Geosynthetic Liner Systems for Coal Ash Containment

for the ELECTRIC POWER industry

TVA Widows Creek
This composite liner system was part of a 400 acre project ESI installed at TVA Widow's Creek.
View our Projects

Coal Ash Containment

Coal combustion residuals (CCR), also referred to as coal ash, is created when coal is burned from fossil fuel power plants to generate electricity.

On July 26, 2016, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) enacted rules requiring the application of subtitle D of the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) to the disposal of CCR in certain inactive CCR surface impoundments. This regulation thus prescribes closure standards for CCR sites in order to minimize water infiltration.  This regulation therefore requires the implementation of composite closure systems, similar to requirements specified for the solid waste industry referred to as “Subtitle D” regulation.

In addition to CCR closure, CCR sites may require base liner systems, in some cases utilizing geosynthetic liner systems as a barrier to prevent contaminants in CCRs from leaching from the site into the groundwater.  

ESI: A Trusted Partner to the Industry

ESI has operated in the power industry for years and has longstanding relationships with the largest power companies in the industry. With our industry leading safety, performance, scale and quality record, ESI provides the industry’s best and most complete capability for the lining, closure and maintenance of CCR sites – some examples of which are provided in our projects section.

Industry Associations & Resources:

  • American Coal Ash Association (ACAA):  A nonprofit trade association devoted to recycling the materials created when we burn coal to generate electricity.
  • World of Coal Ash (WOCA):  An international conference organized by the American Coal Ash Association (ACAA) and the University of Kentucky Center for Applied Energy Research (CAER), with a focus on the science, applications and sustainability of worldwide coal combustion products (CCP’s) as well as gasification products.
  • United States Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA):  United States Federal agency responsible for the protection of human health and the environment.

Industry Media:

  • Coal Age:  For more than 100 years, Coal Age has been  the most widely read and most respected magazine in the industry.
  • Power Engineering:  The comprehensive voice of the power generation industry providing readers with critical information needed to remain efficient and competitive in today’s market.
  • POWER:  Business & Technology resource for the global power generation industry since 1882