Coal ash will come under federal regulation for the first time with new rules proposed today by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
The proposed rules were announced today in response to the December 2008 coal ash spill at TVA’s Kingston coal plant.
EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson said the agency is proposing two possible federal rules for controlling coal ash, which previously has only been regulated by state authorities.
In one proposal, utilities and other producers of coal ash would have to phase out wet storage of products from coal burning by 2016.
The other proposal would require that coal ash and other products from burned coal be put only into ponds that are lined to prevent any seepage into nearby waters.
“The time has come for a common-sense solutions,” Ms. Jackson said. “We believe that this is the best way to avoid a repeat of the devastating spill in Kingston, Tenn.”
The proposals will be open for public comment by EPA over the next three months.
For complete details, see tomorrow’s Times Free Press.