Technical Guidance for Coal Combustion Product Sites Helps Mitigate Environmental Impacts

WSP geochemists are making important strides to help the power industry mitigate environmental impacts and protect groundwater at Coal Combustion Product (CCP) sites.

Senior Technical Principal, PJ Nolan, Technical Fellow, Rens Verburg, and Associate Geochemist, Cole Mayer, collaborated to produce a comprehensive technical guidance document titled “Geochemistry and Geochemical Modeling for Coal Combustion Products.”

The work was sponsored by the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI), an independent, science-based research organization that builds resilient energy futures for society. The technical report is the first of its kind for the organization, and forms part of its CCP Land and Groundwater Management program.

Multiple geochemical processes can impact the way chemical components move through sub-surface aquifers. Geochemical modeling and simulation can help understand and predict different conditions for transport and remediation of inorganic constituents at different CCP sites that address environmental impacts and reduce risks.

The publication contains detailed descriptions and graphical representations of geochemical processes and chemical species at CCP sites. It also contains sample geochemical models, approaches to modeling CCP sites and computational input code to enable readers to develop model simulations of geochemical processes themselves.

WSP specialists Nolan, Verburg and Mayer have developed an essential reference document available for power industry practitioners involved in geochemical modeling at CCP sites.