Purpose: To develop practical, technology-based solutions for the electric power and energy production industries to address problems and challenges with coal ash and liquids management.

Objective: To work with a wide variety of Industry Partners, the electric power utilities and energy production companies to provide the most recent technology addressing waste management, (i.e. coal ash and other byproducts) and liquids management and treatment.  This will be accomplished by initiating a combination of applied research projects, and large demonstration projects that increase safety, achieve regulatory compliance, improve long term performance and reduce cost.

Focus: Clean and cost-effective energy and waste technology using old and new methods that produce and secure jobs for hard-working Americans.

Approach: The CALM Initiative brings together the best ideas and from highly experienced engineers and contractors in the power industry to develop innovative and practical methods for addressing the problems with coal ash, industrial waste and energy wastewater.    As experienced environmental remediation professionals, the CALM Initiative members have a heightened awareness of environmental protection and worker safety.  The founding Industry Partners wanted to create an organization that could address these complimentary objectives in a manner that is practical, cost effective and sustainable.

MAIN INITIATIVES 2018

1. Provide additional innovation and technical advisory services for CALM Initiative members including stabilization roads, dewatering, in-situ stabilization (ISS), geotubes and dewatering bags, geotextiles and geogrids, surface and soil treatments and super absorbent polymers, advanced remediation technologies (ART) and wide variety of water treatment and runoff water reduction measures.   We expect work more closely with the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) in 2018 to provide field demonstration of several innovative technologies started by EPRI in 2016 - 2017.
2. Ash Basin Safety Awareness Courses -- 20-hour Supervisor and On-site 8-hour Worker Safety Courses:   Safety when working over soft/wet ash will continue to be an issue in 2018.   The CALM Initiative provides practical training courses to promote worker safety and “train the trainer” supervisor training to allow its member companies to train their on-site workers and safety personnel.  The 8-hour worker safety course can be hosted at CALM members project sites.
3. Task Force Groups and Utility Only Meetings:  Starting in 2018 the CALM Initiative will host several Task Force group calls and meeting in areas requested by CALM members.  These focus areas are expected to include, but are not limited to:  a)  encapsulation and paste technology and equipment selection, b)  technology transfer meetings,  c) input on State CCR regulations, and d)  hybrid closure technology including close-in-place and in-situ stabilization methods.
4. Emphasis on Bench Scale Testing and Practical Field Application:   The CALM Initiative has obtained access to several bench scale and pilot test devices that can be mobilized to the field to treat CCR wastewater, and stabilize saturated industry waste materials.  One of the key initiatives in 2018 will include a streamlined approach to bringing new technologies to the field for application and testing.   The streamlined approach will leverage the resources of the Energy & Environment Innovative Foundation lab and several CALM Initiative members to reduce costs.
5. Assistance with Clarifying Confusion in Regulatory Guidelines:   One of the frustrations expressed by the Industry Partners is that the intersection between Federal and State regulatory guidelines is often not clear when it comes to closure of CCR impoundments, and/or beneficial use of CCR materials.   To address this item the CALM Initiative will develop practical testing and application guidelines that meet both Federal and State regulatory guidelines.
6. Hosting of a Members Only Technical Library on CCR Remediation Technologies: The CALM Initiative is continually developing new technologies that address regulatory requirements and constructability requirements.   In 2018, the CALM Initiative will develop and host a technical library that includes Confidential and/or proprietary remediation technologies available only to CALM members.   This technical library will be password protected and available to the CALM Initiative members and the electric power utilities that they serve.
7. Developing Technology that Helps Keep Americans Employed in Satisfying Careers: In a time when there is increased uncertainty about energy production and jobs in rural communities, the CALM Initiative attempts to develop practical technology that keeps local workers in employed in satisfying careers.   Example of projects being considered in 2018 include a wide variety of CCR beneficial use technologies and encapsulation methods that can reduce the cost of ash basin closure, while providing jobs in areas where coal combustion plants are closing.

Chris Hardin, P.E.Managing Director of the CALM Initiative
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Ric Traver, P.E.Senior Technical Coordinator of the CALM Initiative
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CALM Initiative Industry Partner Advisory Board
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In a time when environmental sustainability and cost controls are equally valued, the CALM Initiative attempts to be a “breath of fresh air” and optimism for addressing environmental impacts.   The approach of the CALM Initiative’s members is to make a difference by looking for new way to address impacts from coal ash impoundments and industrial facilities.    The experienced professionals of the CALM Initiative are consistently developing methods that preserve or remediate environmental impacts, but doing it is a manner that is safe and cost effective.