After coal is burned, there is ash left over. Unfortunately, coal ash contains toxic heavy metals that can contaminate water. In fact, data released in March 2018, shows that all unlined coal ash disposal sites in Indiana are contaminating groundwater.  That’s why it’s important to dispose of it carefully.   

IPL's Harding Street station on the south side of Indianapolis has coal ash stored in impoundments covering more than 70 acres to a depth of 30 to 40 feet.  There are more than 7 million tons of ash total at Harding St.  The impoundments are in the floodplain of the White River.  The berms around them are taller than the 100-year flood level to prevent ash getting into the river when it floods.

Groundwater data released in March show that the ash is contaminating the shallow aquifer under the ash.  Click here to read the IndyStar story. 

Coal ash was exempt from most waste disposal laws until the Coal Combustion Residuals Rule (CCR Rule) from the EPA in 2015.  The CCR Rule added protection of water resources from coal ash.  Now that the EPA is under a new administration, it is proposing to significantly rollback the 2015 rule, including:

• Allowing operators of coal ash ponds and landfills to write their own standards for groundwater protection
• Making cleanup of contamination optional
• Eliminating the requirement to act if an ash pond contaminates groundwater
• Eliminating the ban on coal ash disposal in unsafe areas like wetlands, floodplains, or fault zones
• Allowing political apointees instead of professional engineers to determine whether a cleanup is required or adequate

Learn More about Coal Ash

There is additional information on Indiana’s coal ash including maps of locations and links to groundwater reports at www.IndianaCoalAsh.org