Jack Brighton

Report shows toxic contamination at coal ash sites throughout Illinois

A new report published by several state environmental groups shows severe pollution of groundwater at nearly every known coal ash storage site in Illinois. The report states that groundwater tests show unsafe levels of toxic chemicals and heavy metals at 22 of 24 Illinois coal-fired power plants. Th

By Jack Brighton

/ 30 Nov 2018

Andrew Rehn of the Prairie Rivers Network presents the report 'Cap and Run: Toxic Coal Ash Left Behind by Big Polluters Threa

Public comments now open on Dynegy plan to stabilize the Middle Fork River near coal ash ponds

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is seeking comment on a proposal by Dynegy Midwest, LLC to install a rock wall to prevent millions of gallons of coal ash from polluting the Middle Fork River in Vermilion County.

By Jack Brighton

/ 26 Nov 2018

A diagram showing the extent of the wall Dynegy wants to build on the Middle Fork River

The impact of a coal ash spill on the Middle Fork

A catastrophic failure of the riverbank could overwhelm the Middle Fork with more than 666 million gallons of toxic coal ash for many miles downstream. The spill would impact the environment, human health, and the economy of the region.

By Jack Brighton

/ 18 Sep 2018

Toxic coal ash in the Emory River after the TVA spill

The costs of closing a coal ash waste site

At Dynegy's coal ash ponds at the Vermilion Power Station, toxic pollution is already impacting groundwater and the Middle Fork River. The company is preparing several options for completely closing the site, including removing the coal ash, or simply capping the ponds and leaving the coal ash in pl

By Jack Brighton

/ 18 Sep 2018

A diagram of the Vermilion Power Station coal ash ponds and the Middle Fork River

The coal ash problem

In 2016 U.S. coal plants produced 107 million tons of coal ash. About 60 million tons were reused for industrial products like cement and construction materials, leaving 47 million tons left over as waste. That waste contains toxic chemicals and heavy metals dangerous to human health and the environ

By Jack Brighton

/ 18 Sep 2018

Coal ash spills demonstrate hazard

Damage from coal ash disposal sites has become a growing concern in recent years after several spectacular disasters. Here's what we know about the damage to human health and the environment from large coal ash spills, and the costs of cleanup, from two disasters in the past decade.

By Jack Brighton

/ 18 Sep 2018

Coal Ash: A hash of regulation

Coal ash isn't regulated in the U.S. as a hazardous waste. The Obama EPA set rules which the Trump EPA reversed. Now it's up to the courts, and the states, to resolve the confusion and prevent future coal ash disasters.

By Jack Brighton

/ 18 Sep 2018

Loose regulations allow coal ash to threaten river

Each year thousands of families boat down the Middle Fork branch of the Illinois Vermilion River below an embankment that holds back 3.3 million cubic yards of toxic coal ash sludge stored in three large ponds. Coal ash pollution is leaching into the river, and the riverbank is eroding under the pon

By Jack Brighton

/ 6 Sep 2018

Since 1955 the Vermilion Power Plant has been storing toxic coal ash in three ponds next to the Middle Fork Vermilion River n

Riverbank near coal ash ponds found unstable

Environmentalists and community members in Vermilion County have expressed deep concern over the pollution from toxic chemicals seeping from large coal ash ponds into the Middle Fork River in Vermilion County. But engineering experts warn there may be a greater risk posed by the collapse of the rive

By Jack Brighton

/ 6 Sep 2018

Erosion on the bank of the Middle Fork River near the Dynegy coal ash ponds

Protecting the Middle Fork from coal ash: How long is 'perpetuity?'

Dynegy is planning to close the coal ash ponds at its shuttered Vermilion Power Station near Oakwood, Illinois. The company may propose to remove the toxic coal ash from the banks of the Middle Fork River, or cap the ponds and leave them in place. The Illinois EPA says the river must be protected "i

By Jack Brighton

/ 5 Sep 2018

Report shows toxic contamination at coal ash sites throughout Illinois

Public comments now open on Dynegy plan to stabilize the Middle Fork River near coal ash ponds

The impact of a coal ash spill on the Middle Fork

The costs of closing a coal ash waste site

The coal ash problem

Coal ash spills demonstrate hazard

Coal Ash: A hash of regulation

Loose regulations allow coal ash to threaten river

Riverbank near coal ash ponds found unstable

Protecting the Middle Fork from coal ash: How long is 'perpetuity?'

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