SPRINGFIELD -- A bipartisan group of legislators and environmental advocates on Tuesday urged the passage of a bill to ensure safe closure of toxic coal ash pits and financial protections for taxpayers should the pits cause environmental disasters.
Senate Bill 9 awaits action in the Illinois House, where its sponsor, Democratic Rep. Carol Ammons of Urbana, said she believes the chamber will have the votes to pass it, possibly with a few "technical" changes.
"Senate Bill 9 really is what we need in Illinois to really address the issue of what do we do with this toxic waste that's left over from the burning of coal?" Ammons said. "Not only what do we do with it, but how is it impacting communities currently, and if we don't do Senate Bill 9, what happens to our cancer rates in our community? What happens to our water?"
When coal is burned to produce power, it leaves behind a byproduct called coal ash which contains heavy metals such as mercury and arsenic. Those are harmful to humans, fish, and wildlife and can seep into surrounding earth and groundwater. In many cases, coal ash is placed in unlined pits, where it remains long after the power plants are closed. There are approximately 25 known coal ash impoundments which are already closed in the state. Senate Bill 9 would establish processes to address the other 50-plus impoundment sites which have yet to close.
The bill would require a coal ash impoundment owner to submit to the EPA a "closure alternatives analysis" addressing several closure scenarios and options laid out in the legislation. It would give the EPA the authority to choose the safest plan for coal ash remediation.
Senate Bill 9 would also create initial fees of $50,000 for each closed coal ash plant and $75,000 for those that have not yet closed. Owners of operational impoundments would then pay an annual fee of $25,000, and a $15,000 fee would be charged for closed plants that had not yet completed "post-closure care."
The bill would also require bonding of coal ash impoundment owners in the case of disaster. Bennett said this is needed to protect taxpayers if toxic coal ash causes costly environmental disasters requiring state action.
