The morning after the CBS News program "60 Minutes" aired its investigation into the hazards of coal ash waste from coal-burning power plants, the people of South Carolina awoke to some worrisome news about coal ash close to home.
It turns out that runoff containing high levels of cancer-causing arsenic is seeping from an 80-acre coal ash waste dump at South Carolina Electric & Gas Co.'s Wateree coal-fired power plant in Richland County, S.C. and running into the nearby Wateree River, The State newspaper reports.
The site of the leak is just a few miles upstream from Congaree National Park, South Carolina's only national park and home to the largest tract of old-growth floodplain forest left in the United States. The leak is also in a rural area where many people depend on wells for drinking water.
SCE&G is part of the $9 billion South Carolina-based SCANA Corp., which also owns North Carolina-based PSNC Energy, a natural-gas utility.
J.C. Hare, a consultant working for a farmer who lives near the Wateree plant, told the paper he first noticed the stream of runoff that resembles a small creek last month. A consultant working for SCE&G has also noted the problem, according to the paper:
This is not the first contamination incident related to the ash dump at the Wateree plant. Arsenic seeping from the facility over the past 15 years has contaminated groundwater beneath the property at levels exceeding the federal safe drinking water standard, and seepage also has been found between the dump and the river.
In 2001, state regulators cited SCE&G for violating groundwater standards. But they did not fine the company, which said it would try to reduce the contamination.
Coal ash ponds have become a growing public concern since last December's massive coal ash spill from a Tennessee Valley Authority coal-fired power plant in eastern Tennessee. Coal ash is not regulated by the federal government as hazardous waste, but the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has promised to release new proposed federal regulations by year's end.
Meanwhile, another utility company is refusing to make safety upgrades to its coal ash dumps until regulators set out clear rules. Progress Energy of North Carolina has had several of its coal ash dumps receive "poor" safety ratings from the EPA, and the company has told the agency it want those ratings changed, the Raleigh (N.C.) News & Observer reports.
The "60 Minutes" investigation by reporter Lesley Stahl examined the Kingston disaster as well as the situation in Chesapeake, Va., where contamination has been documented from a golf course built on coal ash from a Dominion power plant.
Stahl also looked at recycling of coal ash into consumer goods as well as its use in agriculture, which as Facing South has reported is a particular concern for the Southeast and Midwest.
It turns out that runoff containing high levels of cancer-causing arsenic is seeping from an 80-acre coal ash waste dump at South Carolina Electric & Gas Co.'s Wateree coal-fired power plant in Richland County, S.C. and running into the nearby Wateree River, The State newspaper reports.
The site of the leak is just a few miles upstream from Congaree National Park, South Carolina's only national park and home to the largest tract of old-growth floodplain forest left in the United States. The leak is also in a rural area where many people depend on wells for drinking water.
SCE&G is part of the $9 billion South Carolina-based SCANA Corp., which also owns North Carolina-based PSNC Energy, a natural-gas utility.
J.C. Hare, a consultant working for a farmer who lives near the Wateree plant, told the paper he first noticed the stream of runoff that resembles a small creek last month. A consultant working for SCE&G has also noted the problem, according to the paper:
Their reports, to be discussed this week as part of a court case against the power company, raise new questions about SCE&G's ability to contain pollution on the property -- and the state Department of Health and Environmental Control's inability to stop the problem, critics say.The case, which is being heard today in administrative law court, was brought by farmer Heath Hill, who's challenging state permits allowing SCE&G to put a massive new coal ash landfill at the site, which is near his property.
This is not the first contamination incident related to the ash dump at the Wateree plant. Arsenic seeping from the facility over the past 15 years has contaminated groundwater beneath the property at levels exceeding the federal safe drinking water standard, and seepage also has been found between the dump and the river.
In 2001, state regulators cited SCE&G for violating groundwater standards. But they did not fine the company, which said it would try to reduce the contamination.
Coal ash ponds have become a growing public concern since last December's massive coal ash spill from a Tennessee Valley Authority coal-fired power plant in eastern Tennessee. Coal ash is not regulated by the federal government as hazardous waste, but the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has promised to release new proposed federal regulations by year's end.
Meanwhile, another utility company is refusing to make safety upgrades to its coal ash dumps until regulators set out clear rules. Progress Energy of North Carolina has had several of its coal ash dumps receive "poor" safety ratings from the EPA, and the company has told the agency it want those ratings changed, the Raleigh (N.C.) News & Observer reports.
The "60 Minutes" investigation by reporter Lesley Stahl examined the Kingston disaster as well as the situation in Chesapeake, Va., where contamination has been documented from a golf course built on coal ash from a Dominion power plant.
Stahl also looked at recycling of coal ash into consumer goods as well as its use in agriculture, which as Facing South has reported is a particular concern for the Southeast and Midwest.
Before I retired from working at a regional wastewater plant, the county contracted out disposal of their sludge by "composting" the biosolids with chicken manure. This "stabilized" product was then shipped to the coal fired plant at Cope SC to be mixed with coal ash. It was truly a mess and I believe a serious health hazzard. I hope this practice has stopped.
October 8, 2009 6:35 AM | Reply
Why in the world isn't the state DHECS and the state legislators utting a ban on these comanies and the way they use the law or shuld i say nonlaws to not take cae of pollution they have always known about and did nothing. Two states SC and NC are fummeling around with their collective asses and scared to put a halt to such practices or is it the political campaign money that would dry up or is the states are scared of their tax base drying up from the companies involved downsizing with new unemployment, etc, etc and they would have to raise taxes. I think the Obama EPA should put out an immediate rule that there will be no approval of an more coal ash landfills for the foreseeabale future until there is true cleanup achieved..for everyday they hedge a fine builds...I understand the business aspect of the companies involved, but I do not like their stonewalling when they know they have screwed up and they still want to continue to build other landfills even though the ones they have a creating havoc on the environment and drinking water in various communities. Money and greed and power is that all you can think about..how do you sleep at night..maybe one of these communitites you are letting get polluted house a relative or friend..guess you still don't care..It is not time for the CEO's to step up to the plate and show why they are CEO..they let others run the company and then when they find out they should fire them, make them pay for their follies and yet they give them bonuses and raises and promotions..When all of you get to the early gates and St Peter is reading who goes where, don't look for your names for heaven cause it won't be there. IT IS TIME FOR CHANGE..DO THE RIGHT THING. I would love to help all concerned..
October 10, 2009 8:04 PM | Reply