Coal in America

EPA's environment policy is changing and so is coal.

EPA has upset Environmental groups by proclaiming that coal ash is not a hazardous material, but just waste. The Obama administration has made it so that coal ash is not hazardous, satisfying the American Coal Ash Association (ACAA). ACAA said that science was finally used in front of politics and that coal plants can now reuse coal ash for fuel, instead of dumping it into landfills and ponds. However, the standards do not condemn dumping coal into ponds. The rules have made standards for closing down coal plants and for more monitoring. Results obtained from monitoring will have to be made public, pits for storing coal ash will have to be lined, to prevent the coal ash from contaminating other sources. This was in response to the major ash coal spilling in the past few years.

According to cbsnews, the ACAA will be willing to work with Congress to help take care of the flaws, according to Environmental groups, that EPA has made. So the Republicans might not try to shut down EPA anymore because Senate Majority Mitch McConnell is from a coal state, but he still wants to stop the coal regulations since the coal states economy's are falling. Which is a big problem as the Senate meets up in January, making Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell. to Majority leader. EPA's compromise satisfied the coal companies. but not the Republicans.

Dry Coal Ash

Wet Coal Ash