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U.S. EPA-hosted conference on beneficial use of industrial byproducts begins; National awards presented Nov. 29

Release Date: 11/29/2006
Contact Information: Mark Merchant, (415) 947-4297

(11/29/06 -- San Francisco) The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency kicked off the annual national Byproducts Beneficial Use Summit today in San Francisco with a speech and award ceremony hosted by Wayne Nastri, the EPA’s regional administrator for the Pacific Southwest.

California winners for the large-scale and innovative use of coal ash are: Caltrans, the L.A. Community Colleges District and Stockton Cogeneration Co.

“In this time of diminishing resources, the need to reduce use of valuable raw materials is greater than ever,” said Nastri. “By finding ways to beneficially reuse industrial byproducts such as coal ash, foundry sand and construction and demolition debris, we reduce waste, save valuable energy and materials and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.”

The summit – a national conference hosted by the EPA that brings together government agencies, researchers, industry and nonprofits to share strategies and case studies in industrial byproduct reuse — runs through Dec. 1. This year, 35 states and Guam and Washington, D.C. are represented.

The 2006 Summit will highlight case studies and beneficial reuse programs in the west including a presentation by Caltrans on the innovative use of coal ash concrete in the foundations of the new San Francisco Bay Bridge.
The EPA’s Coal Combustion Product Partnership (C2P2) has already grown to include more than 140 partners nationwide. C2P2 recognizes organizations that divert large volumes of coal combustion products, conduct groundbreaking research in this area of reuse or coordinate outreach efforts.

The EPA, in partnership with the American Coal Ash Association, has set a goal of increasing the reuse of coal combustion products, or CCPs, from 32 percent in 2001 to 50 percent in 2011. In 2005, the 40 percent reuse mark has already been achieved.

In addition to Caltrans, L.A. Community Colleges District is constructing 44 new buildings on its nine campuses using environmentally sustainable designs, including the use of coal ash in new buildings’ foundations. The Stockton Cogeneration Company, which supplies power to San Joaquin County, sells the coal ash it produces to a local dairy farmer who in turn is using it to line dairy feedlots.

For more information visit: http://www.byproductsummit.com