Fly Ash Pond Closure Plan Is Subject Of Public Meeting Tuesday

Elected officials and citizens alike are likely to attend the meeting to learn more about a company's plan to cap an old coal fly ash containment complex.

A map of the ash pond complex at the former Tanners Creek Power Plant site in Lawrenceburg, Indiana. Image by Tanners Creek Development LLC.

(Lawrenceburg, Ind.) - A big crowd is expected to assemble in Lawrenceburg Tuesday seeking answers about potential contamination of local drinking water posed by millions of tons of buried coal fly ash.

Disposal of fly ash and other material at the former Tanners Creek Power Plant site has raised concerns about the future safety of drinking water pulled from a nearby aquifer. Last week, Eagle Country 99.3 published an article containing more information about the potential environmental dangers.

Tanners Creek Development LLC is holding a fly ash landfill closure meeting at Ivy Tech Community College’s Riverfront Campus, 50 Walnut street, in Lawrenceburg. It is slated to begin at 7:00 p.m.  

Representatives from Tanners Creek Development LLC, Indiana Department of Environmental Management, Lawrenceburg city leaders, and Dearborn County Commissioners are expected to be in attendance at the public meeting. Citizens also hope to learn about the condition of the old power plant site and the fly ash pond complex closure plan.

A notice about Tuesday’s meeting says Tanners Creek Development, the company remediating the 725-acre brownfield area since 2016, plans to cap the fly ash pond with six inches of vegetative layer, 24-30 inches of a protective soil layer, a geocomposite drainage layer or geotextile cushion layer, and a 40-mil linear low-density polyethylene or 60-mil high-density polyethylene geomembrane. Most of the soil material will be from “on-site borrow sources.”

The fly ash pond closure plan is currently under review by IDEM, which will consider public comments.

"After the cap is complete and the closure is approved by IDEM, the site will enter a lengthy closure period where the ground water and cap is monitored for any impact to the surrounding environment," according to the plan notice from Tanners Creek Development. "The cap and entire closure process is done within the guidelines and regulations of IDEM and the federal EPA. The cap/containment system will protect the surrounding area from environmental impact due to ash or contaminants contained in the ash and will also provide a long term solution to past dust issues. This is a very carefully planned and costly improvement to the site conditions and the community as a whole will benefit."

A copy of the closure plan will be available for review at the Lawrenceburg Public Library for a period of 30 days beginning around June 5, according to Tanners Creek Development LLC.

RELATED STORIES:

After Out-Of-State Fly Ash Halted, Questions Over What's Already In The Ground At Tanners Creek

Doesn't Look Like Company Will Appeal Denial Of Lawrenceburg Fly Ash Permit

Dearborn Co. Commissioners Ban Out-Of-State Fly Ash, At Least For Filling

County Commissioners Table Fly Ash Ordinance; Scientist Says Measure Could Trigger Litigation

Citizens Air Worries About Fly Ash Shipped Into Lawrenceburg

IDEM Opens Fly Ash Permit Modification For Public Comment

County Commissioners Join Lawrenceburg In Effort To Block Out-Of-State Fly Ash

Could Ordinance Stop Fly Ash From Being Shipped Into Lawrenceburg?

UPDATE: Commissioners Knew About Tanners Creek Landfill Permit Last Year; Mayor's Email Was Sent To Wrong Address

AUDIO: Water Utilities, State Lawmaker Are Latest To Oppose Fly Ash Shipments

Toxic Fly Ash Could Be Shipped Into Lawrenceburg; Mayor Trying To Make A Stand

More from Local News


Events

  • Make a Holiday Ornament

    Crafters will create a holiday ornament using sea glass and a rustic spiral Christmas tree.

  • Chair Exercise

    Become stronger by participating in video-led chair exercise routines. Chosen videos will focus on helping to improve mobility, strengthen daily life functions.

  • Arts Alive! Art Fair & Bazaar

    Put the magic back in holiday shopping -- visit the Arts Alive! Art Fair & Gift Bazaar. From November 22 to December 22, our marketplace will include fine arts ...

    at Dearborn Highlands Arts Council

Student Entrepreneurs Pitch Big Ideas at 2025 D.I.C.E. Challenge

Nine teams from Lawrenceburg High School, Oldenburg Academy, and South Ripley High School competed.

DCF Board Member Selects River Valley Resources for Proactive Grant

The organization’s 15 volunteer board members select a charitable organization to donate to each holiday season.

AAA Projects Record Travelers for 13-Day, Year-End Travel Period

The holiday travel period begins December 20.

East Central, Lawrenceburg Stars Named EIAC Soccer MVPs

The 2025 EIAC Girls and Boys Soccer All-Conference Teams were released on Tuesday.

Local Sports Report - December 16, 2025

Report missing stats and scores to news@eaglecountryonline.com

Euson, Gilmour, Bowling, Ballart Named EIAC MVPs

The EIAC has unveiled its 2025 Football All-Conference Team.

On Air

Kenny Chesney X - Merry Christmas From Blue Chair Bay 20:51
Chris Janson All I Need is You 20:48
Miranda Lambert The House That Built Me 20:41
Morgan Wallen I Got Better 20:38