Missouri Coal Ash Disposal in Ponds and Landfills

Missouri generates 2.68 million tons of coal ash annually, ranking 16th in the U.S. The state manages approximately 32 coal ash ponds at 14 plants, many of which lack liners and leachate collection systems. Regulatory gaps are significant: Missouri allows ponds containing over 170 million gallons of coal ash to bypass safety regulations, and state officials have inspected only one pond in five years despite many being over 25 feet high. Specific failures include the Labadie plant, where a 154-acre unlined pond has leaked approximately 50,000 gallons per day since 1992 without required cleanup or groundwater monitoring by the Missouri Department of Natural Resources.

• Missouri ranks 16th in the United States for coal ash generation, producing 2.68 million tons per year.
• There are approximately 32 coal ash ponds at 14 plants in Missouri, covering over 1,000 acres. One pond is rated as a "high" hazard and five are rated as "significant" hazards. Twenty-one ponds are more than 30 years old, making the presence of liners and leachate collection systems unlikely.
• Missouri's regulatory program for coal ash ponds is deficient, allowing ponds with more than 170 million gallons of coal ash to avoid safety regulations. Despite 14 ponds being over 25 feet high or impounding more than 500 acre feet, state regulators inspected only one pond in the last five years.
• The Missouri Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has failed to require groundwater monitoring or cleanup at Ameren’s Labadie plant, where a 154-acre unlined ash pond has leaked roughly 50,000 gallons per day since 1992.

APA

Earthjustice (n.d.). Missouri Coal Ash Disposal in Ponds and Landfills. https://earthjustice.org/wp-content/uploads/mo-coal-ash-factsheet-1111.pdf

Chicago

Earthjustice. Missouri Coal Ash Disposal in Ponds and Landfills. n.d. https://earthjustice.org/wp-content/uploads/mo-coal-ash-factsheet-1111.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Earthjustice |title=Missouri Coal Ash Disposal in Ponds and Landfills |url=https://earthjustice.org/wp-content/uploads/mo-coal-ash-factsheet-1111.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{earthjusticendmissouri, author = {{Earthjustice}}, title = {{Missouri Coal Ash Disposal in Ponds and Landfills}}, institution = {Earthjustice}, url = {https://earthjustice.org/wp-content/uploads/mo-coal-ash-factsheet-1111.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }