The Mirant Potomac River Generating Plant (Mirant Plant) is an electricity-generating facility located on the Potomac River in Alexandria, Virginia. The Mirant Plant uses oil to pre-heat each of its five units then burns coal to generate electricity. The Mirant Plant provides electricity for about 482,000 homes. Plant operations began in 1949 when this part of Virginia was relatively remote.
Now residential and commercial properties surround the facility. Since 2001, residents have voiced concerns about air quality and health problems that they attribute to the Mirant Plant.
To this end, the Alexandria Department of Health asked the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) to review available environmental air data and determine possible health impacts to people in the community near the Mirant Plant.
Selected Resources
- State and Local Government Contacts [PDF, 78 KB]
Suggested government referral contacts for residents of the Alexandria community near the Mirant Potomac River Generating Plant. - Air Pollution
Site that addresses air pollution and its impact on the environment. - Asthma
Site that provides general information about asthma and other helpful resources including CDC’s National Asthma Control Program.
Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, 1825 Century Blvd, Atlanta, GA 30345
CDC Contact Center: 800-232-4636 / TTY: 888-232-6348
