OAKWOOD — The site of the former coal-fired power plant on the banks of the Middle Fork River in Vermilion County is facing river erosion, a concern for environmental advocates.
Environmental advocates like Lan Richart say the delay in removing 3.3 million cubic yards of coal ash from unlined pits along the Middle Fork Vermilion River is dangerous.
“We’ve been pushing for coal ash cleanup for more than a decade, and we’re still looking at years before this is resolved,” said Richart, co-director of the Eco-Justice Collaborative in Champaign. “Four years is far too long to be reviewing a permit when you have a potential emergency situation on your hands.”
Richart said four years ago, in 2023, Dynegy Midwest Generation, which is now owned by Vistra, agreed in a lawsuit settlement that they would remove the toxic coal ash to a modern landfill outside of the floodplain zones. However, the company is still awaiting Illinois EPA approval.
That settlement required the mandatory removal of all of the 3.3 million cubic yards of coal ash.
This settlement also forced Dynegy to submit monthly erosion reports. The company is required to fund any river restoration, address any groundwater violation concerns, and control the toxic dust during demolitions.
And recently, their reports indicate trouble on the horizon, according to Richart.
“Every day that the river continues to eat into that bank, we’re one step closer to a major problem,” Richart said. “If that bank fails, you’re talking about 3.3 million cubic yards of coal ash and a potential disaster for the Middle Fork.”
Richart added he is concerned about the recent flood warnings and that the river erosion may escalate, especially with more rain coming.
The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency stated that the recent responses from Dynegy for the removal are under review.
“Illinois EPA’s review of Vermilion’s coal ash closure permit applications remains ongoing,” Kim Briggs, the public information officer for the IEPA, said. “The applications were supplemented with additional groundwater monitoring, corrective action, and modeling information in 2025, and Illinois EPA issued Notices of Deficiency on February 26, 2026. Dynegy’s responses were received by Illinois EPA and are currently under technical review. The ash removal plan has not yet been approved because the identified technical deficiencies must be adequately addressed before the Illinois EPA can make a tentative permit determination.”
In 2018, Vistra Energy acquired Dynegy. A spokesperson from the company reached out regarding the concerns about the toxic dust.
“Riverbanks erode,” Jenny Lyon, Senior Manager of Communications and Public Relations for Vistra Energy, said. “On a free-flowing river like the Middle Fork, the channel naturally shifts and the bank moves back over time. It happens on both sides of the river, and it has been happening here for decades.”
Lyon said there has been “no release, no breach, and no change in the condition of the ash ponds. The embankments continue to perform as designed, with strength and capacity to spare. This is a preventative, not emergency response.”
However, environmental advocates like Richart are concerned.
“Since acquiring the retired Vermilion plant property in 2018, the company has prioritized responsible closure of the impoundments to protect the environment, groundwater, the public, and the Middle Fork of the Vermilion River,” said the owner of Dynegy Midwest Generation, LLC. “While awaiting approval to implement the permanent closure plan under the 2023 Consent Order, our team has taken further steps to secure the site and stabilize the existing ash impoundments before the material can be relocated to a new landfill.”
But Richart is not convinced.
“We’re already seeing evidence of contaminants leaching into the river,” Richart said. “It may be diluted, but it’s continuous, and it works its way into the river’s ecosystem over time.”
The owner also added, “Our rigorous monitoring, inspections, and proactive embankment measures reflect our commitment to safety and responsible stewardship, ensuring long-term protection of the river and wildlife areas for generations to come.”
“We were pleased when Dynegy agreed to clean up the coal ash,” Richart said. “We just didn’t realize it would take so many years to even get to the starting line.”Right now, we’re not saying a breach is imminent,” Richart said. “But the trigger line has been crossed, the river has been at historic levels, and the cleanup is projected to take more than a decade. That’s why we’re sounding the alarm.”