ASTM E 3183 : 2024

1.1This guide covers a framework to address critical aspects related to the harvesting of CCPs placed in active (operational) and inactive (closed or no longer receiving CCPs) storage areas. These storage areas may be used for wet or dry material, and may be located at active or inactive facilities (that is, coal-fired electric utilities or independent power producers that are currently generating electricity or have ceased to do so, respectively). Also, CCPs may be harvested from active or inactive storage areas located on-site or off-site of the facility.

1.2This guide does not include information on how to determine what storage areas or facilities, or both, should be selected for potential harvesting of CCPs, as each entity may approach a harvesting program in accordance with their own harvesting pursuits and regulatory requirements. In addition, it does not include information on how an energy company or other interested parties should evaluate inventories to determine the order of their storage areas for potential harvesting, including consideration of risk, performance, and cost. This guide is intended to be used to evaluate the potential harvesting of the storage areas once the storage areas are selected for evaluation.

1.3This guide is comprised of the following sections: Scope, Section 1; Referenced Documents, Section 2; Terminology, Section 3; Significance and Use, Section 4; Project Planning and Scoping, Section 5: Background Review of CCP Storage Areas, Section 6; Detailed Characterization of CCP Storage Areas, Section 7; Harvesting Planning and Scoping of CCP Storage Areas, Section 8; Harvesting Detailed Design and Approval (as applicable) of CCP Storage Areas, Section 9; and Harvesting Implementation of CCP Storage Areas, Section 10. Not all information within this guide will be necessary for each harvesting project, and the user should determine the applicability of each section.

1.4This guide does not include information on the processing of harvested CCPs, and therefore, additional approvals not discussed within this guide may be needed (for example, residual waste processing approvals, air approvals specific to processing, water control approvals, storage system approvals, etc.).

1.5As CCPs are produced, they may be sent off-site directly to beneficial use applications, such as concrete, wallboard and controlled or structural fills, while the alternative is to direct them to dry or wet storage areas. Although many CCPs were placed in storage due to not meeting applicable specifications for use, many other CCPs were stored for lack of market. In either case, the CCPs retain the ability to be considered a wanted material that provides a functional benefit and a benefit to the environment. They can be harvested and lightly processed, if necessary, to meet relevant product specifications and substitute for the raw materials. Depending on the type and homogeneity of CCPs and the type of storage area from which the materials are being harvested (that is, dry or wet storage areas), this harvesting and processing may include, but is not limited to, excavating or dewatering/dredging, drying, milling, classifying and storing or transporting the material before they are beneficially used.

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

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

1.8This guide should not be used as a justification to avoid, minimize, or delay implementation of specific management, operation, closure, or remediation activities, or both as appropriate by law or directive, unless the harvesting activities are conducted in conjunction with such strategies to maintain or achieve compliance with the approval requirements or as otherwise agreed upon with the appropriate authorizing agencies.

1.9This guide should not be used to characterize (that is, environmentally assess) a storage area for ownership transfer although portions of such information may supplement other environmental assessments that are used in such a transfer.

1.10This 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.

1.11This 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.