Environmental Groups: Coal Ash Disposal At 5 Georgia Sites Poses Danger

Workers excavate coal ash-laden soil to be removed from the Dan River Steam Station in Eden, North Carolina. Georgia Power, which announced plans years ago to close down its 29 coal ash ponds, plans to cap the coal ash in place at these sites. 

Gerry Broome / Associated Press

The method Georgia Power uses to dispose of coal ash at five sites in Georgia is raising alarms with environmental groups.

The groups, led by the Southern Environmental Law Center, are asking Georgia’s Environmental Protection Division to deny solid waste disposal permits for the sites.

The permits in question are for Plant McDonough in Smyrna, near the Chattahoochee River; Plant Scherer, Plant Wansley, Plant Yates and Plant Hammond.