Archived
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Location
Lexington, Kentucky
Start Date
6-5-2026 1:00 PM
End Date
6-5-2026 1:30 PM
Description
Closure of coal combustion residual (CCR) impoundments is a critical step in mitigating long-term environmental risks, particularly to groundwater quality. This presentation evaluates spatial and temporal behavior of key groundwater contaminants during and following closure that included excavation and capping of CCR impoundments at one coal fired electric generating facility. The assessment integrates spatiotemporal plume mapping, plume area and concentration trend charts, and dissolved mass in place metrics to assess contaminant concentration, migration, and attenuation in post-closure environments. Observed trends include both increasing and decreasing concentrations of key constituents during and following closure activities, suggesting complex interactions involving residual CCR material, groundwater flow, and geochemical conditions. Notably, concentrations of several constituents remain elevated even after two years of post-closure monitoring, leading to the identification of new statistically significant levels. These findings highlight the persistence and complexity of groundwater impacts, emphasizing that groundwater remedy and closure activities must be considered together, rather than separately, to effectively address ongoing risks. By providing a detailed, data-driven evaluation of contaminant behavior before, during, and after closure, this work offers valuable insights for site managers, regulators, and stakeholders. The results underscore the importance of continued monitoring and adaptive management strategies as site conditions evolve post-closure. Importantly, these findings emphasize that effective groundwater remediation must be addressed on a site-specific basis and in recognition of the impacts of closure activities to achieve the desired post-closure outcomes.
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
Coal Combustion Residual Impoundment Closure and Capping Impacts to Groundwater
Lexington, Kentucky
Closure of coal combustion residual (CCR) impoundments is a critical step in mitigating long-term environmental risks, particularly to groundwater quality. This presentation evaluates spatial and temporal behavior of key groundwater contaminants during and following closure that included excavation and capping of CCR impoundments at one coal fired electric generating facility. The assessment integrates spatiotemporal plume mapping, plume area and concentration trend charts, and dissolved mass in place metrics to assess contaminant concentration, migration, and attenuation in post-closure environments. Observed trends include both increasing and decreasing concentrations of key constituents during and following closure activities, suggesting complex interactions involving residual CCR material, groundwater flow, and geochemical conditions. Notably, concentrations of several constituents remain elevated even after two years of post-closure monitoring, leading to the identification of new statistically significant levels. These findings highlight the persistence and complexity of groundwater impacts, emphasizing that groundwater remedy and closure activities must be considered together, rather than separately, to effectively address ongoing risks. By providing a detailed, data-driven evaluation of contaminant behavior before, during, and after closure, this work offers valuable insights for site managers, regulators, and stakeholders. The results underscore the importance of continued monitoring and adaptive management strategies as site conditions evolve post-closure. Importantly, these findings emphasize that effective groundwater remediation must be addressed on a site-specific basis and in recognition of the impacts of closure activities to achieve the desired post-closure outcomes.
