Dems say GOP coal ash bill is premature
TheHill
House Democrats are saying that the GOP’s bill on coal ash disposal is premature, since a regulation on coal ash has only just been made final.
Democrats on the House Energy and Commerce Committee’s environment subpanel said at a Wednesday hearing that lawmakers should wait to see how the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) coal ash rule pans out before proposing bills to amend it.
Republicans drafted the bill to resolve some problems they identified with the regulation, including the limited certainty that it provides to utilities operating coal power plants and the fact that the EPA would have almost no ability to enforce the standards.
“At this point … I do not see the need for legislation,” said Rep. Paul Tonko (D-N.Y.), ranking member of the subcommittee.
“There is a need for rigorous, consistent and fair oversight of the rule’s implementation,” he said. “If the rule does not result in appropriate coal ash disposal, or if it results in conflicts between state and federal authorities, or leads to excessive litigation, it can be revised or Congress can pass legislation to correct any problems that are identified.”
Rep. Frank Pallone (D-N.J.), top Democrat on the full committee, agreed with Tonko.
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The December rule from the EPA set the first national standards for disposal of coal ash, which often sits in ponds near major waterways and contains toxic substances like mercury and arsenic.
It sets new standards for ponds and dry disposal sites designed to stop leaks and major spills, and requires that they are not located near sensitive areas like wetlands and earthquake zones.
Utilities and coal ash recyclers avoided the worst regulations, which could have labeled coal ash as hazardous and required sweeping new standards. (emphasis added)
But environmentalists complained that the rule did not go far enough, since they were seeking a hazardous designation. In addition, the rules can only be enforced through citizen lawsuits.
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http://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/236105-dems-say-gop-coal-ash-bill-is-premature
