Sunday, February 22, 2026–1:10 p.m.
-Georgia Power News Release-
In accordance with state and federal rules, Georgia Power is holding a public meeting on March 24th, from 5:30 P.M to 7:30 P.M., at the Rome-Floyd E.C.O. Center, 393 Riverside Parkway, on the groundwater remediation plan for Plant Hammond ash pond 1 (AP-1) and ash pond 2 (AP-2). The purpose of the meeting is to provide information and gather input from the local community.
Plant Hammond began commercial operation in 1954 in Floyd County, Georgia, and was retired in 2019.
Project Overview Key Points
Georgia Power’s coal-fired plants historically used ash ponds (APs) for water treatment and storage of coal combustion residuals (CCR), also known as coal ash.
CCR is a byproduct of burning coal for electricity, and the ash ponds were installed and operated in compliance with Clean Water Act (CWA) permits.
In 2016, the Georgia Environmental Protection Division (GA EPD) modified its rules to include new federal requirements for ash ponds.
Georgia Power is closing all ash ponds in compliance with federal and state regulations.
Georgia Power completed coal ash removal from Hammond AP-1 and AP-2 for disposal at a permitted facility.
The closure is regulated and permitted by the GA EPD under permit No. 057- 023D(CCR) and 057-024D(CCR).
Groundwater Monitoring and Assessment Key Points
- Georgia EPD requires facilities to monitor groundwater around ash ponds, former ash ponds, and landfills. A thorough monitoring network enables detection and remediation, if needed, of areas where groundwater may have been affected.
- Georgia Power has collected groundwater samples from its monitoring well networks around ash ponds and landfills since 2016.
- Samples are collected and analyzed using federal and state-approved methods by independent environmental professionals.
- Groundwater monitoring at Plant Hammond identified arsenic, cobalt, and molybdenum concentrations above the established groundwater protection standards at four small areas on-site.
- The groundwater in these areas has been thoroughly tested to identify the extent to which these concentrations are present. The data show that the affected areas are limited in size, clearly defined, and entirely within Georgia Power property boundaries.
- The closure itself is expected to improve groundwater quality in the affected areas over time. In addition, Georgia Power has studied the affected areas to comprehensively determine the best path forward to address groundwater quality.
Plant Hammond AP-1 and AP-2 public meeting talking points
Site Specific Remedy Key Points
- Georgia Power evaluated several proven groundwater treatment approaches for the affected areas before presenting selected alternatives to the GA EPD for consideration of effectiveness.
- In-Situ Injection combined with Monitored Natural Attenuation is the proposed method to treat groundwater at the affected areas on-site.
- *In-situ injection utilizes treatment techniques that are often used at water treatment plants, but instead of being performed above ground, they are performed directly in the groundwater.
- *Monitored natural attenuation leverages natural processes to further enhance treatment over time.
- Lab and field tests have demonstrated successful arsenic, cobalt, and molybdenum treatment using these methods.
- Successful treatment will fully address the affected areas on-site.
- After successfully meeting the groundwater protection standard, Georgia Power will continue to monitor and report groundwater results to GA EPD and post to Georgia Power’s publicly available website for at least 3 years.
- Georgia EPD will continue to oversee compliance and remediation progress for Hammond AP-1 and AP-2 throughout the treatment program.
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