Coal Ash in Indiana

Indiana ranks second in the United States for coal ash generation, producing over 9.5 million tons annually. The state's 18 coal-fired power plants utilize 83 landfills and ponds, many of which are rated as high or significant hazards or are in poor condition. Documented groundwater contamination involving arsenic, boron, manganese, and other toxins has been found at numerous sites, including the Gibson Plant and Clifty Creek Station. The document argues that Indiana's regulatory program is among the worst in the nation, citing a lack of dam safety requirements, inadequate drinking water protections, and the absence of mandatory groundwater monitoring or composite liners for all disposal units.

• Indiana is the second largest producer of coal ash in the United States, generating more than 9.5 million tons per year.
• Coal ash disposal infrastructure in Indiana consists of 18 plants with a total of 83 landfills and ponds, several of which are identified as high or significant hazards. For example, the Eagle Valley Generating Station has 4 ponds rated as significant and 1 as high, while the R. M. Schahfer Power Station has 6 rated as significant and 2 as high.
• Groundwater monitoring has revealed contamination exceeding state or federal standards at multiple Indiana sites. Specific contaminants include arsenic, boron, and manganese at the Gibson Plant and Clifty Creek Station; benzene, arsenic, manganese, boron, and molybdenum at Yard 520/Brown’s Landfill; and barium, chromium, cadmium, lead, sulfate, and chloride at the Merom Station CCW Landfill.
• Indiana's regulatory framework for coal ash is described as being among the worst in the nation due to a lack of dam safety requirements—such as professional engineer design, inspections, reporting, inundation maps, emergency plans, and bond requirements—and a failure to mandate groundwater monitoring or composite liners for all ponds and landfills.

APA

Earthjustice (n.d.). Coal Ash in Indiana. https://earthjustice.org/wp-content/uploads/indiana-ash-fact-sheet-2014-12.pdf

Chicago

Earthjustice. Coal Ash in Indiana. n.d. https://earthjustice.org/wp-content/uploads/indiana-ash-fact-sheet-2014-12.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Earthjustice |title=Coal Ash in Indiana |url=https://earthjustice.org/wp-content/uploads/indiana-ash-fact-sheet-2014-12.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{earthjusticendcoal, author = {{Earthjustice}}, title = {{Coal Ash in Indiana}}, institution = {Earthjustice}, url = {https://earthjustice.org/wp-content/uploads/indiana-ash-fact-sheet-2014-12.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }