Utah environmental regulators are proposing to penalize Rocky Mountain Power for spilling coal ash into the Price River last summer.
Last August Rocky Mountain Power was dismantling its old Carbon power plant near Helper when a thunderstorm came on and swamped the coal ash waste system.
“It was just a very brief but violent flood,” says Paul Murphy, the power company’s spokesman.
“We had a pond to gather it,” he explains. “We had different culverts to divert the water to different areas, and one of the holes that the water was supposed to go through got plugged up.”
The coal ash waste system was built to required standards, says Murphy, but the storm was far bigger than state regulators or the company expected. Tons of pollutants washed into the river, including a total of 50 pounds of lead and arsenic.
“From the very beginning, Rocky Mountain Power did everything it could to take care of the situation, to clean it up, and we’re glad that everything now has been resolved.”
Murphy says there is no evidence that plants, animals or people were harmed by the spill.
Yet, even accidental pollution is subject to fines under state law. So, the Utah Division of Water Quality has assessed a $13,000 fine against the company plus administrative costs of $2,385.
Murphy says the company has already agreed to pay the penalty.