Groundwater Issues for Electric Power Producers Implementing the New Federal Coal Combustion Residuals Rule

Wednesday, September 23, 2015: 9:50 a.m.
Jim Aiken , Barr Engineering Company, Bismarck, ND
Scott Korom, PhD, PE , Barr Engineering Company, Bismarck, ND
Justin Soberaski , Barr Engineering Company, Bismarck, ND

The new Coal Combustion Residuals (CCR) rule has stringent new groundwater monitoring requirements for existing and future coal ash management facilities. A unique aspect of the rule is its “one size fits all” approach that places prescriptive requirements on facilities across the United States. The rule as written is intended to be self-implementing: there is no regulator unless individual states agree to enforce the requirements of the rule. Instead, enforcement will be through citizen lawsuits under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act. The EPA has acknowledged that the rules were not developed with attention to the unique groundwater issues faced by professionals in the Upper Great Plains and arid western states. For example, they include prescriptive requirements for the following:

  1. Site characterization and monitoring wells, which in arid states could require drilling multiple wells hundreds of feet or more below the ground surface.
  2. Corrective action or immediate closure if parameters are above MCLs, or in some cases background even though some parameters may be mobilized by ground disturbance unrelated to CCR disposal.

Development of groundwater monitoring strategies will need to address well locations, baseline monitoring, statistical options, parameter specific strategies, integrating groundwater data into ash management decisions, and considerations for retrofit/remediation in light of the new rule.

Jim Aiken, Barr Engineering Company, Bismarck, ND
Jim Aiken has more than 25 years of experience helping industrial and energy clients solve complex permitting and site development issues related to water supplies, groundwater contamination, and permitting for large capital projects such as mines, landfills, and power generation facilities including renewable energy. Aiken is currently principal in charge for groundwater investigations related to coal-fired power plants in Montana, North Dakota, and South Dakota. Previously he has conducted groundwater investigation of coal ash facilities in Iowa, Minnesota, Michigan, and Wisconsin. His technical expertise includes statistical monitoring, geochemistry, groundwater modeling, and geologic depositional environments.


Scott Korom, PhD, PE, Barr Engineering Company, Bismarck, ND
Scott Korom received his Ph.D. in Civil and Environmental Engineering from Utah State University in 1991. He was on the faculty of Geology and Geological Engineering at the University of North Dakota for 20 years. Now he is with Barr Engineering Co. in Bismarck, North Dakota. Korom works on a wide range of groundwater issues involving agriculture, mining, coal-fired power plants, oil and gas development, and pipelines. His specialty is groundwater denitrification.



Justin Soberaski, Barr Engineering Company, Bismarck, ND
Justin Soberaski has seven years of experience in permitting, environmental investigations, and hydrogeological site characterizations. He has performed assessment and remediation tasks at crude-oil pipeline release sites, refinery sites, railroad corridors, and petroleum release sites. He uses his strong background and expertise in hydrogeology to conduct landfill site characterizations, statistical analyses, and to manage landfill projects for private, municipal, and industrial clients in North Dakota, South Dakota, and Montana. In addition, he works with clients in the power, mining, and coal-ash landfill industries to evaluate, design, and implement groundwater monitoring plans that meet water protection provisions.