Dominion Virginia Power is awaiting instructions from state on closing all coal ash ponds in Virginia. In agreement with standards set by the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) and the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Coal Combustion Residuals rules, the company are set to close four of the ash ponds at its Virginia power plants: Possum Point power plant in Prince William County, Chesterfield Power plant in Chesterfield County, Chesapeake Energy Centre in Chesapeake and Bremo Power plant in Fluvanna County.
The ponds that are being closed will be drained and covered by a rugged, impermeable liner, then topped with 24 in. of soil. Either grass or sod will be planted on top of the soil. Closing the ponds in this manner complies with federal standards set by the EPA. The specific actions of the closure plan will be determined by DEQ.
In recent years, Dominion has closed or changed to cleaner fuel five coal-fired power plants in Virginia. Nearly two-thirds of the electricity produced by Dominion, is now sourced from carbon-free nuclear generation, clean-burning natural gas and renewables.
"The EPA rules were just finalised, and we have been working on plans based on the proposed rule in order to be prepared," said Pamela Faggert, Dominion's chief environmental officer and vice president of Corporate Compliance. "We are working with the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality and other state agencies to develop closure plans that are in compliance with the new rules."
Once Dominion has attained the required permits from DEQ, local jurisdictions and other agencies, it will begin the closure work.
Adapted from press release by Harleigh Hobbs