ATLANTA – The House Natural Resources & Environment ad hoc committee on coal ash pond closings held its first meeting on Thursday, March 16, 2017 under the leadership of House Natural Resources & Environment Committee Chairman, State Representative Lynn Smith (R-Newnan).
“Our committee planned this meeting to provide a baseline of information on this important issue to the members of the Natural Resources & Environment Committee, the House of Representatives and the public,” said Rep. Smith. “I hope this meeting and the web resources that were shared will be a beneficial tool to keep those informed who are following this situation.”
During the meeting, the committee heard informational presentations from Georgia Environmental Protection Division (EPD) and Georgia Power representatives, and each presenter detailed how to access important and timely information on coal ash disposal on their respective websites.
EPD Director Richard Dunn discussed the EPD’s efforts to implement more rigorous coal ash regulations, which began with stakeholder outreach in spring 2016 and continues today as they work with regulated entities on coal ash handling. Dunn highlighted the EPD’s new Coal Ash Information webpage on the agency’s website, which includes links to coal ash pond dewatering plans and coal combustion residuals (CCR) management plans, as well as a notification tool that allows individuals to submit their email address to receive coal ash-related email announcements. Dunn also noted that EPD has a new coal ash rule requiring landfill owners to submit CCR management plans to EPD, and that these plans would be added to the website as they are approved and incorporated into the landfill’s permit.
Georgia Power General Manager of Environmental Affairs Aaron Mitchell presented an overview of Georgia Power’s plan to comply with federal rules and Georgia’s new, more stringent regulations regarding ash pond closures at the company’s coal-fired power plants statewide. Mitchell detailed Georgia Power’s comprehensive strategy to execute safe and effective ash pond closures specific to each site and in full compliance with state and federal regulations. Mitchell also discussed Georgia Power’s plan to cease operations of all ash ponds in 2019 and completely remove ash from ponds located adjacent to lakes or rivers and install additional water treatment systems, which would exceed regulatory requirements. Mitchell shared the resources that are available on Georgia Power’s website, including information on ash pond closures, ash pond inspection reports, CCR Rule Compliance and groundwater monitoring data summaries by plant.
The members of the House Natural Resources & Environment ad hoc committee on coal ash pond closings include Chairman Smith and Reps. Buddy Harden (R-Cordele), Chad Nimmer (R- Blackshear), Jan Tankersley (R-Brooklet) and Chuck Williams (R-Watkinsville). Reps. Sam Watson (R- Moultrie) and Dan Gasaway (R- Homer) serve as ex-officio members on the committee.
To access EPD’s Coal Ash Information webpage, please click here.
To access Georgia Power’s ash pond closures webpage, please click here.
For more information on the House Natural Resources & Environment Committee, please click here.
Representative Lynn Smith represents the citizens of District 70, which includes portions of Carroll and Coweta counties. She was elected into the House of Representatives in 1996, and currently serves as the Chairman of the Natural Resources & Environment Committee. She also serves on the Appropriations Subcommittee on General Government and the Legislative & Congressional Reapportionment and Rules committees.
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