Dumping Toxic Coal Ash Threatens the Great Lakes

The author highlights the environmental and health risks posed by coal ash disposal in Michigan, where 65 dump sites—including 48 earthen dams—threaten the Great Lakes and groundwater. The text details the toxicity of heavy metals like arsenic, lead, and mercury found in coal ash and criticizes the lack of liner requirements for dams and the ability to dump waste directly into aquifers. It concludes by urging opposition to H.R. 1734, a bill that would weaken EPA safety protections established in the 2014 coal ash rule.

• Coal-fired power plants in the United States generate approximately 120 million tons of coal ash annually, making it the second largest industrial waste stream in the country. This waste contains heavy metals such as arsenic, mercury, lead, and hexavalent chromium, which are linked to severe health issues including nervous system damage, various cancers, and developmental defects in children.
• In Michigan, there are 23 coal-fired power plants and 65 coal ash dump sites. Of these, 48 are earthen dams, but only 16 of those dams have liners to prevent heavy metals from leaching into groundwater. Six of these dams are classified by the EPA as a "significant hazard."
• Michigan's regulatory framework allows coal ash to be dumped into pits without protections to prevent it from entering the water table or aquifers, and utilities are not required to test for groundwater contamination. There are at least 10 documented cases of water contamination resulting from coal ash.
• The author opposes H.R. 1734, the "Improving Coal Combustion Residuals Regulation Act of 2015," claiming it intends to remove, delay, or weaken the safety protections established by the EPA's first coal ash rule proposed in December 2014.

APA

Earthjustice (2015). Dumping Toxic Coal Ash Threatens the Great Lakes. https://earthjustice.org/article/dumping-of-toxic-coal-ash-threatens-the-great-lakes

Chicago

Earthjustice. Dumping Toxic Coal Ash Threatens the Great Lakes. 2015. https://earthjustice.org/article/dumping-of-toxic-coal-ash-threatens-the-great-lakes.

Wikipedia

{{cite press release |author=Earthjustice |title=Dumping Toxic Coal Ash Threatens the Great Lakes |date=20 July 2015 |url=https://earthjustice.org/article/dumping-of-toxic-coal-ash-threatens-the-great-lakes |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@misc{earthjustice2015dumping, author = {{Earthjustice}}, title = {{Dumping Toxic Coal Ash Threatens the Great Lakes}}, publisher = {Earthjustice}, year = {2015}, month = jul, url = {https://earthjustice.org/article/dumping-of-toxic-coal-ash-threatens-the-great-lakes}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }