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Clean Air Terre Haute |
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The Wabash River Generating Plant is a coal-burning plant, located just northwest of Terre Haute, owned by Cinergy. It has a large smokestack visible from Collett Park and the north side of Terre Haute. This plant, built in the 1950's, is a "peaking" plant, meaning that it is most active when demand for electricity is high, such as in the winter. Residents in Collett Park may occasionally see black smoke billowing out of the smokestack. When smoke is released on days with a wind from the northwest, then a sickly sweet furnace odor is noticeable throughout much of Terre Haute the next day, particularly on the north side but also extending as far south as Farrington Grove and as far east as 25th Street. Mr. Needham explained that the Wabash River Energy Limited gasification plant, which makes natural gas from coal and which is located adjacent to the Wabash River Generating Plant, may also contribute to any odors from this area. Coal-burning plants are significant sources of mercury emissions. Long-term emissions of mercury lead to a build up of this heavy metal in local soil and water, affecting fish and the people who eat them. High levels of mercury have been associated with developmental disorders. Old-timers remember when air pollution in the Farrington Grove Historic District was so bad that, "it melted the paint off of cars". If the wind is blowing from the west or southwest, then a variety of bad odors may be smelled in Farrington Grove, including sulfurous and petroleum odors. Three potential sources of air pollution, namely Wabash Environmental Technologies, Railworks, Inc., and Gartland Foundry, are located just west or southwest of Farrington Grove. Mr. Needham explained that Railworks, Inc., located just west of Farrington Grove, cooks down petroleum products and makes creosote for railroad ties. Gartland Foundry, southwest of Farrington Grove, melts down steel products and pours iron into molds. Wabash Environmental Technologies (now shutdown) used to treat and neutralize biological wastewater. All of these processes are capable of producing odors. On November 7, 2003, Wabash Environmental Technologies was fined $25,000 for emitting objectionable odors, following an inspection by EPA Region 5 representatives. Wabash Environmental Technologies was finally shut down by the EPA because they were dumping untreated wastewater into the Wabash River. We are very grateful for the assistance of the EPA! The air quality in Farrington Grove is now very good (not perfect - a few odors now and then), but we can now walk on our streets, leave our windows open at night, work in our yards, etc., which we couldn't do before when Wabash Environmental was polluting our skies and river. We also want to thank local officials for their efforts to correct the problem and a special thank you to local residents who complained about the smell - the complaints added up and made a difference. International Paper is the only paper plant in Indiana. They make a variety of cardboard products by a black liquor process that breaks down wood chips. The black liquor process involves pumping effluents into three lagoons along the Wabash River, located near the Interstate bridge over Rt. 63. The open air evaporation of paper mill sludge is a potential source of odors in Terre Haute. Paper plants that use chlorine to whiten paper produce a byproduct called dioxin, a highly toxic chemical. There are other possible sources of air pollution in Vigo County, as well as in neighboring counties. Mr. Needham mentioned the Terre Haute Sewage Treatment Plant located along the Wabash River, as well as the large hog farms in Clay County. There is often a petroleum smell along Fruitridge Ave. in Terre Haute, which is due to local oil wells and their brine wastewater. What can you do to help? When the air pollution is bad in your neighborhood, please call the Vigo County Air Pollution Control Department, 462-3433. They can't monitor every neighborhood all the time, so they rely on community residents to call them when there is a problem. If the pollution is persistent, email a complaint to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, District 5. The EPA website with complaint form is located at: http://www.epa.gov/region5/enforcement/ecitcomp.htm. Another good website is the clean air page of the Sierra Club: http://www.sierraclub.org/cleanair/.
This page last modified 12/11/06 |