Coal

EPA proposes denying coal ash disposal at six plants

The agency also proposed a process for these coal plants to seek an extension, in the interest of addressing grid reliability issues.
EPA proposes denying coal ash disposal at six plants

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued proposed determinations to deny six coal plants’ requests to continue disposing coal ash into unlined surface impoundments.

Specifically, EPA cited inadequate groundwater monitoring networks; failure to prove groundwater is monitored to detect and characterize any elevated levels of contaminants coming from the coal ash surface impoundment; evidence of potential releases from the impoundments and insufficient information to support claims that the contamination is from sources other than the impoundments; inadequate documentation for the design and performance of the impoundment liners; and failure to meet all location restrictions.

If EPA finalizes these denials, the facilities will have to either stop sending waste to these unlined impoundments or submit applications to EPA for extensions to the deadline for the impoundments to stop receiving waste.

However, the agency also proposed a process for these coal plants to seek an extension, in the interest of addressing grid reliability issues. This process would rely in part on reliability assessments from the affiliated regional transmission organizations (RTOs).

The six facilities receiving proposed denials are:

  • Belle River Power Plant, China Township, Michigan.
  • Coal Creek Station, Underwood, North Dakota.
  • Conemaugh Generating Station, New Florence, Pennsylvania.
  • Coronado Generating Station, St. Johns, Arizona.
  • Martin Lake Steam Electric Station, Tatum, Texas.
  • Monroe Power Plant, Monroe, Michigan

For a seventh facility that withdrew its application, Apache Generating Station in Cochise, Arizona, EPA issued a letter identifying concerns with deficiencies in its liner components and groundwater monitoring program.

The CCR Part B Final Rule, published November 12, 2020, allowed facilities to demonstrate to the Agency that, based on groundwater data and the design of a particular surface impoundment, there would be no reasonable probability of adverse effects to human health and the environment. EPA approval would allow the unit to continue to operate.

EPA received applications for alternate liner demonstrations from eight facilities with 17 CCR surface impoundments. The Agency said these applications were from facilities in Arizona, Louisiana, Michigan, North Dakota, Pennsylvania, and Texas. One Arizona facility and the Louisiana facility since withdrew their applications.

Coal ash is a byproduct of burning coal in coal-fired power plants that, without proper management, can pollute waterways, groundwater, drinking water, and the air.

To address the risks from disposal and discharge of coal ash, including leaking of contaminants into groundwater, blowing of contaminants into the air as dust, and the catastrophic failure of coal ash surface impoundments, EPA established national rules for coal ash management and disposal.

In April 2015, EPA promulgated requirements for the safe handling and disposal of coal ash from coal-fired power plants, which established technical requirements for CCR landfills and surface impoundments.

EPA said recently it is increasing its efforts to investigate compliance concerns at coal ash facilities around the nation to ensure compliance and protect the health of communities that it said are “overburdened” by pollution such as coal ash residuals.