April 16

The Environmental Integrity Project, along with more than 200 local, state and national organizations, have sent a letter to the White House asking for movement on proposed federal regulations for coal ash disposal.

The White House Office of Management and Budget has been reviewing the proposals, and deadlines for new guidelines announced by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency have been delayed.

"This is an unacceptable delay," said Trip Van Noppen, president of Earthjustice. "While public interest groups have met with OMB, industry has clearly been breaking down the door. It´s time President Obama made good on his commitment to cut corporate influence and make this rule public so the people can have a chance to participate in this process. The EPA submitted their proposal to OMB last October and we strongly urge OMB to finally allow them to proceed."

The new regulations were proposed after an impoundment pond failed at the Tennessee Valley Authority´s Kingston Fossil Fuel Plant in December 2008, flooding the area with the material, which contains heavy metals and other pollutants.

"Continued delay in the issuance of federal regulations for the disposal of the 136 million tons of toxic coal combustion waste generated annually is dangerous and unacceptable," according to the letter. "Unmitigated harm, often to poor and minority communities, continues to threaten the lives and environment of millions of Americans."

Contact Waste & Recycling News reporter Amanda Smith-Teutsch at 330-865-6166 or asmith-teutsch@crain.com

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