The Environmental Protection Agency on Thursday proposed weaker rules for the safe disposal of coal ash, a toxic byproduct left behind after coal is burned for power. The proposal would roll back safeguards that were strengthened under the Biden administration as part of a broader effort to curb pollution from coal-fired power plants.
Advocates say the changes could increase the risk of pollutants contaminating water supplies and exposing communities to toxic waste. The agency’s proposal would ease standards for monitoring and protecting groundwater near some coal ash sites, while also narrowing cleanup requirements.
What the proposal changes
Under the Trump administration’s proposal, utilities would no longer face the same pressure to clean up entire coal properties in some cases. Instead, the rules would focus more narrowly on the areas where ash was dumped. The revisions would also make it easier to reuse coal ash for other purposes.
Coal ash disposal has long been a concern because the waste can contain harmful contaminants that may seep into groundwater if not properly managed. Environmental groups and public health advocates have argued for stronger federal oversight, especially at sites near drinking water sources and communities living close to coal plants.
The Biden administration had strengthened the regulations as part of a larger crackdown on pollution from coal-fired power plants. Thursday’s proposal marks a reversal of that approach and signals a lighter regulatory touch for the industry.
The EPA proposal is expected to draw scrutiny from environmental advocates, who warn that loosening the standards could make it harder to prevent long-term contamination and limit accountability for site cleanup. The agency has not yet finalized the changes.
