Groups File Legal Action Against Midwest Generation for Water Pollution

The Illinois Pollution Control Board was notified of a legal complaint filed against Midwest Generation for violations of Illinois state solid waste and groundwater laws at four power-generating facilities in Illinois: the Joliet 29, Powerton, Waukegan and Will County Generating Stations. 

The Environmental Integrity Project (EIP) and Environmental Law & Policy Center (ELPC) filed the complaint on behalf of the ELPC and Prairie Rivers Network. The Illinois-based Citizens Against Ruining the Environment (CARE) also joined the complaint. 

According to the complaint filed by the groups, leaking coal ash ponds at the Powerton Generating Station in Pekin, Ill.; the Waukegan Generating Station in Waukegan, Ill., the Will County Generating Station in Romeoville, Ill.; and the Joliet 29 Generating Station in Joliet, Ill. are contaminating groundwater with toxic pollution in violation of state solid waste and water pollution control laws.

During the process of burning coal, Midwest Generation’s coal-fired power plants generates coal ash pollution and other waste, which is dumped in large impoundments without adequate safeguards to prevent pollution from entering groundwater.

“Midwest Generation’s own monitoring reports show that the coal ash dumps are leaking toxics such as arsenic, selenium, boron and others into the groundwater at levels that exceed federal and state drinking water standards. EIP’s investigation has documented hundreds of exceedances of federal and state drinking water standards,” said EIP Attorney Abel Russ.   

Click here to see the legal filing.
 

Source: Environmental Integrity Project