PEORIA -- Here's more information on that environmental news conference, 1 p.m. Aug. 29 at Liberty Plaza on the riverfront:
From the news release:
New Report Shows Water Contamination from Coal Ash Waste Storage
Becki Clayborn, Midwest Regional Sierra Club, will explain key findings in a new study by the Environmental Integrity Project, Earthjustice, and Sierra Club, that raises questions regarding the safety of coal ash waste sites. She will relate concerns for the Peoria area. The new study shows thirty-nine more coal combustion waste sites in twenty-one states that are contaminating surface or groundwater. The contaminants include arsenic and other heavy metals. Sierra Club urges that the federal Environmental Protect Agency enact strong new rules regarding disposal of coal ash waste and that federal oversight of these sites be approved.
The Peoria region has four coal-fired power plants with coal waste stored on site. The Havana Dynegy Midwest Generation, Inc., power plant is on the federal Environmental Protection Agency listing of the top 44 most hazardous coal combustion waste locations in the nation. This plant is 38 miles downriver from Peoria and its east coal ash waste cells are listed for a total surface area of 90 acres. A 2009 report prepared for EPA states that the inundation map for an impoundment failure has homes located immediately down gradient and there is a school within two miles. The impoundment failure floodwave would dissipate before five miles down gradient. The plant location near the Illinois River raises additional concerns.
None of the coal ash disposal areas at the E. G. Edwards Ameren power plant south of Peoria along the Illinois River are lined. Issues are that this location has a very high potential for geological vulnerability and a high level of concern for groundwater contamination.
The Duck Creek Ameren Power Plant outside of Canton has already contaminated their area groundwater with boron and is in an Illinois Environmental Protection Agency remediation program that allows the plant to siphon off boron contaminated water into the Illinois River to address the problem.
Other power plants in the area raise concerns for the thousands of tons per year of coal ash waste produced and disposed of in the vicinity and the long-term impacts on public health and groundwater resources.
Residents living near unlined coal ash ponds who rely on well water have as much as a 1 in 50 chance of getting cancer. A new report on CCW will be presented. The risk of cancer for individuals who live near unlined coal ash waste sites and who depend on well water is over 2000 times the level considered acceptable by the federal Environmental Protection Agency.
Local Heart of Illinois Group Sierra members will comment at the press conference. A “Toxic Tour” will leave at the end of the press conference to visit area locations of concern.
The federal EPA is proposing important new rules to regulate CCW and a hearing will be in Chicago September 16th.
Sierra Club is urging strong public support for federal regulation of
CCW, which will remedy the inadequate requirements currently done by
states and make regulations consistent across the country. The new
regulations do not affect industrial uses of coal ash that utilize the
waste for concrete blocks, wallboard, and other manufacturing purposes. -30-
Thanks for sharing this information. I wasn't able to attend the meeting and wanted to know what they found.
Posted by: erin | August 31, 2010 at 10:38 AM