According to The Rome News Tribune, the state has issued a permit to Georgia Power for a closure plan for the coal ash pond at Plant Hammond, which critics say violates a federal rule against leaving ash in contact with groundwater. Georgia power plans on retiring its entire fleet of coal burning power plants soon, aside from two plants in Cartersville, Ga. The coal ash contains contaminants that can pollute groundwater, drinking water, and the air. The permit that was issued contained a list of conditions that would follow a 30 year post closure plan, groundwater monitoring, and the effectiveness of the system to correct the effects of the settlement.