US agency proposes rolling back rules for safe disposal of toxic coal ash

Advocates warn changes could increase risks of pollutants contaminating water and exposure to toxic waste The Environmental Protection Agency on Thursday proposed weakened rules governing the safe disposal of ash produced by burning coal. Those regulations were strengthened under the Biden administration as part of a wider crackdown on pollution from coal-fired power plants. The Trump administration proposed easing standards for monitoring and protecting groundwater near some coal ash sites, rolling back rules forcing the cleanup of entire coal properties instead of just places where ash was dumped. The revisions would also make it easier to reuse coal ash for other purposes. Lee Zeldin, the EPA administrator, said the proposal reflected the agency’s “commitment to restoring American energy dominance, strengthening cooperative federalism, and accommodating unique circumstances at certain (coal ash) facilities”. Burning coal produces tremendous amounts of ash, a waste product that contains heavy metals. If not stored properly, coal ash can contaminate groundwater. Coal plants are often situated on the banks of rivers or other waterways, with waste ash sitting nearby. The EPA first s