EPA to unveil long-anticipated coal ash regulations

[Derek V]

Source: Aljazeera

December 19, 2014 7:52AM ET

Long-anticipated regulations regarding the disposal of coal ash — a toxic byproduct containing hazardous materials such as arsenic and lead — are due to be released Friday by the U.S. government.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) agreed to the Friday deadline as part of the settlement of a lawsuit filed by environmental groups. The agency had first proposed rules governing the storage of waste material created through the burning of coal in 2010 in the wake of a massive spill at a ruptured holding pond in Tennessee. But regulations were never finalized, prompting activists to sue in 2012 for rules to finally be put in place.

Environmental groups say tighter standards are needed to ensure against a repeat of incidents like the Tennessee spill, that cost more than $1 billion to clean up, and a similar spill earlier this year that polluted the Dan River in North Carolina.

The practice of storing coal ash in holding ponds supported by permeable, earth barriers can lead to both contamination of surrounding groundwater and the risk of catastrophe when dikes fail — as happened in both Tennessee and North Carolina.


Read more: http://america.aljazeera.com/articles/2014/12/19/coal-ash-epa.html

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Straight outta Limbo!

[okaawhatever]

1. Good to hear. nt

[Eugene]

2. EPA sets first national standard for coal waste (as solid waste, not hazardous)

Source: Associated Press

EPA sets first national standard for coal waste

AP foreign, Saturday December 20 2014

BY DINA CAPPIELLO

Associated Press= WASHINGTON (AP) — The Obama administration on Friday set the first national standards for waste generated from coal burned for electricity, treating it more like household garbage rather than a hazardous material.

Environmentalists had pushed for the hazardous classification, citing the hundreds of cases nationwide in which coal ash waste had tainted waterways or underground aquifers, in many cases legally. A hazardous classification would have put the federal government in charge of enforcement, which has been uneven across states that have varying degrees of regulation.

The coal industry wanted the less stringent classification, arguing that coal ash wasn't dangerous, and that a hazardous label would hinder recycling. About 40 percent of coal ash is reused.

But classifying coal ash as solid waste leaves it up to citizens and states to ensure standards are met.

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Read more: http://www.theguardian.com/world/feedarticle/11698643

[NCarolinawoman]

3. How clever of them.

Tepid. Wishy washy EPA