From PennEnvironment (http://www.pennenvironment.org):
PennEnvironment staff, members and others at a news conference for clean water enforcement lawsuit. Credit: Matthew Limbach
On July 31, PennEnvironment joined the Lower Susquehanna Riverkeeper Association, Waterkeeper Alliance and the Environmental Integrity Project (EIP) to announce a historic agreement to reduce toxic pollution leaking from coal ash dumps at the Brunner Island power plant along the Susquehanna River.
For years, Talen Energy has disposed of coal ash waste along the Susquehanna River, Black Gut Creek, and Conewago Creek south of Harrisburg. Pollutants including arsenic, boron and lithium have been seeping into groundwater, the Susquehanna River and Black Gut Creek from the site.
“This enforcement action is one of historic proportions. It’s the largest penalty ever assessed at a coal ash pollution site in Pennsylvania history,” said David Masur, executive director of PennEnvironment.
The settlement requires Talen Energy to undertake significant actions at coal ash disposal areas, including addressing seeps, evaluating local water quality, excavating waste from one basin and undertaking work in others, and ensuring that all discharges fully comply with the Clean Water Act.
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