Dive Summary:

• Environmentalists are intensifying their efforts to hold Ameren accountable for leaks from unlined ash ponds, some dating back to 1992. At the same time, the St. Louis, Missouri based Ameren is seeking approval from the Missouri Department of Natural Resources (DNR) to build coal ash landfills for some of its coal-fired power plants.
• The Sierra Club and Labadie Environmental Organization have written DNR to demand ground water monitoring at three Missouri plants – Labadie, Meramec, and Rush Island. The letter cites coal ash leakage issues dating back to 1992 at the Labadie coal-fired power plant. A 154-acre unlined ash pond at Labadie had two leaks totaling 50,000 gallons per day. Further inspections turned up more leaks.
• Ameren's Missouri and Illinois ash ponds both are old and unlined. Ameren Illinois has violated ground water standards at four coal plants. Currently, the Illinois Attorney General is suing Ameren for illegally disposing more than 180,000 pounds of coal ash near Peoria.

From the article:
“Ameren's Missouri ash ponds are similar to its Illinois ash ponds as both are old and unlined. However, Illinois has been able to catch contamination by requiring Ameren to conduct groundwater monitoring.”