Georgia Power to begin ash pond closures at decommissioned Plant Branch facility
Georgia Power continues to make progress in the closing ash ponds at the decommissioned Plant Branch coal-fired power facility in Georgia.
The company will begin the dewatering process in January 2019. Dewatering is a significant step in the closure process, where the ultimate goal at Plant Branch to completely excavate the ash ponds, then store the ash in a new, lined landfill. The power station closed in March 2015. Since then, the power plant and supporting facilities, including the administrative buildings, cooling towers, warehouses and machine shops have been dismantled. The smokestack was imploded, the coal pile was removed, coal conveyors and pipe and cable racks were cleaned and removed, and much of the equipment was sold or repurposed.
The ash pond dewatering plan for Plant Branch has been approved by the Georgia Environmental Protection Division (EPD). The planned on-site lined landfill will be permitted and regulated by the EPD. Georgia Power’s ash pond closure plans fully comply with the federal Coal Combustion Residuals (CCR) Rule, as well as the state’s requirements.
“As we begin the dewatering process at Plant Branch, we are pleased with the progress we have made on our aggressive ash pond closure process throughout the state at all of our plants,” Mark Berry, vice president of Environmental & Natural Resources for Georgia Power, said. “We continue to focus on safety and meet all compliance requirements throughout the process to fulfill our longstanding commitment to serve and protect the environment and local communities. We have invested in appropriate water treatment systems to ensure that our dewatering process is protective of the area’s lakes and rivers. Throughout the process, clear communication to our customers and the community about our progress also remains a priority.”
Today, more than 60 percent of the coal ash Georgia Power produces is recycled for various uses such as cement, concrete, and cinder blocks.
