[Archived] City of Alexandria Files New Action Against Mirant

City Press Release


	For Immediate Release	For More Information, Contact
	October 11, 2005 PIO# 305-05/sjm	Steven J. Mason, Public Information Officer, or Raynard Owens, Communications Officer, at 703.838.4300 Raynard Owens, Communications Officer, at 703.838.4300

City of Alexandria Files New Action Against Mirant
Potomac Plant a “Public and Private Nuisance”

On Friday, October 7, the City of Alexandria filed suit in Alexandria Circuit Court against Mirant. As part of a continuing effort to protect its citizens from the harmful effects of Mirant’s coal-burning Potomac River Generating Station (PRGS), the City has requested that the Circuit Court grant an injunction requiring Mirant to: “… abate, raze or remove the public and private nuisance that it has created and continues to create” and “remediate the effects of the intrusion of noxious, harmful and toxic substances that it has caused.”

“This antiquated coal-burning plant operates with little or no regard for the health and safety of Alexandrians and the people who work and visit here,” said Mayor William Euille. “It’s time for them to stop.”

Each year Mirant transports and handles more than one million tons of coal at its Potomac River plant. An air quality study commissioned by the City and conducted by Maureen Barrett, AERO Engineering Services, found that Mirant emits excessive levels of harmful substances, including: coal dust, flyash, nitrous oxides, sulfur dioxide, hydrogen chloride and mercury.

“Mirant’s excessive and noxious emissions are harming the health of Alexandria’s residents – particularly the elderly, the young and the chronically ill,” said Mayor Euille. “We have asked the court to put a stop to this and remove this nuisance from our community.”

For more information, call Ignacio Pessoa, City Attorney, at 703.838.4433.

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