Investigate Midwest The Midwest Center for Investigative Reporting

Investigate Midwest (https://investigatemidwest.org/tag/environmental-violations/)

environmental violations

Graphic of the Week

Since 1955 the Vermilion Power Plant has been storing toxic coal ash in three ponds next to the Middle Fork Vermilion River near Oakwood, Illinois

GRAPHIC: Environmental regulation enforcement varies widely from state to state

By Madison McVan, Midwest Center for Investigative Reporting | March 24, 2021

The number of enforcement actions and the size of fines levied against companies for violating environmental protection laws is vastly different from state to state.

Graphic of the Week

Contaminants from the coal ash ponds are currently entering the Middle Fork through several discolored seeps on the riverbank. The Illinois EPA has issued to Dynegy two violation notices: one in 2012 for polluting the groundwater and another in 2018 for contaminating the Middle Fork

GRAPHIC: Fines for environmental violations dropped during Trump administration

By Ignacio Calderon, USA TODAY Network Agriculture Data Fellow | February 18, 2021

Fines have ebbed and flowed over the years, but there was a drop off in the past four years.