Public Hearing Tuesday on Proposed Coal Ash Dump

Louisville Gas and Electric Company is asking state regulators for permission to build a new coal combustion waste dump at its Cane Run facility in Louisville.  And the proposed dump could stir up controversy.LG&E says its current disposal sites – a coal ash pond and another landfill, are running out of room.  So it’s asked to expand its facility by nearly 50 acres to accommodate a new dump for the waste leftover from burning coal for electricity.Residents of the Cane Run area have expressed concerns about the current disposal sites, which are considered “high risk” by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency because of their proximity to homes and the Ohio River.  The agency has recently issued its proposal for the first federal regulation of coal ash dumps and ponds.  LG&E officials did not respond to a message asking how the proposed rules might affect the new dump’s design.The Kentucky Division of Waste Management will hold a public hearing to discuss the company’s proposal on Tuesday, May 25 at 7 pm at Conway Middle School.