While many of us are far removed from our sources for power and electricity, there are others still located near coal burning plants, which include coal ash lagoons or coal ash ponds dug into the ground nearby. And what exactly is a coal ash “lagoon”? They are open pits or dumps where millions of pounds of toxic materials are dumped each year by power plants. Perhaps most notably, many do not contain lining to protect the groundwater from the materials leaching in.
While Indiana has more coal ash pits than any other state, there are still coal ash disposal ponds and landfills in Louisiana; in fact, there exists an estimated 1.5+ million tons of coal ash in Louisiana, and our state ranks 25th in the country for coal ash generation. In addition, because there is very little oversight and not enough regulation, it is a serious problem for groundwater.
Specifically, according to a 2007 Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) risk assessment, at least one major power station in De Soto County, Louisiana has unlined surface impoundments and landfills, four others are only clay-lined, and three of the sites do not have basic leachate control systems. One site doesn’t even conduct groundwater monitoring at all.
Legal Standards?
Fortunately, Louisiana (like Pennsylvania and West Virginia) is one of the few states that requires composite liners for all new coal ash ponds. However, no state has retroactive liner requirements, meaning that coal ash ponds already in existence before the requirement was put in place are still in danger of contaminating groundwater systems. Other standards for coal ash ponds are entire voluntary at the state level, and many states end up deciding to exempt coal ash from regulations for hazardous wastes altogether.
Health Problems
It is also important to note that coal ash has been linked to four of the leading causes of death, including cancer, respiratory diseases, heart disease, and strokes. There are currently an estimated 1,400 coal ash waste dumps across the country, and there have been hundreds of spills documented at these sites. Most of these landfills and ponds do not conduct monitoring—much like the Big Cajun 2 Power Station in Pointe Coupee County, Louisiana—meaning that a majority of the water contamination goes undetected.
The answer? Many of the problems associated with these ponds could be mitigated by phasing out leak-prone ash ponds and requiring the use of synthetic liners and leachate collection systems. However, these basic safeguards are current not required, as coal combustion wastes are typically not subject to federal regulations.
Environmental Hazard Attorneys
We’ve spent years litigating against environmental polluters—including big companies—that expose local communities to health hazards. Simply because a state exempts a type of waste from being regulated does not mean that it is ok for that waste to cause disease and death to the surrounding community. The environmental attorneys of Harrell & Nowak are prepared to represent you in any environmental hazard case in New Orleans, Metairie, Kenner, and surrounding areas of Louisiana. Contact us today for a free consultation.