According to Mobile Baykeeper, there are "more than 52 illegal and ongoing groundwater violations" in the state of Alabama due to improper storage of coal ash in pits across the state. These coal ash sites can be seen on this interactive map.
What Causes Toxic Coal Ash?
Coal-burning power plants end up with a waste byproduct after their normal processes of creating energy, and they must do something with this toxic coal ash. Oftentimes, this waste is mixed with water and dumped into a massive pond or pit near the plant. This coal ash contains many heavy metals that are very dangerous to humans, including Arsenic, Chromium, Lead, Mercury, and Selenium. The full dangers of toxic coal ash was evidenced when 11 workers died and hundreds of people suffered serious illnesses in Kingston, Tennessee after the nation's largest spill in Tennessee in 2008. Workers involved with the cleanup became seriously ill. This toxic coal ash spill resulted in 40 damaged or destroyed homes, and up to $3 billion USD in damage, not to mention the hazardous environmental impact, that can affect industries that rely on clean water.
Watch the YouTube video below:
The Toxic Coal Ash Problem in Alabama
The most egregious situation regarding coal ash violations is going on at Plant Barry, owned by Alabama Power. Plant Bary is surrounded on three sides by the Mobile River. There are 21 million tons of toxic coal ash in a 600-acre unlined pit. The toxic chemicals from this toxic ash pit will contaminate groundwater and the Mobile River. The toxic coal ash pit at Plant Barry is only 1 of 6 in the state of Alabama.
Cap-in-Place Doesn't Work
Alabama Power plans to "cap-in-place" as a solution to this coal ash problem in Alabama. Cap-in-place refers to putting a liner over a toxic coal ash pit, while leaving it unlined on the bottom. This poor remedy was done in Gadsden, Alabama in 2018, and the results were horrifying. In 2019, officials found 100 times the allowable limit for arsenic in local groundwater, and over 50% over the limit for radium in the groundwater affected by the Gadsden cap-in-place, which clearly makes the situation.
The Solution to the Toxic Coal Ash Problem in Alabama
There is a solution that is estimated to be less expensive and better than Alabama Power's solution to cap-in-place. The solution is to remove the toxic coal ash away from an area that is susceptible to hurricanes, and vulnerable communities, where the toxic coal ash can contaminate the local groundwater.
There are great examples of lined landfills that are better for the environment, that can be found in Georgia, Virginia, North Carolina, and South Carolina.
More information on this issue can be found here.
Disclaimer: This blog is not affiliated or paid by anyone to write this post.
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