Hold WE Energy accountable for spilling coal ash in Lake Michigan

from my email....



Dear Scuba,

A massive bluff collapse on Monday at a Milwaukee-area coal plant owned by WE Energies dumped a huge quantity of toxic coal ash into Lake Michigan, threatening the water supply of ten million Americans.1

Coal ash, a radioactive byproduct of burning coal, contains mercury, arsenic, lead and chromium, which are known to cause cancer, neurological damage and other serious health problems.2 But incredibly, WE Energies insists that there is no health threat associated with the massive spill.3

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources should immediately impose a large fine on WE Energies to show the company that spilling toxic substances into drinking water supplies is an issue that needs to be taken seriously.

Tell the Department of Natural Resources: Act now to hold WE Energies fully accountable for spilling toxic coal ash into Lake Michigan. Click here to automatically sign the petition. http://act.credoaction.com/campaign/we_energies_spill/

On its corporate blog, WE Energies wrote: "coal ash is made up mostly of silica, which is similar to sand, and has not been classified as carcinogenic by the Environmental Protection Agency."4 Failing to mention that coal ash also contains known carcinogens is deliberately misleading.

This bluff collapse, which dumped thousands of cubic yards of toxic coal ash into Lake Michigan, is clear evidence that WE Energies failed to adequately protect the environment and public health. And the company's denial of any health threats from the spill shows that it isn't taking the situation seriously.

Part of the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources' mission is to "protect and enhance our natural resources" and "provide a healthy, sustainable environment."5 In order to fulfill that mission, the Department of Natural Resources needs to act swiftly to hold WE Energies fully accountable for dumping huge quantities of toxic coal ash into Lake Michigan.

Tell the Department of Natural Resources: Act now to hold WE Energies fully accountable for spilling toxic coal ash into Lake Michigan. Click here to automatically sign the petition. http://act.credoaction.com/campaign/we_energies_spill/

Thanks for fighting to hold WE Energies accountable for polluting Lake Michigan.

Josh Nelson, Campaign Manager
CREDO Action from Working Assets

1. New Lake Michigan Coal Ash Spill Raises Old Concerns, DeSmogBlog, November 1, 2011
2. Bluff Collapse Stirs Debate Over Coal Ash, EPA Oversight, Patch.com, November 3, 2011
3. Environmental Advocates Worried About Results of Power Plant Landslide, TMJ4, November 1, 2011
4. Work Continues at Site of Bluff Failure, WE Energies Blog, November 3, 2011
5. About the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources