Allen Steam Station Coal Ash Closure
Under a settlement agreement with community and environmental groups and Duke Energy that ends the appeal litigation, Duke Energy will move forward with excavation plans at the Allen Steam Station and dispose of ash in a lined onsite landfill.
Duke submitted a closure plan by the December 31, 2019 deadline, as required by the Coal Ash Management Act (CAMA) of 2016 and in accordance with the agreement. On October 28, 2020, DEQ approved the closure plan. Access historical Public Meetings.
The approved closure activities are underway at the facility. On July 31, 2023, Duke submitted a modification to the approved closure plan to add an additional landfill for placement of excavated CCR. This modification is under review by DEQ.
Division of Air Quality
Public Notice for Aug. 5 Public Hearing
Division of Waste Management
To satisfy the approved closure plans for Allen Steam Station, the Division of Waste Management will permit three Coal Combustion Residual Landfills.
Allen Steam Station Facility Permit Documentation – North Starter Landfill, South Starter Landfill, and Ash Basin Landfill
- Public Hearing Presentation, Allen Steam Station
- DRAFT Community Profile, Allen Steam Station
- Site Study, Allen Steam Station
- Geological and Hydrogeological Report, Allen Steam Station
- Notification of Site Suitability, Allen Steam Station
- Engineering and Facility Plan, Allen Steam Station
- Technical Specifications, Construction Quality Assurance Plan, Closure and Post-Closure Plan, Allen Steam Station
- Environmental Controls Monitoring Plan, Allen Steam Station
- Operations Plan, Allen Steam Station
Permit 3620-INDUS-2022, South Starter Landfill
- South Starter Landfill Permit to Construct Cover Letter, Allen Steam Station
- South Starter Landfill Permit to Construct, Allen Steam Station
- South Starter Landfill Hearing Officers Report, Allen Steam Station
- South Starter Landfill Fact Sheet, Allen Steam Station
- South Starter Landfill Public Notice, Allen Steam Station
- Aviso Público, Vertedero South Starter de la Estación de Vapor Allen
- South Starter Landfill Documentation, Allen Steam Station
Permit 3619-INDUS-2021, Allen North Starter Landfill
- North Starter Landfill Permit to Construct Cover Letter, Allen Steam Station
- North Starter Landfill Permit to Construct, Allen Steam Station
- North Starter Landfill Hearing Officers Report, Allen Steam Station
- North Starter Landfill Fact Sheet, Allen Steam Station
- North Starter Landfill Public Notice, Allen Steam Station
- North Starter Landfill Documentation, Allen Steam Station
- Aviso Público, Vertedero North Starter de la Estación de Vapor Allen
Division of Water Resources
The Coal Ash Management Act (CAMA) provides three principal closure pathways:
- Option A: closure in a manner allowed for a high-risk site, such as excavation and disposal in a lined landfill
- Option B: closure with a cap-in-place system similar to the requirements for a municipal solid waste landfill
- for this option, there is a further requirement that upon full implementation of the closure plan, the groundwater must be in compliance with the 2L standard at the compliance boundary of the impoundment.
- Option C: closure in accordance with the federal CCR rule adopted by the EPA.
After conducting a rigorous scientific review of Duke Energy’s proposals for Allen, and conducting public listening sessions in impacted communities, DEQ has determined Option A is the only closure option that meets the requirements of Coal Ash Management Act to best protect public health and the environment. Coal ash must be excavated and moved to a lined landfill.
DEQ's Coal Ash Impoundment Closure Determination (April 1, 2019)
Preliminary Groundwater Flow and Transport Modeling (Fate Transport)
Community Impact Analysis (NEBA)
Comprehensive Site Assessment -- Report, Figures, Tables, and Appendices
Public Comments -- January 2019
Saturated Ash Considerations