operate and thus discourage their construction and operation- it has nothing to do with any real dangers of the material itself. Environmental organizations have been fairly successful over the last few decades at creating a "sea of fear" around coal; fear of the ash, the mining, the co2, and almost everything about its use to the end that coal - America's most plentiful and important fuel - will be taboo.

Looking into this further (thanks Matt), it seems Anthracite would in no way contain enough toxins (debatable terminology) to qualify as hazardous waste.

Bring on the Coal!

just take a serious look at the water in the cities, wells...A lot of toxics are present and does'n bother too much because water is a must for living.Hard for a citie to say that: we sell you toxic water... The products talked on this subject are found very often in water plus all chemicals, hormones ,drugs, the list could be longer than all threads found here.
Coal ash is just returning to where it belongs: in the soil.
nortcan

They don't even have a clear policy on regulating this stuff in regards to the commercial/business world. It is a stretch to think it will ever affect the homeowner.

SMITTY wrote:I haven't died yet, so it can't be that bad!

Heyyy Smitty, I didn't know there were volcanos in West-Central Mass

Now that's funny
I feel better already!!

EPA will admit that coal ash does not qualify as a hazardous waste based on its toxicity. EPA wants to declare it a hazardous waste, however, because the way the law is written, that's the only way they can take jurisdiction over coal ash disposal away from the states. EPA doesn't seem to care that the stigma created by calling it "hazardous waste" could ruin a vibrant industry that recycles coal ash.

Lots more information here: http://www.recyclingfirst.org