EPA proposes gutting rules for handling toxic coal ash, a move that threatens groundwater

The Trump administration's Environmental Protection Agency proposed significant rollbacks to federal regulations governing the disposal of toxic coal ash on Thursday, July 18, 2019, in Washington D.C., a move intended to reduce compliance costs for the energy industry but which environmental groups warn will increase the risk of groundwater contamination nationwide. The proposed changes would substantially weaken the 2015 Coal Combustion Residuals (CCR) rule, which was the first federal standard for the disposal of coal ash from power plants. The new proposal would extend the lifespan of unlined coal ash ponds, relax groundwater monitoring requirements, and allow states more authority to suspend cleanup standards if contamination is found. EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler stated the revisions would provide 'flexibility' and save utilities up to $31 million per year in compliance costs, framing the action as part of the administration's broader deregulatory agenda. Environmental advocates and public health experts have reacted with alarm, arguing the proposal guts essential protections. Coal ash, a byproduct of burning coal for electricity, contains dangerous heavy metals like arsenic, lead, mercury, and chromium, which can leach into groundwater and pose serious health risks. The 2015 rule was established after major spills, like the 2008 disaster in Kingston, Tennessee, highlighted the dangers of poorly managed coal ash impoundments. Critics contend that easing these safeguards will disproportionately impact low-income communities and communities of color often located near coal plants and disposal sites, potentially leading to long-term environmental and public health consequences.