Pritzker signs bill to deal with coal ash

Jul. 31--Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed legislation Tuesday aimed at preventing coal ash pollution in Illinois communities.

Among other things, the new law prohibits coal ash discharge into the environment, requires Illinois Environmental Protection Agency approval for closure of ash impoundments and guaranteed financial assistance from owners or operators of those impoundments for future closure or maintenance costs.

The bill was spearheaded by Sen. Scott Bennett and Rep. Carol Ammons, two Champaign Democrats. Bennett's district includes coal ash ponds from the now retired Vermilion Power Station which threaten to contaminate groundwater and the Middle Fork of the Vermilion River.

"Coal ash is a public health issue and a pollution issue," Pritzker said in a statement. "This new law will protect our precious groundwater and rivers from toxic chemicals that can harm our residents."

City Water, Light and Power operates ash ponds near Lake Springfield, the source of Springfield's drinking water. The utility plans to close them, but it was criticized in a report by several environmental groups last year for not having a closure plan and not being transparent with residents about possible contamination.

CWLP called the report misleading and said the ash ponds did not pose a risk to drinking water.

CWLP provided a statement Tuesday from Chief Utility Engineer Doug Brown about the effect of the new law on the utility.

"While this new legislation will involve some additional steps and permit fees for CWLP and its customers, it will not fundamentally alter our current path and plans to close our two ash ponds (pursuant to 2015 federal regulations)," Brown said. "We welcome the regulatory certainty that the rules developed under this proposal will provide for responsible utilities like ours."

Elizabeth Scrafford of the Sierra Club said that under the bill CWLP will not be required to put up financial assurances for maintenance and clean-up of ash pits as investor-owned utilities must do. She also said the city will have to have public participation into the process for closing the ash ponds.

The next step is for the IEPA to flesh out the law by developing administrative regulations, a process that will play out over the next several months.

Contact Doug Finke: [email protected], 788-1527, twitter.com/dougfinkesjr

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