Monroe, MI – Regulators say that DTE Energy must soon stop depositing a toxic waste product into surface water ponds at two Michigan Coal-fired power plants because the facilities are not adequately protecting nearby groundwater.
On Wednesday, the EPA said it will deny DTE’s application to continue dumping coal ash, a toxic byproduct of fossil energy generation, into unlined impoundments at the Monroe plant along the River Raisin and the Belle River power plant in China Township.
The utility had sought continued use of the unlined ponds, which were supposed to close in April 2021 in accordance with a 2015 change in federal regulation but were allowed to remain in use while the EPA examined their environmental risk.
Mlive.com reports that the two DTE coal ash basins are among six nationwide which the agency now says must close due to a variety of groundwater pollution concerns. The ask is a major byproduct at coal power plants which contains mercury, lead, cadmium, chromium, arsenic and other heavy metals.
The decision is preliminary and will be open for public comment from February 8th to March 10th.