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Beckjord Station Coal Ash Pond Risks And Clean Up Efforts

Emily Maxwell | WCPO
The closed W.C. Beckjord Station power plant sits on the bank of the Ohio River in New Richmond, Ohio.

TheW.C.BeckjordStation power plant, located on the bank of the Ohio River southeast of Cincinnati in New Richmond, began generating electricity in 1952. Duke Energy closed the plant in 2014, but there are still large coal ash ponds on the site containing arsenic, lead and other toxins that pose a potential danger to the environment and drinking water. Local government leaders, the Environmental Protection Agency and Duke Energy are now trying to determine the most effective, safe method to clean up the site and prevent any hazardous material leaking into the Ohio River or other water supplies.

Joining us to provide some history and an overview of the Beckjord plant, current concerns over the danger it poses to the environment and possible steps to make the site safe are Duke Energy Ohio and Kentucky Spokeswoman Sally Thelen; and 9 On Your Side/ WCPO.com Issues Reporter Lisa Bernard-Kuhn, who recently reported on the concerns over the Beckjord coal ash ponds

To read Lisa Bernard-Kuhn's story on Beckjord and see photos and video, click here.