EPA Moves to Scrap Rules for Coal Ash Pollution
The worst thing about the Trump administration is his use of zealot appointments to destroy our government agencies and institutions from within. This move counters the very purpose of the EPA.
WASHINGTON (CN) – Just four months after a report detailed the widespread impact coal ash has on groundwater throughout the U.S., the Environmental Protection Agency announced a proposal Tuesday that would exempt the construction industry from regulations for the storage and use of the toxic substance.
Coal ash is the residue left over from burning coal. It is often used as a replacement for soil, like for creating level ground for construction projects or as a cover for landfills. But it has also been linked to arsenic contamination in water, which can cause some types of cancer.
Arsenic, cadmium and other neurotoxins like lithium have leeched into water supplies near coal ash dumpsites in 39 states, according to a report released in March, and environmental groups like Earthjustice say the EPA’s latest proposal is a major blow to public health.