Kentucky Power announced today that it is among the first utilities in the Commonwealth to prepare and submit an emergency action plan (EAP) for an ash impoundment at an electricity generation facility. Company officials recently presented a copy of that plan to Sec. Len Peters of Kentucky’s Energy and Environment Cabinet.
 
The plan, initiated in February, was prepared voluntarily following a coal ash impoundment breach in Tennessee last year. The EAP outlines actions the company would take -- and is prepared to take -- in the event of a fly ash impoundment failure at its 1,060 Megawatt Big Sandy Power Plant located near Louisa, in Lawrence County.
 
"Kentucky Power took this action proactively to ensure we have a comprehensive plan of action in the unlikely event there would be a breach of our impoundment at Big Sandy," said Tim Mosher, president and chief operating officer of Kentucky Power, a unit of Columbus, Ohio- based American Electric Power (AEP). "As far as we know we are the first utility in Kentucky to prepare and present a plan to the Cabinet."
 
"While we operate the Big Sandy impoundment in a safe, sound and responsible manner, we felt having a formal action plan was a prudent step in reassuring our employees, nearby residents and state/local officials that Kentucky Power was aware of the importance such a plan plays in responding to emergency situations and in reassuring the public," he said.
 
"I am pleased with Kentucky Power’s action today. Their leadership in this effort demonstrates the importance of cooperation among local, state and industry officials in ensuring the safety of the Commonwealth’s citizens," said Governor Steve Beshear.
 
"From our stand point and the community’s, it’s always a good idea to be prepared for the worst, even if that is unlikely to ever occur," said Ken Borders, lab and environmental supervisor at Big Sandy Plant. "Of course our dams and impoundments are inspected regularly by state, independent and company officials and we take all necessary actions to maintain the facility in a safe operating condition, but being prepared for the worst is among the best industry practices."
 
The fly ash impoundment at Big Sandy Plant is a 184-acre facility that contains remnants of the coal combustion process used to make electricity. Fly ash is pumped to the impoundment in slurry form where it settles in the water.
 
"I commend Kentucky Power for taking the initiative to voluntarily submit a formal emergency action plan to the Cabinet. We supported legislation requiring such plans during the 2008 legislative session and will continue to support such legislation until it is passed. As this is the first such plan submitted to our agency, we will be looking at it very closely and have agreed to work with Kentucky Power on making any necessary changes so that it can be used as a model plan for other facilities," said Peters.
 
Kentucky Power provides electricity to approximately 175,000 customers in all or parts of 20 eastern Kentucky counties. It is an operating unit of American Electric Power.
 
American Electric Power is one of the largest electric utilities in the United States, delivering electricity to more than 5 million customers in 11 states. AEP ranks among the nation’s largest generators of electricity, owning nearly 38,000 megawatts of generating capacity in the U.S. AEP also owns the nation’s largest electricity transmission system, a nearly 39,000-mile network that includes more 765 kilovolt extra-high voltage transmission lines than all other U.S. transmission systems combined. AEP’s transmission system directly or indirectly serves about 10 percent of the electricity demand in the Eastern Interconnection, the interconnected transmission system that covers 38 eastern and central U.S. states and eastern Canada, and approximately 11 percent of the electricity demand in ERCOT, the transmission system that covers much of Texas. AEP’s utility units operate as AEP Ohio, AEP Texas, Appalachian Power (in Virginia and West Virginia), AEP Appalachian Power (in Tennessee), Indiana Michigan Power, Kentucky Power, Public Service Company of Oklahoma, and Southwestern Electric Power Company (in Arkansas, Louisiana and east Texas). AEP’s headquarters are in Columbus, Ohio.