Ricky Junquera, ricky.juqnuera@sierraclub.org
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- This morning, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced it will require utilities in several Midwestern states to clean up their coal ash waste. Coal ash is toxic waste produced by coal-burning power plants. For decades, coal ash has been dumped into giant pits or ponds, where toxic chemicals have leaked into the water, contaminated soil, and poisoned air. Coal ash continues to be a serious health and safety hazard even after a coal plant is decommissioned unless the waste left behind is removed and safely disposed of.
Safeguards were put in place by the Obama administration–including a requirement that ash ponds stop receiving waste and be closed–but went ignored by the Trump administration, while the harmful effects of coal-ash waste leakages continued to harm communities across the country. A number of utilities asked the Trump administration to allow them to continue sending toxic waste to their ash ponds for years to come, but the Biden EPA has said “no.”
Coal ash waste is filled with some of the deadliest known toxic chemicals, including heavy metals like arsenic, lead, mercury, and chromium. These toxics raise the risk for cancer, heart disease, and stroke. Children and the elderly are particularly vulnerable to coal ash exposure and exposure can inflict permanent brain damage on children. More than 1.5 million children live near coal ash storage sites.
Furthermore, 70 percent of all coal ash impoundments disproportionately impact low-income communities. Over 1,400 coal ash waste dumps are spread across the country, and in at least 200 cases, the toxic waste is known to have contaminated water sources.
In response, Jonathan Levenshus, Director of Federal Campaigns for Sierra Club’s Beyond Coal Campaign, released the following statement:
“President Biden’s EPA is demonstrating a recommitment to doing what it was established to do: protect our communities from toxic pollution, especially the ones most impacted by dirty coal plant waste. For years utilities neglected basic safeguards endangering families and communities across the country. From Puerto Rico to Tennessee, North Carolina to Illinois and beyond, grassroots advocates have been pushing the EPA, states, and utilities to clean up coal ash dump sites. Today’s announcement requiring some utilities to follow the law and stop dumping toxic waste into our communities, once and for all, is a strong step in the right direction to protect our health and safety.”
About the Sierra Club
The Sierra Club is America’s largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization, with millions of members and supporters. In addition to protecting every person's right to get outdoors and access the healing power of nature, the Sierra Club works to promote clean energy, safeguard the health of our communities, protect wildlife, and preserve our remaining wild places through grassroots activism, public education, lobbying, and legal action. For more information, visit www.sierraclub.org.