62    CENTRAL WISCONSIN AIRPORT SAFETYWAY:
A BENEFICIAL REUSE OF ASH
Terry D. Kittson, Project Manager
Becher-Hoppe, Inc.
Wausau, Wisconsin 54402-8000
INTRODUCTION
Mosinee Papers Corporation (MPC), a national manufacturer of numerous specialty paper products, owns and operates a papermill in Mosinee, Wisconsin. Bark, dewatered sludge, and coal fuel
three boilers producing the steam power necessary for the paper making process. This results in the
annual generation of 10,000 c.y. of combined ash. Wisconsin Public Service Corporation (WPSC), in
Green Bay, Wisconsin, a large public electric and gas utility operates a coal fired electric power plant
in Weston, Wisconsin. Fly and bottom ash from the three generators at the WPSC plant accumulates
at the rate of 45,000 c.y. per year.
By creatively solving the ash disposal problems of WPSC and MPC, 666,711 c.y. through the year
2001, Becher-Hoppe, Inc. has, in an environmentally sound way, provided the Central Wisconsin
Airport (CWA) with an economically feasible method of improving aviation safety.
A runway safetyway consists of a 500 foot wide by 1000 foot long, unpaved runway over-run.
Mandated by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) the purpose of the safetyway is to improve
airport safety at one of the most critical areas, near the end of the runways.
Primarily due to the close proximity of the site to both the WPSC and MPC plant, the most cost
effective method of ash disposal was construction of the safetyway.
The project, excluding the top 5.5 foot, was privately financed with the division of costs based on
ash volumes by WPSC and MPC.
This report describes the development process of the safetyway project for the beneficial reuse of
flyash from its idea through construction of Module A in 1991.
Regulatory Process in Wisconsin
The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (WDNR) is required by statute1 to promogate
rules for Solid Wastes. These rules, the NR 500 series,2 provide the definitions, submittal requirements, exemptions, and other general information relating to solid waste facilities.
In order to allow and encourage recycling of fly and bottom ash, referred to as "high volume
industrial waste," the WDNR can grant exemptions to the statute requirements and NR 500 rules.
The safetyway project qualified, and was granted, a "Conditional Grant of Exemption for the
beneficial reuse of bottom ash and flyash" on June 27, 1991.
The "standard" licensing process for a solid waste facility is a lengthy, five step process, typically
lasting 3 to 5 years, requiring local approvals, standard notices, and expensive review fees. The five
steps detailed in Table the Initial Site Inspection and Report, Feasibility Report, Plan of Operation,
Construction Documentation, and License Issuance.
Although the safetyway project was exempt from the formal procedural requirements, in reality,
much of the design and construction information necessary to prepare the first four licensing steps
was completed, submitted, and approved. The monitoring requirements and geotechnical investigation requirements were substantially reduced due to the exemption. Also of major importance to the
project, was the waiver of long term care fees. In Wisconsin, the owner of a solid waste facility is
perpetually responsible for long-term care, and must demonstrate proof of financial responsibility for
this care, for a period of forty years beyond closure. Groundwater fees, solid waste capacity fees for
out of state wastes, well compensation fees, and environmental repair fund fees are applied to the
facility tipping or disposal fees. These fees totaling over $.30 per ton of solid waste are placed in a
state trust fund for monies necessary to clean up existing or possible future environmental contamina-
47th Purdue Industrial Waste Conference Proceedings, 1992 Lewis Publishers, Inc., Chelsea, Michigan 48118.
Printed in U.S.A.
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