Evergy to pay fine after arsenic detected at former coal plant near Kansas River
Evergy has been fined $120,000 by the Environmental Protection Agency after chemicals including arsenic were found during groundwater monitoring.
The company operated the Tecumseh Energy Center, just east of Topeka, which closed in October 2018. The plant included a four-acre area for coal ash — located less than a half mile from the Kansas River — and a 56 acre landfill.
In the year before the facility closed, elevated levels of boron, fluoride, calcium and other chemicals were discovered at both the coal ash and landfill sites. An analysis completed in January 2019 found levels of arsenic and cobalt that violated groundwater standards at two of the coal ash disposal’s monitoring wells, the EPA said.
The agency outlined five counts of violations including failure to comply with groundwater sampling requirements and failure to comply with closure requirements.
According to the consent agreement, Evergy must pay $120,000, install additional monitoring wells, start sampling and take several other water monitoring steps.
“EPA is committed to ensuring that coal ash surface impoundments and landfills operate and close in a manner that protects public health and the environment,” said Larry Starfield, acting assistant administrator for the EPA’s Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance. “The action will require Evergy to investigate and determine the extent of contamination from their operations.”
The energy company said it disagrees with the EPA’s findings because the rule governing coal combustion residuals has changed.
“Rather than go through a long, expensive legal process, we agreed to settle the matter with EPA and follow the EPA’s current interpretation going forward,” Evergy spokeswoman Gina Penzig said. “The groundwater in question does not impact area residents, wildlife or water supplies.”
“Evergy will continue to monitor area groundwater in compliance with EPA regulations.”
This story was originally published November 16, 2022 at 7:30 AM.
