Power plant waste polluting Illinois groundwater

Illinois officials have voiced concerns that industrial waste from a closed power plant could be leaching into the area's groundwater. It is possible that contaminants from coal-ash ponds at Dynegy Incorporated's Vermillion Power Station are spreading through the groundwater, which could cause the Middle Fork River to become polluted.

The power plant site has three separate coal-ash ponds, one or two of which are thought to be leaking. The ash in the ponds is waste left over from the burning of the coal for power generation and can often include substances, such as selenium and arsenic, which are highly toxic.

A spokesperson from the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Andrew Mason, has confirmed that toxins are leaking, but it is not known from which of the coal-ash ponds.

The power plant was closed in 2011 following 50 years of operation. It was previously reported by Dynegy in its quarterly report to the US Securities Exchange Commission that the groundwater in the area surrounding the plant was being affected by coal-ash.

Following the use of hydrogeologic investigations it was discovered that contaminants originating from the coal-ash impoundments have affected the site's groundwater and water that has migrated from the site towards the river. However, it is not known if the groundwater has impacted the river as of yet.

Dynegy have previously been cited by the EPA for violations of groundwater standards and were threatened with legal action in 2012.

Previous plans to correct any groundwater contamination were submitted by the company, but the EPA have asked for these to be reconsidered and resubmitted, to allow for certain aspects of the proposed plans to be corrected. Further geological studies of the area are being performed to allow for the plans to be resubmitted in November.  

The corrective plan, According to Mr Mason, will result in two of the coal-ash ponds on the power plant site to be closed in an attempt to stop further contamination. The third coal-ash pond was a newer development and so built with clay lining to protect the ground from contamination and so does not need to be closed.