A major step has been taken to resolve concerns about coal ash stored at the former Vermilion Power Station. On Thursday the State of Illinois and Dynegy Midwest Generation received court approval of a lawsuit settlement requiring Dynegy to clean up the coal ash.
Andrew Rehn, a water resource engineer with Prairie Rivers Network, explains the terms of the consent agreement….
{AUDIO: ”That agreement requires Dynegy to remove the coal ash from the flood plain of the Middle Fork (River); demolish the power plant that’s up on the high land above the Middle Fork; and build a landfill in the footprint of the power plant. And then they’re going to take the ash out of the floodplain and into that landfill.”}
On behalf of Prairie Rivers Network, Earthjustice had brought two lawsuits – one in federal court and one before the Illinois Pollution Control Board. They demanded that Dynegy comply with environmental laws and stop polluting Illinois’ only National Scenic River.
(Photo courtesy of Prairie Rivers Network.)
Rehn says if you travel along the Middlefork River there have been times where you can see seeping into the river….
{AUDIO: ”It’s orange staining along the riverbank. When you’re near the power plant – you can see the smokestack. And those are seeps from the coal ash. So coal ash is leaching things like metals, or iron, or boron, or manganese into the water – the ground water that then flows into the river. So that sort of continuous discharge is one of the problems at the site. The other is sort of the long term potential – well I would say long term has ability – but short term potential for a catastrophic failure of one of these coal ash dams.”}
The consent order also requires Dynegy to control dust during demolition of the shuttered power plant; contribute hundreds of thousands of dollars for restoration of the Middle Fork River, including stabilizing the riverbank and funds for nearby parks; and implement a safety and emergency response plan to monitor and mitigate riverbank erosion at the site.
Dynegy will still need Illinois EPA approval for its plan to remove coal ash as well as a permit to discharge the water stored in the ash ponds. A draft water discharge permit for the site is out for public comment until July 5th.
Lan Richart, Co-Director of Eco-Justice Collaborative, says the approval of the Consent Order ‘’marks an important milestone in the long campaign calling for the clean-up of toxic coal ash along the Middle Fork. What seemed impossible five years ago is now coming to fruition,’’ said Richart, ‘’as the process moves beyond litigation and into the important work of restoring the natural integrity of Illinois’ only National Scenic River.’’
