BIRMINGHAM — Alabama Power is facing a $1.25 million fine for ongoing violations of the Alabama Water Pollution Control Act and Alabama Department of Environmental Management code, according to a Southern Environmental Law Center news release.
ADEM found groundwater contamination at five coal-fired Alabama Power facilities, including the E.C.
Gaston plant, Greene County plant, James H. Miller plant, James M. Barry plant, and the William C. Gorgas plant.
In addition, ADEM has also fined PowerSouth Energy Cooperative for violations at its Charles R. Lowman plant.
Groundwater testing data submitted by Alabama Power showed contamination of groundwater with pollutants such as arsenic, lead, selenium, radium, and beryllium, all biproducts of coal ash.
“This confirms that Alabama Power has known about its groundwater contamination for years, but has chosen to withhold this information from the public until now,” said Keith Johnston, managing attorney for the Southern Environmental Law Center’s Birmingham office.
“There is nothing in ADEM’s orders that requires any meaningful clean-up of these sources of pollution.
We are anxious to hear how the utilities will clean up this mess and protect our water.”