Politics & Government
Ameren Responds to Councilman's Request for Groundwater Monitoring
Ameren's VP of Environmental Services said he anticipates a groundwater monitoring guideline when the Meramec Energy Center's water quality permit is renewed in the coming months.
In the letter dated Aug. 5 to Sara Parker Pauley, head of the Missouri Department of Natural Resources, DNR, St. Louis County Councilman Steve Stenger, D-Affton, made a request for groundwater monitoring to protect Oakville residents' health living near Ameren's Meramec Energy Center. To view the letter, click here.
Stenger expressed many concerns about the coal-fired power plant, which opened in 1953 at the intersection of the Mississippi and Meramec rivers. From wanting monitoring to determine if contamination exists—to disposing of coal ash into unlined ponds—he said he doesn't want DNR to make any decisions regarding Ameren's proposed caol-ash landfill until it obtains a thorough assessment of potential groundwater contamination.
But Ameren says it is following all the rules. In a statement the company emailed to Mehlville-Oakville Patch Mike Menne, Vice President of Environmental Services at Ameren, said Ameren Missouri’s energy centers meet, and in fact are operating well below, all federal and state regulations.
"Ameren Missouri’s generating fleet operates more than 75 percent below current allowable emission levels that are fully protective of human health and meets regulatory limits by a wide margin, including the Meramec Energy Center, where we’ve invested millions of dollars in environmental control technology," he said. "Local drinking water also is safe.
"We expect a renewed water quality permit for the Meramec Energy Center to be issued by the Missouri Department of Natural Resources in the coming months."
Menne said Ameren is anticipating a groundwater monitoring guideline that will accompany the permit.
"We will fully comply with all requirements," he said.
Stenger expressed many concerns about the coal-fired power plant, which opened in 1953 at the intersection of the Mississippi and Meramec rivers. From wanting monitoring to determine if contamination exists—to disposing of coal ash into unlined ponds—he said he doesn't want DNR to make any decisions regarding Ameren's proposed caol-ash landfill until it obtains a thorough assessment of potential groundwater contamination.
But Ameren says it is following all the rules. In a statement the company emailed to Mehlville-Oakville Patch Mike Menne, Vice President of Environmental Services at Ameren, said Ameren Missouri’s energy centers meet, and in fact are operating well below, all federal and state regulations.
"Ameren Missouri’s generating fleet operates more than 75 percent below current allowable emission levels that are fully protective of human health and meets regulatory limits by a wide margin, including the Meramec Energy Center, where we’ve invested millions of dollars in environmental control technology," he said. "Local drinking water also is safe.
"We expect a renewed water quality permit for the Meramec Energy Center to be issued by the Missouri Department of Natural Resources in the coming months."
Menne said Ameren is anticipating a groundwater monitoring guideline that will accompany the permit.
"We will fully comply with all requirements," he said.
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