Last Chance to Comment on Coal Ash Rule

The public comment period for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s proposal to regulate toxic coal ash ends today. OMB Watch urges you to tell the EPA to set standards fully protective of public health and the environment. You can submit comments at Regulations.gov, or, for more background and assistance, visit the website of Earthjustice, an environmental group campaigning in favor of strong coal ash standards.

Coal ash is a dangerous byproduct of coal combustion and can contain arsenic, lead, chromium, and other heavy metals. Reports link exposure to the toxic components in coal ash to cancer and other health problems. The toxins in coal ash can leach from landfills and surface impoundments into rivers, lakes, or streams, risking contamination of your drinking water. New calls for regulation of coal ash began in 2008 after an impoundment in Kingston, TN, failed, releasing 5.4 million cubic yards of coal ash that buried a community.

In its June 21 notice, EPA proposed two options for regulating coal ash. The first option would designate coal ash as a hazardous waste, requiring special handling, transportation, disposal, and any potential reuse. The second would regulate coal ash in a way typically only used to control less toxic wastes such as household garbage – an option that would limit EPA's responsibility and authority over coal ash management. The choice is clear: EPA must choose the first, stronger option to ensure that communities are protected.

back to Blog