KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Claims that cancer-causing chemicals from a Missouri power plant have seeped into land and water for years has the attention of the federal government.
U.S. Rep. Mark Alford (R-MO.) said Sunday that he is “deeply concerned by the recent reports of toxic chemicals found in Henry County soil.”
Bill Steward and his wife, Sue, sued Evergy and three other companies earlier this month.
The suit claims Evergy now owns a coal-fired power plant in Montrose, Mo. Kansas City Power and Light previously owned the property. The lawsuit accuses the four companies of failing to take precautions while storing, disposing, and transporting hundreds of thousands of pounds of “Fly Ash.”
In a statement Evergy said its Montrose facility has a dust control plan in place. The plan includes visual observations to confirm it is in full compliance. The Fly Ash observations are conducted twice a day.
Fly Ash is a waste material from coal-burning power plants. It contains carcinogenic metals and chemicals. Companies sell fly ash that is then used in concrete.
According to the Steward’s lawsuit, chemicals from Fly Ash at the facility seeped into the air, soil, and water for decades.
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The suit says the Steward’s property has been contaminated with toxic metals and cancer-causing substances because of the uncontrolled Fly Ash. Due to the contamination, the Stewards say they’ve been exposed to toxins for years, which has increased their risk for cancers and other illnesses.
The lawsuit claims Evergy has known about the contamination in Montrose, Mo., for over a decade.
In a statement, Evergy said it is in compliance with all requirements, and inspectors were at the Montrose facility on Jan. 24, 2025, to confirm its compliance.
The safety of the Henry County community, and all communities where Evergy operates, is our top priority.
The Montrose facility is in full compliance with all groundwater testing required by state and federal regulations. Missouri Department of Natural Resources (MDNR) inspected our site in March 2023 and confirmed the site to be in compliance; MDNR also visited the site in August 2024 and again on Friday January 24th, each time expressing no concerns with observed operations or dust management.
Many of the chemicals discussed at the Henry County Commission meeting are frequently found in materials commonly used in and around Missouri, including in various agricultural products, cement and paint thinner, as well as in the soil and rocks.
We are analyzing the test results discussed at the meeting and have been in contact with the Commission and school district to better understand their concerns. Evergy Statement.
The Steward’s lawsuit asks for a jury trial, medical monitoring for those living in the area, and money to cover property damage.
The claims of contamination gained concern Jan. 21, when Steward brought the issues to the Henry County Commissioner’s meeting.
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At the meeting Steward presented what he described as tests from soil on his farmland. He says the tests show it is contaminated with hexium chromium.
“Hexavalent chromium is what the Erin Brockovich movie was about. We tested 15 sites in Davis around the lake. All of them came back bad,” Steward told commissioners. “Hexavalent chromium is not made in Missouri. It’s not coming from anything natural.”
Steward told the Henry County leaders that the contamination is so bad he can’t go home.
I’ve abandoned my house. I don’t live there. It’s in my home. It’s in my cars. It’s in my water. It’s in the wells, and it needs to be stopped today.Bill Steward, Henry County, Mo. property owner
Steward said his kids are sick and he blames the chemicals from the plant.
The Davis R-12 School is also near the plant. The school cancelled classes Thursday and Friday as it waited for tests from its soil and water.
Steward said others in Henry County are in the process of getting their land tested. He said they aren’t sure yet how far the contamination spread.
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Missouri Power Plant Facing Lawsuit Over Alleged Toxic Chemical Leaks
Missouri Power Plant Facing Lawsuit Over Alleged Toxic Chemical Leaks
Missouri Power Plant Facing Lawsuit Over Alleged Toxic Chemical Leaks