Coal Ash: SEVEN MYTHS the Utility Industry Wants You to Believe and SEVEN FACTS You Need to Know

The document counters seven industry claims regarding coal ash, asserting that the material is hazardous, contaminates groundwater at both old and new sites, and is often recycled unsafely. It argues that federal regulation would encourage genuine innovation in recycling and that compliance costs would be negligible for the electric power industry.

• Coal ash contains toxic chemicals that exceed hazardous waste thresholds when tested with accurate leaching methods. For instance, one test showed arsenic at 18,000 parts per billion (ppb), which is 1,800 times the federal drinking water standard, and selenium at 29,000 ppb, which is 580 times the drinking water standard.
• Contamination from coal ash is an ongoing issue affecting both active and old disposal sites, with toxins moving more than a mile from dump sites into groundwater and residential wells.
• Industry claims of high recycling rates are misleading, as many 'beneficial uses' involve filling mines and quarries that contaminate potable groundwater. The document estimates that only 20-25% of coal ash is recycled safely and beneficially.
• Current state-level regulations are inadequate, with many states failing to require composite liners or groundwater monitoring. In Texas, Ohio, and Alabama, most or all coal ash has been completely exempted from regulation.
• Federal regulation of coal ash under subtitle C of RCRA would have a negligible impact on operating costs and would result in a one-time consumer rate increase of only 0.5 to 1%, even in coal-dependent states.

APA

Earthjustice (n.d.). Coal Ash: SEVEN MYTHS the Utility Industry Wants You to Believe and SEVEN FACTS You Need to Know. https://earthjustice.org/sites/default/files/CoalAshMythFactSheetMar2011.pdf

Chicago

Earthjustice. Coal Ash: SEVEN MYTHS the Utility Industry Wants You to Believe and SEVEN FACTS You Need to Know. n.d. https://earthjustice.org/sites/default/files/CoalAshMythFactSheetMar2011.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Earthjustice |title=Coal Ash: SEVEN MYTHS the Utility Industry Wants You to Believe and SEVEN FACTS You Need to Know |url=https://earthjustice.org/sites/default/files/CoalAshMythFactSheetMar2011.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{earthjusticendcoal, author = {{Earthjustice}}, title = {{Coal Ash: SEVEN MYTHS the Utility Industry Wants You to Believe and SEVEN FACTS You Need to Know}}, institution = {Earthjustice}, url = {https://earthjustice.org/sites/default/files/CoalAshMythFactSheetMar2011.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }