FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, May 19, 2022
Contact: Hannah Lee Flath, hannahlee.flath@sierraclub.org, 860-634-0225
PEORIA, IL. -- At two public meetings this week required under Illinois’ new coal ash rules, dozens of local residents and advocates with the Central Illinois Healthy Community Alliance (CIHCA), Earthjustice, Environmental Law & Policy Center, Prairie Rivers Network, and Sierra Club Illinois raised concerns about whether NRG Energy’s proposed coal ash plans would adequately resolve ongoing groundwater contamination at the Pekin Powerton coal plant site. NRG Energy is proposing to cap one of its unlined coal ash ponds in place on site, and Vistra Energy is expected to propose a similar plan for the E.D. Edwards coal plant in Peoria at a public meeting next week. Advocates and local community members say the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA) must deny the operators’ proposals and instead require a more protective closure plan that stops ongoing groundwater contamination on the shores of the Illinois River.
In a set of announcements in January, the U.S. EPA asserted that coal ash in contact with groundwater has to be removed in order to be in compliance with Federal coal ash rules because of an increased threat of groundwater contamination. EPA analysis indicates that the coal ash impoundments at the Pekin Powerton coal plant have been in contact with groundwater since 2010 and thus are in violation of these Federal coal ash rules. Despite this ongoing groundwater contamination, NRG Energy and Vistra Energy are both proceeding with plans to cap several of their unlined Illinois coal ash ponds in place.
“Even though NRG and Vistra have a track record of fighting Federal and State coal ash protections, these proposals to leave ash sitting in groundwater following the U.S. EPA announcements prohibiting such closure plans, are somewhat surprising,” said Christine Nannicelli, Senior Campaign Representative with Sierra Club Illinois. “It’s very straightforward—if ash is in contact with groundwater, it needs to be removed because of the exacerbated risk of groundwater contamination.”
In 2019, the Illinois Pollution Control Board issued a decision holding NRG Energy and its subsidiary Midwest Generation liable for ongoing groundwater contamination from coal ash at its Powerton, Waukegan, Joliet, and Romeoville sites. Coal ash, otherwise known as coal combustion residuals (CCR), contains heavy metals including arsenic, lead, selenium, manganese, and other pollutants that are known to be hazardous to human and animal health.
“The current coal ash closure plans for the Powerton and Edwards coal plants pose a significant threat to the health and safety of the local community and the Illinois River,” says Pekin resident and long-time Central Illinois Healthy Community Alliance member Robin Nolting. “Recreation and commerce along the Illinois River are a crucial part of our local economy and community. I raised my kids on the Illinois River, tubing and water skiing with my neighbors. In recent years, the number of local community members who partake in recreation along the river has declined due to ongoing water contamination issues. Local community members have fought to protect our health and environment from these coal plants for a long time, and a proper coal ash removal plan is past due.”