Environmentalists oppose plan for Joliet quarry

Environmental groups said they will oppose NRG Energy’s plan to cap coal ash in the Lincoln Stone Quarry in Joliet Township.

The plan will be the subject of virtual public meetings by NRG subsidiary Midwest Generation on Wednesday and Thursday.

The capping process proposed by NRG “Leaves the coal ash in place instead of removing it,” said a news release issued by Sierra Club Illinois and three other environmental groups. “This will leave the coal ash permanently in contact with groundwater.”

The NRG plan includes monitoring the quarry with groundwater samples.

The quarry is at Brandon and Patterson roads and was used by the Joliet Generating Station, which no longer uses coal to produce electricity.

“The coal ash pit in Lincoln Stone Quarry has been leaching unsafe levels of pollution into groundwater for decades, and the company’s own evidence shows that the polluted groundwater has been, and may continue to be, moving toward residential drinking water wells,” the news release said. “Leaving several million tons of coal ash in groundwater at the Quarry means the ash will continue leaching out heavy metals and other coal ash contaminants for centuries.”

Joining Sierra Club in the statement were Prairie Rivers Network, Earthjustice and the Environmental Law and Policy Center.

They urged public participation in the meeting, saying NRG will have to respond to public comments before applying to the Illinois EPA for a construction permit that would allow the company to proceed with its plan.

The meetings will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday and 10 a.m. to noon Thursday.

Those who want to participate can go to midwestgenerationllc.com for details or call 312-626-6799 at the meeting time. The meeting ID number for participation is 813 3905 0675.