In response, noting I advocate using good clean NEPA anthracite for heat:Pacowy wrote:
The cite you provided doesn't say anything about your "washing" theory, and makes what I view as deceptive characterizations of TCLP. AFAIK TCLP has been used by EPA for close to 40 years. The fact that some anti-coal zealots prefer some other method that happens to show that the world is going to end due to coal ash doesn't really interest me. EPA's own website states flat out that it uses TCLP and that heavy metals in coal ash rarely trigger the long-established hazmat criteria - http://www.epa.gov/waste/nonhaz/industrial/specia ... letter.htm . You, like the people you quote, don't seem to like the fact that the same criteria that successfully identified legitimate heavy metals problems with other substances find no such problems with coal ash. So instead of accepting that and moving on, you conjure up reasons why the testing procedures need to be changed.
Of course, that begs the question, if you really believe that leaching toxins from coal ash are a serious problem, why are you putting them in your driveway?
I previously mentioned between clean anthracite and what power plants typically use. I quickly switched from the supplier that sent me something other than clean as most NEPA anthracite is.
You cite the EPA yet ignore the EPA, explicitly "When EPA tests coal ash using a new, more accurate leach test, the resulting leachate can exceed hazardous waste thresholds." (with reference) The fact the the EPA used something for 40 years, and then the same agency has a new test. Somethings science does improve over time. Leaching has everything to do with how fast materials and how much is actually released. You view some things as deceptive which I do not view as deceptive.
Why do power plants even need containment facilities if their ash is so clean?
You ignored I clearly stated I was "middle of the road" Thus I choose to use NEPA anthracite ash from a reputable supplier (noting my one bad experience) in modest quantities but not where it might risk my produce.
We have different opinions, that happens. I'm still haply warming myself with PA anthracite, just not eating or drinking its residue!
I'd recommend clean anthracite heat to anyone!!! I would also never suggest intentionally using its CCRs for personal food production. large peanut growers use lots of fly ash but they have the $ to actually test what they are using and their product.