Georgia Power continues to make progress on ash pond closure at Plant McIntosh with dewatering process to begin in October
Georgia Power continues to make progress towards the closure of the ash pond at Plant McIntosh with the dewatering process scheduled to begin in October. Dewatering marks a significant step towards completing the closure process, and Georgia Power's ash pond closure plan for Plant McIntosh is specifically designed for the site to ensure water quality is protected every step of the way.
The ash pond at Plant McIntosh will be completely excavated, with the ash stored in a permitted, lined landfill on plant property. Ash pond closures are site-specific and consider multiple factors, such as pond size, location, geology and amount of material; and each closure is certified by a team of independent, professional engineers.
"As we begin the dewatering process at Plant McIntosh, we are pleased with the progress we have made on our ash pond closures at all of our plants," said Dr. Mark Berry, vice president of Environmental & Natural Resources for Georgia Power. "We continue to focus on safety and meeting all compliance requirements throughout the process to fulfill our longstanding commitment to protect the environment and local communities. We have invested in water treatment systems to help ensure that our dewatering process is protective of the Savannah River. Throughout the process, clear communication to our customers and the community about our progress remains a priority."
The ash pond dewatering plan for Plant McIntosh has been approved by the Georgia Environmental Protection Division (EPD) and describes the water treatment system, controls and monitoring that will be used during the process to help ensure that the water discharged is protective of water quality standards. The planned on-site closure methods are being permitted and regulated by the EPD.
Communication regarding the closure plan is provided through EPD permitting notifications as well as posting on Georgia Power's website. To read more about Plant McIntosh's ash pond closure and dewatering process.
Georgia Power first announced its plans to permanently close all of its ash ponds in September 2015, with initial plans released in June 2016. The company is in the process of completely excavating 19 ash ponds with the remaining 10 being closed in place using proven engineering methods and closure technologies.
In November 2018, Georgia Power completed the submission of 29 Coal Combustion Residuals (CCR) permit applications as required by the Georgia CCR rule for ash ponds and CCR landfills. These permit applications outlined significant and detailed engineering information about Georgia Power's ash pond closure plans and landfill operations plans. The permitting application process was developed and completed with significant internal and external resources supported by multiple third-party consulting and engineering firms.
Georgia Power's ash pond closure plans fully comply with the federal CCR rule, as well as the more stringent requirements of Georgia's state CCR rule. Georgia was one of the first states in the country to develop its own rule regulating management and storage of CCR such as coal ash. The state rule, which goes further than the federal rule, regulates all ash ponds and CCR landfills in the state and includes a comprehensive permitting program through which the EPD will approve all actions to ensure ash pond closures are protective of water quality.
In 2016, the company announced that all ash ponds will stop receiving coal ash in three years, and the significant construction work necessary to accommodate the dry-handling of ash has been completed in 2019. Today, more than 75 percent of the coal ash Georgia Power produces is recycled for various beneficial uses, such as Portland cement, concrete and cinder blocks.
Protecting Water Quality Throughout Ash Pond Closure Process
Since 2016, Georgia Power has installed approximately 500 groundwater monitoring wells, including 46 wells at Plant McIntosh, around its ash ponds and landfills to actively monitor groundwater quality. Monitoring is being conducted in compliance with federal and state laws and regulations. The company has also engaged independent, third-party contractors for sampling and accredited independent laboratories for analysis. The company continues to post testing results on Georgia Power's website and report them to the EPD. Based on the extensive data collected, the company has identified no risk to public health or drinking water.
Dewatering Process
Georgia Power's commitment to protecting water quality of surface waters, such as lakes and rivers, includes comprehensive and customized dewatering processes during ash pond closures. The company's process treats the water to help ensure that it meets the requirements of the plant's wastewater discharge permits approved by the EPD and is protective of applicable water quality standards. The dewatering process marks a significant step towards completing the ash pond closure process and has begun at five of Georgia Power's plants: Bowen, McDonough, McManus, Branch and Yates, with Plant McIntosh scheduled to begin in October.