HomeMy WebLinkAbout06-01-06 • CITY OF OAK PARK HEIGHTS
RESOLUTION 06-01-06
RESOLUTION SUPPORTING A COAL COMBUSTION WASTE
LONG -TERM DISPOSAL METHOD
WHEREAS; the generation of electricity with coal results in the coal combustion waste
product of fly ash, and
WHEREAS; fly ash is made up of many elemental chemicals that should be stored
permanently, and not be released back into the environment, and
WHEREAS; fly ash disposal sites are intended to be permanent, and
WHEREAS; the proposed Xcel Energy basic dry cell construction method with a bottom
clay liner, 60 mil. impervious geomembrane liner, leachate collection system, 40 mil. impervious
geomembrane cap, and monitoring systems, will provide a long -term safe storage solution for
elemental chemicals, and
WHEREAS; the proposed Xcel Energy dry cell construction method must include a
• long -term method of testing the storage cell to ensure that no water has entered the cell. The
materials that create the leachate collection system must last many years to determine the
replacement rate of the top impervious cap, and
WHEREAS; if the dry storage cell were to fill with water and leak, the travel time of the
leachate to a detection monitoring well must be designed to be as short as possible, and
WHEREAS; Xcel Energy and all future owners of Xcel Energy are to be liable for the
fly ash disposal site. The State of Minnesota, as grantor of the permit, must monitor the disposal
site in the best interest of the public. Xcel Energy must conform to all applicable Federal and
State laws governing the disposal of fly ash
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the City of Oak Park Heights proposes
the dry storage method as the best available technology to safely store fly ash for
approximately 50 years.
FURTHER BE IT RESOLVED that there is a need to identify critical pathways
associated with failure modes of the engineered or natural barrier systems and to conduct
performance assessments to demonstrate that contamination would be contained within the
property boundaries at Xcel Energy landfill site, at the 10,000 year mark; and
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• FURTHER BE IT RESOLVED that the City of Oak Park Heights recommends that an
incentive structure for compensation for Xcel Energy to provide electric utility services be
reformed to reward the efficient use of electrical energy, rather that its consumption; and
FURTHER BE IT RESOLVED that the City of Oak Park Heights recommends that
Xcel Energy be rewarded for intensifying its efforts to replace coal generation capacity with
community -based renewable energy development; and
FURTHER BE IT RESOLVED that the City of Oak Park Heights will continue to
function, with a commitment of ongoing support from Xcel Energy, through the conclusion of
the A.S. King Ash Landfill Siting Process, to ensure that potential host communities and the
ultimate host community are not isolated, have access to the technical and analytical expertise
required to protect their interests, and that the intent of this Resolution is fulfilled to the greatest
extent possible.
Passed by the City Council of Oak Park Heights this 10th day of January, 2006.
A eaudet, yor
TT
ri A. Johnson, City Administrator
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