Coal Combustion Residual (CCR) Surface Impoundments

Please send any public comments related to the Coal Combustion Residual Surface Impoundments, including those associated with public hearings, public meetings, Alternate Source Demonstrations (ASD), and other facility documents submitted to the Illinois EPA for review, to the following email or physical address of Dr. Sabrina Bailey, Community Relations Coordinator within the Office of Community Relations:

Sabrina Bailey, PhD
Illinois Environmental Protection Agency
Office of Community Relations
115 South LaSalle Street, Suite 2203
Chicago, Illinois 60603-3809
(312) 832-2162
Sabrina.Bailey@illinois.gov

What are Coal Combustion Residuals (CCR)?

Coal Combustion Residuals (CCR) or Coal ash is a byproduct of the combustion of coal. Power plants produce electricity by transforming coal into a fine powder which increases the surface area of the coal causing it to burn more efficiently. The fine powder is injected into a boiler furnace where it combusts at temperatures near 1,100⁰C or above. The stored chemical energy in the coal is released as heat and carbon dioxide and other gases are produced. This heat is transferred to tubes containing circulating water within the boiler walls. The circulating water is superheated to steam and then directed to a rotating turbine. The turbine is connected to a generator which converts the mechanical energy of rotation into electrical energy to produce alternating current (AC) electricity.  During the coal burning process, the organic material is consumed, energy is released, and the inorganic materials remain as coal ash. 

Coal ash is classified as bottom ash, fly ash, boiler slag and flue gas or fluid bed boiler desulfurization byproducts. Fly Ash is a fine powdery material consisting of mostly silica and other minerals. Due to its fine consistency, the fly ash is carried up the boiler flue gas stream during combustion. The bottom ash is a coarse angular material that settles to the bottom of the boiler furnace and is removed from the furnace floor. Boiler slag is molten bottom ash that forms smooth glassy pellets as it cools. Flue gas desulfurization systems remove sulfur dioxide (SO₂) from flue gas forming calcium sulfite or sulfate depending on the absorbent used.

What are the Environmental Concerns for CCR?

Coal ash is an environmental concern because it has the potential to cause air, land, and water contamination. Heavy metals such as mercury, cadmium, arsenic, lead, cadmium, chromium, antimony, nickel and selenium are present in coal ash. These toxic metals can leach into groundwater when ash is stored in open ponds or unlined landfills posing a potential threat to drinking water. In aquatic ecosystems these toxic metals can bioaccumulate in fish and cause neurological and reproductive issues. During the transport or handling of coal ash particulate matter containing these metals can potentially become airborne causing heath issues.

How has the Illinois EPA Responded?

On April 15, 2021, the Illinois Pollution Control Board enacted the Illinois Administration Code Part 845 35 Illinois Administrative Code Part 845 to regulate standards for the disposal of CCR in surface impoundments as a part of the implementation of Public Act 101-171  Public Act 101-171. This established the CCR permitting program within the Illinois EPA which regulates the rules for the design, construction, operation, corrective action, closure and post-closure care of surface impoundments containing CCR both on-site and off-site at electric utilities and independent power producers. Under this rule facility owners and operators are required to monitor groundwater to ensure groundwater protection standards are met. For more information on the rationale behind the development of these rules, review the Statement of Reasons in  Part 845.  

What can you do to learn more?

If you would like to know more, join the listserv to receive updates on specific or all CCR Surface Impoundment sites. Listserv Sign-up

Illinois EPA CCR public notices are found on the Illinois EPA CCR Public Notice page. By signing up on the listserv above, you will receive public notices directly via e-mail. Notices are also posted to the Illinois EPA Public Notice Twitter account.

Click on the link to view a map of CCR surface impoundments in Illinois. Note: The link will not work with the Microsoft Edge browser.  

35 Illinois Admin Code Part 845

Public Act 101-171

Illinois Pollution Control Board

U.S. EPA Federal CCR Page

40 CFR 257

Facility Website

https://www.ameren.com/company/environment-and-sustainability/managing-coal-combustion/inactive-basins

Received Permit Applications

• Operating Permit Application received on 10/29/2021 (Ash Pond A)

Final Permit Determination 

Facility Website

https://www.ameren.com/company/environment-and-sustainability/managing-coal-combustion/inactive-basins

Received Permit Applications

• Operating Permit Application received on 10/29/2021 (Fly Ash Pond)
• Operating Permit Application received on 10/29/2021 (Bottom Ash Pond)

Final Permit Determination 

Facility Website

https://www.ameren.com/company/environment-and-sustainability/managing-coal-combustion/inactive-basins

Received Permit Applications

• Operating Permit Application received on 10/29/2021 (North Ash Pond)
• Operating Permit Application received on 10/29/2021 (South Ash Pond)

Final Permit Determination

Facility Website

https://www.ccrsites.com/wood-river

Received Permit Applications

• Operating Permit Application received on 11/01/2021 (Primary East Ash Pond)
• Operating Permit Application received on 11/01/2021 (West Ash Pond System – Pond 1)
• Operating Permit Application received on 11/01/2021 (West Ash Pond System – Pond 2E)
• Operating Permit Application received on 11/01/2021 (West Ash Pond System – Pond 2W)
• Closure Construction Permit Application received on 03/10/2026 (Primary East Ash Pond)
• Closure Construction Permit Application received on 03/10/2026 (West Ash Pond System - Pond 1)
• Closure Construction Permit Application received on 03/10/2026 (West Ash Pond System - Pond 2E)
• Closure Construction Permit Application received on 03/10/2026 (West Ash Pond System - Pond 2W)

Final Permit Determination

Facility Website

https://www.cwlp.com/IllinoisCCRCompliance.aspx

Received Permit Applications

• Operating Permit Application received on 10/28/2021 (Lakeside and Dallman Ash Ponds)
• Construction Permit Application received on 02/01/2022 (Lakeside and Dallman Ash Ponds)

Final Permit Determination

Facility Website

https://www.ccrsites.com/havana

Received Permit Applications

• Operating Permit Application received on 11/01/2021 (East Ash Pond Cells 1-3)
• Closure Construction Permit Application received on 12/22/2022 (East Ash Pond Cells 1-3)
• Closure Construction Permit Application (resubmittal) received on 03/04/2026 (East Ash Pond Cells 1-3)

Final Permit Determination

Facility Website

http://grandtowerenergycenter.com/

Received Permit Applications

• Operating Permit Application received on 10/29/2021 (Inactive Ash Basin)

Final Permit Determination 

Facility Website

https://midwestgenerationllc.com/illinois-ccr-rule-compliance-data-and-information/

Received Permit Applications

• Operating Permit Application received on 11/03/2021 (Ash Pond 2)
• Construction Permit Application received on 02/01/2022 (Ash Pond 2)

Final Permit Determination

Facility Website

https://midwestgenerationllc.com/illinois-ccr-rule-compliance-data-and-information/

Received Permit Applications

• Operating Permit Application received on 11/03/2021
• Construction Permit Application received on 02/01/2022
• Revised Operating Permit Application received on 07/09/2026

Final Permit Determination

• Operating Permit Denial sent on 03/09/2025
• Responsiveness Summary and explanation of denial

Facility Website

https://midwestgenerationllc.com/illinois-ccr-rule-compliance-data-and-information/

Received Permit Applications

• Operating Permit Application received on 11/03/2021 (Ash Surge Basin)
• Operating Permit Application received on 11/03/2021 (Ash Bypass Basin)
• Operating Permit Application received on 11/03/2021 (Former Ash Basin)
• Operating Permit Application received on 04/01/2021 (Metal Cleaning Basin)
• Retrofit Construction Permit Application received on 07/20/2022 (Ash Bypass Basin)
• Closure Construction Permit Application received on 10/31/2022 (Former Ash Basin)
• Retrofit Construction Permit Application received on 07/31/2023 (Ash Surge Basin)
• Retrofit Construction Permit Application received on 07/20/2023 (Metal Cleaning Basin)

Final Permit Determination

Facility Website

https://midwestgenerationllc.com/illinois-ccr-rule-compliance-data-and-information/

Received Permit Applications

• Operating Permit Application received on 11/03/2021 (East Ash Pond)
• Operating Permit Application received on 11/03/2021 (West Ash Pond)
• Construction Permit Application received on 02/01/2022 (East Ash Pond)
• Construction Permit Application received on 02/01/2022 (West Ash Pond)

Final Permit Determination

Facility Website

https://midwestgenerationllc.com/illinois-ccr-rule-compliance-data-and-information/

Received Permit Applications

• Operating Permit Application received on 11/03/2021 (Pond 2S)
• Operating Permit Application received on 11/03/2021 (Pond 3S)
• ​Operating Permit Application received on 04/01/2022 (Pond 1N)
• Operating Permit Application received on 04/01/2022 (Pond 1S)
• Closure Construction Permit Application received on 08/02/2023 (Pond 2S)
• Closure Construction Permit Application received on 08/02/2023 (Pond 3S)
• Closure Construction Permit Application received on 08/02/2023 (Pond 1N)
• Closure Construction Permit Application received on 08/02/2023 (Pond 1S)

Final Permit Determination 

Received Permit Applications

• Operating Permit Application received on 11/01/2021 (Inactive Pearl Ash Pond)

Final Permit Determination 

Facility Website

https://www.sipower.org/il-845/

Received Permit Applications

• Operating Permit Application received on 11/01/2021 (Former Emery Pond)

Final Permit Determination

Facility Website

https://www.luminant.com/illinois-ccr/

Received Permit Applications

• Operating Permit Application received on 10/29/2021 (Fly Ash Pond System)
• Operating Permit Application received on 10/29/2021 (Bottom Ash Pond System)
• Closure Construction Permit Application received on 07/31/2023 (Bottom Ash Pond)
• Corrective Action Permit Application received on 04/24/2025 (Fly Ash Pond System)

Final Permit Determination 

Facility Website

https://www.luminant.com/illinois-ccr/

Received Permit Applications

• Operating Permit Application received on 10/29/2021 (Ash Pond No. 1) 
• Operating Permit Application received on 10/29/2021 (Ash Pond No. 2)
• Operating Permit Application received on 10/29/2021 (GMF Gypsum Stack Pond)
• Operating Permit Application received on 10/29/2021 (GMF Recycle Pond)
• Construction Permit Application received on 08/01/2022 (Ash Pond No. 1) 
• Construction Permit Application received on 08/01/2022 (GMF Gypsum Stack Pond)
• Construction Operating Permit Application received on 08/05/2022 (GMF Recycle Pond)
• Corrective Action Permit Application received on 06/11/2025 (Ash Pond No. 2)

Final Permit Determination

Facility Website

https://www.luminant.com/illinois-ccr/

Received Permit Applications

• Operating Permit Application received on 10/29/2021 (Pond No. 1 & Pond No. 2)
• Operating Permit Application received on 10/29/2021 (Bottom Ash Basin)
• Operating Permit Application received on 10/29/2021 (GMF Pond)
• Construction Permit Application received on 02/01/2022 (Bottom Ash Basin)
• Construction Permit Application received on 02/01/2022 (GMF Pond)

Final Permit Determination

Facility Website

https://www.luminant.com/illinois-ccr/

Received Permit Applications

• Operating Permit Application received on 10/29/2021 (Ash Pond)
• Construction Permit Application received on 07/01/2022 (Ash Pond)
• Corrective Action Permit Application received on 06/03/2025 (Ash Pond)

Final Permit Determination

Facility Website

https://www.luminant.com/illinois-ccr/

Received Permit Applications

• Operating Permit Application received on 10/29/2021 (Ash Pond No. 2 and No. 4)
• Operating Permit Application received on 10/29/2021 (East Ash Pond)
• Operating Permit Application received on 10/29/2021 (Old West Ash Pond No. 1 and No. 3; Old West Ash Polishing Pond)
• Construction Permit Application received on 02/01/2022 (East Ash Pond)
• Corrective Action Permit Application received on 05/08/2025 (Old West Ash Pond No. 1 and No. 3; Old West Ash Polishing Pond)

Final Permit Determination

Facility Website

https://www.luminant.com/illinois-ccr/

Received Permit Applications

• Operating Permit Application received on 10/29/2021 (East Ash Pond)
• Construction Permit Application received on 07/29/2022 (East Ash Pond)
• Corrective Action Permit Application received on 04/17/2025 (East Ash Pond)
• Operating Permit Application received on 06/24/2026 (West Ash Pond)

Final Permit Determination

Facility Website

https://www.luminant.com/illinois-ccr/

Received Permit Applications

• Operating Permit Application received on 10/29/2021 (Ash Pond)
• Construction Permit Application received on 07/29/2022 (Ash Pond)

Final Permit Determination

Facility Website

https://www.luminant.com/illinois-ccr/

Received Permit Applications

• Operating Permit Application received on 10/29/2021 (Primary Ash Pond)
• Construction Permit Application received on 07/29/2022 (Primary Ash Pond)

Final Permit Determination

Facility Website

https://www.luminant.com/illinois-ccr/

Received Permit Applications

• Operating Permit Application received on 10/28/2021 (North Ash Pond/Old Ash Pond)
• Operating Permit Application received on 10/28/2021 (New East Ash Pond)
• Construction Permit Application received on 01/31/2022 (North Ash Pond/Old Ash Pond)
• Construction Permit Application received on 01/31/2022 (New East Ash Pond)

Final Permit Determination

CCR Coordinator
EPA.CCR.Part845.Coordinator@illinois.gov