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    Concerns Grow Over Ash Cloud at Port Augusta Following Closure of Northern Power Station Adelaide Now

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    The Northern Power Station in Port Augusta closed last year, and its large ash storage area has been emitting dust clouds that blanket the town during windy conditions. Recent heavy rain washed away dust suppressants, causing one of the worst ash clouds yet and respiratory issues for some residents. The ash contains heavy metals and particles that can cause health problems from inhalation. Local officials have complained to the EPA and state government about the ongoing issue, but no permanent solution has been implemented. An investigation is underway to determine appropriate fixes for preventing further ash clouds.

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    Concerns Grow Over Ash Cloud at Port Augusta Following Closure of Northern Power Station Adelaide Now

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    59 views7 pages
    The Northern Power Station in Port Augusta closed last year, and its large ash storage area has been emitting dust clouds that blanket the town during windy conditions. Recent heavy rain washed away dust suppressants, causing one of the worst ash clouds yet and respiratory issues for some residents. The ash contains heavy metals and particles that can cause health problems from inhalation. Local officials have complained to the EPA and state government about the ongoing issue, but no permanent solution has been implemented. An investigation is underway to determine appropriate fixes for preventing further ash clouds.

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    concerns grow over ash cloud at port augusta following closure of northern power station adelaide now

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    The Northern Power Station in Port Augusta closed last year, and its large ash storage area has been emitting dust clouds that blanket the town during windy conditions. Recent heavy rain washed away dust suppressants, causing one of the worst ash clouds yet and respiratory issues for some residents. The ash contains heavy metals and particles that can cause health problems from inhalation. Local officials have complained to the EPA and state government about the ongoing issue, but no permanent solution has been implemented. An investigation is underway to determine appropriate fixes for preventing further ash clouds.

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    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
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    59 views7 pages

    Concerns Grow Over Ash Cloud at Port Augusta Following Closure of Northern Power Station Adelaide Now

    Uploaded by

    api-328250307
    The Northern Power Station in Port Augusta closed last year, and its large ash storage area has been emitting dust clouds that blanket the town during windy conditions. Recent heavy rain washed away dust suppressants, causing one of the worst ash clouds yet and respiratory issues for some residents. The ash contains heavy metals and particles that can cause health problems from inhalation. Local officials have complained to the EPA and state government about the ongoing issue, but no permanent solution has been implemented. An investigation is underway to determine appropriate fixes for preventing further ash clouds.

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    of 7

    4/14/2017 ConcernsgrowoverashcloudatPortAugustafollowingclosureofNorthernPowerStation|AdelaideNow

    0:00 / 0:41

    AshcloudsvisibleatPortAugusta

    SANews

    Concernsgrowoverashcloud
    atPortAugustafollowing
    closureofNorthernPower
    Station
    ElizabethHenson.MitchMott,TheAdvertiser
    January2,201710:35pm
    Subscriberonly

    FinalcoaltrainleavesLeighCreekafterPtAugustastationcloses
    SolarpowerpushtokeepPortAugustajobs
    Thermalenergyplantlikelytowinsupportfrom$1billionenergyfund

    ATHICKplumeofdustfromthedefunctNorthernPowerStationisblanketingPortAugusta
    andnearbytowns,causingbreathingproblemsforresidentsrequiringhospitaltreatment
    andsparkinghealthconcerns.

    EnvironmentMinisterIanHunterhasurgedresidentstoavoidcontactwiththeairborneashandhas
    orderedtheEnvironmentProtectionAuthoritytoinvestigatetheplume.

    PortAugustaMayorSamJohnsonsaidresidentswererightlyangryaboutthepotentiallytoxicplume,
    whichhesaysisunacceptableandhasforcedchildrentohospital.

    HesaidlittlehadbeendonetofindapermanentfixfortheproblemdespitealertingtheEPAandState
    Governmenttoitonnumerousoccasions.

    http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/southaustralia/concernsgrowoverashcloudatportaugustafollowingclosureofnorthernpowerstation/newsst 1/7
    4/14/2017 ConcernsgrowoverashcloudatPortAugustafollowingclosureofNorthernPowerStation|AdelaideNow

    FuriousPortAugustaresidentsnearthedecomissionedNorthernPowerStation,fromwhichashisbeingblown
    acrosstheirtown.Picture:MattTurner

    TheEPAonMondayreleasedastatementsayingtheashcloudwasnottoxic.

    ButlatelastmonthitstatedrecentSAHealthtestsshoweddustatthedecommissionedcoalfired
    stationcontainedminimaltoxicmetalsandsubstancesandthedustparticlesthemselvesmaycause
    healtheffects,irrespectiveoftheirelementalmakeup.

    ThestationclosedinMaylastyearandFlindersPower,thecompanyresponsibleforthesite,hasbeen
    applyingdustsuppressanttoits250haashstorageareatopreventdustbeingemittedinwindy
    conditions.

    'Toxic'flyashoverPortAugusta

    However,theextremerainandwindthatlashedmuchofSAlastweekhaswashedawaythesuppressant
    andthestorageareahassincedriedout.

    MrJohnsonsaidrecentwindyconditionsstirredupdustatthesiteandcreatedalargeashplumeon
    Sunday.

    http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/southaustralia/concernsgrowoverashcloudatportaugustafollowingclosureofnorthernpowerstation/newsst 2/7
    4/14/2017 ConcernsgrowoverashcloudatPortAugustafollowingclosureofNorthernPowerStation|AdelaideNow
    HesaiddustfromthepowerstationhadlongplaguedtheregionbuttheashcloudonSundaywasthe
    worsthehadseen.

    Imagineareallybigfirewithalotofsmokeandyoucantsee(throughit),hesaid.

    Fromoneangle,youcantactuallyseethepowerstation.

    MrJohnsonsaiditwasunacceptable.

    Wevegotthousandsofpeoplesuckinginthisashrightnow.

    Wevegotthousandsofpeoplesuckinginthisashrightnow,hesaid.

    Peoplearepissedoffandtheyvegoteveryrighttobewevegotchildrenwithchroniclung
    conditions,asthma.

    FlyashisblownfromtheNorthernPowerStationatPortAugusta,causinghealth
    concernsforresidents.Picture:MattTurner

    Ivehadmothersringme(andsay)theyvehadtotaketheirchildrentohospitaltohelpwiththeir
    breathing.

    MrJohnsonsaidthecouncilhadalertedtheEPAeachtimeadustcloudformedbutnothinghadbeen
    donetofixtheproblem.

    http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/southaustralia/concernsgrowoverashcloudatportaugustafollowingclosureofnorthernpowerstation/newsst 3/7
    4/14/2017 ConcernsgrowoverashcloudatPortAugustafollowingclosureofNorthernPowerStation|AdelaideNow
    SotherehavebeenadozentimestheEPAhasbeenalertedandthelasttwodayshavebeentheworst,
    hesaid.

    Ihavepersonallytextmessagedphotosandvideosto(StateGovernmentministers)sotheycantsay
    theydontknow.

    WindcarriestheflyashawayfromtheclosedPortAugustapowerstation.

    Healthconcernsfromtheplumecomeatatime
    thecityisgrapplingwithjoblossesfromthe
    closureofthepowerstation.

    AirpollutionresearcherJamesWhelan,from
    EnvironmentJusticeAustralia,saidcoalash
    couldcontainheavymetalssuchasmercurybut
    thelevelsofthesetoxinsinashdustvariedfrom
    sitetosite.

    Itreallydoesntmatterwhatthoseparticlesare,
    justtheinhalationofthosemillionsandmillions
    ofparticlesisaproblem,hesaid.

    Thereisntasafelevelofexposuretoparticle
    pollution.

    ChemicalexpertDrMariannLloydSmith,from
    theNationalToxicsNetwork,saidcoalashwas
    renownedforcontainingmercuryandother
    heavymetals,somecarcinogenic.

    Flyashisthemosttoxicformofcoalash,she
    said.
    PortAugustaMayorSamJohnson.Picture:MattTurner

    Idontknowhowyoucansayitsnontoxic.

    Unlesstheflyashhashadall(chemicalsandheavymetals)removed,Idontknowhowyoucansayits
    nontoxic.

    MrHuntersaidhewasunawareofspecifichealthrisksassociatedwithflyashbuthasadvisedagainst
    contactwithit.

    Itwouldntbesomethingweencouragepeopletobeworkinginorplayingin,thatswhywekeepa
    crustonit,butpeoplehaveexperiencedsomeashbeingdispersedthroughtheairinrecenttimes,he

    http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/southaustralia/concernsgrowoverashcloudatportaugustafollowingclosureofnorthernpowerstation/newsst 4/7
    4/14/2017 ConcernsgrowoverashcloudatPortAugustafollowingclosureofNorthernPowerStation|AdelaideNow
    said.

    SApowerstationstackcomesfallingdown

    WeunderstandthedistressthatcausesthelocalcommunityandthatswhyIveaskedtheEPAto
    reporttomethisweekaboutwhatwecandoaboutthatflyash.

    MrHuntersaidtheEPAreportwouldbecompletedbytheendoftheweek.

    TheEPAissuedastatementonthematteracknowledgingthatrecentheavyrainhadimpactedon
    previouseffortstosuppressdustfromtheformerpowerstation.

    Theashisblownintothesky.Picture:MattTurner

    AspartofaDustManagementPlan,FlindersPowerisconsideringmethodstoresolvethemostrecent
    problemandiskeepingtheEPAinformedofitsprogress,itread.

    FlindersPoweralsoissuedastatement,sayingthecompanywastakingimmediateactiontorectifythe
    dustissue.

    FlindersPoweriscurrentlyimplementingimmediatemeasuresfortherestorationandmanagementof
    theseexposedareas,itread.
    http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/southaustralia/concernsgrowoverashcloudatportaugustafollowingclosureofnorthernpowerstation/newsst 5/7
    4/14/2017 ConcernsgrowoverashcloudatPortAugustafollowingclosureofNorthernPowerStation|AdelaideNow
    FlindersPowercontinuestocollaboratewiththeEPA,Councilandotherstakeholdersonthisissue.

    Thecompanyalsosaiddustsuppressanthadbeenusedasaninterimmeasurebutapermanentsolution
    wouldberolledoutthismonth.

    Residentsfearforchildrensfuture
    RESIDENTSneartheformerNorthernPowerStationfearanashcloudisputtingtheirhealthatriskbut
    saytheirconcernshavefallenondeafears.

    StirlingNorthresidentMichelleColes,60,saiddustfromthepowerstationoftendriftedintonearby
    townshipsbutSundaysplumehadsparkedrenewedcallsforaction.

    Alotofpeoplebelievetheyaresufferingbecauseoftheflyash,shesaid.Itisverymuchthetalkofthe
    town.

    MsColesattributedhersevenyearoldgranddaughtersasthmadiagnosissixmonthsagototheflyash.

    Shesaidshehadbeenhospitalisedtwicesincethen.

    Iwouldlikeaninvestigationintowhattheeffectsofflyashdoestoacommunity,healthwiseandalso
    whatitdoestotheenvironment,shesaid.TheytoldeveryoneMaralingawassafe...Iknowits
    different,butlookwhathappenedthere.

    MsColessaidresidentshadbeencomplainingtoauthoritiesabouttheashforalongtime.Ifwedont
    jumpupanddownandtrytodosomethingaboutit,ourchildrenaregoingtosufferintheyearsto
    come,shesaid.

    ThePortAugustapowerstation,beforeitstoppedgeneratingpowerinMaylastyear.

    MotheroftwoKellianneReynolds,alsoofStirlingNorth,saidtheflyashwasprettyrelentless.There
    areplentyofpeoplecomplainingofsoreeyes,coughingandwheezing,shesaid.

    Wehavetothinkaboutourfutureandourfuturehealthforourkidsandthisblowingalloverusis
    quiteterrifying.Wouldyoulikeyourfamilylivingwiththistoxicdustalloveryourfamily?

    ForgrandparentsIanandIreneSlee,theflyashbillowingoverPortAugustahadaddedinsulttoinjury.
    WhentheplantshutdowninMaylastyear,manyemploymentopportunitiesdisappeared.

    Weareveryconcernedforourgrandchildren,MsSleesaid.Weareworriedabouttheirhealthand
    abouttheirfuturehere.Weareworriedtheywillhavetogoawaytofindworkandstarttheirlives.

    TwooftheirgrandchildrenhadrecentlymovedtoQueenslandandMsSleesaidshewasgladtheywould
    notbeinanenvironmentwhichcouldmakethemsick.

    Thedustistheproductof62yearsofenergyproductionandhasresidentsupinarms.

    PortAugustaMayorSamJohnsonsaidthedustwasadisgraceandimmediateactionneededtobe
    takenbyboththeStateandFederalgovernments.Wecantbebreathingthisinforanotherweek,Mr
    Johnsonsaid.

    http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/southaustralia/concernsgrowoverashcloudatportaugustafollowingclosureofnorthernpowerstation/newsst 6/7
    4/14/2017 ConcernsgrowoverashcloudatPortAugustafollowingclosureofNorthernPowerStation|AdelaideNow
    Thereneedstobeapermanentsolution.

    http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/southaustralia/concernsgrowoverashcloudatportaugustafollowingclosureofnorthernpowerstation/newsst 7/7

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