UNION, MO (KTVI-FOX2now.com)—
Zoning questions on where to put coal ash waste from an electric power plant has folks worried in Union, Missouri. Ameren UE runs Missouri's largest coal burning plant and now wants to store coal waste. Opponents say the flood plain in Labadie, Missouri, is not the place. Both sides presented their arguments before the Franklin County planning and zoning board."The bottom line is that we need places to put our combustion products from our plants and frankly we are running out of room. Basically, this is the best place for it. We are building it to modern standards," said Mike Menne of Ameren UE.
Many turned out to a meeting to ask Ameren questions about their plans. Your power rates, a river's health and a small town's safety are all at stake.
The coal plant along the Missouri River in Labadie is the biggest in the state and Ameren has a lot of land surrounding that plant which the utility wants to turn some into an ash waste landfill for all of its coal burning plants. Tuesday night, the Planning and Zoning Commission is considering lifting a ban on landfills in the county, which would open up the opportunity for Ameren to build the landfill on 400 acres around the plant.
Folks who call the small town home say it's too risky now to build this landfill, especially in a flood plain and especially while the EPA is still deciding if coal waste is hazardous. Ameren however is running out of time and space for this waste.
"They need to figure out the best way to deal with coal combustion waste. I don't think you can figure out what state of the art is until that ruling comes down. We feel it is being rushed, that we need to have an answer to that question first," said Amy Bonsall of Save Our Bottoms.
Ameren argues the landfill will be built above the 1993 flood level and this site is the most remote and cost effective to keep electric rates in check. Opponents feel this opens up an opportunity for this to be an even larger landfill for nationwide waste. There was no decision Tuesday night, but plenty of opinions.
