Small Town News

EPA to get tougher on water pollution

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Restrictions could affect Indian River plant's coal ash

Federal environmental officials are set to update regulations governing water discharges from coal-fired power plants such as NRG Energy's Indian River power plant.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) studied wastewater discharges and determined regulations adopted in 1982 are no longer adequate. Technology to reduce air pollution has led to water pollution, the agency says, but plants can remove pollutants before they reach waterways.

The regulations will take aim at certain systems that exist at only a fraction of the nation's coal-fired plants, EPA officials say. When NRG Energy installed updated air-pollution controls on the Indian River power plant, Citizens for Clean Power member John Austin cautioned that the plant's coal ash would contain more mercury.

NRG Energy spokeswoman Lori Neuman said, "This is a new proposal by EPA. At this point we don't expect any changes with our planned environmental controls project, which includes a dry scrubber, but we'll continue to evaluate it as more information becomes available."

Coal ash produced at the plant is stored in a landfill at the site and is approaching its 100-foot height limit. NRG is already planning to open a new, lined landfill.

Chris Bason, science and technical coordinator for the Center for the Inland Rays, said mercury and other heavy metals in fly ash are particularly concerning. He said their presence leads to questions about the storage and reuse of fly ash.

He said a storage facility near a dynamic water body that is influenced by the ocean and weather is a risky place for fly ash.

Cheri Towne, Schuylkill Watershed Specialist with the Delaware Riverkeeper Network, said between mining and burning coal, there are several opportunities for heavy metals to come in contact with water. Metals and toxins in coal vary depending on the source of the coal, she said.

"A lot has been done to address what's coming out of the top of the stacks," she said, but less has been done to change what goes in. She said the process of removing sulfur dioxide from coal plant emissions can pollute water, and new regulations could affect how that water is cleaned up.

The government study says many of the toxins that come from plants reach waterways through coal-ash ponds and systems to remove sulfur dioxide from air emissions.

New regulations have not been finalized, but when they are, federal environmental officials say they will be incorporated into wastewater discharge plants. The discharge permit for the Indian River power plant has been administratively extended since it was set to expire in 1992.





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