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The Iowa Department of Natural Resources finalized a discharge permit for the Ottumwa Generating Station, a coal-fired power station, after months of opposition from members of the public and environmental groups.

The final permit amends discharge limits for a wastewater outfall at the plant, but opponents alleged the permit amendments allowed the coal plant to skirt federal regulations on discharging leachate, which is wastewater that has mixed with the byproducts of burning coal.

At a public hearing Sept. 3 on the permit, DNR staff said the permit did not allow leachate to be discharged from the facility and that no leachate is discharged from the generating station.

In the department’

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