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The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has taken action to safeguard communities from the risks posed by coal ash disposal. Coal ash, a byproduct of burning coal in power plants, can contain contaminants like mercury and arsenic. The goal is to protect communities already burdened by pollution.
The proposed rule would require proper closure and remediation of inactive coal ash surface impoundments, addressing a federal regulatory gap identified in 2018. Additionally, certain protections from EPA’s coal ash regulations will be applied to areas outside of regulated units where coal ash has been disposed.