Meeting Set for Acme Power Plant Update

The Acme Working Group will host a public meeting next week to provide an update on activities at the old Acme Power Plant.

The meeting has been set for 6 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 6, at the Sheridan County Fulmer Public Library Inner Circle. Presentations will be followed by an open house during which those attending can visit with project partners and agency coordinators.

Carrie Rogaczewski, who’s district manager of the Sheridan County Conservation District, which owns the site, said the district is pleased with progress that’s been made. Information from assessment activities at the site will be used to develop alternatives, with cost estimates, for addressing environmental concerns at the site. Rogaczewski said that process is expected to begin late this year and will include additional community discussions.

She said assessment activities include risk determinations for exposure to asbestos fibers, soil core sampling, groundwater monitoring and collection of surface water samples from the adjacent Tongue River. She added that structural and other assessments of the building are needed to determine whether it can, or should be, incorporated into future use discussions. Focus of the current work, she added, is on the grounds around the building. Items specific to the building and the adjacent coal-ash pile will come later.

Rogaczewski said the building still has a significant amount of asbestos, along with other issues, those weren’t included in the current grant. The conservation district is seeking additional funding sources to complete assessments and planning specific to the building.