opinion

Guest Viewpoint: Cayuga plant coal ash not a threat

The Ithaca Journal’s Sept. 17 article regarding the disposal of coal ash at the Cayuga Power Plant contained a number of inaccurate statements from a Tennessee-based geologist who suggested groundwater was contaminated due to facility operations.

To be clear: There is no threat to the public safety or health due to coal ash disposal at Cayuga, and the facility follows strict federal and state environmental regulations.

Let’s address the facts.

Coal ash at the Cayuga plant is a non-flowable solid material physically contained within a structurally stable landfill designed to New York state environmental requirements. Ash generated at the plant since 1984 has been placed in an engineered containment system equipped with a high-density polyethylene liner and a leachate collection that which has been operated and strictly monitored consistent with state solid waste regulations.

Prior to state regulation of solid wastes, coal ash generated between 1977 and 1984 was placed in a landfill known as the Phase I Area, which is a landfill of similar construction with a reworked, low-permeability soil liner with collection piping. Coal ash material is fully contained in these landfills, and does not and cannot “flow” into groundwater or the creek.

Coal ash residual material contains only natural substances, has a similar consistency and composition to soil, and has many beneficial uses, including as an additive to concrete.

In accordance with a state-approved site environmental monitoring plan, there is an extensive groundwater monitoring network completely surrounding the landfill consisting of 45 monitoring wells. These wells assess groundwater quality in till and bedrock at shallow, intermediate and deep levels around the landfill. Samples of groundwater are collected frequently from the monitoring well network at a rate of four times per year — twice that required by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. This monitoring well network is far-reaching and meets the state’s Department of Environmental Conservation’s well spacing requirements. Forty different inorganic substances, metals and field-measured parameters are analyzed. This is more extensive than the seven parameters required for groundwater monitoring programs specified by the EPA for coal ash landfills.

To make a clear point: groundwater monitoring reports, prepared by a state-licensed engineering firm (GEI Consultants Inc.) conclude that the site is not impacted from heavy metals; and sulfate is found naturally in groundwater, including in Tompkins County.

Those reports clearly indicate that Milliken Creek does not exhibit sulfate impacts. On a quarterly basis, surface water samples are collected upstream and downstream from the landfill. The sulfate concentrations in downstream samples are consistently similar to upstream sample concentrations, which are typically 40 to 50 parts per million, well within naturally occurring levels. All the groundwater data from those reports supports the fact there are no adverse environmental impacts to Milliken Creek from the Cayuga landfill.

In regards to the $7.5 million financial assurance, a thorough cost estimate was developed in accordance with DEC requirements. The site closure cost estimate includes the cost to fully cap the existing active landfill space (currently 3.6 acres), and the post-closure cost includes 30 years of groundwater and surface water monitoring, site inspections and, as needed, landfill repairs and maintenance. The 30-year countdown starts once the business is closed.

Cayuga Operating Co. has a strong culture of compliance with all applicable environmental laws. We take our obligations seriously, and we are in full compliance with state-regulated solid waste requirements, which are much more stringent as compared to the federal regulations.

Based on the factual information presented above, any accusation that coal ash is seeping and leaking into the groundwater from the Cayuga landfill is not based on any factual information, but rather assumptions and opinions that are completely unfounded.

Jerry Goodenough is chief operation officer of Cayuga Operating Co.

Editor’s note: The public can obtain more information on the monitoring records of the plant by contacting the state Department Environmental Conservation at dec.ny.gov/regulations.html.