ATLANTA — This week, the Sierra Club submitted a public comment to the Georgia Environmental Protection Division (EPD) applauding the plan to clean up one of the coal ash ponds at Plant Wansley, located just outside Carrollton.
Georgia Power’s proposal for the 343-acre Ash Pond 1 (AP-1) at Plant Wansley calls for the approximately 16 million cubic yards of coal ash located there to be removed. Notably, Georgia Power’s initial plan was to “cap-in-place” Plant Wansley’s AP-1, which would have left coal ash in a covered but unlined pit that is already in contact with groundwater. In 2022, Georgia Power proposed changing tacks and closing Wansley AP-1 by removal and affirmed this decision in its permit filing earlier this year.
In its comment letter to the Georgia EPD, the Sierra Club praises Georgia Power for changing its plan for Wansley AP-1, calling closure by removal “the safest and most effective way” to close a coal ash pond if done correctly. However, the letter goes on to say that the EPD should require Georgia Power to use this method at ALL coal ash ponds in Georgia, explaining that “cap-in-place” plans violate state and federal regulations for coal ash and put the public’s health at risk.
Coal ash, or coal combustion residuals (CCR), is the leftover byproduct generated from burning coal for electricity. According to the EPA, it pollutes air, soil, and water with dangerous heavy metals including arsenic, lead, and mercury, which are known to cause cancer and other serious illnesses.
“There is no reason why Georgia Power shouldn’t use the safest possible procedure to clean up the millions of tons of toxic coal ash in Georgia,” said Ricky Leroux, Communications Strategist for the Sierra Club Georgia Chapter. “Its customers are paying 100 percent of the costs of closing these coal ash ponds, and that money should be used to dispose of this waste correctly the first time. Communities near Plants Scherer, Yates, and McDonough deserve the same protections from the health risks caused by exposure to the toxic substances in coal ash as those near Plant Wansley. We urge the Georgia EPD to be consistent and require all ash ponds to be closed by removal.”
Click here to read the Sierra Club’s full comment letter to the EPD regarding Plant Wansley AP-1.
The Georgia EPD is accepting comments on the permit for Plant Wansley AP-1 until August 19. To submit a comment, email epdcomments@dnr.ga.gov with "Plant Wansley AP-1 CCR Permit Comment" in the subject line.
About the Sierra Club Georgia Chapter
The Sierra Club Georgia Chapter is the largest grassroots environmental organization in the state, with more than 75,000 members and supporters. The Chapter supports a robust outings program and has active committees working on forest and coastal protection, transit expansion, and clean energy. For more information, visit sierraclub.org/georgia.
About the Sierra Club
The Sierra Club is America’s largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization, with more than 3.5 million members and supporters. In addition to protecting every person's right to get outdoors and access the healing power of nature, the Sierra Club works to promote clean energy, safeguard the health of our communities, protect wildlife, and preserve our remaining wild places through grassroots activism, public education, lobbying, and legal action. For more information, visit sierraclub.org.
For media inquiries, please contact:
Ricky Leroux, Senior Communications & Policy Coordinator
404-607-1262 ext. 234 | ricky.leroux@sierraclub.org