AES Corporation illegally dumped 100 million pounds of toxic coal as on a pristine beach in the Dominican Republic. After acute health problems came horrible birth defects, Complaint alleges.

Timeline: Dominican Republic Toxic Coal Ash Case

2001: The Puerto Rican Power and Energy Authority requires coal ash to be removed from the island in return for approving AES's application to generate electricity from a new coal-burning power plant in Guayama.

2003: The AES Guayama plant begins burning coal and producing toxic coal ash waste.

2003 through approximately 2004: 100 million pounds (50,000 tons) of toxic coal ash from the Guayama AES plant is dumped onto Samana beach, and 60 million pounds (30,000 tons) onto Manzanillo beach, both in the Dominican Republic. Almost immediately residents develop acute health problems from inhaling and ingesting the friable toxic coal ash.

2004: Investigation by the Dominican Environmental Prosecutors Office of the Dominican government orders removal of toxic coal ash from both beaches.

2004: Women in Samana of child bearing age begin having an unusual number of miscarriages or are unable to become pregnant. Local physicians notice the change.

2006: The Dominican government brings civil action against AES in United States, filing a suit in federal court in the Eastern District of Virginia.

2006 through 2007: The process of removing toxic coal ash from beaches begins. At the same time babies are being born to women from the Samana area with horrible birth defects, a phenomenon not seen before the toxic coal ash was dumped onto the beach.

November 4, 2009: Civil action by the people of Samana who have been injured by the illegal toxic coal ash dumping is brought in Delaware State Court in the United States.