Residents Speak Out on Water Pollution from E.D. Edwards Coal Plant in Bartonville Before Water Permit Hearing for the Plant
WHAT: On Wednesday, Peoria metro area residents will gather on the waterfront in Peoria to call on Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA) to protect public health and local waterways from toxic water pollution discharged from the local E.D. Edwards coal-fired power plant. The event precedes that evening’s IEPA hearing at the Pekin Public Library on Ameren Illinois’ permit for water discharged from the E.D. Edwards coal-fired power plant.
According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), more than half of all toxic water pollution in the country comes from coal-fired power plants, making coal plants the number one source of toxic water pollution in the country. Toxic metals from the coal ash waste pond at the E.D. Edwards coal plant discharge into the Illinois River, which serves as a water supply for many river towns and is popular for fishing and swimming. The Illinois River is already designated as an impaired waterway because of mercury contamination and active coal-fired power plants are among the largest sources of these toxic pollutants.
The E.D. Edwards coal plant’s current water permit is expired, and the draft permit sets no limits on toxic metals discharged from the plant’s coal ash pond. The draft permit only requires twice yearly monitoring for pollutants including arsenic, boron, cadmium, lead, mercury and selenium.
In anticipation of the IEPA hearing, community members will call on the IEPA to strengthen the E.D. Edwards coal plant’s water discharge permit to set limits on the toxic metals that Ameren is permitted to discharge into the Illinois River in order to protect water quality and public health.
WHO:
Jacob Leibel, Central Illinois Healthy Community Alliance
Traci Barkley, Prairie Rivers Network
Tessie Bucklar, Peoria Families Against Toxic Waste
Alyssa McMillian, ICC Students Advocating For the Environment (SAFE)
WHERE: Liberty Park in Downtown Peoria
Directions: At the end of Liberty Street, past SW Water Street, on the Riverfront
WHEN: Wednesday, August 7, 2013, 10:00 AM