Hoeven/Manchin Senate Bill Threatens Safety: Fails to Protect Communities from Toxic Coal Ash Dumping

The document contends that S.2446 protects utility companies rather than the public by eliminating federal standards for drinking water protection, prohibiting the siting of coal ash dumps in floodplains, and delaying the closure of structurally unsound impoundments. It asserts that the bill removes critical EPA oversight and financial assurance requirements, potentially shifting the cost of toxic spills to taxpayers. The text highlights that coal ash contains harmful chemicals like arsenic and mercury, and that nearly 70% of coal ash lagoons affect low-income and minority communities.

• S.2446 removes or delays numerous protections established by the EPA's December 2014 coal ash rule, including the elimination of national drinking water protection standards, the prohibition of coal ash dumps in floodplains, and the requirement to immediately clean up toxic releases.
• The bill significantly delays critical safety measures, including the closure of leaking or structurally unsound impoundments for up to six years and the application of operating standards for new landfills and lagoons.
• S.2446 restricts federal oversight by prohibiting the EPA from enforcing state program requirements unless invited by the state and preventing the EPA from requiring financial assurance under RCRA to ensure utilities can pay for spill cleanups.
• The document argues that the bill disproportionately impacts vulnerable populations, noting that nearly 70% of coal ash lagoons affect communities with disproportionate representations of minority and low-income populations.
• Contrary to claims of job loss, the document cites a Tufts University study suggesting that even the most stringent coal ash standards would result in a net increase of 28,000 jobs.

APA

Earthjustice (n.d.). Hoeven/Manchin Senate Bill Threatens Safety: Fails to Protect Communities from Toxic Coal Ash Dumping. https://earthjustice.org/wp-content/uploads/s2446-coal-ash-fact-sheet.pdf

Chicago

Earthjustice. Hoeven/Manchin Senate Bill Threatens Safety: Fails to Protect Communities from Toxic Coal Ash Dumping. n.d. https://earthjustice.org/wp-content/uploads/s2446-coal-ash-fact-sheet.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Earthjustice |title=Hoeven/Manchin Senate Bill Threatens Safety: Fails to Protect Communities from Toxic Coal Ash Dumping |url=https://earthjustice.org/wp-content/uploads/s2446-coal-ash-fact-sheet.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{earthjusticendhoevenmanchin, author = {{Earthjustice}}, title = {{Hoeven/Manchin Senate Bill Threatens Safety: Fails to Protect Communities from Toxic Coal Ash Dumping}}, institution = {Earthjustice}, url = {https://earthjustice.org/wp-content/uploads/s2446-coal-ash-fact-sheet.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }