An environmental group – Prairie Rivers Network – has filed suit in federal court seeking to force Dynegy to clean up some toxic coal ash. The coal ash is located in pits next to the National Scenic Middle Fork of the Vermilion River, northwest of Danville.
The lawsuit alleges Dynegy is violating the federal Clean Water Act. It says pollution has leaked from the pits and tainted the river with a visible orange, purple, and rust-colored toxic residue.
Prairie Rivers Network maintains the coal ash contains a slew of dangerous pollutants that are linked to cancer, heart disease and strokes, as well as brain damage for children.
Dynegy has taken some action to address the problem. This photo from Dynegy shows a portion of the embankment where the company has made improvements seeking to keep coal ash from getting into the river…
American Rivers recently named the Middle Fork one of the ten most endangered rivers in the United States due to the coal ash contamination. The Vermilion County Board has twice passed resolutions asking Dynagy to resolve the coal ash concerns.
In the lawsuit, Prairie Rivers Network is asking the U.S. District Court to ‘’take all actions necessary’’ to stop what it says is the illegal pollution that is being discharged into the Middle Fork. The suit seeks penalties of more than $53-thousand dollars a day for each day over the last five years that Dynegy has violated the Clean Water Act.
‘’Dynegy has left us no choice but to sue,’’ said Earthjustice attorney Jenny Cassel, who represents Prairie Rivers Network.
