RICHMOND, Va., April 17, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Dominion Virginia Power will close all of the ash ponds at its Virginia power stations in compliance with standards established by the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) and the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Coal Combustion Residuals rules.

The company will close ponds at four locations in Virginia: Bremo Power Station in Fluvanna County, Chesapeake Energy Center in Chesapeake, Chesterfield Power Station in Chesterfield County, and Possum Point Power Station in Prince William County.  

Coal ash is the remainder left after coal is burned to generate electricity. In recent years, Dominion has closed or converted to cleaner fuel five coal-fired power stations serving Virginia. Nearly two-thirds of the electricity produced by Dominion's generation serving the state now comes from carbon-free nuclear generation, clean-burning natural gas and renewables.

The company no longer uses coal as a fuel at its Bremo, Chesapeake and Possum Point power stations.

"The EPA rules were just finalized, and we have been working on plans based on the proposed rule in order to be prepared," said Pamela Faggert, Dominion's chief environmental officer and vice president of Corporate Compliance. "We are working with the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality and other state agencies to develop closure plans that are in compliance with the new rules."

Under the EPA rules, fly ash has been determined to be a non-hazardous material.   

Once Dominion has obtained the needed permits from DEQ, other agencies and local jurisdictions, the company will begin the actual closure work.

In general, the ponds that are being closed will be drained and covered by a rugged, impermeable liner, then topped with 24 inches of soil. Either grass or sod will be planted on top of the soil. The specifics of the closure plan will be determined by DEQ.

Closing the ponds in this manner complies with federal standards set by the EPA.

Dominion Virginia Power is a subsidiary of Dominion (NYSE:D). Dominion is one of the nation's largest producers and transporters of energy, with a portfolio of approximately 24,600 megawatts of generation, 12,200 miles of natural gas transmission, gathering and storage pipeline, and 6,455 miles of electric transmission lines.  Dominion operates one of the nation's largest natural gas storage systems with 928 billion cubic feet of storage capacity and serves utility and retail energy customers in 13 states. For more information about Dominion, visit the company's website at www.dom.com.

SOURCE Dominion Virginia Power