On Thursday, September 2nd the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) held its second national public hearing traveling across the country. The hearing was held at the Grand Hyatt in downtown Denver. Hundreds of people came from Colorado and other states pleading with the EPA to regulate coal combustion residuals (CCR) nationwide.
Many of us take our energy for granted. We turn on the light switch and know that nine times out of ten the light will come on because we paid for the electricity to run the lights and many other fixtures and appliances we have in our homes. Do we realize where all that energy comes from and is it “clean” energy?
It is a fact that 70% of Colorado’s electricity is produced from coal (See Clean Energy 101 fossil fuels article.). Xcel and other power distributors are increasing the number of renewable energy resources into their portfolios. However, as long as coal is cheap and abundant and fulfills the needs of our highly consumptive lifestyles, then renewable resources will continue to be out of reach (expensive) for the general population. However is there a price for the consuming these products. The public speaks out to tell their stories.
We know coal is dirty, but do we know just how dirty coal waste is? We don’t realize that we are breathing coal waste, especially those who live in and around coal-fired power plants and coal ash waste facilities, also known as Coal Combustion Residuals (CCR) or fly ash. The CCRs are required to be captured when burning coal in power plants. When coal gets burned, it leaves toxic waste containing heavy metals like uranium, thorium, arsenic, lead, barium, mercury, thallium, and chromium. All those toxins are mixed with water in retention ponds as waste.
Just ask the residents who lived down river from the Tennessee Valley Authority’s Kingston Fossil Plant coal ash retention pond. It was almost two years ago and three days before Christmas when the Kingston plant’s retention pond burst from its banks and flooded the river valley. This disaster received little coverage by local and national press, but rivals the BP oil spill disaster in the Gulf of Mexico as the worst environmental disaster in U.S. history.
This spill was 100 times larger than the Exxon Valdez oil spill disaster. Over a billion gallons of sludge (5.4 million cubic yards), with elevated levels of lead and thallium, contaminated rivers and ground water. In its wake were thousands of dead fish and homes enveloped in several feet thick of black sludge.
It was the TVA disaster and other human stories on the destructive properties of coal ash that were shared at the hearing. Many stressed the impacts coal ash has on the environment and human health.
Hundreds spoke out in favor of Subtitle C to regulate CCRs. People came from all over Colorado and the country to speak their mind on regulating “coal ash waste”, as the public called it.
This was the second public hearing where the EPA was collecting public input on coal waste ash and whether it should be regulated. Upcoming hearings will take place in Dallas, Charlotte, Pittsburgh, and Louisville.
Some people traveled thousands of miles to attend this hearing in Denver. One speaker was Mark Hudson, speaking on behalf of Charles Norris from Pines, Indiana. Norris is part of a citizens’ group fighting the local coal-fired power plant for contamination of their ground water. Hudson stated that the citizens have asked the utility to replace the storage tanks with no results. He added, “It will take Subtitle C to protect the public.” He would like to see the EPA take a long hard look at coal waste disposal.
Randy James Martinez with the Sierra Club proclaimed, “The time has come to replace coal-fired power plants.” He added that CCRs are carcinogens that could contaminate drinking water from unlined and clay lined disposal sites, according to an EPA report from 1995. Martinez added, “You have the power to stop this insanity.” He continued that there are 600 coal ash waste disposal sites and stated, “This is your job to protect us. Do it now.”
Another to add her input was K.K. DuVivier, an environmental and natural resources law professor at Denver University, who believes that ground water must be protected. She stated that Subtitle D does not address this protection. She called the TVA disaster a “toxic tsunami”.
A number of citizens speaking on behalf of children came to speak. One was a pediatrician named Candice Johnson, who supports Subtitle C not D. She knows there are toxic metals found in coal ash. She had first-hand experience living and working in Cleveland, Ohio, which according to Johnson is a hot spot for lead toxicity. She worked with children in Cleveland who suffered the effects of lead poisoning. She stated that even low levels of lead affect brain development.
A number of elementary-aged children from the Earth Guardians in Boulder spoke out in regards to regulating coal ash waste.
Trinity pleaded to the EPA board, “I had to have the courage and stand up for our future.”
Jack Esry added in his testimony, “I saw a picture in National Geographic and saw ash on the ice caps.” “Please support Subtitle C.” (See previous article called “Proof is in the ice”)
Harper passionately testified, “Already there have been spills in Pueblo and Boulder.” He continued, “What I’d like to say to those in power is that this will affect you.” He concluded, “We didn’t get ourselves in this mess, you did.”
A couple of participants mentioned the use of fly ash in concrete and drywall. Connie Marr of Lakewood supports Subtitle C and worries about the old concrete block that is demolished when buildings are removed. What happens when those toxins from fly ash are airborne in concrete? She added that the coal industry spends $100 million convincing us that fly ash is safe.
Shirley Jin of Boulder questioned the EPA’s role and stated that it is their job to protect the environment and the public from toxic materials. She continued that the hazardous materials in coal ash are currently not regulated and “will” leech into ground water and soil. She added that coal is the second largest waste stream in the U.S. behind household waste.
States are now responsible for regulating coal waste, but as Becky English with the Sierra Club added states are not properly monitoring waste sites. She cited that there is inadequate monitoring of arsenic and lead exceeding standards in coal ash waste. She continued that the EPA should also consider lower life forms like plants and invertebrates in their studies. She concluded that power providers need to prove that their waste is not harmful.
Not everyone was an expert in environmental science, an activist, or a physician, as Rob Thomas admitted he doesn’t know much about coal ash. He didn’t even know who the Sierra Club was until last week. However, he has seen the large numbers of subsidies given to the fossil fuel industry. He also mentioned the millions of campaign contributions from the fossil fuel industry to politicians and campaigns.
Roger Hoffman of Loveland included the health implications and provided the TVA leak as an example. He revealed that he had felt quite ill previously and his doctor had his blood tested. His doctor found that he had unsafe levels of mercury and lead in his blood. He has not lived near a coal-fired power plant or worked in the industry. He added his wife also had high levels of mercury and lead in her blood as well. They have both lived in different places all over the country. He noted that chronic illnesses are on the rise and wonders if toxins from burning coal are contributors.
Jackie Malofsky of South Denver recommended to the board, “[You] will use good science in making your decision.” She added that people don’t have the power over legislators like the fossil fuel industry has. “I don’t have millions of dollars like the Koch brothers to buy legislation or the Tea Party.”
A member of the Sierra Club, Keith French, asked the board the true cost of using coal. He stated that waste is not incorporated into the price of the product. He believes that waste and environmental damage caused by using coal should be included in the cost of using this fossil fuel and should be passed along to the consumers. Thereby, allowing renewable energy resources a fair opportunity to compete in the energy market.
John Sullivan, an educator, opposes Subtitle D, and that C is the only option. He stated, "[I] don't know why we are still using coal. It is archaic." He added, "Private interests [are] winning out over the interests of the people." He concluded that Subtitle D was "written by a lump of coal" and asked if the EPA was responsible for writing D or someone else.
While this examiner couldn’t stay beyond 7:30 PM that evening, there were over 248 numbered speakers signed up to speak that day. She last heard from Jenna Harden, a Denver attorney, who asked the EPA to consider the gravity of this situation. “Industry’s time has come to an end.” She concluded that it is clear by numerous studies that there is more poverty and less employment where coal is mined and used.
Do you have concerns to share about coal ash waste regulations? Did you know that the Superfund is running out of money according to recent articles? How will this affect any future environmental disasters caused by industries in the U.S.?
The public hearings will continue and the EPA is accepting public comments both in person and in writing, which must submitted by November 19, 2010.
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