One Year After Spill Minnesota Coal Plant Under Scrutiny

In 2008, one billion gallons of toxic coal ash spilled from the Tennessee Valley Authority’s Kingston Fossil Plant. (Photo courtesy Earthjustice via Minnesota News Connection)

(Mike Moen–Minnesota News Connection) – One of Minnesota’s largest electric utilities faces renewed pressure over the handling of waste at its coal plant in Cohasset, a city in the northern part of the state.

A handful of environmental organizations sent a letter to Minnesota Power, demanding the company comply with federal rules in light of last summer’s massive coal ash wastewater spill at the Boswell Energy Center. The nonprofit CURE signed the letter.

Hudson Kingston, the group’s legal director, said Minnesota Power has not revealed its plan to fully clean up the spill to the public. He argued not following the requirement keeps the region in the dark about threats to natural resources.

“The adjacent waterway is the Mississippi River,” Kingston pointed out. “The majority of Minnesotans drink water out of that river. I think it’s very important that we think about this in terms of a public health emergency.”