Cooperatives Carefully Manage and Dispose of Waste Materials
In the course of normal business operations, rural electric cooperatives manage and dispose of a variety of materials that are regulated by environmental statutes. In keeping with the cooperative principle of concern for community, electric cooperatives support solid waste, toxic and hazardous material laws and regulations that strike a reasonable balance between consumer interests and environmental protection. NRECA and its members favor waste requirements that minimize economic impacts on the electric consumer, allow utilities as much flexibility as possible, recognize the need to provide economic and reliable electric power, and consider the regulatory effects on emerging competitive electricity markets.
For more information on specific activities and issues, see below.
Nuclear Waste
High-level radioactive waste is accumulating at national laboratories, power plants and defense facilities in 131 sites in 34 states. Although these facilities are storing such byproducts safely, storage facilities were designed to manage this material for only a short time. In order for nuclear power to be a viable option for the generation of electricity in the future, the United States must have a storage facility for spent nuclear fuel rods.
Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs)
Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are a group of chemicals formerly used in electrical equipment as an insulating lubricant. Cooperatives go beyond legal PCB phase-out requirements by voluntarily removing even low level PCB equipment from their systems. A quick survey of cooperative practices reveals that virtually all cooperative run tests for PCBs in equipment brought in for servicing, and they properly dispose of any such equipment with more than 50 parts per million (ppm) of PCB. Many cooperatives have as a goal to be “PCB Free.” In 2002, 46 cooperatives removed a total of 715 pieces of PCB-contaminated equipment, and 1,438 pieces of equipment in 2003.
Coal Combustion Products
NRECA is a member of the Coal Combustion Products Partnership (C2P2) program, a cooperative effort between the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Department of Energy, Federal Highway Administration and industry to help promote the beneficial use of Coal Combustion Products (CCPs) and the environmental benefits that result from their use. Coal combustion by-products include fly ash, bottom ash and flue gas desulfurization materials. The environmental benefits from using CCPs in making concrete and other materials include reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, land disposal of wastes, and utilization of virgin resources.
Wood Poles
Because of the rural location of its customers, NRECA members use a great many wood poles in their electrical distribution systems. Almost all wood poles are treated with preservatives to prolong their useful lives. In the U.S., wood poles are treated under certain specifications which are viewed as minimums for effective treatment. The overriding goal of the requirements governing treatment of wood poles is to protect the consumer. NRECA believes treated wood should continue to be available for use in utility transmission and distribution systems, and used wood products should not have to be disposed of as hazardous wastes. EPA’s risk assessments under pesticides regulations should continue to be the sole basis for regulating the use of wood preservatives by utilities as well as the basis for treated wood management practices.
Documents:
Nuclear Waste Disposal Fast Facts
NRECA supports the Nuclear Waste Policy Act of 1982 and the 1987 amendments and urges Congress to provide adequate levels of funding to continue the process to ensure a fully viable geologic repository for high-level nuclear waste.
Type: Fast Fact Date: 2007-06-01 Size: 1150KB