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EPA announces coal ash standards
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has announced the first national regulations for the safe disposal of coal ash from power plants. The ash is categorized as a “nonhazardous waste”. It does mean coal ash cannot be disposed in landfills and certain other facilities that do not properly protect groundwater. EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy says the strong safeguards: “will protect drinking water from contamination, air from coal ash dust and our communities from structural failures.” McCarthy encouraged individual states to adopt the federal minimum criteria.
National Rural Electric Cooperative Association CEO Jo Ann Emerson says electric co-ops support the decision stating: At the end of the day, we all benefit from clear rules governing how we protectively manage this waste.”
Read more from EPA here:
When I worked in the oilfield in the 70’s and 80’s we used coal ash to build our lease roads and tank batteries. This is a great resource for road bed use. With all the scrubbers and other devices used now it is hard to believe that the coal ash is more dangerous than it was then. I want clean water but we are just adding a huge expense to electric bills by having to dispose of this product in a landfill. Just my 2 cents.