Coal Ash in North Dakota

The document details the prevalence of coal ash disposal sites in North Dakota, noting that the state ranks 14th in the US for coal ash generation with over 3 million tons produced annually. It identifies six specific power stations with documented groundwater contamination involving toxins such as arsenic, lead, and selenium. The text argues that North Dakota's regulatory program is deficient because it lacks requirements for universal groundwater monitoring, composite liners, and financial assurances for cleanup.

• North Dakota generates over 3 million tons of coal ash per year, ranking it 14th in the United States for coal ash generation.
• Six coal ash disposal sites in North Dakota have documented contamination. Antelope Valley and Leland Olds stations showed exceedances for arsenic; Leland Olds also showed lead, selenium, and boron. Coal Creek Station showed exceedances for arsenic, selenium, boron, chloride, and sulfate. W.J. Neal Station showed elevated chromium, antimony, arsenic, manganese, selenium, and sodium, with cadmium, lead, and zinc exceedances in a public water supply well. R.M. Heskett was classified by the US EPA as a proven contaminated site for sulfate and boron. Coyote Station showed exceedances for iron, arsenic, manganese, and sulfate.
• The North Dakota regulatory program is described as inadequate for protecting public health and the environment because it fails to mandate groundwater monitoring for all sites, composite liners for all new sites, prohibitions on building dumps in the water table, or sufficient financial bonds for cleanup. Additionally, the state does not require regulator or operator inspections or emergency response plans.

APA

Earthjustice (n.d.). Coal Ash in North Dakota. https://earthjustice.org/wp-content/uploads/north_dakota_ash_fact_sheet-2015-04.pdf

Chicago

Earthjustice. Coal Ash in North Dakota. n.d. https://earthjustice.org/wp-content/uploads/north_dakota_ash_fact_sheet-2015-04.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Earthjustice |title=Coal Ash in North Dakota |url=https://earthjustice.org/wp-content/uploads/north_dakota_ash_fact_sheet-2015-04.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{earthjusticendcoal, author = {{Earthjustice}}, title = {{Coal Ash in North Dakota}}, institution = {Earthjustice}, url = {https://earthjustice.org/wp-content/uploads/north_dakota_ash_fact_sheet-2015-04.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }