9 months ago
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The way Alabama manages the disposal of coal ash waste has been called into question. Alabama Power imploded Plant Gorgas in Walker County in September 2021 after closing the facility in 2019 — a move the Black Warrior Riverkeeper applauded, but he still has concerns about the coal ash waste he says is dammed up in Rattlesnake Creek, across the river from the old plant. "And the power company plans to leave all of that coal ash in this unlined impoundment that is leaking toxic, heavy metals and other containments into groundwater and into the river for future generations to deal with," Riverkeeper Nelson Brooke said. Alabama Power released a statement to WVTM 13 on Wednesday, saying: "Alabama Power has received permits from ADEM to close our ash ponds, including at Plant Gorgas, in compliance with federal and state requirements. Our plans protect human health and the environment." "We, the ratepayers, are having to foot the bill for the power company to leave this mess in place," Brooke added. The Black Warrior Riverkeeper tells WVTM 13 he has one overall mission, and that is to make things better for future generations to come. "We don't need to just be passing along the buck to future generations," Brooke said. "They're going to be looking back, saying: how the heck did y'all let this happen?" The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recently said it may reject a proposal from the Alabama Department of Environmental Management to regulate coal ash. The EPA says ADEM doesn't do enough to protect people and waterways. "And that calls into question what ADEM has allowed Alabama Power and other electric utilities in Alabama to do with their coal ash waste," Brooke said. "The permitting of their toxic coal ash disposal sites and the closure of those at power plants that are no longer burning coal."The EPA says if not managed appropriately, exposure to coal ash can lead to serious health concerns like cancer. ADEM recently issued a statement, saying: “Permits issued by ADEM for the closure of coal ash impoundments and the remediation of groundwater around the impoundments meet all state and federal requirements and are protective of human health and the environment.”
WALKER COUNTY, Ala. —
The way Alabama manages the disposal of coal ash waste has been called into question.
Alabama Power imploded Plant Gorgas in Walker County in September 2021 after closing the facility in 2019. A move the Black Warrior Riverkeeper applauded, but he still has concerns about the coal ash waste he says is dammed up in Rattlesnake Creek, across the river from the old plant.
"And the power company plans to leave all of that coal ash in this unlined impoundment that is leaking toxic, heavy metals and other containments into groundwater and into the river for future generations to deal with," Riverkeeper Nelson Brooke said.
Alabama Power released a statement to WVTM 13 on Wednesday, saying: "Alabama Power has received permits from ADEM to close our ash ponds, including at Plant Gorgas, in compliance with federal and state requirements. Our plans protect human health and the environment."
"We the ratepayers are having to foot the bill for the power company to leave this mess in place," Brooke added.
The Black Warrior Riverkeeper tells WVTM 13 he has one overall mission and that is to make things better for future generations to come.
"We don't need to just be passing along the buck to future generations," Brooke said. "They're going to be looking back, saying: how the heck did y'all let this happen?"
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recently said it may reject a proposal from the Alabama Department of Environmental Management to regulate coal ash. The EPA says ADEM doesn't do enough to protect people and waterways.
"And that calls into question what ADEM has allowed Alabama Power and other electric utilities in Alabama to do with their coal ash waste," Brooke said. "The permitting of their toxic coal ash disposal sites and the closure of those at power plants that are no longer burning coal."
The EPA says if not managed appropriately, exposure to coal ash can lead to serious health concerns like cancer.
ADEM recently issued a statement, saying: “Permits issued by ADEM for the closure of coal ash impoundments and the remediation of groundwater around the impoundments meet all state and federal requirements and are protective of human health and the environment.”
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