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August 29, 2010

Report hits Oologah power plant for river pollution

Zack Stoycoff Staff Reporter

OOLOGAH — Waste improperly handled by the AEP/PSO power plant in Oologah may be contaminating the Verdigris River, according to a report released this week.

The Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality is investigating Environmental Integrity Project findings that pollution is as high as 10 times federal limits in groundwater near the plant’s ash landfill.

The report says arsenic, lead and other toxic metals are likely seeping into the Verdigris River from the site, which lies within five miles of wells used for drinking water in Oologah and just a quarter mile from the nearest public recreation area on Oologah Lake.

Environmental groups named 39 sites nationwide where coal combustion waste, or ash and other byproducts of coal burning, has been improperly disposed. Groups have been monitoring groundwater near the Oologah ash landfill since March 2008.

“In just two years of groundwater monitoring, the exceedances of MCLs (maximum containment levels) have been widespread at this coal ash landfill,” the report says. “Any of the nearby businesses, including the Power Plant itself, could conceivably be affected by contaminated groundwater.”

AEP-PSO officials deny the findings.

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