EPA Postpones Coal Ash Cleanup: See Who's Most Affected!

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has recently shifted its focus towards coal ash, the hazardous residue generated by coal-burning power facilities. Utilities now have extended timelines before they must undertake fundamental actions, such as reporting contamination incidents to the EPA or implementing groundwater monitoring systems. The combustion of coal not only emits substantial carbon and harmful pollutants, but the resulting coal ash also harbors numerous heavy metals like arsenic, chromium, lead, and mercury. Unfortunately, the persistence of ash ponds can severely impact the public health of surrounding areas, exposing nearby residents to harmful ash via both airborne dust and contaminated water sources. Alarmingly, communities affected by coal ash are frequently predominantly Black. While Black Americans constitute 15% of the U.S. population, a 2019 NAACP study revealed they make up two-thirds of the population living near coal plants. Recently, the Trump administration delayed previous deadlines established by the Biden EPA for utilities, further postponing much-needed protections for vulnerable communities.