The problem with flyash

The Beaver County Times

August 12, 2004

http://www.timesonline.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=12676967&BRD=2305&PAG=461&dept_id=478566&rfi=6

The Times reported, on July 15, 2004, that Ambridge Highschool could not build in Panek Park because of contaminants leaking from the Ambridge Landfill. Ralph Hysong’s July 21 letter urged people to stand up to the proposed dumpsite in Greene. This is what we have been talking about since at least 1997.

http://www.timesonline.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=12349030&BRD=2305&PAG=461&dept_id=478569&rfi=8

Jeff Stants testified, on December 6, 2001, that the problem is MOUNTAINS of flyash. When coal burns, pollutants weld to the ash. There is no chemical bonding. Pollutants separate from the ash as water trickles through the pile and settles to the bottom. If somebody used a handful of ash in their yard, these pollutants wash away as natural runoff. If there is a mountain of flyash, the pollutants accumulate and discharge into the water system some ten years later. This is the reason DEP has been so focused on the leachite pond at the bottom of our landfill. Ten years is right about now.

Ralph Hysong provided a pretty good list of the pollutants. These are migrating into our soil and water right now. DEP should take the lead and implement a closure of the Ambridge Landfill. Put a diaphragm and a drainage network on top of the existing pile, and cover it with several feet of simple dirt. The flyash under the diaphragm would dry up. The pollutants already migrating in the soil would gravitate to the lowest point, which could be a well-structured leachite pond. The pond would be pumped out on a routine basis.

We are asking the people in Ambridge to notice that what we have been saying is now happening. We are also mentioning to the people in Greene that if you can’t stop it, focus on adequate drainage and collection.

Roger Thomas

Conference of Consumer Organizations

Pat Gunther

HAD-IT