DEP Finds No Structural Problems After Re-Inspecting 11 Large Coal Waste Basins

The Department of Environmental Protection reported this week its inspectors found no structural problems after the first round of re-inspections were completed at 11 coal waste impoundments across the state.

 

Acting DEP Secretary JohnHanger ordered the immediate inspection of 41 high-hazard waste impoundments after two coal ash impoundments in Tennessee collapsed in late December.

 

“Pennsylvania’s dam safety and waste management laws strictly regulate the construction and operation of waste impoundments to protect the environment and the lives and property of downstream residents,” Acting Secretary Hanger said. “DEP inspectors have conducted a thorough inspection of 10 coal ash basins across the state and a chemical sludge basin in western Pennsylvania and have noted that inspection reports are up to date and no structural problems are evident at these impoundments.”

 

The impoundments included: Armstrong: Cooling Pond A,Beaver: Little Blue Run Dam,Lancaster: Holtwood Ash Basin #2,Montour: Montour Ash Basin, Northampton: Martin’s Creek Ash Basin #1 and Martin’s Creek Ash Basin #4,Snyder: Sunbury Ash Pond #1, Sunbury Ash Pond #2, and Sunbury Ash Pond #3,Westmoreland: Mill Service #6 andYork: Brunner Island Ash Basin #6.