Oklahoma Power Plant To Address Fly Ash Concerns

NewsOn6.com

UNDATED – An Oklahoma power plant is defending the way it manages an industrial byproduct called fly ash. There are at least 12 fly ash sites across Oklahoma, but the biggest one is located in Bokoshe. Residents there are blaming the site for various health problems.

Lundy Kiger with the AES Shady Point power plant near Bokoshe is speaking to media Wednesday morning about the company's role in fly ash disposal.

11/18/2010 Related Story: Oklahoma Residents Fight State Over Fly Ash Site

The Fly Ash is coming from a nearby power plant, AES Shady Point. EPA documents show the plant dumped fly ash containing more than 56,000 pounds of arsenic compounds, 1,100 hundred pounds of mercury and 1,000 pounds of lead at the site in 2007 alone.

10/28/2010 Related Story: Oklahoma Fails Small Town In Fly Ash Regulation

The plant denied any wrongdoing Tuesday.

In a statement to the Oklahoma Impact team, the company said:

"We've been a member of this community for over two decades, and we take the concerns of our neighbors very seriously. With regards to the allegations being made against us, we vigorously disagree and note that no evidence has been presented to substantiate the claims. Since 1991, we have operated our plant and managed the coal combustion product in compliance with all the rules and regulations. We've also been responsive to the community's questions and requests on this issue."

The Environmental Protection Agency is currently trying to decide if it should regulate Fly Ash.