The U.S Department of Energy/National Technology Laboratory (DOE/NETL) research has heled further scientific understanding of the behavior of coal utilization by-products (CUBs) in both disposal and beneficial utilization applications. The following general observations can be drawn from results of the research that has been carried out to date:

• There appears to be only minimal mercury release to the environment in typical disposal or utilization applications for CUBs generated using activated carbon injection control technologies.

• There appears to be only minimal mercury release to the environment in typical disposal and utilization applications for CUBs generated using wet FGD control technologies. 

• The amount of mercury leached from CUB samples tested by DOE/NETL is significantly lower than the federal drinking water standards and water quality criteria for the protection of aquatic life; in many cases, leachate concentrations were below the detection limits of the analytical methods.