Springfield's municipal utility, City, Water, Light, and Power (CWLP), finds itself involved in a lawsuit filed by Attorney General Kwame Raoul. The allegations purport that the utility, which provides Springfield residents with drinking water and electricity, released more than 700 tons of fly ash into the environment in August 2021, according to the press release by the Attorney General's Office. An interim order in the case directs CWLP to assess the incident's breadth and implement safeguards against future occurrences.
Where the coal ash release occurred, CWLP's Dallman power generation station, lies in an environmental justice zone as designated by the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA). The lawsuit, following a referral from the IEPA, demands accountability from CWLP for its actions, including evaluating the incident's scope and adopting measures to avoid its repetition (source).
The lawsuit centers around events to reportedly transpire on August 31, 2021. As per the lawsuit, a CWLP staff member removed a stuck fabric filter separator bag from a valve at a fly ash silo's base. This action led to an unintended release of fly ash, dispersing beyond the facility confines. Even after reattaching the valve, IEPA staff responding to the incident observed a significant amount of fly ash plume.
With this lawsuit, Attorney General Raoul seeks prohibition of future violations by CWLP of state environmental laws and demands civil penalties. He underscored his commitment to Springfield residents, stating, "All Illinois residents have a right to clean air. I am committed to enforcing environmental laws and regulations that protect this right."
The interim order outlines required action from CWLP while the lawsuit persists. CWLP must undertake a comprehensive assessment of the incident within 30 days of the court's order entry and report its findings to the IEPA. This analysis is to include photographic evidence, emissions calculations, and detailed accounts of repairs and maintenance, as per the press release. CWLP must also record all future inspections and monitoring, aligning to permit regulations.
John J. Kim, the Illinois EPA Director, appreciates the interim order, highlighting that it "holds CWLP accountable for the fly ash release that migrated to the surrounding area." He adds that the order sets new operational and emissions reporting requirements in relation to CWLP's fly ash management. It also facilitates a pathway towards long-term solutions in collaboration with the Attorney General's office and CWLP.
The Attorney General Raoul's Environmental Enforcement Division is in charge of enforcing Illinois' environmental protection laws. Proven successful in holding polluters accountable, the division has recouped millions of dollars from polluters, enforcing companies to execute environmental improvement projects in areas impacted by pollution. The Attorney General's office encourages Springfield residents and other Illinois civilians to report environmental justice and other environmental issues.
