Amy Dominguez, amy.dominguez@sierraclub.org
Phoenix, Ariz. - Today, the Trump administration announced plans to gut critical protections against deadly coal ash pollution – one of the most toxic industrial waste streams in the country, taking direct aim at the health of American communities.
According to a 2025 Earthjustice report, some of the worst offenders in Arizona include the Springerville and Coronado coal plants. At those two plants combined, utilities have dumped more than 48 million cubic yards of coal ash. For context, that’s like filling the interior of a football stadium over 20 to 25 times.
Coal ash contains a toxic brew of mercury, cadmium, chromium, and arsenic, which can cause cancer, neurological damage, and other serious illnesses.
In 2014, the Environmental Protection Agency finally established the nation’s first-ever coal ash pollution standards, implementing long overdue protections for communities against toxic coal ash in their water. In 2024, the EPA built on that foundation, closing loopholes and strengthening safeguards for the hardest-hit communities. Today’s announcement erases more than a decade of progress, leaving millions of Americans exposed to preventable, life-threatening harm.
In response, Sierra Club Grand Canyon Chapter Director Sandy Bahr released the following statement:
“Coal plant owners must be held accountable for their toxic waste. By gutting the public health protections that have been in place to help ensure that Arizonans have access to clean water and clean air, the Trump administration continues to prioritize polluters over communities. EPA is enabling Arizona’s worst coal ash polluters to poison us and avoid cleanup responsibilities. We need EPA to do its job and protect people instead of coal plants.”
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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.