IDEM Approves Plan For Fly Ash Pond Closure

The FAP closure plan at the former Tanners Creek Power Plant site covers approximately 70.7 acres.

(Lawrenceburg, Ind.) – The Fourth Port could be one step closer to landing in Lawrenceburg. 

The Indiana Department of Environmental Management has approved Tanners Creek Development LLC's plan to close the fly ash pond (FAP) at the former Tanners Creek Power Plant site in Lawrenceburg.

The approved plan includes the Upper Basin and the Clear Water Pond located on property located at the south end of Shurlite Drive and west of Tanners Creek.

In total, the FAP closure approval encompasses approximately 70.7 acres, which will be closed using the closure-in-place option. 

Environmentalists, such as Tim Maloney, have been critical of similar plans to cap the ash ponds in place, citing the risk for contaminating drinking water wells utilized by Aurora Utilities and Lawrenceburg-Manchester-Sparta Conservancy.

Maloney, a senior police director for the Hoosier Environmental Council, went on record in 2019 saying “we have seen no evidence that the (drinking water) wells are contaminated at this time.”

He went on to say that if the fly ash ponds were closed in place, the ash ponds will continue to affect underlying groundwater indefinitely, and well beyond the 30-year post closure care period that will be required under the approved plan.

Eagle Country 99.3 has reached out to Maloney to comment on the current plan, but has not heard back at this time.

So what will the closure plan look like? 

Closure Requirements

Tanners Creek Development LLC must maintain drainage ditches and the sedimentation basin to prevent off-site deposition of water and sediments. Other requirements include constructing temporary run-off structures as needed that are unable to drain to sedimentation basin, and construct erosion and surface water control structures.

The company must properly dispose of water that has been in contact with waste, in accordance with applicable local, state and federal laws. Frequent inspections will also be required until completion of the final FAP closure.

Ash material will be removed from the Upper Basin and stockpiled in the Clear Water Pond. Tanners Creek Development LLC will then be required to dewater and stabilize the existing coal combustion residuals (CCR) in the clear water pond before constructing the final cover. 

A geosynthetic stabilization layer will be placed as needed over the existing ash. The final cover starting from the top to the bottom (top of ash) must consist of six inches of vegetative soil, 30 inches of protective soil, 16-ounce/square yard non-woven geotextile or geocomposite and 40-mil or 60- mil geomembrance liner. 

Groundwater Monitoring Requirements & Concerns About Contaminating Drinking Water

Tanners Creek Development LLC will be responsible for conducting groundwater monitoring throughout the FAP closure and the 30-year-post-closure care period. 

Groundwater samples will be required semi-annually during May and November of each year.  

The monitoring program for the FAP is based on the same standards found in the federal rules regulating coal combustion residuals waste. If groundwater contamination is found occurring from the FAP, corrective action will be immediately required. According to IDEM, a groundwater monitoring program is specifically designed to detect a release if it occurs, and in time to correct the problem before it travels far enough to impact adjacent properties or resources such as water wells utilized by Aurora Utilities or Lawrenceburg-Manchester-Sparta Conservancy. 

Compliance Requirements

The owner or operator must identify a soil borrow area for the final cover construction, and submit the following information to IDEM and receive approval at least 60 days before beginning construction of the final cover system:

- The location of the new borrow area, soil specifications, and soil balance calculations demonstrating there is adequate volume of soil available for the closure of the FAP,

- A revised closure cost estimate to reflect the soil source change, including excavation, transportation, and/or purchasing,

- A revised post-closure cost estimate for the final cover maintenance to reflect the change in the final cover borrow soil source. The final cover maintenance cost is at least 10% of the cost for placement of the final cover, including protective soil, vegetative soil, geomembrane and geocomposite.

Cost

According to IDEM, the FAP closure will cost an estimated $7.1 million. Some additional information is needed before the full closure and post-closure cost estimates are known and financial assurance documents are secured in the approved amount. 

Fourth Port?

I believe we’re continuing to slowly progressing toward the eventual opening of the 4 Port of Indiana, Lawrenceburg," said State Rep. Randy Frye (R-Greensburg). "While I’m disappointed in how long the process is taking I’m encouraged we’re still moving forward." 

View the full Closure Plan here.

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