CCR Projects
Sammis
Project Description
The W.H. Sammis Power Plant is a former coal-fired power plant being closed under an agreement with the US EPA and Ohio EPA. The plant is scheduled for demolition with the environmental liabilities managed by a third party. KEY was selected to provide environmental compliance and civil closure services.
The initial work involved an Environmental Site Assessment along with an engineering cost estimate for the closure of various site features. The evaluation of the closure of the property included the coal storage yards and the coal combustion residual units on the site. Other environmental conditions recognized during the site assessment included a large oil-water separator, above and below-ground storage tanks, stormwater detention ponds, and wastewater treatment operations.
Activities Performed
KEY has been instrumental in evaluating the cost for utilizing or removing these assets for future site development. The two coal storage areas cover over 40 acres adjacent to the Ohio River. A CCR impoundment on the site will be closed under the US EPA CCR regulations first implemented in 2016.
The coal yard closures will involve the removal of waste coal, loading and unloading conveyors, and the coal tunnels. The yards will then be graded and capped reducing stormwater management.
KEY provided oversight for the removal of the liquids or residuals in the storage tanks. These removal activities included flushing the transfer lines and removing the associated piping. Additional tanks containing diesel fuel, non-PCB recyclable transformer oils, ammonia, urea, caustic, and sulfuric acid were also managed. The oil and hydraulic fluids were removed from any operating equipment prior to demolition and equipment removal.
A redesigned wastewater treatment system will manage the reduced flows on site. KEY will manage the NPDES and other operating permits for the site. The treatment system also manages leachate from the affiliated Hollow Rock Landfill.
It is anticipated the facility will meet “closure” well before the 5-year agreement date.