Attorney General Kwame Raoul led a coalition of six attorneys general in opposing a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) proposal to implement a federal permit program for the disposal of coal combustion residual (CCR), also known as coal ash. The EPA’s proposed permit program could allow coal ash facilities to receive federal permits without necessary scrutiny from the EPA.
Coal ash is a form of toxic waste that is left over after burning coal at power plants, which contains a host of toxic chemicals, including arsenic, lead and mercury. Coal ash can leach into groundwater near ash ponds or flow into nearby surface water when ash ponds overflow or via groundwater when ash ponds leak. The chemicals pose numerous dangers to human health, including cancer, cardiovascular effects and neurological effects.
You can read the full release from Attorney General Raoul here.
