MEADVILLE – The Department of Environmental Protection has assessed Reliant Energy a $120,000 fine for overfilling a residual waste landfill at its electrical generating plant in Taylor Township, Lawrence County, just south of New Castle.
Reliant disposes ash from its coal-fired plant at the landfill. Of the 50-acre disposal area, nearly 12 acres was overfilled by an average depth of two feet. The elevations are outlined and approved based on the site’s permit.
“Reliant is being penalized for its failure to follow its permit requirements,” DEP Regional Director Kelly Burch said. “Pennsylvania has mandatory penalties for overfilling landfill permit limits—a $5,000 assessment for every half-acre that is overfilled.”
During an Oct. 30, meeting, the company informed DEP that some areas of the landfill had been overfilled. DEP followed up with an inspection to verify the information and the site was officially put in violation of its permit.
The overfill was discovered and reported by the company while it was completing work required by a previous consent order and agreement. That agreement outlined the transition process to begin closing portions of the existing landfill and/or applying for an expansion with a new liner design.
DEP will allow the overfill to remain as it poses no environmental threat. Reliant has planted some of the overfill area and will hire an independent party to monitor operations at the landfill to prevent future violations.
Reliant has applied to DEP for a new permit that would allow the company to raise its disposal heights. The plan calls for placing a new landfill liner system over the existing landfill to add waste.