Agency issues six proposed determinations to deny facilities’ requests to continue unsafe coal ash disposal
WASHINGTON (Jan. 25, 2023) – Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced the latest action to protect communities and hold facilities accountable for controlling and cleaning up the contamination created by coal ash disposal. The Agency issued six proposed determinations to deny facilities’ requests to continue disposing of coal combustion residuals (CCR or coal ash) into unlined surface impoundments.
For a seventh facility that has withdrawn its application, Apache Generating Station in Cochise, Arizona, EPA issued a letter identifying concerns with deficiencies in its liner components and groundwater monitoring program.
“With today’s proposed denials, EPA is holding facilities accountable and protecting our precious water resources from harmful contamination, all while ensuring a reliable supply of electricity to our communities,†said EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan. “We remain committed to working with our state partners to protect everyone, especially those in communities overburdened by pollution, from coal ash contamination now and into the future.â€
Coal ash is a byproduct of burning coal in coal-fired power plants that, without proper management, can pollute waterways, groundwater, drinking water, and the air. Coal ash contains contaminants like mercury, cadmium, chromium, and arsenic associated with cancer and various other serious health effects.
Today’s action delivers protections for underserved communities already overburdened by pollution, and reflects the Biden-Harris Administration’s commitment to advancing environmental justice in impacted communities.
EPA is proposing to deny the applications for continued use of unlined surface impoundments at the following six facilities:
- Belle River Power Plant, China Township, Michigan.
- Coal Creek Station, Underwood, North Dakota.
- Conemaugh Generating Station, New Florence, Pennsylvania.
- Coronado Generating Station, St. Johns, Arizona.
- Martin Lake Steam Electric Station, Tatum, Texas.
- Monroe Power Plant, Monroe, Michigan.
EPA is proposing to deny these applications because the owners and operators of the CCR units fail to demonstrate that the surface impoundments comply with requirements of the CCR regulations. Specifically, EPA is proposing to deny these applications due to:
- Inadequate groundwater monitoring networks.
- Failure to prove groundwater is monitored to detect and characterize any elevated levels of contaminants coming from the coal ash surface impoundment.
- Evidence of potential releases from the impoundments and insufficient information to support claims that the contamination is from sources other than the impoundments.
- Inadequate documentation for the design and performance of the impoundment liners.
- Failure to meet all location restrictions.
If EPA finalizes these denials, the facilities will have to either stop sending waste to these unlined impoundments or submit applications to EPA for extensions to the deadline for unlined coal ash surface impoundments to stop receiving waste.
