Citizens Air Worries About Fly Ash Shipped Into Lawrenceburg

By Mike Perleberg Lawrenceburg City Council met Monday, March 5. Photo by Mike Perleberg, Eagle Country 99.3. (Lawrenceburg, Ind.) - Lawrenceburg citizens and city leaders alike have serious concerns with a company’s plan to ship toxic materials into the city. St. Louis-based Commercial Development Company is preparing the 725-acre site which used to belong to the Tanners Creek Power Plant for redevelopment, perhaps as a new river port. Last week, word got out that CDC and its affiliates, Tanners Creek Development, LLC and Environmental Liability Transfer, Inc., are planning to have fly ash from power plants in Ohio shipped to the site by barge, then used to complete the filling of an ash landfill before the pond can be capped. There are already hundreds of thousands of tons of fly ash buried at the site from more than five decades of operation of the former coal-burning plant. At Monday night’s Lawrenceburg Common Council meeting, Mayor Kelly Mollaun told a room of more than 50 audience members that he has met with officials at the Indiana Department of Environmental Management to express concerns about the human health and environmental concerns about having out-of-state ash shipped in. “I don’t think we need to be taking anybody’s hazardous waste, especially from another state, into our backyard,” Mollaun said. The city is also submitting its concerns in writing as IDEM weighs the permit modification. Mollaun explained that IDEM could rule on a permit modification needed by CDC within the next couple weeks. The city would likely appeal if the modification is granted, the mayor added. Several citizens spoke at last night’s council meeting – all opposed to CDC’s plans. Bright resident Brian DeBruler asked if there is any local ordinance in place pertaining to the regulation of hazardous materials. City attorney Del Weldon said that is regulated by the state. Lisa Barker said she was glad to see city officials come out in opposition to CDC. She said she believes the best course of action is to fight the battle before IDEM's decision is made. Some suggested other ways of perhaps stopping the hazardous material, including submitting comments to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Louisville District. CDC is seeking approval of a barge unloading facility on the river at the former power plant site where the fly ash would be placed onto a conveyor system on its way to the filling site. More information is available at http://www.lrl.usace.army.mil/Missions/Regulatory/Public-Notices/Article/1441217/lrl-2017-632/. Weldon indicated the administration would be tackling the problem via the IDEM permitting and appeal process because “the fight is really with human health and environmental concerns.” Stopping the barge operation on the riverfront would also not necessarily prevent the company from bringing in foreign fly ash by other means, such as trucks. Photo by A.J. Waltz. There is currently no acceptance of public comment by IDEM for the permit modification. Mollaun encouraged citizens to do their part in other capacities. “You determine how far you need to go with it as an individual, and I’ll support you,” Mollaun said. There were few remarks from members of city council, but the mayor assured the audience the entire council opposes the fly ash importation. “Council will do everything they can to see those holes filled with clean dirt,” he said. “We would love nothing better than to use local folks and local dirt.” Mollaun said that once he learns of what IDEM’s decision is on CDC’s permit modification, he will get word out to the public through local media. RELATED STORIES: Toxic Fly Ash Could Be Shipped Into Lawrenceburg; Mayor Trying To Make A Stand Demolition, Decontamination Timeline Shortened At Former L’burg Power Plant Ports Of Indiana Enjoying Growth In 2017 Ports Of Indiana Enters $8M Purchase Agreement For Lawrenceburg Site IBJ: Governor Continues To Back Lawrenceburg River Port Official Release: Ports Of Indiana Identifies Former Lawrenceburg Coal Plant As Site For Future Port Analysis A Year After Closing, Tanners Creek Plant’s Fate Undecided