Environmental advocates oppose proposed coal ash rule changes
At a virtual public comment hearing hosted by the US Environmental Protection Agency on Thursday, environmental advocates voiced strong opposition to proposed regulations that would weaken requirements for cleaning up toxic coal ash at hundreds of sites across the country. The Trump administration announced in April its plan to repeal a 2024 rule requiring monitoring at inactive coal plants and to loosen groundwater protection standards. The new proposal would allow states to take over monitoring and enforcement and, in some cases, bypass national standards. Earthjustice senior counsel and former EPA attorney Lisa Evans criticized the move as jeopardizing drinking water supplies. EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin called the changes “commonsense” and said they support energy dominance, cooperative federalism, and accommodating unique circumstances at certain facilities. The proposal would also exempt some coal ash storage sites from regulation and permit owners to minimize, delay, or avoid dealing with the residue. Coal ash contains potentially toxic levels of mercury, arsenic, and lead, all linked to human health problems including cancer. A 2022 study by Earthjustice and other groups found that over 90 percent of coal power plants were contaminating groundwater via coal ash residues.
What’s reported
The EPA held a virtual public comment hearing on Thursday regarding proposed coal ash regulations.
The Trump administration announced in April it would repeal a 2024 rule that required monitoring at inactive coal plants.
The proposal would loosen groundwater protection requirements and allow states to bypass national standards.
EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin described the changes as “commonsense” and said they reflect EPA’s commitment to American energy dominance and cooperative federalism.
The rule would exempt some coal ash storage sites from regulation and let plant owners minimize, delay, or avoid dealing with coal ash.
Coal ash contains mercury, arsenic, and lead, substances associated with health problems including cancer.
A 2022 study found that more than 90 percent of coal power plants were contaminating groundwater via coal ash residues.
Key figures
Lisa Evans, senior counsel at Earthjustice and former EPA attorney
Lee Zeldin, EPA Administrator
Sources: Ars Technica
