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1.1 This guide provides a framework to characterize coal combustion products (CCPs) situated in active or inactive storage units for potential harvesting and beneficial use and may be considered a companion standard to Guide E3183.

1.2 A framework is provided in this guide to address critical aspects related to the characterization of CCPs placed in active (operational) and inactive storage of (closed or no longer receiving CCPs) storage area(s). These storage area(s) may be used for wet or dry CCPs.

1.3 This guide does not include information on how to determine what storage area(s) or facilities should be selected for potential characterization of CCPs as each entity may approach a characterization program in accordance with their own intent and regulatory requirements. In addition, it does not include information on how the user should evaluate inventories to determine the order of their storage area(s) for potential characterization including consideration of risk, performance, and cost. This guide for potential harvesting for beneficial use is intended to be used to evaluate the storage area(s) once the storage area(s) are selected for evaluation.

1.4 This guide does not include information on the permitting that may be required to implement CCP characterization activities or may be associated with the processing or end use(s). Therefore, additional approvals not discussed within this guide may be needed.

1.5 This guide is intended to help characterize CCPs that may be harvested while gaining understanding of their homogeneity within a given wet or dry storage area.

1.6 The CCPs that may be characterized include fly ash, bottom ash, and economizer ash; boiler slag; flue gas desulfurization material; fluidized bed combustion products as defined in Terminology E2201; cenospheres; or other materials suitable for beneficial use.

1.7 Laws and approval requirements governing the use of CCPs vary by locality, state, province, and country and generally do not yet include provisions for CCP characterization as described herein. The user of this guide is responsible for determining and complying with the applicable approval requirements, which may extend beyond characterization to include approval requirements or guidance on issues such as disturbance, storage, transportation, end use, and other concepts. This guide may complement approval programs in which guidance on characterization is unavailable or insufficient, thereby improving the chance that such storage area(s) may be repurposed for public or private benefit or both. It may be important to engage and educate the approval authority early and often throughout the planning, design, and implementation of the characterization activities. The project team may also consider affording an opportunity to solicit input from other stakeholders.

1.8 This guide should not be used to characterize (that is, environmentally assess) wet or dry CCP storage area(s) for ownership transfer, although portions of such information resulting from characterizing CCPs using this guide may supplement other environmental assessments that are used in such a transfer.

1.9 Units—The values stated in either SI units or inch-pound units are to be regarded separately as standard. The values stated in each system may not be exact equivalents; therefore, each system shall be used independently of the other. Combining values from the two systems may result in nonconformance with the standard.

1.10 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety, health, and environmental practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.

1.11 This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.

4.1 Purpose—This guide provides a process for characterization of existing CCPs placed in active and inactive storage area(s) to assist in potential harvesting strategies. In this guide, information on the following activities required for the safe and effective characterization of CCPs from storage area(s) is included: (1) available site characterization information inventory/review, (2) available end use(s) information inventory/review, (3) end use(s) and level of confidence (Tiers I, II, and III) related to the CCP characterization selected and RDM; (4)CCP characterization plan development; and (5) CCP storage area(s) characterization report. More detailed descriptions of these activities are in Sections 6 – 10.

4.2 Potential Beneficial Use(s) of CCPs—There are many CCP storage area(s) that are potentially harvestable and can provide a functional benefit. The beneficial use of CCPs contained in these storage area(s) can have significant environmental and economic benefits for the user and can significantly reduce disposal operations (1-4).9 Beneficial use of CCPs can provide industry with a safe and responsible way to manage the CCPs economically, while promoting conservation and recycling, meeting sustainability goals, and addressing the shortage of CCPs in some building product market areas (1, 2, 5). CCPs consist of fly ash, bottom ash, boiler slag, FBC ash, economizer ash, and FGD material. End use(s) may include cement/concrete, light aggregate, flowable fill, controlled or structural fill, road base/subbase, soil amendment, waste stabilization/solidification, agriculture, grout, mineral filler, snow/ice traction control, blasting grit/abrasives, roofing granules, mining application, gypsum panel, and others (see Terminology E2201 for definitions of CCPs) (Sections 6 and 7).

4.3 Approval Context—This guide does not supersede local, state, or country requirements, if applicable. This guide is intended to be used for storage area(s) that are both within an approval authority program and historic (or unpermitted) storage area(s).

4.4 Use of Guide—Approval authorities may incorporate this guide, in whole or part, into general guidance documents or site-specific approval documents.

4.5 Professional Judgment—This guide presumes the active involvement of an environmental professional who is knowledgeable in how to characterize CCP, design and construct storage area(s), and identify acceptable site conditions or, when appropriate, satisfy applicable statutory or approval authority limitations on the use of an operating, closed, or historic (unpermitted) storage area(s).

4.6 Inherent Uncertainty—Professional judgment, interpretation, and some uncertainties are inherent in the processes described herein even when decisions are based on objective scientific principles and accepted industry practices.