A recently released environmental report from Sunbelt Environmental Services details the results of extensive soil, sediment, and water sampling in Henry County, Missouri, near the former Montrose Power Plant. The testing was initiated to assess potential contamination from coal combustion residuals (CCR), commonly known as fly ash, following community concerns.
The Montrose Generating Station, a 564-megawatt coal-fired plant, ceased operations in 2018. Although the plant has since been decommissioned, CCR materials remain stored in an on-site landfill. The latest sampling effort, conducted in March 2025, focused on locations including Montrose Elementary, Davis School, Clinton Christian Academy, and local waterways such as Montrose Lake, Deepwater Creek, and Truman Lake.
The findings revealed the presence of hexavalent chromium above EPA safety levels for both soil and water in several areas, including Davis School and near the Montrose Lake outfall. Arsenic and cobalt levels exceeded EPA screening thresholds in all tested soil and sediment samples. However, concentrations were within or below average background levels reported by the US Geological Survey for Henry County.
No levels of radium 226/228 were found above federal health standards in either soil or water samples.
Importantly, this study was intended for screening purposes only and did not include a full risk assessment or contamination characterization. The data provide a snapshot of current conditions and will likely influence future environmental decisions regarding site monitoring and potential remediation.
County officials and the Missouri Department of Natural Resources have received the report and are expected to review the findings further.
Here are the test results: final-fly-ash-sampling-report
