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Citizens to Prairie State Power Plant: "No Dumping Into Our Drinking Water"

Concerns raised over plan that would put Kaskaskia River at Risk

Two environmental groups filed a joint appeal today regarding the water permit for the Prairie State Power Plant in Marissa, IL. The filing came on the heels of growing citizen concern, as the Illinois EPA recently issued a permit that would allow harmful chlorinated byproducts to be dumped into the river without adequate monitoring.

Kaskaskia River is a source of drinking water for communities downstream such as Sparta and Evansville. In this permit, harmful chlorinated organics are allowed to be discharged directly into the river. "Recent research shows that chlorination byproducts in drinking water contribute to bladder cancer and are linked also to miscarriages, birth defects, rectal and colon cancer, kidney and spleen disorders, immune and neural system problems." says Traci Barkley, Watershed Scientist of Prairie Rivers Network, "This permit doesn't do enough to ensure the health and safety of those downstream"

The groups also appealed the permit due to its lack of a stormwater runoff plan, since it leaves too much room for pollutants to be washed straight into the Kaskaskia River during heavy rains. "While the final permit addressed a number of the concerns we raised," said Cindy Skrukrud, Sierra Club's Clean Water Advocate, "we believe that the stormwater pollution prevention plan for this industrial site should have been in place and available for public review before the permit was granted."

The Prairie State Power Plant has experienced a great deal of opposition due to impacts to air and water quality. The Sierra Club and allies have also appealed the air permit for the project, effectively putting it on hold. This newly appealed water permit is the first of three water permits that Prairie State must obtain from the state. At a public hearing in November of 2005, opponents asked the state to tighten monitoring and pollution limits on the water permit for the project's potentially toxic coal waste landfill.

Water quantity issues have also raised eyebrows, especially in light of last summer's drought conditions of the Kaskaskia River. Opponents are concerned that the river will be adversely affected by the additional 30 million gallons of water a day the state is allowing Prairie State to withdraw from the Kaskaskia River.