Indiana residents concerned by coal ash disposal near river

TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (AP) - Some western Indiana residents are concerned about Duke Energy's plan to dispose 9 million tons of coal ash into ponds at a power plant that was closed last year.

The Tribune-Star (http://bit.ly/2pYars9 ) reported Terre Haute residents attending a meeting Monday expressed concerns about the ponds' proximity to the Wabash River, the risk of flooding and groundwater contamination.

"These basins lie feet - not yards - feet from the Wabash River," said Lorrie Heber, director of the White Violet Center for Eco-Justice.

The ponds sit high enough above the river that the structures would be above the water, said Jeff Sewell, deputy assistant commissioner with the Environmental Management Department. He said that if department engineers find a risk of flooding after reviewing Duke's plans, the cover would have to be armored to withstand the water.

The Wabash River stood at just over 22 feet Monday at Terre Haute. It would have to rise another 8 to 10 feet to threaten the coal ash storage sites, Sewell said. The plans also call for groundwater monitoring twice a year for 30 years.

Heber said the plans are short-range.

"There is no proof of concept in how long these ponds can be managed over a period of time," she said. "They're using landfill standards but very few landfills sit feet, not yards, from the Wabash River."

Heber proposed moving the coal ash to another site away from the river, but Sewell said closure in place is the most common option for large-scale disposal ponds.

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Information from: Tribune-Star, http://www.tribstar.com