Environmentalists turn out in force to oppose Trump coal ash rollbacks
Summary
The Biden administration’s EPA set strong rules to clean up toxic coal ash from power plants, but the Trump administration wants to roll back those rules, giving states more control and weakening protections. Environmental groups say this could harm water safety, while industry groups support the changes, saying coal ash can be safely reused in materials like cement and drywall.Key Facts
- The Trump administration wants to repeal a 2024 rule from Biden’s EPA that required monitoring coal ash at inactive coal plants.
- The rollback would allow states to handle coal ash monitoring and enforcement, sometimes ignoring national standards.
- Coal ash contains toxic substances like mercury, arsenic, and lead that can harm human health and contaminate water.
- Environmental groups warn that coal ash is leaking into groundwater at over 90% of coal plants in the US.
- The American Coal Ash Association and the American Cement Association support the rollback, highlighting coal ash’s use in making cement and other products.
- The EPA’s rollback proposal includes changing how coal ash is classified in cement production, treating it as a raw material instead of waste.
- Many coal ash sites store the residue on-site in ponds or landfills, sometimes with poor lining that allows toxins to leak.
- The EPA has been concerned since 2002 about coal ash contaminating groundwater near storage sites.
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