[Story by Bill Pickett…VermilionCountyFirst.com.]
Over 250 citizens packed an IEPA hearing in Danville Tuesday night (March 26, 2019) showing concern over coal ash stored along the National Scenic Middle Fork River. The hearing at Danville Area Community College was to gather input on Dynegy-Vistra’s plan to improve approximately 1900 feet of river bank near the abandoned Vermilion Power Station.
Lan Richart, co-director of Eco-Justice Collaborative of Champaign, is among those wanting the coal ash moved….
Cindy Shepherd told the panel that visits to the river are almost spiritual….
State Representative Mike Marron also testified during the hearing and said the Middle Fork River needs to be protected….
[Members of the IEPA panel listen to comments from the crowd at Danville Area Community College Tuesday night. You can click on the photos to enlarge them.]
The Illinois Environmental Protect Agency announced last week that it had referred an enforcement action to the Illinois Attorney General’s Office against Dynegy Midwest Generation, LLC. The IEPA said studies have found that contaminants from the coal ash ponds have been found in groundwater at levels exceeding state standards. And an inspection conducted by the IEPA in 2018 identified numerous seeps of heavily stained water emanating from the embankments adjacent to the coal ash ponds and flowing into the river.
Citizens who missed last night’s public hearing can still submit written comments to the EPA hearing officer. But the deadline is 11:59 p.m. on April 25th. Comments may also be mailed to:
Hearing Officer Dean Studer, Mail Code #5
Dynegy Midwest Generation 401
Illinois Environmental Protection Agency
P.O. Box 19276
Springfield, Illinois 62794-9276
