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The document examines the environmental and health risks of coal ash, one of the largest industrial waste streams in the US, and advocates for 'clean closure' (full remediation and excavation) over limited cleanup plans. Using case studies from the J. M. Stuart plant in Ohio and the Sebree Generating Station in Kentucky, the authors demonstrate that comprehensive cleanup generates significantly more jobs and economic output than utility-proposed plans. The report highlights that coal ash sites disproportionately affect low-income communities and communities of color, particularly in the Ohio River Valley, and recommends stronger EPA enforcement, polluter-pays funding, and the prioritization of dislocated workers in hiring.

This document is a Task Order (No. 598) issued by Eskom for engineering and project management services to conduct a pre-feasibility study on a 'fleet renewal strategy' for four specific coal-fired power stations. The study aims to evaluate alternatives to the current decommissioning strategy, which is based on a 60-year technical life for coal stations.