Governor signs amendment to the Law to prohibit the deposit and disposal of coal ashes or coal combustion residues in Puerto Rico

This Office of the Governor (La Fortaleza) release was published using machine translation.

(January 2, 2020 - La Fortaleza, PR) - Governor Wanda Vázquez Garced signed today Senate Bill 1221 to amend the “Law to Prohibit the Deposit and Disposal of Coal Ashes or Coal Combustion Residues in Puerto Rico ”, Which prohibits the deposit and disposal of coal ashes or coal combustion residues in all roads, land, landfills and bodies of water within Puerto Rico.

“Today the commitment made to several communities of Peñuelas and nearby towns is fulfilled. Today we sign this measure, since it is our duty to ensure the well-being of citizens and protect their health. This law brings peace and tranquility to many Puerto Ricans who have been claiming for a better quality of life for years. We must always seek a fair balance between the quality of life of our citizens, the quality of the environment and the search for renewable energy for the benefit of our island, "said the First Executive.

This amendment to Law 40 of 2017, whose author is Larry Seilhamer, establishes a clear and precise ban on the deposit and disposal of coal ashes or coal combustion residues, which includes the prohibition of the use of non-encapsulated coal combustion residues. , regardless of whether it can be considered as beneficial use. Likewise, it prohibits the deposit for a period greater than 180 days from the moment of its production. This period does not apply to controlled storage in tanks or silos, for future disposal through the manufacture of cement, concrete, concrete or any other use. Storage for future disposal may not be extended for more than one year.

This amendment establishes that the Department of Natural and Environmental Resources (DRNA) shall establish by regulation the definition of the concepts, set the term to approve or amend the regulations necessary to comply with the purposes of this law and for other related purposes. Likewise, it will regulate the beneficial uses of encapsulated coal combustion residues, the particular circumstances for storage during the period allowed here, dispensations and any other requirement.

Any facility that generates coal combustion waste must submit to the DRNA periodic reports that break down the total tons of coal combustion waste generated monthly at the facility and shipped for disposal outside of Puerto Rico. In addition, you must approve or amend any regulations or regulations necessary and convenient to fully comply with the purposes of the measure.

Applied Energy Systems (AES) electric cogenerator will seek alternatives for energy production in accordance with this provision.