Dynegy "Dealing" W. Coal Ash By . . . Removing It? No,By Building Huge Wall Next To Leaky Ash Pit

[hatrack]

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is seeking comment on a proposal by Dynegy Energy Midwest, LLC to install a rock wall to prevent millions of gallons of coal ash from polluting the Middle Fork River in Vermilion County. The coal ash is the residue from burning coal at the Vermilion Power Station, which operated between 1955 and 2011. Coal ash is considered extremely hazardous because it contains highly toxic chemicals and heavy metals such as arsenic, mercury and lead. There have been two major spills of coal ash in recent years that led to widespread environmental damage and more than $7 billion in cleanup costs.

Dynegy Midwest is the former owner of a power plant at the site, which has three ponds that hold 600 million gallons of toxic coal ash within a few yards of the Middle Fork River. Dynegy Midwest merged with Vistra Energy earlier this year.

Local officials and environmental groups have pushed to have the ponds removed, complaining that the waste left in the ponds is contaminating groundwater and the river. A federal judge dismissed a lawsuit filed earlier this year alleging violations of the Clean Water Act. Dynegy now proposes to construct a 1,900-foot long wall of rock on the Middle Fork to stop erosion of the riverbank near its coal ash ponds, and the possibility of a massive spill of toxic coal ash into the Middle Fork.

EDIT

Vermilion County officials and environmentalists are concerned that the proposed wall is a prelude to a forthcoming Dynegy proposal to “cap and leave” the ash ponds next to the river. “This project is going to have major impacts on the river in a variety of ways,” said Pam Richart, co-director of the Eco-Justice Collaborative. “But we really think it's also in step one in their plan to leave the ash in place.”

EDIT

https://investigatemidwest.org/2018/11/26/public-comments-now-open-on-dynegy-plan-to-stabilize-the-middle-fork-river-near-coal-ash-ponds/

[gtar100]

1. Maybe if they build it high enough, nobody will be able to see inside.

And keep it hidden long enough to make it somebody else's problem.

[mopinko]

2. when oh when are we gonna mine this shit?

lead, arsenic, mercury, all have market value.
they are right there in a slurry that should be easy to separate.

and make bricks out of that ash. ffs. put a brick kiln right there.