The Acme Working Group is hosting a public meeting to provide an update on recent and upcoming activities at the former Acme Power Plant. The meeting will begin at 6:00 pm at the Sheridan County Fulmer Public Library Inner Circle on Thursday February 6. Presenters will provide a brief background and description of the site and updates on assessments and upcoming activities. Presentations will be followed by an open-house where participants can visit with project partners and agency coordinators.
Assessment activities include risk determinations for exposure to asbestos fibers, soil core sampling, groundwater monitoring, and collecting surface water samples from the adjacent Tongue River. Information from these assessments will be used to develop alternatives with cost estimates for addressing environmental concerns at the site. That process is expected to begin later in 2020 and will include additional community discussions. Structural and other assessments of the building are needed to determine whether it can (or should) be incorporated into future use discussions.
Carrie Rogaczewski, District Manager of the Sheridan County Conservation District who owns the site, notes that the District is pleased with the progress. “Projects of this size and complexity take a long time and sometimes give the impression that nothing is happening. Participation in state and federal programs provides a lot of resources that we would not have, so taking the extra time to complete all of the paperwork and planning behind the scenes is certainly worth it. ” The focus of the current work is on the grounds around the site; items specific to the building and the adjacent coal-ash pile will come later. “While we know the building still has a significant amount of asbestos and other issues, it was not included in the current grant. We are seeking additional funding sources to complete assessments and planning specific to the building.”
The Acme Power Plant Reclamation Project is a community effort to address environmental and safety concerns at the former Acme Power Plant located along the Tongue River. The purpose is to make the site suitable for public use in the future. While specific future uses have not been determined, expectations for any future use include protecting water and land quality, ensuring public access, and capturing the historical importance for the site. A project website (www.acmeprojectwyoming.org) includes more information. The Acme Working Group was formed in December 2017 to provide technical guidance and assistance to the Sheridan County Conservation District, who currently owns the site and is responsible for overall project coordination.