EPA Wants to Roll Back Rules on Disposing Coal Plant Ash

The Environmental Protection Agency on Thursday proposed weakened rules governing the safe disposal of ash produced by burning coal. The regulations were strengthened under the Biden administration as part of a wider crackdown on pollution from coal-fired power plants. The Trump administration would ease standards for monitoring and protecting groundwater near some coal ash sites, rolling back rules forcing the cleanup of entire coal properties instead of just places where ash was dumped, the AP reports. The revisions would also make it easier to reuse coal ash for other purposes.

EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin said the proposal reflects the agency's "commitment to restoring American energy dominance, strengthening cooperative federalism, and accommodating unique circumstances at certain (coal ash) facilities." Burning coal produces tremendous amounts of ash, a waste product that contains heavy metals. If not stored properly, coal ash can contaminate groundwater. Coal plants are often situated on the banks of rivers or other waterways, with waste ash sitting nearby. The EPA first set standards for coal ash during the Obama administration that included requirements for companies to line new storage sites, monitor water, and close leaky ponds, often requiring the material to be moved elsewhere. In 2024, the Biden administration eliminated exemptions granted to some older coal ash sites.

The move is the latest in a series of Trump administration efforts to weaken clean air and water standards as part of regulatory relief for the fossil fuel industry. It's also in line with President Trump's efforts to boost US coal and suppress cleaner alternatives. "The toxic metals and pollutants leach out into the surrounding waters," said Nicholas Torrey, an attorney with the nonprofit Southern Environmental Law Center. "That's the pollution threat that's happening every day." Environmental groups and community advocates warned that the changes will mean more dangerous pollutants contaminating water, and expose more people living near coal plants to toxic waste.