Regulatory requirements, plant retirements, changes to facility operational profiles, environmental liability management and political and social pressures are among the factors driving utilities to close or consider closing their coal ash ponds. The process can be time-intensive and costly — and fraught with uncertainties.
Success requires careful attention to upfront analysis and strategic decision making as well as proper implementation and sequencing of all the regulatory, contractual, land use, and community issues contained in the selected solution(s). Facilities will need to plan their activities to take into account operational changes, regulatory impacts and long term land use issues. It is advantageous to know and anticipate environmental issues upfront to avoid expensive backtracking and delays.
Read more about TRC’s Coal Ash Management.