House Will Consider Coal Ash Bill
The House Energy and Commerce Committee voted on June 20 in favor of a measure that would set up a new state-run program to manage and dispose of coal ash. The vote will send a bill, backed by the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association, regulating coal ash impoundments at power plants to the House floor for the second time in less than three years. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) previously said that it might consider applying federal hazardous waste regulations to facilities that store coal ash, a common byproduct of coal-based plants. The EPA’s statement, however, was made more than three years ago and, several legislators say it is time to end the uncertainty about a hazardous waste designation so that coal ash can continue to be recycled. Click here for more on this story.
