Archived
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Location
Lexington, Kentucky
Start Date
5-5-2026 2:30 PM
End Date
5-5-2026 3:00 PM
Description
Coal combustion residual (CCR) containment facilities have traditionally been closed using methods that have changed little over several decades, but structured geomembranes are now reshaping closure design by improving slope stability, increasing interface friction, enhancing drainage, and providing long-term durability. Two systems are emerging as leading solutions: a structured geomembrane paired with a geotextile and vegetative cover, and a structured geomembrane paired with engineered turf. This presentation compares these approaches using field performance data, laboratory testing, and lessons learned, with emphasis on key factors such as infiltration control, drainage efficiency, slope stability, constructability, and regulatory compliance. The engineered turf system also offers a significant advantage by reducing long-term maintenance costs through the elimination of mowing, minimizing erosion repairs, and reducing vegetation management requirements. Attendees will gain practical guidance for evaluating and selecting closure systems based on site-specific conditions, operational constraints, and long-term goals, highlighting how these innovations can reduce post-closure liabilities, improve environmental performance, and support more sustainable CCR management.
Document Type
Presentation
Archival?
Archival
Included in
Energy Systems Commons, Environmental Indicators and Impact Assessment Commons, Environmental Monitoring Commons, Mining Engineering Commons, Oil, Gas, and Energy Commons, Structural Materials Commons, Sustainability Commons
Revolutionizing Closure Systems: The Performance Advantages of Structured Geomembranes
Lexington, Kentucky
Coal combustion residual (CCR) containment facilities have traditionally been closed using methods that have changed little over several decades, but structured geomembranes are now reshaping closure design by improving slope stability, increasing interface friction, enhancing drainage, and providing long-term durability. Two systems are emerging as leading solutions: a structured geomembrane paired with a geotextile and vegetative cover, and a structured geomembrane paired with engineered turf. This presentation compares these approaches using field performance data, laboratory testing, and lessons learned, with emphasis on key factors such as infiltration control, drainage efficiency, slope stability, constructability, and regulatory compliance. The engineered turf system also offers a significant advantage by reducing long-term maintenance costs through the elimination of mowing, minimizing erosion repairs, and reducing vegetation management requirements. Attendees will gain practical guidance for evaluating and selecting closure systems based on site-specific conditions, operational constraints, and long-term goals, highlighting how these innovations can reduce post-closure liabilities, improve environmental performance, and support more sustainable CCR management.
