In Harm's Way: Coal Ash-Contaminated Sites

Coal combustion waste sites are known to have contaminated groundwater, wetlands, creeks, or rivers. Yet, incredibly, ash and other coal combustion wastes are not subject to federal regulations that require simple safeguards. Use this interactive map to find where pond failures and water contamination have occurred.

Coal-fired power plants generate about 140 million tons of fly ash, scrubber sludge, and other combustion wastes every year. These wastes contain some of the earth's most deadly pollutants, including toxic metals that can cause cancer and neurological harm in humans.

Coal combustion waste sites are known to have contaminated groundwater, wetlands, creeks, or rivers. These could easily have been prevented with sensible safeguards such as phasing out leak-prone ash ponds and requiring the use of synthetic liners and leachate collection systems. Yet, incredibly, ash and other coal combustion wastes are not subject to federal regulations that require these simple safeguards.

Use this interactive map to find where pond failures and water contamination have occurred:

Contaminated Site

Spill

Contaminated Site and Spill

Total known* cases of contamination and spills:

203 in 37 states

Updated: December 2012

* Note: These cases of documented water contamination are likely to be only a small percentage of the coal ash-contaminated sites in the U.S.
Most coal ash landfills and ponds do not conduct monitoring, so the majority of water contamination goes undetected. According to U.S. EPA, there are over 1,000 operating coal ash landfills and ponds and many hundreds of "retired" coal ash disposal sites.

View Larger Map

Additional information on these contaminated sites: State Fact Sheets on Coal Ash.

For more information on coal ash ponds and landfills in the southeast, please visit Southeast Coal Ash Waste, a website managed by our coalition partners at the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy

Data Table: Known Cases of Contamination and Spills

Site Name (Owner) / Location

Known Pollutants Exceeding State and / or Federal Standards (or Other Evidence of Damage)

Documentation

Colbert Power Plant (TVA)
Tuscumbia, Alabama

Sulfate, chromium, selenium, cadmium, antimony, arsenic, lead, nitrate, boron, manganese, molybdenum

Widows Creek Power Plant (TVA)
Stevenson, Alabama

Cadmium and chromium. About 10,000 gallons of gypsum slurry spilled into a Tennessee River tributary in Jan. 2009.

Cholla Plant (APS/Pinnacle West)
Holbrook, Arizona

Sulfate, total dissolved solids, chloride, and fluoride

Coronado Generating Station (SRP)
St Johns, Arizona

Chromium, total dissolved solids, sulfates, chlorides. Background TDS & Sulfates exceed secondary MCL.

EPA ICR Data 3/2012
(Response to FOIA Request to EPA)

Flint Creek Plant (SWEPCO/AEP/Arkansas Electric)
Gentry, Arkansas

Barium, boron, cadmium, chromium, iron, lead, manganese, pH, selenium, silver, sulfate, and total dissolved solids

At Risk Populations: 45 private wells are within a 2-mile radius of the plant. Six public wells are within a 5-mile radius of the plant.

Independence Station (Entergy)
Newark, Arkansas

Arsenic, cadmium, iron, lead, manganese, pH, sulfate, total dissolved solids, and elevated levels of strontium and boron

At Risk Populations: 25 irrigation wells and one drinking well are within a mile; 3 production wells have been used for drinking water at the plant.

Comanche Station (Xcel)
Pueblo , Colorado

Cadmium, selenium, chloride, sulfate

EPA ICR Data 3/2012
(Response to FOIA Request to EPA)

Craig Station (Tri-State Generation)
Craig, Colorado

Boron, arsenic, chloride, manganese, nickel, selenium, sulfate, and total dissolved solids

EPA ICR Data 3/2012
(Response to FOIA Request to EPA)

Montville Station (NRG Energy)
Montville, Connecticut

Arsenic, beryllium, cadmium, copper, iron, lead, manganese, nickel, pH

At Risk Populations: The area immediately west of the Plant is densely populated. Documents suggest over 300 private wells are likely within 2 miles and over 40 municipal wells are within 5 miles of the Plant.

Indian River Plant (NRG Energy)
Millsboro, Delaware

Aluminum, antimony, arsenic, barium, cadmium, chromium, copper, lead, mercury, nickel, selenium, thallium, vanadium, zinc, iron, and manganese

Big Bend Station (Tampa Electric)
Apollo Beach, Florida

Aluminum, arsenic, boron, chloride, fluoride, iron, manganese, molybdenum, sulfate, sodium, thallium, gross alpha, and TDS

C.D. McIntosh Plant (City of Lakeland)
Lakeland, Florida

Arsenic, cadmium, lead, manganese, selenium, vanadium, nitrate, iron, sulfate, TDS, and pH

At Risk Populations: Disposal areas are near Lake Parker, the shoreline of which is densely populated, and the lake is used recreationally.

Curtis Stanton Center (Orlando Utilities)
Orlando, Florida

aluminum, chloride, iron, manganese, alpha radiation and sodium

JEA- St. Johns River Power Park (JEA)
Jacksonville, Florida

Aluminum, Arsenic, Beryllium, Chloride, Sulfate

EPA ICR Data 3/2012
(Response to FOIA Request to EPA)

Lansing Smith Plant (Southern Co.)
Sneeds, Florida

Cadmium, chromium, flouride, sulfate, chloride, manganese, iron

Plant Crist (Southern Company)
Pensacola, Florida

Arsenic, cadmium, chromium, manganese, iron, sodium, sulfate, chloride, TDS, pH

Seminole Station (Seminole Electric Cooperative)
Palatka, Florida

Chlorides, sulfates, iron, TDS, boron, aluminum, arsenic, lead and sodium

Harllee Branch Power Station (Georgia Power Company)
Milledgeville, Georgia

Dec. 2000 slurry discharge

Plant Bowen (Southern Company)
Cartersville, Georgia

Unpermitted dishcarge of 80 tons of ash slurry into Euharlee Creek in 2002

Plant Yates (Southern Company)
Newnan, Georgia

Chromium, Selenium, Nickel

Coffeen/White & Brewer Trucking Fly Ash Landfill (White & Brewer Trucking)
Montgomery County, Illinois

Sulfate, total dissolved solids and manganese

Dallman Power Station (City Water, Light & Power)
Springfield , Illinois

Arsenic, boron, manganese, iron, sodium, hexavalent chromium

Duck Creek Station (AES)
Canton, Illinois

Sulfate, total dissolved solids, chloride, manganese, and iron

Havana Power Plant (Dynegy)
Havana, Illinois

Manganese and sulfate

Hennepin Power Station (Dynegy)
Hennepin, Illinois

Sulfate and total dissolved solids

Hutsonville Power Station (Ameren Energy)
Hutsonville, Illinois

Sulfate, total dissolved solids, manganese

Joliet 29 (Edison International)
Joliet, Illinois

Antimony, chloride, manganese, sulfate, TDS

Joliet 9 Generating Station (Edison International)
Joliet, Illinois

Ammonia, arsenic, boron, chloride, fluoride, manganese, molybdenum, pH, sodium, sulfate, total dissolved solids, barium, copper, nitrate

At Risk Populations: There are 94 drinking wells within a mile radius of the landfill with wells downgradient to the northeast and southeast of the disposal sites. Concerns are that pumping in other quarries to the east will pull the contamination into more private wells.

Joppa Plant (Ameren and others)
Joppa, Illinois

Lead, boron, manganese, sulfate, cobalt, hexavalent chromium

Lakeside Power Station (City of Springfield)
Springfield , Illinois

Seepage reported in 1999

Marion Plant (Southern Illinois Power Cooperative)
Marion, Illinois

Boron, cadmium, iron, aluminum, and manganese

At Risk Populations: There are 3 wells within a mile radius of the CCW disposal areas.

Meredosia Power Station (Ameren)
Meredosia, Illinois

Arsenic, boron, manganese; 2006 fly ash pond spill of less than 500 gallons

Pearl Station (Prairie Power)
Pearl, Illinois

Arsenic, boron, sulfate, manganese

Powerton Plant - Mahoney Landfill (Edison International)
Pekin, Illinois

Cadmium, lead, nitrate, iron, manganese, sulfate

Powerton Station (Edison International)
Pekin, Illinois

Arsenic, lead, chromium, manganese, boron, iron, TDS

Rocky Acres Disposal Site
Oakwood, Illinois

Arsenic, barium, boron, chromium, lead, iron, nickel and manganese

Venice Power Station (Ameren Energy)
Venice, Illinois

Arsenic, boron, cadmium, iron, manganese, total dissolved solids

Vermilion Power Station (Dynegy)
Oakwood, Illinois

Sulfate and total dissolved solids

Waukegan Station (Edison International)
Waukegan, Illinois

Antimony, arsenic, boron, manganese, sulfate, iron, TDS

Wood River Power Station (Dynegy)
Alton, Illinois

Sulfate, total dissolved solids, and manganese

A.B. Brown Station (Vectron)
Mount Vernon, Indiana

Sulfate, total dissolved solids, chloride, and pH

Bailly Station (NiSource)
Chesteron, Indiana

Arsenic, lead, cadmium

Cayuga (Duke Energy)
Cayuga, Indiana

Sulfates and total dissolved solids

Clifty Creek Station Landfill (Ohio Valley Electric)
Madison, Indiana

Boron, manganese, iron, and sulfates

Eagle Valley Generating Station (Indianapolis Power & Light Co.)
Martinsville, Indiana

Feb. 2007 levee breach; 30 million gallons spilled

Gibson Plant (Duke Energy)
Princeton, Indiana

Arsenic, selenium, boron, manganese, and iron

Merom Station CCW Landfill (Hoosier Energy)
Merom, Indiana

Barium, chromium, cadmium, lead, sulfate, chloride

Michigan City Site (NIPSCO)
Michigan City, Indiana

Arsenic

Petersburg Station (AES)
Petersburg, Indiana

Sulfate and total dissolved solids

R.M. Schahfer Station (NiSource)
Wheatfield, Indiana

Sulfate; spills in 1998 and 2009

Yard 520/Brown's Landfill (NIPSCO)
Town of Pines, Indiana

Benzene, arsenic, manganese, and VOCs including benzene, MTBE, boron, manganese, and molybdenum

Fair Station (Central Iowa Power Cooperative)
Montpelier, Iowa

Selenium, manganese, sulfate

George Neal Station North (Berkshire Hathaway)
Sergeant Bluff, Iowa

Arsenic, iron, manganese, and sulfate

George Neal Station South (Berkshire Hathaway)
Salix, Iowa

Arsenic, barium, selenium, zinc, iron, manganese, sulfate

Interstate Power and Light - Sutherland Generating Station
Marshalltown, Iowa

Boron, iron, manganese, pH

EPA ICR Data 3/2012
(Response to FOIA Request to EPA)

Lansing Power Station (Alliant Energy)
Lansing, Iowa

Arsenic, iron, manganese, and sulfate

At Risk Populations: There are about a dozen residences within 1000 feet of the landfill and ash ponds. There are 33 drinking wells within a 2-mile radius of the Plant and 5 public water sources within a 5-mile radius.

M.L. Kapp Generating Station (Alliant Energy)
Clinton, Iowa

Mar. 2009 unpermitted release of water

Muscatine County Landfill
Muscatine County, Iowa

Sulfate and selenium

Prairie Creek Generating Station (Alliant Energy)
Cedar Rapids, Iowa

Arsenic, boron, manganese, sulfate

Riverside Generating Station (MidAmerican Energy)
Bettendorf, Iowa

Antimony, lead. 2002 spill caused by Mississippi River flooding.

EPA ICR Data 3/2012
(Response to FOIA Request to EPA)

Walter Scott Jr. Energy Center (MidAmerican Energy)
Council Bluffs, Iowa

Selenium, thallium, arsenic, lead

EPA ICR Data 3/2012
(Response to FOIA Request to EPA)

LaCygne Generating Station (Kansas City Power & Light Co.)
LaCygne, Kansas

Releases in July 2007, Sept 2007, and May 2009--due to unusual rainfall events

Tecumseh Energy Center (Westar Energy)
Tecumseh, Kansas

Sulfate, total dissolved solids, Iron

EPA ICR Data 3/2012
(Response to FOIA Request to EPA)

Dale Power Station (East Kentucky Power Coop Inc)
Winchester, Kentucky

Small leak detected in 2008

East Bend Scrubber Sludge Landfill (Duke Energy)
Boone County, Kentucky

Total dissolved solids, iron, and sulfate

Mill Creek Station (E.ON)
Louisville, Kentucky

Arsenic, chloride, sodium, sulfate, and total dissolved solids

At Risk Populations: There are 15 private wells within a 2-mile radius and 4 public wells within a 5-mile radius of the Plant.

Paradise Fossil Plant (TVA)
Paradise, Kentucky

Arsenic, boron, manganese, nickel, sulfate

Shawnee Fossil Plant (TVA)
West Paducah, Kentucky

Arsenic, boron, pH, selenium, sulfate, and total dissolved solids

At Risk Populations: Unknown - Metropolis Lake in adjacent state-owned park is contaminated with mercury.

Spurlock Power Station (East Kentucky Power Cooperative)
Maysville, Kentucky

Arsenic, sulfate, iron, and total dissolved solids

At Risk Populations: There are 25 private wells within a 2-mile radius and 3 public wells within a 5-mile radius of the Plant.

Big Cajun 2 Plant (NRG Energy)
New Roads, Louisiana

Selenium, total dissolved solids (TDS), and calcium (as an indicator parameter)

At Risk Populations: There are 3 private drinking wells within a 2-mile radius and 11 public wells within a 5-mile radius of the Plant. Four public wells are downgradient of the Plant.

Dolet Hills Station (Cleco Power)
Mansfield, Louisiana

Arsenic, lead, selenium, chlorides, TDS, sulfate, iron, and pH; SSIs for specific conductance and alkalinity; calcium as an indicator parameter

At Risk Populations: There are 2 private wells within a 2-mile radius and 1 public well within a 5-mile radius of the Plant.

Rodemacher Station (Cleco Power)
Lena, Louisiana

Arsenic, lead, pH, TDS, specific conductance, chloride, and sulfate

At Risk Populations: There are 36 registered water wells within a mile radius and 3 public drinking water wells within a 5-mile radius of the Plant. CLECO and the Louisiana DNR had conflicting well data. See site report.

Brandywine Coal Ash Landfill (Mirant)
Brandywine, Maryland

Cadmium, selenium, lead, manganese, iron, aluminum, sulfates, total dissolved solids, and chlorides

Gambrills Fill Site (Constellation Energy)
Gambrills, Maryland

Beryllium, Arsenic, Cadmium, Lead, Thallium, Aluminum, Manganese, Sulfate.

75 Fed. Reg. at 35232

Morgantown Station, Faulkner Off-site Disposal Facility (Mirant)
Faulkner, Maryland

Iron precipitation, low pH

Brayton Point Station (Dominion)
Somerset, Massachusetts

Manganese, nickel, arsenic, cadmium, chromium, selenium, silver, zinc, vanadium

City of Beverly/Vitale Bros. Fly Ash Pit (Vitale Bros.)
Beverly, Massachusetts

Iron and manganese in surface water; arsenic in air; arsenic, selenium, aluminum, iron, and manganese in groundwater

K.R. Rezendes S. Main St. Ash Landfill
Freetown, Massachusetts

Selenium, sulfates, total dissolved solids, manganese, iron, aluminum

Salem Acres
Salem, Massachusetts

PAHs, PCBs, VOCs, chromium, arsenic, beryllium, vanadium, thallium. Large volume; many other wastes present including municipal solid waste and industrial solid waste.

B.C. Cobb Plant (Consumers Energy)
Muskegon, Michigan

boron and lithium

JH Campbell Power Plant (Consumers Energy)
West Olive, Michigan

pH, Antimony, Boron, Cadmium, Chromium, Iron, Lead, Selenium, Vanadium, Aluminum, Nickel, Thallium, Manganese, Zinc

EPA ICR Data 3/2012
(Response to FOIA Request to EPA)

JR Whiting (CMS Energy)
Erie, Michigan

A two-year study by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in the early 1980s examined the effect of effluent discharges from a coal ash basin adjacent to Lake Erie and found elevated concentrations of trace elements identified as potentially harmful in sediments (arsenic, cobalt, possibly nickel, and selenium) and aquatic biota (arsenic, selenium, bromine, possibly cobalt, nickel, and chromium). The study concluded that chronic exposure to higher concentrations could undermine population fitness through increased susceptibility to disease, predation, and reduced reproductive capacity.

John Warden Ash Site (Upper Peninsula Power Company)
Baraga, Michigan

boron and lithium

Karn/Weadock (CMS Energy)
Essexville, Michigan

Arsenic, boron, lithium, mercury, and phosphorus

Muskegon County Type III Landfill (Muskegon County, MI)
Muskegon, Michigan

boron and manganese

North Lansing Landfill (Lansing Board of Water & Light)
North Lansing, Michigan

Lithium, manganese, selenium

Pine Hill Landfill (Marquette Board of Light and Power)
Marquette, Michigan

boron, lithium, sodium

Presque Isle Power Plant (We Energies)
Marquette, Michigan

boron and lithium

Range Road Landfill (Detroit Edison)
St. Clair County, Michigan

boron, lithium, manganese

Boswell Energy Center (Minnesota Power)
Cohasset, Minnesota

Boron and sulfate

EPA ICR Data 3/2012
(Response to FOIA Request to EPA)

Sherburne County Plant (Xcel)
Becker, Minnesota

Arsenic, cadmium, chromium, fluoride, lead, and nitrate, chloride, copper, iron, manganese, sulfate, and zinc; 600 gallon spill May 2007; 8,000 gallon spill Spring 2008

Colstrip Plant (PPL)
Colstrip, Montana

Boron, sulfate, TDS, selenium and molybdenum; spills in 1995 (100 gallons), 1999, 2000 (50 gallons), 2003 (2700 gallons), 2004, 2005, and 2006 (2000 gallons)

Sheldon Station (Nebraska Public Power)
Hallam, Nebraska

Selenium and sulfate

At Risk Populations: An irrigation well is located downgradient within one mile of the landfill.

North Valmy Generating Station (NV Energy/Idaho Power)
Valmy, Nevada

Arsenic, fluoride, manganese

Reid Gardner (NV Energy)
Moapa, Nevada

Chloride, sulfate, TDS, nitrate, arsenic, boron, chromium, manganese, magnesium, molybdenum, selenium, sodium, vanadium, and titanium

Escalante Station (Tri-State Generation)
Prewitt, New Mexico

Arsenic, boron, chloride, cobalt, manganese, selenium, sulfate and total dissolved solids

EPA ICR Data 3/2012
(Response to FOIA Request to EPA)

Four Corners Plant (Pinnacle West Capital)
Fruitland, New Mexico

Antimony, arsenic, boron, cadmium, cobalt, copper, iron, lead, manganese, mercury, molybdenum, nickel, selenium, zinc, sulfate, TDS and pH

Cayuga (AES)
Lansing, New York

Arsenic, boron, cadmium, selenium, lead, total dissolved solids, aluminum, manganese, sulfate

At Risk Populations: Cayuga Lake is one of New York's Finger Lake, and heavily used for recreation.

Danskammer Waste Management Facility (Dynegy)
Newburgh, New York

Sulfate, sulfide, TDS, tubidity, iron, magnesium, manganese, sodium, boron, pH

Don Frame Trucking
Fredonia, New York

Lead, sulfate, TDS, manganese

Huntley Station Flyash Landfill (NRG)
Tonawanda, New York

Arsenic, iron, manganese, sulfate, total dissolved solids

Weber Ash Disposal Site (AES)
Vestal, New York

Sulfate, total dissoled solids, manganese, iron, aluminum, pH

Allen Plant (Duke Energy)
Belmont, North Carolina

Manganese and iron

Asheville Plant (Progress Energy)
Arden, North Carolina

Chromium, boron, iron, manganese

Belews Creek Station (Duke Energy)
Belews Creek, North Carolina

Arsenic, barium, boron, cadmium, copper, chromium, chloride, fluoride, iron, lead manganese, mercury, nitrate, selenium, silver, zinc, sulfate, TDS, TOH, TOC, and pH. Due to the selenium contamination, 19 of the 20 fish species present in the reservoir were entirely eliminated, including all the primary sport fish.

Belews Lake (Duke Energy)
Walnut Cove, North Carolina

Selenium

Buck Steam Station (Duke Energy)
Salibury, North Carolina

Boron, iron, manganese, pH

EPA ICR Data 3/2012
(Response to FOIA Request to EPA)

Cape Fear Plant (Progress Energy)
Moncure, North Carolina

Lead, chromium, boron, iron, manganese, and sulfate

Cliffside Steam Station (Duke Energy)
Cliffside, North Carolina

Chromium, iron, manganese, pH

EPA ICR Data 3/2012
(Response to FOIA Request to EPA)

Dan River (Duke Energy)
Eden, North Carolina

Chromium, iron, lead, manganese, silver, and sulfate

At Risk Populations: Several dozen private residences are within two miles of the ash ponds.

Hyco Lake (Progress Energy)
Semora, North Carolina

Selenium

Lee Plant (Progress Energy)
Goldsboro, North Carolina

Arsenic, lead, boron, manganese, and iron

Marshall Steam Station (Duke Energy)
Terrell, North Carolina

Barium, boron, chloride, iron, manganese, pH, total dissolved solids, selenium, chromium, nickel, lead

EPA ICR Data 3/2012
(Response to FOIA Request to EPA)

Roxboro (Progress Energy)
Semora, North Carolina

2008 pond breach

Sutton Plant (Progress Energy)
Wilmington, North Carolina

Arsenic, boron, manganese, and iron.

Swift Creek Structural Fill (ReUse/Full Circle Solutions)
Rocky Mount, North Carolina

Arsenic, barium, lead, mercury, and sulfate

Antelope Valley (Basic Electric Power Cooperative)
Beulah, North Dakota

Arsenic

At Risk Populations: The area surrounding the Plant is primarily agricultural and there are private wells used for irrigation. There are 2 public water supplies within 5 miles of the Plant.

Coal Creek Station Surface Impoundments (Great River Energy)
Underwood, North Dakota

Arsenic, selenium, sulfate, chloride, boron

Coyote Station (Otter Tail Power)
Beulah, North Dakota

Iron, arsenic, manganese, sulfate, field pH & TDS were exceeded in both upgradient and downgradient wells over the last 5 years

EPA ICR Data 3/2012
(Response to FOIA Request to EPA)

Leland Olds (Basic Electric Power Cooperative)
Stanton, North Dakota

Arsenic, boron, iron, lead, selenium, sulfates, and total dissolved solids

At Risk Populations: A municipal well is within 5 miles of the plant. Fish and irrigation water from the Missouri river could be at risk.

R.M. Heskett Station (MDU Resources)
Mandan, North Dakota

Sulfate and boron

W.J. Neal Station Surface Impoundment (Basic Electric Power Cooperative)
Velva, North Dakota

Chromium, antimony, arsenic, chromium, manganese, selenium, and sodium

Cardinal (AEP)
Brillant, Ohio

Arsenic, boron, molybdenum; spill in 2004

At Risk Populations: The nearby Tidd-Dale subdivision is in the direct groundwater path of Fly Ash Reservoir 2. The subdivision relies on private drinking water wells. There are 16 private drinking wells with 2 miles of the Plant and 5 public drinking water sources within 5 miles.

Conesville Fixed FGD Sludge Landfill (AEP)
Conesville, Ohio

Lead, calcium, magnesium, TDS, sulfate, iron, arsenic, cadmium, chromium, selenium

Gavin Power Plant (AEP)
Cheshire, Ohio

Alpha activity, arsenic, barium, cadmium, lead, molybdenum, sulfate, and total dissolved solids in groundwater; aluminum, copper, nickel, and zinc in surface water discharges

At Risk Populations: There are at least 63 wells within 1.5 miles of the fly ash pond. Human exposure to contaminants may occur if fish is consumed from nearby surface waters.

Industrial Excess Landfill Superfund Site (Hyman Budoff/Merle & Charles Kittinger)
Uniontown, Ohio

Antimony, arsenic, barium, beryllium, cadmium, chromium, lead, mercury, selenium, and thallium; high pH; and various radioisotopes. No information is available for boron and molybdenum, signature CCW metals, because they have never been included in list of metals analyzed for at IEL.

At Risk Populations: There are 90 private wells with 1500 feet of the site. There are documented cases of residents drinking contaminated well water.

Miamiview Landfill (Duke Energy)
Hamilton County, Ohio

Sulfate

Muskingum River Plant (AEP)
Beverly, Ohio

Alpha activity, arsenic, barium, conductivity, mercury, boron, iron, and sulfate

At Risk Populations: 48 drinking water wells are within 1.5 miles of the plant; two wells are 0.25 miles from the plant.

W.C. Beckjord Station (Duke Energy)
New Richmond, Ohio

Sulfate, selenium; 1999 significant drop in pond elevation and holes

Northeastern (AEP)
Oologah, Oklahoma

Arsenic, barium, chromium, lead, selenium, vanadium, thallium, sulfate, and high pH

At Risk Populations: At least 6 private wells are downgradient within 2 miles in Oologah and 3 public wells are within 5 miles.

Boardman (PGE)
Boardman, Oregon

Selenium, vanadium, total dissolved solids, chloride, sulfate, and alkalinity

At Risk Populations: Groundwater in the vicinity of the plant is used for irrigation and livestock. Within 5 miles of the Plant, 14 wells are used for irrigation, 19 wells are used as private water supply and 18 wells are used for livestock watering. Carty Reservoir is also used for irrigation at a neighboring farm.

Bruce Mansfield Station (FirstEnergy)
Shippingport, Pennsylvania

Aluminum, antimony, arsenic, barium, boron, cadmium, calcium, chloride, chromium (hexavalent), fluoride, iron, lead, manganese, pH, selenium, sodium, sulfate, total dissolved solids, total suspended solids, thallium, turbidity

At Risk Populations: At least 22 private wells have been contaminated above state standards, federal MCLs, SMCLs, or health advisories.

Elrama Power Plant (Reliant)
Elrama, Pennsylvania

Cadmium

EME Homer City Generation L.P. (Midwest Generation)
Homer City, Pennsylvania

Iron, lead, manganese, sulfate

EPA ICR Data 3/2012
(Response to FOIA Request to EPA)

Fern Valley Landfill (Reliant)
Elrama, Pennsylvania

Aluminum, arsenic, boron, chloride, lead, selenium, sulfate, and TDS

Hatfield's Ferry Station (Allegheny Energy)
Masontown, Pennsylvania

Aluminum, arsenic, boron, chromium, iron, manganese, molybdenum, thallium, total dissolved solids, and sulfate

At Risk Populations: There are seven drinking water wells within 2 miles of the ash site.

Hunlock Power Station (UGI Development)
Hunlock Creek, Pennsylvania

Arsenic, iron, manganese, barium, boron, and lithium

Mitchell Power Station (Allegheny Energy)
Courtney, Pennsylvania

Arsenic, ammonia, boron, calcium, chemical oxygen demand, chloride, iron, molybdenum, magnesium, manganese, nickel, potassium, specific conductance, sodium, sulfate, total alkalinity and total dissolved solids

New Castle Power Plant (GenOn Energy)
West Pittsburg, Pennsylvania

Arsenic

EPA ICR Data 3/2012
(Response to FOIA Request to EPA)

Phillips Power Station Landfill (Duquesne Light)
Crescent Township, Pennsylvania

Total dissolved solids, chloride, fluoride, manganese and aluminum

Portland Station's Bangor Ash Disposal Site (RRI Energy)
Bangor, Pennsylvania

Arsenic, barium, boron, cadmium, hexavalent chromium, potassium, pH, selenium, iron, manganese, sulfate, total dissolved solids, aluminum, fluoride, and chloride

PPL Martins Creek Power Station (PPL Generation)
Bangor, Pennsylvania

Dam failure; 100 million gallon fly ash spill covering 10 acres in 2005; minor seeps in 2007

75 Fed. Reg. at 35232

Seward (RRI Energy)
New Florence, Pennsylvania

Aluminum, antimony, arsenic, cadmium, chloride, chromium, iron, lead, manganese, nickel, pH, selenium, sulfate, total dissolved solids, turbidity, zinc, sodium, calcium, barium, boron, fluoride, and magnesium

Canadys Plant (SCANA)
Walterboro, South Carolina

Arsenic and nickel

Cope (South Carolina Energy and Gas)
Cope, South Carolina

Arsenic, pH, iron, nitrates, total dissolved solids

EPA ICR Data 3/2012
(Response to FOIA Request to EPA)

Cross Station (Santee Cooper)
Pineville, South Carolina

Arsenic, cadmium, sulfate, sodium, iron, total chromium, hexavalent chromium

Grainger Station (Santee Cooper)
Conway, South Carolina

Arsenic

Jefferies Generating Station (Santee Cooper)
Moncks Corner, South Carolina

Arsenic, pH, Uranium

EPA ICR Data 3/2012
(Response to FOIA Request to EPA)

McMeekin Station (SCANA corporation)
Columbia, South Carolina

Chromium, lead, sulfate, iron, TDS, hexavalent chromium

Savannah River Project (Department of Energy)
Aiken, South Carolina

Continuous flow of sluice water discharges into Beaver Creek Dam. Elevated levels of heavy metals such as arsenic, cadmium, chromium and selenium in the wetland and settling basin have caused deformities and other harm to aquatic life, including bullfrogs and water snakes.

Nagle et al. "Accumulation and Selective Maternal Transfer of Contaminants in the Turtle Trachemys scripta Associated with Coal Ash Deposition." Archives of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology. (2001).

Urquhart Station (SCANA)
Beech Island, South Carolina

Arsenic and nickel

Wateree Station (SCANA)
Eastover, South Carolina

Arsenic

Winyah Station (Santee Cooper)
Georgetown, South Carolina

Arsenic, sulfate; 2008 spill

Big Stone (Otter Tail Power)
Big Stone, South Dakota

Arsenic, boron, lead, strontium, chlorides, sulfate, and TDS

At Risk Populations: Groundwater is the only source of public water supply in South Dakota. There are 119 wells within a 5-mile radius of the Plant.

Allen Fossil Plant (TVA)
Memphis, Tennessee

Arsenic, manganese

Bull Run (TVA)
Oak Ridge, Tennessee

Aluminum, calcium, iron, and sulfate in surface water; arsenic, boron, manganese, molybdenum, and sulfate in groundwater

Cumberland (TVA)
Cumberland City, Tennessee

Aluminum, arsenic, boron, chloride, iron, manganese, selenium, sulfate, and total dissolved solids

At Risk Populations: There are 440 households within 3 miles. The majority of nearby drinking water sources utilize groundwater.

Gallatin (TVA)
Gallatin, Tennessee

Aluminum, boron, beryllium, cadmium, iron, manganese, nickel, sulfate, and total dissolved solids

At Risk Populations: Many public drinking water sources for communities near Gallatin use treated water from the Cumberland River. The Gallatin Water Department draws water just over 1 mile downstream of the plant's ash ponds.

John Sevier (TVA)
Rogersville, Tennessee

Aluminum, arsenic, cadmium, manganese, boron, strontium, and sulfate

Johnsonville (TVA)
New Johnsonville, Tennessee

Aluminum, arsenic, boron, cadmium, chromium, chloride, total dissolved solids, iron, lead, manganese, molybdenum, sulfate

At Risk Populations: Disposal areas discharge into recreational waters of Tennessee River within a mile of New Johnsonville and Camden municipal water intake pipes.

Kingston Power Station (Tennessee Valley Authority )
Harriman, Tennessee

Release of 5.4 million cubic yards (tons) of fly ash sludge (over 1 billion gallons) over an approximately 300-acre area and into a branch of the Emory River.

75 Fed. Reg. at 35232

Oak Ridge Y-12 Plant Chestnut Ridge Operable Unit 2 (Department of Energy)
Oak Ridge, Tennessee

Aluminum, iron, copper, arsenic, cadmium, manganese, mercury, sodium, barium, cadmium, chromium, iron, lead, manganese, potassium, vanadium, zinc, selenium, cobalt

Trans-Ash Coal Combustion Waste Landfill (Trans-Ash)
Camden, Tennessee

Mercury, iron, boron, arsenic, chromium, lead, nickel, silver, and sulfate

Big Brown Steam Electric Station (Luminant)
Fairfield, Texas

Cadmium, Sulfate, TDS, Manganese, Chloride, Boron

EPA ICR Data 3/2012
(Response to FOIA Request to EPA)

Brandy Branch Reservoir (AEP)
Hallsville, Texas

Selenium and chromium

Coleto Creek Power Station (International Power)
Fannin, Texas

Arsenic, lead, boron, nickel

Fayette Power Project (Lower Colorado River Authority)
La Grange, Texas

Aluminum, arsenic, chloride, cobalt, manganese, molybdenum, selenium, sulfate, total dissolved solids

At Risk Populations: TCEQ has notified two neighboring landowners of possible molybdenum contamination. There are 42 private wells and 23 public wells within 5 miles of the Plant.

Martin Lake Reservoir (TXU)
Tatum, Texas

Selenium

Pirkey (AEP)
Hallsville, Texas

Arsenic, chromium, lead

EPA ICR Data 3/2012
(Response to FOIA Request to EPA)

Sandow Steam Electric Station (Luminant)
Rockdale, Texas

Boron

EPA ICR Data 3/2012
(Response to FOIA Request to EPA)

W.A. Parish Station (NRG Energy)
Thompsons, Texas

Arsenic, Barium, Selenium, boron, manganese, molybdenum, sulfate

Welsh Reservoir (AEP)
Mt Pleasant, Texas

Selenium

Battlefield Golf Course (Dominion)
Chesapeake, Virginia

Surface water samples showed elevated levels of aluminum, chromium, iron, lead, manganese, and thallium in one or more on-site samples. The lone off-site surface water sample had elevated levels of aluminum, iron, and manganese.

75 Fed. Reg. at 35232

Chesterfield Power Station (Dominion)
Chester, Virginia

Unusual discharge in 2005

Clinch River (AEP)
Cleveland, Virginia

In 1967, a dike from a coal ash pond at Clinch River Plant collapsed releasing a caustic ash slurry into the Clinch River. Some 217,000 fish were killed for up to 90 miles downriver and benthic macroinvertebrates, snails and mussels were also wiped out or very negatively affected. Forty years after the spill, aquatic ecosystems downstream remain degraded. High concentrations of copper and aluminum from power plant effluent also contribute to biotic impairment.

Clover Power Station (Dominion)
Clover, Virginia

pH

EPA ICR Data 3/2012
(Response to FOIA Request to EPA)

Glen Lyn (AEP)
Glen Lyn, Virginia

Scientific studies in the 1970s and 1980s documented acute toxicity of effluent discharges from a fly ash holding pond to aquatic insects (mayflies) and bacteria in a mountain stream that flows into the New River. High TSS, pH at 9.5 units and cadmium and selenium exceeding Virginia Water Quality Standards for acute toxicity by 30 times and 4 times, respectively in the stream were responsible for the mortality. Bioaccumulation of copper by 580 times and cadmium and nickel by 10,000 times in duckweed, a floating plant in the pond, over levels in the water or sediments posed a toxic potential to off-site life if the plant was flushed from the pond.

Possum Point (Dominion VEPCO)
Dumfries, Virginia

Cadmium and nickel

Yorktown Station Chisman Creek Disposal Site (Dominion)
Yorktown, Virginia

vanadium, selenium, sulfate, arsenic, beryllium, chromium, copper, molybdenum, nickel

Albright Power Station (Monongahela Power Co.)
Albright, West Virginia

Thallium, chromium, nickel

EPA ICR Data 3/2012
(Response to FOIA Request to EPA)

John Amos Plant (AEP)
Winfield, West Virginia

Selenium

Kanawha River Plant (AEP)
Glasgow, West Virginia

Selenium

EPA ICR Data 3/2012
(Response to FOIA Request to EPA)

Mitchell Plant (AEP)
Moundsville, West Virginia

Arsenic, antimony, sulfate, selenium, zinc, sodium, and temperature

Mount Storm Power Station (Dominion)
Mt. Storm, West Virginia

Nickel, Nitrogen Nitrate and Nitrogen

EPA ICR Data 3/2012
(Response to FOIA Request to EPA)

Mountaineer Plant (AEP)
New Haven, West Virginia

Arsenic, Barium

EPA ICR Data 3/2012
(Response to FOIA Request to EPA)

Philip Sporn (AEP)
Graham Station, West Virginia

Nickel

EPA ICR Data 3/2012
(Response to FOIA Request to EPA)

Alma Station Off-site Fly Ash Landfill (Dairyland Power)
Alma, Wisconsin

Sulfate, manganese, boron

Alma Station On-site Fly Ash Landfill (Dairyland Power)
Alma, Wisconsin

Sulfate and manganese

Cedar-Sauk Landfill (WEPCO)
Cedarburg, Wisconsin

Selenium, boron, sulfate

Columbia Energy Center (Alliant Energy)
Pardeeville, Wisconsin

Ecological studies in the late 1970s identified devastating impacts on aquatic life in a stream receiving discharge from ash ponds wiping out nearly all aquatic insects for 2.2 miles downstream. High conductivity and concentrations of cadmium and copper that likely exceeded federal and Wisconsin water quality criteria for acute toxicity in the stream as well as flocculent in the discharge coating the stream bottom were the culprits.

Edgewater 1-4 Ash Disposal Site (Alliant Energy)
Sheboygan, Wisconsin

Boron, sulfate, iron

EJ Stoneman Station Ash Disposal Pond (Dairyland Power)
Cassville, Wisconsin

Cadmium, chromium, sulfate, manganese, iron, zinc, boron

Highway 59 Landfill (WEPCO)
Waukesha, Wisconsin

Sulfate, boron, manganese, chloride, iron, arsenic, selenium

Lemberger Landfill
Whitelaw, Wisconsin

Volatile organic compounds, arsenic, barium, chromium, cadmium, lead

Nelson Dewey Ash Disposal Facility (Alliant Energy)
Cassville, Wisconsin

Arsenic, selenium, sulfate, boron, flouride

Oak Creek (Wisconsin Energy)
Oak Creek, Wisconsin

Boron, molybdenum, manganese, sulfate, arsenic, flouride, mercury

At Risk Populations: In August 2009, WE Energies informed nearby residents that their water was unsafe to drink and has been providing bottled water to about two dozen residences. There about 100 more households north of these homes and potentially in the pathway of contamination but most are on public water. Other homes are potentially effected by localized contamination further west.

Oak Creek Power Plant (We Energies)
Oak Creek, Wisconsin

2,500 cubic yards of ash spilled into Lake Michigan when a bluff collapsed in Oct. 2011 .

Associated Press (Nov. 2, 2011)

Port Washington Facility (WEPCO)
Port Washington, Wisconsin

Selenium, boron

Pulliam Ash Disposal Site (WPSC)
Green Bay, Wisconsin

Sulfate, manganese, iron

Rock River Station (Alliant Energy)
Beloit, Wisconsin

Arsenic, mercury, sulfate, iron

Dave Johnston Power Plant (Berkshire Hathaway)
Glenrock, Wyoming

Cadmium, manganese and sulfate; in January 2009, 14,400 gallons of process water overflowed the blowdown canal

Jim Bridger Power Station (PacifiCorp Energy)
Rock Springs, Wyoming

Seepage on south side of pond #1 and seepage of 10,000 gal/month on north side of pond #2 (pumped back into pond)

Naughton (PacifiCorp Energy)
Kemmerer, Wyoming

2006 leakage from pond; 55,000 cubic yards of fly ash spilled outside of pond boundaries

Documentation Notes:

EIP 2/2010 is Out of Control: Mounting Damages from Coal Ash Waste Sites, Environmental Integrity Project and Earthjustice, Feb. 24, 2010.
EIP 8/2010 is In Harm's Way: Lack of Federal Coal Ash Regulations Endangers Americans and their Environment, Environmental Integrity Project, Earthjustice and Sierra Club, Aug. 26, 2010.
EPA 2007 is Coal Combustion Waste Damage Case Assessments, U.S. EPA, July 9, 2007.
EIP 12/2011 is Risky Business: Coal Ash Threatens America's Groundwater Resources at 19 More Sites, Environmental Integrity Project, Dec. 12, 2011.
EPA ICR Data 3/2012 is EPA Office of Water data showing MCL [Maximum Contaminant Level] / state standard exceedances.
EPA Database is Information Request Responses from Electric Utilities, U.S. EPA, Jan. 13, 2012. Follow link to Database Results (Excel).

URL: http://earthjustice.org/features/campaigns/in-harm-s-way-coal-ash-contaminated-sites