September 2016

For two years in a row a large load of coal ash has been involved in a wreck on a public highway in the Peoria area. On September 4th in the late afternoon a semi hauling coal ash turned over and the driver was flow to an area hospital. This news was seen on a Twitter feed but has not been located in any of the major print or other Peoria area media. The public will likely never know any details about the incident or about any health risks from the coal ash.

On March 27th, 2015, a semi loaded with coal ash hit a garbage truck near Rome on Route 29. The highway was partially closed for hours and coal ash was blowing from the wreck. An environmental company from Decatur was called in to “clean up” the spill. TV news reports showed coal ash drifts on the highway being swept up with large brooms.

While the public is told coal ash is not hazardous, it does not mean that it is safe to breathe or have in your water supply, backyard pool, or in other proximity. Many environmental groups requested coal ash be determined hazardous by the U.S. EPA based on the high heavy metals content much of the ash can contain. Many of the contaminants in coal ash, such as lead, manganese, arsenic, and chromium, are linked to known neurological problems and other damages to health. If you see a coal ash spill please be sure to report it to local police and local news media. Phone the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency Peoria regional office at 309-671-3022 to inform them of any spill conditions.