"Alabama Power Company agreed to pay $278,000 to resolve two of three alleged coal ash violations, but the biggest unknown about the utility’s 76.7 million cubic yards of coal ash stored in unlined pits across the state remains unresolved."

"BUCKS, Ala.—Alabama’s largest electric utility reached a settlement with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency resolving two of three alleged violations stemming from one of its largest coal ash ponds.

But the larger question—whether the 21.7 million cubic yards of coal ash in the pond will have to be excavated and moved to a lined landfill—remains unanswered.

The settlement requires Alabama Power to improve its groundwater monitoring and emergency action planning around the 597-acre coal ash ponds at the James M. Barry Electric Generating Plant in Mobile County, and to pay $278,000 in penalties. Alabama Power reported $1.37 billion in net income in 2023, according to filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

EPA announced the agreement, finalized on Sept. 26, on Wednesday."

Dennis Pillion reports for Inside Climate News October 11, 2024. [2]