A preliminary evaluation of Illinois’ 24 coal-fired power plants and 83 coal ash impoundments conducted by the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA) found that:

  1. At most impoundments (51 of 83), no liners to contain waste and prevent pollution of groundwater were installed;
  2. At most impoundments (55 of 83), no groundwater monitoring is required;
  3. At all of the power plant sites evaluated (6 out of 24), groundwater is contaminated;
  4. At most of the power plant sites (16 of 24), dams creating the impoundments are unpermitted and have not been inspected for safety or stability by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources – Office of Water Resources.

Tell EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson that coal ash is hazardous and needs to be regulated with stringent environmental protections, here: http://action.sierraclub.org/bigpicture_ash.

Read more about toxic coal ash here.