Coal ash recycling at record rate despite lower concrete market consumption

Sources: American Coal Ash Association, Farmington Hills, Mich.; CP staff

The American Coal Ash Association’s just-released “Production and Use Survey” pegs 2016 Class F and Class C fly ash consumption in concrete at 14.4 million tons, down 8 percent from the prior year’s record 15.7 million tons. ACAA attributes the dip to regional supply shortages that resulted from power plant shutdowns and generating stations’ changing fuel profiles. Demand for fly ash remained strong across all concrete markets last year, the group affirms, and utilization likely would have been higher absent logistical disruptions.

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Headwaters projects double-digit increases in fly ash volumes toward 2017

Sources: Headwaters Inc., South Jordan, Utah; CP staff

In a third-quarter earnings report, Headwaters notes 8 percent revenue and 11 percent EBIDTA gains against the same period in 2015, while projecting near-term strengthening of fly ash and other coal combustion products (CCP) shipments, the core of its Construction Materials business. “As we develop additional sources of [fly ash] supply, we forecast 2017 volumes in the range of 6.1 to 6.5 million tons, a 9 percent to 20 percent increase over 2016 projected volumes,” the company tells investors.

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ORGANIZATIONS – March 2015

20 Scott

The American Coal Ash Association Educational Foundation awarded $7,500 in scholarships to two university students with interests in advancing the sustainable and environmentally responsible use of coal combustion products. The Foundation also announced new names for the scholarships honoring coal ash beneficial use industry leaders.

 
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Languishing 2009-13 coal ash recycling rates reflect regulatory uncertainty

According to American Coal Ash Association’s (ACAA) “Production and Use Survey,” 51.4 million tons of coal combustion products (CCP) were beneficially used in 2013—down from 51.9 million tons in 2012 and well below the 2008 peak of 60.6 million tons. In the closely watched category of fly ash consumed in concrete mixes, utilization increased only slightly to 12.3 million tons, up by 577,705 tons over 2012, but still below 12.6 million tons in 2008.

 
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Languishing 2009-13 coal ash recycling rates reflect regulatory uncertainty

Sources: American Coal Ash Association (ACAA), Farmington Hills, Mich.; CP staff

According to ACAA’s “Production and Use Survey,” 51.4 million tons of coal combustion products (CCP) were beneficially used in 2013 —down from 51.9 million tons in 2012 and well below the 2008 peak of 60.6 million tons. In the closely watched category of fly ash consumed in concrete mixes, utilization increased only slightly to 12.3 million tons, up by 577,705 tons over 2012, but still below 12.6 million tons in 2008.

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Fly ash marketers, users spared ‘hazardous material’ stigma in EPA rule

Sources: American Coal Ash Association (ACAA), Farmington Hills, Mich.; Environmental Protection Agency; CP staff

After five and a half years of proposals, reworking and review of 450,000-plus comments, the EPA issued a final rule on coal combustion residuals (CCR) from utility power plants, strengthening management guidelines for impoundment- or landfill-bound material while supporting responsible recycling practices best exemplified in ASTM C618-grade fly ash processing and marketing.

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MANUFACTURERS – November 2014

BR-GUS-150

Command Alkon has promoted Gustavo Vargas to vice president. Over 16-plus years, he has served as sales manager, account manager, director of Strategic Marketing, and currently leads the MOBILEconnect division, with additional responsibility for Command Alkon’s Brazilian operations. Vargas holds a master’s degree in Business Administration and a bachelor’s in Mechanical Engineering.

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JUDGE COMPELS EPA TO PICK UP PACE ON LANGUISHING COAL ASH DISPOSAL RULE

A late-January federal court action establishes a December 2014 deadline for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to finalize a rulemaking, initiated in early 2009, that has created uncertainty over the regulatory status for all grades of coal ash, including ASTM C618 product. “The regulatory uncertainty that has impeded the beneficial use of coal ash for half a decade is finally coming to an end,” affirms American Coal Ash Association (ACAA) Executive Director Thomas Adams. “It now appears 2014 is the year for EPA to finally establish federal coal ash disposal guidelines under the ‘non-hazardous’ section of the law.”

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EPA confirms fly ash’s concrete suitability, benign chemical profile

Sources: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency; American Coal Ash Association, Farmington Hills, Mich.; CP staff

Five years after proposing potentially onerous regulations for coal combustion residuals (CCR) management and disposal—triggering an uproar across the concrete industry regarding ASTM C618-grade fly ash marketability—EPA has released an evaluation of recycled CCR almost certain to put lingering concerns to rest.

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Regulatory Uncertainty Drives Coal Ash Recycling To Fourth Straight Year Of Decline

Coal ash recycling in the U.S. was off 4.7 million tons in 2012 against the prior year, according to the American Coal Ash Association (ACAA) “Production and Use Survey” released last month. Ash utilization has stalled after nearly a decade of growth of a practice that conserves energy and natural resources, reduces greenhouse gas emissions, and safely keeps ash out of landfills and disposal ponds.

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