DISPOSAL OF FLUE GAS DESULFURIZATION WASTES--A REVIEW OF THE SHAWNEE FIELD EVALUATION PROGRAM

This Report summarizes the results of the Flue Gas Desulfurization (FGD) Waste Disposal Field Evaluation Program sponsored by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency at the Tennessee Valley Authority Shawnee Steam Plant, Paducah, Kentucky. This pilot scale project evaluated methods and costs for disposing of wastes produced from wet, nonregenerable scrubbing of sulfur dioxide from coal-fired utility boiler flue gases. The environmental effects of various disposal techniques were studied which included evaluations of untreated, chemically treated and oxidized wastes derived from lime or limestone scrubber absorbents.;Analyses of the physical characteristics, which included the density, moisture content, physical strength, and permeability of the wastes, are evaluated. In addition, the water quality analyses which were conducted on supernate, leachate, runoff and ground water samples are evaluated. Results have shown that disposal of chemically treated and untreated waste has exhibited no measurable effect on the ground water quality at the disposal site. Disposal of chemically treated, and underdrain disposal of untreated and oxidized wastes has yielded structurally sound materials. A discussion of future waste production, regenerative or throwaway FGD scrubber technologies, and Federal disposal regulations is included.