The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced an agreement with the city of Springfield, Illinois, to ensure compliance with coal combustion residual (CCR) regulations at the City Water, Light and Power coal-fired power plant. The agreement addresses previous coal ash disposal issues at two surface impoundments and a landfill near Lake Springfield and Sugar Creek.
The city ceased using the two ponds in October 2023. Under the agreement, Springfield is required to expand and correct its groundwater monitoring program, address potential releases of heavy metals associated with coal ash material, and analyze the structural stability of the surface impoundments before closing them in accordance with federal CCR rules.
The power plant began operations in 1968 with one combustion unit and expanded to four units by 2009. Two units were retired in 2020 and another in 2022, leaving one operational unit.
For more information on coal ash and the EPA's CCR program activities, visit EPA’s Coal Ash website.
