Latest news with #coalash
New York Times
17-07-2025
- Health
- New York Times
E.P.A. Delays Required Cleanups of Toxic Coal Ash Landfills
The Environmental Protection Agency said on Thursday that it would give utility companies an additional year to begin cleaning up contamination from toxic coal ash landfills across the country. Coal ash, a byproduct of burning coal in power plants, can contain lead, lithium and mercury. Those toxic metals can pollute waterways and drinking water supplies and have been linked to health effects including cancer, birth defects and developmental delays in children. The E.P.A.'s move was a victory for utilities that had lobbied the Trump administration to delay the cleanup requirements. But environmentalists warned that it threatened the health of the predominantly poor communities near coal plants nationwide. Under a rule finalized by the Biden administration last year, utilities had until February 2026 to report to the E.P.A. any contamination from their coal ash landfills. The utilities had until May 2028 to install groundwater monitoring systems and to start drafting plans for cleaning up the contamination. The E.P.A. said on Thursday that it would extend these deadlines by at least a year, until February 2027 and August 2029, respectively. 'President Trump recognizes that affordable and reliable energy are key to the strength of our nation and to our nation's energy dominance,' Lee Zeldin, the E.P.A. administrator, said in a statement. 'Today's actions provide much needed regulatory relief for the power sector.' Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
E&E News
13-05-2025
- Business
- E&E News
EPA inches toward approval of North Dakota coal ash program
EPA is leaning toward approving North Dakota's management program for coal ash, the biproduct of burning coal for electricity, in a move that could have repercussions for energy costs and water pollution. The agency has 'preliminarily determined' that North Dakota has the funding and personnel needed to manage coal ash dump sites in the state and that its approach would be sufficiently protective of the environment. The state is a major coal producer and burns coal for over half of its electric power, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. Gov. Kelly Armstrong (R) and Republican North Dakota Sens. Kevin Cramer and John Hoeven praised the proposed decision. EPA described it as an example of the Trump administration's efforts to work with states and promote energy production. Advertisement 'By advancing a state-led coal ash program that meets federal standards, we're reinforcing our commitment to environmental protection while recognizing North Dakota's capability to manage its own resources,' Cyrus Western, the administrator of EPA Region 8, said in a news release Monday.
