CCR Compliance at Mitchell
In 2015, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued a new rule addressing the handling, storage and disposal of coal combustion residuals (CCRs). CCRs are the materials that remain after coal is burned.
The following ash storage sites at Mitchell Plant are included in the CCR monitoring program.
The bottom ash pond
The landfill
Both storage sites are in active use. Mitchell Plant has switched to dry fly ash handling. The fly ash now is stored in a lined landfill.
We strive to take advantage of opportunities to beneficially reuse as much CCR material as possible. For details, please see the AEP Impact Report.
September 2019
Appalachian Power continues groundwater monitoring activities around Mitchell Plant's coal ash storage sites. We analyze this data relative to EPA groundwater protection standards.
Analysis of this data by an independent third party indicates that these coal ash storage sites are not impacting groundwater quality.
We will continue groundwater monitoring at the Mitchell Plant and will provide an update if we detect any samples above the EPA standards.
March 2018
Kentucky Power completed the first steps in the new groundwater monitoring program under this rule.
Kentucky Power took a series of groundwater samples at the boundaries of both ash storage sites. We took some samples before the groundwater passed beneath the ash storage sites. (The reports refer to this as up-gradient.) We took other samples after it passed beneath the sites (down-gradient). We used the data to establish baseline levels for 21 different substances in the groundwater. Moving forward, we will use these baselines to help determine if our ash storage sites are impacting the groundwater.
It is important to remember that variations in the level of these substances in groundwater are natural and occur for many reasons.
The initial data at Mitchell Plant showed potential groundwater impacts very close to our storage sites. Additional monitoring indicated that these sites are not impacting groundwater quality.
We proactively reached out and met with plant neighbors and community leaders to answer questions about the data collected so far and to discuss next steps.
An independent third party completed Alternate Source Reviews for the bottom ash pond at Mitchell Plant. The reviews consider other factors that could impact sampling results as the groundwater passes the CCR storage sites. An alternate source for groundwater impacts was not found for the bottom ash pond.
The plant will continue sampling groundwater at the bottom ash pond to determine any future need for additional monitoring.
November 2018
The CCR rule established location restrictions for coal ash storage sites. It requires that storage site locations be evaluated regarding proximity to groundwater aquifers, wetlands, fault areas, seismic zones and unstable areas (example: presence of quicksand).
AEP has completed the required review of location restriction for Mitchell Plant's CCR storage sites. This review found that both CCR storage sites at Mitchell Plant meet all location restrictions.
Mitchell Plant will continue to test water from all of these wells twice each year.
If, in the future, plant owners determine that an ash storage site is impacting the groundwater, we will seek public input as we develop a mitigation plan to address these impacts.