[CPEO-BIF] "South Carolina's state-owned electrical utility plans to clean up 11 million tons of contaminated coal ash"

[Lenny Siegel <lsiegel@cpeo.org>]

Major cleanup planned by state power company

By SAMMY FRETWELL
The State (SC)
November 19, 2013

South Carolina's state-owned electrical utility plans to clean up 11  
million tons of contaminated coal ash from three power plants and  
close most of its remaining coal waste ponds in a decision that’s  
expected to reduce the threat of pollution leaking into rivers and  
groundwater.

Santee Cooper’s decision, announced the same day it settled two major  
lawsuits with environmental groups, comes at a time of rising  
criticism nationally and regionally about the impact coal-fired power  
plants have on the environment. Not only are greenhouse gases from  
coal plants major contributors to climate change, but unlined waste  
ponds often contain toxic materials, such as arsenic, that seep into  
the water table or ooze into rivers.

Tuesday's decision is of particular significance in South Carolina  
because it marks a change in position by Santee Cooper on the future  
of its coastal-plain ash ponds. The company had been hesitant to  
embrace a full-scale cleanup of the ponds. In at least one instance,  
Santee Cooper spent time and money in court fighting  
environmentalists over how to contain coal ash pollution along the  
scenic Waccamaw River west of Myrtle Beach.


...

For the entire article, see
http://www.thestate.com/2013/11/19/3109343/major-cleanup-planned-by- 
state.html

--

Lenny Siegel
Executive Director, Center for Public Environmental Oversight
a project of the Pacific Studies Center
278-A Hope St., Mountain View, CA 94041
Voice: 650/961-8918 or 650/969-1545
Fax: 650/961-8918
<lsiegel@cpeo.org>
http://www.cpeo.org

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