TOMORROW - Coal Ash Disposal Hearing

PUBLIC INFORMATION HEARING REGARDING DISPOSITION OF COAL ASH DUMPS

Wednesday, November 18, 20157:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
VA Department of Environmental Quality
Northern Regional Office
13901 Crown Court
Woodbridge, VA 22193Official Meeting Notice

 

           Tomorrow, the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) will host a public information hearing at its Woodbridge office regarding the future of five large Dominion Virginia Power coal ash dumps dating to the 1950's less than 1,000 yards from the Potomac River near Quantico and Dumfries. 

 

           Four ponds are entirely unlined.  All contain large amounts of coal ash waste which is well known to contain high levels of hazardous metals including lead, boron, cadmium, selenium, arsenic, and hexavalent chromium. 

 

           DEQ is proposing to allow Dominion Virginia Power to release treated industrial wastewater and storm water at a combined rate of 172 million gallons per day from eight outfalls from these ponds into Quantico Creek and the Potomac River. They are also proposing to allow Dominion to cap existing coal ash waste deposits in place instead of remove them to locations well away from the Quantico Creek and the Potomac River.  

 

            You can read more information about the coal ash problem on my online newsletter, the Dixie Pig here:

 

The Dixie Pig: Quantico Area Coal Ash Remediation to Move Forward (Apr. 18, 2015)
Dam Breaks, Tainted Wells Prompt New Look At Coal Ash Dumps that Escaped EPA Review (Dec. 14, 2014)
Washington Post, In Northern Va., Environmentalists Concerned About Disposal of Coal Ash (July 2, 2015)

 

            It will be one of very few opportunities for the public to obtain information and ask questions before a decision is made to leave this waste in place in our community for generations.

 

            Please attend this hearing and contact my office if you have any questions or need further information!