Search Climate Insights Directory

The timeline details the evolution of U.S. coal ash and wastewater regulation, beginning with the 2008 Kingston Fossil Plant spill and subsequent lawsuits by Earthjustice. It tracks the introduction of the first coal ash rule and revised Effluent Limitation Guidelines (ELG) under the Obama administration, followed by a series of rollbacks and delays proposed by the Trump administration's EPA between 2017 and 2019.

The document details a 'multifront assault' by the Trump administration to roll back the 2015 EPA regulations on coal ash, a toxic byproduct of coal-fired electricity generation. It describes how six specific proposals aim to delay the closure of leaking pits, weaken wastewater standards, and eliminate financial requirements for cleanups. The briefing highlights the dangers of coal ash—including carcinogens like arsenic and hexavalent chromium—and cites historical disasters and contamination sites to illustrate the necessity of the safeguards being targeted.

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.

The document details the widespread groundwater and surface water contamination caused by 42 coal ash ponds and 13 landfills across 20 Florida power plants. It highlights specific instances of toxic leakage—including arsenic and lead—at sites such as the C.D. McIntosh, Jr. Power Plant and the Scholz Power Plant. The report further criticizes Florida's regulatory framework for lacking requirements for liners, monitoring, and oversight, particularly regarding the reuse of coal ash in construction materials like "EZBase."

The document details the prevalence of coal ash ponds and landfills in Georgia, noting that the state ranks 8th in the U.S. for coal ash generation. It highlights the age and hazardous ratings of these sites, specific instances of water contamination and structural failures, and the lack of state-level regulations regarding liners, monitoring, and emergency planning.

The document details the prevalence of unlined coal ash ponds in Illinois, identifies specific power plants with groundwater contamination, and critiques the state's regulatory deficiencies regarding ash impoundment safeguards.

Indiana ranks second in the United States for coal ash generation, producing over 9.5 million tons annually. The state's 18 coal-fired power plants utilize 83 landfills and ponds, many of which are rated as high or significant hazards or are in poor condition. Documented groundwater contamination involving arsenic, boron, manganese, and other toxins has been found at numerous sites, including the Gibson Plant and Clifty Creek Station. The document argues that Indiana's regulatory program is among the worst in the nation, citing a lack of dam safety requirements, inadequate drinking water protections, and the absence of mandatory groundwater monitoring or composite liners for all disposal units.

The document details the prevalence of coal ash ponds and landfills in Kentucky, highlighting significant safety hazards and documented groundwater contamination. It argues that Kentucky's regulatory program is inadequate due to a lack of reporting requirements, inspection frequencies, and emergency planning for high-hazard dams.

Maryland generates over 1.9 million tons of coal combustion waste annually, ranking 23rd in the US. The state utilizes at least 31 landfills and minefills, as ponds are prohibited. However, the document highlights significant regulatory gaps, such as discretionary groundwater monitoring and a lack of financial assurance requirements. These deficiencies are linked to several contamination cases, including a $54 million settlement for the BBSS Gambrills site and documented groundwater pollution at the Brandywine and Faulkner facilities.

Missouri generates 2.68 million tons of coal ash annually, ranking 16th in the U.S. The state manages approximately 32 coal ash ponds at 14 plants, many of which lack liners and leachate collection systems. Regulatory gaps are significant: Missouri allows ponds containing over 170 million gallons of coal ash to bypass safety regulations, and state officials have inspected only one pond in five years despite many being over 25 feet high. Specific failures include the Labadie plant, where a 154-acre unlined pond has leaked approximately 50,000 gallons per day since 1992 without required cleanup or groundwater monitoring by the Missouri Department of Natural Resources.

Mississippi generates 1.75 million tons of coal ash annually, ranking 24th in the United States. The state utilizes several landfills and one coal ash pond at the Jack Watson plant, though critical data on liner integrity and monitoring is lacking or withheld as confidential business information.

North Carolina ranks 9th in the U.S. for coal ash generation, producing over 5.5 million tons annually. The state's infrastructure is characterized by 37 ponds, 29 of which are rated "high hazard," meaning failure would likely cause human life loss and significant economic and environmental damage. Most ponds lack liners and leachate collection systems, with 27 ponds being over 30 years old. Documented failures include breaches at the W.H. Weatherspoon, Cliffside, and Roxboro stations, as well as a 2010 failure at the Sutton plant. Water contamination is widespread, with 13 documented cases involving high levels of selenium, arsenic, and other heavy metals in groundwater and surface water. Regulatory gaps persist, as ponds built before 1994 are not required to have liners or conduct groundwater monitoring, and landfill monitoring remains discretionary.

New Jersey electric utilities generate 642,300 tons of coal ash annually, ranking 37th in the U.S. While much of this waste is transported out of state, New Jersey residents face health and water quality threats from coal ash dumping in Pennsylvania and New York, including a 100-million-gallon spill into the Delaware River in 2005. The document argues that New Jersey's own regulations are insufficient because they do not mandate composite liners for all dump sites or universal groundwater monitoring at all coal ash ponds and landfills.

The document details the prevalence of coal ash disposal sites in North Dakota, noting that the state ranks 14th in the US for coal ash generation with over 3 million tons produced annually. It identifies six specific power stations with documented groundwater contamination involving toxins such as arsenic, lead, and selenium. The text argues that North Dakota's regulatory program is deficient because it lacks requirements for universal groundwater monitoring, composite liners, and financial assurances for cleanup.

The document details the environmental impact of coal ash at Nevada's power plants, highlighting significant groundwater contamination at the Reid Gardner and North Valmy stations and the lack of state-mandated safeguards for disposal sites.

New York generates 2.8 million tons of coal ash annually, ranking 15th in the US. The document identifies six coal ash ponds and numerous landfills, noting that five specific sites have contaminated groundwater or surface water with toxins such as arsenic, lead, and selenium. It argues that New York state law is deficient because it allows the Department of Environmental Conservation to exempt coal ash monofills from certain permitting requirements and does not mandate groundwater monitoring or composite liners for all facilities.

The document details the distribution of 69 coal ash ponds across 23 plants in Ohio, noting that the state ranks 3rd in the US for coal ash generation. It highlights significant safety hazards, including ponds rated as 'poor' by the EPA and documented groundwater contamination at multiple sites. The text argues that Ohio's regulatory program is deficient because it exempts coal ash from the definition of solid waste, thereby avoiding requirements for groundwater monitoring, composite liners, and structural stability inspections.

Oklahoma electric utilities generate 1.5 million tons of coal ash annually, ranking 28th in the US. The state's disposal infrastructure consists of five ponds and two landfills, with EPA inspections identifying all four ponds at the Hugo Power Station as being in "poor" condition. Significant groundwater contamination is reported at the Northeastern Station, where selenium, arsenic, lead, and barium exceed federal drinking water standards. Additionally, residents in Bokoshe report high rates of asthma and cancer linked to fugitive dust from a local landfill. The document argues that Oklahoma's regulatory framework is insufficient, as it does not mandate groundwater monitoring or composite liners for all coal ash disposal sites.

An analysis of four Oklahoma coal ash dump sites reveals groundwater contamination at all locations, with toxic chemicals exceeding federal health standards. The report identifies specific pollutants—including arsenic, boron, cobalt, lithium, molybdenum, radium, selenium, and sulfate—and documents systemic noncompliance with federal monitoring and stability requirements across these facilities, noting a lack of state enforcement.

Pennsylvania ranks first in the U.S. for coal ash generation, producing over 15.4 million tons annually. The state's disposal infrastructure consists of 77 ponds and 28 landfills, many of which are unlined and over 35 years old. The document details 10 specific cases of groundwater and surface water contamination, including the Bruce Mansfield Power Station's Little Blue Run Impoundment, the largest unlined coal ash pond in the U.S. It further argues that Pennsylvania's regulations are deficient because they grandfather in old impoundments and classify coal ash monofills as 'Class III residual waste landfills,' exempting them from protective requirements like composite liners.