NC0022406_Geochem Memo and Summary_20200320

TECHNICAL MEMO
To:
Scott Davies, PG, Duke Energy
526 South Church Street
Charlotte, North Carolina 28202
From:
Julie K Sueker, PhD, PH, PE (CO)
Margy Gentile, PhD, PE (CA)
Date:
March 20, 2020
Arcadis Project No.:
30012627
AARCAD IS Design &Consultancy
fornaturaland
built assets
Subject:
Summary of Geochemical Modeling Approach — Belews Creek Steam Station
Arcadis U.S., Inc.
11400 Parkside Drive
Suite 410
Knoxville
Tennessee 37934
Tel [phone]
Fax [phone]
Duke Energy was required to model potential geochemical effects related to ash basin decanting and ash
basin closure on the transport of constituents of interest (COls) in groundwater at the Belews Steam
Station (BCSS or site; Figure 1). SynTerra, in collaboration with others, generated the geochemical model
for BCSS (Synterra 2019a).
The objectives of the modeling' were to demonstrate an understanding of COI geochemical behavior,
describe source terms in the model, to simulate downgradient concentrations of COI at various stages of
closure, and to provide a basis for translating between detailed geochemical modeling and the sitewide
flow and transport model. Site -specific data incorporated into the modeling included COI concentrations
and trends in ash pore water and groundwater, solid phase mineralogy for estimates of sorption and ion
exchange sites, COI leaching behavior, and hydrogeologic information. Modeling analysis included
overviews of groundwater data, geochemical evaluations of ash leaching data2, batch PHREEQC3 models
and sorption coefficient derivations, and PHREEQC 1-D advection models.
KEY FINDINGS
The key findings of the geochemical modeling effort associated with the selected closure scenario
(closure -by -excavation) are listed below:
1. Closure activities are anticipated to minimize groundwater flow through the ash basin and maximize
the input of upgradient unaffected groundwater, resulting in decreased downgradient COI
concentrations.
The framework was developed through collaboration with NCDEQ, William Deutsch (external reviewer for
NCDEQ), and the flow and transport (F&T) modeling team (CAP Update -Appendix G, Synterra 2019b)
over many meetings, presentations, and conference calls (Duke 2017a, Duke 2017b).
2 Via USEPA Method 3052 (1996) and USEPA LEAF Method 1313 (2012a) and 1316 (2012b).
3 PHREEQC- original acronym pH-REdox-EQuilibrium written in C programming language.
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MEMO
2. The pH and redox potential (EH) are expected to remain stable and maintain sorption as a dominant
attenuation mechanism for most nonconservative COls.
3. Closure activities that generate extreme pH values (generally less than 4 and greater than 10) are not
predicted to occur at Belews Creek. Such conditions could cause increased mobility of COls.
4. Increased EH values that may be generated from oxygen infiltration during decanting or other closure
activities will not cause enhanced mobility of most Cols. The increased EH will make ferrihydrite more
stable, resulting in more HFO sorption sites. Notable exceptions to this conclusion might be enhanced
mobility of hexavalent chromium or pentavalent arsenic if EH values are sufficiently high to allow such
species to persist, although hexavalent chromium was not identified as a COI for management at the
site.
COI Evaluation
At the BCSS site, ten COls exhibit mean concentrations greater than background threshold values (BTVs),
02L standards, or interim allowable maximum concentrations (IMACs) at or beyond the ash basin
geographic limitation or have discernable plume characteristics: arsenic (As), beryllium (Be), boron (B),
chloride, cobalt (Co), iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), strontium (Sr), total dissolved solids, and thallium (TI).
Lithium (Li) has also been added to the constituent list. Results from site -specific partition coefficient (Kd)
values evaluations are as follows:
• Nonconservative, reactive COls: Kd values for As, Be, Sr, and other nonconservative, reactive COI
remained high in most cases, and are unlikely to be affected geochemically by remedial actions
based on Kd evaluation (values remained high for tested scenarios in most cases).
• Conservative, nonreactive COI: Kd values for B and Li were low (less than 1 liter per kilogram) for all
modeled scenarios and will not change significantly due to changes related to closure.
• Variably reactive Cols: Kd values for Co, Fe, Mn, and TI were greatly variable in relation to
geochemical changes and dependent on the pH and EH.
Given the amount of downgradient area available for attenuation of the variable and nonreactive COls at
Belews Creek, attenuation through sorption should be considered a primary means of controlling the extent
of COI migration.
References
Duke Energy. 2017a. DWR-ARO Meeting to Discuss Asheville Models. Asheville, North Carolina: NCDEQ.
August 29.
Duke Energy. 2017b. NCDEQ Meeting to Review Cliffside Models and CSAs. Asheville, North Carolina:
NCDEQ. October 11.
SynTerra. 2019a. CAP Update- Appendix H. Geochemical Model Report in Corrective Action Plan Update.
Belews Creek, North Carolina.
SynTerra. 2019b. CAP Update -Appendix G. Updated Groundwater Flow and Transport Modeling Report. In
Corrective Action Plan Update. Belews Creek, North Carolina.
USEPA. 1996. Method 3052: Microwave assisted acid digestion of siliceous and organically based matrices -
Revision 0. SW-846. USEPA. December.
USEPA. 2012a. Method 1313 - Liquid -solid partitioning as a function of extract pH using parallel batch
extraction procedure. Test methods for evaluating solid waste: Physical/chemical methods. SW-846, 3rd.
USEPA. October.
USEPA. 2012b. Method 1316 - Liquid -solid partitioning as a function of liquid -to -solid ratio in solid materials
using a parallel batch procedure. Test methods for evaluating solid waste: Physical/chemical methods.
SW-846, 3rd. USEPA. October.
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