Coal Ash – yes, it’s a problem
January 20th, 2019
What happens to coal ash? It’s shoveled out, brought to a “ash disposal facility” where it goes into the ground, and from there??? We’re finally learning that it often leaches into the ground, down into the groundwater. Thanks to EarthJustice for posting the raw data — no plants listed for Minnesota:
Scroll down for their newer reports.
It’s not news, though, and has been the subject of research for a long time, this study from 1980:
What did they look for and find?
So yeah, this is something to be concerned about…
There are coal ash and other ash “disposal facilities” everywhere, usually very close to where the ash is generated, here in Red Wing we have an ash dump, ash from two old coal burners at the NSP/Xcel garbage burners on the south end of town, and a now closed city garbage burner, visible on the map above, at the lower right corner of the black striped “Water Tank Mound Area” and beyond, that complex there. The City garbage burner was closed not long ago (YEAAAAA!!!), but the NSP/Xcel former coal burners, now garbage burner, remain burning.
(The Air Permits for those 2 burners have been expired for a decade or more, but that’s another story, covered before and to be covered again, but not today.)
The coal ash and garbage ash has been piling up for decades. A couple of years ago there was a city and Xcel scam launched here in Red Wing, “ash mining.”
Alan Muller on Red Wing’s garbage ash “mining”
April 30th, 2016
December 7 – Red Wing Ash Mine Open House
December 1st, 2016
MPCA’s THREE Red Wing Ash releases today
December 5th, 2016
Lab USA Ash Mining – PCA says “No EIS needed”
April 7th, 2017
Comments on Red Wing Ash “Mining” Project
April 15th, 2017
Having some experience with ash issues, there’s been recent reports about utility disclosures of ash contamination:
EarthJustice – Coal Ash: Reports & Publications (Texas, Georgia, West Virginia)
Where are details for Minnesota?
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