The Vermilion County Board passed a resolution with unanimous (23-0) support at their May 13 meeting recognizing that “…the County of Vermilion is concerned that the plan for dealing with the fly ash currently on site and elsewhere may not resolve the future needs, both business and recreational, and concerns of citizens…” The resolution called for disposal plans to “…be based upon the best scientific practices…” and “…address the water safety needs of residents…” The resolution also called for “…the producers of fly ash to bear the cost of removal or protection.”
Four residents from Vermilion and Champaign counties travelled to the Illinois Pollution Control Board coal ash hearing in Chicago to present the Vermilion County resolution the day after the county vote, May 14. Individuals from the group also presented a resolution of support from the Vermilion County Soil and Water Conservation District calling for the removal of coal ash along the floodplain of the Middle Fork to a high, dry lined pit. A member of the group read a statement from the Vermilion County Conservation District calling on “… the Dynegy Corporation to take responsibility and the necessary steps to assure that the Middle Fork National Scenic River remains as pristine as it is today.”
The public comment period on the proposed coal ash rules will remain open for several months. Please send an email to the Illinois Pollution Control Board and urge them to include the following in their final rules: protection of surface and groundwater, consideration of safety and stability of ash pits, financial assurances from the industry responsible and public input throughout the closure process. There will be another set of Pollution Control Board hearings on June 18 and 19 if you are interested in attending.
Sign our petition and tell the Illinois Pollution Control Board to protect our water from coal ash!
