Could Ordinance Stop Fly Ash From Being Shipped Into Lawrenceburg?

By Mike Perleberg A map outlining the ash ponds at the former Tanners Creek Power Plant property in Lawrenceburg. The ash landfill highlighted in red is the one for which Commercial Development Company wants a minor modification to its permit to allow for filling with out-of-state fly ash. Indiana Department of Environmental Management image. (Lawrenceburg, Ind.) - The City of Lawrenceburg may look to pass a new ordinance as a show of its opposition to a company’s plans to bring hazardous material into the city. Tanners Creek Development, LLC, an affiliate of Commercial Development Company, wants to use barges to ship fly ash and other coal combustion residuals into Lawrenceburg from two Ohio power plants. The toxic fly ash would be used to complete the filling of an ash landfill at the former Tanners Creek Power Plant site, which is being eyed as the potential home of Ports of Indiana's fourth port in the state. As many as 15 barges loaded with fly ash could arrive on the city’s riverfront each week, if permits are granted by the Indiana Department of Environmental Management and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Citizens and Lawrenceburg Mayor Kelly Mollaun’s administration are using multiple means of stopping the fly ash activity. The mayor has already met face-to-face with IDEM officials, sent a letter to IDEM and the Army Corps of Engineers, and been successful in getting IDEM to accept public comment on Tanners Creek Development’s permit modification request. City Attorney Del Weldon said Wednesday that Lawrenceburg Common Council may vote Thursday on an ordinance which would ban the importation of fly ash into the city limits, unless a variance is granted. "The City may institute a suit for injunction in the Circuit Court or Superior Court of the County to restrain any person or government unit from violating any provision of this Chapter and to cause such violation to be prevented, abated, or removed," part of the proposed city ordinance reads. If it passes, the ordinance would be effective immediately. However, it is unclear if the ordinance would take precedence over IDEM’s potential decision on a permit modification regarding the fly ash. Mollaun has said he expected the state agency to make a ruling on the modification within the next couple weeks. RELATED STORIES: County Commissioners Join Lawrenceburg In Effort To Block Out-Of-State Fly Ash IDEM Opens Fly Ash Permit Modification For Public Comment Citizens Air Worries About Fly Ash Shipped Into Lawrenceburg Toxic Fly Ash Could Be Shipped Into Lawrenceburg; Mayor Trying To Make A Stand Demolition, Decontamination Timeline Shortened At Former L’burg Power Plant Ports Of Indiana Enjoying Growth In 2017 Ports Of Indiana Enters $8M Purchase Agreement For Lawrenceburg Site IBJ: Governor Continues To Back Lawrenceburg River Port Official Release: Ports Of Indiana Identifies Former Lawrenceburg Coal Plant As Site For Future Port Analysis A Year After Closing, Tanners Creek Plant’s Fate Undecided