LABADIE, Mo. (KMOX) – As KMOX News has reported, Ameren Missouri has proposed storing thousands of tons of waste from burning coal outside it’s Labadie power plant. Now the utility thinks it’s passed another hurdle.

To get the site approved, Ameren has to meet a list of state requirements.

Ameren’s Tim Fox explains: “Making sure that there are no active geologic faults, that the groundwater can be effectively monitored and that the subsurface conditions don’t present potential for collapse.”

Fox says when it came to the groundwater, Ameren drilled 100 wells to track the highest water table throughout the year and the direction of the flow of water over the last twelve months. “The way the landfill has to be designed, there has to be a certain amount of distance between the bottom of the landfill and the highest level of the water table.”

The report was released at a meeting in Labadie Wednesday evening. The public will be given a chance to review — and comment on — the 12-month site study through December 20th.

The document is available for viewing at both the Washington and Union Public Libraries, as well as on www.Ameren.com.

Comments can be sent to:

Labadie Landfill DSI Comments

Ameren Missouri

3700 S. Lindbergh MCF 604

Sunset Hills, MO 63127

Once comments are collected, Fox says Ameren will respond to each and then forward everything to the Missouri Department of Natural Resources for review.

Critics of the plan cite studies on groundwater contamination, from the heavy metals in coal ash.

President of the Labadie Environmental Organization, Ginger Gambaro, reacted. “It’s premature for our group to comment in detail at this time…we need time to dig into the report” said Gambaro. The report is six inches thick.

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