This site will look much better in a browser that supports web standards, but it is accessible to any browser or Internet device.


Tyrone Coal

Clean Energy - If not now, When?




The Alternatives

  • Wind
  • Solar
  • Others

Xcel / NSP

  • Proposal
  • The Good
  • The Bad
  • The Ugly

Tryone Site

  • Nuclear history
  • Land Theft
  • Natural Area

Attachment 1

Studies on the Damage and Risks to Human Health and the Environment from Power Plant Waste Deposition in Groundwater and Surface Water

The scientific reports listed below provide clear evidence that coal power plant wastes pose a significant threat to human health and the environment unless adequate steps are taken to prevent the hazardous constituents of power plant wastes from entering the nation's water resources.

Ecological Damage:

  • Anonymous. 1991. Remedial Investigation Report for Chestnut Ridge (Filled Coal Ash Pond/McCoy Branch) at the Oak Ridge Y-12 Plant, Oak Ridge, TN. Prepared by CH 2 M Hill in Oak Ridge, TN for US Dept of Energy and Martin Marietta Energy Systems, Inc., Oak Ridge, TN.
  • Bamber, R. N. 1984. The Benthos of A Marine Fly-Ash Dumping Ground. J. Mar. Biol. Assoc. U.K. 64:211-226.
  • Belanger, S. E. and D. S. Cherry. 1990. Interacting Effects of pH Acclimation, pH, and Heavy Metals on Acute and Chronic Toxicity to Ceriodaphnia dubia (Cladocera). J. Crustacean Biol. 10(2):225-235.
  • Cairns , J., Jr. and D. S. Cherry. 1982. Field and Laboratory Verification of Power Plant Effluent (Thermal, Chlorine, Fly Ash) Effects upon Fish. Proc. Internatl. Conf. on Coal Fired Power Plants and the Aquatic Environ. August 16-18, 1982, Copenhagen , Denmark , p. 10-29.
  • Cairns , J., Jr. and D. S. Cherry. 1983. A Site-Specific Field and Laboratory Evaluation of Fish and Asiatic Clam Population Responses to Coal Fired Power Plant Discharges. Wat. Sci. Tech. 15:31-58.
  • Carlson, C. L. and D. C. Adriano. 1993. Environmental Impacts of Coal Combustion Residues. J. Environ. Qual. 22:227-347.
  • Cherry, D. S. and R. K. Guthrie. 1975. The Significance of Ash Discharged into Aquatic Drainage Systems. Aware 56:12-14.
  • Cherry, D. S., R. K. Guthrie, J. H. Rodgers, Jr., J. Cairns , Jr. and K. L. Dickson. 1976. Responses of Mosquitofish ( Gambusia affinis ) to Ash Effluent and Thermal Stress. Trans. Am. fish. Soc. 105:686-694.
  • Cherry, D. S. and R. K. Guthrie. 1977. Toxic Metals in Surface Waters from Coal Ash. Water Resour. Bull. 13:1227-1236.
  • Cherry, D. S. and R. K. Guthrie. 1978. Mode of Elemental Dissipation from Ash Basin Effluent. Water, Air and Soil Pollution 9:403-412.
  • Cherry, D. S. and R. K. Guthrie. 1979. The Uptake of Chemical Elements from Coal Ash and Settling Basin Effluent by Primary Producers. II. Relation between Concentrations in Ash Deposits and Tissues of Grasses Growing on the Ash. The Science of the Total Environment 13:27-31.
  • Cherry, D. S., R. K, Guthrie, F. F. Sherberger and S. R. Larrick. 1979. The Influence of Coal Ash and Thermal Discharges upon the Distribution and Bioaccumulation of Aquatic Invertebrates. Hydrologia 62:257-267.
  • Cherry, D. S., R. K. Guthrie, S. R. Larrick, E. M. Davis and F. F. Sherberger. 1979(a). Recovery of Invertebrate and Vertebrate Populations in a Coal-Ash Stressed Drainage System. J. Fish Res. Board Can. 36:1089-1096.
  • Cherry, D. S., R. K. Guthrie, S. R. Larrick and F. Sherberger. 1979(b). The Influence of Coal Ash and Thermal Discharges Upon the Distribution and Bioaccumulation of Aquatic Invertebrates. Hydrobiol. 62:257-267.
  • Cherry, D. S., J. Van Hassel, W. L. Specht, R. A. Lechleitner, R. B. Nicholson, J. B. Whitaker and J. Cairns, Jr. 1984(a). Field and Laboratory Methods Useful in Predicting the Ecotoxicological Effects of Coal Ash. Workshop Proceedings: The Effects of Trace Elements on Aquatic Ecosystems. Carolina Power and Light, Raleigh , North Carolina and Electric Power Research Institute, Palo Alto , California . 31 pp.
  • Cherry, D. S., R. K. Guthrie, E. M. Davis and R. L. Harvey. 1984(b). Coal Ash Ramifications (Particulates, pH, Heavy Metals) Upon Benthic Macroinvertebrates and Fish Populations: An Eight-Year Study. Water Resour. Bull. 20:535-544.
  • Cherry, D. S. and J. Cairns , Jr. 1986. Toxicological, Physiological and Behavioral Responses of Selected Organisms to Fly Ash Effluent: Twelve-Year Summary. In : J. Cairns , Jr. and J. W. Clarkson, eds. Selected Aspects of Exposure to Heavy Metals in the Environment: Monitors, Indicators and High Risk Groups. Natl. Acad. Press, Washington , D.C. 7 pp.
  • Cherry, D. S., J. H. VanHassel, J. Cairns , Jr. and P. Ribbe. 1987. Toxic Components of Fly and Bottom Ash from Power Plant Production upon Bluegill ( Lepomis macrochirus ) and Rainbow Trout ( Salmo gairdneri ). Water Resour. Bull. 23:293-306.
  • Crossman, J. S., J. Cairns , Jr. and R. L. Kaesler. 1973. Aquatic Invertebrate Recovery in the Clinch River Following Hazardous Spills and Floods. Bulletin 63 of the Virginia Water Resources Research Center, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University , Blacksburg , VA.
  • Forbes, A.M., J.J. Magnuson and D.M. Harrel. 1981. Effects of Habitat Modification from Coal Ash Effluent on Stream Macroinvertebrates: A Synthesis. In , The Warmwater Streams Symposium, L.A. Krumholtz (editor). Southern Division, American Fisheries Society, pp. 241-249.
  • Guthrie, R. K. and D. S. Cherry. 1975. Biological Cleanup of Effluent from an Ash Basin . Completion Report AEC Contract AT(38-1)-834, Savannah River Project, Aiken , South Carolina . 39 pp.
  • Guthrie, R. K., D. S. Cherry and J. H. Rodgers. 1975. The Impact of Ash Basin Effluent on Biota in the Drainage System. Proc., Seventh Mid-Atlan. Indus. Waste Conf., Drexel Univ. , November 12-14, 1974, Philadelphia , Pa. pp. 17-43.
  • Guthrie, R. K. and D. S. Cherry. 1976. Pollutant Removal from Coal-Ash Basin Effluent. Proc. 11th Annual Water Resources Conference. Water Resour. Bull. 12:889-902.
  • Guthrie, R. K., D. S. Cherry and F. L. Singleton. 1978(a). Responses of Heterotrophic Bacterial Populations to pH Changes in Coal Ash Effluent. Water Resour. Bull. 14:803-808.
  • Guthrie, R. K., D. S. Cherry, F. L. Singleton, and R. S. Harvey. 1978(b). The Effects of Coal Ash Basin Effluent and Thermal Loading on Bacterial Populations of Flowing Streams. Environ. Pol. 17:297-302.
  • Guthrie, R. K. and D. S. Cherry. 1979(a). The Uptake of Chemical Elements from Coal Ash and Settling Basin Effluent by Primary Producers. I. Relative Concentrations in Predominant Plants. The Science of the Total Environment 12:217-222.
  • Guthrie, R. K. and D. S. Cherry. 1979(b). Trophic Level Accumulation of Heavy Metals in a Coal Ash Basin Drainage System. Water Resour. Bull. 15:244-248.
  • Guthrie, R. K., D. S. Cherry, E. M. Davis and H. E. Murray. 1981. Establishment of Biotic Communities within a Newly Constructed Ash Settling Basin and Its Drainage System. Ecological Assessment of Effluent Impacts on Aquatic Organisms. J. M. Bates and C. I. Weber, eds. American Society for Testing and Materials, ASTM No. 730, pp. 243-254.
  • Guthrie, R. K., D. S. Cherry, E. M. Davis and R. S. Harvey. 1982(a). Some Environmental Aspects of Ash Pond Systems. The 75th Annual Meeting of the Air Pollution Control Association, June 20-25, 1982, New Orleans , Louisiana . 8 pp.
  • Guthrie, R. K., E. M. Davis, D. S. Cherry and J. R. Walton. 1982(b). Impact of Coal Ash from Electric Power Production on Changes in Water Quality. Water Resour. Bull. 18:135-138.
  • Hardy, M. A. 1981. Effects of Coal Fly-Ash Disposal on Water Quality in and around Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore, Indiana . US Geol. Survey, Water Resour. Div., Indianapolis , IN. 64 pp.
  • Hatcher, C. O., R. E. Ogawa, R. E. Poe and J. R. P. French, III. 1992. Trace Elements in Lake Sediment , Macrozoobenthos, and Fish Near a Coal Ash Disposal Basin . J. Freshwater Ecol. 7:257-269.
  • Homziak, J., L. Bennett, P. Simm and R. Henry. 1993. Metal Leaching from Experimental Coal Fly-Ash Oyster Clutch. Bull. Environ. Contam. Toxicol. 51:317-324.
  • Hopkins, W. A., M. T. Mendonea and J. D. Congdon. 1997. Increased Circulating Levels of Testosterone and Corticosterone in Southern Toads, Bufo terrestris , Exposed to Coal Combustion Wastes. General and Comparative Endocrinology 108:237-246.
  • Hopkins, W. A., M. T. Mendonea, C. L. Rowe and J. D. Congdon. 1998. Elevated Trace Element Concentrations in Southern Toads, Bufo terrestris , Exposed to Coal Combustion Wastes. Archives of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology 35:525-129.
  • Hopkins, W. A., C. L. Rowe, and J. D. Congdon. 1999a. Increased Maintenance Costs and Trace Element Concentrations in Banded Water Snakes, Nerodia fasciata , Exposed to Coal Combustion Wastes. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry 18(6):1258-1263.
  • Hopkins, W. A., M. T. Mendonca and J. D. Congdon. 1999b. Responsiveness of the Hypothalamo-Pituitary-Interreal Axis in an Amphibian ( Bufo terrestris ) Exposed to Coal Combustion Wastes. Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology 122(2):191-196.
  • Hopkins, W. A., J. D. Congdon and J. K. Ray. 2000. Incidence and Impact of Axial Malformations in Bullfrog Larvae Developing in Sites Impacted by Coal Combustion Byproducts. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry 19(4):862-868.
  • Rowe, C.L., W.A. Hopkins, J.D.Congdon. Ecotoxicological Implications of Aquatic Disposal of Coal Combustion Residues In the United States : A Review. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment , 80:207-276, 2002.
  • Rowe, C.L., W.A. Hopkins, and V.R. Coffman. In press. Failed recruitment of southern toads ( Bufo terrestris ) in a coal ash-contaminated habitat: direct and indirect effects of trace elements leading to a local population sink. Archives of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology .
  • Jenner, H. A. and T. Bowmer. 1992. The Accumulation of Metals and Toxic Effects in Nereis virens Exposed to Pulverised Fuel Ash. Environ. Monit. Assess. 21:85-98.
  • Larrick, S. R., J. R. Clark, D. S. Cherry and J. Cairns , Jr. 1981. Structural and Functional Changes of Aquatic Heterotrophic Bacteria to Thermal, Heavy and Fly Ash Effluents. Water Res. 15:875-880.
  • Lemly, A.D. 1985. Ecological basis for regulating aquatic emissions from the power industry: The case with selenium. Regulatory Toxicology and Pharmacology 5: 465-486.
  • Lemly, A.D. 1985. Toxicology of Selenium in a Freshwater Reservoir: Implications for Environmental Hazard Evaluation and Safety. Ecotox. Environ. Saf. 10:314-338.
  • Lemly, A.D. 1993. Teratogenic effects of selenium in natural populations of freshwater fish. Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety 26: 181-204.
  • Lemly, A.D. 1996. Assessing the toxic threat of selenium to fish and aquatic birds. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment 43: 19-35.
  • Lemly, A.D. 1997. Ecosystem recovery following selenium contamination in a freshwater reservoir. Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety 36: 275-281.
  • Lemly, A.D. 1997. A teratogenic deformity index for evaluating impacts of selenium on fish populations. Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety 37: 259-266.
  • Lemly, A.D. 1998. Pathology of selenium poisoning in fish. Chapter 16 (Pages 281-296) in W.T. Frankenberger and R.A. Engberg, editors. Environmental Chemistry of Selenium . Marcel-Dekker Press, New York , NY .
  • Lemly, A.D. 1998. Belews Lake : Lessons learned. Pages 3-6 and E15-20 in U.S. EPA Publication EPA-822-R-98-007. Report on the Peer Consultation Workshop on Selenium Aquatic Toxicity and Bioaccumulation. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Water, Washington , DC .
  • Lemly, A.D. 1999. Selenium impacts on fish: An insidious time bomb. Human and Ecological Risk Assessment 5: 1139-1151.
  • Magnuson, J.J, A.M. Forbes, D.M. Harrell and J.D. Schwarzmeier. 1980. Response of Stream Invertebrates to an Ashpit Effluent. EPA 600/3-80-081, Environmental Research Laboratory , U.S. EPA, Duluth , MN .
  • Raimondo, S. M., C. L. Rowe and J. D. Congdon. 1998. Exposure to Coal Ash Impacts Swimming Performance and Predator Avoidance in Larval Bullfrogs ( Rana catesbeiana ). J. of Herpetology 32:289-292.
  • Rodgers, J. H., Jr., D. S. Cherry and R. K. Guthrie. 1978. Cycling of Elements in Duckweed ( Lemna perpusilla Torrey) in an Ash Settling Basin Stream and Swamp Drainage System. Water Res. 12:765-770.
  • Rose, C. D. T. J. Ward and V. E. dePass. 1985a. Ecological Assessment for Coal Ash Dumped at Deepwater Dumpsite - 106. In: Duedall, I. W., D. R. Kester, P. K. Park, B. H. Ketchum (Eds.) Wastes in the Ocean, Volume 4: Energy Wastes in the Ocean. John Wiley and Sons, New York , NY .
  • Rose, H., P. M. J. Woodhead and H. B. O'Connors, Jr. 1985b. Coal Waste in the Sea I: Toxicity Assays with Culture of a Marine Diatom. In: Duedall, I. W., D. R. Kester, P. K. Park, B. H. Ketchum (Eds.) Wastes in the Ocean, Volume 4: Energy Wastes in the Ocean. John Wiley and Sons, New York , NY .
  • Rowe, C. L., O. M. Kinney and J. D. Congdon. 1998a. Oral Deformation in Tadpoles of Bullfrogs ( Rana catesbeiana ) Caused by Conditions in a Polluted Habitat. Copeia 1998:244-246.
  • Rowe, C. L., O. M. Kinney, R. D. Nugle and J. D. Congdon. 1998b. Elevated Maintenance Costs in an Anuran ( Rana catesbeiana ) Exposed to a Mixture of Trace Elements during the Embryonic and Early Larval Periods. Physiological Zoology 71(1):47-55.
  • Rowe, C. L., O. M. Kinney, A. P. Mori and J. D. Congdon. 1996. Oral Deformities in Tadpoles ( Rana catesbeiana ) Associated with Coal Ash Deposition Effects on Grazing Ability and Growth. Freshwater Biology 36:723-730.
  • Ryon, M. G. 1992. Ecological Effects of Contaminants in McCoy Branch 1989-1990. ORNLHM - 11926. Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge , TN. 84 pp.
  • Soholt, L. F., R. W. Vocke, N. J. Beskid, W. K. Derickson, M. J. Knight, D. D. Ness, B. Siskind, W. S. White and D. J. Wyman. 1980. Handling of Combustion and Emission - Abatement Wastes from Coal-Fired Power Plants: Implications for Fish and Wildlife Resources, Natl. Power Plant Team , U.S. Fish Wildl. Serv. Ann Arbor , MI .
  • Specht, W. L., D. S. Cherry, R. A. Lechleitner and J. Cairns , Jr. 1984. Structural, Functional and Recovery Responses of Stream Invertebrates to Fly Ash Effluent. Can. J. Fish Aquatic Sci. 41:884-896.
  • Walia, A. and N. K. Mehra. 1998b. A Seasonal Assessment of the Impact of Coal Fly Ash Disposal on the River Yamuna, Dehli: II. Biology. Water Air Soil Pollut. 103:315-339.
  • Webster, K.E., Forbes, A.M. and J.J. Magnusonl. 1981. Behavioral Responses of Stream Macroinvertebrates to Habitat Modification by a Coal Ash Effluent. In , The Warmwater Streams Symposium, L.A. Krumholtz (editor). Southern Division, American Fisheries Society, pp. 408-414.
  • Woodhead, P. M. J. 1985. Coal Waste in the Sea II: Toxicity Tests with Shrimp and with Flounder Eggs and Larvae. In: Duedall, I. W., D. R. Kester, P. K. Park, B. H. Ketchum (Eds.) Wastes in the Ocean, Volume 4: Energy Wastes in the Ocean. John Wiley and Sons, New York , NY .

 

 

Hazardous Contaminants in Power Plant Wastes

  • Bhumbla, D.K. and R.F. Keefer. 1994. Arsenic Mobilization and Bioavailability in Soils. J.O. Nriagu (Ed.) Arsenic in the Environment, Part 1: Cycling and Characterization. John Wiley and Sons, New, NY: pp 51-82.
  • Bignoli, G. 1989. Health and Environmental Impact of Chromium Released from Coal Ash. Journal of Coal Quality, v 8 (3/4): 72-.
  • Cherry, D. S. and R. K. Guthrie. 1977. Toxic Metals in Surface Waters from Coal Ash. Water Resour. Bull. 13:1227-1236.
  • Cherry, D. S. and R. K. Guthrie. 1978. Mode of Elemental Dissipation from Ash Basin Effluent. Water, Air and Soil Pollution 9:403-412.
  • Chu , T.-Y. J., R. J. Ruane and P. A. Krenke. 1978. Characterization and Reuse of Ash Pond Effluents in Coal-Fired Power Plants. Water Pollution Contr. Fed. J. 50:2494-2508.
  • Coutant, C. C., C. S. Wasserman, M. S. Chung, D. B. Rubin and M. Manning. 1978. Chemistry and Biological Hazard of a Coal Ash Seepage Stream. J. Water Pollut. Control Fed. 50:747-735.
  • Dodd, D.J.R.; Golomb, A.; Chan, H.T.; and D. Chartier. 1981. "A Comparative Field and Laboratory Study of Fly Ash Leaching Characteristics," Hazardous Solid Waste Testing: First Conference, ASTM STP 760, R.A. Conway and B.C. Malloy , Eds., American Society for Testing and Materials, pp.164-185.
  • Dudas, J. M. 1981. Long-Term Leachability of Selected Elements from Fly Ash. Environ. Sci. and Techn. 15:840-843.
  • Fisher, G. L. and D. F. S. Natusch. 1979. Size Dependence of the Physical and Chemical Properties of Coal Fly Ash. In : Analytical Methods for Coal and Coal Products (Vol. III). C. Kar (Editor). Academic Press, New York , NY . Pp 489-541.
  • Fulekar, M.H. and C.P. Jayalakshmi. 1989. Fly Ash Dynamics in Soil-Water Systems. Crit Rev Environ Control, 19 (n3): 251-.
  • Gabbard, A. 1993. Coal Combustion: Nuclear Resource or Danger, , Oak Ridge National Laboratory REVIEW No. 3 and 4: 24-32.
  • Hanson, R.L.; Henderson , T.R.; Hobbs , C.H.; Clark, C.R.; Carpenter, R.L.; Dutcher. J.S.; Harvey , T.M. and D.F. Hunt. 1983. Detection of Nitroaromatic Compounds on Coal Combustion Particles. Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health 11: 971-80.
  • Harrison , F.L.; Bishop, D.L. and B.J. Mallon. 1985. Comparison of Organic Combustion producst in Fly Ash Collected by a Venturi Wet Scrubber and an Electrostatic Precipitator at a Coal-Fired Power Station. Enviro. Sci. Technol. 19: 186-93.
  • Hjelmer, O. 1990. Leachate From Land Disposal of Coal Fly Ash. Waste Manage. Res. 8:429-449.
  • Mangani, F.; Cappiello, A.; Crescentini, C.; Bruner, F. and L. Bonfanti. 1987. Extraction of Low Molecular Weight Polynuclear Aromatic Hydrocarbons from Ashesof Coal-Operated Power Plants. Anal. Chem. 59: 2066-69.
  • de Raat, W.K.; Boere J.P.; and G.R. Mohn. 1994. Contribution of PAH and some of their nitrated derivatives to the mutagenicity of ambient airborne particles and coal fly ash. Science of the Total Environment 65: 7-.
  • Thakre, R. and A.L. Aggrawal. 1993. Disposal of Ash from Thermal Power Stations on Land: Environmental Pathways and Mitigation Mechanisms. Energy Environment Monitor 9: 1-9.
  • Theis, T. L. and J. L. Wirth. 1977. Sorptive Behavior of Trace Metals on Fly Ash in Aqueous Systems. Environ. Sci. and Techn 11:1096-1100.
  • Theis, T. L., J. A. Ripp and J. F. Villaume. 1989. Physical and Chemical Characteristics of Unsaturated Pore Water and Leachate at a Fly Ash Disposal Site. P. 161-172. In 43 rd Purdue Industrial Waste Conf. Proc. Lewis Publishers, Chelsea , MI .

Water Contamination from Power Plant Waste Disposal

  • Cherkauer, D.S. 1980. The Effect of Fly Ash Disposal on a Shallow Ground-Water System. Ground Water 18(6):544-550.
  • Gschwend, P.M.; Backhus, D.A.; MacFarlane, J.K.; and A.L. Page. 1990. Mobilization of Colloids in Groundwater Due to Infiltration of Water at a Coal Ash Disposal Site. Journal of Contaminant Hydrology, 6: 307-320.
  • Hutton, M. and C. Symon. 1986. The Quantities of Cadmium, Lead, Mercury, and Arsenic Entering the U.K. Environment from Human Activities. The Science of the Total Environment 57: 129-50.
  • Kopsick, D.A. and E.E. Angino. 1981. Effect of Leachate Solutions from Fly and Bottom Ash on Groundwater Quality. J. Hydrology 54:341-356.
  • Riewe, T. 1995. The Ones That Gave Us Gray Hair. Water Well Journal 49 (n2): 29-31.
  • Spencer, L. and L.D. Drake. 1987. Hydrogeology of an Alkaline Fly Ash Landfill in Eastern Iowa . Ground Water 25 (n 5): 519-26.
  • Walia, A. and N. K. Mehra. 1998a. A Seasonal Assessment of the Impact of Coal Fly Ash Disposal on the River Yamuna, Dehli: I. Chemistry. Water Air Soil Pollut. 103:277-314.
  • U.S. EPA. Final Site Investigation Report, Groundwater Contamination, Township of Pines , Porter County , IN, Technical Direction Document No. S05-0204-013. December 30. 2002.

Health Impacts from Water Contamination by Power Plant Wastes

  • Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, Center for Disease Control, Health Consultation, Town of Pines Groundwater Plume, Town of Pines, Porter County, Indiana. June 14, 2002. http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/HAC/PHA/townpines/top_pl.html.