1999-04-12_HYDROLOGY - M1974052 (7)

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CGRS,Inc. ' WORK PLAN VARRA COAL ASH BURIAL PROJECT WELD COUNTY, COLORADO CGRS NO. 1-135-2755 1 ' 1.0 INTRODUCTION ' This document presents the proposed work scope for the evaluation of coal ash burial in saturated media. The field investigation will be performed in conjunction with a variety of laboratory studies t in order to evaluate potential liabilities or benefits associated with coal ash burial. Specifically, this project addresses issues associated with the reclamation of gravel quarries under saturated conditions. A variety of laboratory experiments were conducted in order to evaluate coal ash leaching potentials for different pH ranges,relative to effluent pore volume. The information generated by this project will be invaluable to private companies or regulatory agencies insofar as ' evaluating under what conditions coal ash can be placed without incurring significant liability. This work is performed under the authorization of Varra Companies. The generation of this report was a joint effort between CGRS, Inc. and Colorado State University Groundwater Program(CSU). ' 1.1Obiectives The purpose of this project is to identify potential liabilities with the reclamation of gravel quarries with coal ashy and to determine if coal ash meets the criteria for classification as an inert fill. Specific objectives for the Varra Coal Ash Burial Project are to determine: ' • Leaching characteristics of coal ash with respect to varying water quality conditions; ' • Permeabilities of various types of coal ash(bottom and fly ash); Affects of coal ash burial on local hydrology and water quality; • Hydrogeologic properties of coal ash; and ' • Physical characteristics of coal ash in saturated media. 1.2 Back round Information 1.2.1 Local Geology/Hydrogeology ' The study area is an active gravel quarry located in the NW 1/4, Section 31, Township 3 North, Range 68 West, 6° P.M., Weld County Colorado (Figure 1). The surfiicial geology of the area as 1 I