{"id":18082,"date":"2017-02-24T10:29:51","date_gmt":"2017-02-24T15:29:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wasteadvantagemag.com\/?p=18082"},"modified":"2017-02-24T10:29:51","modified_gmt":"2017-02-24T15:29:51","slug":"kentucky-oks-long-delayed-trimble-county-coal-ash-landfill","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wasteadvantagemag.com\/kentucky-oks-long-delayed-trimble-county-coal-ash-landfill\/","title":{"rendered":"Kentucky OKs Long-Delayed Trimble County Coal Ash Landfill"},"content":{"rendered":"
Kentucky regulators have approved a coal ash landfill for a power plant in Trimble County, advancing a project that\u2019s\u00a0been on hold for several years as regulators worked around concerns about\u00a0the area\u2019s geology and proximity to neighbors. \u00a0\u00a0Louisville Gas & Electric has been seeking a permit for the site for more than five years.\u00a0An initial permit application was denied in 2013, after a cave with ecological and possible historical significance was discovered onsite.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re pleased the Kentucky Division of Waste Management issued our permit and we\u2019ve reached this next step in the permitting process,\u201d said LG&E spokeswoman Liz Pratt in an email. \u201cWe 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.\u201d<\/p>\n
Neighbors Opposed<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n Kelley Leach lives in Trimble County across the street from the proposed landfill.\u00a0He spoke at a legislative hearing earlier this month against the state\u2019s proposed new coal ash regulations, which would place less state oversight over the permitting of landfills. At the hearing, Leach\u00a0also spoke about the prospect of living across the street from the proposed landfill at the Trimble County plant.<\/p>\n \u201cThey have shown in that area that the dolomite is so porous that basically, it wouldn\u2019t be\u00a0if<\/em>\u00a0there would be a contamination of my groundwater, it would be\u00a0when<\/em>\u00a0that would happen,\u201d Leach told legislators. \u201cEven with these liners that they\u2019ve proposed to put in those, it\u2019s just a matter of time.\u201d<\/p>\n 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\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n The permit also doesn\u2019t 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\u2019t as well understood there, and that LG&E would\u00a0have to submit a groundwater monitoring plan if the company ultimately wants to put ash in those areas.<\/p>\n