There are 566 coal ash dump sites in 40 states that are currently excluded from EPA regulations — almost half the total coal ash sites in the U.S. Meanwhile as of December 2022, the world’s largest coal companies had reached profits in excess of $97 billion.
The EPA's proposed rules close some loopholes in the Coal Combustion Residual rules, but fall short by:
Excluding many dried up coal ash ponds that no longer contain water, and many old ash landfills.
Failing to address dangerous coal ash ponds and landfills situated in floodplains where climate change has increased the risk of groundwater contamination.
Failing to include offsite construction sites where, incredibly, coal ash has been used as filler at playgrounds, schools, and in residential areas, and
Failing to include clear and transparent enforcement mechanisms and penalties to ensure compliance.
Failing to include ALL toxic coal ash sites across the country regardless of where and when they were created.
These companies must not get away with weakening federal regulations, once again, while the frontline communities who have borne the brunt of coal industry pollution continue to face the risk of illness and death from the toxic legacy of coal!
Public comment on the proposed rule will be accepted until midnight tonight. Click the button below to tell the EPA we need to strengthen the law to include all coal ash storage sites AND ensure that the law is actually meaningfully enforced. Be sure to customize your comment for maximum impact!
Want to learn more about Coal Ash impacts downstream from San Juan and Four Corners, and get pumped to take action to protect communities in the crosshairs? Listen (and subscribe!) to our new podcast series about energy democracy in New Mexico. Mariel answers questions and explains the significance of utility and fossil fuel regulations and cases through the lens of economic, social and environmental justice.
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