Kentucky regulators have approved a coal ash landfill for a power plant in Trimble County, advancing a project that鈥檚聽been on hold for several years as regulators worked around concerns about聽the area鈥檚 geology and proximity to neighbors. 聽聽Louisville Gas & Electric has been seeking a permit for the site for more than five years.聽An initial permit application was denied in 2013, after a cave with ecological and possible historical significance was discovered onsite.
The Trimble County Power Station burns coal for electricity, and coal ash is a byproduct. So LG&E needs a place to put the ash, and began work on another landfill permit. Some of the ash is stored on site in ponds, but those are scheduled to be closed soon. Now, the permit granted last week by the Kentucky Division of Waste Management allows the company to build a landfill covering 189 acres of land near the site.
鈥淲e鈥檙e pleased the Kentucky Division of Waste Management issued our permit and we鈥檝e reached this next step in the permitting process,鈥� said LG&E spokeswoman Liz Pratt in an email. 鈥淲e believe the location we selected for the Trimble County special waste landfill is the most appropriate location with the least environmental acts while also being the lowest-cost option for our customers.鈥�
Neighbors Opposed
Kelley Leach lives in Trimble County across the street from the proposed landfill.聽He spoke at a legislative hearing earlier this month against the state鈥檚 proposed new coal ash regulations, which would place less state oversight over the permitting of landfills. At the hearing, Leach聽also spoke about the prospect of living across the street from the proposed landfill at the Trimble County plant.
鈥淭hey have shown in that area that the dolomite is so porous that basically, it wouldn鈥檛 be聽if聽there would be a contamination of my groundwater, it would be聽when聽that would happen,鈥� Leach told legislators. 鈥淓ven with these liners that they鈥檝e proposed to put in those, it鈥檚 just a matter of time.鈥�
The geology under the landfill is characterized by numerous karst features, like caves, sinkholes and underground springs. In the response to comments submitted on LG&E鈥檚 proposed permit, the Kentucky Division of Waste Management said several steps were being taken to ensure the groundwater would be protected, like LG&E filling in any karst features found during excavation.
The permit also doesn鈥檛 allow LG&E to place any waste above the base of the Laurel Dolomite, which is the uppermost layer of bedrock. The response notes that groundwater flow isn鈥檛 as well understood there, and that LG&E would聽have to submit a groundwater monitoring plan if the company ultimately wants to put ash in those areas.
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