Coal smoke and steam vapor pour out of the Bruce Mansfield Power Plant September 10, 2008 overlooking the main road leading into Shippingport, Pennsylvania. The 2460 MW coal-fired plant in western Pennsylvania is one of the 12 biggest carbon dioxide polluting power plants in the U.S. emitting 17.4 million tons annually.

Paul Lampe checks the tomatos grown in his back yard September 10, 2008 as smoke and steam vapor pour out of the coal-fired Bruce Mansfield Power Plant overlooking his home in Shippingport, Pennsylvania.

Paul Lampe checks freshly picked potatoes grown in his back yard garden.

Coal smoke and steam vapor pour out of the Bruce Mansfield Power Plant overlooking an open field September 10, 2008 in Shippingport, Pennsylvania. A local newspaper's investigation revealed the power plant has been consistently violating an EPA air emission standard called "opacity" since 1998. Opacity standards are significant as they monitor for harmful fine particulate pollution, which contributes to asthma attacks, heart and lung diseases and premature death.

Mary Ann Burris sits on her porch as smoke and steam vapor pour out of the Bruce Mansfield Power Plant overlooking her home September 10, 2008 in Shippingport, Pennsylvania. The Burris's car has been been repainted three times at the power plant's expense from acid rain damage and soot fallout caused by the coal-fired power plant's discharges.

Coal smoke and steam vapor pour out of the Bruce Mansfield Power Plant across from a seldom used children's park September 11, 2008 in Shippingport, Pennsylvania.

Ralph Hysong looks over the acid rain pitting at a children's playground as coal smoke and steam vapor pour out of the Bruce Mansfield Power Plant over a residential area September 11, 2008 in Shippingport, Pennsylvania. Since two enormous toxic coal soot discharges in 2006 and 2007, the children's playground is rarely used.

Coal smoke and steam vapor pour out of the Bruce Mansfield Power Plant on top of the Bethlehem Presbyterian Church and cemetery September 12, 2008 in Shippingport, Pennsylvania.

Gracie Hartle, 6 years, stands next to her mother, Jessie Hartle, September 11, 2008 in Shippingport, Pennsylvania. Gracie is believed to have been poisoned from an enormous toxic coal soot discharge from the nearby Bruce Mansfield Power Plant in July, 2006, covering her with a black soot as she played outside. After Gracie's hair began falling out, medical tests revealed thalium poisoning, one of the toxic heavy metals found in coal soot and fly ash. The Hartles and other local families are involved in a suit against FirstEnergy Generation Corporation, the power plant's owners.

Jim Marsili, left, and Martin Garrigan, right, stand below the 580 MW coal-fired Cheswick Power Plant September 13, 2008 in Springdale, Pennsylvania. Marsili and Garrigan monitor the power plant to ensure it complies with noise and pollution guidelines they and local citizen groups claim the Reliant Energy owned company is violating. A 2004 emission inventory report showed the Cheswick plant is responsible for 80 percent of all sulfur dioxide emissions in western Pennsylvania's Allegheny County. Sulfur dioxide contributes to respiratory illnesses, particularly in the elderly and children, and aggravates heart and lung disease. Built in 1970, the Cheswick plant is now building a second smokestack of 550' to help reduce sulfur dioxide, mercury, hydrochloric acid and hydrogen fluoride emissions by 90 percent.

A local resident living near the Cheswick Power Plant in Springdale, Pennsylvania shows the black coal soot on a dust cloth after wiping an outdoor table 24 hours after the previous day's cleaning. Springdale residents actively monitor Cheswick to make sure it complies with noise and pollution guidelines local citizen groups claim the power plant violates.