Sierra Club Takes Action to Stop Illegal Coal Discharges into Alaskan Bay

On October 29, 2009, the Sierra Club and various local groups put Alaska Railroad Corporation and Aurora Energy Services on notice for unlawfully discharging coal dust and debris from their coal ship-loading facility into Resurrection Bay. The loading facility is located in the coastal town of Seward, Alaska – the gateway to Kenai Fjords National Park. The facility stores coal that is transported to Seward and loaded via conveyors onto ships for export to other countries.

Seward residents have been suffering for years from the coal dust that blows through their town from the coal loading facility. Local residents are very concerned about the health threat posed by the facility; chronic inhalation of coal dust can cause a variety of respiratory illnesses, such as bronchitis and emphysema. The coal dust, which is released directly from the facility and generated when the coal is loaded onto ships, is also contaminating Resurrection Bay. The coal dust poses a serious risk to marine ecosystems and charter boat owners on the bay are forced to spend hours each week cleaning coal dust from their boats.

The notice letter, filed by Trustees for Alaska on behalf of Sierra Club, Alaska Center for the Environment, and Alaska Community Action on Toxics, highlights how Alaska Railroad and Aurora Energy are violating the Clean Water Act by allowing unpermitted discharges from the facility into the bay. Alaska Railroad and Aurora Energy now have 60 days to address the unpermitted discharges from the facility before the environmental groups file a lawsuit. To read the notice letter, click here! To read more, click here!

New Coal Plant Bad Deal for Kentucky Ratepayers

On October 29, 2009, a coalition of individuals and organizations, including Sierra Club, filed a formal complaint with the Kentucky Public Service Commission, requesting that the Commission revoke the certificate authorizing construction of East Kentucky Power Cooperative’s (EKPC) Smith coal plant. The coalition asserts that economic, regulatory, technological and financial conditions have changed dramatically since the project was approved more than two years ago; energy demand has dropped, prices of alternative, cleaner forms of energy have dropped, and capital costs for the project have increased significantly, among other things. The combined effect of these changes means the proposed coal-fired power plant is unnecessary and poses an unacceptable and avoidable risk to ratepayers.

As Lauren McGrath, Sierra Club’s Beyond Coal Campaign Kentucky Representative, said, "[w]e want to see EKPC make an investment that safeguards public health and the region's economy. Today, EKPC has other options. There are many new funding mechanisms for energy efficiency and renewable energy programs now that did not exist in 2006. EKPC could pursue these channels more aggressively and, with help from the PSC, help its members by shifting to clean, affordable energy solutions."  

To read the complaint, click here.

Sierra Club Takes Action to Protect Kentuckians and Waterways from Toxic Coal Ash

On November 5, at a public hearing in Bedford, representatives of the Sierra Club, Kentucky Waterways Alliance, Save the Valley, and Valley Watch spoke out against LG&E’s proposed coal ash pond expansion and new wastewater discharge permit for its coal-fired power plant in Trimble County, Kentucky. LG&E's coal plant and coal ash pond site are located on the floodplains of the Ohio River and just miles upstream from Louisville’s drinking water intake. The groups are concerned that the water permit would allow toxic heavy metals, such as selenium and mercury, and other pollutants to be released into the Ohio River through the plant's scrubber wastewater, and argued that the coal ash pond poses a serious risk to nearby communities, wildlife and waterways.

In December 2008, coal ash management gained national attention when one of Tennessee Valley Authority’s massive coal ash ponds erupted and spilled 5.4 million cubic yards of coal combustion waste near Knoxville, devastating neighboring communities and releasing toxic metals into nearby waterways. This December, the U.S Environmental Protection Agency will likely unveil the first national rules for handling coal combustion wastes, and Sierra Club and its allies are urging Kentucky to wait for the new guidance before issuing any permits.