Officials at the Tanner’s Creek electric generating plant in Lawrenceburg say inspectors from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency have given their fly ash pond a passing grade.
The pond at the American Electric Power (AEP) facility was on a list of 44 similar sites across the country identified as potential threats to nearby residents.
Fly ash ponds are used to store by-products from coal-fired power plants.
The Tanner’s Creek pond covers 43 acres between the Ohio River and U.S. Route 50 near the Lawrenceburg/ Aurora border.
The inspections were ordered in the wake of the December flood at a Tennessee fly ash pond that damaged 40 homes.
"This list assesses the hazard classification for this type of facility," said Tim Kerns, Tanner’s Creek Plant general manager. "It doesn’t assess the condition or the engineering design or the way it’s operated or maintained."
The EPA gives the ponds one of three hazard ratings – low, significant or high – depending on the potential impact on the environment in case of a catastrophic failure, damage to property or loss of life.
"As of now, according to the list, it [the Tanner’s Creek pond] is listed as a high hazard," Kerns added.
Engineers spent June 1 and June 2 at the Tanner’s Creek pond assessing the structural integrity.
Kerns says he was told everything seems to be in order.
"They were complimentary of our operation and our maintenance program and what they saw here with the design and operation of the facility," Kerns added.
Built in the 1970s, the Tanner’s Creek pond is nearing capacity, so tons of dry fly ash are being moved to an adjacent landfill truckload by truckload.
"It gives us more operating capacity in the pond, so it certainly reduces the stress on the dikes and reduces the risk that you would have for a failure," Kerns stated.
As an extra precaution, the sides of the pond have been lined with stone and a new drainage system is being installed around the base.
Lawrenceburg City Manager Tom Steidel says the city is always concerned with any potential hazard, but believes AEP has made the facility as safe as it can be.
"I have a great deal of confidence in their acknowledgment of the potential and they’ve taken a lot of precautions and done their work right," Steidel said.
The EPA inspection may mean the lowering of the Tanner’s Creek risk factor from "high" to "significant," but whether that occurs won’t be known for some time.
