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Report on coal-ash dangers looks at sites across the nation where the waste leached into the groundwater and spread toxins for miles. One group wonders if wells near King George landfill might be vulnerable Date published: 9/7/2010
Because of toxic pollution at other sites across the nation where coal-ash waste has been dumped, King George County residents near the landfill should wonder if the same kind of material might contaminate their water, according to a group that recently studied the dangers of coal ash.
"If they're concerned there could be a threat--and there certainly is that likelihood--they should absolutely test for arsenic, mercury, lead" and other toxic metals in the water, said Kate Pollard, a field organizer for the Sierra Club. "There's a much higher likelihood of contaminants from coal ash leaching into the water than what was previously understood." The Sierra Club partnered with the Environmental Integrity Project and Earthjustice to produce a report on coal-ash contamination. Called "In Harm's Way: Lack of Federal Coal Ash Regulations Endangers Americans and Their Environment," the report was released in late August. It was timely on national and local levels. Coal ash is the residue from coal-fired power plants. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency started hearings last week on whether it should change the way it's handled. Currently, coal ash is not considered hazardous waste, and many states don't monitor groundwater around landfills and ponds where it's stored, the report stated. Virginia tests the groundwater at landfills where it's dumped, such as in King George, for some of the metals found in coal-ash waste. One proposal the EPA is considering would classify coal ash as hazardous and impose strict federal guidelines on its handling. A second proposal calls for federal guidelines but leaves the enforcement up to states. Meanwhile, the King George landfill has dealt with a different type of problem from coal ash: odors. For most of 2010, residents of the nearby Oakland Park subdivision have complained about a stench that resident Gary Carrer describes as "gagging." Last month, officials with Waste Management and the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality announced that coal-ash waste may have been the culprit. It wasn't the coal ash generated by the Birchwood Power Plant next door. It was waste from an Alexandria plant that had been treated with a different solution than that which the Birchwood plant uses, said James LaFratta, air compliance engineer with the DEQ in Woodbridge.
Read more stories about King George Date published: 9/7/2010
"The Sierra Club partnered with the Environmental Integrity Project and Earthjustice to produce a report on coal-ash contamination. Called "In Harm's Way: Lack of Federal Coal Ash Regulations Endangers Americans and Their Environment," If someone went on their front porch and emptied a coke every day and the "Sierra Club" got wind of it they would raise a big stink! I may be considered a right wing wacko but their likes are "left wing wacko". Have a nice day! Ralph Huffman
then think about the Stafford Eskimo Hill unlined or partially lined
landfill. The KG facility has had millions spent on it to prevent
contamination of any kind. Gas and water monitoring wells
established a data base prior to opening the landfill. Quarterly
testing, evaluated by the DEQ, compares today's data to the 1996
data. If a problem arises a $6M letter of credit from a Richmond
Bank is available for immediate corrective measures.
The stench is definitely not from trash. It's just undescribable! I can smell it from Potomac Creek sometimes! And I smell it quite often around the Worman Estates area. Please KG, do something about this! "Month - or years" is an unacceptable timeframe!
from the "local trash" imported from Fresh Kylls (Staten Island) that had everything from Hoff's body to asbestos from the Brooklyn Navy Yard in it. Gov Pataki practically got a Nobel Prize for cleaning up the Kylls, and guess where lots of all that centuries old HAZMAT ended up?
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