Coal ash disposal sites throughout Illinois, including at City Water, Light and Power's Dallman Power Station in Springfield, have contaminated surrounding groundwater supplies, according to a report released Wednesday by a consortium of environmental groups.

CWLP officials responded that the city's ash ponds do not pose a risk to Springfield's water supply.

The report's results are based on data sets made public for the first time earlier this year as part of new federal regulations of coal ash, a toxic byproduct of coal-fired power generation that is commonly stored in unlined ponds or landfills near the plants. The report by the Environmental Integrity Project, Earthjustice, Prairie Rivers Network and the Sierra Club found toxic pollutants emanating from 22 of 24 coal ash dump sites for which the data became available in March.

The coalition called for new legislative standards that would protect groundwater and regulate the closure of coal ash ponds to be drafted next year.

“Illinois needs to act now to strengthen rules that protect the public from coal ash,” said Andrew Rehn, a water resources engineer from Prairie Rivers Network. “We’re reaching a turning point as Energy companies are proposing to leave coal ash in floodplains of rivers and exposed to groundwater. We need stronger rules that provide permanent protection with a financial guarantee and give the public a voice in these decisions.”

Jenny Cassel, an attorney for Earthjustice, said ash ponds should be moved "as far as possible" from water and be contained in modern, lined landfills.

"These pollutants we are talking about — these heavy metals — they don't disappear, they don't dissolve into the environment," Cassel said. "They stay there for years and years, and so as long they remain in contact in water, they will continue to leach out literally for hundreds of years."

Cassel said companies in other states, recognizing the liability of coal ash ponds, have voluntarily taken up responsible closure procedures. Still, she said the coalition would like to see regulations formalized.

"We would love Illinois to step up and be a leader in this regard," Cassel said.

CWLP's situation



CWLP's coal ash ponds sit near Spaulding Dam, on the opposite side of the dam from Lake Springfield. The group's report shows that boron — a pollutant found in the ash — was found at unsafe levels in three of the four downgradient monitoring wells at the site. Concentrations of sulfate exceeded the health threshold in two wells. In addition, arsenic concentrations in one well is 20 times higher than the safe level. It also notes that CWLP's ash ponds are all unlined, which leaves the coal ash exposed to groundwater, and sit near the city's drinking water source — Lake Springfield.

In a statement, CWLP said it would not "cap and run" from its ash ponds, as the report indicated. Ash ponds were not typically constructed with liners in the era they were built, according to CWLP spokeswoman Amber Sabin.

"The ash ponds, located downstream and downgradient from Lake Springfield, do not pose a risk to the city’s water supply," CWLP's statement read. "There are not any privately owned, potable wells at risk from CWLP ash ponds in the area."

The utility's most recently constructed coal-fired power generator, Dallman 4, does not add to the ash ponds and uses a dry-ash handling system, CWLP said. The utility is planning to close the ash ponds that collect ash from three other active Dallman generators and the retired Lakeside power station.

The report's criticism of CWLP's ash pond closure plans, which are still in development, are premature, the utility said.

"The utility’s recommendation on method of closure, whether by capping, removal or lining the ponds, has not been made and will follow federal regulations, which allow the utility time to develop closure plans," the statement said.

Wednesday's report comes about 14 months after the Sangamon Valley Group of the Sierra Club, the NAACP and the Prairie Rivers Network asked the Illinois Pollution Control Board to order CWLP to clean up contaminated groundwater at its coal ash storage site.



The complaint from September 2017 states that there have been 623 instances of self-reported groundwater violations at the coal ash site since 2010. These include violations for elevated levels of arsenic, lead, boron, chromium, manganese iron and other pollutants.

Wednesday's statement called that 2017 complaint "premature," as well.

"These organizations are subjecting Springfield citizens to costly and unnecessary litigation, rather than waiting for CWLP’s closure plans to be developed as the rules allow," the statement said.

A group of local residents concerned about the groundwater contamination in Springfield were present during a Capitol news conference to present the report's findings on Wednesday. They said they wanted the utility to invest in lining the ash ponds or safely storing ash away from groundwater, or Lake Springfield, in general.

Girl Scout Troop 6195, which is featured in the report, has been involved in bringing awareness to the coal ash problem. The scouts live in Springfield, according to troop leader Jenica Hopkins, and will inherit the problems that come with contaminated groundwater, which will only escalate over time.

"What this troop is trying to do is to prevent an environmental disaster from occurring," Hopkins said. "If we can get the coal ash pits lined and capped, we can prevent health consequences."

Norman Brown, a Springfield resident, said he has expressed to CWLP that he doesn't want the utility to "continue on in the same old way."

The ultimate solution, Brown said, is for CWLP stop producing coal ash in the first place and move toward renewable energy resources or buying more energy from other electric companies.

Matt Buedel of the Peoria Journal Star contributed to this article. Contact Crystal Thomas: 788-1528, crystal.thomas@sj-r.com, twitter.com/crystalclear224.